Monday Mission Memo
Oct. 1, 2018
The Mission of the OCFE is:
Interim Superintendent's Message
The memo is a little later than usual today following a glorious Bishop's Golf Classic, which provides much-needed support for Diocesan Tuition Assistance.
Our school leadership team has been to many of our schools already this year, seeing the strong school cultures that create authentically Catholic environments and drive successful academic learning. Last week I had the opportunity to expand the view, traveling to New York/New Jersey to see powerful examples of Catholic education in action. I visited the Partnership for Inner City Education in the Archdiocese of New York, which is achieving impressive gains with its focus on culture, Catholic identity, collaboration and results in 6 elementary schools. I also stopped by St. Benedict Prep in Newark, NJ, which features what may be the strongest example of high school culture I’ve ever seen. (This 60 Minutes piece is worth a view if you can spare the time). The school has recently established the Vox Institute to help other schools learn from the powerful practices that are transforming lives in and around the inner city. I encourage any interested school, especially high schools, to check it out.
Finally, on this October 1, which could not have been a more beautiful day, the fall weather that is now upon us means that winter is not too far away. With safety as a top priority, it is a good time to remember to update your parents and families about your policies and process regarding winter weather. A couple of reminders this fall will go a long way if the snow flies unexpectedly early these coming weeks.
On this feast of St. Therese of Lisieux, the "Little Flower," thank you for all the little sacrifices that you make to ignite the flame of understanding in the hearts of our young people.
In Christ,
Frank
Reports due during the month of October:
- ADM report (found in your ODE SAFE account) opens Tuesday Oct. 9th and closes Oct. 31st.
- AVS report (found on the OCSAA portal) due on Oct. 31st at 5:00 p.m. Email Marsha Hecker mhecker@dioceseofcleveland.org or Mary Keating mkeating@dioceseofcleveland.org when you have finished your AVS. On Nov. 1st, fines of $1.75 per student will be issued for schools with violations. NOTE: Secretaries should be included in your AVS report.
- Standard School Survey (found at schoolsurvey.dioceseofcleveland.org) must be completed and signed before midnight on Tuesday, October 9th. DO NOT SIGN YOUR SURVEY BEFORE 12:00 PM ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 5th. NOTE: Preschool is considered children age 3 to Pre-Kindergarten.
Bishop's Think Tank Update
After a sporadic start and summer, the Bishop’s Think Tank on Catholic Education and Formation is meeting regularly through the school year. We are grateful to Diane Corrigan, Catholic school parent, supporter, and education professor at Cleveland State University, who is chairing the initiative going forward. Here is the first update from the committee, and we look forward to sharing periodic updates. Also, Sr. Margaret Hartman, who has retired as principal of St. Helen School, recently notified me that she will be unable to continue on since her ministry in the justice system conflicts with the meeting times. We thank her for her service and will look to add another school leader voice to the group soon.
School Spotlight, St. Mary's, Chardon
Friedereke Wintersteller, the new principal at St. Mary's, Chardon!
St. Mary's is a STEM-designated school in Ohio!
Preschool is growing at St. Mary's, Chardon
School Spotlight, Communion of Saints in Cleveland Heights
Gerry Whiteley, Principal of Communion of Saints
We are proud of our city.
Girls on the Run!
Upcoming Diocesan Meetings:
- Friday, Oct. 5th - Accreditation Meeting for Group V at St. Benedict's School - 11:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, Oct. 10th - Elementary Principal Meeting at St. Charles Borromeo School, Parma - 9:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m.
- Friday, Oct. 12th - Diocesan-wide PD day
We welcomed our CAPP (Catholic Assistant Principal Program) members for the first time this past week!
Principal Leadership Conference Registration Open!
Agenda and flyer for LEA are attached below (if needed)
It's not too late to sign up for #WeGiveCatholic!
Resident Educator Program Meetings
Resident Educator meetings for years one through four were held in August and September. Attending one of the beginning of the year meetings is mandatory for all Resident Educators in the RE program. If you have an RE who missed a meeting, there is one last chance. Make up meetings are as follows:
October 17th: Years 1 & 2 beginning at 4:00 pm at St. Leo School, Cleveland
October 18th: Years 3 & 4 beginning at 4:00 pm at St. Leo School, Cleveland
The room we use is small, therefore, mentors and facilitators cannot attend. Resident Educators only. Thank you.
Meetings are listed in the Digital Academy under Professional Development.
A Mentors Only meeting will be held on October 11th beginning at 4:00 at St. Michael’s Woodside. This meeting is an optional meeting. Please register in the Digital Academy.
https://doc.digitalacademy.org/Curricula/Login
Online Applications still pending in ODE: Missy Hokanson
October: National Bullying Prevention
Stop Bullying
Some lessons for Cyber-bullying
https://www.commonsense.org/education/search?sq=cyber%20bullying&searchType=curriculum&page=1&sort=
Supporting a former principal
We were recently informed that former teacher and principal in our diocese, Joan Hazen, has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called choriocarcinoma. This is a rapidly-spreading disease that is most commonly found in a woman's uterus immediately after a pregnancy. In Joan's case, the cancer was found in her sinuses twenty years after last giving birth, which has greatly confused her doctors.
A fundraiser has been organized for Joan on October 20th. Below are two links set up by her family: one for a 'Go fund me' and the other with details about the fundraiser:
https://www.gofundme.com/tcaa9-join-joanie-to-crush-cancer