Monday Mission Memo
Dec. 17, 2018
Interim Superintendent's Update
Greetings, school leaders of the Diocese of Cleveland, and a happy Pope Francis’ Birthday to you all!
If you are anything like me, (and I often pray that you are not!) you are still working on your shopping list, your holiday event planning, and navigation of the gauntlet of activities between now and the actual celebration of Christ’s birth on December 25. While we are in the thick of the immediate needs, I have a few updates that are looking forward to 2019 that I hope you will be able to find time to peruse at your leisure, including info for Catholic Schools Week, the Calendar form for next year, and even upcoming summer opportunities.
Also, if you have not already, see the updated EdChoice schools list copied below. Between this and the EdChoice Expansion program, there is a school choice program available for any school that is ready. If you are in an area serving newly eligible families, or if you have been hesitant to explore Ohio’s choice programs, I encourage you to reach out and discuss with me and our office how the programs may be effective in furthering the mission of your schools.
Finally, while the state support is fantastic, our system is also sustained by the tremendous generosity of people throughout the diocese, supporting parishes, schools, and other scholarship opportunities. In case you missed it, we recently announced that the next Alleulia Ball, in fall 2019, will support Diocesan Tuition Assistance, and Cardinal Dolan, of the Archdiocese of New York, has accepted Bishop Perez’s invitation to be our guest speaker.
This will be the last memo until the first Monday of 2019. Until then, on behalf of all of us at the OCFE, have a blessed Advent, a merry Christmas, and a happy New Year!
Frank
Upcoming Meetings in the Diocese:
January 17 - Secondary All-Principal Meeting, Magnificat High School, 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 (lunch)
January 23 - Better Together at St. Mary Byzantine, Cleveland, 8:30 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.
January 30 - School Safety Training for K-12 schools; Crisis Communication and National Safety Topics, Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Cuyahoga Falls 8:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m.
February 12 - Ensuring Human Dignity Conference, Public Hall, Cleveland, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
February 20 - Elementary Principal Meeting, St. Hilary School, Fairlawn, 9:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
March 8 - The Heart of the Mission for all elementary teachers and principals, Cleveland Convention Center, 8:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.
CORRECTION - Applications for High School and 8th Grade Recommendations
In our haste to get the revised application materials printed, we made two proofing errors that resulted in contradictory information. I apologize for the inconvenience. To clarify:
1.) Recommendations from religion teachers are welcome, as long as the teacher is in daily contact with the student.
2.) Applications may be distributed beginning on Monday, January 14, 2019.
Please share with all in your organizations who need to be notified.
UPDATED - EdChoice List of Designated Public Schools
Last week the ODE posted here the list of Designated Public Schools for 2019-20 for the EdChoice Scholarship Program.
This update marks the first significant revisions since the recent safe harbor period went into effect. Where schools are no longer on the list, remember that students who are attending currently on EdChoice scholarships may continue to renew them regardless of a change of status in their currently assigned public schools. Also, where new schools have been added to the list, note that new families may now be eligible. Please consider outreach to those who may benefit from an education in your school. If there our ways our office can assist in this, please do not hesitate to ask.
School Spotlight - St. Francis of Assisi, Gates Mills
Advent Retreat at St. Francis School
Mural of St. Francis of Assisi painted by 8th grader
Stockings for Soldiers
School Spotlight - St. Rita School, Solon
Deb Grgic leads St. Rita School with pride!
St. Rita School, the Harold C. Shaw Outstanding School for STEM in Ohio!
Eighth Graders connect with area nursing homes in Solon!
Alliance for Catholic Education Summer Opportunities
June 24-27: Latino Enrollment Institute June 25-28 and July 16-19: School Pastors' Institute July 8-10: Adelante (outreach to Latino communities) July 12-28: English as a New Language (ENL) July 11-27: Program for Inclusive Education July 16-28: Trustey Family STEM Teaching Fellows
Complete details are available here: https://ace.nd.edu/summer
Click the link below to watch how the St. Paschal Baylon Staff is having fun preparing for Christmas!
Guidelines for minimum hours for the school calendar.
Catholic Schools Week Marketing
1/27-Celebrating your parish
1/28-Celebrating your community
1/29-Celebrating your students
1/30-Celebrating your nation
1/31-Celebrating vocations
2/1-Celebrating your staff & volunteers
2/2-Celebrating families
High School 'Mass for Life' on January 22nd
All high schools in the diocese are invited to the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist at 10 a.m. on January 22, 2019 for the annual Mass for Life. This takes place on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade.
Catholic Charities and the Office for Human Life invite all high schools to register for this event.
The registration form can be found at https://ccdocle.org/office-human-life/mass4lifecle
Please note, it is only for high schools. There will be secured bus parking on Superior and 9th Street in the area immediately surrounding the Cathedral from 9am – 11:45am on January 22nd.
Great opportunity to re-ignite your faith coming to St. Hilary Parish in February!
Chris Stefanick who, in addition to being one of the most sought-after Catholic speakers in the world, is coming to St. Hilary Catholic Parish-Fairlawn OH Wed, Feb 6, 7:00 pm for REBOOT, a night to inspire and re-ignite your faith and those who have either fallen away or need encouragement to keep on going. Here’s a clip of one of Chris’ short video presentations:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPfOFYHpxTQ
Tickets can be purchased in the parish office during the day or at https://reallifecatholicevents.formstack.com/fo…/fairlawn_oh. His "REBOOT" presentation is sold out nearly 100% of the time. Tickets are $22 each, but WELL WORTH the investment. Each person coming will receive a copy of Chris’ brand new book—a $20 value! You will be inspired to live your faith more fully and more alive every day! An ideal Christmas gift for yourself and one for a friend who is floundering or has left the faith!