Volume 9, Issue 18
April 18, 2011
Holy Week Is Here!

“In the Liturgical Year, the Church celebrates the whole mystery of Christ from the Incarnation until the day of Pentecost and the expectation of Christ’s second coming. The summit of the Liturgical Year is the Easter Triduum––from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday. Though chronologically three days, they are liturgically one day unfolding for us the unity of Christ’s Paschal Mystery. The presence of the Risen Lord and his saving work permeates the entire Liturgical Year: Advent, the Christmas Season, Lent, the Easter Season, and Ordinary Time. (United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, p. 173, USCCB, Washington, DC, ©2006)

The Paschal Mystery refers to the Jewish Passover as the angel of death “passed over” the homes of Jewish people who had put the blood of a lamb on their doorposts. But it also includes the great passage of Jesus from God to the human race…his passage through life, through suffering, through death, his ascending to God, his sending of the Spirit upon us, and his gathering of all creation into the reign of God. The appointed hour draws near. Time to prepare for the celebration. (Taken from The Little Black Book, Little Books of the Diocese of Saginaw, Inc., ©2010)

Message from the Superintendent
As we observe this holiest of weeks in the Church year, we can be most grateful for the blessing of being a Catholic. How rich are our traditions and beliefs! If we truly understood the gift of Faith we have been given, it might overwhelm us. In the celebration of the Mass on Holy Thursday, we commemorate the institution of the Eucharist and also of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. We give thanks for our priests and the service they provide as the “alter Christus,” other Christ for us. For all those who are faithful, we give thanks, and for those who have fallen along the way, we continue to pray. On Good Friday, our Church gives us the time to pause and reflect together on the unthinkable suffering that Jesus withstood until his death on the cross. To enter into the Passion and Death is the only way to really understand and value the Resurrection. And, as Catholics, we have the chance with each reading of the Scriptures at the Liturgy or in our personal meditation to echo the sentiment of the Apostles in the story of Emmaus, “Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” (LK 24:32)

May you and your school community enter fully into Holy Week so that your Easter celebration may be filled with the grace and blessing of the Risen Lord. Blessed Easter!

Marketing Minute #10
The Archdiocese of Chicago has a Marketing Page. On it they describe marketing in this way:
“Marketing is based on the idea that you have something worthwhile to offer, and that when people find out about it, they will want it. It is the process or technique of promoting, selling and distributing a product or service. It usually involves the 4 P’s: price, product, place and promotion. It involves finding your UMP=Unique Marketing Position.”

What is your UMP? Price is tuition, fees, and fundraisers. Product is faith and academic formation, and co-curricular programs. Place includes your facilities, demographic location and importance to the community. Promotion consists of your efforts to create programs, events, publications, advertising, positive media coverage, and student/parent/alumni perceived and tangible satisfaction.

By paying attention and responding to the needs of your students and their parents/guardians guided by your mission and resources, you will be a successful marketer of Catholic education the (Your School’s Name) School way!

OCEA Convention 2011
The original deadline for Presenters (both CFP and outside presenters) for OCEA was April 15th. However, in reviewing the submissions we have received for both “Call for Programs” and “Presenters” – the following areas are noticeably absent:

 Science
 Social Studies
 High School
 Early Childhood
 Music
 Development
 Guidance
 Legal Issues

Current Social Issues, i.e., texting, bullying, etc. Therefore, in an effort to “fill the gaps”, so to speak, the aforementioned deadline has been extended to Friday; May 6th. Please encourage your school personnel, contacts, etc. to submit a proposal online at www.oceaconvention.org/cfp or for presenters at www.oceaconvention.org/presenters. .

Choice Advocacy FYI
In a landmark decision in school choice jurisprudence, the U.S. Supreme Court on April 4, 2011 dismissed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Arizona statute that provides state residents with tax credits for contributions they make to school tuition organizations. The 5-4 decision clears the way for other states to enact similar legislation.

The court ruled that the program’s challengers, who based the complaint on their status as taxpayers, lacked standing in that the program does not extract money from taxpayers for government expenditures. Instead the contributions to school tuition organizations are the decisions of private citizens to support private organizations. Any injury that the challengers may suffer is not the result of action by the government. The full decision is available on the Council for American Private Education’s (CAPE) Web site: http://www.capenet.org.

2011 Sr. Thea Bowman, FSPA Awards
On Sunday, May 15, 2011, the Ministry to African American Catholics will celebrate its Biennial African American Women Recognition. The event will be held at the Intercontinental Hotel near the main campus of the Cleveland Clinic at 2:00 pm. 2011 Sr./Dr. Oralisa Martin is the guest speaker for the event. She is an incisive African American woman, a prophetic preacher, an ardent teacher, revivalist and charismatic healer. Honorees are:

Sister Rosella Holloman, CSA – 60 years
Sister Juanita Shealey, CSJ – 60 years
Sister M. Kendra Bottoms, SND – 45 years

Sister Thea Bowman, a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, lived life with hope, love and justice for all people. A tireless advocate, Sister Thea always educated and preached about the need to break down racial and cultural barriers. Her spirited presentations combined singing, gospel preaching, along with prayer and story telling, inspired all to live deeply the Christian values of justice and peace. Through her teaching, she was described as a “soul liberator, a mind liberator.” Sr. Thea also used music as an important part of her ministry. Sr. Thea died on March 20, 1990 of cancer.

The “Thea” Award is presented to women in the African American Community who have provided strong and effective leadership and service. Award recipients foster educational opportunities, demonstrate strong personal faith and compassion for others, and have an intense interest in encouraging Black Catholic identity. They continue to dedicate their time and talents to evangelization efforts in the African American community and are concerned with and sensitive to the social teachings of the Church.

Send the following information with your ticket(s) request:
Name(s)
Address
City, State, Zip
Number of Tickets at $50.00 each/table of eight = $400.

Ticket requests are due no later than Friday, May 6, 2011. Make checks payable and send request to:
Ministry to African American Catholics
1404 East Ninth Street – 3rd Floor
Cleveland, OH 44114

LifeWorks Ohio Art and Essay Contest Additional Recognition  
In the last Superintendent’s Bulletin (April 4), it was reported that over 2,000 students in grades 4 through 12 representing 40 schools across northeast Ohio participated in LifeWorks Ohio's 23rd Annual  Respect Life Art and Essay Contest. St. Brendan's School’s name was mistakenly not included in the listing of schools that participated.  Congratulations to St Brendan School and the two award recipients who participated in the contest.

Junior Achievement
Spring is here and April is Financial Literacy Month at Junior Achievement!
Junior Achievement $ave USA; NEW Lessons Available!
JA is excited to tell you about three new, free interactive lessons focusing on financial literacy! Provide an innovative way to introduce upper elementary, middle, or high school students to age-appropriate money-management...

$ave USA <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qjlqksbab&et=1104906133976&s=2850&e=0019lF6QDpS1hHmA01FKiK3R7xFhgQiqNB_vy8lzhs4fwhUGtdc5l1S7N5xMNaAIR-gUpFxtgjB yYLN7Mxuw2gfygtqg5Gbx25xgw2J2RJe-KnId1Tff4FHJK7AyjJUbFT

JA Finance Park Virtual Simulation New!
The Simulation for the 2011-2012 school year will be a digital version of the JA Finance Park curriculum that will allow students to participate with the program online. Through the support of Capital One, the JA Finance Park Virtual Simulation can reach students in any classroom that has computer access. The JA Finance Park Virtual Simulation was piloted during the 2010-2011 fall semester and will be available for implementation for fall 2011 in any middle or high school classes. Please email Denice Schafer at denice@jaofnco.org if you would be interested in receiving more information about this JA program when it becomes available.
 
Golf for Kids!
Join JA in June for the Junior Achievement Golf Invitational Monday, June 13, 2011 at Portage Country Club.  Please support Financial Literacy, Workforce Readiness and Entrepreneurship education by Golfing for Kids to benefit Junior Achievement. This event is designed as a prestigious event to build client relationships for participants and raise funds for Junior Achievement programs throughout North Central Ohio. For more information on how to participate, please contact Amanda Overton at amanda@jaofnco.org.

YouthTouch Matching Grants
Each year, Goldenrod Research Corp selects up to 20 schools to receive matching grants for a YouthTouch system. YouthTouch, suitable for elementary and middle school students, integrates math, science and technology within the framework of the existing curriculum, via hands-on learning activities. The comprehensive package includes robotics and fluid power equipment, instructional materials and on-site teacher training.

Grant Details
The first round for applications this year is now. The deadline is May 15, 2011. The grant application is not elaborate, and Goldenrod staff is happy to advise you during the writing process. Goldenrod will award 1:1 matching grants for use toward the purchase of YouthTouch. In exchange, the schools selected agree to serve as YouthTouch referral sites. The grant provides half the cost of purchasing the YouthTouch system. Goldenrod will grant $9,850 to awardees, who must provide the other half as their match. Goldenrod regularly works with awardees to coordinate funding from another source to provide their match and cooperates with school awardees to accommodate their special cash flow situations. Please do let money issues alone deter you from applying, if you are strongly interested.

Each school selected will receive all the tools necessary to provide 3rd through 8th grade students with hands-on technology learning experiences designed to impart a firm comprehension of ratios, estimating, coordinates, graphing, plus over 100 other concepts integrating math, science, language arts, and social studies through technology. The comprehensive package includes equipment, accessories, instructional materials and staff development. YouthTouch activities are mapped to the US curriculum standards, and they emphasize critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork. 
If YouthTouch would enhance your elementary program by engaging your students in more active hand-on learning, and you have a desire to increase your school’s visibility (Good marketing tool!) by becoming a referral site, please request a complete information packet and an application. To submit your request for the information/application packet electronically, please go to: http://www.goldenrodresearch.com/responsepage.aspx. A complete YouthTouch information package will be sent to you promptly. Any questions? Email Lea Melchior, President at lea@goldenrodresearch.com or call Lea at 1.888.827.2260.

Chevrolet Diamonds & Dreams Contest
You can help pitch in to make big league dreams come true. Enter your community for one of 100 prizes, and at the same time enter yourself and your family to win, too. Prizes include:

• 20 Baseball Field Makeovers – Green grass, space for fans and fences to swing for – Plus, Scotts will take care of your home lawn for a year.
• 60 Equipment Packages – It’s more than bats and balls. It’s the stuff dreams are made of.
• 20 Baseball Clinics – World-class instruction from Ripken Baseball’s professional coaches
• 4 Trips to the 2011 MLB All-Star Game® - A trip for four to the Midsummer Classic - Includes tickets to all of the All-Star Week festivities at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ
• New Chevrolet Vehicle – Your choice of a new Chevrolet Equinox, Cruze, Malibu or Traverse

For more information and to enter your community and yourself into the contest go to:
http://mlb.mlb.com/sponsors/chevy/building_diamonds/

In Sympathy
Some of you may remember Mary Carroll, founder of Schoolbelles.  Mary recently passed away. As founder of Schoolbelles, she was very active in our schools. She often would come to the schools and take the uniform measurements for our children.  She is the aunt of Sr. Karen Sommerville, S.N.D.  If you knew Mary and would like to attend her services, a funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of the Angels Church on Monday, April 25 at 10:00 A.M.

Safe Environment
Please remember to complete your audit form and submit it to your Area Superintendent by May 15, 2011.  In these last days of school, you might also want to offer students tips on staying safe during the summer months.  Some helpful guides can be found at the following websites:
http://www.crimeshots.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6796

http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/ResourceServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=815

www.state.nj.us/dcf/news/publications/SummerEng.pdf
http://www.momskc.org/index.php/mtips

Title I Cleveland Elementary Schools – Urban Training
Please remember to have your teachers register for the Urban Training to be held this June 13 and 14, 2011 at the Holiday Inn, 6001 Rockside Road, Independence, Ohio.  Your teachers can register at our registration site: http://www.oce-ocs.org/oce/register/

Religion Elementary Training for 2011-2012 School Year
Principals are to submit to the OCE the names of the schools with whom they are partnering with a listing of the individual representatives from the group, according to grade band, for the Religion LIVE training. We would also request that those teachers representing partner schools for the LIVE Religion training sessions register online in order to get their certification hours for credit.  The LIVE sessions are scheduled for August 19, November 11, February17 and March 30.

High School Curriculum Framework Training
The high school training in Religion for the 2011-2012 academic year will focus on the Option Courses found in the Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Framework.  The dates for the courses are as follows:

All courses award contact hours toward Religion certification.

New Translation of the Catechism for Youth
The Vatican recently announced the publication of a new version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church aimed at the young that was prepared by participants in the XXVI World Youth Day to be held in Madrid from 16 to 21 August 2011. The publication is called YouCat. The Vatican suggested that, “YouCat answers a current need to present the content of the faith, professed  throughout time by Christians everywhere, in language that is simple, complete and above all accessible to the young. YouCat translates the content of the Catechism of the Catholic Church using language adapted to the young. It does not replace the Catechism, but rather, leads toward it, paving the way to the Catechism and its 'Compendium'.” Thus far, YouCat has been translated into six languages and 700,000 copies have been prepared for Madrid. The name YouCat is a translation of the word "Ju-Kat", which corresponds to the abbreviation of the German "Jugend" (youth) and catechism.