Catholic School Matters
May 21, 2017
It's About Time
This is the final issue of Catholic School Matters this school year. Coming at absolutely the right time is the article I read earlier this week entitled “How to Live on 24 Hours a Day” from the always-enjoyable blog, Farnam Street. The article points out that most of us do not maximize our time which is our most valuable asset. I encourage you to read the article and reflect on how it might change your life. Summer offers us more time. How will we spend it? The challenge for me is to unplug and spend more time deliberately. I’m guilty of falling victim to the latest “urgent” issue (phone call? Text? Facebook post? Tweet?) instead of prioritizing my time to spend time shooting hoops with my son or reading with my daughter. I plan to reclaim my time this summer.
After saying this, I feel a tinge of guilt by presenting 34 “Best Of” links below. My hope is that you can bookmark this issue and return to it and find interesting articles and videos which will shape your learning this summer.
I’m also nearing the end of Season One of the podcast. On June 2nd, I plan to wrap up this season and offer a preview of the great new directions for Season Two.
Dr. Tim Uhl, Superintendent
"Catholic School Matters" Podcast
This week, there are two great podcasts. Tomorrow, Episode #52 is an interview with Dr. Mary McDonald, the founder of the Jubilee Schools in Memphis. Listen to the incredible story of how inner-city education was transformed in Memphis. On Thursday, there is a bonus episode previewing NCEA's summer Institute for Catholic Leaders (July in Boston). I'll interview speakers and give a great preview of the event which should be on every Catholic school leader's schedule this summer. On Memorial Day, Episode #53 will be an interview with Dr. Ann Garrido and then I'll wrap up Season One on June 5th.
Last week there were two great podcasts. Episode #50 is an interview with the President of Healey Education Foundation, Christine Healey. She talks about their innovations and support of Catholic schools. Episode #51 is an interview with the one and only Roy Petifils--author, podcaster, counselor, speaker, friend. Roy talks about the anxiety epidemic among teens and how Catholic schools shaped his life's work.
Here is the link to the podcast on iTunes. Please subscribe to the podcast so new episodes will automatically download. The show is also available on Stitcher and Google Play. If you don't have accounts with any of those content providers, here is the link to my basic page with the podcasts.
I have finished taping Season One except for the final episode. For that episode, I'd like to answer questions from listeners. Please use this form to send me questions. If you have nominations or ideas for Season Two, send them via email.
- TUESDAY: Christine Healey's podcast
- WEDNESDAY: Book Blog: Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard by Chip & Dan Heath
- FRIDAY: Roy Petitfils's podcast
This week, Dr. Uhl will blog about:
- TUESDAY: Dr. Mary McDonald's podcast
- WEDNESDAY: Book Blog: Redeeming Administration by Dr. Ann Garrido
- FRIDAY: Institute for Catholic Leaders 2017
You can find and subscribe to the blog at drtimuhl.com
The Week Ahead
Monday: St. Labre Board meeting (Ashland)
Tuesday: Butte Central 8th Grade Graduation (Butte)
Wed: Missoula meetings
Thurs: Great Falls meetings
Fri: office (Helena)
Next week: 1,301 miles
Last week: 1,488 driving miles
2016-17: 31,970 driving miles; 35,077 air miles
What I'm Reading (Last 5 books)
- The Undoing Project by Michael Lewis.
- Finding Your Posts: Grounded Living in Times of Change by Kent Hickey
- Leaving to Learn by Eilliot Washor & Charles Mojkowski
- The Circle by Dave Eggers
- Leverage Leadership by Paul Bambrick-Santoyo
Click this link for a full list of Dr. Uhl's professional reading along with links to Wed Book Blogs
Montana Catholic Schools
Email: superintendent@montanacc.org
Website: www.montanacatholicschools.org
Location: PO Box 1708 Helena MT 59601
Phone: (406) 442-5761
Facebook: facebook.com/montanacatholicschools
Twitter: @mtcathschools
For Principals & Teachers
- DOH employees will receive a $25 gift card for proof of participation in the Fun Run during the Governor's Cup June 10th.
- Make sure to fill out your safety survey ASAP. Here is a link. If you fill those out and take two safety courses (found at CMGConnect.org) you can receive a rebate.
- We are in need of teachers to offer breakout sessions for our Catholic Teacher Days (Oct 19-20). So far, 7 teachers have offered to teach. Email Dr. Uhl ASAP!
- Here is the flyer for the Sophia Institute's religion teacher workshop on October 19th. Here is the flyer for the August Retreat. Please print out and share!
- NWEA is offering a great webinar on end of the year summary reports. Here's the sign up for the May 15th event.
- NCEA has a great list of upcoming webinars. It also has compiled a list of great summer 2017 professional development opportunities.
- The Justice for Immigration project of the USCCB offers resources for undocumented immigrants.
- Are you ready for ESSA? Here is a link to a massive amount of new documents. ESSA has not been repealed and it's time to get ready! Here's more guidance from the USCCB.
- On the Horizon:
- June 14: administrator meeting (Helena/Cathedral) 10-3
- August 14-15: Catholic Schools Retreat
- Oct 19: Sophia Program for Religion Teachers
- Oct 19-20: Catholic Teacher Days
Catholic Schools News
- Work progressing on new Pope Francis HS (Massachusetts)
- Butte Central HS launches new programs to attract more students
- Pittsburgh area Catholic school to close; consolidated schools named
- Money raised to help Catholic schools in Kentucky
Most Popular Links from each issue, Spring 2017
My favorite links from each issue, spring 2017
Retirees from Montana Catholic Schools
Radene Ostwald--St. Francis Primary
After teaching for 15 years in Glendive, Radene moved to Laurel and began teaching first grade at St. Francis Primary. She taught for 14 years at St. Francis Primary
Jeannine Reed--St. Francis Primary
Dora Hugs--St. Charles Mission School
Dora Hugs has been serving the students of St. Charles Mission School for thirty-seven years, first for seven years as a substitute, then for six years as a teacher aide. In 1993, she started teaching fourth grade at St. Charles and taught there for twenty years.
Sr. Helen Durso, OP--St. Paul Mission Grade School
Colleen Stillwagon-- Butte Central Elem
Fratt Memorial School
Past Issues of Catholic School Matters
May 14, 2017 "Disappointment & Density"
May 7, 2017 "Commencing Graduation"
April 30, 2017 "NCEA Data Dive"
April 23, 2017 "Inclusion Summit"
April 9, 2017 "Stress and Anxiety" special issue
April 2, 2017 "Accreditation is not a Dirty Word"
March 26, 2017 "Undocumented Immigration Special Issue"
March 19, 2017 "Growth Mindset Special Issue"
March 12, 2017 "Stall Points"
March 5, 2017 "Swimming Upstream"
February 26, 2017 "Parent Communication"
February 19, 2017 "What Makes a School Catholic?"
February 12, 2017 "Are We Ready for Vouchers?"
February 5, 2017 "Disruptive Leadership"
January 29, 2017 "Catholic Schools Week"
January 22, 2017: "Combatting Fake News"
January 16, 2017 "What's Your Purple Goldfish?
January 8, 2017: "How I Use Twitter"
December 18, 2016 "The 'Best Of' Issue"
December 11, 2016 "Brain-Based Learning Special Issue"
December 4, 2016 "Cultures Built to Last"
November 20, 2016 "Good News Issue"
November 13, 2016 "School Culture Special Issue"
November 6, 2016 "Diocesan Demographics"
October 30, 2016 "Catholic Leadership Summit"
October 23, 2016 "Classroom Management Issue"
October 16, 2016 "Professional Development Conferences"
October 9, 2016 "Daring Greatly"
October 2, 2016 "The New Podcast"
September 25, 2016 "The Productivity Issue"
September 18, 2016 "Measuring our Success"
September 11, 2016 "Courage and Grief"
August 28, 2016 "A Senior Moment"August 21, 2016 "Schools as Field Hospitals"