Tragedy at Oxford High School
In response to the shooting at Oxford High School on Monday, Archbishop Vigneron said, “I am heartbroken to hear of the horrific tragedy at Oxford High School. On behalf of the clergy, religious, and faithful of the Archdiocese of Detroit, I offer heartfelt prayers for the victims, their families, and all those affected in our community. May Our Blessed Mother wrap all those wounded — physically, emotionally, or spiritually — in her loving mantle and offer them consolation in the difficult days ahead."
We join Archbishop Vigneron in continuing to pray for the repose of the souls of the students who have died and for everyone affected by this tragedy.
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From Vic Michaels: Travel within the U.S.
Out-of-state travel is permitted. We are following the return guidance as if they are a close contact (masked upon return unless the trip was conducted in a safe controlled environment). If students on the trip are only from your school they can return as normal.
International travel:
Unvaccinated students are required to either quarantine for 10 days OR get tested and return on day 7. Vaccinated students are to be tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel and self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms (quarantine not required). If a test result is positive, the student must follow isolation requirements for a positive case.
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Principal Zoom Meeting
Our next monthly principal zoom meeting will be Wednesday, December 8 at 10:00 a.m. We understand that many people may not be able to attend due to Mass celebrating the Holy Day. The recording of the meeting and the minutes will be made available as soon as possible.
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Book Deliveries & SoulCore Schedule
As you know, DCS will be providing Matthew Kelly’s book, Life is Messy, to all teachers and staff in our schools. Those orders have either been directly shipped to your school or will be delivered by a member of our team in the coming weeks. All deliveries will be complete before Christmas break.
Please share the attached letter with your teachers and staff before you distribute the books to them. This letter extends our deepest gratitude and provides information behind the purpose of the book and SoulCore.
SoulCore will be offered at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom, Dec. 18, Feb. 12, April 9, and June 4. Each month will focus on a different mystery of the Holy Rosary, beginning with the Joyful in December, Sorrowful in February, Glorious in April, and Luminous mysteries in June. In order to register and receive the Zoom link, participants must first complete the waiver form. Upon completion, the Zoom link will be emailed by Carrie Kuhar. For more information about SoulCore, please review and share the attached FAQ document.
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FACTS Report Card Training
Additional support for teachers regarding report cards will be offered in December and January. FACTS will offer six opportunities (Dec. 13-15 and Jan. 4-6) for training from 3:45 p.m.-4:45 p.m. The content for each date will be the same, so teachers need only attend one if they are in need of support. Recordings will also be shared upon availability. Please see the attached document which provides details about the content and registration links for each session; participants must register prior to the session.
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Childcare Stabilization Grants
We are still awaiting final guidance on the legal implications of accepting the Childcare Stabilization Grant funds. We will share that information once it is received. Thank you for your patience.
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Advent Administrator Prayer Partners
Laura will email participants the name of your Advent Prayer Partner. If you would like to participate but haven’t signed up yet, please email her.
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Detroit Priestly Vocations Seminarian Profiles
The Office for Priestly Vocations has prepared Seminarian Profile Pages with pictures and facts about the men studying to be priests in the Archdiocese of Detroit. These can be used in schools and/or classrooms to promote priestly vocations and to pray for these men. The profiles, along with zip files containing 4 slides that could be shared on social media, can be found HERE.
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Competitive Robotics Competition Grant Program
The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is announcing the 2021-22 competitive robotics competition grant program, funded through section 99h of the state School Aid Act. The purpose of the grant is to improve student mathematics, science, and technology skills through participation in events hosted by FIRST Robotics; Square One in Michigan; or the Robotics Education and Competition (REC) Foundation, known as VEX. Grant information can be found on techplan.org. A technical assistance webinar will be available on from 3-4:30 p.m. November 22, 2021. Register for the technical assistance webinar by clicking here. For questions, please contact Ashley Arras at ArrasA@Michigan.gov.
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52 Sundays Resource for Families
The 2022 edition of 52 Sundays is now available for pre-order! You can order it in either English or Spanish. The theme of vocation is woven throughout the 2022 edition, highlighting different vocations and inviting families to look at discernment in fun and easy ways. Each week will include the Sunday Gospel, information on a member of the Communion of Saints, discussion questions, an activity, a recipe, and a family prayer as well as a liturgy link, a family challenge, and a fun fact. Bulk pricing is available. 52 Sundays will begin shipping in mid-November. Visit www.52Sundays.com to order your copies today! If you have any questions about the book, please contact Tara Stenger at stenger.tara@aod.org or 313-237-6056.
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MDE’s Nonpublic Membership Report
The Nonpublic Membership Report is not yet available in NexSys. We will keep you updated once MDE informs us that the application is complete and available.
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Sacred Heart Major Seminary Cafeteria Meal Prices, Process and Payment
Due to the current environment and the impacts of the supply chain on the Sacred Heart Major Seminary Food Service Program, it was necessary for the Archdiocese to adjust meal prices accordingly, in an effort to contain costs and simplify the overall pricing structure. Please see the current meal pricing, identification, and payment process here.
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AOD School Food Program Updates
There are a number of important updates for schools that make use of the AOD School Food Program. Please click here to read more about forms for special dietary accommodations, a letter to be shared with student families, and a recording of today's town hall meeting.
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UPCOMING EVENTS & EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
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Alliance Catholic Credit Union Scholarship
The 6th annual “Live It. Show it. Share it” Scholarship is now live! $20,000 in scholarships will be awarded. You can find more details in the attached PDF and full rules and entry form here.
Please share this with any families of 8th-11th grade students who will be attending a Catholic High School League school in the 2022-2023 academic year. Share in newsletters, email blasts and bulletins as you see fit.
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Young Women’s Leadership Forum
Young adult Catholic women, ages 21-30, seeking leadership training, faith formation, and mentoring to better understand and pursue their particular mission and vocation are encouraged to apply to attend the 2022 GIVEN Catholic Young Women's Leadership Forum. Applications are now open! Prospective applicants can find information about the speakers, schedule, and distinctive Forum features on our website. Applications are due February 18, 2022.
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Post-Secondary Catholic Trade School Opportunity
Harmel Academy is an all-male Catholic trade school in Grand Rapids, Michigan and their mission is to form excellent Catholic Tradesmen. They teach two types of trades at the moment; Electrical and Machine Systems Technician. The program lasts two years and while they are here, students develop a community of brotherhood that will last a lifetime. They commit to daily prayer and to do excellent work in every class. More information can be found at www.harmelacademy.org
Please share the information with any of your high school senior boys who are interested in learning a trade.
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Carmelite Spirituality: Free Online Course from Sacred Heart Major Seminary
What can Carmelite spirituality teach us about living at peace in this frenetic world? A lot.
This free online course aims to introduce students to the history of the Carmelite Order and its unique features, including its eremitic and monastic roots, attentiveness to the human soul, the virtue of humility, the spousal meaning of the body, the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the art of silent contemplative prayer. Visit shms.edu/advent to learn more and to register.
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IT Training and Certification Program for Michigan Adults with Disabilities
The Michigan Bridge Academy is now accepting applications for enrollment in the program that will start in early 2022. This transformational program is built on previously successful programs in Michigan, the U.S., and worldwide. It is free to qualified Michigan residents, and requires 11th grade equivalent Math and Reading, with an interest in Information Technology. No previous IT experience is required. This program leads to in-demand entry-level IT jobs. See the flyer here.
For more information or to register for an upcoming Student Information session please visit: www.michiganbridgeacademy.org
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From the Office for International Student Programs of the AOD: Celebrate America Creative Writing Contest
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) is sponsoring a nationwide essay contest, The Celebrate America Creative Writing Contest. Learn more
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PREVIOUS NEWS & REMINDERS
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2021-22 Catholic High School Guide
Elementary principals, please share the link for the 2021-2022 High School Guide with your school families. Please encourage the families to review the document to learn more about our Catholic high schools.
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Next Star Testing Windows 2021-2022
MOY: January 17 – February 11
EOY: April 25 – May 20
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From NCEA: Free Educator Access to Hallow App for Mental & Spiritual Health
It's hard to believe we are only a little more than a month away from the start of Advent. We know this can be a stressful time of year, so we wanted to share a new resource that has content specifically built to help you and your students find peace amidst the chaos of the world. Hallow is the #1 Catholic app in the world, and we, the Hallow team, have built a series of tools specifically to help Catholic educators strengthen their mental and spiritual health. Redeem your free educator access.
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Counseling and Mental Health Resources
Information about resources and contact information from Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan may be found here.
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AOD Job Position Postings
Please check the AOD Jobs Board to ensure that all postings for your school are current. Email hr@aod.org to remove old job postings.
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Nominate a Principal/Teacher for a Social Media Spotlight
The AOD Communications team is starting a content series for the Detroit Catholic Schools LinkedIn page to celebrate our amazing principals and teachers. You are encouraged to nominate a principal or teacher through the form below. The Communications team will then follow-up with further details about featuring your nomination.
Submit a Nomination
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View prior editions of School Mail here.
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