Lent Prayer Partners
All are invited to participate in Lent Prayer Partners. All you have to do is pray for a specific person during Lent (another person will be praying for you) and then send the person a card at Easter! You can sign up here. Please sign up before March 2 at 12:00 p.m.
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From Vic Michaels: COVID-19 Guidance and Protocols (updated February 17, 2022)
MDHHS has updated its indoor mask use guidance. CDC has not yet made any changes. Wayne County rescinded their mask order effective February 17 at 8:00 a.m. We will keep you apprised of any additional updates.
International and state travel quarantine guidelines are now the same.
- If a student is vaccinated, no quarantine is required.
- If a student is unvaccinated, they must quarantine for 5 days after travel.
Click here for additional guidance and protocols.
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School Outreach Fund Grant Application Now Open
The application for the 2021-2022 School Outreach Fund grants is now open. Please click here to review the eligibility criteria and access the application.
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March 14 Uniform Professional Development Day
Sessions will be offered from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Dr. Bluestein emailed a draft of the agenda to principals last week. If you haven’t yet shared the agenda with teachers, please do so to ensure they can plan their day accordingly. The PD website will be updated at the beginning of March.
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Teacher PLCs
Based on feedback from principals and teachers, we will offer six Teacher PLCs (for grade K-8 teachers) beginning in March and ending in May. They are completely optional and 25 SCECHs may be earned by those teachers who attend all six sessions.
Schedule
PreK-2: March 1, March 22, April 5, April 26, May 10, May 24
3-5: March 2, March 23, April 6, April 27, May 11, May 25
6-8: March 4, March 24, April 7, April 28, May 12, May 26
Time: 4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. | Zoom Link
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Star - Custom Parent Score Reports
The Custom Parent Score Reports will be processed 7-10 business days after the close of the MOY window, and Dr. Bluestein will send the files and passwords to each principal upon arrival.
As a reminder, please see the attachment regarding the archdiocesan guidelines for sharing reports with parents after each testing window. You may modify and use the attached parent letter (template) to keep parents informed about the reports they will receive this year (Note that the template was shared at BOY and will need to be edited accordingly).
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March 22, 2022: Nonpublic Schools Legislative Day
Please register for this very important MANS-sponsored event if you can. We need school leaders speaking to state senators and representatives in support of key issues such as teacher retention bonuses, mental health funding, school safety and the robotics grants.
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EANS Update
The deadline to submit the application for EANS I, Round III is March 30, 2022. There will not be an extension to this deadline. Please remember you can adjust for unspent funds from rounds I and II. You can also add in any unforeseen vendor fees like the 2.5% charge. Please let Laura and Eric know if you have any questions or want to discuss spending ideas.
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Let's get social!
In an effort to stay connected, we invite all AOD schools to complete the following two social media updates:
- Please follow AOD Schools on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Our handles are:
- Please add these handles to your school's social media page bios. For LinkedIn, please list, "Proud member of the AOD School System."
We'd like to ensure that our AOD schools are all networked on social media so that we can unleash the Gospel with the most unity. Let us know if you have any questions about how to add @aodschools to your school's social media bios.
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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
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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
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Black History Month (updated February 17)
Schools are welcome to use the attached posters as resources.
Kaye Crawford of Black Catholic History has also shared a calendar and resources.
The Archdiocese of Detroit's Office of Black Catholic Ministry has shared a number of events and resources:
- Songs of Freedom | February 25 at 7:00 p.m.
- A concert celebration of Black female composers, and holy Black women on their way to sainthood (Sister Thea Bowman, Mother Mary Lange, Julia Greeley and Henriette Delille).
- Lessons for MLK from the King Center
- Even though MLK Day is in January, the information is still timely for February or after.
- Black Spirituality handout
- Additional Resources:
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From Ford: Donation of Child-Size Masks Update
Many of you contacted Dr. Bluestein requesting the donated child-size masks from Ford. However, as you are aware, the mask mandates are being lifted. Ford already sent us the donation prior to the rescinding of any mask mandates. Therefore, please know that this donation will be stored and will certainly be made available if we find ourselves in need of masks again in the future.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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UPCOMING EVENTS & EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
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Complimentary NCEA/Star Renaissance Webinar
The Key to Recovery: Mastering Challenging Reading and Math Skills
Wednesday, March 9 | 1:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m.
Learn more and Register
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Teacher Retreat Opportunity
Teachers are invited to participate in a retreat opportunity at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School on March 14, 2022. This retreat meets the requirements for Catechetical Certification. Please note that this retreat takes place on the same day as our AOD Professional Development Day.
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Conference Opportunities
Please see the links below for upcoming conference opportunities for school staff:
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Free Online Course: A Church in Crisis
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. Learn more: https://shms.edu/lent
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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, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This year’s School Track provides a wide array of workshops geared toward improving security and safety in Michigan schools. This conference is free to the first 300 school officials. Registration will open in February. Learn more
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SoulCore Recordings and Schedule
The second SoulCore session was offered in February with a meditation on the Sorrowful mysteries and the recording is now available to share with anyone who was unable to attend.
Recording 1: December - Joyful Mysteries (Passcode: Q=ibH5.d)
Recording 2: February - Sorrowful Mysteries (Passcode: %Y60#L9u)
SoulCore will continue to be offered at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom, April 9 and June 4. The next meditations will focus on the following mysteries: 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. |
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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. Two more opportunities via Zoom will be offered Thursday, March 31 and April 28, from 4:00 p.m.-4:45 p.m. Please inform your teachers and staff who may wish to attend and share the Zoom link with them.
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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 that explains what it means to walk with a woman who is pregnant and vulnerable. This video series will be released in full on March 25, 2022. Learn more
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PREVIOUS NEWS & REMINDERS
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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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Families of Parishes
Each of our schools is part of (or will be part of) a Family of Parishes. 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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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.
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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 the town hall meeting on October 28, 2021.
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52 Sundays Resource for Families
The 2022 edition of 52 Sundays is now available to order! 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. 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.
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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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