Reminder - 2023-2024 AOD Tuition Assistance Awarding Allocations Due May 31, 2023
Thank you to those schools who have completed your school’s AOD tuition award allocation spreadsheet and indicated the award amounts in FACTS. As a reminder, please complete your school’s 2023-2024 AOD tuition assistance award allocation spreadsheet and save the award amounts in FACTS by, end of day, Wednesday, May 31, 2023. School families will not be able to receive an award notification until all award amounts have been indicated in FACTS. If you have any questions, please email tas@aod.org.
New: Star Custom Parent Reports
Renaissance is running the Star Custom Parent Reports with plans to deliver them next week. Upon receipt, Dr. Bluestein will prepare the reports for the file transfer and will send principals two back-to-back emails containing the link and password. Please contact Dr. Bluestein with any questions.
New: August 10 All-Principal Meeting Time Change
The August 10 principal meeting (at the seminary) will begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 3:30 p.m.. All are welcome to arrive at 8:00 for coffee and pastries before the meeting.
New: FACTS SIS Proposed System Changes
Please see the short recording of the proposed system enhancements:
Feedback can be emailed to Laura Knaus – knaus.laura@aod.org.
New: Department of Catholic Schools Staffing Changes
We want to extend our gratitude to Jill Haines for her service the past three years in the Department of Catholic Schools. She recently accepted a new position as the Business Manager at the National Shrine of the Little Flower.
Once the new team members for the Department of Catholic Schools are onboard (Associate Superintendent for the Central Region and Associate Superintendent of Schools for Finance and Federal Programs), we will introduce them to you!
New: Professional Learning Grants
The Michigan Equitable Service Collaborative (MESC) is pleased to offer a limited number of professional learning grants to Michigan's non-public schools. Grants of up to $5000 are available based on the guidelines contained in the 2023 Michigan Equitable Service Collaborative Professional Learning Grant. The purpose of these grants is to increase student achievement by improving the quality of instruction and to encourage the growth of professional learning systems in non‐public schools.
Criteria for Selection:
- Data driven: applicant must demonstrate that the proposed plan reflects documented instructional needs in the school(s).
- Plan of action: applicant must outline the activities, timeline for implementation and method for evaluating the effectiveness of the proposed professional learning plan.
- Budget: applicant must provide a budget justification outlining all expenses and how they relate to the proposed plan.
Applications must be submitted using the online application form by 5:00 p.m. on June 16, 2023.
MANS SCECH Application (Deadline June 15)
Please share the SCECH application form with teachers and let them know that the deadline to apply is June 15.
Following the SCECH guidelines that have been shared in School Mail, please review your MANS google spreadsheet to ensure it is completed to reflect all the PD teachers will be applying for this year.
Dr. Bluestein will send out (via email) a reminder of any AOD PD that has been offered this year outside of the learning offered during the Uniform PD Days in October and March. If you are including any of these on your Google spreadsheet shared w/MANS, you do not need to add any agendas or certificates (Dr. Bluestein has already provided that information to MANS). You will only need to record whether any of your teachers attended.
Teachers should share with you the total amount of SCECHs they intend on applying for and that number should match the total number you are reporting to MANS. If there is a discrepancy, MANS must enter in the lesser number into MOECS.
Principal Appreciation Luncheon RSVP
This year’s Principal Appreciation Luncheon will be held at Club Venetian, in Madison Heights, on Thursday, June 15, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Please join us to celebrate the end of the 2022-2023 School Year with delicious food, drinks, bocce ball and so many more games and prizes! Lunch will be served at 12:15pm. Come for the whole time or just a portion of the day. Please click here to RSVP for the event. Please RSVP by Friday, June 9, 2023.
Star Data & PD Meetings w/Principals
If you have not scheduled your 30-minute Star Data & PD meeting with Dr. Bluestein yet, 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).
Cathedral Choir Academy of Detroit Discovery Day
Please pass this information along to your school communities. On May 30 the CCA of Detroit will be hosting a Discovery Day, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30p.m. at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament. The Discovery Day will include experiencing a rehearsal, meeting our singers and their families, and sharing a meal. This is a wonderful way to discern membership in the program. You can RSVP at 313-865-6300. Please click here to read more about the Cathedral Choir Academy of Detroit.
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.
Renaissance Summer Engagement Kits
In preparation for summer learning, summer engagement kits are available for the following Renaissance tools:
- Download Accelerated Reader Summer 2023 Engagement Kit by clicking HERE.
- Download Freckle Summer 2023 Engagement Kit by clicking HERE.
- Download myON Summer 2023 Engagement Kit by clicking HERE.
- Download Lalilo Summer 2023 Engagement Kit by clicking HERE.
Summer PD Opportunity: Michigan Center for Civic Education’s We the People
Elementary and Middle School Principals please share this PD opportunity with your Social Studies teachers! This MCCE program focuses onincreasing student participation and student voice with focus on the Constitution, authentic civil discourse, and possibly helping students see themselves as growing citizens. You can read more about We the People here or visit the MCCE website for more info.
Theology of the Body Virtual Conference
Ruah Woods is offering a Theology of the Body Virtual Conference: Gender and Sexual Identity June 5, 2023 to June 8, 2023. Please click here to learn more about the conference and to register to attend. Please share with any teachers or staff who may be interested in attending.
The Zekelman Holocaust Center - Summer PD Academy for Michigan Educators
We are pleased to share with you our Summer Professional Development Academy taking place August 7–10, 2023. As a valued education partner, we wanted to make you aware first, that registration is now open. For participants that register by June 15th and attend this summer, The HC waive the SCECH application fees for participant SCECHs (up to 25 available). Also, for participants this summer, there will be an opportunity to sign-up for pre-booking for our new core exhibit that will have the grand reopening in January 2024. In addition, each day will include lunch for participants, access to our bus subsidy program and much more! Spots are limited, so save your spot today! If you have any questions, please contact Rick Schaffner (Rick.Schaffner@holocaustcenter.org). All sessions are free to Michigan and Northwest Ohio educators. To register online, click here.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
Posting Positions on the AOD Careers Website
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).
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.
