Monday Mission Memo
March 25, 2019
Superintendent's Update
As leaders we have so many decisions to make, operating this year while planning for the next - everything from forecasting budgets and enrollment to determining staffing and planning curricula and programming. It sometimes feels as if we are expected to keep a crystal ball on hand to predict the futures of our organizations.
On this feast of the Assumption, I am struck by a particular line from today’s Gospel, Mary’s response to the Angel Gabriel: “May it be done to me according to your word." For this otherwise stunning news to be received in such a way testifies to her tremendous faith in God and trust in the path ahead. My prayer is for my own and our collective faith and trust, that we can learn from the example of Mary. And that we may also listen carefully for our angels to point us in the directions God wills.
The NCEA Convention is coming up. Our School Leadership Team from the OCFE will be there in force, and I hope that many of you consider making the trip as well. It is not too late to register: https://www.ncea.org/ncea2019. We will have more updates as the date gets closer.
Read on for more updates, reminders, and opportunities in our schools.
Frank
Attention all schools in Group IV Accreditation Cycle!
1. Preliminary School Improvement Plan
2. Revised School Improvement Plan
3. EVT Team Suggested Actions
4. Response to Suggested Actions
School Spotlight - Mater Dei Academy
Joanie Klemens, principal of Mater Dei, is about to become famous!
Kindness is King at Mater Dei!
After School Clubs at Mater Dei are very popular!
School Spotlight - St. Anselm School
Let the Challenge Begin!
Annually, The American Scholastic Achievement League invites students in grades 6 and 8 to participate in Scholastic Challenge. St. Anselm students are encouraged to begin in grade 5 and work in the higher divisions. In February, they competed in online entertaining and challenging enrichment activities, demonstrating a variety of problem-solving skills in many academic areas. They compete as individuals and also as members of the school's team in a unique, interesting and educational program. Last year, one of the 5th graders placed 1st and they are hoping for even more success this year.
Whose Face Do You See?
“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see” - Edgar Degas. The 7th graders led others to both see and learn through a recent art project. Taking a multi-disciplinary approach, they had to research an artist, write a script as if they were meeting the artist, use technology to create a movie of their interaction, then paint an image that their face could be inserted into for one of the final products. They ended with a public speaking presentation, thus tying this project to one of their accreditation skills.
Inspiration Grows
Faith Families and inspirational quotes add to the positive culture at St. Anselm School. Parish and school staff were asked to share their favorite quotes to help with the selection that can be found as you travel through the halls. Beyond the words, it’s not hard to find students excited to help the younger grades during recess. This is just one positive impact of implementing Faith Families. The students have embraced this concept and are very supportive of one another.
Upcoming Events:
April 6th–X-STREAM Games at Holy Name High School 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
April 9th–CAPP Final Class–Field Trips to Metro Catholic/St. Francis, Julie Billiart, and St. Paschal Baylon 9:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
April 12th–Accreditation Meeting at St. Benedict, Group IV 11:30 a.m.
Background Check View Unavailable in CORE-Missy Hokanson
The ODE was audited by the FBI and was advised that the background check info of educators should not be public. They advised the ODE that only certain individuals should be able to access that information. That would include district superintendents, their designees and credential e-signers. As you can imagine, Frank and I cannot possibly handle the requests for background check dates.
I am currently working with the ODE and a few principals who have agreed to be my guinea pigs to come up with a work-around for you. Once I am comfortable with this, I will advise you. In the meantime, should you require a faculty or coach’s background check dates, the individual can log into his or her SAFE account where he or she can access his or her own information. Ask the individual to print a copy for you. I hope to have this in place over the next few weeks.
Safe Audit Survey
SAVE THE DATES
August 7: STREAM Academy will take place at St. Bernadette School in Westlake.
August 9: New Teacher Orientation for PK-8 teachers will take place at St. Christopher in Rocky River.
Poetry Rocks Schools Provides Innovative Engagement for Students
Question: What would happen if Edgar Allan Poe & Adele teamed up to help teach class?
Answer: Poetry Rocks Schools
Poetry Rocks Schools is a resource that has a unique approach that students love because it gets them creatively and emotionally involved. The company takes poetry and other literature and use the works as lyrics for original, commercial-quality songs written and produced to sound like today's radio hits.
While native to language arts classes, Poetry Rocks Schools is designed for cross-curricular use for subjects such as history, music, drama, speech class and beyond. But most importantly, students today need more exposure to creative and critical thinking–and music can be the gateway. The resource is designed for students in 4-12 grades.
Teachers and students access songs, videos, and comprehensive lesson plans through PRS’s website: www.poetryrocksschools.com. The website houses all of the content, including teacher and student dashboards, videos, lesson plans, and curriculum standards. PRS invites you to click and play the video samples on their website to see why the creators are so excited about this different approach to teaching.
Schools in our neighboring Diocese of Youngstown are currently using Poetry Rocks Schools with great success.
The website currently offers a 14-day free trial of the program, but Larry Lozier, from Poetry Rocks Schools, has graciously offered to give all schools in the Cleveland Catholic Diocese free access until the end of this school year. For more information, please contact Larry or Rob, both of whom are also interested in receiving feedback on their product.
Rob Nolfe, 917-674-3106, rob@poetryrocksschools.com
Larry Lozier, 917-570-6096, larry@poetryrocksschools.com
Summer Professional Development for Middle School STEM 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.
Loyola University Chicago online and hybrid offerings
Applications are now being accepted for three exciting offerings for Catholic school educators from Loyola University Chicago. Each program is designed with the reality of the Catholic school in mind. Scholarships are available for each program. Courses are taught primarily with faculty from the Andrew M. Greeley Center for Catholic Education.
M.Ed. in Catholic School Leadership
The M.Ed. in Catholic School Leadership is intentionally designed to prepare candidates to meet the complex challenges of leading today’s Catholic schools. Candidates will learn how to utilize mission and strategy for sustained, substantive school improvement and develop the skills to function as faith leaders of collaborative, capacity-building communities. The program is taught in a hybrid manner with several face to face residency classes and online learning. Each candidate is assigned a coach who will work with the candidate for the duration of the program.
Instructional Coaching Certificate
The four online graduate courses will focus on the foundations of instructional coaching from a Catholic school lens. Coursework will include the “how-to’s” of instructional coaching, curriculum and instruction for school leaders, MTSS for school leaders, and using data for continuous improvement.
Leading Inclusive Catholic Schools Certificate
The LInCS certificate program is a four course online program to build the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to enhance a leader’s ability to build inclusionary programs in Catholic schools. This program will address the professional learning needs of Catholic school administrators and teacher-leaders.