New: Catholic Schools Week Survey
Catholic Schools Week is January 29 through February 3, 2023. The Department is planning various fun events for this week. Please complete this survey regarding Catholic Schools Week by Wednesday, November 30th.
New: Department of Catholic Schools 2023 Principal Retreat
Our Annual Catholic Schools Administrator Retreat is scheduled for Thursday, March 23 and Friday, March 24, 2023. For the second year in a row, the retreat will be held at the Inn at St. John’s in Plymouth. Please tentatively RSVP here. We will confirm attendance and release more details closer to the actual dates. Please reach out to Erin McNally with any questions.
New: November 5-Minute Safety Drill
November’s safety reminder is about prescription medication. Here are some helpful tips and resources:
- Take time to ensure that student medication, secured in the main office, has not expired.
- If the medication has expired or will soon expire, contact the family to inform them of the expiration date and how to dispose of the medication.
- Don’t forget to review expiration dates of school issued Epi-Pens and, if needed, start the reorder process.
- When dispensing medication to students, be sure to document it. Each school must have proper documentation on file for every medication it possesses.
- Resources:
Recordings Available: October 17 Uniform Professional Development Day
Please inform teachers that the recordings and resources (including any slide decks) have been uploaded to the professional development website(www.professionaldevelopmentday.org).
Please also remind teachers to follow the SCECH process using the instructions posted at the top of the PD website.
Those who wish to earn SCECHs for viewing the Oct. 17 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.
Please contact Dr. Bluestein with any questions.
New: 7th Annual Live It. Show It. Share It. Scholarship Contest
Alliance Catholic Credit Union, in conjunction with their foundation, Alliance Catholic Foundation, is currently running the 7th Annual Live It. Show It. Share It. Scholarship Contest for students who will be attending a Catholic League high school in the 2023-2024 academic year.
They are giving away a total of $20,000 in scholarships. Details about the contest can be found here. The attached flyer contains information on the scholarship program and can be shared with students and families.
Ten (10) students will be awarded scholarships. One will receive a Grand Prize of $6,000, one $4,500, one $2,500 and seven will be awarded $1,000 toward their Catholic high school tuition for the 2023-24 academic year.
This year, students are being asked to create an idea for a podcast designed for high school students about the Catholic faith. The students should name the podcast, write a synopsis of it including why they think it would be successful, and record an intro for it.
In addition to the scholarships, the AOD Communication Department, which produces six podcasts, will select one of the finalists and produce a few episodes of the winning podcast idea. The selected student will be a co-producer and be involved behind the scenes on the development of the podcast.
Students do not need to be members of Alliance Catholic Credit Union to enter the contest.
The deadline for entries is Sunday, December 4, 2022. Finalists will be notified in early January.
MDE Nonpublic Membership Report is Now Open
The 2022-2023 Nonpublic School Membership Report is now open and available in the NexSys system.
MDE has extended the deadline for submission to November 15, 2022. It is important that you read carefully each of the pages associated with the application.
Click Here for a PowerPoint that walks you through the process. If you have questions about access or problems with the application in NexSys, please contact MEGS+.
Religion Assessment Refund & Apology from Kendall Hunt
Please see the following brief summary and letter of apology from Chad Chandlee, President & COO of Kendall Hunt:
The letter recaps what happened with the eAssessment as well as how we are refunding the money. We are sorry that this engagement has not been a good experience for anyone. We are striving to make sure something like this never happens again. Thank you for the opportunity this year and sorry that our error pointing to 2018’s test wasn’t discovered sooner or that it happened at all.
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.
Priestly Vocations: Discernment Day | Saturday, November 19, 2022
A Discernment Day offers a single high school man (freshman – senior) from the Archdiocese of Detroit a unique opportunity to experience the seminary and learn about the priesthood. High school students will meet new friends and grow in their understanding of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
If you know any men who are interested and would like more information, please contact the Office of Priestly Vocations. Those interested must have a phone conversation with Fr. Craig Giera, Director of Priestly Vocations, before they are allowed to register.
The Fulfillment of All Desire with Dr. Ralph Martin | November 27 through December 24.
The Sacred Heart Major Seminary is offering a FREE online course designed for the Lay faithful of the Archdiocese of Detroit. In this short online course, Dr. Ralph Martin, Director of Programs in the New Evangelization, shows how achieving holiness is not only possible, but something each and every one of us is called to. He will present the stages of spiritual growth as lived out by some of the great spiritual masters of the Church: St. Teresa of Ávila, St. John of the Cross, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, and St. Francis De Sales. Reflecting on their examples, the course will cover practical tips and advice for advancing in our journey to God. The curriculum is based on Dr. Martin’s book The Fulfillment of All Desire: A Guidebook for the Journey to God Based on the Wisdom of the Saints Learn more about this free online course and register here.
Basilian Fathers Celebrate Bicentennial
With thanksgiving to God as the Basilian Fathers conclude their bicentennial year, rejoicing in 200 years of service to the people of God in France, Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Columbia [Ireland, England, St. Lucia, Algeria], the Basilian Fathers of the Archdiocese of Detroit and the Diocese of London invite colleagues in ministry, family, and friends to celebrate this remarkable milestone on Saturday, November 19 at Detroit Catholic Central High School. Learn more
Jodee Blanco’s SEL and INJJA Program
Recently, Jodee Blanco visited with our principals (September) and teachers (Oct. 17 PD Day) regarding how to communicate and restore relationships between the school and parents. She also shared insights about her SEL and INJAA (It’s Not Just Joking Around) program and many have indicated interest in having her visit their school.
Please review the details from Jodee which indicate what her visits include as well as the cost. Upon review, if you are interested in having her visit your school this spring or next fall, please contact Dr. Bluestein by Nov. 18 confirming interest and indicating which timeframe you would prefer.
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.
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
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 will be sent in the coming weeks.
Star Custom Parent Reports
Dr. Bluestein has completed the process of preparing and sending out the Custom Parent Reports. Each principal should have received two separate emails with a unique link and password for access. If you have any trouble accessing your reports, please contact Dr. Bluestein for support.
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.
A New IDEA in the Great Lakes State
MANS is pleased to partner with ADAC to offer training and consultations on Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) services in Michigan. IDEA provides federally funded special education services to nonpublic school students with learning differences. You are invited to attend one of three FREE trainings with ADAC on November 28, 29, or 30. Learn more and register.
Accreditation Site Team Members Needed
If you would like to serve on a site team this year, please complete the Google form. Also, please share the link to form to any teachers who may like to serve on a team as well. Team members can receive 25 SCECHs after the completion of the visit. Principal chairs will create their site teams from these lists. They will contact you or the teachers as they are assembling teams.
Please contact Nancy Kuszczak at nkuszczak@livoniastmichael.org if you have any questions.
MANS Membership Dues 2022-2023
It is that time of year to collect the annual MANS membership dues. We have decided that it is time to end the paper forms and are asking everyone to fill out this Google form with their information, print it out, and mail it along with their dues payments. The deadline is December 1, 2022.
Teacher Evaluations Requirement 2022-2023
Please note that this year (like last), DCS is requiring two formal, written evaluations of all teachers. The PowerPoint presentation provides more information and links. The last slide includes the link to all items on Box.
Catechist Certification Requirement
Please see the attached document which provides details, exceptions, and modifications for the Catechist Certification Requirement.
Happy Thanksgiving and recall that Butterball has a hotline on proper handling of a turkey.
