Leading with Faith

6/17/25 Have Teachers Sign MST/STEM Grant & AMTS Art/Music Grant Attestation

7/14/25 Register for the 8/12-8/13 “Principals Institute” in Syracuse

ASAP Diocesan & Regional School Finance Reports due to Fr. Steve

TBA NYSED Nonpublic Safety Equipment (NPSE) Claims Due

TBA NYSED Elementary School AIS Claims Due

8/1/25 NYSED MST/STEM Grant & AMTS Art/Music Grant Submission Deadline

8/1/25 2025-26 Government Programs Checklist: Click here for End of Year List

8/29/25 Update your School Safety Plan

Government Programs Checklist for 2024-2025: Since there will be no “Leading with Faith” newsletters in July, please see my updated “Government Programs Checklist for Principals” for 2025-2026. Consider posting this list in your office or saving a copy to your computer to help you stay on top of important deadlines for 2025-26.

NYSED NonPublic Safety Equipment (NPSE) Reimbursement Update: NYSED told me yesterday that it will likely take at least 18 months for the NPSE Year 10 reimbursement, meaning funds will not be sent to your school until December 2025. Moving forward, they are hoping to release the Year 11 guidance and forms this summer (after they release the MST and AMTS applications) so hopefully you will see those by the end of July. These forms should be very similar to the guidance and forms from Year 10 and will allow reimbursement for expenses incurred by 12/31/2024.

MST and AMTS Grant Update; Get Teacher Signatures Now: NYSED still has not released the MST (Math, Science, Technology) Year 8 and AMTS (Art, Music) Year 2 forms. Even so, we have been encouraged to still begin preparing the paperwork needed for your applications (see my 2023-24 MST application advice here - AMTS uses the same application process). If you have not already done so, my recommendation is that you have qualified teachers sign the Teacher Attestation form before their last day (have one attestation for MST and another for AMTS). ORISS shared the following with me last month: “The MST guidance and requirements for this year’s cycle will be similar to what is currently available on the website and can be used to prepare the necessary data and materials for the August 1, 2025 deadline. We do not anticipate any significant changes to the MST/AMTS grant process with regard to the guidelines and requirements. However, the submission format will be updated with current year forms and improvements to the portal application and the updated formats should be used for submission, once available. The exception to this is the Teacher Attestation form. The currently available form can be used to collect signatures now, prior to the end of the year.” (Link: Teacher Attestation) Remember, In Year 6, our WNY Catholic Schools received just over $3.5 million in MST reimbursement (43.1075% of what was submitted), with the 21 participating elementary schools averaging almost $73,500 in reimbursement while the 10 participating high schools averaged just over $200,000 in reimbursement (median of $140,220). With another increase in funding to the MST Grant program in last year’s NYS Budget, I highly recommend that you apply for this grant if you have any qualified teachers. We are still awaiting numbers on the AMTS Year 1 claims; they will be much lower since the program is much smaller.

Register for the August 12-13 Principals Institute (Syracuse): Yesterday I sent the school principals a reminder about the upcoming Principals Institute for Upstate and WNY Catholic School Leaders on August 12th and 13th, 2025 at the Doubletree Carrier Circle in East Syracuse. As of today, we have 7 people from our Diocese registered to attend – Joleen, Julie, and me along with four principals. If you can attend this affordable summer conference/retreat, please register today. See my 6/16/25 email for the registration link and conference information.

School Safety Plan Update Requested: For those schools going through the Middle States Accreditation process, school safety is a high priority when your school is visited. If your crisis management plan has not been updated recently, I would encourage you to arrange some summer meetings for your school safety/emergency management team to update or convert your emergency plan to a “School Safety Plan” before school begins next fall, or soon after it begins. You can find resources on my School Safety Plan webpage. Note: you may recall that public schools were required to implement updated protocols in 2024-25, so you may want to consider adopting some or all of them if you wish; consider these to be best-practices for possible adoption at your school. For more ideas to consider while working on your school safety plan, see https://www.nyscfss.org/safety-plans.

Records Retention List: As the year draws to a close, you may want to think about destroying some of the records you have been retaining from prior school years. Please refer to this updated NYSED list of records that must be retained and the number of years you must keep them before you securely destroy them.

Academic Excellence: Summer Reading, Camps and Programs

Celebrating a Wonderful School Year!

The end of the school year is an incredibly exciting time! It's a moment to celebrate all the learning, friendships, experiences, faith development, and personal growth we've shared. A huge thank you to all our students, educators, and administrators for their dedication to fostering a love of learning and nurturing God-given gifts and talents. Congratulations on a truly wonderful year! May we continue to grow in our faith, knowledge, and community as we develop students who live, learn, and lead as disciples of Christ.

Keep Learning This Summer!

Learning doesn't stop when school's out! Our Parish and School communities offer a wealth of opportunities, from sports camps and leadership camps to Vacation Bible School. My own children have thoroughly enjoyed programs like Vacation Bible School, St. Joseph Collegiate summer programs, and Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart leadership camps.

Share Your Summer Programs!

If your Catholic School would like to add its summer programs to our website, please let our department know.

Discover Summer Programs for Families

Families, explore the exciting programs available this summer on our summer webpage: https://www.wnycatholicschools.org/summer-programs

Dive into Summer Reading!

For our avid readers, summer reading will be a breeze! If you're on the fence, let's find some books you'll genuinely enjoy. Many schools provide summer reading lists, which are excellent for preventing the "summer slide" and maintaining great reading habits.

To our reluctant readers, I highly recommend branching out! Consider a graphic novel, comic book, non-fiction text, or an audiobook – anything that sparks your interest. I personally love a good book and plan to balance reading for pleasure and work this summer.

Weekly Virtual Principal Meetings

Day and Time: Wednesdays, 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM Platform: Microsoft Teams (Laurie will send the link)

We're currently developing the schedule and structure for these meetings for the 2025-2026 school year and will keep you updated. A big thank you to everyone who attended and contributed valuable ideas and questions!

eSchool

In order for eSchool to set up your school year 2025-2026, please fill out the eSD School Setup Form and return it to them no later than June 30th. If you have already submitted your form, thank you.

Just a few quick reminders as we are preparing for next year, transfer students, and new registrations:

1. Remember to add the local school district for all new students to your school.

2. Mark all PK students as: Exclude From State Reporting and Exclude From State Attendance

3. All transfer students MUST use code 170 no matter the reason or where they are going.

eSchool does not charge when you enter your PK students into their system. They can and should be rostered just like any other HR class. This will in turn sync them with the STAR system for those of you who want to test them there. The only thing different from rostering PK as opposed to other classes is they need to be excluded from state attendance and reporting. Here is a worksheet I created to show you how to do that as a batch change.

STAR

Our next STAR Champion meeting is tomorrow, Wed. 6/18 from 12pm-1:30pm. We know this is a busy time with the final days of schools, but we look forward to seeing anyone who is available. We will be discussing how we managed regarding our goals this year.

Driver Safety Course

Ford Driving Skills for Life is part of Ford Philanthropy. They are offering a drivers safety course for newly permitted or licensed drivers at University at Buffalo, July 19-20. A flyer is attached with more information about the program. The course is completely free and helps young drivers identify and prepare for dangerous they may face on the roadway. This course has been offered in different areas of New York State in the past with great success.

Fond Farewell

I wanted to let everyone know that I have accepted a new position, and this is my last update. Thank you to everyone I have encountered over my years here. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in this department and this roll, and will carry great memories with me to my new position. Good luck with the next school year. You guys will do great!

I wish you all a very happy and relaxing summer!

A Standing Ovation for Our Fearless Leaders: Thank You, Elementary School Principals!

As the school year gracefully draws to a close, it's the perfect moment to pause and extend a heartfelt and resounding thank you to our incredible elementary school principals! These dedicated individuals are so much more than just administrators; they are the guiding lights, the steady hands, and the unwavering champions of our students, our staff, and our entire school community.

This year, like many before it, has presented its unique set of challenges and triumphs. Through it all, our principals have stood firm, demonstrating remarkable fortitude in the face of change. Whether navigating new policies, adapting to evolving educational landscapes, or simply weathering the daily complexities of running a vibrant elementary school, their resilience has been truly inspiring. They've met each curveball with grace, determination, and a steadfast commitment to providing the best possible learning environment for our children.

Their vision extends far beyond the present day. We want to express our sincere gratitude for their unwavering focus on the future. They are constantly looking ahead, exploring innovative approaches, and fostering a culture of growth and progress within our schools. Their dedication to ensuring our students are well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead is deeply appreciated.

Beyond their strategic leadership, our principals embody the spirit of collaboration and support. We are immensely thankful for their cooperation when asked to go the extra mile. Whether it's attending extra meetings, supporting school events outside of regular hours, or simply lending a listening ear, their willingness to step up and do what it takes makes a profound difference in the smooth functioning and positive atmosphere of our schools.

But their impact goes even deeper. We recognize and appreciate their:

• Unwavering dedication to our students' well-being: They create a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment where every child feels valued and empowered to learn and grow.

• Inspiring leadership of our staff: They foster a collaborative and supportive culture, empowering teachers and staff to excel in their roles and make a meaningful impact on our students' lives.

• Strong partnerships with families: They understand the crucial role of home-school connection and work tirelessly to build bridges and foster open communication.

• Passionate advocacy for our schools: They are tireless champions for the needs of our students and staff, ensuring our elementary schools have the resources and support they need to thrive.

• Countless unseen acts of kindness and support: From handling unexpected situations with calm professionalism to offering a word of encouragement when it's needed most, their quiet dedication often goes unnoticed but is deeply felt.

Leading an elementary school is a demanding and multifaceted role, requiring immense dedication, empathy, and a genuine love for education. Our principals embody all these qualities and more. They are the pillars of our school communities, and their hard work and commitment lay the foundation for our students' success.

So, as we approach the end of another incredible school year, let's take a moment to collectively applaud and express our sincere gratitude to our amazing elementary school principals. Thank you for your leadership, your dedication, your resilience, and your unwavering commitment to our students and our schools. You make a world of difference!

Have a safe and blessed summer! It’s been an honor to be a small part of your mission!! - Mary Jo

Mystery Science invoices have been sent out to all elementary schools. Please check your email.

The Annual Cafeteria Managers Meeting will be held on Monday, August 4th, at

St. Amelia’s Elementary School, 2999 Eggert Road, Tonawanda from 9:00 AM - Noon. Please pass this date onto your cafeteria managers.

Before you head out for the Summer, remember to mark your calendar for our STREAM PD Day on August 20! If you’d like to be a part of planning or facilitating any part of this exciting day of learning for our teachers, email stream@wnycatholicschools.org.

Bring Innovation to Your STREAM Program: Apply Now to Be an Innovation Fellow!

Are you ready to bring hands-on technology learning, creativity, and real-world innovation into your classroom and school community, but need a little spark to ignite it? If so, the Innovation Fellows program might be exactly what you're looking for.

This exciting new initiative, launched by TechBuffalo with support from Microsoft and the 43North Foundation, invites Western New York K–8 educators to become Innovation Fellows—a group of passionate teachers helping build the future of tech in our region.

As a Fellow, you’ll receive a $3,500 stipend and join a vibrant cohort of educators and business leaders committed to preparing students for a technology-powered future. The program provides all the tools and training you’ll need to enhance your STREAM offerings through:

• Teacher training in tech and digital literacy

• Quarterly convenings with fellow educators

• Family Code Nights to engage your broader school community

• Weekly tech clubs for hands-on student learning

• A Minecraft Global Build Challenge, where students reimagine Buffalo in a digital world custom-built by Microsoft

Innovation Fellows will tour local tech companies, connect with startup founders, and even guide top students into summer tech bootcamps. This opportunity is more than a professional development program—it's a movement to reimagine what learning can look like in Western New York. Let’s turn your classroom into a launchpad for creativity, curiosity, and real-world impact!

Ready to take your STREAM program to the next level? Apply to be an Innovation Fellow by June 30. Apply here