Retreat

Good morning, Kristin,


I was particularly struck by the last two lines from this past Sunday’s reading from the Book of Numbers: “Would that all the people of the LORD were prophets! Would that the LORD might bestow His spirit on them all!”


In the fall, I am often asked about enrollment in our schools. While we have yet to finalize the numbers for the current academic year, we are projecting stable enrollment across the archdiocese once again. Along with enrollment inquiries, many also ask what percentage of our students are Catholic. Naturally, we want every Catholic family who desires a Catholic education to have access to our schools, but this percentage has been declining, which can feel disheartening at times.


Moses’ rebuke at the end of this passage though reminds us that we are called to make disciples of all nations. It’s easier to foster an encounter with Jesus when students and families intentionally choose our schools, whether they are Catholic or not.


Each of us, through our baptism, is called to use our prophetic voice to share the Good News. Our Christ in the Classroom Foundational Retreat provides a meaningful opportunity for faculty and staff to reflect on this mission and deepen their commitment to forming disciples.

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Thank you to the more than 55 schools who completed the Fall Data Collection!


If you have not already, please take time in the next few days to complete this important fall task. As a best practice, we suggest you first complete the Excel spreadsheet Fall Data Collection Spreadsheet – Elementary and/or Secondary.


Our report to the NCEA is due in a few weeks. In order to ensure complete and accurate data, your school’s information is critical. Thank you for taking the time to complete this.


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

10/03/2024 - GRACE - Growing Reflective Authentic Catholic Educators with Justyna King

10/24/2024 - Annual Principal & Pastoral Leadership Meeting at St. Thomas, Tukwila - REGISTER TODAY!

Upcoming Events

 
 

Sept. 30- Oct. 11, 2024

Jodee Blanco School Visits


 

October 4, 2024

GRACE Fall Workshop 2024

In person - by registration only - Inclusion Solutions will be presenting to GRACE teacher leaders as well as the DLC

 
 
 

October 9, 2024

NWEA Fall Data Dive

with Katie Doyle

3:30p-4:30p, Online

Register Here

 
 
 

October 10, 2024

New School Employee Orientation

3:30p-5:30p, Online

Please share this link to register.

 

October 10 & 11, 2024

Leadership Academy

Aspiring principals/administrators will gather at Sacred Heart (10th) or Seton Catholic (11th)

Questions?

Contact Kelly Surapaneni

 
 
 

October 24, 2024

Annual Principal & Pastoral Leadership Meeting

8:30am Registration

9:00am-3:00pm

St. Thomas Church, Tukwila Please register today!

 
 
View Upcoming Events & PD Opportunities
 

MISSION & CATHOLIC IDENTITY

CIC Leadership Retreat Evaluation

Thank you for breaking away to Seabeck with us for last week's CIC leadership retreat! Please complete the retreat evaluation here.

CIC Local Retreat Toolkit

Access the CIC toolkit of resources here to start preparing for your local retreats. (You must be logged into the website to load the toolkit page.)

WSCC Newsletter for Catholic Schools

Please see the WSCC Fall/Winter Newsletter for Catholic Schools here.


GOVERNANCE & LEADERSHIP

Personnel & Policy Notes for the Week of 9/30/24

 Included this week: New K-12 Health & Safety Guide from WA DOH; State Board of Ed Enrollment Report; Great WA Shakeout and more! 

Click here to read more.

Register for the Leadership Academy

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

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Catholic Academic Decathlon Info Session

Shauna Richards will present on how to get your school invovled in the Catholic Academic Decathlon. Learn more here.

Need info on how to read MAP reports?

Katie Doyle will be presenting on how to read NWEA Growth reports in this 3:30-4:30pm session online.

Register today!

Early Learning Weekly Newsletter

Important Resources and Reminders for Early Learning Programs. Click here to read.

GRACE Fall Workshop

In person, 8-3pm at St. Thomas Catholic School - with Inclusion Solutions and our Diversified Learners Committee.

For more information, Click here.

 

OPERATIONAL VITALITY

30 Minute Advancement Collaboration Sessions & Monthly 1- hour Professional Development

GREAT sessions planned for your Admissions, Marketing & Communications, and Fundraising Staff. Excellent for professional growth & collaboration. More details

Innovative Housing Rooms

Rooms still available at our Innovative Housing sites in Ballard, Bellevue & Maple Leaf. See the form or contact kelly.surapaneni@seattlearch.org.

Multi-Year Budget Template

Are you still working to develop your Schools' Multi-Year Budget template ? See linked spreadsheet. Tab 1 - results and Tab 2 assumptions. Questions to John Sullivan.

Fall Data Collection

Thank you to all who completed this task on time!

If you haven't yet, please complete your fall data collection here.

As a best practice, we suggest you first complete the Excel spreadsheet Fall Data Collection Spreadsheet – Elementary and/or Secondary.

 

Fulcrum Foundation News & Updates

Fulcrum Tuition Assistance Survey


The Fulcrum Foundation is seeking information to learn about financial aid practices at your school, your satisfaction with TAP as it currently exists, and gather any other feedback about tuition assistance you are open to sharing.


Please complete the survey by clicking this link: https://forms.office.com/r/1s6BfG3GtM.


Contact Susan Ocoma with any questions.

Fulcrum Impact Day

We are excited to introduce a new initiative we are launching this fall on Monday, October 28 and Tuesday, October 29: Fulcrum’s Impact Day(s). 

 

Over the course of these two days, a Fulcrum staff member, board member, or ambassador will visit each of your schools to personally present a summary of Fulcrum’s support provided to your individual school along with an oversized ‘faux’ check showcasing the amount of tuition assistance Fulcrum donors are providing families this year. The check will be delivered to the principal by the Fulcrum rep, we will take a couple photos for social media posts, and we hope you will hang the ‘check’ in your school for the fall. Our hope is to showcase our support locally at each school and make the impact more relevant within your community. 

 

All arrangements will be made by our staff team, and we will provide you with the name/s of the persons visiting your school, the date, and the approximate time of their arrival. The visit should take approximately 10-15 minutes as we do not intend to disrupt your busy school day. 

  

More details will follow in the Keystone and via email. Thank you for noting these dates on your calendar. If you have any questions, please contact Amy Hall at hall.amy@fulcrumfoundation.org or 206.226.5679.

 

News & Resources

 

Assessment in special education: Actionable tips for general education teachers - NWEA

Discover practical strategies to support students with special needs through tailored assessment techniques in your general education classroom! Read more here.

Free the Anxious Generation Movement: A Call for K-12 School Leaders

Click here to access a free presentation from Dr. Jonathan Haidt, the author of The Anxious Generation. His latest book explores how the rise in youth mental health challenges is attributed to the transition from a play-based childhood to a phone-based childhood.



Hispanic Heritage Month

What are you doing to celebrate your Latino Families?

Click here for ideas!



Subcribe to the Keystone