Monday Mission Memo
December 3, 2018
Interim Superintendent's Update
School Leaders of the Diocese of Cleveland,
Happy New (Liturgical) Year! Yesterday marked the beginning of Advent, and thus the start of Liturgical Year C, in which we focus on the Gospel of Luke, which particularly emphasizes the poor and a call to social justice, as evidenced in several of the miracles and parables not found in the other gospels. May our study of the Word continue to nourish us and our vocation this coming year.
And though our neighborhood stores have had Christmas items up since long before Halloween, it is healthy to pause and appreciate the patient waiting that is the very essence of Advent. Since we are not typically with our students in schools on the actual Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas), we take the opportunity for our concerts, pageants, carols, and gatherings in the weeks ahead. That’s an appropriate tradition, but that makes it all the more important that we in Catholic schools take extra care to ensure that we give Advent its due. As Pope Francis recently reminded us, this time of waiting is ultimately a sign of hope.
Read on below for updates, including changes in the OCSAA AVS process, as well as professional gatherings and opportunities.
Thank you for all that you do to announce the coming of the Lord this Advent season.
Frank
Update on OCSAA AVS Review, Fines, and Process Going Forward
Background
The process of OCSAA AVS was enhanced this year. The change was instituted last March by the OCSAA Commission, which is the 6 superintendents from Ohio’s 6 dioceses, to elevate the importance of compliance with all of Ohio’s operating standards, which are the foundation for having our own, Catholic accreditation association recognized by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE).
For fall 2018, we changed both the stakes, by including a fine, as well as the process, by instituting a comprehensive review from our office. Like any system level change, there were both intended and unintended consequences. The intended consequences seemed to be realized, with a more critical eye placed on every single AVS entry this year. With that, however, came the unintended, including new questions about who should be included, the particulars of each entry, formatting of text, and the like, which were overwhelming to our review process. Our office did not have a completely unified front in how to answer some of those questions. Given that challenge as well as the sheer volume of records reviewed by our staff, we found that more schools were fined by OCSAA for non-compliance than our office expected following our review.
Updates
Late last week, the OCSAA Commission (6 superintendents) met again to review the process following our first fall of implementation and decided to add one more layer of review. Going forward, following the date that AVS submissions are due, they will be reviewed by the OCSAA office, then OCSAA Director Theresa Bowser will notify each superintendent of issues of non-compliance in his or her diocese. At that time, the superintendent (and/or staff) will follow up with any school to verify and document the non-compliance before assessing the fine.
One thing that we should make clear for the purpose of this process: the AVS portal is its own record with the state of Ohio. When ODE does an audit of our schools, as it is wont to do, it expects accuracy in the portal, not just in our binders or in CORE. It is for that reason that the portal has been the emphasis of the AVS process. Mistakes are human, and this additional layer will help us address some of those, but having current, accurate information reflected in the OCSAA portal is the aim of this initiative.
The new layer of review described above will also be introduced to the AVS submissions of November 1, 2018. Beginning today, our staff, led by Tracey Arnone, will review the non-compliance issues for the purpose of verifying and documenting according to the following process:
If you sent letters or emails to OCSAA with clarifications or explanations, please ensure that Tracey Arnone was copied (no need to resend if she was) or forward them at this time.
Note that those schools who were out of compliance with any of Ohio’s operating standards as of November 1,2018 will be assessed a fine. (If the noted non-compliance has been fixed since November 1, it will be current for the spring AVS review, but the penalty still holds.)
Any school whose non-compliance was due to a listing in the OCSAA AVS system that did not reflect the reality of compliance (for example, a typo, a mislabeled employee, a valid license incorrectly entered, etc.), will be revisited over the next 2 weeks.
Our office will provide a thorough update to the OCSAA Director on the status of all schools found non-compliant in this round by December 17, 2018.
Those whose status changes from non-compliant to compliant will receive a formal letter from OCSAA documenting the change and removing the fine.
The superintendents agreed to add this layer to share the burden of review and communication between the superintendent’s office and the OCSAA office. In our cyclical operations, some of the best learning is iterative, so I appreciate your patience as we learn from the process and implement improvements to streamline it. I also look forward to hearing more feedback after we complete this round and look forward to future operations.
-Frank
School Spotlight - St. Joseph School, Cuyahoga Falls
Carrie DePasquale leads St. Joseph School
Music brightens up the day at St. Joseph School
A Christmas miracle at St. Joseph School
School Spotlight - Elyria Catholic High School
Elyria Catholic Readies for 70th Anniversary
Elyria Catholic High School had its formal beginnings when ninth graders began their classes in a temporary facility at St. Mary's School in 1948. The construction of Elyria Catholic was completed in 1949, and the first graduation was held for 17 students on June 2, 1950.
In 1993, Elyria Catholic High School became the first Lorain County school to be recognized as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the United States Department of Education. In 1996, the school received its accreditation by the North Central Association.
The Elyria Catholic 2019 Forward Gala, 70th Anniversary Ball will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2019, in the Elyria Catholic Coliseum. Bishop Nelson Perez will serve as keynote speaker and will join the school in celebrating 70 years of Catholic education. The gala committee is busy planning for the milestone event. If you are interested in helping, please contact Michelle Hoffman at (440) 230-8618.
The event will be held in the school’s own Coliseum and will include dinner, entertainment, a live and silent auction and a special program to recognize people important to the school who have achieved distinction in their field of expertise and/or pursuit of higher education while continuing to demonstrate the qualities of an Elyria Catholic High School student - Excellence, Compassion, Faith, Tradition and Community.
School's Maker Space Fuels Innovation
Funded by grants from Ridge Tool, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, Rooted in Faith and proceeds from the Elyria Catholic 2018 Forward Gala, Elyria Catholic this year unveiled its innovative new Maker Space on the first floor of the school. The space features two large interior windows to allow all students passing by to view activities and equipment and become inspired to participate.
The space includes one Makergear M3-ID Dual Head 3D Printer and one Caftbot Plus 3D Printer, as well as one ViewSonic Interactive Board and computer, Roland Vinyl Cutter and one Epilog Mini 18 Laster Cutter. Minimal furniture is easily movable and collaborative to allow the space to flex easily to the needs of different classes and groups.
The Business & Entrepreneurship class is excited to design, produce and market products using the 3D Printers, Laser Cutter and Vinyl Cutter. Engineering I and II are the first to use the space. Physics classes and the Science Olympiad team also will utilize the space.
Staff and students will be trained and “badged” qualified for each piece of equipment. Once “badged,” they will be allowed to work independently at any time in the space during study halls and after school.
The space also includes five Eachine FVP and Micro RC Drones and five Beta75 Drones.
Film Club is Featured in Local Newspaper
The club was featured in a recent article in Lorain's daily newspaper, The Morning Journal.
The newspaper quoted Nicholas Ziegelmeyer, club president and director of this year’s feature film. "In general, this is one of the clubs that is the most involved in our school because it's a very simple concept -- you get to watch movies every two Fridays, and you get to eat pizza," Nicholas, 17, said. "Most people like food and simple fun and it's always a pretty relaxed atmosphere."
Religion, film and theater teacher Kevin Juguilon is the moderator of the club. He told the newspaper that the club creates a place for students just to spend time together outside of the classroom to make friends and feel more a part of the school.
"I think those are very important, especially if some people may be more academically inclined or athletically inclined, some people are still trying to figure it out," Juguilon said. "At the very least, it's a place where nothing is expected of you really. It's a place where it's just there for the students to enjoy themselves."
CEET grant available for educators
The Catholic School Principal Leadership Grant (CSPL)
Is available to Catholic elementary and secondary school teachers in the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland who are seeking to become principals, as well as current Catholic school administrators seeking to attain principal certification/licensure. A minimum of three years teaching experience in a Catholic school is required. Applicant must be a practicing Catholic and an active member of a Catholic parish. Applicant should be committed to the development of a Christian spirit and a Catholic community of faith within the school. Reimbursement is up to 1/3 for initial submission or 1/4 for subsequent submission, of the cost of tuition (not including fees).
Contact Cindy Williams-CEET Grant Coordinator for further details and an application at: 216-696-6525 ext. 2830 or cwilliams@dioceseofcleveland.org