Monday Mission Memo
March 11, 2019
Interim Superintendent's Update
School Leaders of the Diocese of Cleveland,
Happy National Catholic Sisters Week! It is a tremendous opportunity to honor those religious sisters currently serving in your schools or those of the past who built the schools and systems of which we are now caretakers.
During this first full week of Lent, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, and the Vatican Curia are partaking in a week of spiritual exercises, with the theme of Christ’s gaze and gestures in the life of the world. Whatever pathway toward renewal we all undertake during this season of prayer, fasting, and alms, let us hold one another up in prayer as we prepare our hearts for Easter glory.
Thanks to all who attended the Heart of the Mission day at the Convention Center Friday. I appreciate the feedback we have received thus far and we will seek more from elementary leaders in the coming weeks.
As the saying goes, March 17 is a day that everyone is Irish, including Bishop Perez, who will celebrate the Irish American Club East Side Mass at Sts. Robert and William on Sunday. (I’ll be there too with a few generations of O’Linns.) Whether or not you and yours can trace your ancestry back to The Emerald Isle, beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh! (St. Patrick’s Day blessings to you!)
Frank
NPDS Changes
It is time for NDPS consultation and reporting. Please see the recent email from Pam Ouzts from February 28 or the handout for NDPS changes for this year, as well as the CCIP Note #406 which indicated the opening of the NDPS process and instructions.
Please do not wait until the last minute to start on the consultation process and complete your NPDS. The system will remain open until May 24 for this reporting.
School Spotlight–Academy of St. Adalbert, Berea
Literacy in Leadership
Every Friday afternoon, students participate in a staff-initiated Literacy in Leadership program based on The Seven Habits for Happy Kids by Sean Covey. With a growth mindset philosophy, students in grades 4-8 create an activity based on one of the habits. Once the activity, which also always includes a book, is prepared, upper grades are paired with lower grades to teach and complete the activity, thus encouraging both literacy and leadership at the Academy of St. Adalbert.
Sensory Room
In the lower level at the Academy of St. Adalbert, there is a very special room for very important students–those who need sensory support on a daily or weekly basis. Students with sensory processing disorders spend time developing skills to cope with their environments where they often feel bombarded with sensory input. Whether they need to learn in a quiet space with special lights, or find a chair that brings calm to their movements, the sensory room offers a safe space for learning.
Family Nights Create Community
Learning as a community inside the building also leads to community outside of school. This year, the school families celebrate a quarterly Family Night when no homework is given to any student with the school-wide objective being family. Each Family Night offers something different–perhaps a trip to school to "camp" with stories and time together or dinner at a local restaurant with the school community. Though no actual homework is assigned, important life lessons are being mastered.
School Spotlight–Our Lady of the Lake, Euclid
Problem-Solving with the City of Euclid
How many plastic caps are needed to reach 200 pounds? That is a question the 2nd graders will be able to answer this spring. They have partnered with the city of Euclid and Mayor Kirsten Holzheimer Gail to help keep Euclid clean. If they reach their goal of collecting 200 pounds of plastic lids, which will be melted down by the city, the school will receive a Buddy Bench and tree to plant. More importantly, they will know they are doing their part to recycle and keep their city clean.
Mardi Gras Parade
The annual 4th grade Mardi Gras parade is a colorful and favorite event among the students. To celebrate this tradition, the students dress up, sample tasty treats, learn about the history of Mardi Gras, and what the colors symbolize in preparation for Lent. Even now principal Mrs. Jennifer Millett, can remember her days as a former student in the parade.
Preparing for State Assessments
Testing–a word that represents measuring depth of knowledge and growth in learning for individuals and schools. The third graders at Our Lady of the Lake and their teachers understand the importance of performing well on state assessments. Each Monday, time is spent in the technology lab to practice keyboarding and extended response prompts to develop skills needed for a successful outcome.
Better Together Meeting: March 22 at St. Francis of Assisi School, Gates Mills
A reminder to all Diocesan principals and school inclusion coordinators to register for the final Better Together meeting of this school year. This gathering will feature 4 breakout sessions being presented by current and former teachers and classroom professionals. These highly experienced individuals will be presenting information and strategies on teaching students with ADD/ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Specific Learning Disabilities as well as transitioning students with learning challenges from elementary to high school. The day will begin with light refreshments at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 2:15 p.m., with lunch provided. Registration is currently available on Digital Academy and will close on Tuesday, March 19. Don’t miss out on this valuable professional development opportunity!
Trade Books Free to Good Home
Erin Faetanini from St. Barnabas School has a list of books removed from inventory that she is offering to any school that would like them. Interested principals should bring a box or bag to take what they want when attending next week's principal's meeting at St. Barnabas School. The list of available books is in the document below.
Background Check Information–Missy Hokanson
Rapback....What does it mean to be enrolled in rapback?
I have recently been receiving questions about the rapback system, as I believe some educators are discovering they are not enrolled in this, causing some confusion. This is nothing new; I have shared the information since 2007 when rules changed. In a nutshell, when an educator completes an Ohio BCI check and has it electronically submitted to ODE, they should be enrolled in the rapback system. Rapback monitors and alerts districts of any misconduct. For some reason, some educators' last BCI recorded in CORE did not get enrolled in the rapback; I was one of these unfortunate souls! Educators who are not enrolled in the rapback receive an email and a letter to the address listed in the Educators CORE profile explaining what needs to be done to remedy the situation. The ODE allows a period of time for the educator to complete a new BCI, but at some point, it will mark the educator's license as inactive. Below is a link of FAQs for this. If you are looking at your personnel in CORE, you may see "Not enrolled in rapback." If this is the case, please inform the educator to get a new BCI and have it electronically submitted to ODE.
Adelante Conference at Univ. of Notre Dame - Register by March 15
This two-and-a-half day conference, held from June 30-July 2, will build awareness around topics pertaining to Latinos in Catholic schools, as well as expand the network of advocates for this mission, including a keynote address by Sr. Norma Pimentel, M.J. The registration fee for the conference is only $375, which covers all lodging and food.
Visit https://ace.nd.edu/about/adelante for more information and to register.
Christopher West and TOB Resources
Thank you to everyone who attended the Heart of the Mission event on March 8. As promised, our keynote speaker Christopher West has given participants a free course: “What Do You Want? A FREE course with Christopher West.” In order to access it, text Course to 63566. You can also to go to AskChrisopherWest.com or download on iTunes his podcasts that he created with his wife Wendy to answer questions about marriage and family, in light of John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. Other resources include the websites TOBInstitute.org and CorProject.com. You can also follow Christopher West in the following ways:
Facebook, cwestofficial
Instagram: @cwestofficial
Twitter: @cwestofficial
Lastly, the following clip, originally intended for college students, provides a good 10-minute introduction to Theology of the Body.