Volume 8, Issue 17
April 12, 2010
Feast of St. Julius
 
Julius was the son of a Roman citizen. He was elected Pope to succeed Pope St. Mark on February 6, 337. Julius was soon involved in the Arian controversy. Arianism was a heresy that arose in the fourth century, and denied the Divinity of Jesus Christ. Julius convened a synod in Rome in 340 or 341, to denounce the heresy. He reinstated Athanasius as the rightful Bishop of Alexandria. Julius built several basilicas and churches in Rome and died there on April 12. (Adapted from Catholic Online)

Message from the Secretary for Education/Superintendent
I hope you had a restful spring break and a blessed Easter. As you prepare for end-of-year activities, it is important to work with your teachers to help the students stay engaged in learning. How creative can you be to peak their interest in the events that lead up to transitioning to a new grade or a new school? Are the students engaged in environmental concerns or preparing for the summertime activities that come with living in Northeast Ohio? As we approach Earth Day, I offer the following excerpt from our Holy Father’s letter on the environment.

An Excerpt from If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation by Pope Benedict XVI 
Creation helps us to recognize our human dignity and God’s love.
Integral human development is closely linked to the obligations that flow from man’s relationship with the natural environment. The environment must be seen as God’s gift to all people, and the use we make of it entails a shared responsibility for all humanity, especially the poor and future generations. (#2)

Seeing creation as God’s gift to humanity helps us understand our vocation and worth as human beings. With the Psalmist, we can exclaim with wonder: “When I look at your heavens, the work of your hands, the moon and the stars which you have established; what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” (Ps 8:4-5). Contemplating the beauty of creation inspires us to recognize the love of the Creator, that Love which “moves the sun and the other stars.”(Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy, Paradiso, XXXIII, 145.) (#2)

There exists a certain reciprocity: as we care for creation, we realize that God, through creation, cares for us. (#13)

Attention all Principals – From Dan Brodnik
We have once again been reminded of the need for schools to comply with House Bill 422. While H.B. 422 addresses many issues, the letter we received specifically spoke to the law’s requirement to update safety plans (and floor plans, if necessary) every three (3) years. These updated plans should be sent to each law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over your school building and the Ohio Attorney General.

If your school is in the City of Cleveland, send them to:

Lieutenant Harold Pretel
City of Cleveland Homeland Security Office
205 W. St. Clair Ave.
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
Fax:    216-420-8255
Email:  HProtel@city.cleveland.oh.us
The Ohio Attorney General asks that you email attention: Dana Forney (1.614.387.4255) to: schoolplans@ohioattorneygeneral.gov. Your local fire department can also request these updates. If you are not in compliance, please comply as soon as possible.

Ohio Achievement Assessment Tests
The Ohio Achievement Assessment tests will be administered in the schools the second week in April. (All EdChoice and CSTP students are required to take the tests. Some schools have all their students take this state test—however only those students with “SSID” numbers (their state ID) will have their results posted–group name—on the ODE Web site. This is the source link to the attached information:
http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=3&TopicRelationID=667&ContentID=82920&Content=82920

NAEIR
By joining NAEIR the National Association for the Exchange of Industrial Resources, you gain access to a special nationwide nonprofit program that for a small fee enables you to access free office supplies, toys, tools, software, janitorial supplies, sporting goods, arts and crafts, books, tapes, CDs, classroom materials, holiday and party goods, clothing and more.

NAEIR seeks to strengthen communities and enrich lives by rescuing new, unsold supplies and merchandise from leading U.S. businesses and distributing these to a vast network of worthy schools and school districts around the United States. Over 500 top companies ship their donated inventory to NAEIR’s massive warehouse in Galesburg, Illinois, where it is sorted, cataloged and stored. Every 10 weeks, NAEIR issues a giant 200-page catalog filled with thousands of new items available. If you are a member, you simply look through the catalog, fill out a request form for all the items you want, and send it in. The requests are then processed and shipped. You pay a small fee to cover shipping and handling costs, but all the items you receive are absolutely free of charge.

For more information call 1.800.562.0955 then press 2. You will get complete details on how to become a member of NAEIR and start requesting your FREE supplies and merchandise.

(The following information is adapted from the Ohio State Superintendent’s newsletter.)
1. Don’t Forget Your Tornado and Severe Weather Drills. With the warmer weather beginning to arrive (what a wonderful feeling!), it is time to begin planning for the possibility of severe weather. Ohio Spring Severe Weather Awareness Week brought the annual statewide tornado drill, scheduled on March 24, 2010. At that time, every county should have sounded its warning sirens and broadcast an Emergency Alert System test message. Schools are encouraged to practice their severe weather plans and must schedule time to practice their tornado drills in accordance with Ohio Revised Code Section 3737.73. For more information and tornado safety tips, visit http://www.weathersafety.ohio.gov/.

2. ODE staff has also been working on several state initiatives, including the revision of the Science and Social Studies Academic Content Standards. ODE staff reviewed and incorporated the feedback they received, where feasible, to produce March 2010 drafts, now available on ODE’s Web site for review.
 
ODE encourages review of the March drafts and has created new online surveys for additional comments. The survey for Social Studies, located here: <http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=3&amp;TopicRelationID=1706&amp;ContentID=76598>, and the survey for Science, located here: <http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=3&amp;TopicRelationID=1705&amp;ContentID=76585>, will be open through April 19.
 
3. On a special note, congratulations to InfOhio <http://www.infohio.org/> which was recognized by the Ohio Senate this month for its 20-year anniversary of serving Ohio’s K-12 community as the state’s network of online educational resources. InfOhio offers its electronic information to students and educators at all public, nonpublic and home schools in the state. We encourage you to learn what’s new at InfOhio, including the 21st Century Learning Commons <http://learningcommons.infohio.org/>. The Web site links resources to essential skill-building information and offers ways of collaborating and learning using the latest technologies. Congratulations InfOhio!

4. This Is A Good Time To Prepare Women Making History Essay Contest Entries. It’s not too late for eighth-grade teachers to commemorate women’s history by encouraging students to enter the 2010 Women Making History Essay Contest by the April 23 deadline. The competition is sponsored by the Governor’s Office for Women’s Initiatives and Outreach, the Ohio Interagency Council on Women and Girls and the Ohio Department of Education.
 
Essays of 400 to 600 words should focus on a woman who has made or is making history. Recognition for writers of winning and honorable-mention essays in five categories will include a day of learning and activities in Columbus during June, known as Women in State Government Day. That day, the students, teachers and adult chaperones will be invited to attend a lunch recognition ceremony with Ohio First Lady Frances Strickland. The five winning writers also will be recognized at the 2010 Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony in August. To view contest details and access the Essay Submission Kit, please click here: <http://education.ohio.gov/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=3&amp;TopicRelationID=122&amp;ContentID=43195>. For more information, contact Virginia Moore at (614) 728-2759 or virginia.moore@ode.state.oh.us.
 
5. Physical education academic content standards meetings are scheduled.
ODE has scheduled free workshops in April, May and June to help educators learn how to incorporate the new physical education academic content standards into their local curricula. The State Board of Education adopted these standards in June 2009. The training sessions will be held on:

  • Friday, April 30, Westerville, Franklin County;
  • Monday, May 10, Jefferson, Ashtabula County;
  • Tuesday, May 18, Wooster, Wayne County.

Pre-registration is required through STARS using a SAFE account. To obtain a SAFE account, click here: <https://safe.ode.state.oh.us/portal/>. For additional information, visit: <http://education.ohio.gov/> and click on Events, or contact Lisa Lyle Henry at (614) 387-0421 or email: lisa.henry@ode.state.oh.us.
 
6. National History Day program in Ohio seeks judges.Judges are needed for the state National History Day competition on April 24 at the Ohio Union on The Ohio State University campus in Columbus. Sponsored in Ohio by the Ohio Historical Society, the yearlong History Day program allows students to choose their own topics related to an annual theme. Students conduct and analyze research in the process of creating papers, performances, documentaries, exhibits or Web sites. The 2010 theme is Innovation in History: Impact and Change.
 
Judges for the program – who are educators, historians, archivists, museum professionals and other professionals – view student projects, encourage the participants and provide feedback. The time commitment is five hours and food is provided. To volunteer as a judge, click here: <http://www.ohiohistory.org/portal/ohiohistoryday-p.html>. To learn more about History Day, click here: <http://www.ohiohistory.org/portal/ohiohistoryday-p.html> or contact state coordinator Mary Bezbatchenko at historyday@ohiohistory.org or (614) 297-2528.

7. Free high school robotics competition offers real-world engineering lessons. The Air Force Research Laboratory and the Institute of Navigation are hosting the Second Annual Mini-Urban Challenge on May 22 at Wright State University in Dayton. The competition invites high school students to design, build and program a car using LEGO® MINDSTORMS® sensors to navigate at the contest site through a 20-foot by 20-foot city made entirely of LEGOs® building sets. There is no cost for schools or students to participate because the sponsors provide all necessary materials, sensors and software. The competition provides high school students with real-world engineering lessons in problem solving, technical language and teamwork with a goal of getting more students excited about engineering. The top two teams from four regions will compete in a national competition on June 4 in Dayton. For more information and to register, click here: <http://www.ion.org/outreach/muc/>. Direct any questions to Lieutenant Casey Miller at (937) 257-4775 or Casey@MiniUrbanChallenge.com.

8. Preview of Ohio’s Career Information System is now available
Now through Aug. 1, ODE is allowing school leaders access to Ohio’s Career Information System (OCIS) so you can preview the Web-based system before purchasing a site license for next school year. OCIS is designed to help students explore and plan their careers while building an online portfolio of information related to fields of interest, postsecondary education options and financial aid. The site hosts the latest national and Ohio labor market data and projections. The preview will not include all available OCIS features; however, there will be enough content to assist educators in determining whether the system will fit the needs of their students. To access OCIS, find the user name and password on the flier posted on this ODE Web page <http://www.education.ohio.gov/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=3&amp;TopicRelationID=1758&amp;ContentID=15300> and click here: <http://www.ocis.org/> to access OCIS. For more information, contact Carolyn George at (614) 728-6942 or carolyn.george@ode.state.oh.us.

2010 U.S. Census
By now, most households should have received a census form in the mail. The Census Bureau contacted the Diocese to get involved in helping those in our community understand how important it is to be counted.  Please complete and return your form as soon as possible and encourage others to do so.  Completing the form is simple and safe.  Everyone's participation will benefit our community, schools and social service agencies.  Every year, more than $300 billion in federal funds are awarded to states and communities based on census data.  For more information about the 2010 Census, please go to www.census.gov/2010census.  

Field Trips Free of Cost to Women & Spirit Exhibit Courtesy of Bishop Lennon
We are grateful to Bishop Lennon for providing a grant that will allow Catholic school field trips–free of cost–to visit Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America, at the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage from May 9-August 28, 2010.  This grant covers ticket costs, as well as bus transportation through Precious Cargo for schools that do not use their own buses. The grant also will cover field trips of youth for Catholic school summer programs, for Parish School of Religion groups, and for other youth groups at the parishes. The exhibit is intended for students in sixth grade and higher.  Please call Lenaia Burbank at the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage to schedule a visit, 1.216.593.0575, or mail to: groupsales@mmjh.org. 

About the Women & Spirit Exhibit- A Priest’s Reflection
Nuns Go Places Where Few Dare to Go
By Father Eugene Hemrick
Published: 03/20/2010

Inspiring and admirable best describe the exhibit "Women and Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America" at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington. A more awesome collage of the work, devotion and enormous impact women religious have had on our church and nation cannot be found!

I was amazed to learn that four Holy Cross sisters were among the U.S. Navy's first nurses. During the Battle of Shiloh in 1862, there were more than 20,000 casualties. Sister Anthony O'Connell of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati lobbied and won to have nuns nurse the wounded. For her efforts, she was dubbed "the angel of the battlefield." The monument "Nuns of the Battlefield," which is situated across the street from St. Matthew's Cathedral in Washington, commemorates 600 nuns who were nurses during the Civil War.

Stories of nuns fighting poverty, racism and illiteracy in squalid conditions dominate the exhibit. We are reminded that they not only served the downtrodden but marched side-by–side with them for equality and rights.

We seldom think of nuns as lawyers lobbying Congress, but there they are in the exhibit, doing just that.

The history of nuns who braved the rigors of travel and difficult living situations to teach and evangelize fills the exhibit. St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, also known as Mother Cabrini, foundress of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, came from Italy and founded hospitals, schools and orphanages throughout this country.

Mother Joseph of the Sisters of Providence, who was born in Canada, ended up in the state of Washington. Not only did she establish the same kind of institutions as Mother Cabrini, being a carpenter she built them with her own hands!

What particularly touched me was the promotion one religious order used to attract other members: "We offer you no salary, no recompense, no holidays, no pensions. But much hard work, a poor dwelling, few consolations, many disappointments, frequent sickness, a violent or lonely death, an unknown grave." It was a call for complete commitment! A video presentation shows one nun saying that suffering has the power to make us one with humanity.

As I exited the exhibit, I felt a deep sense of pride in the spirit of our nuns, which affirmed my belief that nuns are not only praying communities, but also down-to-earth, devoted women who bring God to places where few dare to venture.

Father Eugene Hemrick works on the staff of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. He has served as a consultant for planning for several diocesan projects.

Protecting God’s Children
Internet Crimes Against Children Presentation for All Counties
Paul Marnecheck from the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), a division of the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, will be contacting all schools in Cuyahoga County to provide resources for children for their protection while using the Internet.  Information will come through the mail. ICAC will also present to any school requesting information. The presentation is excellent. Some of you may have had Jeff Stutzman’s presentation on Internet safety. This presentation, however, is much different and uses real crimes perpetrated on actual children. It discusses the involvement of the child, the perpetrator and how the crimes were resolved. It advises children what to do and how to handle actual solicitations online. For Cuyahoga County schools, you will need to call Paul Marnecheck to schedule a presentation for children, faculty and staff. The number to call is 1.216.698.2499. Other counties have similar outreach programs on the same topic. The contact information listed below was given to the OCE by Paul and lists the contac person to schedule a similar presentation for schools outside Cuyahoga County.  

Lake
Scott Stranahan in the Sheriffs Office
(440) 350-5533
 
Cuyahoga
Paul Marnecheck-216-698-2499
 
Geauga
Lt. Scott Niehus in the sheriff’s office
(440) 286-4031
 
Lorain
Capt. John Reiber-Lorain County Sheriffs Office
(440) 329-3793
 
Summit
County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan - Walsh
(330) 643-2800
 
Ashland
Lt. Scott Smart-Sheriffs Office
(419) 289-8362
 
Wayne
Jennifer Reynolds-County Prosecutors Office
(330) 287-5671
 
Medina
Det. Todd Hicks-Sheriffs Office
(330) 725-9116

PSI Language Services for Schools
As you prepare your budget and choose your staff and programs for the 2010-2011 school year, you may be interested to know that PSI can provide Spanish Language instruction within a range of $275-$300 per day, depending upon the circumstances. This includes the hiring, classroom and curriculum supervision of its staff with the professional expertise of PSI. Schools that want to broaden their foreign language offerings also receive Mandarin Chinese teachers from PSI, sometimes for shortened modules or for only part of the school day. This can be a powerful marketing tool to help prepare students for the global world in which we live. If you would like more information, you may call Karen L. McKelvey at 1.800.841.4774, extension 230.

Workshop on How to Apply for the National Blue Ribbon Excellence Award
PSI will host a panel discussion on April 20, 2010 for partner schools about the process to apply for and win the National Blue Ribbon Award.  PSI will be hosting this program to help schools achieve this important recognition. We have joined with John Bednar of St. Paschal Baylon School in Highland Heights, Ohio, to lead this initiative with other Blue Ribbon winners. Contact Karen McKelvey <mailto:karenmckelvey@psi-solutions.org> at PSI for more information.

Upcoming PSI Workshops

Please e-mail: <info@psi-solutions.org> or call at 1.800.841.4774, ext. 230 for details on these workshops.

June Continuing Education Workshop for Teachers and Administrators
Location:      Strongsville High School   
Dates:          June 14-18, 2010
Credit:          3 semester hours/45 clock hours
Cost:            $385 per person for groups of three or more from the same school.
                   Or $395 per person
Sponsor:       Summer Institutes, Pacific Lutheran University

Additional information is available online at www.summerinstitutes.com and the direct link to the Strongsville workshop brochure is http://www.summerinstitutes.com/files/SummerInstitutesStrongsville.pdf. This will take you to the workshop brochure that has complete information. 

Financial Literacy Month began April 1
In recognition of Financial Literacy Month, Ohio Treasurer Kevin L. Boyce urges all Ohioans to learn how to establish and maintain healthy financial habits and to learn more about personal finance. All educators, especially those who are fulfilling the financial literacy requirements of Senate Bill 311, will be interested in the Treasurer of State Web site at <http://www.ohiotreasurer.gov/>, which offers financial information on topics such as understanding credit and debt, financial planning, saving and investing. The site also describes a series of Smart Money Choices <http://www.ohiotreasurer.gov/ForYou/Default.aspx?Section=Smart%20Money%20Choices> conferences that are scheduled throughout the state and workshops that are scheduled upon request. For more resources and information about financial literacy, visit the related ODE Web page: <http://education.ohio.gov/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?Page=3&amp;TopicRelationID=1702> , also accessible at: <http://education.ohio.gov/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?Page=3&amp;TopicRelationID=1702&amp;Content=83425>, keyword search: financial literacy. Among the resources listed there is the Jump$tart Coalition: <http://www.jumpstartcoalition.org/> for personal financial literacy, which offers financial literacy standards, best practices and a searchable clearinghouse of resources.

Win a Visit from Clifford the Big Red Dog for your After-School Care Program
Enter the “Win a Visit from Clifford” sweepstakes for a chance to win! Surprise your students with a special visit from Clifford to your after school program site.
The Winner will also receive:
Clifford Books
Clifford Audio Books
Clifford Videos
Clifford Plush Toys
Go to: http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/afterschoollearning/cliffordsweeps.asp.
SUBMIT BY DATE      DRAWING DATE
April 15, 2010           April 23, 2010
June 4, 2010            June 8, 2010

April is Minority Health Month at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center
All events take place at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, St. Vincent de Paul Room (next to the Cafeteria) 2351 East 22nd Street, Cleveland, OH 44115. Contact Patricia Terstenyak at 216.241.6395 or Patricia.Terstenyak@stvincentcharity.com.

April 15 – Health Equity and Empowerment Interactive Conference, 3-5 pm
2-hour community centered event to learn about health disparities, health advocacy
and self-empowerment. Healthy eating, active living, interactive learning and health
screening opportunities are provided.

April 22 – Pathways to Good Health Interactive Conference 3-5 pm
2-hour community centered event to learn more about patient-doctor communication,
health literacy and self-empowerment. Healthy eating, active living, interactive learning
and health screening opportunities are provided.

Free Medical Clinic Every Tuesday in April
The Free Medical Clinic now has a Community Intake Clinic at Tri-C Community Health, Wellness and Preventative Care Center. It is free and open to the public. A Hispanic interpreter will be available. The Clinic provides screening for blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol. It also provides referrals for other free clinic services: mental health and substance abuse, HIV testing, restorative dental care, specialty medical services, one-on-one educational sessions with nurses to discuss medical needs. The location is the Healthcare Careers Sciences Building, First Floor, 2900 Community College Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115. For more information call 216.987.3555.

Youth Opportunities Unlimited Summer Jobs Program 2010 (Cuyahoga County)

  1. Online registration – Some changes have occurred for this year. Young people ages 14-18 who are Cuyahoga County residents may register and must register online at http://www.youthopportunities.org. It is recommended that a parent or guardian assist the young person with completing the registration. The young person will need an email address for communications between the program and the participant, social security number, emergency contact information, medical information, and total family income for the past six months or information about public assistance. Online registration is open from April 1 through April 23 at 6:00 pm. Registering does not guarantee being selected.
  2. Intake/validation – Based on available funding, persons will be selected to attend an intake/interview session based on a random process that is weighted proportionately to work site availability. At intake, the youth will be asked to provide five documents: a) copy of social security card, b) copy of birth certificate, c) copy of photo ID, d) copy of proof of residency, and e) copy of proof of income/need. Intake/interview sessions are scheduled for April 26 through May 15.
  3. Orientation – If the young person successfully completes the intake/interview phase, he/she will be invited to a 4-hour orientation where the details of his/her placement will be discussed. Orientations will be scheduled for mid-June.

For more information contact the summer jobs hotline at 216.776.3900. This information comes from the Health Program Officer, Teleange’ Thomas, Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland, www.socfdncleveland.org.

Junior Achievement Invites You to Their Student-Based Competitions
There are two competitions in April for high school students. This is a great chance to learn more about the opportunities available to your students through the JA Titan Program and the JA Company Program.

The JA Titan Competition, Wednesday, April 14, 9:30 am to 1:30 pm, is a business strategy tournament for high school students using the JA Titan Program – a computer-based business educational program. The competition is designed to put high school students into the CEO’s seat to test teamwork and leadership skills while demonstrating the competitive nature of the free enterprise system.

The competition takes place at Parker Hannifin Corporate Headquarters (6035 Parkland Blvd., Mayfield, OH 44124). St. Ignatius High School will be competing against eight public high schools.

The JA Student Company Program Challenge will give students a chance to showcase their product…and their business savvy. Students will set up a display table at a networking tradeshow event during the morning to discuss their business plan and market their product, and student executives will present their business plan and annual report to a panel of business and community leaders during a formal presentation.

This will take place on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Gerald H. Gordon Conference Pavilion, Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University (2000 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115). Holy Name High School will compete against five public schools.

Please let JA know if you or your teachers would like to attend any portion of either competition to benefit from knowing more about Junior Achievement programming for high schools. Direct questions and RSVPs to Kelly Hatgas, Program Manager at 216.861.8080 or khatgas@jacleveland.org. 

Borromeo Seminary Golf Outing
The Seminary Golf Outing is Monday, May 17, 2010 at Little Mountain Country Club, 7667 Hermitage Road, Concord Township, OH. For registration information, call 1.440.943.7631 or email egauvin@dioceseofcleveland.org.
 

Please continue to pray for our priests during this Year for Priests.
Dear Lord,
we pray that the Blessed Mother
wrap her mantle around your priests
and through her intercession
strengthen them for their ministry.
We pray that Mary will guide your priests
to follow her own words,
“Do whatever He tells you” (Jn 2:5).
May your priests have the heart of St. Joseph,
Mary’s most chaste spouse.
May the Blessed Mother’s own pierced heart
inspire them to embrace
all who suffer at the foot of the cross.
May your priests be holy,
filled with the fire of your love
seeking nothing but your greater glory
and the salvation of souls.
Amen.

Please refer to archived issues of the Superintendent’s Bulletin for information on summer programs for students and teachers that have not been repeated here.