Greetings!

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 approaches, and I look forward to all that is to come in each of your 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.

New Employee Orientation

Please be sure all new employees at your schools have received the registration link for New Employee Orientation: https://mycatholicschool.org/2026/05/14/08-2026-new-employee-orientation-registration/

This training is required for all new employees and the last one for this summer is offered next Tuesday, August 18 at Holy Rosary Parish in Edmonds.

SUPPORT: Faith Through the Fire – A Call to Help Spokane Catholic School Families

Several of you asked last week how your school might support those whose lives have been impacted by the devastating fires in eastern Washington.

In addition to the Spokane Complex Fire Support Fund established by Catholic Charities Eastern Washington, Nazareth Guild is partnering with the Diocese of Spokane, the Office of Education, and Catholic Charities to ensure the families affected by the fires receive the support they need, when they need it most. Currently, they know of at least 18 families who lost everything.

In their mission to support Catholic education, their greatest priority is tuition support, helping families keep their children in the Catholic schools that provide faith, stability, and hope during this difficult time. As additional needs arise, the Faith Through the Fire Relief Fund will also help provide other school-based support for students.

If you are not able to financially support at this time, please consider writing a letter of hope to a family affected and mailing it to Nazareth Guild (PO Box 76 - 99210), who would be happy to share those letters with them.

To learn more about how to support this fund, please visit Nazareth Guild’s website.

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

Taking a break until September!

Upcoming Events

August 18, 2026

New Employee Orientation 2

Holy Rosary, Edmonds

August 19, 2026

OCS Presents: Classroom Management

Zoom

August 25, 2026

MDI Teacher Formation

Our Lady of Guadalupe

September 22, 2026

GRACE Online Kick Off

Online

September 23-25, 2026

Christ in the Classroom Retreat

Seabeck Conference Center

October 6, 2026

GRACE Fall Meeting

St. Thomas, Tukwila

View Chancery to Parish Communications (C2P)

MISSION & CATHOLIC IDENTITY

Solemnity of the Assumption at Cheney Stadium

Please join Archbishop Etienne, Bishop Schuster, and thousands of the faithful on August 15 at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma for an outdoor Mass celebrating the Solemnity of the Assumption. Admission is free and all are welcome, though tickets are required. Click here to learn more and register.

Christ in the Classroom Leadership Retreat Registration

We look forward to gathering with you at the Seabeck Conference Center from September 23-25 for our annual Christ in the Classroom Leadership Retreat. Click here to learn about the retreat and register today!

Sacred Heart Devotion Curriculum

Curriculum has been developed to help our schools activate the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in three grade levels: K-2, 3-5, and 6-8. Please share this curriculum with your teachers along with this introductory video. Archbishop Etienne recently published his Pastoral Letter on the Sacred Heart, which provides more context for perpetuating the devotion. You can find his letter, the curriculum and more at archseattle.org/sacredheart.

2026-2027 MDI Registration

Registration is open for the 2026-2027 Missionary Discipleship Institute program for all 7th grade religion teachers. Click here to learn more about the curriculum and register for the year of formation ahead.

Inclusive Schools Leadership Seminar

Principals are invited to register for the online Leading Inclusive Schools seminar led by Dr. Colleen McCoy-Cejka. Through the generous support of the Fulcrum Foundation, registration is provided at no cost to our principals. Learn more here and email Connor Geraghty if you plan to register.

FAQs and Guidance on ICE

Please click here to review our guidance and most common questions regarding immigration enforcement. For questions or other resources, please contact Chris Koehler at 206-274-3194 or chris.koehler@seattlearch.org.

GOVERNANCE & LEADERSHIP

Personnel & Policy Notes for the Week of 08/10/26

Updates this week: Kickstart materials on policy updates and important HR reminders; Benefit session for new employees; Registration for new employee orientation closes this Thursday.

Click here to read more.

Leadership Academy Registration

The Office for Catholic Schools offers a year-long BLC cohort for aspiring administrators with a mixture of in-person and virtual meetings. Framed in the 4 domains of the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools (NSBECS). For questions, please contact Kelly Surapaneni at kelly.surapaneni@seattlearch.org. Click here to register!

Calling All Assistant Principals

The Office for Catholic Schools offers year-long BLC cohort (with a mixture of in-person and online meetings) for assistant principals to develop leadership, share resources, and collaborate. For questions, please contact Kelly Surapaneni at kelly.surapaneni@seattlearch.org. See registration form to connect with the Assistant Principal Collaborative Network (APCN).

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Register GRACE Teacher Leaders for 2026-27

GRACE 2026-27 Description

Check out our website with information, schedule, and teacher registration, contract, and other resources!

Plan for NWEA MAP Testing in 2026-27

The testing schedule is listed on our website. We will also be hosting several meetings throughout the school year (both online and in person) for Data Analysts.

Curriculum Committees for 2026-27

We are meeting in person quarterly to look at Content Times and Homework; we are also resuming the AI committee. Learn more here!

Early Learning Weekly Newsletter

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

SU Special Education Endorsement

For $2000 dollars, Seattle University is offering an endorsement in Special Education. For questions, contact Ted Kalmus, kalmust@seattleu.edu. Click here for more information!

OPERATIONAL VITALITY

Staffing Changes

Please send a list of new and departing teachers with cell numbers and emails to Synthiea (synthiea.kaldi@seattlearch.org). If there is a move to the sub-pool, please include cell number and personal email.

Sub Pool - New Rate?

If you are changing the rate you pay your substitute teachers. please email that to Synthiea.

Fulcrum

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 2026-2027 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: Fulcrum TAP Coordinator 2026-2027 – Fill out form

Please submit this information by no later than Friday, September 4, 2026.

We are so 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!

Please reach out with any questions, I am happy to help!

Josh Jinkens, Fulcrum Programs Coordinator

Josh.jinkens@fulcrumfoundation.org

206.219-5829

News & Resources

No News this Week!

If you would like something featured in this section, please contact Ellie Bailey (eleanor.bailey@seattlearch.org)

Subscribe to the Keystone