New: NCEA Reporting
The deadline for reporting your data for the NCEA Report is Monday, October 9. You should have received an email on Wednesday, September 27; unfortunately, many of these messages went to spam folders. If you are not seeing this email, look in your spam folder. If you can't find it, reach out to John at brahier.john@aod.org. For FACTS schools, make sure you watch the videos that are linked in the email. The second one in particular (password: NCEA1) addresses some changes for this year including the location of the NCEA: School Data form as well as counting 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old students.
New: FACTS Report Cards – Combining ELA Categories
Some schools have requested combining English, Reading, Writing, and Spelling on the report card under one heading of ELA. FACTS has provided instructions on how to go about making this change without any associated costs. Please see the instructional document for details.
FACTS has also set up office hours Tuesday, October 10 at 1:00 p.m. for further support, if needed. Register here to attend: FACTS + Archdiocese of Detroit Office Hours and Q&A.
Also, to better serve you and any requested customizations going forward, please take a moment to complete the following survey: FACTS SIS – Archdiocese of Detroit Report Card Template Survey.
Please contact Dr. Bluestein with any questions.
New: Save the Date – Preparing Your Budget – Live Zoom Training
DCS and Finance will be hosting a zoom presentation for principals and business managers on Thursday, October 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This presentation will cover preparing your budget. Specifics details and the zoom link will be sent soon.
New: Archbishop’s Catechetical Day Survey
Thank you to those of you who have completed the ACD Survey. If you have not completed this yet, please do so, and encourage your teachers to complete it as well. Your feedback is important and valued to ensure we can make any improvements in the future.
New: Star - Custom Parent Reports
As a reminder, the BOY testing window closes Friday, Oct. 6.
The custom parent report files typically take up to 5 business days beyond the close of the window to prepare. Dr. Bluestein will email principals their files once they are available.
New: October 16 Uniform Professional Development Day
Dr. Bluestein has sent an overview of the structure, content, and agenda to all principals who had previously registered their schools for the PD that will take place at regional locations. Further details regarding logistics, parking, lunch plans, etc., will be shared soon.
Whether your school is or isn’t participating in the regional AOD PD, all preschool teachers are invited to attend Oct. 16 at St. Mary, Royal Oak 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. All principals received an email detailing the specific content and agenda for preschool teachers. If you’d like your preschool teachers to attend, please request that they complete the registration form by Tuesday, Oct. 10.
SCECH Record-Keeping for Principals
As in the past, Shelley Long with MANS sent each principal an email with the link to a Google Folder created for each school, required for SCECH record-keeping. If you have not received this email, please contact Shelley Long at SLong@m-a-n-s.org. Please review the important information to ensure your teachers earn SCECHs, especially in regard to the AOD Professional Development Days.
- Google folders contain links (on the spreadsheets) to a 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; the final amount will tally correctly & educators only have to apply one time with MANS at the end of the school year.
- Principals must collect & upload to the Google 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 each session is worth.
- Principals may use the Google Form Template shared by Dr. Bluestein to collect the AOD PD information from teachers.
- Be sure to MAKE A COPY first before sharing with staff.
- Shelley Long will check in with each school via email mid-year to see if they have questions, concerns, etc.
- Teachers will use the online MANS SCECH application shared in May to apply for SCECHs
Deadline Approaching: Professional Development for Campus Ministers and Any Who Do Faith Ministry in a School Setting
Invite members of your staff who are engaged in faith ministry (campus ministers, DREs, etc.) to participate in networking and professional development opportunities. The next two are as follows:
- October 16 in-person professional development from 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM -- This theme for this gathering, which is at SHMS, is "Differentiating Faith Engagement Opportunities" and will feature three speakers who will present unique and innovative ideas for us to consider. Registration is free but required since food will be provided.
Deadline Approaching: Payments for Tuition Assistance Awards
Archdiocesan Tuition Assistance awards will be available for payment later this Fall. To request payment of your students’ awards, please complete the Tuition Assistance Calculation and Check Request form and return it no later than Friday, October 13 to tas@aod.org.
This form must be signed by the principal and returned with a copy of your school’s FACTS Tuition Assistance award report. If you have any questions, please contact tas@aod.org.
Reminder: Teacher PLCs
Teacher PLCs will be offered again this year. Teachers may earn 25 SCECHs by attending all six meetings. SCECHs may not be divided up for those who attend less than six meetings. Please share the following dates with your teachers so they may mark their calendars; the meeting links will be shared in School Mail soon.
Please contact Dr. Bluestein with any questions.
- PreK-2
- Dates: October 17, November 30, January 16, February 15, March 12, April 18
- Time: 4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
- Grades 3-5
- Dates: October 19, November 16, January 18, February 22, March 21, April 25
- Time: 4:15 p.m.- 5:15 p.m.
- Grades 6-8
- Dates: October 24, November 28, January 23, February 27, March 19, April 23
- Time: 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
- Content: Book Study – Reconnect: Building School Culture for Meaning, Purpose, and Belonging
- Sign-Up Form
