View in browser

Thursday, July 28, 2022

Faith Feature

This past Sunday’s Gospel reading was St. Luke’s version of the Lord’s prayer, Our Father. You and your school communities have probably said this prayer countless times in your everyday lives. But have you taken the time to think about what these words really mean? What are we asking for when we pray it? Bishop Barron’s Sunday Sermon offers some insight while slowly walking through Luke’s version. You can watch the full sermon here.

Luke 11: 1-13

The Lord’s Prayer.

He was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.”

He said to them, “When you pray, say:

Father, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread

and forgive us our sins

for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us,

and do not subject us to the final test.”

And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,’

And he says in reply from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’

I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.

“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish?

Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?

If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

New and Updated Announcements

New All Principal Meeting RSVP

The first All Principal Meeting of the new school year will be held on Thursday, August 11 at the Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. The meeting is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Please RSVP here by Wednesday, August 3 at 4:00 p.m. We look forward to seeing you

Updated: Religion Assessment

As indicated previously, we had taken a pause from the Religion Assessment during COVID. During the pause, a Religion Assessment Review Committee was formed to edit and revise the assessment. The committee met over the course of the past year and concluded their work. As such, K-8 schools are expected to administer the Religion Assessment this school year (2022-2023) to grade 1-8 students. With this in mind, please submit the most current enrollment numbers for students who will be taking the assessment (grades 1-8) using this form.

Please see further details about the Religion Assessment below.

Testing Window: October 3-21

Cost: The Religion Assessment will continue to be hosted through RCL Benziger’s Flourish platform with the same cost as before, $3.00 per student.

Training (live virtual):

Principals - Sept. 1, 2022 @ 1:00 p.m.
Teachers - Sept. 1, 2022 OR Sept. 8, 2022 @ 4:30 (choose one session)

Important Deadlines:

Sept. 10 – Schools must send csv of student roster to RCLB

Sept. 25 – RCLB will provide logins and passwords to principals

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Bluestein.

Reminder 2022-2023 AOD Uniform PD Framework

Please see this letter from Dr. May Bluestein regarding the 2022-2023 AOD Uniform Professional Development Days. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Bluestein.

Reminder Encounter Retreat Registration

An Encounter Retreat will be held on Thursday, August 18^th at St. Fabian Catholic Church in Farmington Hills. The retreat will include 5 sessions, two meals, time for Adoration, time for Confession and spiritual growth. The retreat is offered in conjunction with AOD Catechist Certification requirements. You can register here.

Reminder Detroit Lions Exclusive Ticket Offer

Our friends with the Detroit Lions are again offering special savings for Catholic School teachers, administrators, faculty, and staff as the Lions open the season at home vs The Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday September 11at 1:00pm. Each ticket will include a Detroit Lions Journal.

Click here to access the offer and please feel free to share this offer with your staff. They will be able to purchase the discounted tickets directly from the link.

Reminder 2022-2023 Administrator Calendar

Please see the Department of Catholic Schools Administrator Calendar for the 2022-2023 school year.

Reminder Upcoming MANS PD Opportunities

Creating Pathways Tomorrow | 8:30-4:00 at the Michigan Catholic Conference
The MANS Education Conference and Expo November 2-4, 2022 in Lansing

School Safety

If your school needs financial assistance to enhance safety and security measures at your school, please contact the Department of Catholic Schools. As a reminder, each school should work with local law enforcement officers to ensure that adequate safety plans are in place.

Newton Applicant Tracking System Job Posting and Closing Instructions

The Applicant Tracking System job posting, and approval process instructions can be found here. Please know that is the responsibility of the school to either remove the job or to reach out to Roberta Robson, (robsonmcglone.roberta@aod.org), or Erin Taft, (taft.erin@aod.org) to request removal of the position. Unfortunately, Paycor Recruiting does not offer the option of putting an end date on the job posting so unless HR is made aware that the job has been filled and should be removed, the job will remain posted. Please see these instructions for how to close your open position in the ATS.

Federal Programs and EANS Presentations from FACTS Education Solutions

Please see resources from Dr. Susan Abelein and Jeremy Beck of FACTS Education Solutions presentations below:

Jeremy Beck’s Presentation:

Archdiocese of Detroit Federal Title Presentation

Dr. Abelein’s Presentations:

Please email Laura Knaus if you would like the links to the Zoom recordings of the presentations.

Principal Performance Evaluations

The Principal Performance Evaluation template is available on Box. Please complete your self-reflection and then ask your pastor to complete his portion. Once the evaluations are completed, reviewed, and signed, please email a copy to Erin McNally.

Announcements from Prior Editions of School Mail

Reminder: Please check the AOD Jobs Board to ensure that all postings for your school are current. Email hr@aod.org to remove old job postings.

Resources

Events

August 1-4: The Zekelman Holocaust Center Summer Academy for Educators
August 5: All Are Welcome Conference: Building an Inclusive Community for Persons with Disabilities
August 11: All Principal Meeting
August 14: Teen Summer Mass Series at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral

August 5: The Weight of the Call: A Gathering for Families Raising Children with Disabilities
September 19: Archbishop's Catechetical Day
September 23-24: Engaging the Young Church Conference
October 17: Professional Development Day
March 13, 2023: Professional Development Day

From Our Partners

School Mail Archive

View prior editions of School Mail here.