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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022


Faith Feature

Dear Lord,
Thank you for the gift of Catholic schools.

Thank you for all those who have given their talents to educating our young people. Through the challenges they encounter each day, lead them to an ever deeper appreciation of the sacred duty to which you have called them.
 
Thank you for all those who contribute to the efficient running of our schools; support staff, kitchen staff, and maintenance staff. We thank them for their hard work and dedication.
 
Thank you for our administrators who lead our Catholic schools. May they be people of integrity so that they can be witnesses as well as teachers. We pray that the schools they lead will become places where our young people can experience your love in their lives.
 
Thank you for our students. May your love strengthen and nurture them through the influence and example of those who care for them. We pray that through their time at school they will flourish and grow to discover who you have called them to be.

We make this prayer through your Son, Jesus Christ, our teacher and our Lord.
Amen

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Calendar Dates for 2022-2023 School Year

AOD schools are expected to participate in the Archbishop’s Catechetical Day and AOD-wide Professional Development Days.  Students should not be in session on these days.  Non-AOD schools are invited to participate in these days.  Additional calendar details and the Calendar Planning Document will be sent soon.  
  • September 19, 2022 – Archbishop’s Catechetical Day
  • October 17, 2022 – AOD Professional Development Day
  • March 13, 2023 – AOD Professional Development Day

March 14 Uniform Professional Development Day

Sessions will be offered from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and a draft of the agenda will be shared with principals (to disseminate to teachers) mid-February. The PD website will be updated accordingly by the beginning of March.
 

EANS I Round Three

MDE announced that the EANS I, Round Three application will go live for Michigan nonpublic schools on February 3, 2022 at 1:00pm. The link to the application can be found here. Please note the link will not be active and live until 1:00pm on Thursday, February 3, 2022.  As it relates to EANS I, Round Three, this is the final opportunity to gain access to the remaining funds for EANS I. Although there is no limit any entity can request, MDE has established $100/pupil as a reasonable target for budgeting purposes.   All eligible schools should apply.  Please contact Eric or Laura if you would like assistance spending these funds. 
 

Handbook Review

As a means of providing updated and improved resources for schools, please submit your school’s handbooks to Erin McNally.  They can be emailed as PDFs to mcnally.erin@aod.org. Please send:
  • Student/Family Handbook
  • Faculty/Staff Handbook
  • School Safety Plan
  • Crisis Response Plan

MOY Star Testing

The MOY testing window closes on February 11. Please make an effort to stay within the window to ensure timely delivery of the Custom Parent Reports. If for some reason an extension is needed, please contact Dr. Bluestein.
 

Student Art Contest

All schools are encouraged to participate in the Student Art Contest kicked off during Catholic Schools Week.  The theme is “The Holy Eucharist as the Source and Summit of the Christian Life”.  Contest details can be found here (teacher resources are also available).  Entries may be submitted by teachers or by individual students.  If your teachers will not be facilitating contest entries, please share the information with your school families.  The submission deadline is February 28. 
 

Bosco Prayer Initiative

Please join in praying for the youth of the Archdiocese of Detroit during Catholic Schools Week (January 30 – February 5).  Our goal is to sign up 1,000 people to pray.  
 
The prayer resource and sign-up are live at www.BoscoPrayer.org.
 
Schools can participate by:
  • Hosting prayer services for the students, or incorporating the prayer resource into a Liturgy
  • Praying through the resource, or an adapted version, in a religion class
  • Sending the information and invitation to parents and grandparents
  • Engaging parent prayer groups or school intercessory prayer teams

Black History Month

Schools are welcome to use the attached posters as resources. 
 
Kaye Crawford of Black Catholic History has also shared a calendar and resources.
 

The Holocaust Center: Art & Writing Contest

The Holocaust Center invites Michigan students to submit creative entries in the areas of poetry, prose, and art (2D and 3D pieces). The Elie Wiesel Night Competition is for grades 9-12, and the Kappy Anne Frank Competition is for grades 7-8. The theme of this year’s competition is The Power of Your Voice. Please visit the website for contest guidelines and details.
 

From NCEA: Lead. Learn. Proclaim. Award nominations are open

The 2021 Lead. Learn. Proclaim. Award theme is heroes, answering the question: "How is this Catholic school educator a hero in your community?" Submit a 90-second video nomination by Feb. 5.
 

FACTS Report Card Training & Written Instructions

The audit FACTS conducted concluded that some teachers have not been entering in standards along with assignments; some have been entering them into the wrong field resulting in them not populating into the report card; and some have been selecting “LP” instead of “GB” standards. Please share the recording and written instructions with your teachers to ensure they are following the correct instructions for how to enter their assignments and standards.

Petition Drive – Michigan

The Michigan legislature recently passed two bills that would have provided “student opportunity scholarships” to low-income families for their out-of-pocket educational expenses. Unfortunately, Govern Gretchen Whitmer vetoed the two measures.
 
A petition drive is now underway that would place the issue before the legislature, which if passed again, would not require the governor’s signature to become law. The effort to obtain signatures will be headed by Let Michigan Kids Learn, a coalition of organizations that includes the Michigan Catholic Conference (MCC) and the Michigan Association of Nonpublic Schools (MANS).  MANS will provide you with instructions.
 

From Vic Michaels: COVID-19 Guidance and Protocols (travel guidance updated January 20, 2022)

Please remember to add all positive Covid cases in your school using the following links: Elementary Schools | High Schools

MDHHS changed its guidance for quarantine/isolation. Unless you receive new guidance from your local health department, please follow the attached guidance effective immediately. This new 5-day recommendation would mean a student or staff member currently on a 10-day quarantine/isolation could return after day 5, if asymptomatic.

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:
The MDHHS COVID School Test Order Process has changed as of Dec. 13, 2021. Please see the attached document regarding the new procedure for ordering tests.

International or Out of State Domestic Travel: 
Vaccinated students and staff do not need to quarantine.

Unvaccinated students and staff are expected to quarantine for 5 days post-travel and it is recommended to get tested with a viral test at 3 days and 5 days post-travel. If both tests are negative and documented, they may return to campus on day 6. Students and staff are asked to continue to monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and wear a well-fitting mask once they return to campus on days 6-10. If a test result is positive, the student or staff member must follow isolation requirements for a positive test. If the trip was school-sponsored and all students and staff on the trip are only from your school, they can return without quarantine.

UPCOMING EVENTS & EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Free Online Course: A Church in Crisis

The Church today faces significant challenges: an increasingly secularized society, disruptive culture, scandals, and a growing polarization caused by lack of clarity about what the Church teaches. In this short online course offered by Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Dr. Ralph Martin, director of programs in the New Evangelization, offers a detailed look at the growing hostility to the Catholic Church and the dilution of its teaching. This course seeks to uncover the forces working to undermine the Body of Christ and offers hope to those looking for clarity and seeking truth in our modern world. The curriculum is based on Dr. Martin’s book A Church in Crisis: Pathways Forward.

Learn more: https://shms.edu/lent
 

Save the Date: 2022 Great Lakes Homeland Security Training Conference and Expo School Track

The 2022 Great Lakes Homeland Security Training Conference and Expo’s School Track will be offered Wednesday, May 11, 2022. This year’s School Track provides a wide array of workshops geared toward improving security and safety in Michigan schools.  Attendees will learn how to prepare to address the many potential threats and situations they could face within their school environments while receiving resources on programs and interventions available to improve school safety. This educationally-focused safety and security program will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

This conference is free to the first 300 school officials. Registration will open in February. Learn more
 

RISE Detroit 2022 for High School Students

The Archdiocese of Detroit is hosting a brand-new event for high school students in the spirit of Unleash the Gospel—RISE Detroit 2022. All 9-12th graders are encouraged to attend with their pastor, youth minister, campus minister, or parents! The event will take place on Sunday, February 6, 2022, from 8:15am-7:15pm at Mercy High School in Farmington Hills. Activities include keynotes, powerful praise and worship experiences, two workshop opportunities, small group discussion, and Liturgy! Learn more and sign up at www.risedetroityouth.org.
 

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.
 

SoulCore Recording and Schedule

The first SoulCore session was offered in December with a meditation on the Joyful mysteries and the recording is now available to share with anyone who was unable to attend.
 
Recording:  December - Joyful Mysteries (Passcode: Q=ibH5.d)
 
SoulCore will continue to be offered at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom, Feb. 12, April 9, and June 4. The next meditations will focus on the following mysteries:  Sorrowful in February, Glorious in April, and Luminous 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.

All school faculty and staff are welcome to attend.
 

Life is Messy Discussion Sessions

Mary Martin from the Department of Missionary Strategic Planning will be offering opportunities to gather with your colleagues to reflect on Matthew Kelly’s Life is Messy, which was recently distributed to all staff in our schools. Three opportunities will be offered via Zoom on Thursdays: Feb. 17, March 31, and April 28, from 4:00 p.m.-4:45 p.m.  A zoom link will be shared soon. Please inform your teachers and staff who may wish to attend.
 

Procedo Project: Free Webinars for Catholic School Leaders and Teachers

The Procedo Project is offering a number of free webinars throughout January and February. Learn more
 

Van Andel Institute - Webinar

Michigan non-public K-12 administrators are invited to a free 1-hour virtual event hosted by Van Andel Institute:
Network and Discuss School Improvement Planning for 2022-2023
Wednesday, February 9 @ 4:30 pm EST | Register Now
 

Notre Dame – “Into Life” Series

“Into Life: Love Changes Everything,” is a 12-part original series created by the Sisters of Life, the McGrath Institute for Church Life, and CampCampo Films.

Journey with the Sisters of Life as they explain what it means to walk with a woman who is pregnant and vulnerable. Learn how to listen and understand the heart of another, how to rejoice in the beauty of the individual person in an encounter of hope, and how to truly accompany someone into God’s life and freedom. This original 12-part video series will be released in full on March 25, 2022. Learn more
 

UWorld College Readiness AP Webinars

  • Maximizing the Power of the Short Answer of Question (SAQ) in AP U.S. History
    Monday, February 7, 2022 | 3:00pm - 3:45pm EST | Register
  • Tips & Techniques = Success in AP Calculus
    Tuesday, February 8, 2022 | 3:00pm - 3:45pm EST | Register

AFPC-NCEA Webinar Series

  • Cultivating Diversity and Inclusivity in Youth Choral Programs
    Thursday, February 10, 2022 | 4 pm EST | Register

PREVIOUS NEWS & REMINDERS

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
 

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 last year. Wave 2 FOPs will be launched in July of this year. 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.  
 

Transgenderism Resources: from the Department of Evangelization, Missionary Discipleship & Family Engagement

Please review the attached document with vetted resources to assist in providing pastoral care and accompaniment to our youth, adolescents, and young adults in their identity as beloved sons and daughters of God.
 

Tuition Assistance Application 2022-23

The Tuition Assistance application period opens on January 22.  Schools and parents should visit our webpage for more information: Tuition Assistance & Scholarships - Detroit Catholic Schools.
 

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 the town hall meeting on October 28, 2021.
 

52 Sundays Resource for Families

The 2022 edition of 52 Sundays is now available fororder! 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. 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.
 

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
 

Counseling and Mental Health Resources

Information about resources and contact information from Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan may be found here
 

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. 
 

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

School Mail Archive

View prior editions of School Mail here.



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Catholic school educators aren't superheroes; they're powered by grace

Archdiocese of Detroit schools break from routine to celebrate Christ-centered education

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Mother Teresa's impact on Southeast Michigan: Learn how a fated encounter on a plane led Mother Teresa to bring her missionaries to Detroit where their work continues in the city to this day.

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