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DCS

Thursday, May 12, 2022

     

Faith Feature

The Magnificat

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

 

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name.

 

He has mercy on those who fear him

in every generation.

 

He has shown the strength of his arm,

he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

 

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,

and has lifted up the lowly.

 

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

 

He has come to the help of his servant Israel

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

the promise he made to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children forever.

     

New and Updated Announcements

Updated A Few Reminders Regarding COVID Procedures

K-12 students and staff exposed to someone who is positive for COVID-19

 

If the exposure is to a personal/household contact:

  • No quarantine is needed.
  • Wear a mask around others for 10 days.

If the exposure is to other type of contact (from school or social setting)

  • No quarantine is needed.
  • Conduct symptom monitoring for 10 days and test if symptoms develop.
     

New Minutes from Wednesday's Principals Meeting

The minutes from Wednesday's Principals Meeting at the seminary will be available in Box by the end of the day tomorrow, Friday, May 13. 

     

Update Michigan Opportunity Scholarship Petition Signature Collection

Any remaining signed petitions should be dropped off or mailed to:

Let MI Kids Learn

C/O National Petition Management

24293 Telegraph Rd

Suite 285

Southfield, MI 48033

Any unsigned petitions can be recycled.

     

New Principal PLC

A 1-hour PLC will be provided for principals using Star Renaissance May 20 at 1:00 p.m. It will also be recorded for anyone who is unable to attend live.

 

Content:

  • Star Reporting-EOY
  • How to Read/Use Star Data
  • Using Star Custom for Progress Monitoring
  • Important Reports to Save/File
  • Summer Programs
  • Q/A

Zoom Link

     

Reminder MNSAA Annual Reports 

Your MNSAA Annual Report is due May 20, 2022. Be sure to use the new link to Accreditrac. When you submit your completed report and forms on Accreditrac, please remember to hit the button “submit to the Superintendent”. We will be switching to a 5-year Accreditation cycle. There will be 12 to 13 Accreditation Site visits per year. Finally, if you are a new Principal, or have not done an Accreditation Site visit but would like to, please contact Nancy Kuszczak and you will be given priority. Please email Nancy at nkuszczak@livoniastmichael.org. The 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 site visit list can be found here.  

 

Here is a tutorial on how to use the updated Accreditrac.

     

Reminder EOY Testing Window

As a reminder, the EOY Star testing window is April 25-May 20. Please make an effort to complete all testing within the window to ensure a timely receipt of our Custom Parent Reports.

     

New Religion Assessment

We took a brief pause from the Religion Assessment during COVID. During this pause, a Religion Assessment Review Committee was formed to edit and revise the assessment. The committee met over the course of this past year and has concluded their work. As such, we will return to using the Religion Assessment next school year (2022-2023). Dr. Bluestein will send more details soon.

     

New SCECH Application

Please share one of the following links with your teachers in order to apply for SCECHs with MANS.

  • For all schools who signed up for MANS Yearlong SCECH Processing
  • For AOD schools who did not sign up for SCECH Processing

For the schools who did not sign up for SCECH processing, the administrators will need to complete the spreadsheets MANS shared with them; or they can email Shelley Long approval of the educators’ SCECH applications. Shelley needs proof of their work, such as certificates of completion if it was independently acquired PD, or administrators’ approval that they participated in AOD PD.

 

All principals, please verify with your teachers the total number of SCECHs you will be reporting to MANS and confirm that they are applying for that same number. MANS indicated a discrepancy last year and if such a discrepancy occurs this year between what the principals report and what the teacher reports, MANS must select the lesser number.

     

New Spiritual Direction for Principals

The AOD may be able to provide Spiritual Direction for principals next year. A Spiritual Director would meet once a month, one-on-one, to provide a listening ear and heart, accompany the participant on their spiritual journey, and pray with and for them.

 

If you are interested in Spiritual Direction, please email Dr. Bluestein.

     

New Ruah Woods Rooted: K-12 Theology of the Body Curriculum

The world’s first Theology of the Body Curriculum for K-12 students provides timely, age-appropriate lessons authentic to St. John Paul II’s vision and understanding of the human person according to God’s divine plan. Students discover the fundamental truth of their innate dignity firmly ROOTED in God’s image, as male and female, called to love one another as God loves. Principals are invited to implement the Ruah Woods curriculum and DCS is committed to assisting with the associated costs. Please contact Dr. Bluestein if you are interested in learning more about Rooted and would like to consider it as a supplement to your current religion curriculum..

     

Federal Programs and EANS Presentations from FACTS Education Solutions

Dr. Susan Abelein and Jeremy Beck of FACTS Education Solutions gave great presentations last week. Please see resources from the presentations below:

Jeremy Beck’s Presentation: 

  • Archdiocese of Detroit Federal Title Presentation

Dr. Abelein’s Presentations:

  • Archdiocese of Detroit Title + EANS Presentation
  • PD Planning TEMPLATE

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. 

     

Star Data Meetings

Dr. Bluestein is meeting with all principals using Star Renaissance for the annual end-of-year meeting to discuss your school’s results and provide comparative data, as well as discuss any PD or curricular needs.

 

Each appointment will last 30 minutes (via Zoom) and openings are available:

Tuesdays through Fridays, April 26-May 27, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

 

If you have not yet scheduled your meeting, please email Dr. Bluestein asap at bluestein.may@aod.orgwith a few preferred dates/times and she will respond with a finalized calendar invite.

     

Reminder: Childcare Stabilization Grants

Childcare Stabilization Grant Funds need to be returned to MDE.  Laura sent an email to principals with instructions.  Please ensure that your business manager is aware of this as well.  We will not be able to accept second round funds either.   

     

Announcements from Prior Editions of School Mail

  • Nominate a Principal or Teacher for a Social Media Spotlight

  • Teacher PLCs and Padlet
  • Social Studies Curriculum Review Committee
  • Resources to Aid Parishes and Schools Prepare for the Supreme Court Decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization
  • Detroit Catholic Article on Catholic Schools Week Mass | Archbishop Vigneron's Homily
  • MNSAA Annual Reports
  • 52 Sundays Price Reduction
  • Archdiocese of Detroit Names New Superintendent of Catholic Schools
  • Donations for Ukraine
  • Handbook Review
  • 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

  • SCECH Process
  • Mental Health Effects of the Pandemic

  • Recordings Available: March 14 Uniform Professional Development Day
  • From Vic Michaels: COVID-19 Guidance and Protocols 

  • 2022-23 School Calendar Planning Documents
  • FACTS Report Card Training & Written Instructions
  • Let's Get Social!
  • SoulCore Recordings and Schedule
     

Events

  • May 27, June 3, June 10: Selfridge Air Shows (STEM Event)
  • New June 9: The Missing Generation - Strategies for Receiving and Engaging Young Adults in Your Parish
  • June 19-26: The National Advancement Summer Institute for Catholic Schools (sponsored by Partners in Mission)
  • June 21-25: Catholic Young Women's Leadership Forum (sponsored by GIVEN)
  • New July 10 and August 14: Teen Summer Mass Series at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral
  • July 11-14: Institute for Catholic Liberal Education National Conference
  • September 19: Archbishop's Catechetical Day
  • October 17: Professional Development Day
  • March 13, 2023: Professional Development Day
     

From Our Partners

  • Save the Date: 2022 Great Lakes Homeland Security Training Conference and Expo School Track
  • Notre Dame – “Into Life” Series

  • Detroit Priestly Vocations Seminarian Profiles

  • Counseling and Mental Health Resources from Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan
  • From NCEA: Free Educator Access to Hallow App for Mental & Spiritual Health

     

School Mail Archive

View prior editions of School Mail here.

 

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Archdiocese of Detroit, 12 State St, Detroit, Michigan 48226, United States, 313-237-5800

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