Greetings!


“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.” Today’s Gospel feels particularly apt for us as educators and school leaders. As we put the final touches on our schools and our classrooms with last coats of paint and floors waxed (and some bigger construction projects nearing completion), we prepare for each child who walks through our doors to have an encounter in Christ. We prepare to lift them up as the greatest among us modeled with the same care as God, whose will is that not one of these little ones be lost.


Thank you all for your participation in last week’s events. From New Principal Orientation through Kickstart and Inspire, it was energizing to be with you all as this academic year comes into view. Being with each of you is witnessing all of the possibility that waits to be revealed across our 74 schools.


If you have not had an opportunity to complete the evaluation for Kickstart, please take five minutes and share your feedback with us here. A copy of the slide deck and packet materials can be found here.


With gratitude, 

NICHOLAS FORD | Superintendent

Office for Catholic Schools | Archdiocese of Seattle

 

OPERATIONS CALENDAR & MONTHLY TASK LIST

Click here & log into mycatholicschool.org

Principal Weekly Meetings

09/11/2025 - Welcome/Welcome Back with Superintendent Nicholas Ford

09/17-19/2025 - Christ in the Classroom Leadership Retreat at the Seabeck Conference Center. Register HERE!

09/25/2025 - Christ in the Classroom Toolkit with Connor Geraghty

10/02/2025 - GRACE with Justyna King

Upcoming Events

 
 

August 19, 2025

New School Employee Orientation

North: August 19 @ Holy Rosary, Edmonds

Register Here!

 

August 21, 2025

New Teacher Induction Training

More information here.

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Assistant Principal Meeting

12:00pm-1:00pm

Zoom

Register Here!


 
 
 

September 12, 2025

GRACE Kickoff Meeting

1:00pm-3:00pm

Online

Registration coming soon...



 
 
 
 

September 22, 2025

Curriculum Committees Meeting #1

10:00am-2:30pm

Peace & Spirituality Center


 

September 23, 2025

NWEA MAP Data Analyst/Leader Training #1

2 Options: 8:30am-11:30am,

12pm-3pm

St. Thomas, Tukwila


 
 
 

October 16, 2025

NWEA MAP Data Analyst/Leader Training #2

2 Options: 8:30am-11:30am,

12pm-3pm

St. Thomas, Tukwila






 
 
 

MISSION & CATHOLIC IDENTITY

Serving Our Diversified Learners

Please read this article from Our Sunday Visitor and published in Northwest Catholic, which examines how students with disabilities are being served in our Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Seattle and throughout our nation.

CIC Leadership Retreat Registration

If you have yet to do so, please register here for the 2025 Christ in the Classroom Leadership Retreat at the Seabeck Conference Center from September 17-19, 2025.

2025-26 Missionary Discipleship Institute

All 7th grade teachers are invited to participate in the Missionary Discipleship Institute for the upcoming school year! MDI Teacher Formation Day is scheduled for August 18th from 9am-2pm at Our Lady of Guadalupe School. Learn more and register here.

Grant for Symbolon Licenses

The St. Joseph Foundation has generously awarded a grant for teachers and administrators to enroll in the Symbolon program through the Augustine Institute. Click here to learn more and request Symbolon licenses.

GOVERNANCE & LEADERSHIP

Personnel & Policy Notes for the Week of 08/11/25

Included this week: Documents from Kickstart, registration closes on Wednesday for New Employee Orientation...

Click here to read more.

Register for the Leadership Academy

A leadership development cohort for aspiring administrators. 5 Leadership sessions, beginning October 10th. Contact Kelly Surapaneni (kelly.surapaneni@seattlearch.org) with questions.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

GRACE Registration for 2025-26

Please register your GRACE teacher leaders for the 2025-26 school year NOW!

Curriculum Committees for 2025-26

Social Studies, Science and new Artificial Intelligence committee will be formed this year. We meet four times (in person) throughout the year. Learn more here.

NWEA MAP Testing Dates & Information

Check out our NWEA MAP testing page to learn more about our assessment dates and expectations.

WCEA Accreditation Information

The WCEA has updated their webpage with current resources for schools who are engaged in the self-study process and those who are hosting visiting teams this year.

MAP Data Analyst & Leader Trainings

All schools who implement MAP testing are required to send 1-2 data leaders to NWEA training this year - more information can be found on the NWEA page.

2025 NWEA MAP Norms - NEW!!

Check out this important information about the new testing norms and how they may impact your school's MAP testing growth and achievement scores.

Early Learning Newsletter

Important resources and reminders for Early Learning Program. Click here for more information!

 

OPERATIONAL VITALITY

Innovative Housing Rooms

Rooms are still available at our Innovative Housing sites in Ballard and Maple Leaf! See the form or contact Kelly Surapaneni. (kelly.surapaneni@seattlearch.org)

Multi-Year Budget Template

Standard 10 of the NSBECS advise us to have a three to five year portion of our Budget Plan each year. Where does your school stand? Questions - ask John Sullivan. (sullivanj@seattlearch.org)

2025/2026 Salary Scale

Each school develops its own Salary Scale for the 2025/2026 school year. Please share your Scale with assumptions to John Sullivan (sullivanj@seattlearch.org).

School Staff Changes

Please email Synthiea Kaldi (synthiea.kaldi@seattlearch.org) staffing changes so we can get them set up in Frontline. For new employees, please send name, email and phone number!

Update Job Postings

Please make sure your job postings are current. Synthiea Kaldi can close jobs for you (synthiea.kaldi@seattlearch.org).

E-rate Technology Funding Updates

Important E-rate technology updates for the 2026-2030 funding cycle. Questions? Ask Tom O'Callahan. (tom.ocallahan@seattlearch.org)

Moves to Sub Pool

Synthiea Kaldi (sytnhiea.kaldi@seattlearch.org) is happy to submit the PAF for any 2025-26 staff that would like to be in the sub pool. Your name and personal email are all that's needed!

 

Fulcrum Foundation News & Updates

Designate a TAP Coordinator

Please designate at least one Fulcrum Tuition Assistance Grant Program (TAP) Coordinator, who will be the main contact at your school for all questions or communications with Fulcrum concerning TA for the 2025-26 school year. For some schools, the principal is the sole TAP Coordinator. For others, multiple people at the school are designated as TAP Coordinators. You may designate up to four people for this role at your school.


Link to form: https://forms.gle/K4X3SXDVijizEhcS7


Please submit this information by no later than Friday, August 29th. We are very grateful for your partnership in administering this program and helping us advance our mission of providing access to high quality Catholic education in Western Washington!

 

News & Resources

 

FREE Desks!

Immaculate Conception Regional School is offering 26 free desks! Please contact Gaby Oropeza if you are interested. (goropeza@icrsweb.org)