|
Greetings!
In consultation with the Executive Principals earlier this year, we made the decision to return PD&C Day to a regionally coordinated professional development model in order to support more in-person opportunities. The original date of January 29 was selected to avoid Catholic Schools Week and to prevent alignment with the President’s Day weekend.
As regional calendars took shape, it became clear that this placement unintentionally created a long weekend leading into Catholic Schools Week, potentially impacting participation in Masses and school events at the start of that important week.
In light of this, we have decided to repurpose March 5, 2027, as a centrally-coordinated PD&C Day. This adjustment serves two primary purposes. First, it allows us to provide coordinated professional development for early learning staff, including centrally facilitated STARS hours. Second, it creates the opportunity to offer limited, archdiocese-wide two-hour online sessions, while still allowing flexibility for regional gatherings or afternoon collaboration, such as grade-level meetings.
We recognize that some schools may have already planned retreats or other uses for this date. By repurposing a date that was already centrally identified on the calendar, our intent is to minimize overall disruption while strengthening participation and access to shared professional development.
We continue to expect that schools will offer a Christ in the Classroom retreat during the second half of the year. We recommend using the day currently scheduled for PD&C Day for this purpose.
At a minimum, we ask that schools plan to provide release time for early learning staff on March 5 so they may participate in the STARS offerings.
I recognize that calendar adjustments can be challenging, and I am grateful for your flexibility. I am also thankful to our Executive Principals for their guidance in this decision. By making this adjustment now, our hope is to minimize disruption for your staff, students, and communities.
Thank you for your flexibility and for your continued support in strengthening professional learning across our schools.
* * * * *
Move Your Feet 5K
We look forward to seeing many of you this weekend for our Move Your Feet 5K event. This event marks a sort of culmination of our journey with Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis while recognizing this work and prayer is unending. Funds raised beyond event expenses will be donated in full to the Annunciation School community.
Event Details
- Saturday, March 28, 2026
- Registration and check-in begins at 8:00am
- Race starts at 9:00 AM
- Magnuson Park, Seattle, WA
Participants are encouraged to wear their school colors or favorite school gear so that each community can be seen as part of the larger whole.
* * * * *
CYO Camps
CYO Camps is looking to partner with your school to support recess activities and early release days through engaging, faith-centered, outdoor-style programming led by our CYO Camp team.
They would love to:
- Lead organized recess games that promote inclusion and teamwork
- Facilitate structured activities on early release days (team-building, reflections, and camp-style activities)
- Share information with students and families about CYO Camp Hamilton and Camp Don Bosco programs
This partnership is meant to support your school community, not create additional work for your staff. We can coordinate schedules, provide trained camp staff, and align activities with your school’s mission and values.
If this is something you would be open to discussing, I would be grateful for the opportunity to connect and explore how we can best support your students. I can be reached by email at tafadzwa.mapiye@seattlearch.org.
With gratitude,
NICHOLAS FORD | Superintendent
Office for Catholic Schools | Archdiocese of Seattle
| 
