Leading with Faith

3/19/25 Save Mandated Services Claim online for C. Riso Review

3/31/25 NYSED Nonpublic Safety Equipment (NPSE) Claims Due (Date may change)

3/31/25 NYSED Elementary School AIS Claims Due (Date may change)

4/1/25 Online 2023-24 Mandated Services Claim Due to NYSED

4/1/25 Updated Mandated Reporter Training Due for All Required Staff

4/1/25 Parent Requests for 2025-26 Transportation Due to Public School Districts

NYSED Mandated Services Update: We’re in the final stretch! I wanted to remind you that there are only 9 school days until the 4/1/25 Mandated Services claim submission deadline, so if you have not yet opened and entered your 2024 claim online yet, please do so today. See my 3/4/25 post for more information. Unfortunately, 10 schools have not even opened an online claim - please do so today! I have already reviewed claims from 31 schools but still have another 17 schools that have not yet requested reviews of their online claims. Please email me if you want me to look your claim over once it has been entered online (but NOT submitted!) on the NYSED Business Portal ASAP, but no later than this Wednesday, 3/19/25. Any reviews requested after this Wednesday will likely result in insufficient time to correct any areas of concern prior to the submission deadline. Also, please forward to me any “Hold” or “Post Review” emails you get from the state that request follow-up on your end to resolve a claim.

Middle States Association (MSA) Accreditation: A Framework for Continuous Improvement

We are making significant progress in our system-wide MSA accreditation journey. Having begun the process last year, we are on track for an accreditation team visit in Spring 2026.

The Middle States Association (MSA) is a prominent accreditation organization that empowers educational institutions to achieve their objectives and cultivate ongoing enhancement. For over 125 years, MSA has guided schools in establishing and achieving goals, developing strategic plans, promoting staff development, and advancing student achievement. The MSA Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools accredit a wide range of institutions, from early childhood to post-secondary, including public, private, faith-based, and special purpose schools.

The Accreditation Process:

Accreditation is a voluntary self-evaluation process where schools and school systems demonstrate adherence to a defined set of research-based performance standards. This holistic evaluation goes beyond student testing data, providing a comprehensive measure of a school's performance and charting a strategic course for continuous improvement. Crucially, this process also helps our Catholic schools maintain substantial equivalency with New York State (NYS) school requirements.

MSA Standards for Accreditation:

MSA evaluates schools across five key areas:

• Foundations: Aligning the school's mission, core values, and goals with the needs of its community to establish a clear vision for success.

• Governance and Organization: Establishing effective leadership, governance structures, and policies that guide decision-making and promote ethical practices.

• Student Well-Being: Creating a safe, inclusive environment that prioritizes the physical, emotional, and social development of all students.

• Resources: Optimizing financial, human, and physical resources to ensure sustainability and support educational goals.

• Teaching and Learning: Delivering a rigorous, mission-aligned curriculum that promotes student achievement and prepares learners for future success.

Diocese of Buffalo System Accreditation:

The Diocese of Buffalo has chosen MSA as its accreditation agency and is pursuing system accreditation, a collaborative self-study effort. This approach reduces the workload for individual schools and fosters a unified improvement strategy.

Key aspects of the system accreditation include:

• Diocesan-wide goals (e.g., "math") with individual schools implementing them within their specific contexts.

• Diocesan support for facilitating surveys, gathering evidence, and analyzing data.

• A shorter, less thorough on-site visit by an external team, compared to individual school accreditations.

• The Diocese will pay the expense of the accreditation team visit.

• Annual dues are lower in the system accreditation.

• The overall goal is to strengthen all diocesan Catholic schools through continuous improvement.

• The MSA visit for accreditation is scheduled for spring 2026.

School Principals: Please continue to work on tasks per the principal meeting and email. Please contact your school’s team leader with any questions. Next deadline is April 1 for document collection.

Weekly Virtual Principal Meetings

Meeting Details:

• Day and Time: Wednesdays, 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM

• Platform: Microsoft Teams (link sent by Laurie)

FRIDAY IS THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER for the Science Fair Exhibition - St. Joseph’s Collegiate institute, March 29, 2025

Participant Set-Up: 8:30-10am in the Art Room

Discussion Session & photos of projects with students: 10am-12pm

• Life Science 10-10:30am
• Physical Science 10:30-11:30am
• Engineering 11:30am-12pm

Students will need to be with their projects until I have had a chance to come and discuss their project with them. They are welcome to walk around the X-STREAM Games or participate in other events as well. If the student is needed in another X-STREAM event area during the assigned discussion time, I am happy to set a separate time with them to discuss their project.

Art Show - Notre Dame Academy, May 13-15, 2025

The 35th Annual Diocesan Art Exhibition will be held at Notre Dame Academy, 260 Okell St, Buffalo. All schools are welcome to attend. You can find more information and sign up through this link or scan the QR code on the attached information sheet. Your school must register by April 18th, however early registration is highly encouraged.

The Benefits of Multi-Age Classrooms

The traditional classroom is one of the only life settings in which we segregate children by age. In both large and small schools, multi-age classrooms, where students of different ages learn together, offer a unique and beneficial learning environment. Here are some of the key advantages:

Social-Emotional Benefits:

• Stronger Social Bonds: Students develop a deeper understanding of others, fostering empathy, tolerance, and respect.

• Enhanced Communication Skills: Interacting with peers of varying ages improves communication and negotiation skills.

• Increased Self-Esteem: Older students gain confidence as they mentor younger ones, while younger students benefit from the guidance and support of older peers.

Academic Benefits:

• Personalized Learning: Teachers can tailor instruction to meet the individual needs of each student, regardless of their age.

• Accelerated Learning: Advanced students can progress at their own pace, while struggling students receive additional support.

• Cooperative Learning: Collaborative projects and peer tutoring promote deeper understanding and problem-solving skills.

• Long-Term Relationships: Students and teachers build stronger bonds over multiple years, leading to increased trust and motivation.

Other Benefits:

• Reduced Anxiety: A more relaxed and supportive atmosphere can reduce stress and anxiety for students.

• Increased Motivation: Students are more engaged and motivated when they see the progress of their peers.

• Improved Behavior: A positive classroom culture can lead to better behavior and discipline.

Educational research shows that by creating a more diverse and inclusive learning environment, multi-age classrooms can significantly enhance the educational experience for all students. Within the Diocese of Buffalo, we are exploring the opportunities for implementing multi-age environments. Stay tuned for updates on this innovative and proven approach to education!

Have a safe and blessed week!

Bowling: Just a few reminders; Moving forward no new students will be allowed to be added to your bowling roster. Make sure there are chaperones with your students each week at the allies. Please remind your parents that no food or beverages should be brought into the allies with them.

Mark your calendars! The Annual Elementary Track Meet will take place this spring on Monday, May 12, 2025 and Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at St. Francis High School in Hamburg. Registration form can be found HERE. Print it out and mail it to Nancy with payment before April 9th.

If you have any questions, please contact Nancy at ndiberardino@buffalodiocese.org.

Virtue/Diocesan Character Trait - Awards will be handed out at the March Principals Mtg.

Month of March -Mercy/Sacrifice - Deadline to submit names is - April 11, 2025

Definition – Caring for those who suffer and giving up something you want to help others.. https://forms.gle/vC7dEccHKjvGrTYe8

Things to Know for the 2025 X-STREAM Games, Saturday, March 29, 10am-2pm!

The X-STREAM Games are almost here, and we can’t wait to see you all for a day of innovation, teamwork, and fun! Here are some important details to help you plan for a fantastic experience:

📅 Event Schedule & Map
Be sure to check out the event schedule and event map to get familiar with where and when each competition is happening. With so many exciting activities, you’ll want to plan your day accordingly!

🍕 Concessions
Feeling hungry? The St. Joe’s Science Olympiad Team will be running a concession stand from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM with pizza, pop, water, and candy available for purchase. Thank you, St. Joe’s, for keeping us fueled for the fun!

👕 Show Your School Spirit!
Students should wear their school uniforms to proudly represent their schools throughout the event. Let’s see that school pride!

🏆 More Amazing Events!
Beyond Robotics, Science Scrimmage, and some of our old favorites like Kitchen Chem and Arcade Academy, be sure to check out these incredible competitions:

• Public Speaking Competition – Listen as students take the stage to showcase their confidence, clarity, and persuasive skills in this exciting public speaking event.

• Invention Convention – Young innovators will present their problem-solving ideas, showcasing unique prototypes designed to make life easier, safer, or more fun!

• Science Scrimmage: Rocket Catcher – Teams will put their engineering skills to the test by designing and building a device capable of safely catching a launched rocket.

🌟 Open to All!
All school families from across our Diocese are invited to attend—at no cost! Come cheer on the participants, explore the event, and celebrate the power of STREAM learning. We can’t wait to see you there!

Important Upcoming STREAM Dates - Mark your calendar!

Tuesday, March 18, 2:45-3:45pm - X-STREAM Games Volunteer Meeting - LINK

Friday, March 28, 3-5pm - X-STREAM Games Set-Up at St. Joe’s Collegiate

Saturday, March 29, 10am-2pm - X-STREAM Games!

Monday, April 7, 2:45-3:45pm - X-STREAM Games Debrief Meeting (open to all) - LINK