Volume 9, Issue 3
September 13, 2010
September is the month of Our Lady of Sorrows
St. John Chrysostom, Saint of the Day
St. John, named Chrysostom (golden-mouthed) on account of his eloquence, was born in the city of Antioch about the year 344. He studied rhetoric under Libanius, a pagan, the most famous orator of the age. In 374, he began to lead the life of an anchorite in the mountains near Antioch, but in 386 the poor state of his health forced him to return to Antioch, where he was ordained a priest.
In 398, he was elevated to the See of Constantinople and became one of the greatest lights of the Church. But he had enemies in high places and some were ecclesiastics, not the least being Theophilus, Patriarch of Alexandria, who repented of this before he died. His most powerful enemy, however, was the empress Eudoxia, who was offended by the apostolic freedom of his discourses. Several accusations were brought against him in a pseudo-council, and he was sent into exile.
In the midst of his sufferings, like the apostle, St. Paul, whom he so greatly admired, he found the greatest peace and happiness. He had the consolation of knowing that the Pope remained his friend, and did for him what lay in his power. His enemies were not satisfied with the sufferings he had already endured, and they banished him still further, to Pythius, at the very extremity of the Empire. He died on his way there on September 14, 407. Adapted from Catholic Online
Message from the Secretary for Education/Superintendent
Congratulations to the newest members of the elite group of Blue Ribbon Schools!
Communion of Saints
St. Anselm
St. Christopher
St. Raphael
We join Council for American Private Education (CAPE), proud coordinator of the private school component of the NCLB-BRS program and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan as well as the nation’s education community in congratulating our schools, part of only 50 private schools who received the award this year.
The Ohio State University, School of Educational Policy and Leadership in the College of Education and Human Ecology, sponsors a Web site entitled the Principal’s Office. It has excellent resources for you in the many areas you manage on a daily basis. The September edition includes a Checklist for Navigating the Wild Weather of the School Year, from its archive of October 2008. For new principals, under Develop Your Staff, the article Top 10 Actions a Principal Can do to Make My First Year Successful may prove very helpful even for experienced principals. And, the Educational Minute deals with Decision Making/Problem Solving with Teens for Middle and High School and Resolving Conflict Constructively and Respectfully for High Schools. Go to www.principalsoffice.osu.edu for these and other informative pieces. I especially like the monthly Checklists the site provides, and you may, too.
As Faith Leader in your school, you face the challenge of guiding your teachers in fostering the Faith to serve a new generation of students. In an article in the November/December 2009 issue of Momentum, Father Tom Simonds, SJ, Ed.D. of Creighton speaks of four themes for renewal found in the three encyclicals of Benedict XVI: God is Love, Saved in Hope, and Charity in Truth. Father Simonds suggests that Catholic educators consider the renewal of school programs with these themes: 1. “Jesus is our master teacher. It is in the personal encounter with Jesus that each person learns the true meaning of self.” 2. “…the importance of educating the whole person: body, mind and spirit.” 3. “…the relationship between faith and justice.” 4. “…we must recognize that the source of our hope for full human flourishing must be God.” As you prepare students to be the future leaders of our Church and world who make a difference, these themes ought to permeate the school day.
Congratulations to Lake Catholic’s Sarah Lottes!
She’s Sew Talented! Sarah Lottes of Lake Catholic High School is the Grand Prize winner of $50,000 cash for college and a $1,000 Jo-Ann Gift Card. Sarah won the Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores Own Your Look Prom Contest 2010. A panel of judges, including Project Runway finalist Stephen Suede Baum and other fashion professionals, rated Sarah’s outfit best in workmanship, originality and detail out of more than 2,800 entries.
Congratulations to Governor’s Award Winners for Excellence in Youth Science Opportunities
On September 1, 2010, the Ohio Academy of Science selected 115 Ohio schools and 418 teachers to receive Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Youth Science Opportunities for their accomplishments, during the 2009-2010 school year. The Ohio Department of Education will issue special Governor’s Award certificates.
Diocese of Cleveland Schools and Teachers receiving awards are:
Akron, Our Lady of the Elms Cristina Jones
Bay Village, St. Raphael Andrea Ruda
Debra Singleton
Medina, St. Francis Xavier Christina Besnahan
Laura Zales
Parma Heights, Incarnate Word Academy Cynthia Rossman
Cleveland Heights, Beaumont Lynn Gadus
Gretchen Santo
Lauren Brandon
Sandra Fletcher
Patricia Kenzig
Nooshin Beigi
Samiha Iskander
Elyria, St. Jude Christine Malone
Shari Dietrick
Diane Turner
Cindy Griffiths
Cindy Craig
Diana Kirkpatrick
Kathy Tollett
Mary Jane Leonowich
Julie McFarland
Chrysa Muenchausen
“Receiving a Governor’s Award for Excellence sends a clear signal that these schools and teachers value student-originated, inquiry-based science education as outlined in the Ohio Science Education Standards and in the National Science Education Standards,” said Lynn Elfner, the Academy’s CEO. “Whole new worlds of opportunities open up to students when they complete research or technological design projects,” he continued.
To qualify for the Governor’s Award, each school conducted a local science fair with 20 or more students, sent one or more of these students to one of the Academy’s 16 district science days, and involved students in one or more youth science opportunities beyond the classroom such as State Science Day, visits to museums, mentorship programs and extended field trips.
October 15th Professional Day
There is still time to register for this day. The theme is Sustained by the Word. Contact Mike Voinovich or Jeannie Somrak at the Office of Catholic Education to ensure that your teachers are registered.
Adolescent Catechesis Courses -- Clarification
It has come to our attention that there will be two different Adolescent Catechesis courses offered in the coming year. Please be advised that the course required by and applicable to a High School Religion Certificate is the twelve-hour course offered through the Office of Catechetical Services.
The Avenues program course, offered by the Youth and Young Adult Ministry Office is a six-hour course, and is not equivalent to the course required for the High School Religion Certificate.
We Are Called Catechetical Conference
Please join us at the We Are Called Catechetical Conference on Saturday, October 16th at Padua High School in Parma from 8:30 to 1:00. The We Are Called Catechetical Conference is focused primarily on catechetical updating for teachers and catechists in grades 1 through grade 8. Bishop Lennon will be the keynote speaker and Bill Miller, Secretary for Catechesis, will offer the retreat option. If not selecting the retreat, participants will have a choice of two one-hour workshops. Please see the full brochure and registration details on the OCS Web site: www.oce-ocs.org/ocs. The registration deadline is October 8th.
Praesidium and Elementary Schools
To enhance the ongoing efforts of the Diocese to provide training for adults and children in matters of sexual abuse protection, Bishop Lennon approved the implementation of the additional program Called to Protect™ by Praesidium.
Called to Protect™ is a series that presents current abuse prevention information to parents, children, youth and young adults. As you know, last year the program was piloted in some of the parishes.
The Called to Protect™ program is intended to complement the ongoing efforts of the Diocese by providing an educational opportunity for parents, schools and religious education programs to teach children about sexual abuse prevention. It does NOT replace the VIRTUS training program
In the elementary principal’s packets of May 2010, schools received a packet of information that indicated the alignment of the content of the Called to Protect™ program with our Social/Emotional Strand in the elementary school Health curriculum. The Health curriculum addresses the content of the Called to Protect™ program and extends beyond it. However, some of the Health teachers may be reticent in teaching this content. The Called to Protect™ program provides one avenue to teach this necessary content easily.
The Called to Protect™ training by Praesidium that was held last year will be repeated. It will occur on September 30 and October 1, 2010 at the Center for Pastoral Leadership, Wickliffe. The new follow-up seminar will be held on October 6 at Holy Martyrs parish in Medina. The Office for Protection of Children and Youth of the Secretariat for Parish Life is responsible for these seminars. Because of relevancy to the Health curriculum, and because the pastor might require it, it is recommended that the principal, the health teacher, or a school representative attend at least the first training.
Information about these trainings can be accessed through the Web site: http://www.clevelandchildprotection.org/website/praesidium.html. Should there be questions about this training, please contact Sharon Minson, Director of the Office for Protection of Children and Youth at 216.696.6525, Ext.1157.
From the Vocation Office
You should already have received your mailing from the Vocation Office. We remind you of the following:
Priesthood Sunday – October 31, 2010
Vocation Awareness Week – January 9-15, 2011
World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life – February 6, 2011
World Day of Prayer for Vocations – May 15, 2011
Discovery Days for 7th and 8th grade students are scheduled for September 28, November 2, December 7, January 25, February 22, March 22, and April 5. They are held from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. The cost is $6.00 payable to the Center for Pastoral Leadership.
The Diocesan Vocation Office is happy to present the nationally acclaimed performance of Vianney featuring Leonardo DeFilippis as Saint John Vianney, Patron of Priests. This 90-minute performance has been seen by tens of thousands of folks from all over the country. Two matinee performances, October 21 and 22, followed by conversation with Mr. DeFilippis, are being reserved specifically for junior high students in our Catholic schools. Tickets are free, but on a first-come, first served basis. Use the form in the packet you received to order tickets.
From the State Superintendent’s EdConnection
We congratulate Superintendent Deborah S. Delisle and all those who worked so hard to improve Ohio’s application for the Race to the Top. As a result Ohio receives 400 million dollars over the next four years to improve education.
Schools may apply for grants to defray travel costs to the Ohio Statehouse. The 2010-2011 School Bus Transportation Program had begun accepting online applications from September 1, 2010 for grants to defray the travel costs for Statehouse school trips this school year. The grants are open to any Ohio school that receives state funding and will be planning a Statehouse trip(s) for students in grades 4-12. The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board and the Capitol Square Foundation conduct the transportation grant program. The grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the order in which qualifying applications are received. A total of 240 grants will be made available, with 80 grants awarded in each of three categories based on proximity to the Statehouse. Note that the application process, which is only available online, closed very quickly last year due to high interest in the program. You may direct questions on the grant to CSRAB at 614.752.9777. To schedule a Statehouse tour, call 614.728.2695.
Schools, public or chartered nonpublic K-12 have an opportunity from e-Tech Ohio for a Google SketchUp Pro 7 license free of charge This software is a 3D design program that normally retails at $495 per license. The program has wide applicability throughout school curricula, but is particularly useful for learning opportunities in fine arts; mapping activities for social studies; and for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) classrooms. To register, and to receive more information about the free licenses through e-Tech, please contact Quentin Briggs at quentin.briggs@etech.ohio.gov or 614.485.6611.
Math Standards Workshop for School Teams
The Ohio Council of Mathematics Teachers is excited to announce a professional event for school teams (and individuals) to help school leaders and teachers to prepare for the transition to the Common Core State Standards in mathematics. This event will be led by OCTM facilitators in partnership with the mathematics consultants from the Ohio Department of Education, so your faculty who attend will have access to a great deal of expertise as they work to plan for your school’s transition to the new standards. There is a very low registration cost of $10 per person for OCTM members and $15 per person for non-OCTM members. Continental breakfast and lunch are provided. Certificates for 4.5 contact hours are available as well as great door prizes! The event is co-sponsored by Texas Instruments and will take place at Quaker Square Inn, The University of Akron, Saturday, October 16, 2010 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Registration deadline is Saturday, October 9, 2010. Send school name, full name, grade or position and email address of each participant and indicate whether or not each person is a member of OCTM. Put the total $ amount included for registration, and the name and phone number of the person completing the form. Return the information and payment by check made payable to “Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics” to Anne Hambrick, OCTM Vice-President Elementary, 2821 Ridgewood Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45213. Participants will receive confirmation by email when the information and payment are received. Email Anne at hambricka@olv-school.org with questions.
It’s Time to Watch Your Mouth
Watch Your Mouth is a multiple media series including radio, television and web content from IDEAstream, WVIZ and 90.3 NPR, WCPN, beginning today through October 6. On 90.3 WCPN Morning Edition, September 13 – October 1 reports air between 6 – 9 am. Daily in-depth reports include: no-drill fillings, the links between oral and overall health, overcoming fear of the dentist, regenerative dentistry, teeth grinding, ways to achieve oral health and more.
The Sound of Ideas airs Tuesday September 28 at 9 am. Oral Health: Costs, Insurance and Disparities. Even when people want to take good care of their teeth and gums, sometimes simple economics stand in the way. Call in with questions and comments.
Watch Your Mouth Premiere is Thursday, September 30, at 8 pm on WVIZ/PBS. Sink your teeth into this WVIZ/PBS locally produced special. Barriers to care, common dental problems, gum disease, plus the latest treatments and information on prevention are explored through personal stories and insight from the experts.
NEWSDEPTH on Wednesday, October 6 at 7:30 pm is specially produced for middle-school students and designed to share the link between oral and overall health.
For programs and online resources visit www.health.ideastream.org.
Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage
The Museum is a gem in Beachwood that through its marvelous exhibits enhances our social studies and language arts curricula. Free busing is available to all of our schools. For a charge of $3.00 per student per visit, teachers can avail themselves of priceless supplements to their classes. Teachers who register for a class visit are sent a Resource Kit to assist in the preparation of their students. Another activity sponsored by the Museum is the Stop the Hate! Youth Speak Out! essay contest. There is $100,000 in prizes and scholarships waiting for your students. Students in grades 6-12 may enter. Visit www.maltzmuseum.org to read the 2010 winning essays and see the names of all 1,800 students who entered. Will your students be on next year’s list? Call 216-593-0575 for more information. Principals will receive information on the programs, exhibits and contest at the September Principal Meeting.
NCEA Essay Contest
In 2011, the Redemptorists celebrate the 200th birthday of St. John Neumann, founder of the parochial school system in the United States. The Redemptorists of the Baltimore Province are proud to announce an essay contest in honor of this saint. A $300.00 award will be presented in March 2011, to the best essay both for middle school (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12). In addition, there will be two $100.00 honorable mention awards in each category. The focus of the essay is St. John Neumann’s lasting impact in making Catholic Schools “the good news in education.” For details, go to: www.redemptorists.net/neumann.
Helpful Resources
Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation: Toolbox for Education Grant funds school improvement projects initiated by parents in recognition of the importance of parent involvement in education. Maximum award: $5,000. Eligibility: K-12 schools (including parochial and private schools) or parent groups associated with a non-profit K-12 school. Deadline: October 15, 2010. Go to http://toolboxforeducation.com/.
The Thomas Legislative Resources on the Internet is a good place to stay current on what is happening in Congress with regard to specific legislation. Go to http://thomas.loc.gov/.
The Crucial Year of Kindergarten
Although this new study has yet to undergo peer-review, it offers some interesting information. New research from the National Science Foundation’s Division of Social and Economic Sciences finds that children who learn more in kindergarten go on to earn more as adults and are more successful overall, according to Science Daily. Taking into account all variations across kindergarten classes (including class size), children who learn more–as measured by an above average score on the Stanford Achievement Test–and are in smaller classes earn about $2,000 more per year at age 27. Moreover, students who learn more in kindergarten are also less likely to become single parents, more likely to own a home by age 28, and more likely to save for retirement earlier in their work lives. “Kindergarten interventions matter a great deal for long-term outcomes,” said Harvard economist John Friedman, an author of the report. “For instance, being in a smaller class for two years increases the probability of attending college by 2 percent.” Researchers recently presented results of this study at an academic conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Read more at: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100811085412.htm.
Children and Family Bereavement Support Groups
The Hospice of the Western Reserve’s Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Bereavement Center provides services throughout Northern Ohio. Contact them for various support groups, workshops, and other services when death touches your school community. The Center has a helpful quarterly e-newsletter for schools. Go to: http://www/hospicewr.org/media/PartnersInGrief_Fall_r1.pdf.
Tomorrow is the 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. At a Good Friday celebration in Jerusalem toward the end of the fourth century, according to an eyewitness, the wood was taken out of its silver container and placed on a table together with the inscription Pilate ordered placed above Jesus' head: Then "all the people pass through one by one; all of them bow down, touching the cross and the inscription, first with their foreheads, then with their eyes; and, after kissing the cross, they move on."
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 feast entered the Western calendar in the seventh century after Emperor Heraclius recovered the cross from the Persians, who had carried it off in 614, 15 years earlier. According to the story, the emperor intended to carry the cross back into Jerusalem himself, but was unable to move forward until he took off his imperial garb and became a barefoot pilgrim.
Comment:
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.
Quote:
"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). Taken from AmericanCatholic.org