From: Jack Altenburger
Sent: Friday, October 05, 2007 3:38 PM
To: Diocesan Schools -- All
Subject: Principals' Bulletin, 10-05-07

Attachments: Letter from COSI; COSI Rally Flyer; Model Teachers Classrooms; Mix It Up Day Grant

 

 

DIOCESE OF TOLEDO

PRINCIPALS’ BULLETIN

OCTOBER 5, 2007

 

 

 

Cyss.org    ~    Calendar    ~    Principals’ Web Page    ~     Forms Due Web Page

 

 

 

FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT…

 

 

Board Training (a reminder):

Dr. Regina Haney, the Executive Director of the National Association of Boards, Commissions & Councils of Catholic Education (part of the National Catholic Educational Association) will be presenting a workshop for members of Catholic school governing boards.

 

This workshop will be focused on new models of governance in Catholic schools.  More and more of our schools now have governing boards as opposed to traditional parish school advisory councils.  Some are involved with K-12 schools, some are high school boards.  This workshop will be a training session for members of those types of boards.  It will be beneficial also for those schools considering this type of governing structure for the future.

 

The workshop is scheduled for Friday, October 19 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the Sts. Peter & Paul Parish Gathering Center, 510 Columbus Ave. in Sandusky.  This workshop is offered at NO COST.

 

As soon as you can, please let me know if you are interested in having some or all of your board members attend.  Certainly pastors, local superintendents/ presidents, and principals are welcome as well.

 

 

 

CLASSROOMS OPEN FOR VISITATION:

Some of our Catholic school educators have been working on the best practice model as presented in the Innovative Educators Program for no less than 5 years.  These teachers have agreed to open their classrooms to visitors this school year.  A list of these teachers, their school, grade level, and contact information is in an attachment to this Bulletin.  Principals are asked to encourage their teachers to take advantage of this offer by calling the school and setting a date for a visit.  The teacher should leave his/her name and number and the call will be returned.  Questions: Contact Kathy Taraschke at  ktaraschke@toledodiocese.org

 

 

ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND OTHER DRUG SURVEY:

The alcohol, tobacco and other drug survey will be ready for implementation this fall.  The exact date is yet to be determined.  This survey will provide the same design as in previous years, but will no longer be called the “ADAS Survey”.  The Alcohol & Drug Addiction Services (ADAS) Board has merged with the Mental Health Board to form the Mental Health Recovery Services Board (M.H.R.S.B.).  The MHRSB has taken over responsibility for the survey and is providing funding for survey implementation to all Lucas County schools.  There will be no cost for this service to our Catholic Schools in Lucas County.  Due to consortium budget constraints there is currently no funding available to involve our schools in outlying counties.  

 

The analysis and aggregate report will continue to be compiled and written by principle researcher, Dr. Bill Ivoska, as it has in the past.  Lucas County schools are strongly encouraged to participate, because the data generated from this survey is an integral part of the re-application process to obtain Title IV, Safe & Drug Free Schools Funding, which will benefit all of our Catholic schools across the nineteen counties.

 

Schools in Lucas County are asked to e-mail Tami Kwiatkowski at the CYSS office at: tkwiatkowski@toledodiocese.org indicating your intent to participate in the MHRSB Survey, no later than Wednesday October 10, 2007.  For further information about the survey please contact Frank DiLallo at the CYSS office.

 

 

COSI:

Schools in metro-Toledo are aware that COSI-Toledo will have a levy on the ballot in November.  Passing this levy will be critical to the future of COSI.  Without the funds generated by the levy, COSI will have to close.  In order to promote COSI and get the vote out, COSI is appealing to schools and families.  With that in mind, a “Family Night and Rally for COSI” will be held on October 23 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm.  This is scheduled specifically for students, parents, and teachers from Catholic schools.  Admission is FREE.  (Another similar evening will be scheduled for families of Toledo Public School students.)

 

Attached is a letter and flyer from COSI.  Please make copies (back to back) and send it home to your families.  Whatever support schools can give to support the COSI levy effort will be appreciated.  If you have questions or ideas, call Michelle Leow-Klinger or Lori Hauser at COSI (419-244-2674)

 

 

COLLEGE LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM:

The following information was received from the “Council for Private Education” (CAPE):

The newly enacted federal college loan forgiveness program for public servants, including persons who teach in religious and independent schools, could save some teachers over $100,000 when it comes to paying down college debt. The program enables graduates to take jobs they would otherwise pass up because of being saddled with high debt. It also enables schools and other public service agencies to attract high-caliber applicants they would otherwise lose to higher paying positions.

 

The October issue of “CAPE Outlook” explains how the program works and what teachers must do to take advantage of it.

Because this program is so important to teachers, the October issue has been made available to private school educators free of charge. The issue can be downloaded as a PDF document by visiting CAPE's web site at http://www.capenet.org/outsub.html.

 

 

BUILDING COORDINATOR MEETING SCHEDULE:

Here are the next three meeting dates and times for the Building Coordinators:

  • November 6, 2007,  St. Wendelin Parish Center, Fostoria from 9:30am-3:00pm
  • February 26, 2008, St. Joseph Elementary, Sylvania from 9:30am-3:00pm
  • April 16, 2008, St. Michael Elementary, Findlay from 9:30am-3:00pm

If there are any questions regarding this, please contact Tami Kwiatkowski at

419-244-6711 ext 620 or e-mail tkwiatkowski@toledodiocese.org

 

 

YOUTH DIRECTED GRANT:

Attached to this Bulletin is information about a youth-directed grant concerning “Mix It Up Day”.  Mix It Up Day is scheduled for Tuesday, November 13, 2007. However, schools can organize a Mix it Up Lunch Day anytime.  Posters, stickers, brochures and more can be ordered at no charge at: www.tolerance.org

 

 

PHYSICAL EDUCATION SURVEY:

All elementary principals should have received an e-mail from the Ohio Department of Education regarding a physical education survey that must be completed by October 31, 2007.  Elementary principals are reminded that this is only a survey.  Currently, there are no state minimum standards for physical education in elementary schools.  There are no wrong answers on this survey.  The link below is provided in case you did not receive the email from ODE.  http://www.ode.state.oh.us/cust_service_survey

 

 

OHIO CATHOLIC SCHOOLS ACCREDITING ASSOCIATION (OCSAA) MEMBERSHIP DUES:

OCSAA Membership dues for the 2007-2008 school year are due to in the CYSS office by Friday, November 30.  The dues forms are in the U.S. School/Parish mail this week.  Make your checks payable to OCSAA and send them to Catholic Youth and School Services, attention: Mary Chalmers.  OCSAA is the branch of Catholic Conference of Ohio that oversees school accreditation and school compliance with state standards.  All schools are members and pay dues to support the work of this committee.

 

 

 

WRITING COMPETENCY TEST:

The Writing Competency Test Manuals for grades 4, 6, and 8 and have been moved from the CYSS “Teachers’ Page” to the “Principals’ Private Page” which means that teachers will no longer be able to access this information themselves.  Please check to see if teachers already have these manuals or need their principals to access the information for them.

 

Note for Fourth Grade Writing Test Proctors:  The Fourth Grade manual states on page 3 under General Instructions:  “Students are to write a paragraph with a maximum of two pages.”  The use of the word “paragraph” was intentional.  It is preferred that students write a well constructed paragraph or two rather than two pages of “and then and then…”  Teacher instructions can guide them to this end.

 

 

OCEA/PRINCIPALS’  BULLETIN:
Because the CYSS staff will be at the OCEA Convention in Cincinnati next week, there will be no Principals’ Bulletin on Friday, October 12. Hope to see some of you at OCEA!