Volume 8, Issue 4
September 14, 2009

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Early in the fourth century St. Helena, mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine, went to Jerusalem in search of the holy places of Christ's life. She razed the Temple of Aphrodite, which tradition held was built over the Savior's tomb, and her son built the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher over the tomb. During the excavation, workers found three crosses. Legend has it that the one on which Jesus died was identified when its touch healed a dying woman.

The cross immediately became an object of veneration. To this day the Eastern Churches, Catholic and Orthodox alike, celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on the September anniversary of the basilica's dedication.

The cross is today the universal image of Christian belief. Countless generations of artists have turned it into a thing of beauty to be carried in procession or worn as jewelry. To the eyes of the first Christians, it had no beauty. It stood outside too many city walls, decorated only with decaying corpses, as a threat to anyone who defied Rome's authority—including Christians who refused sacrifice to Roman gods. Although believers spoke of the cross as the instrument of salvation, it seldom appeared in Christian art unless disguised as an anchor or the Chi-Rho until after Constantine's edict of toleration.

"How splendid the cross of Christ! It brings life, not death; light, not darkness; Paradise, not its loss. It is the wood on which the Lord, like a great warrior, was wounded in hands and feet and side, but healed thereby our wounds. A tree has destroyed us, a tree now brought us life" (Theodore of Studios).

Message from the Secretary for Education/Superintendent
I hope that the school year is progressing well, and that your enrollment is showing signs of growth. We are in difficult times, but we have the gift of resiliency because of God’s grace and your leadership. In the busyness of each day, please take some time to pause and reflect on the great gift you and your staff are responsible for sharing with your students and families. Our schools are safe havens in which you surround students with an atmosphere that makes spiritual and academic growth possible. Thank you for your dedication and commitment.

In this Bulletin, there are many opportunities presented to you and your staff for professional development that keeps you at the “top of your game.” Please share this information and enable your staff to participate if possible. Please encourage student involvement in the contests and educational activities.

Ohio Catholic Education Association Convention, October 8-9, 2009
The Ohio Catholic Education Association Convention (OCEA) will be held Thursday, October 8, and Friday, October 9, 2009, at the Duke Energy Center in Cincinnati. This event is sponsored by the Catholic Conference of Ohio in collaboration with all the Catholic dioceses of Ohio, as well as Catholic dioceses in Indiana and Kentucky. It occurs only once every two years.

This year the convention, one of the largest and finest of its kind in the country, will feature over 300 outstanding national and regional presenters, covering virtually every aspect of Catholic education and Catholic religious education. This gathering is designed primarily for Catholic schoolteachers and administrators, parish directors of religious education, catechists, youth ministers, and family life ministers. However, all who educate in Catholic settings are welcome to attend.

The OCEA opens with celebration of the Eucharist. Featured national speakers include: Dr. Michael Carotta, Dr. Mary Angela Shaughnessy, SCN, Dr. Jane Regan, Father Ron Nuzzi, Mr. John Roberto and Mr. Dan Mulhall, just to name a few. In addition, some of the finest “local talent” from all over Ohio and beyond will be presenting. A partial list of Cleveland presenters is available on the Office of Catechetical Services Web site (http://www.oce-ocs.org/ocs). Twenty-two presenters from the Diocese of Cleveland are presenting. Moreover, many major publishing companies and suppliers will have exhibits.

For additional information or to register, contact the O.C.E.A. at 1.614.224.7147 or online at http://www.ohiocathconf.org. Resources are “scarce” and money is “tight,” but Catholic education/religious education is vital to the future of our Church and of our world. Please consider making it the Ohio Catholic Education Association Convention.

Request for Personal Stories about September 11
The National September 11 Memorial Museum being built in New York City and scheduled to open in 2012 is requesting your personal story about September 11, 2001. Where were you on 9/11? Do you have video or photo images, or stories you want to share, about what you watched on TV that morning? Of your friends sitting in class that day when you heard about the attacks? Of the vigils and the aid efforts you witnessed? Or of people standing in closed airports in the days that followed? If you or anyone you know has images or written accounts of the terrorist attacks and their aftermath, they invite your participation now.

The National September 11 Memorial Museum is dedicated to preserving the history of 9/11, and to telling the story through the voices of those who experienced it. It is estimated that 1/3 of the world’s population witnessed the events of 9/11 on that day, and they are seeking documentation of the attacks and their aftermath from the broadest possible perspective.

9/11 had global implications, and this is a worldwide call for submissions, from witnesses in the streets of lower Manhattan and Washington, D.C. to those watching it on TV in Osaka and Moscow. The Museum is interested in:

• Images and videos of the terrorist attacks
• Images of people on that day from around the world
• The way those attacks were witnessed and experienced globally
• Vigils across the United States and the world
• Aid efforts across the United States and the world
• Documentation of the World Trade Center prior to 9/11

The history of 9/11 is still being written. All media that is submitted will be displayed and mapped on an innovative Web interface that will launch this September. Click here for a preview of the Web site: http://cts.vresp.com/c/?FacingHistoryandOurs/625f8cfb12/a7dc31db27/3d16dce2af. For more information on this project or to submit your stories, contact Angela Sheridan at asheridan@spet11mm.org.

Peaceful Expectations Peace Education Program
CHILDSAFE Foundation is pleased to announce the official launch of its “Peaceful Expectations” peace education program for elementary and middle school students. At this time they would like to extend an invitation to the eligible schools in our diocese. Schools may register online at www.childsafefoundation.eventbrite.com . Dates are listed on the site. The Foundation would be pleased to have your school join in on this journey into peace. Dr. Jacqueline L. Beaudoin Executive Director, CHILDSAFEfoundation 3680 Highway YY Moberly, MO 65270 Res. 660.263.8267. Peaceful Expectations is available to all eligible schools public and private. They will accept 1,000 schools into the program this year, next year 5,000. Program limit is 5,000. Can you attend this event?  Respond Here < http://childsafefoundationeivte.eventbrite.com/?invite=MTk1Nzc2L21seW9uc0BkaW9jZXNlb2ZjbGV2ZWxhbmQub3JnLzE%3D%0A&utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=invite>.

Stop the Hate: Youth Speak Out! Essay Contest
The Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage challenges students in grades 6-12 to take personal responsibility to combat hatred, discrimination and intolerance by participating in the 2009-2010 Stop the Hate: Youth Speak Out! Essay contest.

This yearly initiative supports the Museum’s mission to build bridges of appreciation, tolerance and understanding of persons of all religions, races, cultures and ethnic backgrounds. It reflects Jewish values of responsible citizenship and respect for all humanity by challenging young people to consider the consequences of intolerance and hatred and the role of personal responsibility in affecting change.

Principals received detailed information and the student entry form for the contest at the Plenary Meeting. We encourage teachers to facilitate student participation in this worthwhile contest. Students are encouraged to enter online at www.maltzmuseum.org. Online entry begins October 5, 2009. There is $100,000 in scholarships and prizes. Deadline for entry is noon of the following dates:

• Wednesday, November 4, 2009 for students in grades 6-10
• Wednesday, December 16, 2009 for students in grades 11-12.

Northern Ohio Chapter of the Catholic Library Association Meeting
The Northern Ohio Chapter of the Catholic Library Association cordially invites you to join them for the next general meeting on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 from 3:30-7:00 pm at St. Anselm School, 13013 Chillicothe Road, Chesterland, OH 44026. Call Sr. Madeline Muller, NOCCLA President at 1.440.716.8818 or email her at mmulle8@yahoo.com for cost and details, or reference previous Superintendent Bulletins.

We Are Called Catechetical Conference
The annual We Are Called Catechetical Conference will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at Regina High School in South Euclid from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. This year the focus of the conference is on current, updated and useful information and resources to assist parish catechists and day school teachers, kindergarten through grade 8 in their ministry with children. Visit the We Are Called Web pages through the link at www.oce-ocs.org/ocs for more information.

The Eleanor Malburg Eastern Churches Seminar October 9-10
The seminar entitled Holy Communion: You and I in Christ will be held October 9-10, 2009 cosponsored by the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma, Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, Greater Cleveland Council of Orthodox Clergy, Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church, Notre Dame College Center for Pastoral Theology and Ministry, Romanian Byzantine Catholic Diocese of Canton, St. Gregory of Narek Armenian Orthodox Church, St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church, The Raymond Malburg family, and Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of St. Josaphat.

The seminar takes place on Friday, October 9 at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 6822 Broadview Road, Parma, OH 44134 and Saturday, October 10 at Notre Dame College, 4545 College Road, South Euclid, OH 44121.

Friday Schedule
6:30 pm Registration
7:00 pm Prayer Service
7:30 pm “St. Paul’s Teaching on One Body: Ecclesial and Sacramental” Msgr. Paul McPartlan, STL, D.Phil., Catholic University of America
8:30 pm Reception and Refreshments

Saturday Schedule
8:30 am Registration
9:00 am Welcome – Andrew P. Roth, Ph.D. president, Notre Dame College Moderator – Father Joseph Hilinski, delegate of Ecumenical Interfaith Affairs for the Cleveland Catholic Diocese
9:15 am “Eucharist in Eastern Orthodoxy” Father Alexander Rentel, Ph.D. – St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Crestwood, NY
10:15 am BREAK
10:30 am “Eucharist in Oriental Orthodoxy (the Armenian, Assyrian, Coptic, Ethiopian, Indian and Syrian Orthodox churches) ” Father Daniel Findikiyan, Ph.D., dean, Nersess Armenian Seminary, New Rochelle, NY
11:30 am Prayer
Noon Lunch
1:00 pm “Eucharist in the Western Tradition” Father David A. Novak, M.Div., MA, pastor of Holy Trinity Church, Lorain, OH
2:15 pm Conversation with our speakers
2:45 pm Conclusion of Seminar

Fee (includes lunch): $30 before October 2; $35 after October 2.
Make check payable to: Notre Dame College and mail to Notre Dame College Center for Pastoral Theology and Ministry; 4545 College Road; South Euclid, OH 44121. For more information, contact 1.216.373.5389 or mbaran@ndc.edu.

CPO Has New, Exciting Purchasing Contracts
This is a great time to utilize our Diocesan Central Purchasing Office Services. They have a new STAPLES Office Supplies Program that provides fabulous overall pricing on a myriad of products. You can stock up on Excellent Quality Copy Paper for just $29.99 cs and $28.99 cs (per pallet) through their Joshen Paper & Packaging contract that has received tremendous response and reviews.

Super competitive ICE MELTER pricing of $10.89 per 50# bag on Roadrunner and $5.99 pallet price on Rock Salt is sure to be needed in the fast approaching winter months.

Call CPO, Your Catholic Purchasing Connection, at 1.440.717.9700 or Toll Free 1.866.SHOPCPO (746.7276) for all your school/parish needs. Remember, your participation in our Diocesan program creates the volume necessary to negotiate superior pricing that benefits all our Diocese's Institutions.

Diocesan Vocation Office Opportunities for Students
Discovery Days , held on Tuesdays – a program for 7 th and 8 th grade students at the Center for Pastoral Leadership (CPL) in Wickliffe. Girls and boys will have the opportunity to meet and dialogue with priests, seminarians, sisters and brothers. The day will include an introduction of the CPL, prayer, tour of the CPL, discussion, question and answer time, prayer service, and lunch. Discovery Days are held from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. The cost is $6.00 per student, payable to the Center for Pastoral Leadership. Call ahead to reserve a date. Call: 1.440.943.7630. Discovery dates for 2009-2010 are:

Vocation Awareness Events :
Priesthood Sunday October 25, 2009
Vocation Awareness Week January 10-16, 2010
World Day of Prayer for
Consecrated Life February 7, 2010
World Day of Prayer for Vocations April 25, 2010

We encourage you to celebrate these events with your students! Principals receive information packets for these events directly from the Vocation Office.

An Exciting Opportunity to Evangelize Youth & Young Adults
The conversion story of Chris Schwartz - atheism to Roman Catholicism may appeal to students. Chris Schwartz, owner of Chris Schwartz Studios and a professional
break-dance entertainer has inspired many youth and young adults with his conversion testimony; moving from the darkness of atheism to Roman Catholicism. A strong-minded atheist, Chris wanted nothing more than to live a materialistic and pleasure-filled life. He believed the church was only a moneymaking cult and wanted absolutely no part of it. As life trials arose, Chris sought help from a contradictory source, JESUS, which eventually led him to his conversion. Chris has studied theology at Franciscan University in Steubenville and wants to set the world on fire for JESUS. YOU CAN BOOK CHRIS SCHWARTZ BREAKDANCING MINISTRY TODAY! – 1.740.424.2640. This is his ministry Web site -

http://www.chrisschwartzstudios.com/ministries. Here is his break-dance site -
http://www.chrisschwartzstudios.com/hip-hop.

Lake Erie Monsters Student Education Day
Coming on February 24, 2010, the Monsters will sponsor an educational day. Tentative morning start is 10:45 am concluding around 1:15 pm. Curriculum and educational program surrounding the game will be aligned with the Ohio Academic Content and Process Standards of math, reading, writing and science benchmarks. This curriculum will be primarily focused on the K-8 levels. There will be different lessons and questions for each grade band (K-2, 3-5, and 6-8). Following the event summative assessment activities will be provided to teachers and students.

Call Doug Nelson at 1.216.420.2524 for more information or sign up online to receive additional information at www.lakeeriemonsters.com/education.

Clarification of Medication Administration Requirements
Ohio HB 1 contained a requirement that stated only school district employees who are licensed health professionals, or who have completed a drug administration training program conducted by a licensed health professional and considered appropriate by the district, are allowed to administer prescription drugs to students.
 
This provision is not effective until July 1, 2011. Until that time, you may continue to follow your current medication administration policy.

H1N1 Influenza
Some of the following information may be repetitive because it comes from different sources, but the information is worth repeating.

2009 Pandemic A H1N1 Influenza Summary – September 4, 2009-Weekly Update
As of July 31, 2009, the CDC is only reporting cumulative H1N1 hospitalizations and deaths. The CDC estimates that there have been over one million 2009 pandemic A H1N1 influenza cases in the United States. The number of cumulative hospitalizations is 8843 and the number of reported deaths is 556. Nationally influenza activity is stable or declining. The Web site for CDC information is: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ .

As of August 5, 2009, the Ohio Department of Health, in accordance with CDC guidelines, discontinued individual reporting of 2009 pandemic A(H1N1) cases. They will monitor overall influenza activity via established influenza surveillance methods. Ohio’s influenza activity has remained at the sporadic level since late spring. The ODH Web site gives complete Ohio influenza information:
http://www.odh.ohio.gov/landing/phs_emergency/swineflu.aspx .

Influenza activity is still present in Summit County although it continues to decline. For this reporting week, there was only one positive laboratory test reported for the week (positivity rate = 2%). There were no confirmed influenza hospitalizations reported for this week. Schools have just reopened. Summit County has had 14 confirmed 2009 pandemic A (H1N1) influenza cases. Individual cases of H1N1 influenza are not reportable. Influenza associated hospitalizations (from any strain) are reportable to the local health department.

The H1N1 vaccine is currently undergoing testing in selected clinical sites across the country. There is no H1N1 vaccine available for the public in the United States. The three health departments listed below are working on plans for distributing H1N1 vaccine when it arrives around mid-October. Plans include vaccination clinics, use of private providers for vaccination sites, public education, disease surveillance, communication with health care providers. Decisions depend on the amount of vaccine that will be received, the recommended target groups (or subgroups), and the frequency and quantity of vaccine shipment.

A new Web page with flu information from the three Summit County health departments has been established. Users may view the latest information regarding seasonal and H1N1 flu as well as check flu clinic schedules and links to CDC, the Ohio Department of Health and other organizations monitoring flu activity. The address is www.summitflu.org .

Summit County Health District: www.schd.org ;
Akron Health Department: www.ci.akron.oh.us ;
Barberton Health District: www.barbertonhealth.org

Please be advised starting the week of September 7, 2009 these weekly updates will be released on Tuesday afternoons instead of Friday mornings.

Stay current with the latest information and communicate with families.  
These Web sites are updated regularly with new information about H1N1 and with practical information about what schools and families can do now to prevent illness:
- Ohio Department of Health (ODH) < http://www.odh.ohio.gov/landing/phs_emergency/swineflu.aspx

- Centers for Disease Control http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
- ODE Web site on H1N1 http://education.ohio.gov/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=3&amp;TopicRelationID=431&amp;ContentID=20209&amp;Content=71969

Review pertinent school policies and emergency plans.
-   For the Pandemic Influenza Toolkit for Ohio Schools, click here < http://www.ohiopandemicflu.gov/schools/schools.htm> . The kit includes materials that can be adapted for district use including sample family newsletters, news releases and links to school posters.

-  The possibility of increased student and staff absences raises several administrative considerations. Schools should evaluate the sufficiency of their substitute staff rosters and their policies around making up classroom assignments.  

Prepare to help children learn in the event of school closure.
These CDC and U.S. Department of Education Web sites have practical information regarding continuity of learning:

- Centers for Disease Control http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/schools/
- U.S. Department of Education http://www.ed.gov/h1n1flu

A Prayer for Priests  

In this Year of the Priest, O God, we ask Your blessing on those You have called to priestly ministry.
May they, above all, be faithful and passionate followers of Your beloved Son, Jesus.
May they be compassionate, as Jesus was, toward all who seek spiritual comfort and forgiveness.
May they open wide their hearts to all in need of Your merciful embrace.
May they be teachers, as Jesus was, steeped in Your Word and teaching, on fire with it, and breaking it open for all who are hungry for Your holy and transforming Word.
May they be prophets, as Jesus was, speaking courageously for what is right and true, proclaiming Your kingdom to all in need of Your grace and giving voice to all Your children, especially the poor and marginalized.
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.