Office for Schools
Diocese of San Diego ~ October 2016
Welcome!
Dear Catholic School Teachers,
In a diocese that spans the entire southern tip of California along the U.S.-Mexican border, I spend considerable time in my car. With less considerable time in my day to meet work’s demands, it is a time-saving must to take advantage of the road. I return office calls, get caught up on current news, podcasts (try Dr. Tim Uhl’s “Catholic School Matters”), and I pray (*).
Last week as I was driving to St. Mary School in Escondido, my prayer centered on a teaching of Jesus that appears in each of the synoptic Gospels:
“…No one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins. [And] no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’”
What exactly is Jesus saying here, and what does it have to do with Catholic education? In this passage, Jesus is waxing irony. He is calling attention to those who are satisfied with old forms, and thus, preventing them from sampling the new. What are you doing in your classroom this year that is new, relevant, and speaks to innovation in educating your students into this 21st-century?
In recent visits to schools, and in conversations with members of your school communities, this is just a glimpse of what the Office for Schools has seen and heard that is new, relevant and innovative:
- St. Martin of Tours Academy continues to distinctly educate as a certified Fair Trade school, promoting social justice, environmental sustainability, and economic empowerment for Fair Trade producers, workers, artisans and their families.
- St. Francis of Assisi School continues to develop art and technology enhancements for students through Design class and “Little Stem.”
- FIAT School teachers continue to define their professional collaboration across a region through a STEM focus.
- St. Michael’s School students participate in Lego Mindstorms Robotics, becoming knowledgeable of how things work, completing engineering design projects, analyzing past engineering disasters, and engaging in field experiences.
- Digital portfolios at St. Charles School combine in-depth cumulative reflection with an integrated Catholic Identity and faith journey component.
- Mater Dei Catholic High School’s Academy of Science promotes STEAM Fundamentals for College Readiness, work-based learning incorporating STEAM research and innovative experiences with San Diego’s STEAM community professionals, and career development and resume building in STEAM.
Wherever your drive takes you, allow the person of Jesus Christ to ride passenger, and set your GPS to elevate your students’ experience in the classroom with innovation and relevance to meet 21st-century needs.
In Mission,
John
(* Disclaimer: My impact-safe Volvo is equally safe in Bluetooth functionality, and I keep my eyes wide open when pray and drive!)
Did You Know...
- Over 35 educators attended the first Beginning Teachers' Academy (BTA) meetings in September? One meeting was held at the Pastoral Center and the other was held at St. Mary's in El Centro. The next BTA meeting is this Thursday, October 20. See the agenda for this week's meeting and the 1st Edition of the BTA E-news.
- We have a Diocesan NGSS Committee? We are working on curating resources, participating in NGSS county trainings, and developing a suggested rollout roadmap for our schools. Please email Julie if you're interested in participating: jcantillon@sdcatholic.org
- We have agreements with several online and local universities where you can earn your preliminary credential and/or Master's Degree at a discounted price? See here.
- We have a total of 12 teachers participating in the first year of our Diocesan Teacher Induction program?
- We are sharing resources, tips, and strategies in our Facebook Professional Learning Group? Log in to your Facebook account and search for SD Catholic Schools Professional Learning Network.
Future Leader Discernment
“Go forth and set the world on fire.” ― Ignatius of Loyola
Quality leadership is paramount to the success of our Catholic schools. In order to cultivate the next generation of leadership in our Diocese, the Office for Schools is hosting a future leader discernment session facilitated by John Galvan on November 15th from 3:30-5:00pm at the Pastoral Center. Taking from the themes of Ignatian spirituality, our future leaders will spend time examining their call to leadership in a broader capacity. This session will be a single session meeting and will only be offered once this year. The session comes at no cost to our participants.
If you would like to attend this session, please complete the Discernment Interest Form. If you are unable to attend this particular session, but would like to be added to the OFS list for future discernment meetings, please also complete the form.
Learning Support Meetings
Meeting #1 Topic: Systems & Processes - Working with your LEA
STAR Updates
The OFS STAR Fall 2016 Parent Letter is in the Google Drive under STAR Assessment Resources > 2016-2017 School Year > 16-17 Parent Letters, or use the link below. In the STAR Assessment Resources folder you can also find parent report creation instructions and 2016-17 OFS STAR policy.
Professional Learning
We have many Professional Learning opportunities - most are free and not during school hours!
Check Out in the Portal Below:
- NGSS SDCOE Trainings (Highly Recommended by the NGSS Committee) - Elementary NGSS Academy: 11/29, 11/30, 12/15; Middle School NGSS Academy: 1/25, 1/26, 2/8
- Science and Faith Alliance Workshop (NGSS) - October 28 ($40)
Digital Portfolios for Catholic Education
Tuesday, Oct 18, 2016, 03:00 PM
3888 Paducah Drive, San Diego, CA, United States
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
UPDATED Articles/Resources to check out in our Google Drive:
Celebrating Our Catholic Schools
Other Important News
2017 Catholic Schools Week
January 29-February 4, 2017
Daily Themes for 2016
Saturday, February 4 ~ Celebrating Families ~ Catholic Schools' Night at the San Diego Gulls (details coming soon)
WCEA Website
The mission of WCEA is to promote quality Catholic education for students in our member elementary and secondary schools through an accrediting process that assures the primacy of faith formation and educational excellence.
NCEA Website
Rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) is a professional membership organization that provides leadership, direction, and service to fulfill the evangelizing, catechizing, and teaching mission of the Church.
CICI
Mission: Catholic Identity Curriculum Integration (CICI) is a national collaborative project to develop and disseminate academic resources and professional development that supports the integration of Catholic Identity into locally developed rigorous, standards-based curriculum.
Shared Office for Schools Google Drive
Links to Previous OFS Newsletters
Diocesan Prayer
Lord, Jesus,
through the intercession of our patron saints,
San Diego and Our Lady of Refuge,
we beg you for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit
upon all of us called to be your disciples
and members of your Church.
Bless us to be obedient servants,
as you were obedient
in loving response to the Father’s love,
and to love one another
as you have first loved us.
Bless us with happy marriages and holy families,
with bishops, religious, deacons and priests
to image your presence among us,
and with dedicated lay people,
both married and single,
to be signs of your love in the world.
Help us to embrace
the mission you have entrusted to us,
in lives of fidelity, holiness and compassion.
San Diego, pray for us.
Our Lady of Refuge, pray for us.
Contact Information
Email: ahodges@sdcatholic.org
Website: http://www.diocese-sdiego.org/
Location: 3888 Paducah Drive, San Diego, CA, United States
Phone: 858-490-8240
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sdcatholic/
Twitter: @DioceseSDschool