Principal Meeting Recording
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New DCS Team Member
We are excited to welcome Erin McNally to the Department of Catholic Schools Team as the Executive Administrative Assistant. Her email address is mcnally.erin@aod.org.
By way of introduction, please see the information that she shared about herself: “I am a transplant to Michigan, growing up in western Pennsylvania, attending college in Ohio, and eventually settling in Metro Detroit with my family. As a parent to two elementary-aged children, I am passionate about filling their minds with an academically excellent education as well as filling their souls, teaching them empathy, service, and putting more kindness into the world. I have a professional background in Marketing, Sales, Administration, and Management ranging from smaller Admin support roles to elected school volunteer leadership roles. I am looking forward to the new challenges and prosperities ahead.”
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From Vic Michaels: New MDHHS Quarantine Guidelines
Please remember to add all positive Covid cases in your school using the following links: Elementary Schools | High Schools
MDHHS continues to recommend universal masking in all K-12 school settings.
Quarantine and isolation are determined by the local health department and are used as important tools to prevent the spread of disease.
- You isolate when you are infected with COVID-19 and have tested positive, even if you do not have symptoms. Isolation is used to separate people who are infected with COVID-19 from those who are not infected.
- You quarantine when you might have been exposed to COVID-19. This is because you might become infected with COVID-19 and could spread COVID-19 to others.
- Any individual that displays COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of vaccination status, should not attend school and should be tested for COVID-19.
COVID-19 School Quarantine Guidelines for Asymptomatic Students
- Fully vaccinated contacts without symptoms do not need to quarantine.
- Contacts that are not fully vaccinated and do not have symptoms:
- If masking was maintained, contacts can participate in school activities if wearing a mask for 14 days after exposure and using a "Test to Stay" strategy*
- If masking was not maintained, if additional testing and mitigation strategies are used, contacts may participate in school activities at the discretion of the local health department.
Test Kits:
We received notification that the MDHHS COVID School Test Order Process is changing as of December 13, 2021. Please see the attached PowerPoint from MDHHS and contact them with questions at MDHHS-COVIDTestingSupport@michigan.gov; use this form to order the antigen tests before Dec. 13.
Travel Within the United States:
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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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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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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Meeting Invitation – January 20, 2022
All are invited to attend a meeting on January 20, 2022 for a presentation on the Principal as a Spiritual Leader. The meeting will take place at Sacred Heart Major Seminary from 9:00 – 12:30 and will include lunch. Please RSVP here to indicate that you would like to attend. Participants in the New Principal Academy do not need to RSVP.
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School Choice Week
Please see this flyer regarding the National School Choice Week festivities at the Michigan State Capitol on Thursday, January 27, 2022.
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Families of Parishes
Each of our schools is part of (or will be part of) a Family of Parishes. Wave 1 FOPs were launched on July 1 of this year. Wave 2 FOPs will be launched next July. Families of Parishes are groups of parishes, generally three to six parishes, sharing resources to advance the mission. Our ministry in Catholic schools is critical to the mission of the Church. Please talk with your pastor and with the Moderator of the Family of Parishes to which your school belongs – it is important that we work together to ensure that we are all on mission to share the Gospel.
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Childcare Stabilization Grants
Thank you for your patience as we determine whether our schools will be able to accept grant funds from the Childcare Stabilization Grant.
At this time, there remains uncertainty about the legal implications of accepting these funds. Since the deadline is this week, you may proceed with completing the application for the grant funds. Please understand that even if the funds are awarded, we may not be able to accept them, depending on the final legal analysis.
These funds are different than other COVID-relief funds that have been made available to our schools (EANS, etc.).
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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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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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Free Webinars from Partners in Mission
Partnering Catholic School’s Advancement/Development Departments with eTeamSponsor (Net-New Donors)
Wednesday, December 15 at 12:00 pm EST | Register
Understanding & Engaging Alumni Networks Online
Wednesday, December 15 at 2:00 pm EST | Register
Making Your List and Checking it Twice
Thursday, December 16 at 1:00 pm EST | Register
10 Lessons to Heed in Achieving School Financial Sustainability: Preparing your Campus Facilities for 2022 and Beyond.
Wednesday, December 16 at 3:00 pm EST | Register
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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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