Reminder: Principal Institute with Jodee Blanco
Tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 9
Time: 9:00-12:00 or 12:30-3:30
Location: Sacred Heart Major Seminary
Deadline Approaching: Principal & PLC Meeting – RSVP by Friday September 9!
The next Principal meeting will be held on Thursday, September 15, 2022, at the Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. The meeting will run from 9am to 12pm. Those wanting to stay can attend mass at 12:05pm immediately followed by lunch provided by DCS. Please RSVP here by 4pm on Friday, September 9, 2022.
New: BOY Star Testing Guidelines
The BOY testing window has opened and will close October 7.
Star Testing Guidelines (Reminders): Which Star assessment(s) do my students need to take?
- All Kinder students need a Star Early Literacy assessment for BOY.
- For any Kinder student who achieves Probable Reader (852) on Star Early Literacy, they should also take Star Reading and Star Math during the same window (do not proceed however, if they cannot get past the first practice questions independently).
- All Kinder and first grade students should use the Audio option when taking Star Math. This option needs to be turned on for students. Here is the Help File.
- All 1-8 graders take Star Reading and Star Math.
Any first grade student who isn’t able to take Star Reading or Star Math because they cannot get past the 3-5 practice questions needs to take Star Early Literacy.
New: 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.
Please contact DCS with any questions.
New: Catechist Certification Requirement
Please see the attached document which provides details, exceptions, and modifications for the Catechist Certification Requirement.
New: 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 September 30 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 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.
New: Seventh and Eighth Grade Directory
We are changing the way we have previously collected the seventh and eighth grade directories. The Department of Catholic Schools will be reaching out soon to collect the student contact information from the elementary schools. Once we have the updated directories compiled, we will be sharing those with the high schools. Recognizing that a Catholic school’s mission is to foster holiness and to serve as a center of evangelization and discipleship (Unleashing Our Catholic Schools, pg. 2), it is of paramount importance that Catholic elementary schools share their directory to ensure children have the best opportunity to matriculate at a Catholic high school.
Updated: Religion Assessment Information: Rosters, Training, & FAQs Rosters
Principals should have received an email with login credentials and details on how and where to upload class rosters.
- Each school will receive a link to their own SFTP site where they will upload their csv file.
- Schools using FACTS will be able to use the same Renaissance csv within FACTS.
- Schools not currently using FACTS will complete the manual csv.
- You do not need to create usernames or passwords. This will be done for you.
- All rosters should be uploaded to the SFTP site by Monday, September 12.
- All usernames and passwords will be delivered to you on your unique SFTP site the week of Sept. 26.
- Testing window is Oct. 3 – Oct. 21
- Grade 8 students will test once more in the spring: April 24,2022- May 12, 2022
Training
We have re-created the webinar so everyone can review it at their own time. It is also located in Flourish under the support tab. Zoom Recording | Passcode: &1PJLm!2
Teacher Training (Final Session): September 8 from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
UPDATED Info: FACTS PD for Principals & Teachers
FACTS has provided PD on the SIS and/or Grading for principals and teachers in August. The remaining available training dates for teachers will take place in September. Teachers need only attend one session. All sessions will be recorded and uploaded to Hub Help for those who are unable to attend the live virtual training.
Teachers: Sept. 13 or 14 (choose only one session); 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Webinar links and content details: Teacher Training Schedule
Deadline Extended: MANS 152b Application Due September 16
The 2021-22 application, for expenses you incurred doing school safety drills and other functions during the last school year, is now available and you can access it by logging into your MEGS+ account. Applications are due by September 16. Many of the items can be calculated quite quickly and will potentially result in thousands of dollars for your school. As we won the court battle, you will receive payment in a timely fashion.
MANS created a 152b worksheet to help schools determine the correct reimbursement amount to request, which can be found here. This document is for planning purposes only and may not accurately reflect final Michigan Department of Education regulations. Do not submit this with your application - retain for your own records.
Having trouble finding the 152b application in your MEGS+ account? Click here for detailed instructions on how to find the application.
For questions regarding specific reimbursement categories and calculations, contact Brian Broderick (MANS) or Paul Stankewitz (Michigan Catholic Conference) by email.
For technical questions, please contact nonpublicschools@michigan.gov.
Reminder: Archbishop’s Catechetical Day
The website has been updated with the agenda and content for the half day; click on the drop-down arrows on the site to see the content for each segment. Please share the website link (catecheticalday.org/) with your teachers and staff to have them register in advance.
Note that the half day will be split into four talks with 10 minutes built in after each talk for reflection.
Please contact Dr. Bluestein with any questions.
Update: School Safety Plans
If you have not shared your school safety plan, please email it to Erin McNally (mcnally.erin@aod.org) ASAP.
Reminder: Roster Information for Renaissance
Schools utilizing the FACTS SIS will not need to create a manual .csv file for the Star Renaissance roster as in years past. Instead, simply follow the steps from FACTS, then skip to section “B” in the steps provided by Star to upload your roster to Renaissance.
Schools that are not currently using the FACTS SIS will need to follow all the instructions in the Star Self-Service Import document.
Reminder: Teacher PLCs
Dr. Bluestein 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 below and share with teachers; the zoom link will be shared soon. All meetings will run from 4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
PK-2 (Tuesdays): September 27, October 25, November 15, January 17, February 21, March 28
Grades 3-5 (Wednesdays): September 28, October 26, November 16, January 18, February 22, March 29
Grades 6-8 (Thursdays): September 29, October 27, November 17, January 19, February 23, March 30
Upcoming MANS PD Opportunity
School Safety
If your school needs financial assistance to enhance safety and security measures at your school, please contact the Department of Catholic Schools. As a reminder, each school should work with local law enforcement officers to ensure that adequate safety plans are in place.
Newton Applicant Tracking System Job Posting and Closing Instructions
The Applicant Tracking System job posting, and approval process instructions can be found here. Please know that is the responsibility of the school to either remove the job or to reach out to Roberta Robson, (robsonmcglone.roberta@aod.org), or Erin Taft, (taft.erin@aod.org) to request removal of the position. Unfortunately, Paycor Recruiting does not offer the option of putting an end date on the job posting so unless HR is made aware that the job has been filled and should be removed, the job will remain posted. Please see these instructions for how to close your open position in the ATS.
Federal Programs and EANS Presentations from FACTS Education Solutions
Please see resources from Dr. Susan Abelein and Jeremy Beck of FACTS Education Solutions presentations below:
Jeremy Beck’s Presentation:
Dr. Abelein’s Presentations:
