Volume 9, Issue 13
February, 2011

Feast of St. Colette

Colette was born in France. At 21 she began to follow the Third Order Rule and became an anchoress, a woman walled into a room whose only opening was a window into a church. After four years of prayer and penance in this cell, she left it. With the approval and encouragement of the pope, she joined the Poor Clares and reintroduced the primitive Rule of St. Clare in the 17 monasteries she established. Her sisters were known for their poverty and for their perpetual fast. Colette’s reform movement spread to other countries and is still thriving today. Colette was canonized in 1807.

Colette began her reform during the time of the Great Western Schism (1378-1417) when three men claimed to be pope and thus divided Western Christianity. The 15th century in general was a very difficult one for the Western Church. Abuses long neglected cost the Church dearly in the following century.

Taken from Saint of the Day
Lives, Lessons and Feast available from St. Anthony Messenger Press Online Catalog, 1.800.488.0488
By Leonard Foley, O.F.M.; revised by Pat McCloskey, O.F.M.

We are blessed in Cleveland to have one of St. Colette’s monasteries of Poor Clare Colettine Nuns. They are located at 3501 Rocky River Drive.

Message from the Secretary for Education/Superintendent
Catholic Schools Week was a smashing success among our schools despite the weather. We thank you, your faculty, staff, students and parents for the many wonderful activities that showcased your school. The weather was not too cooperative, but it didn’t stop you from your celebrations. My staff and I enjoyed being with you.

Special thanks to Channel 8 FoxTV for its excellent spots dedicated to Catholic education and the Ohio Catholic Federal Credit Union for its support of Channel 8’s promotion of our schools.
 
Marketing Minute #5
By age three or four decisions are made about the elementary school a toddler will attend. Cost is usually the decision maker.

How do you cultivate moms of preschoolers? Having a preschool is one way. Cards to the newly baptized can be effective if followed up consistently. What about a play date between eighth graders and preschoolers? Parents of both age groups could be invited.

Are preschoolers given special seats to the school concerts, plays, or sports banquets?

Parents are the best source for other parents for school choice. Schedule some events where your happy, satisfied parents host/greet parents undecided about the school of choice.

Advocacy-Related Link
The first article is posted for the Ohio Advocates for Catholic Schools (OACS) within the Catholic Conference of Ohio website. You can read the post by accessing the Conference website at http://www.ohiocathconf.org/home_frameset.htm, then clicking at the OASC link on the left of the home page.

New articles will be posted periodically. The Conference will send reminders when a new article is posted. 

The webpage http://www.ohiocathconf.org/l/Legcontact/ohiohousemembers2011.htm will link district elected officials with specific schools and parishes in their districts.  Please assist OACS by keeping up-to-date at the website and arranging visits to your school with state legislators.

Important Dates for DTA, Grants and Voucher Programs
February 1, 2011           

School Tuition Assistance Request (STAR) form Due.
F.J. O’Neill and Tacet Scholarship verification form due.
Reminder: this FJON/T form helps us to create a list of who among all the PSAS applicants are elementary teachers in Catholic Schools.  PSAS applicants who qualify for financial aid AND are elementary teachers in Catholic Schools would receive their financial aid from these restricted funds.
Fax to 21.696.8646. 
Questions: Judy Nakasian 216.696.6525 x3250.

February 1, 2011           

Re: Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program and Ohio EdChoice Scholarship Program. Application & Renewal Window Opens

March 1, 2011               

Re: Diocesan Tuition Assistance: Application deadline for Round 1 PSAS applicants.  (Reminder that 80% of the diocesan pool of DTA is distributed in this first round.)
Notification letters to families and enrollment verification lists to schools in early May 2011.

April 15, 2011               

EdChoice Application Period ends.

May 31, 2011               

CSTP Application & Renewal Window Closes, includes Income Verification

June 1, 2011                

Re: Diocesan Tuition Assistance: Application deadline for Round 2 PSAS applicants.  
Notification letters to families and enrollment verification lists to schools in July 2011.

Final Training Session for Called to Protect
Sharon Minson is reminding us about a final training session for Called To Protect, to be held at the Center for Pastoral Leadership. It is an opportunity for those who missed the previous trainings to get on board.
 
March 11-12, is a Friday and Saturday combination this time for variety:
Friday               Mar. 11, 6:30 – 9:30pm  (hearty snacks available at 6pm)
Saturday,          Mar. 12, 9am – 4pm       (morning hospitality, lunch and snacks)
 
There will be information, modified from the last training session, coming soon. Watch the February 22nd Superintendent’s Bulletin for it.

ESEA Reauthorization
The reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA/NCLB) is expected to be a legislative priority of the administration as well as the Congress. There are some sharp differences among the members on the significant issue of how far the federal reach should extend into education policy and how much flexibility and control should be given to local education agencies. In the House, there is a preference for passage of smaller, targeted, stand-alone bills rather than a comprehensive reauthorization of the entire law. The Senate is looking to bring a full bill to the floor by early summer. In seeking common ground to get the long-over due reauthorization accomplished, lawmakers are working behind the scenes to educate the many new members about the history of federal education policy and the various problems different constituents have identified with NCLB as it currently stands.

As efforts to reauthorize ESEA proceed, private school advocates are scheduling congressional office visits to educate new and returning members about the issues important to private and religious schools and are pursuing efforts to assure that consolidated and/or newly created programs will include equitable participation of their students and teachers.

Catechetical Models and Publishers’ Showcase
On Friday, February 25, 2011, from 10 am until 2 pm, the Office of Catechetical Services will present “Catechetical Models and Publishers Showcase” at Holy Martyrs Parish in Medina. The event will bring together representatives from the five religion textbook publishers whose books are most widely used in the Diocese of Cleveland. These companies are Loyola Press, Our Sunday Visitor/Harcourt, Pflaum, RCL/Benziger and Sadlier. Each of these companies has textbook series in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Each publisher will be given approximately 20 minutes on the agenda in order to introduce their materials, and will also have an extensive display allowing you to examine the books more closely.

While the event is designed to showcase textbooks for PSR programs, publishers are also being asked to bring samples of their Catholic School texts. Some pastors have found value in having both the PSR program and the Catholic School use texts from the same publisher. Principals are welcome to attend this gathering. To register, visit http://www.oce-ocs.org/ocs/.

Diocesan Partnering Celebration
You are invited to join the Diocesan Council on Global Solidarity “Diocesan Partnering Celebration.” It will take place on Saturday, March 5, 2011 from 9am to 1pm at St. Basil the Great Parish Center, 8700 Brecksville, OH 44141.

“Solidarity is action on behalf of the one human family, calling us to help overcome the divisions in our world. Solidarity binds the rich to the poor. It makes the free zealous for the cause of the oppressed. It drives the comfortable and secure to take risks for the victims of tyranny and war.”

Join the Council for Panel Discussions and Group Discussion. Refreshments and pastries will be provided. The keynote speaker is The Reverend Stephen Vellenga, Diocesan Mission Office Director and Pastor of St. Mary Parish, Painesville. For more information, contact Vanessa Griffin Campbell at 216.696.6525 extension 3020.

Be One in a Million
Catholics Confront Global Poverty is a group sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Relief Services. Learn how to turn outrage into action at: www.usccb.org/globalpoverty and www.crs.org/globalpoverty. By working together Catholics can increase and improve international assistance, make global trade fair, and finish canceling the debt of poor countries. Help poor countries benefit from their natural resources. Address the causes of migration and reform migration policy to protect human dignity. Protect creation and poor people by tackling climate change. Promote peace building and diplomacy to end the impoverishing effects of conflict.

In the 2009 World Day of Peace message, Pope Benedict XVI stated: “Effective means to redress the marginalization of the world’s poor through globalization will only be found if people everywhere feel personally outraged by the injustices in the world and by the concomitant violations of human rights.”

Peaceful Playgrounds™
The website, http://www.peacefulplaygrounds.com/grants.htm opens up a world of opportunities for school playground grants funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The Peaceful Playgrounds Program Kit includes several activity guides, rulebooks, program overview video, problem-solving strategies, and permanent game and activity designs painted on blacktop. This is an ideal program to assure funding of your physical education grant. You may add the Equipment Package to fully implement the Peaceful Playgrounds Program.

At the website, you will find tips to getting your grant funded, a free webinar for grant writing beginners, plus program grant writing templates and much more.

The Obama administration is proposing changes to the Department of Education programs to streamline and increase effectiveness. The FY 2011 budget proposes to eliminate six programs and consolidate 38 others into 11 new authorities. The Physical Education for Progress Grant (PEP) program along with five other programs would be consolidated into a new authority called “Successful, Safe and Healthy Students.” This new authority comes with a budget request of $410 million, more than all six of the individual program budgets combined in FY 2010. The Department plans to direct funding “to proven or promising practices while providing greater support and technical assistance to grantees.” For more valuable information on grants and grant writing, go to the website at the top of this article.

St. Cecilia Foundation
The St. Cecilia Foundation is a non-profit, 501 (c)(3) organization that was formed for the purpose of supporting and promoting sacred and classical music in the Catholic community. Named in honor of St. Cecilia, the “Patron Saint of Music,” the Foundation seeks to support music education in various Catholic schools and organizations that promote sacred music as well as to provide music to comfort and enrich people’s lives. Please visit the website, http://www.stceciliafoundation.org for more information about the Foundation.

Catholic schools that have benefited in previous years from the Foundation’s grants are Metro Catholic, Lakewood Catholic Academy, St. Mary Magdalene-St. Justin Martyr, Assumption Academy, SS. Peter & Paul School, Doylestown, and St. Jude, Elyria.

Playhouse Square’s 2011 International Children's Festival!
The Festival occurs at the 10:00 am, 12:00 pm. Performances, May 4th and 5th.
Curriculum Connections are the arts, English language arts, social studies and science.
There is a special offer of Buy One Get One Free! Tickets are $6. This offer is good on new orders only.

The International Children's Festival is a new way to introduce children to the arts and help them to discover the beauty and cultures of our world. From a passionately politically aware thirteen year old (Shopping for Shoes- Scotland;grades 4-8) to finding a witch's lost things (Room on the Broom- United Kingdom; grades 1-4), to the adventures of two friends (Boats- Australia; grades K-4), children feel connected to our community and our world.
 
For more information, contact Lora Workman at 216.7771.4444 ext. 3244 or email Lora at WorkmanL@playhousesquare.org.

Earth Day 2011 Contest 2011
Each April, students around the world recognize Earth Day in a number of ways. The 2011 Art, Poetry and Essay Contestis a wonderful opportunity for your students to showcase their talents and celebrate Earth Day! The contest is open to all students grades K-12 and many teachers have used it in conjunction with their existing curricula in areas such as composition, art, social studies, and the sciences. Students from our Catholic schools have been winners in some of our previous contests, most recently 2006, 2007 (8 winners), 2008 (5 winners), 2009 (3 winners), and 2010 (6 winners).

Winning students receive recognition as winners of the Hope and Stanley Adelstein Award for Excellence on Earth Day, a $50 cash prize and a certificate of recognition. They also receive free admission to EarthFest for themselves and their immediate families and participate in the Welcoming Ceremonies at EarthFest at the Zoo. Additionally, winning works are featured on www.earthdaycoalition.org website and displayed in local libraries and other venues throughout the year. The 2010 winners are currently on display at the main branch of the Lakewood Public Library, 15425 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood, OH 44107.

Entries are due by March 25, 2011. Here is the link to the contest brochure: click on FinalAPE2011.pdf. This electronic version allows teachers to view the brochure, decide if it fits their curriculum and print copies only if they opt to participate.

Maltz Museum Events in February
Avery Friedman talks with Michael E. Bennett
Wednesday, February 16
7 – 9pm
$10/$8 Museum Members

Cleveland attorney and CNN legal analyst Avery Friedman recently became the first Jewish inductee named to the Ohio Civil Rights Hall of Fame. Friedman has appeared as an expert on civil rights and constitutional law before Congressional committees and has prosecuted thousands of civil rights cases, including as Special Counsel to the Texas Commission on Civil Rights in anti-Klan efforts. He will discuss his career with Michael E. Bennett, Publisher and Editor, Cleveland Jewish News.

Presidents Day – Monday, February 21
Meet the Presidents! Free Pie & Cookies!*
General Admission Applies

Meet four of America’s most fascinating presidents – Washington, Lincoln, Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt – as they tell you in person about their life, times and relationship with the Jewish people. Have your picture taken with one or all of these famous men and enjoy some of their favorite desserts – apple, peach & pecan pies and cinnamon cookies! *
*While quantities last

Program Begins at 2pm
Museum Open 11am – 5pm

Performance Preview: My Name is Asher Lev
Wednesday, February 23
7:00 – 9pm
$10/$8 members

Enjoy a “sneak peak” at Chaim Potok’s fascinating coming-of-age story that seamlessly explores art, family, religion, and loyalty. Members of the cast will perform brief excerpts from the play and you’ll hear from Cleveland Play House Artistic Director Michael Bloom and the play’s director, Laura Kepley. See My Name is Asher Lev at the Cleveland Play House March 4-27.

LifeWorks Ohio Annual Dinner and Fund Raiser
Choose Life! is the theme for the event. Come hear The Very Reverend Timothy P. Kesicki, S.J., Provincial Superior of the Chicago-Detroit Province of the Society of Jesus. Father Kesicki will speak about the “Role of Education in Promoting a Culture of Life.” For more information about this event, please contact LifeWorks Ohio at 216.661.6616 or email director@LifeWorksOhio.org. You may also visit www.LifeWorksOhio.org. 

Catholic School Leadership Institute
July 11 – July 15, 2011
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 the ministry of administration will find the program a valuable opportunity to share their ideas and learn from experienced administrators.

The goals of the Institute are to:

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

The Catholic School Leadership Institute is a 3-day workshop covering various aspects of administration.
May be eligible for Title II-A funding.
For information and registration form: http://ncea.org/departments/elementary/CatholicSchoolLeadershipInstitute.asp

Cuyahoga County Library
The Cuyahoga County Public Library of 28 branches serving 47 communities consistently ranks among the nation’s best and busiest library systems. Even though its revenue has been reduced due to state budget cuts and lower property tax collections. In the face of additional cuts that are anticipated, the Library System is committed to living within the 2.5 mill levy. The 28 branches are open seven days a week. Service hours have not been reduced and the Library is committed to keeping its doors open to provide access to its customers. There is currently a plan to reduce operating expenses over the long-term by creating a sustainable footprint of library buildings across the service district and replacing the costliest facilities. For information and updates, please visit The Cuyahoga County Public Library online.