Updated: NCEA Report
Thank you to everyone for completing and submitting their NCEA data reports. The Archdiocesan data will be compiled and submitted to NCEA. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Due Tomorrow: Seventh and Eighth Grade Directory Request
We are requesting that our Catholic elementary schools send their current seventh and eighth grade directory information directly to the Department of Catholic Schools.
- Please complete the fields in this spreadsheet and return by Friday, October 14.
- Catholic elementary schools that are part of a unified K-12 environment will not have their directory shared.
- Please send your completed spreadsheet to Erin McNally at McNally.erin@aod.org
- Please also include enrollment numbers by your seventh and eighth grade classes by gender.
Updated: October 17 Uniform Professional Development Day
All sessions are SCECH eligible except for the two by Sr. Johanna Paruch; those two, however, are eligible to be used toward the 5 annual Catechist Renewal hours.
If you haven’t done so yet, please share the PD website (professionaldevelopmentday.org) with all teachers and staff. There, they may find all the sessions, content, registration links, and details. Please also remind faculty and staff to register in advance, and be attentive to the SCECH process (linked at the top of the PD site) to ensure they are able to earn SCECHs at the end of the school year.
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Bluestein.
New: Access for State Reports Reference Guide
You can access the information shared at this week’s Principal meeting in regards to State Reports and Access here.
New: DCS School Technology Survey
We are grateful to the school principals and administrators throughout the Archdiocese of Detroit for the admirable way they balance their many significant responsibilities. Among these is striving to make sure their school technology networks and devices are safe and secure for the students, staff, and families who are all part of the school community.
While some schools are fortunate to have found great resources and programs to ensure their schools’ devices and networks are secured in an ever-changing cyber world, others may not be so fortunate. In this light, we are requesting your responses to a very short survey to identify and assess best practices and ultimately to be able to share this information with all AOD schools. Please click here to complete the survey.
New: 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.
New: 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).
Dr. Bluestein will email principals the direct link to access the curriculum Friday. Also note that Chris McKenna will provide 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. Information to share with parents and details on how to access the Parent App will be sent in the coming weeks.
Updated: Religion Assessment
If you need rostering assistance or experience any technical difficulties during testing, please contact aodeassessment@rclbenziger.com (with Dr. Bluestein copied).
Updated: Star Custom Parent Reports
The Custom Parent Reports were pulled Oct. 11, and may take 5-7 business days to be sent to us. Please note that a requested extension may result in your school not receiving the custom parent reports (for any students who did not complete testing by Oct. 11) as they can only be pulled once and we cannot delay others who have completed testing within the designated window.
New: Important Update for November MANS Conference Registrations
It has come to our attention that a form we offered in our Weekly Update, to assist collecting educator preferences (excursions, lunch options, meet-ups, etc.) was misunderstood. Here’s the language from the Weekly Update:
- Registration Assistance Form: ask your staff to complete this Google Form prior to you registering them. They may indicate interest in excursions, box lunches, etc. This is not the actual registration but a tool to help collect information so one person may register the whole staff.Click here for more information.
A few schools had teachers complete the Google form, and thought it was the registration form. We are trying to make sure that folks understand it was a registration assistance form for collecting information only, and from there they must register their staff using this link.
Deadline Extended: School Safety and Mental Health Funding Information
Pursuant to Public Act 144 of 2022 and Public Act 93 of 2022, the Michigan Department of Education announces the availability of funding opportunities specific to school safety and student mental health. Michigan nonpublic schools are eligible to participate and must signal their intent to apply. The allowable uses of the funds and guidance on each program are specified in the memos linked below.
MDE has confirmed that churches and/or worship spaces on school grounds are eligible to be included in critical incident mapping and/or safety security assessments.
This funding seeks to reduce the impact of high-risk factors on students while improving the health, safety, and wellness of all learners. The application can be found through the Grant Electronic Monitoring System and Michigan Administrative Review System (GEMS MARS). The application process will close at 7:00 am October 20, 2022. For questions on MEGS, email: Megs@michigan.gov
Important SCECH Record-Keeping
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 Info: Payments for Tuition Assistance Awards
Thank you to all the schools that have sent in their Tuition Assistance Calculation and Request forms. If you have not submitted your form for your school, please complete the Tuition Assistance and Calculation Request Form and email it to tas@aod.org ASAP. Archdiocesan Tuition Assistance awards will be available for payment later this Fall.
Please ensure this form is signed by the principal and returned with a copy of your school’s FACTS Tuition Assistance award report and any family award letters for students that have transferred to your school that do not appear on your FACTS report. If you have any questions, please contact tas@aod.org.
Location Change: November All-Principal Meeting
Our next In-Person All Principal Meeting scheduled for Thursday, November 10 from 9am to 12pm, will be moved to St. Edith’s Social Hall. The Hall is located at 15089 Newburgh Rd. Livonia, MI 48154. Please RSVP here.
New: School Safety 5-Minute Drill for October
October 9-15 is Fire Prevention Week and is the focus of this month's five-minute school safety drill. Below are some suggested activities and links for additional ideas. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact someone in the Athletics and Student Services office.
- Fire drill with a blocked exit: This will prepare staff and students to be aware of their secondary evacuation route.
- Fire drill during lunch/recess period: While this is a part of every school day, you may not have conducted a fire drill during this time. This type of drill will prepare staff and students on where and how they should evacuate.
- Use a fire extinguisher: Ask local fire department to demonstrate to staff how to use a fire extinguisher.
- Fire safety checklist: Review the document with your staff. Discussion may lead to discovery of items you were not aware of.
- Online resource: The following link can provide you and your staff with activities and additional resources to be used with the students on the topic of fire safety.
Invite Fr. Craig to Celebrate Mass on Vocations – Open to All Schools
The Office of Priestly Vocations would like you to consider signing-up to have Fr. Craig Giera, Director of Priestly Vocations, celebrate Mass at your school and lead a question & answer after with your school students. Fr. Craig will preach on vocations; all vocations will be touched on. Please review the available days for Fr. Craig to come to your school and sign up here: Vocation Masses and Q & A with Students.
If you would like to sign-up, please do so as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Office of Priestly Vocations 313-868-7043 or email vocations@aod.org.
MANS Conference Social Hour at Lansing Brewing Company
The Department of Catholic schools will be hosting a social hour after the first full day of the November MANS Conference. The Social hour will be held at the Lansing Brewing Company on Thursday, November 3, at 4pm. Please RSVP here if you would like to attend.
New: 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.
AOD Teacher PLCs
Dr. May Bluestein bluestein.may@aod.org will facilitate Teacher PLCs this year beginning in September. Six meetings are scheduled for the year and 25 SCECHs will be available for those who attend all six meetings. These meetings will not be recorded and full attendance at each meeting is necessary to earn SCECHs.
Please see the schedule and zoom link below; All meetings will run from 4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
PK-2 (Tuesdays): October 25, November 15, January 17, February 21, March 28
Grades 3-5 (Wednesdays): October 26, November 16, January 18, February 22, March 29
Grades 6-8 (Thursdays): October 27, November 17, January 19, February 23, March 30
Zoom Link for all PLCs: https://aod.zoom.us/j/5391463958
Archbishop’s Catechetical Day Certificate of Completion
Thank you for your support and attendance of the Archbishop’s Catechetical Day!
A fillable pdf was sent to all principals to print for teachers who attended (or who may later watch the recording, once available). If a verification of attendance is needed, you may contact Dr. Bluestein for that verification, as virtual attendance was recorded. Please keep the Certificate of Completion in the teachers’ files to keep a record of their formation hours.
Also, the recording will be available and posted to the website next week. Please complete the survey (linked here and on the website, too), and remind staff to do the same.
Updated: Religion Assessment
If you need rostering assistance or experience any technical difficulties during testing, please contact aodeassessment@rclbenziger.com (with Dr. Bluestein copied).
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.
