As we we prepare for this week’s principal meeting centered on Operational Vitality, I thought I would share two small ways to build sustainability in your school:

1. Customer Referral Incentive: We all know that word-of-mouth is the best advertising. Have we built in incentives? Our recommendation is simple:

o Every referring family receives one month free of tuition.

o This 10% incentive can be taken in December, January, or February (the three leanest years in every family’s budget!). The incentive is directly related to the amount of tuition charged to the family—a family with a tuition bill of $15,000, for example, would receive a $1,500 incentive, while a family billed only $2,000 would receive $200 for that one month of tuition.

o The family will simply not have to pay tuition in the month they choose.

o The enrolling family must declare the family who referred them and must still be enrolled for the incentive to be taken.

o If a family refers three families, they would receive 3 free months of tuition.

o If we build financial incentives into our registration process, we’re incentivizing our parents to become recruiters and perhaps others to stay. Even if only 10% of your families took advantage of this opportunity, your enrollment would grow 10%.

2. Tuition Collection: All of our schools use tuition collection but I’m not sure we’re not using it to our advantage—namely, efficiency. For example, the use of tuition collection means that schools shouldn’t have to pay a full-time tuition receivables clerk. And we should develop systems that will help us manage our cash flow. Considerations:

o We should offer a 5% incentive for all families who pay in full by September 1st.

o The other option should be a 10 month payment plan taken out on a specific date, like the 5th. Offering too many options makes it difficult for us to manage the different plans and our cash flow. It’s no way to run a business if we give customers the choice of when to pay! We need to become efficient and save money and time.

o We can offer a “Plus” system with a 3% tuition discount if families agree to put all additional expenses on their monthly bill. Graduation fees, cafeteria charges, field trip expenses, athletic fees, even fundraising charges could all could automatically go on a family’s bill and charged every month. Many families would prefer this efficiency and would make collection easier.

We often talk about ways to make Catholic schools more sustainable without spending time to learn details and adopt processes which will cut expenses and make our business operations more efficient. We need to think about the small changes which will help build sustainability.

Want to keep up with the conversations surrounding Catholic education? Set up your own Google Alert, subscribe to this newsletter by clicking "follow," subscribe to the Catholic Schools Daily, or subscribe to the Catholic School Matters podcast.

Dr. Tim Uhl

1. Are you a teacher interested in free shopping supplies? Here's information on the Teacher's Corner

2. Information on the St. Thomas More Scholarship can be found here.

3. To better meet the needs of the religious and independent school community, we’d like your input to help us design the RISE 2022 Conference. Please click this link https://forms.gle/i1xXbYNFrfQjRwaA9 to complete a very short questionnaire.

4. We're going to try for an inperson meeting on January 13th. One of the reasons we selected St. Andrew's was the ability to social distance. A couple of our presentations will be virtual but a big component of the day is cooperative learning. Here's a copy of the agenda.

If we want students to reach the point where they can write strong paragraphs and essays, we have to start building powerful sentences. These building blocks of writing can often be overlooked, especially as students progress into upper elementary and middle school.

To get started, we will walk through some sentence activities you can easily add to your own classroom. But first, remember the following:

• Stick to effective teaching strategies, and be sure to model each activity.

• Have students practice sentence activities aloud before moving to paper and pencil. Take advantage of these activities amid content.

• This could be an article about climate change in science class or a letter from George Washington in social studies.

• Keep in mind best practices for differentiation.

Before students can write a sentence, they must understand what one is. Providing opportunities for students to see the difference between a sentence and a fragment is a great place to start. You may consider providing fragments that lack a subject or predicate. For example, you can say to the class, “ran to the store,” and follow up with the question, “does this tell us who ran to the store? What do we need to add to make this a complete sentence?” Or, provide the subject “Mary and Joseph.” And follow with the prompt, “do we know what they were doing?” These gateways to complete sentences will help students understand the inclusion of a subject and predicate as they build their own complete sentences.

From there, students can begin putting pen to paper by identifying complete sentences vs. fragments. Do you want to take this a step further? Provide sentences and fragments that connect to a content area; religion, science, history, and before you know it writing will thrive across all subject areas.

NYS 3-8 Test Information & Dates

• 3-8 ELA (Paper): March 29-31

• 3-8 ELA (computer): March 29- April 5

• Scoring: April 1- April 13

• 3-8 Math (Paper) April 26-28

• 3-8 Math (Computer) April 25- May 4

• Scoring: April 29- May 12

• Grade 4 Science Performance Test: May 24- June 3

• Grade 4 Science Written: June 6

• Grade 8 Science Performance Test: May 24- June 3

• Grade 8 Science Written: June 6

Test scorer training will be completed via zoom. This is required for all teachers that have not participated in test scoring in the past. Teachers will need to sign up for one of the following meetings:

• March 1: 3:00-4:30 pm

• March 3: 1:00-2:30 pm

• March 4: 9:00-10:30 am

Please have teachers sign up at this link.

We will score tests on the days listed below. Locations and times for scoring will be announced in the coming weeks. But, for now, please reserve these days on your calendar and plan accordingly for substitute teachers.

• Day 1 ELA Scoring (Schools North of Buffalo) April 6

• Day 2 ELA Scoring (Schools South of Buffalo) April 8

• Day 1 Math Scoring (Schools North of Buffalo) May 6

• Day 2 Math Scoring (Schools South of Buffalo) May 5

• Science Scoring June 9

Previous "Academic Corner" posts from Kari

Our elementary schools reported 263 cases last week while our high schools reported 280 cases. It is clear that the COVID Omicron variant is certainly spreading to our school communities. I am sure your COVID efforts (arranging for substitutes for affected staff members; tracking and reporting positive cases and then contacting close contacts for quarantine) are continuing to disrupt your daily routines. Thank you for all that you do to help keep your school community safe during this challenging time.

Last week on 1/4/22 we received an update from NYSDOH regarding updated isolation and quarantine guidance. Schools in Erie County were told on 1/7/22 that they may now implement the following isolation procedures for students and staff identified as COVID positive based on the CDC recommendations (schools in other counties should check with their county health department to see if they have chosen to apply this updated guidance to the schools in their county):

· Isolate for 5 days, where day 0 is the day of symptom onset or (if asymptomatic) the day of collection of the first positive specimen.

· If asymptomatic at the end of 5 days or if symptoms are resolving, isolation ends and the individual should wear a well-fitting mask while around others for an additional 5 days.

· Individuals who are moderately-severely immunocompromised should continue to follow standard (i.e., not shortened) Isolation Guidance.

· Individuals who are unable to wear a well-fitting mask for 5 days after a 5-day isolation should also follow standard (i.e., not shortened) Isolation Guidance.

For those exposed to COVID-19 (“Close Contacts”), quarantine as follows, where day 0 is the last date of exposure – the advice below also incorporates the additional guidance that was sent to schools on 1/10/22 in the “NYSDOH COVID quarantine and isolation in the schools setting.” This previous and new guidance states the following:

1. Regarding Quarantine (for Individuals who are exposed to someone with COVID-19):

a. In-classroom activities: All fully vaccinated* individuals (students, teachers, and staff), who have been exposed to an individual with COVID-19 may continue to attend or work at school, regardless of booster status, while quarantined outside of school. This recommendation continues previous guidance in place prior to January 4. Continued attendance applies only to participation in classroom activities and taking the bus to and from school.

i. *Fully vaccinated is defined as two weeks after the receipt of either two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of Johnson and Johnson vaccine or full course of any other recognized vaccine.

b. Extracurricular or after school activities: Individuals 12 years and older who are eligible for a booster but not boosted, and who have been exposed to an individual with COVID-19, cannot participate in extracurricular or after school activities and, aside from school attendance for instruction and bus travel, must adhere to a 5-day quarantine at home. Fully vaccinated 5-11-year-old children are not eligible for a booster and have no further restrictions.

c. Students, teachers, and staff who are not vaccinated or have not completed a primary vaccine series who came into close contact with someone with COVID-19 should quarantine for at least 5 days (day 0 through day 5) after their last close contact These individuals could be eligible for Test to Stay programs that would allow them to stay in the school setting during the quarantine period. Outside the school setting, quarantine recommendations would apply.

d. (From prior guidance) if symptoms appear, quarantine and seek testing. In this situation, quarantine would end when the test is negative. If testing is not done, isolate according to the isolation guidance above.

Last week I also shared the 12/23/21 NYSDOH Test to Stay (TTS) Recommendations for County Departments of Health. I hope you were able to find out if your own County Department of Health has adopted TTS and then learn about their specific policies for implementation of a TTS program. For those schools located in Erie County, the ECDOH has adopted TTS and explained their requirements and procedures on their website, including the need for a school to have an LSL, a medical director, and properly-trained staff to do the in-school testing every day in order to run TTS. Based on the Erie County Requirements for TTS, we do not think many schools in Erie County will find implementing a TTS program to be time- or cost-effective. Remember, TTS is only appropriate for unvaccinated students who are identified as close contacts (in school only for schools in Erie County). Also, the new quarantine guidance from NYSDOH significantly reduces the time out of school for fully-vaccinated, partially-vaccinated, and unvaccinated close contacts to only 5 days, further minimizing the need to implement such an involved testing program for this unique group of students. While we certainly would not discourage you from implementing a TTS program if it is an important need in your school, we definitely understand if you decide that implementing a TTS program at your school is too cumbersome and/or unnecessary.

The additional guidance that was sent to schools on 1/10/22 in the “NYSDOH COVID quarantine and isolation in the schools setting” also states the following:

1. NYSDOH will be issuing a revised Isolation and Quarantine guidance, most recently released on January 4, 2022, soon and will also update the “test-to-stay memo last updated December 23, 2021” that was last updated December 23, 2021, to account for the new quarantine length.

2. Masking and Distancing: Both masking and distancing continue to be required in school settings.

Now that the schools that ordered take-home COVID tests from NYSDOH are hopefully receiving them, a few of you have asked us about possible uses for these tests. Here are some of our thoughts on possible uses of these tests:

1. Although NYDOH made it clear in a 1/3/22 letter to you from the Acting Commissioner of Health that these tests may be used for a TTS program, Erie County will not allow these take-home tests to be used for TTS.

a. schools in other counties should ask if these tests may be used for a TTS program.

2. NYSDOH also recommended that the tests be used for surveillance testing: “Tests could be used as part of a surveillance or testing strategy to identify positive cases among the school population. The tests can be used to monitor students and staff in classes where there are exposures. Based on test results, if individuals are asymptomatic and negative, they would be able to remain in school.”

We plan to discuss the possible uses of the take-home COVID tests during our Wednesday Principals’ Zoom meeting if you are able to join us.

Important Dates:

1/14/22 Deadline to Apply for Free UB Graduate Courses Starting 1/31/22

2/7/22 Last Day to Submit Buffalo Public Schools Textbook Requisitions

3/23/22 Save Mandated Services Claim online for C. Riso Review

3/31/22 NYSED Nonpublic Safety Equipment (NPSE) Claims Due

3/31/22 NYSED Elementary School AIS Claims Due

4/1/22 Online 2020-21 Mandated Services Claim Due to NYSED

Previous posts from Mr. Riso

1. Weekly principal Zooms at 9:30 am on Wednesdays.
2. Administrators Meeting, 8-3, January 13th, St. Andrew Country Day School.
3. Bishop Fisher's schedule for Catholic Schools Week is listed here.
   
4. The National Day of Giving for Catholic Schools is scheduled for Feb 2, 2022. Here's a link for more information.
5. X-Stream Games, May 15, 2022.
6. 175th Anniversary Mass for 8th graders, Sep 20, 2022, 10 am at the Cathedral

1. Video recording of All-schools Mass at OLV with Bishop Fisher. Here is the link to Dr. Uhl's talk.
2. "Principal Task List." This is organized as a living Google Doc by month.
   
3. Here's a link to the forms on our website.
4. New Policy Manual
5. New Operations Manual
6. Administrator Goal Sheet and the new Administrator evaluation form

This week's podcast is a great conversation with Diocese of Orlando Superintendent Henry Fortier. One of the few African-American Catholic school superintendents, Henry discusses the challenges of the past few years. Previous episodes:

• Last week I was joined on the podcast by Dr. Ann Garrido, the author/speaker/ professor of homiletics.
• The December 27th episode was a conversation with Jennifer Daniels of the USCCB about government programs and school choice.
• In the December 20th episode, I'm talking with Jodee Blanco about parents bullying the school.
• Here is the link to the Dec 13th convversation with Faustin Weber, the author of the great blog post "Top Ten Suggestions to Avoid Principal Burnout."

Here is a link to the podcast on Apple Podcasts.

A weekly newsletter of resources to spur enrollment and excellence in our Catholic schools.

Email: catholicschoolmatters@gmail.com
Website: www.wnycatholic.org
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA
Phone: 716-847-5520
Twitter: @drtimuhl

1. Creation: A Catholic's Guide to God and the Universe (2021) by Christopher T. Baglow
   

2. Connections Over Compliance: Rewiring our Perceptions of Discipline (2021) by Lori L. Desautels

3. Our Little Secret: The True Story of a Teenage Killer and the Silence of a Small New England Town (2021) by Kevin Flynn & Rebecca Lavoie

4. St. Francis of Assisi (2015) by G.K. Chesterton

5. The Power Broker: Robert Moses & the Fall of New York (1975) by Robert A. Caro

Click this link for a full list of my professional reading

January 4, 2022 "Bifocal Leadership"

December 13, 2021 "The Podcast Returns"

December 7, 2021 "Enrollment & Retention Work"

November 30, 2021 "Communication Boundaries"

November 23, 2021"Gratitude"

For previous newsletters, click this link

A couple of years ago I set out to write a book which would explore the challenges of Catholic school leadership. My premise that there are no easy answers and that we have to learn from our (and other's) mistakes in order to form a mindset appropriate for orchestrating conflict proved prescient as we all faced completely new and unexpected challenges in 2020. The book,Orchestrating Conflict: Case Studies in Catholic Leadership is now available on Amazon or on the Barnes & Noble site in print or e-book formats. The book explores issues in Catholic school leadership and the tensions between building community and following Church policies and introduces deliberate practice as a method for leadership formation.