Monday Mission Memo
April 8, 2019
Superintendent's Update
School Leaders of the Diocese of Cleveland,
As the Lenten journey of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving marches on toward Holy Week, know that you and all of your schools remain in the hearts and prayers of all of us at the OCFE.
Thanks to all who made last weekend’s X-STREAM games possible, especially the amazing work by Jenny Miroglotta and Marsha Hecker in this office, as well as the leadership of our participating elementary principals and STREAM coordinators. This 2nd annual games saw more than 500 participants from 26 elementary schools. The event has many benefits in and of itself, but from my perspective, the long-term value of the STREAM approach is to move the needle on engaging, authentic, problem-based learning. The Essential Project Design Elements and Project-Based Teaching Practices that underpin the events for STREAM are, with appropriate attention and care, transferable to all of our subject areas. I encourage all elementary schools to consider participating and/or learn more of what it’s all about, and even though the Bridge gatherings are on hiatus during our many transitions in this office, the opportunities for high schools and elementary schools to partner on STREAM will likely grow. We will, of course, be gathering feedback from coordinators at the May STREAM meeting.
Last week around Cleveland and throughout Ohio there was news about “Alianna’s Law,” which went into effect last Friday and requires schools to report to parents the absence of any student within 2 hours of the start of school if the parents have not already provided notification. The Catholic Conference of Ohio has informed us that the provisions of the law do not apply to chartered nonpublic schools. However, nothing prevents you from adopting this very sound practice. Catholic schools educate in partnership with parents, and making this routine process of follow up as rapid as possible communicates the importance we place on the care for and safety of children. We pray for Alianna, her family, and all those touched by her tragic loss.
Sincerely,
Frank
Progress Reports 1,2,3, and 4 must be uploaded to the OCSAA portal by April 30th
OCSAA requires that all SIPs are review, reflected upon, and revised every year. Please review, reflect, and revise if necessary your approved School Improvement Plan. The templates for these yearly progress reports are found in the "Templates" section of the OCSAA website. All forms should be uploaded every year by April 30th. Years 2 and 4 Progress reports should also by emailed to Theresa Bowser by April 30th.
DIRECTIONS for Progress Report Years 2 and 4:
- This form is to be completed collaboratively by the faculty at the end of year two of implementation of the
School Improvement Plan. This form will become part of the documentation for strategy #12 of the School Improvement Plan
- Please save this Word document locally, then EXPORT TO PDF (File | Export > Create PDF/XPS)
- Upload the completed PDF to the school’s folder on the OCSAA web portal.
- PLEASE ALSO EMAIL THE COMPLETED PDF FORM TO tbowser@ocsaa.org
DIRECTIONS for Progress Review Years 1 and 3:
- This form is to be completed collaboratively by the faculty at the end of YEAR ONE of implementation of the
School Improvement Plan. This form will become part of the documentation for strategy #6 of the School Improvement Plan.
- Please save this Word document locally, then EXPORT TO PDF (File | Export > Create PDF/XPS)
- Upload the completed PDF to the school’s folder on the OCSAA web portal.
- DO NOT email this completed form to OCSAA.
School Spotlight - Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Principal Shelly Schenek with pastor Fr. Joseph Eddy, Mercedarian sisters, and school mascot dog!
State-of-the-Art STREAM Learning Lab at OLMC
Music rocks at OLMC!
School Spotlight - St. Francis De Sales School, Akron
Principal Katie Buzzelli with the second graders of St. Francis de Sales School!
Sensory Path in the primary hallway
Last Supper Painting includes the three pastors of St. Francis de Sales Parish
Safe Audit Survey is Due May 1!
The URL is http://schoolsafe.dioceseofcleveland.org. You use your diocesan webmail username and password to enter.
Any questions about the survey contact Dolores Bruno - dbruno@dioceseofcleveland.org. If you need your username and password contact Tom McBride at tmcbride@dioceseofcleveland.org.
Pope Francis Leadership Initiative Applications Due on April 18th
PD Opportunities - Don't Miss Out!
Digital Tools for Formative Assessment: Formative Assessment….who has time for that? You will after this! Spend some time learning the basics of some EdTech tools like Padlet, Peardeck, Google Forms and Write Surge which will give you fast, accurate, and reliable data to move your lesson in the right direction for all your students. You will create assessment which you can use in your class the next day!
- Date: April 10, 2019
- Location: Immaculate Heart of Mary, Cuyahoga Falls
- Time: 4:00-6:30 p.m.
Google Slides: What your mother never told you... Referred to as “The Swiss Army Knife” of EdTech tools -Google Teacher Tribe, Google Slides has all your students need to be creators in your classroom. In this session we will explore how Google Slides can engage your students and have them begging for “more time please” to explore learning in your classroom. We will explore, digital work space for students, “app smashing” and accessing predesigned templates your students can use to start creating! You will leave with ideas you can use in your classroom the next day!
- Date: April 17, 2019
- Location: Immaculate Heart of Mary, Cuyahoga Falls
- Time: 4:00-6:30 p.m.
Tech Toolbox: fill your toolbox with digital tools that will engage your students! Where is your “go to bag” of ideas when you need it? In your file cabinet, on a post-it in your teacher’s edition, or lost….. Let’s create a Tech Toolbox for you to organize as your “go to” place for digital tools to integrate into your lesson . Buncee, Padlet, Screencastify, Google Slides and Google Drawing are just a few tools we will explore in this session. Please come with ideas and lessons you are currently using in your classroom. Incorporating the Technology Integration Matrix (TIM), we will explore how to integrate those tools redesign a lesson for you!
- Date: May 1, 2019
- Location: Immaculate Heart of Mary, Cuyahoga Falls
- Time: 4:00-6:30 p.m.
Register for all courses in the Digital Academy: doc.digitalacademy.org
Tabor Fund Grants
Summer PD For STEM Middle School Teachers
This summer the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, in partnership with Notre Dame College and the Digital Academy, will be putting together another teacher professional development course for Middle School STEM Teachers (Grades 6-8). This professional development will show computer, math, and science teachers how they can incorporate simple computer programming projects into their curriculum, using lesson materials and tools on the Digital Academy. The lessons are based on work that is been done with the computer programming club that students from Gesu, OLA, Saint Anselm, Saint Benedict, Saint Bernadette, Saint Ambrose, Saint Matthew in Akron and Saint Jude have participated in this year. The professional development will also demonstrate how schools can create an online STEM showcase featuring their student programs using the Digital Academy, which they can link to their website under their STEM section to help with recruitment and enrollment. The courses will be online and in person. Teachers are encouraged to come to the first course in person but can choose to attend online after that (just like the students from the computer programming club have done all year).
Registration will be available on the Digital Academy. Spaces will be limited and will be filled on a first-come first-served basis.
STEM Education Conference June 12-13, 2019
The STEMM Education Center at Cleveland State University in collaboration with the Ohio STEM Learning Network (OSLN) would like to invite you to an exciting two-day conference!!
STEM Education Conference June 12-13, 2019
This conference will offer you the opportunity to engage and learn with other K12 educators with hands-on, interactive STEM-related lessons and ideas for each of the K-4, 5-8, 9-12 grade bands levels. There will be something for everybody!
When: June 12 10:00am– 4:15pm
June 13 9:00am – 2:30 pm
Where: Cleveland State University – Wolstein Center
Conference Registration Cost: $30
Registration cost will cover breakfast, lunch and parking for both days. Conference Registration will close May 15, 2019.
#CleSTEM2019
Contact stemmed@csuohio.edu
Is your school offering summer school for the Third Grade Reading Guarantee?
Thank you STREAM Schools!
Central Central Purchasing Office Closing
As was previously announced, the Central Central Purchasing Office is closing after 55 years of service to this and other dioceses. For parishes and schools who had service contracts arranged through the CPO, this linked memo updating the status of some and including list of vendors has been prepared with contact information. Parishes/schools will be able to maintain services with these vendors directly.
Lockdown door control
A number of schools have partnered with Door Bearacade to physically secure learning spaces in the event of a lockdown. The company is providing free estimates. See https://doorbearacade.com/ or contact Bob Andrea at bob@doorbearacade.com .