DIOCESE OF TOLEDO

PRINCIPALS’ BULLETIN

NOVEMBER 30, 2007

 

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

Attachment: 2008 Youth Survey Parent Letter

 

FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT…
Advent is, and should be, an important time of the school year in all of our Catholic schools.  It is also a busy time as we prepare for Christmas.  However, I will add one more thing for your consideration.

Obviously, it is to our benefit to establish good relationships with our legislators.  From their point of view, this time of the year may be a bit slower.  The state senators and representatives do not have a busy schedule in Columbus during the month of December.  It may be a good time to ask them to visit your school.  It certainly would be good for them to see that we emphasize the coming of Christmas much differently from the secular world.

The visit doesn’t need to be an elaborately staged “event”.  Often legislators appreciate the chance to see a regular day in a Catholic grade school or high school.  The visit also gives you an opportunity to brag about the good things going in your school and to thank the legislator for his/her support.

Even if you cannot schedule a visit in the near future, consider it for later in the school year.

If you need contact information about your state or national legislators, go to the web site of the Catholic Conference of Ohio:  www.ohiocathconf.org, click on “Legislative Updates”.  The information is given in several ways: by address, by Senate or House district, by diocese, even by parish.

 

UPCOMING DATES AND EVENTS:

Please add the following dates to your school calendars.

Winter Regional Meetings: 
West Region: Tuesday, January 15 at Defiance Catholic School, Defiance
Metro Region: Wednesday, January 16 at St. Patrick of Heatherdowns, Toledo
East Region: Thursday, January 17 at Immaculate Conception, Bellevue

August Leadership Institute:  Tuesday, August 5, 2008, Maumee Bay State Park

Catholic Educators’ Conference:  Friday, September 19, 2008 at the Stranahan Theatre, Toledo.

Fall Principals’ Institute: Thursday, October 16 – Friday, October 17 at Sawmill Creek Resort, Huron, Ohio.

 

 

FIRST PAYMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE COST REIMBURSEMENT:

The Ohio Department of Education has changed its policy regarding the disbursement of funds to the nonpublic schools.  Payments made for ACR will NO longer be mailed in paper form.  These payments will be made by direct deposit.  CYSS has been informed by the area coordinator’s office that paper work was sent to all schools at the start of the year that requested the tracking information in order for these electronic transfers to occur.  Several principals and business managers have indicated that they did not receive this paperwork.  Mike Beier is in the process of getting from ODE a list of schools that have not completed this paperwork.  A follow-up email will be sent to all principals the first part of next week regarding the list and what needs to be done to get your ACR funds.

 

SCANTRON TRAINING REVIEW:

Thank you to Lois Karhoff at St. Anthony’s, Columbus Grove; Kathy Bolen at Immaculate Conception, Bellevue; and Jim Smith at St. Peter’s, Mansfield for hosting the trainings at their schools in September and November. 

We want to remind you of some key points that were mentioned at the November training:

1)      All schools are asked to train teachers on how to use the Scantron Performance Series data by mid January.

2)      At the regional Principals’ Meetings on January 15, 16, and 17 there will further discussion on next steps with Scantron; more information on NetTrekker; and the Parent Report template.

3)      Teacher in-services will be held on January 15, 16, and 17 from 3:45 – 5:30 following the regional Principal Meeting at the same locations. The purpose of these in-services will be to share information about NetTrekker,  allow teachers to ask more specific questions about the Scantron data and most importantly provide teachers time to share what they are doing with the data they are able to access with this test.  Teachers will receive more information and an online registration link for these in-services in the December Teachers’ Bulletin. 

4)      Respond to Shari’s NetTrekker’s survey sent out earlier this week. 

 

 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES:

A.S.C.D:
Schools and/or educators who have ASCD memberships have the opportunity to participate in online Professional Development opportunities for a very minimal cost.  Go to www.ascd.org and click on the Professional Development link and you will see about 50 course offerings available for $99.00 per person for a course.  Many of the courses provide 5 to 6 CEU’s.  The most recent edition of “Educational Leadership” Magazine has Math education as its focus and there are several professional development courses that may be helpful for schools that are in the process of designing their professional development for accreditation and have Math as their Target Area.  There are also a couple of courses that explore differentiated instruction practices for the classroom teacher. 

UNIV. OF NOTRE DAME: ACE Leadership Program
The ACE Leadership Program is a response to the ongoing needs of Catholic schools across the country for qualified, faith-filled leaders to serve as principals.  The program began in 2002 as an extension of the University of Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) Program.  Led by the Rev. Ronald J. Nuzzi, Ph.D. the program provides an intensive 26-month experience, encompassing the dispositions of becoming a professional administrator, fostering school community, and promoting spiritual formation.  Participants engage in three summers of coursework at Notre Dame and an administrative internship, after which they are eligible for administrative licensure.  ACE Leadership participants are required to secure an administrative internship in a Catholic school under the supervision of a certified principal.  This internship is a vehicle for calling forth qualified teachers and inviting them to consider service as a school leader.  By the offer of an administrative internship, current Catholic school principals participate in the vocational discernment of potential leaders, and the internship provides a hands-on, practical setting where ACE Leadership participants can share in the administrative responsibilities of leading a Catholic school.

ACE Leadership Annual Conference, July 10 & 11, 2008:
Theme: “Research and Action for Change: Leaders Reshaping Catholic Schools”

The theme of the conference recognizes that Catholic school leaders are uniquely situated to engage in action research for positive change in their school.  The theme also reflects the belief that, through sound scientific inquiry, Catholic school leaders engage issues of justice through improved educational practices and structures.

The 2008 ACE Leadership Conference is the first annual gathering of principals and administrators to present scholarly research pertinent to Catholic education. This inaugural conference will be held at the University of Notre Dame on July 10 and 11, 2008.

For more information about the University of Notre Dame’s ACE Leadership Program or the annual ACE Leadership Conference, go to:  http://ace.nd.edu/academic-programs/alp

 

YOUTH SURVEY (FORMERLY ADAS SURVEY):

The “Youth Survey,” which is the alcohol, tobacco & other drug survey, formerly called the ADAS Survey, is ready for implementation by our Lucas County schools.  Survey packets will be available to be picked up at the CYSS office on Monday December 3, 2007.  The completed surveys are to be returned to the Community Partnership by December 19, 2007 in order to be tabulated for results.  The Community Partnership address is: 5902 Southwyck Blvd., suite 100, Toledo, Ohio 43614.  Attached is a letter to be used to send home to parents of grades 5-12 regarding the survey and a form to opt out if they wish to do so. For more questions or more information, please contact Frank DiLallo at the CYSS office.

 

TECHNOLOGY:

eTech Ohio’s eLearning - Online PD Winter 2008 Course Schedule 
http://www.etech.ohio.gov/programs/elearning/

Reminder: Registration Window Closes December 18, 2007

eTech Ohio offers online professional development courses for all Ohio PK-20 educators and professionals. These online courses provide busy educators opportunity to obtain needed professional development 24/7.

A few resources to assist an educator in determining if he/she is a good candidate for online learning:

Winter ‘08 courses offered include:

  • 21st Century Skills Series – Digital Age Literacy: New Literacies for Life
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder: Strategies for Coping in the Classroom
  • Differentiated Instruction with Technology
  • OATDLP: Assistive Technology for Learning to Read and Write
  • OATDLP: Fundamentals of Communication for Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • OATDLP: Seating and Positioning to Promote Activity
  • Grant Writing
  • Standards Based Education Module I
  • Strengthening Systems to Support Technology Integration
  • Universal Design: Curriculum For All Learners
  • Instructional Design Theory (online course focus)
  • Technology Coaching
  • Transformational Connections with Blogs and Wikis
  • Classroom Management
  • Facilitating Courses in an Online Environment
  • OMAP Algebra Module B
  • OMAP Data Analysis and Probability Module B
  • OMAP Geometry and Spatial Sense and Measurement Module B
  • OSCI Earth and Space Science Module B
  • OSCI Life Science Module B
  • OSCI Physical Science Module B
  • SSIO US Studies Module B
  • SSIO World Studies Module B

 

Area Tech Conferences:

 

BACKGROUND REPORTS:

We have had a number of educators’ license applications that have been on hold at the Department of Education.  Some of these since June 2007.  These applications are waiting on new background reports, which must be done electronically.  Ohio (BCI) and Federal (FBI) reports are now required because of the recently signed House Bill 190.  Please have your faculty check their license status.  Eventually these applications will be denied by ODE and returned, and the teacher will have to apply for a Non Tax until the 3 semester hour penalty is completed for the new license.

 

CONDOLENCES:

We extend our deepest sympathies to the family of James Olszewski who passed away Thursday, November 29.  Jim is the husband of Marge Olszewski, 3rd grade teacher at St. Pius X School and brother of Fr. Ronald Olszewski , OSFS, president of St. Francis de Sales High School.