Due Today: 2023-24 School Outreach Fund (SOF) Grant Application
The School Outreach Fund application for the 2023-2024 fiscal year is now open. Schools may apply for a grant if the purpose is to obtain funding —
- for an innovative School project that is “on-mission” with Unleashing Our Catholic Schools and Unleash the Gospel with a showing that it will become self-sustainable within a reasonable period of time; or
- for operational needs that are “on-mission” with Unleashing Our Catholic Schools and Unleash the Gospel. Operational needs do not include or encompass capital improvements.
Please note that parishes must have submitted current and approved budgets and financial reports to the Archdiocesan Department of Financial Services. To submit your application, please CLICK HERE.
All applications must be received by MARCH 2, 2023. For additional information or if you have any questions, please contact Jessica Orzechowski at orzechowski.jessica@aod.org or 313-596-7407.
Updated: March 13 Uniform Professional Development Day
The Uniform Professional Development Day website is now live and ready to share with faculty/staff: https://www.professionaldevelopmentday.org/.
Click on the drop-down arrows to the right of each session to see information about content, presenters, registration or meeting links, and the number of SCECHs available for each session.
All sessions require registration except for the three Star-Renaissance sessions, Virtus: Empowering God’s Children Review, and Essential Elements for Effective Restorative Discipline Practices.
If your teachers are interested in the in-person option for Jodee Blanco’s session, please remind them to RSVP here by March 6. Those who attend the in-person session will be able to earn 2 SCECHs, as the in-person session ends at 3:05 p.m. Those who RSVP will receive an e-mail confirmation about the event location and any necessary details
Updated: Star Custom MOY Reports
Principals should have received an email with the new link to download the Custom Parent Reports with the cleaned files, removing the ones that Renaissance had originally included in error. The emails with the new files were sent out the morning of February 28, by Rusty Ivey or Judy Steingass. Renaissance has apologized for the inconvenience and has set new protocols to prevent this from occurring in the future.
Please contact Dr. Bluestein with any questions.
Important: 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
New: AOD Tuition Assistance Awards | Training with FACTS Grant and Aid
The AOD and FACTS Grant and Aid will be hosting a follow up training session regarding our AOD Tuition Assistance Awards on Thursday, March 16, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. on ZOOM. Please plan to attend this informational presentation concerning these changes and what this means for your school and school families. There will be an opportunity to ask questions following the presentation. If you are unable to attend, a recording of the presentation will be made available. Please contact Jill Haines at Haines.jill@aod.org with any questions. If your business manager was not included in January’s AOD Tuition Assistance Update Zoom Invitation, please email Erin McNally (mcnally.erin@aod.org) to ensure they get included in this email invite. Thank you.
Zoom Link: https://aod.zoom.us/j/93737504488
Meeting ID: 937 3750 4488
Passcode: 820699
Reminder: Holy Moments Dates
As shared previously, DCS has provided Matthew Kelly's Holy Moments to the faculty and staff of each school. Thank you for sharing the attached letter upon distribution of the books.
Mary Martin and Dr. Bluestein have offered principals an opportunity for reflection and discussion (March 2).
Teachers will also have an opportunity next week:
Holy Moments Reflection & Discussion
New: Sacred Heart Major Seminary Production of "A Man for All Seasons"
A Production by Sacred Heart Major Seminary on March 24 at 7:00 p.m. and March 25 at 7:00 p.m.
"This tragic historical drama offers a brilliant portrait of Sir Thomas More in his last years as Lord Chancellor of England during the reign of Henry VIII. When Henry fails to obtain papal approval for a divorce from Catherine of Aragon to marry Anne Boleyn, he mandates his subjects to sign an “Act of Supremacy” making him both spiritual and temporal leader of England. Sir Thomas cannot in good conscience comply. Cromwell, Cardinal Wolsey, his family, and the King himself are all unable to convince More otherwise, as he maintains his integrity and belief in silence. Ultimately accused of high treason, this very silence leads the man to his execution, and later his canonization in 1935."
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.
Teen Star Curriculum Letter
Please read this important letter from Archbishop Vigneron and Dcn. Sean Costello regarding the Teen Star curriculum and the call to ensure its use in our schools.
Nicole Joyce will provide further information about the curriculum at the “Come and See” opportunities offered January-March 2023. Please note that the “Come and See” date listed within the letter as “Wednesday, February 16” should be Thursday, February 16.
Please contact Dr. Bluestein with any questions.
Ruah Woods Follow-Up
Many thanks to all schools that have onboarded with Ruah Woods Theology of the Body this year. Schools that onboarded this year were advised to complete the three core training videos with the entire staff followed by one curriculum training with Rob Stamper for only those teachers that would be teaching the curriculum.
If you have not yet completed the three core training videos with your staff, Rob Stamper will be reaching out to offer support and schedule completion along with his follow-up curriculum training.
More information will be provided in the coming months for the remaining schools that need to onboard next year.
Please contact Dr. Bluestein with any questions.
Zekelman Holocaust Center - 2023 Art and Writing Center Competition
Now in its seventh year, The Kappy Family Art & Writing Competition, Co-Sponsored by the Family of Raphael Schwartz, invites any Michigan student in 7th-12th grade to take inspiration from and respond to the theme of “Art as Resistance” in Anne Frank’s diary, Night by Elie Wiesel, and the artwork of Erich Lichtblau-Leskly, currently featured in the visiting special exhibit, To Paint is to Live.
This year, the categories of submission include poetry, fiction prose, 2D art, 3D art, and graphic art. Any student may respond to any source of inspiration, or multiple sources. The deadline for submission is March 24, 2023.
Please click HERE to learn more about the competition as well to access the guidelines, classroom resources, and links for submission.
For any questions, please email competition@holocaustcenter.org.
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.
Fr. Gabriel Richard Art Contest
The Fr. Gabriel Richard Guild at the Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detroit is very excited to announce its first art contest for Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Students are invited to submit artistic renderings of Fr. Richard depicting his image, an event from his life, or a general aspect of his life.
The winning students in each age group will each receive a $1,000 cash prize. The winning students' schools will also receive a $1,000 cash prize. Prizes are courtesy of contest sponsor Concorde Financial. Artwork will be displayed at the Annual Exhibit on Fr. Gabriel Richard at the Basilic of Ste. Anne de Detroit in September 2023.
The deadline for submissions is April 1, 2023. Winners will be announced by May 31, 2023. More details and complete rules are on the flyer.
Protect Young Eyes: Curriculum & Parent App Access
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).
Click here for the PYE curriculum or the link can also be found under the Educator’s Tab in Virtus. Also note that Chris McKenna provided a walk-through of the PYE curriculum at the Oct. 17 PD Day, showing how it can be used alongside the Virtus Safe Environments lessons (that recording will be posted to the PD site). Information to share with parents and details on how to access the Parent App was sent to principals via email before Thanksgiving.
If you have any questions, please contract Dr. Bluestein.
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.
