Presentation to Board Chairs and Governors of Notre Dame de Sion School Governance Meeting, Rome 2016
CONGREGATIONAL SCHOOL TEAM FOR NOTRE DAME de SION SCHOOLS Sr. Jackie Chenard, formerly, Montreal, CA Alain Cussey, Marseille, France Sigurd Ramos Marin, San Jose, Costa Rica Alice Munninghoff, Kansas City, MO USA Maria Bernadete Silveira, Sao Paulo, Brazil Sr. Mary Reaburn, Melbourne, Australia 2
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Background and History of the Congregational Schools Team Proposal for the Formation of an International Network of NDS Schools (Presented at the NDS Schools Meeting in Jerusalem, May 14, 2012) 4
Current Situation with Sion Schools • Currently there are 22 educational institutions /schools in 9 countries that have formal links with the congregation. • Over the past years the number of sisters has diminished so it was recommended that a new model be designed in order to continue and expand the relation of the schools with each other and with the Congregation. (2012) 5
Origin of Congregational School Team • Formation of an International Network of NDS Schools “ To ensure the Charism of the Congregation of Our Lady of Sion will continue to permeate the ethos and curricula of the schools that we own, administer or have a commitment to, we propose the establishment of an International Network of NDS Schools. This network is a further step in entrusting to qualified lay people, the Charism of NDS.” 6
Congregational School Team’s Roles and Responsibilities • To achieve this end, the following proposal was adopted: • “That the Congregational Leadership Team (CLT) appoint an International Team of NDS Schools (Congregational School Team), to facilitate the International Network of NDS Schools. The team will be comprised of one member of the CLT or its delegate, and up to four others members (lay and/or sisters), drawn from the current directors or faculties of the schools, or from among recently retired members of those faculties, or from the Boards of Directors or Administrative Councils of these schools. This team will meet at least once a year.” The organizational meeting of this group was held in Strasbourg, France in January 2014. 7
• Areas of responsibility of the International Team of NDS Schools include the following: 1) Develop the Network and establish its purpose and goals particularly in relation to Sion’s Charism in education. 8
2.)In schools where there are no staff persons with a particular responsibility for ensuring the quality of expression of Sion’s Charism, the school directors will be encouraged to appoint a staff member ( Charism/Mission coordinator ) to carry out this role. The International Team of NDS Schools will serve as a resource for the formation of these personnel. 9
3.)Appoint teams to organize future international formation sessions for key school personnel. 4.)Ensure regular communication within the Networks: with the Directors, the Charism/Mission Coordinators of the Sion schools for exchange of information and for planning common projects, as well as for mutual inspiration and support. 10
5.)Be responsible for • Review and evaluation of governance structures (Board of Directors/ Governors and/or Administrative Councils) of each of the schools or groups of schools in the same country, to ensure that the members appointed will be competent lay persons open to the Charism of Sion. • Serve as a resource for Governors/Boards in formation in the Charism. 11
6 .)Once in five years the International Team of NDS Schools will arrange a visit to each school (if possible) to review and encourage its commitment to the Charism of Sion. 7.)The Team will report to the Congregational Leadership team through the representative of the CLT or its delegate 12
MISSION STATEMENT Strasbourg, France, Jan. 2014 The Notre Dame de Sion Congregational Schools Team (CST) is dedicated to building relationshi ps and fostering understanding with the schools and to enhancing and improvin g communication among Notre Dame d e Sion Schools worldwide. This will be done through — but is not limited to--- promoting international gatherings and e xchange programs for students and adul ts and the use of various technological to ols. 13
In January 2013, the Congregational Schools Team wrote the CHARTER FOR SION SCHOOLS at its meeting in Strasbourg, France. The Charter (presented earlier in the week by Alain Cussey) addressed the: • Historical significance of Notre Dame de Sion Schools in the world • The Spiritual dimension of a Sion education • The Pedagogical and curricular characteristics of a Sion School • As well as the importance of every school’s living out the charism of theCongregation of Our Lady of Sion in its own unique context. 14
• The Team will facilitate appropriate opp ortunities for formation of school perso nnel and governors in the history and mis sion of the Congregation of Our Lady of Sion so that the mission permeates al l facets of life in Sion Schools. Further more, the Team will assist and support th e schools as they implement the charter articulated by this Team. 15
• While the Congregation of Our Lady of Sion’s apostolic commitments have become more diversified in the late 20 th century and into the 21 st century, education has remained a priority for the Order as they work in cooperation with committed laity. • Faithful to the values promoted by the Ratis bonne brothers, Sion schools promote themse lves as “spaces of dialogue” and together with those who work with their schools, the Sisters promote and encourage dialogue at all levels. 16
CST’s Projects since its formation in January 2014 THIRD INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS MEETING IN BRAZIL • The Congregational School Team planned, organized and hosted the third international Sion Schools Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from May 4-10, 2015. Special thanks to CST member Bernadete Silveira. • The Theme of the gathering : Educating for Social Justice in Sion Schools worldwide. • Two representatives per school attended from England, France, Australia, Canada, USA, Costa Rica, Brazil, Hungary, and from the heritage schools in Australia. • Signing of the Charter by all Sion Schools as a commitment to upholding its principles and living in school communities guided by its vision. 17
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Outcome of the 2015 International Schools Meeting • Continuing to build and expand the international Sion network by promoting exchanges for both students and faculty members. • Raising awareness of the issue of Social Justice that the schools address in their schools and sharing ideas about projects we can do together as Sion Schools. • Beginning work on a website for our Team and our schools. • A universal logo contest was held following the meeting and logo was chosen. • Recognition of the need to have a future gathering for Boards/Governors, teachers and staff members in our schools. 20
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• The team also met in London in March 2016 and as part of the experience, we visited Our Lady of Sion in Worthing and shared time with the Board, Faculty and Students. • We also did much planning for the Governance Meeting and for the next schools meeting in 2018. • We decided on the theme for the next international meeting and the location. 22
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What’s Next for the Congregational Schools Team? • We are planning the Fourth International Schools Meeting to be held in Evry and Paris France in April 2018. • The Theme of this meeting is: Spaces for Dialogue in Sion Schools and each school will be asked to send no fewer than TWO and no more than three representatives. We are asking that the director of the school and a faculty/staff member who has NOT 26 been to an international meeting attend.
CST’s Role in Relation to the Sion Schools Worldwide The members of the team assist the schools to ensure that: • Every school has a Mission Director who ensures that the charism of the Sisters is infused in every facet of school life and who serves as the liaison to the Sisters of Sion • Every school has a person who is responsible for promoting and overseeing exchange programs (both student and teacher, where possible) with other Sion Schools • Sion Schools worldwide strive to communicate and cooperate on projects, etc 27
• Schools promote an atmosphere of openness to all, dialogue and appreciation of divergent opinions, and respect and love for all people. Sion Schools should reflect a family atmosphere where all people — board members, faculty, staff, students, and families-- are heard, valued and nurtured as family. • Educational programming is dynamic, challenging, flexible, pedagogically appropriate for the student population and will be characterized by love, patience and tenderness . 28
• Schools conduct periodic self-study (possibly every 5 years) of how they are complying and implementing the Charter as part of their school improvement plans. • Future international opportunities (such as this one for governing boards) will be considered designed for members of Sion Schools as the number of Sisters in the Schools continues to decline and the partnership between the Sisters and the lay leadership continues to grow and mature . • The Team can serve as a resource to Boards in their important work . We are honored to do so! • Thanks for all you do for Sion and VIVE SION! 29
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