Volume 8, Issue 11
January 11, 2010

Feast of St. Theodosius

 

St. Theodosius was an Abbot and founder. Born in what today is modern Turkey, in 423, he undertook a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and after meeting with the famed St. Simeon Stylites, entered a monastery. Later, he was named the head of a church between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, but departed to live as a hermit near the Dead Sea. As he attracted a large number of followers, Theodosius established a monastery that was divided among the various nationalities of the monks (Greek, Armenian, etc.), each with their own church. Appointed by the patriarch of Jerusalem to the post of visitor to all the monastic communities of Palestine, he used his influence as leader to oppose the spread of heretical doctrines, displaying such zeal in his preaching that Emperor Anastasius I (r. 491-518), who was sympathetic to the heresies, exiled him. Recalled by Emperor Justin soon after Anastasius' death, Theodosius spent his last years in poor health.

 

Message from the Secretary for Education/Superintendent

 

We, in the Secretariat for Education and Catechesis are greatly saddened by the death of Elaine Pekarek, long-time Administrative Assistant for the Office of Catechetical Services. Elaine had worked 45 years for the diocese through the evolution of the Offices for Education and Catechesis until a few months ago. We owe a debt of gratitude to her for the many years she managed the catechetical certification and course registrations. Her quiet professionalism, competent management, and friendly demeanor were an example to us. Please join us in praying for the repose of her soul. We will miss her.

 

Today marks the beginning of ordinary time in the Church. The Christmas Season officially ended yesterday with the celebration of the feast of the Baptism of Jesus. I hope your Christmas was happy and filled with pleasant memories of celebrations with family and loved ones. After the feasting, it may be good to return to the ordinariness of our daily routines. As we prepare for the second half of the school year with its own set of celebrations and events, I hope you are renewed and looking forward to the challenges that are ahead. Whatever those challenges are, we at the Office of Catholic Education offer you our service. Blessings on the New Year!

 

What follows is Cardinal George’s reflection on Pope Benedict’s message for World Day of Peace, January 1, 2010 from the USCCB Web site:

WASHINGTON— The Catholic Church worldwide celebrated the 43rd World Day of Peace on New Year’s Day. Pope Benedict XVI chose “If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation” as the theme for 2010 celebration.

Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, welcomed Pope Benedict’s message for World Day of Peace (WDP) as he called on Catholics in the United States to work and pray for peace.

 “Pope Benedict seamlessly weaves together concerns for peace, poverty and care for creation.  He calls on us to act to protect both human and environmental ecology for the two are inseparably linked,” Cardinal George said.

“In union with the Holy Father, at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) we are working hard to address the moral and human dimension of the closely connected issues of poverty, peace, environmental protection and climate change.  We are working to protect God’s creation and human life and dignity, to link human ecology and natural ecology because they are inseparable.”

Pope Benedict’s 2010 WDP message states, “integral human development is closely linked to the obligations which 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.”

The pope also poses some poignant questions.

 “Can we remain indifferent before the problems associated with such realities as climate change, desertification, the deterioration and loss of productivity in vast agricultural areas, the pollution of rivers and aquifers, the loss of biodiversity, the increase of natural catastrophes and the deforestation of equatorial and tropical regions? Can we disregard the growing phenomenon of “environmental refugees,” people who are forced by the degradation of their natural habitat to forsake it – and often their possessions as well – in order to face the dangers and uncertainties of forced displacement? Can we remain impassive in the face of actual and potential conflicts involving access to natural resources?” Pope Benedict asks in his message.

USCCB has prepared resources to help local parishes, schools, campus ministries, and others to explore the pope’s WDP message.  They include a bulletin insert and quotes, a primer on Catholic social teaching and the environment, a prayer, and stories from Catholic Relief Services that illustrate the issues alluded to in the message.  They can be found at http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/international/worlddayofpeacewebsite.shtml.
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Keywords: World Day of Peace, environment, creation, ecology, human ecology, Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal George; Justice, Peace and Human Development; Catholic Bishops, USCCB

January Thaw 2010
The twelfth annual January Thaw: Fire Up Conference is scheduled for Saturday, January 23, 2010, at Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron. This catechetical conference is sponsored by the Southern Area Catechetical Leaders of the Diocese of Cleveland in association with the Diocesan Office of Catechetical Services. Dr. Michael Carotta, author and nationally renowned speaker will keynote. The conference offers over 20 sessions for Parish and School Catechetical Leaders, Youth Ministers, Catechists, Teachers, RCIA Teams, and interested adult Catholics, plus a two-session retreat option.

A brochure with registration information will be included in the December Diocesan Memorandum and online at www.oce-ocs.org/ocs. Please note that registration is limited and will be processed on a first-come first-served basis.

For additional information, call the Southern Area Office of Catechetical Services at 1.330.773.7621 or contact pflaherty@dioceseofcleveland.org.

Don’t Miss the February Sessions on Assessment and Mapping!

It’s not too late to sign up your staff up for the February 25 th (grades 5-8) and February 26 th (grades K-4) day long sessions (8:00-2:30) at St. Michael’s Woodside. The presenter for these sessions is Deborah Burns from ASCD. In the sessions Deborah will be discussing the definition and purposes of assessment and the important role of reliability and validity. She will stress how curriculum mapping holds the key in the need to link our learning objectives with our assessment objectives and how to identify the learning objectives that we want to assess. The role of parallel pre- and post-assessments and diagnostic assessments will also be addressed. Throughout the day she will share inexpensive and free assessments to measure learner’s growth toward grade level proficiency in reading, math, and writing.  Open-ended assessments in science and social studies and the role of vocabulary assessment in both of the latter two subject areas will be examined. The use of rubric and anchor sets to measure writing achievement will be discussed. To register your teachers go to: http://www.oce-ocs.org/oce/register/

 

Edline Tips & Tricks After School Workshops

After school workshops are being offered January 25 th and February 25 th. Come learn how to add things to your Edline pages, such as birthday/spelling lists, points of pride for the class, etc. Learn how to make your Edline site unique by adding/changing pictures on your home pages, Web sites, links, and news section, and to have time to practice! To find out more information and to register go to: http://www.oce-ocs.org/oce/register/

 

Ohio Catholic Federal Credit Union

Ohio Catholic Federal Credit Union is proud to collaborate with the Diocese of Cleveland in supporting Catholic Schools “Dividends for Life” awareness campaign. “Dividends for Life” promotes the values of Faith, Knowledge, Discipline and Morals. These values are consistent with the values employed everyday at Ohio Catholic Federal Credit Union. Since 1954, Ohio Catholic FCU has flourished as a member owned and run cooperative that promotes the betterment of Catholic parishioners, parishes, schools, organizations, and communities. Today Ohio Catholic is a $140 million “not for profit” organization that serves over 17,000 members. Ohio Catholic Federal Credit Union offers a full range of financial products and services including tuition loans that directly support Catholic education and values. In the 2009/2010 school year, Ohio Catholic FCU shared over $5.5 million that helped over 1,150 families provide a Catholic education for their children. Whether the child is in elementary school or in high school, Ohio Catholic FCU stands ready to support families in providing for a differentiating education… a Catholic education.

Ohio Catholic Federal Credit Union truly appreciate and values their partnership with the Diocese of Cleveland and is honored to support and to give back to Catholic schools and the Office of Catholic Education.

 

Please consider joining Ohio Catholic FCU in their support of the Catholic school community. To learn more about Ohio Catholic Federal Credit Union, please contact them at (216) 663-6800 Cleveland, (330) 733-6002 Akron, (800) 696-4462 toll free, or via the internet at www.ohiocatholicfcu.com

Thank you!

 

Cleveland Clinic eXpressions™

The Cleveland Clinic Office of Civic Education Initiatives cordially invites you to celebrate the opening of Cleveland Clinic eXpressions™, an exhibition of Science, Art, and Language. It takes place on Thursday, January 21, 2010 at The Great Lakes Science Center, 601 Erieside Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio. The program begins at 6 pm, followed by a reception from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Light refreshments will be served. Business attire is requested. Complimentary Science Center admission and parking will be provided. Please RSVP online before January 15, 2010 to www.clevelandclinic.org/eXpressionsRSVP.

 

April 9/10 National Pesticide Forum at Case Western Reserve University

In 2009, Ontario, Canada banned the use of over 250 pesticide products (see banned ingredient list: http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/land/pesticides/classes/class9pesticides.pdf) for cosmetic purposes. Meet people from two of the organizations that fought to make this vision a reality. Jan Kasperski, CEO of the Ontario College of Family Physicians: http://www.ocfp.on.ca/English/OCFP/home/default.asp?s=1, and Theresa McClenaghan, executive director and counsel at the Canadian Environmental Law Association: http://www.cela.ca/, will be speaking at the Forum.

Registration is $65 for members, $75 for non-members and $35 for students, and includes all speakers, sessions and organic food and drink. For more information visit the online registration page: http://www.beyondpesticides.org/forum/brochures/index.htm.

Other Forum topics will include:

  • Pesticide-free communities
  • Opportunities for a green economy
  • Organic lawns and community spaces
  • Pesticides and health
  • Great Lakes and water
  • Much more

Congratulations, Jason Reed, St. Ignatius High School Director of Multicultural and Retention Services

Mr. Reed was recognized by The Plain Dealer as one of its HEROES 2009. The article appeared in the January 2, 2010 Plain Dealer. The article contains testimonials from students both current and alumni he has helped. We congratulate Mr. Reed and wish him continued success assisting students through his mentoring expertise.

 

National Catholic Youth Choir Request (High School Students)

The 2010 National Catholic Youth Choir is currently accepting student applications. Additional information can be found at the Web site: www.CatholicYouthChoir.org. Application/audition materials are online and are due March 8, 2010. Catholics entering grades 10, 11, and 12 are invited to apply for the camp and tour, June 15-29, 2010 at Saint John’s Abbey and University, Collegeville, MN. Scholarships of $900 are available. Please note: the 2011 camp will be June 14-28, 2011. Contact Dorothy Kantor at dkantor@csbsju.edu or call her at 1.320.363.3154.

 

The Choir is seeking high school singers for the 2010 National Catholic Youth Choir that is in its 11 th season with Axel Theimer, conductor. Students will meet new friends from across the country, sing great music and strengthen their faith, go on a multi-state tour with a great choir and have fun!

 

Seminar with Brian Mendler

Motivating and Managing Hard to Reach, Uninterested and Disruptive Students is the title of a one-day seminar coming to Cleveland on March 3, 2010 at the Sheraton Cleveland Airport Hotel. There is free parking. Participants can receive 5 contact hours. The seminar runs from 8:30am to noon with lunch on your own, and then from 1:00pm to 3:15pm. The cost is $199 per person. If three persons attend a fourth may attend free. If the school pays for five, the sixth and seventh attend free. Register now by phone 1.800.772.5227 or at www.TLC-SEMS.com. You can see clips from live seminars at the Web site.

 

Brian is the son of Dr. Allen N. Mendler whom some of you have heard at the Urban Conference. Brian is a certified K-12 and special education teacher with extensive experience working with challenging students in general education, self-contained, and inclusion settings. As an Adjunct Professor at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY, he teaches Behavioral Management and Introduction to Special Education. In addition, he provides staff development training for K-12 educators and youth service workers throughout North America with the focus on how to be successful with even the most difficult students. In addition, he is an author and volunteers his time with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Special Olympics programs.

 

Don’t Forget to Order Materials for Catholic Schools Week, January 31-February 6, 2010

Go to www.catholicschoolsweek.org to place your order.

 

Catholic School Leadership Institute, July 12-15, 2010, Baltimore, MD

Principals and assistant principals are often asked to begin their ministry of administration with little background and are often overwhelmed by the diversity of requirements needed for the position.

 

In order to meet the needs of beginning principals and to support and encourage experienced principals, the NCEA has developed a summer workshop that will provide ongoing formation and support and at the same time reinvigorate those who already face the daily challenges of administration. Those teachers who are considering administration will find the program a valuable opportunity to share their ideas and learn from experienced administrators.

 

The goals of the Institute are to:

  • Encourage and support experienced principals
  • Provide assistance to new principals to learn various aspects of their ministry
  • Help assistant principals and competent teachers discern their own future in administration, and
  • Network with principals and candidates from other parts of the country.

 

The Institute is a 3-day workshop covering various aspects of administration. For more information, go to www.ncea.org/departments/elementary/CatholicSchoolLeadershipInstitute.asp

 

 

Year Round Schools

A new report by the National Center on Time and Learning finds that a growing number of U.S. schools (655 schools in 36 states serving over 300,000 students) have broken from the traditional school calendar and expanded learning time to improve educational outcomes. The report is based on a database developed by the organization – the first effort to catalog schools operating substantially longer than the standard six-hour school day and, in many cases, the standard 180-day school year. On average, the schools offer 25% more time than the national norm that translates, over the course of a school career, to three additional years in school for all participating students. For more information, go to http://www.timeandlearning.org/databasefullreport2009.html.

 

Seeking Exemplary School Programs in Math or Science

If your school has an exemplary program in math or science, it could be eligible for the 2010 Intel Schools of Distinction Award. Eighteen finalists will win prize money and a trip to Washington, DC. Six of the 18 will receive an additional cash award plus products and services from the sponsors. Finally, a single “Star Innovator” school will be awarded a $25,000 grant. For more information, visit http://www.intel.com/education/schoolsofdistinction/application.htm?iid=CAG6290.

 

NCEA Convention Information

The 2010 NCEA Convention will take place in St. Paul & Minneapolis, Minnesota this year from April 6 to 8 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The theme is Leadership, Direction, Service. The keynote speaker is Garrison Keillor, Host of Public Radio’s A Prairie Home Companion, well-known author, storyteller, artist and comedian. Go to www.ncea.org for more information and to register.

 

Year for Priests

 

Let us continue to pray with and for our priests.

 

In this Year of the Priest, O God,

We ask Your blessing on those

You have called to priestly ministry.

 

May they be prayerful, as Jesus was,

Hearts burning within them and set upon You above all.

 

From the rising of the sun to its setting, may they be the

Voice of praise and thanksgiving, and of faith, hope, and love to all in their care.

 

St. John Vianney, beloved priest of God, pray for us and for all your brother priests. Amen.