Reminder: Lent Prayer Partners
If you had a Lent prayer partner, please remember to mail them a card wishing them a Happy Easter!!
Deadline Approaching: Employee Retention Credit Survey
The Employee Retention Credit (ERC) is a payroll tax refund from the United States Treasury Department applicable to businesses who kept employees on payroll during the pandemic. Please complete this important survey regarding the Employee Retention Credit (ERC). Please complete this by Friday, April 21, 2023.
New: April 5-Minute Safety Drill
This month’s 5-minute drill is a double feature.
- The U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NATC) recently released a video highlighting their findings and implications of their report, Averting Targeted School Violence: A Secret Service Analysis of Plots Against Schools. The video is approximately 16 minutes in length. If you are unable to dedicate 16 minutes to watch this in your next staff meeting, please share the linked video with staff.
- Walk to your school’s reunification location. While staff may know the location and they may drive by it every day on their way to school, a walk to the reunification location is beneficial. The walk will provide them with a better sense of how long the walk takes in the event it is ever necessary. It will also provide them with “recall” of the walk if they ever need to evacuate students to the location.
New: Ruah Woods Theology of the Body Survey
If your school was in the cohort that onboarded with Ruah Woods Theology of the Body this year, please complete the following surveys:
Your feedback is valued and will help ensure a successful implementation for the remaining schools that will need to onboard next year.
New: Religion Curricula Matrix
The Religion Curricula Matrix provides information in one location with active links and answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding Ruah Woods, Teen Star, Virtus, and Protect Young Eyes. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Bluestein.
New: Star Data & PD Meetings w/Principals
Similar to last year, Dr. Bluestein will be scheduling the Star Data & PD meetings with principals beginning Thursday, May 4. Please email her with a few available dates and times, Tuesdays-Thursdays, 9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m., and she will respond with a confirmation to set your appointment (via Zoom). Appointments are set for 30 minutes.
Deadline Approaching: Teacher of the Year Nominations and Retiree Recognitions
The Department of Catholic Schools is seeking your nomination for the Teacher of the Year from your school. Each school nominee will receive an Excellence in Teaching Award and be considered for the Bishop John Quinn Elementary or Secondary Teacher of the Year. We would also like to acknowledge our dedicated retiring Catholic School Personnel. This includes Principals, Teachers, and any retiring staff. We ask that you complete the Retired Personnel Form if you have any staff members retiring from your school.
As a special way of recognizing them, we will introduce each schools’ Excellence in Teaching Award winner and retiring personnel on the field at Comerica Park during the Catholic League baseball semi-finals. This on-field presentation will be held after the 4:30 game at approximately 6:00 pm on May 19. Each award winner, and every person attending the event, will also receive two tickets to a Detroit Tiger baseball game. Event details and the option of selecting the Tiger game, will be emailed to you and each recipient. Please do the following:
- After selecting your nominee, click on the Teacher of the Year link, follow the instructions and email letter of support to evoy.michael@aod.org.
- If you have anyone retiring, click on the Retiring School Personnel link and follow the instructions.
We will then e-mail the award winners and retirees a congratulatory letter and ask them to select the Tiger game they would like to attend. The cost for them to attend the event will be $25.00. In the past, many schools have purchased tickets for the nominee and family members wishing to attend. Other staff is also welcomed to attend the event. For each $25.00 ticket purchased, a ticket to the event, a plaque, and two Tiger tickets will be provided. The deadline for returning any of the forms is MAY 1.
Updated: Jodee Blanco’s INJAA (It’s Not Just Joking Around) Anti-Bullying Program – Schedule Fall Visits
Jodee will be making visits to a cohort of schools this fall, specifically during the weeks of September 11, September 18, and October 23. If you have not previously indicated interest but would like to be included in the fall cohort, please contact Dr. Bluestein by May 5 for pricing information and to reserve a date within the aforementioned windows.
New: 2023 MANS School Law Seminar
Join the Michigan Association of Non-public Schools for an engaging and informative half-day with legal experts who will share their knowledge and experience in navigating the complex legal issues facing non-public schools. This event is an excellent opportunity to network with other non-public school administrators, exchange ideas, and gain insights on how to protect your school, students, and staff from legal challenges.
- When: June 16, 2023, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (lunch included)
- Where: MCC Offices - Lansing, Michigan
- Who Should Attend: Administrators, Assistant Principals, Business Managers, Human Resource Personnel, and School Leaders
- Click here to register.
Reminder: Missionary Renewal Assembly Invitation
Archbishop Vigneron is asking all AOD Catholic school principals to attend the Missionary Renewal Assembly on June 29 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi.
Priests will gather for the first two days of the Assembly, June 27 and 28. The goal of day three of this Assembly is to foster a sense of unity within the leadership teams of each Family of Parishes (priests, deacons, directors, and principals) so that they may, with the support of the Curia, effectively lead their Families toward being more missionary and carrying out the call of Synod ’16. Full schedule information and registration links are available at aod.org/assembly.Please discuss with your pastor and register by Friday, April 21.
2023 Catholic Foundation of Michigan Scholarship Opportunity
The Catholic Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of the 2023-2024 scholarship process to benefit K-8 students in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Archdiocesan school students will receive awards ranging from $1,000 up to $5,000, made possible through the generosity of Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron, the Archdiocese of Detroit and faithful donors in the community. In the last three years, the Catholic Foundation has granted over $750K in scholarships to nearly 300 students from 41 schools through the St. Anne Scholars and the St. Martin De Porres Fund.
The scholarship application is invitation only by pastors, principals and school administrators. Please click here to nominate up to 3 students by May 5, 2023. Recommended students will be sent a personal invite from the Foundation to apply in early May. To learn about student eligibility requirements and the online application process, please visit 2023-2024 Scholarships. If you have any questions, please reach out to Christina Shabo at 248-204-0332, ext 4.
Applications Open for 2023-24 Del Papa-Grimaldi-Gabriele and Lilo Wendell College Scholarships
We are pleased to share information on the 2023-24 Del Papa-Grimaldi-Gabriele and Lilo Wendell Scholarships offered through the Archdiocese of Detroit Endowment Foundation. Continue reading
University of Detroit Mercy STEM Teacher Bootcamp 2023
CALLING ALL HIGH SCHOOL COMPUTER SCIENCE & ENGINEERING TEACHERS! Are you interested in enhancing your computer science and engineering classes? Do you want to network with other STEM-focused teachers? Do you want to earn SCECHs and a stipend?
University of Detroit Mercy is happy to announce this summer's annual teacher bootcamps! We invite interested high school teachers to spend a week on campus learning skills to improve student outcomes in your Computer Science, Engineering, and CAD courses. All skill levels are welcome.
Benefits: SCECHs, resource pack, and stipend to those who successfully complete the bootcamp. Email idraw@udmercy.edu for more information.
Jodee Blanco’s Crisis Management for Principals – Recording
Those who were unable to attend the March 2 professional development for principals by Jodee Blanco on Crisis Management, may view the recording.
Recording | Passcode: ieu?+GN1 | Principal PD follow-up notes for Crisis Management and Communication for Stressful Situations
Alliance Catholic Credit Union Make A Difference Scholarship
The Alliance Catholic Foundation Make A Difference Scholarship Program is now underway. The 2023 program will award a total of $20,000 in scholarships to members pursuing Catholic and higher education for the 2023-2024 academic year, and who are committed to making a difference in the lives of others through faith, attitude, and service.
To be eligible for the Make A Difference Scholarship Program, the Applicant and/or Applicant’s Parent or Legal Guardian must be a member of Alliance Catholic Credit Union.
Members can enter one of three levels of scholarships based on the level of education the member will be pursuing in the 2023-2024 academic year:
- Families (one entry per family) with children attending a K-8 Catholic school: Five (5) $1,000 scholarships will be available
- Students attending a Catholic High School: Five (5) $1,000 scholarships will be available
- Students attending a post-secondary educational institution: Two (2) $5,000 scholarships will be available
- The deadline for entries is Sunday, April 30, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
The Assignment:
- Record a video testimonial of someone who has witnessed or benefited from good work you have done in the community. Include a brief written description of the activity and the reason why you chose the person you did for the testimonial.
- For additional rules, details about the program and how to apply, click here.
Recordings Available: March 13 Uniform Professional Development Day
Please be mindful of the following items.
- SCECH Form Template
As requested, Dr. Bluestein has created a Google Form Template for principals to collect the SCECH information after each Uniform PD Day. Please be sure to MAKE A COPY first before making any edits. Once you make a copy, you may edit, and share with your teachers. Note that it is currently set up exactly how Shelley Long from MANS has requested. Also note that it is NOT mandatory that you use the Google Form Template if you have already collected the needed information another way (following the SCECH guidelines laid out at the start of the school year); the template is meant to be a helpful tool for those who requested it, with the thought others may benefit from its use.
As a reminder, please upload what you collect from the PD Days into your Google Folder from MANS, and be sure to tally the SCECHs from the PD Days and add them into the appropriate columns in the general (or year-long) PD spreadsheet that MANS created for you.
- Uniform PD Survey
Please complete the PD Survey found at the top of the PD website, https://www.professionaldevelopmentday.org/, and encourage teachers to complete it as well. Your feedback is valued and helps inform future PD decisions.
- Recordings, Resources
All sessions were recorded and the recordings, as well as any other resources, are now available on the PD website.
- Form for Viewing PD Recordings or Archived Recordings
Those who wish to earn SCECHs for viewing the PD recordings or any archived recordings from previous PD days (found under “archive” at the top right of the PD website), will need to complete this form before submitting their total earned SCECHs in the MANS application form at the end of the school year.
SCECH Record-Keeping for Principals
Please recall that Shelley Long with MANS sent each principal an email with the link to the Google Folder created for each school. Please review the important information to ensure your teachers earn SCECHs, especially in regard to the AOD Professional Development Days.
- Google folders (on the spreadsheets) contain links to 10-minute webinar on how to track SCECHs properly, the updated SCECH handbook, & written instructions on how to complete both tabs of the spreadsheet.
- Spreadsheets include AOD earned PD columns; final amount will tally correctly & educators only have to apply one time with MANS.
- Principals must collect & upload to the folder a SEPARATE excel sheet on the details of the AOD UNIFORM Professional Development Days including the following in exact order:
- first name, last name, school name, school city, email address, session title & # of SCECHs session is worth, SCECH verification code for (each session attended).
- Shelley will check in with each school via email mid-year to see if they have questions, concerns, etc.
- Teachers will use online SCECH application shared in May to apply for SCECHs
- All SCECHs processed through MANS are FREE
Extended Access to Protect Young Eyes: Curriculum & Parent App
As indicated in August, based on the need for online safety and digital citizenship, the AOD purchased the Protect Young Eyes Curriculum and Parent App for all schools in the AOD (including the order schools). Due to the confusion with the Virtus platform, however, Chris McKenna has generously offered to extend the access to both the curriculum and the parent app throughout next year, 2023-2024.
Click here for the PYE curriculum; the link can also be found under the Educator’s Tab in Virtus.
If you have any questions, please contract Dr. Bluestein.
AOD Tuition Assistance Award Training – Recording Available
Thank you to everyone who was able to attend the AOD Tuition Assistance Award Training with FACTS Grant and Aid. A recording is now available. (passcode: u?0sMbp^). You may reference the PowerPoint slides and the quick reference guide from FACTs. If you have any questions, please send them to tas@aod.org.
If you missed the first training session back in January, you can access that recording as well (passcode: Y#5#j2QR).
Catholic Youth Summer Camp
Please share this poster and postcard with your parish's middle school and high school parents for information about Catholic Youth Summer Camp Great Lakes, located in Brighton, MI. Please share this with families in your parish and invite them to register for a week of camp. See more information at Catholic Youth Summer Camp Great Lakes - CYSC - Catholic Youth Summer Camp.
Annual Report Profile Checklist and Self-Assessment
Principals, please see this important update regarding your school’s Annual Report Profile and Annual Self-Assessment. All forms and self-assessments must be completed and submitted by May 19. 2023. Please contact Nancy Kuszczak, Coordinator of Accreditation, If you have any questions.
Use 52 Sundays This Lent
We invite you to visit 52Sundays.com throughout Lent for inspiration that can help your family refocus on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving throughout the season.
VIRTUS - Clarifying Letter from Msgr. Bugarin
Please read this letter from Msgr. Bugarin for answers to any questions you may have regarding how the Virtus platform/curricula will be used to replace previous Safe Environments curricula, as well as new requirements and modifications to the Protecting God’s Children (PGC) training.
2023-2024 Department of Catholic Schools Calendar for Administrators
The 2023-2024 Department of Catholic Schools Calendar for Administrators and 2023-2024 Calendar Planning Documents have been emailed to principals. You can also access these documents below. Please send a PDF of your school’s 2023-2024 calendar to Erin McNally (mcnally.erin@aod.org) by June 1, 2023. Please save the document as SCHOOLNAME_CITY_2023-2024 School Calendar. If you have any specific calendar questions, please contact your Associate Superintendent.
From the Office of Family Ministry - Unleash the Gospel Resources
The Family Ministry Office has developed several resources to encourage families as they unleash the Gospel in our community! Parishes and schools are invited to use these links to download graphics for bulletins/newsletters, or printed flyers to distribute in-person.
- Archbishop’s Family Challenge: This postcard-sized handout gives families the seven challenges to families from Archbishop Vigneron’s pastoral letter, Unleash the Gospel in easy to understand, real-life examples.
- Compass promotional materials: Compass is a new online database of resources for Catholic parents with suggestions for books, articles, and videos to accompany parents raising children in today’s world.
- 52 Sundays promotional materials: 52 Sundays has gone fully digital and entirely free for 2023! This dynamic guide is designed to accompany families as they reclaim Sundays for faith and family.
Financial Guidance Workshop Zoom Recording
If you were unable to attend one of the Financial Guidance Workshops in December, or would like to review what was covered, please reference this PowerPoint and the zoom recording of Brian Mooney’s presentation. Please reach out if you have any questions.
Zoom Recording (passcode: DmgW7#Ej)
Compass for Parents
The Family Ministry Team at the AOD recently launched a new resource for parents - the Compass website. www.compassforparents.org. Compass is an online catalog with resources for parents to accompany them through the joys and trials of family life. An article about the project can be found here. The catalog already has 150 entries, but it will continue to grow over the next 18 months to include original videos, articles, and content for parents of children at every age from birth through young adulthood. Please share this helpful resource with parents.
Discount toward Catechist Certification for Schools & Parishes
Upon collaboration with Sacred Heart Major Seminary regarding Catechist Certification using the program “On Fire for the Faith,” the Seminary has offered to extend a unique discount to schools and parishes. Schools and parishes will be able to register an unlimited amount of staff to complete the program this year at a bulk discount with the following options:
- $300 per school for unlimited # of teachers
- $300 per parish for unlimited # of catechists
OR
- $500 for parish & school combo (catechists/teachers)
If you wish to take advantage of this discount, please contact Mrs. Melissa Pordon at pordon.melissa@shms.edu or 313-868-7031. She will be happy to answer any questions and provide you with a unique school and/or parish code to apply the discount.
Virtus: Empowering God’s Children (Replacing past Safe Environments curricula)
As indicated previously, our Safe Environments program for schools is now going to be hosted by the Virtus online platform titled Empowering God’s Children; school are required to teach 2 lessons per year.
Virtus has provided detailed information on how you may access the materials using the Educators Tab, and how you may also provide access for your teachers. They’ve also provided a short 10-minute recording that you may view and share with teachers once you have given them access to the Educators Tab. The recording contains information regarding the lessons, how to navigate the site to access resources (including resources for parents), and how to report when training has been completed.
Please see the attachment and read the instructions from Virtus carefully.
