Greetings!

Welcome back! I hope the last two weeks provided an opportunity to rest and be with those who bring you joy.

As we move out of the Christmas season into this new year, we do so with joy and hope. The month of January certainly provides an opportunity to do just that! It is a busy month, capped off by a nationwide celebration of Catholic education with Catholic Schools Week, which finds its culmination in our archdiocese this year with the Fulcrum Foundation’s Celebration of Light.

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Here is the link to the approved academic calendar for the 2026–27 school year that we shared in December. Thank you for referencing this calendar to optimize alignment across our 74 schools, our partner ministries, and the broader Archdiocesan calendar.

As you review the details, I want to highlight a few important adjustments:

• Several annual events shift by one week next year.

Because the calendar resets with Labor Day falling on September 7, a few familiar touchpoints, including our Christ in the Classroom Fall Retreat, naturally bump back by one week. Please take note of these shifts as you begin planning for the year ahead, especially for events that require coordination with parish or regional teams. Additionally, because Catholic Schools Week falls one week later, Professional Development & Curriculum Day has moved forward one week.

• Principal Meeting Dates are set for the full year.

You will see the complete schedule of principal meetings reflected in the calendar. These gatherings remain an essential part of our shared leadership, ensuring consistency in communication, professional formation, and collective planning across the system. As a reminder, attendance at these meetings is an expectation of the role, and your presence contributes meaningfully to the strength of our network.

Attendance is expected at the following:

• August 4-6, 2026 Kickstart + Inspire
• September 23-25, 2026 – Christ in the Classroom Retreat (Seabeck)
• October 29, 2026 – Fall Principal and Pastor Meeting
• May 13, 2027 – Spring Principal Meeting

If questions arise as you begin mapping out the year, or if you notice any conflicts that may require clarification, please feel free to reach out to Ellie Bailey (eleanor.bailey@seattlearch.org). Once completed, submit them to ocs@seattlearch.org for review, no later than March 1.

With gratitude, 

NICHOLAS FORD | Superintendent

Office for Catholic Schools | Archdiocese of Seattle