As we approach the end of the semester, it’s time for an update on our self-study. As part of our MSA accreditation, we’re spending two years studying ourselves on the school and district levels. This is all in preparation for our district visit in 2025. All of our parish schools along with two regional schools (De Sales and CANF) are participating in this process.

The first step was for each school to pick its School Improvement Team and local chair. We asked each school to work on its “Foundation Documents”--namely, its mission statement, vision statement, core values, profile of a graduate, and school history. To this point, this is all we’ve asked of our schools, although schools can certainly visit the MSA Site and review the expectations.

We’ve organized a District Planning Team, with Janet Larson of St. Peter’s and Maria Wangler from Christ the King joining me as co-chairs. The district team has met twice and has been given responsibility to assist other schools in gathering their documents and answering questions as we move forward. The rest of the team (with their assigned schools):

• Dan Drechsel of St. Greg’s (St. Joe’s University)

• Glenn Olejnizczak of St. Mary’s (St. John’s Alden, OLBS)

• Amy Connolly of Nativity (St. Mary’s)

• Caroline Dunmore of St. Ben’s (SSPP)

• Jenny Bainbridge of St. John’s (St. Stephen’s)

• Denise Cronyn of St. Chris (St. Amelia, St. Mark)

• Karen Rahill of De Sales (CANF)

• Mary Szlosek of OLV (Immaculate Conception & Southtowns)

• Coleen Scott of Nativity (SSPP)

• Mary Damico of Queen of Heaven (St. John Vianney)

As we finalize this work, we’ve begun working on the surveys. These will be administered at the school level and given to students, parents, and staff. We’re currently editing these surveys to make them efficient and relevant to our schools. Our plan is for all of our schools to release the surveys during Catholic Schools Week (January 28-Feb 3, 2024). When those results come in, we’ll have actionable insights into our school communities that can be used at the school and district levels. The foundation of every good strategic plan is gather feedback.

After gathering surveys, we’ll be looking at academic data (STAR test scores, high school entrance exams, curricula, textbooks, etc) and working toward district-wide goals by June 1st. There will be work given to each School Improvement Team coordinated by the District Planning Team through each school’s representative.

Next fall, we’ll begin working on completing the written components of the self-study which should put us in a great position for a district-wide visit in 2025.

Previous blogs can be found here. Want to keep up with the conversations surrounding Catholic education? Set up your own Google Alert, subscribe to this newsletter by clicking "follow," or subscribe to the Catholic School Matters podcast.

Dr. Tim Uhl

• Save the Date! We are going to hold budget workshops for principals (6-7 pm) and board members (7-8 pm) via Zoom on Thursday, Dec 14th.

• Here is the draft schedule for Catholic Schools Week

• The Diocesan Spelling Bee will be held on January 31st at 6pm at Mount St. Mary’s High School. Please register your top 3 spellers HERE after you have held your own school-wide spelling bee. You can find resources and practice spelling words HERE along with some tips for your in-school spelling bees.

• Years of Service Certificates

• January 11, 2024 - Principals’ Meeting Registration Form

Here's the link to the Office Blog

• 12/15/23 NYSDOH Annual School Immunization Survey Due
• 12/16/23 Fire Safety Report Due 12/16/2023
• 12/22/23 Complete Eight of the 12 Required Evacuation or Lockdown Drills

As 2023 draws to a close, please remember that I am available to assist you as you interact with your public school districts on Title services, nursing, busing, textbooks, and Special Education. The cyclical nature of these programs means that consultation will begin in the next few months in preparation for your 2024-2025 participation. If you are interested, I would be happy to join you for any of your public school consultation meetings if I am available.

Mandated Services for 2022-23 – Online Forms Available 1/2/2024 for 4/1/2024 Submission Deadline: Thank you to the 13 schools that have begun working on their 2022-2023 Mandated Services claims; email me if you would like your personalized Excel spreadsheet. To help you prepare for the Mandated Services claim process, I have created a personalized Excel spreadsheet for each school which was already sent to 13 schools. For the remaining 39 schools, if you are ready to begin working on your claim please send me an email to request your personalized “Form 1” Excel spreadsheet. Verifying the salary and benefits information on Form 1 and collecting official payroll and benefits reports to support those amounts is the most time-consuming part of the Mandated Services process. See my Mandated Services webpage for forms and advice from me on this process. Additional information will be sent to all schools when the online claims are made available by NYSED on the Business Portal around 1/2/2024.

E-Rate: Last year around this time, Denton Clark sent emails to many of you about the E-Rate assistance his company, Mondavi Design, can provide. I just wanted to remind you that his services are not free and that should you wish to participate in this federal program you are welcome to use him or anyone you wish for the preparation of your E-Rate reimbursement forms. In the past, schools have been charged anywhere from $440 to $1,400 for his services based on how long it takes him to complete and submit your forms (this relates to the complexity of your claim). Please take that into account when deciding whether applying for E-Rate is worth the time and effort, especially if there is a chance that your fee could be higher than the anticipated amount of reimbursement. Please contact me if you would like more information on the E-Rate program.

Graduate Courses available for Free through University at Buffalo (UB) and SUNY Empire: As an eligible nonpublic school teacher or leader, you can take select online courses through these colleges’ Graduate programs.

• University at Buffalo Professional Development for Religious and Independent School Teachers

• Available online courses for Winter and Spring 2024 - University at Buffalo

• Online application deadline for University at Buffalo Winter 2024 courses is December 15, 2023 (classes begin 12/28/2023); deadline for Spring 2024 courses is January 15, 2024 (classes begin 1/24/2024)

• University at Buffalo Academic Calendars

• University at Buffalo Winter 2024 and Spring 2024 Academic Calendars

• Questions? Contact the Office of Graduate Admission at gse-apply@buffalo.edu or 716-645-2110.

• SUNY Empire Graduate School for Religious and Independent School Teachers

• Available online courses for Spring 2024 - SUNY Empire

• Complete the SUNY Empire application – Deadline to apply is 12/29/23 for classes beginning 1/16/24.

• Additional information and application instructions - SUNY Empire

If you have questions, please contact Graduate Student Services at 518-587-2100, ext. 2429, or Grad.Services@sunyempire.edu

Previous posts from Mr. Riso

This season's Catholic School Matters podcast season is on hiatus until February. This week, Previous episodes:

• "Top 10 Lessons Learned as a Catholic High School President."
  
• Lauren May and Ron Matus from Step Up For Students
  
• Kelby Woodard
• In the fifth and final installment of the Leadership Series
  
• The fourth podcast
  
• The third podcast
  
• The second in the series includes a conversation with Greg Richmond
  
• The first podcast includes a conversation with Dr. Daniel McMahon
• John Kennedy of St. Joseph High School
  
• Fr. Jack Podsiadlo, SJ
  
• David Palmieri

Here is a link to the podcast on Apple Podcasts.

A weekly newsletter of resources to spur enrollment and excellence in our Catholic schools.

Email: catholicschoolmatters@gmail.com
Website: www.wnycatholicschools.org
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA
Phone: 716-847-5520
Twitter: @WNYCatholicEd

1. The Great Dechurching: Who's Leaving, Why Are They Going, and What Will It Take to Bring Them Back? (2023) by Jim Davis, Michael Graham, and Ryan Burge.
   

2. The Rule of Benedict: A Spirituality for the 21st Century (2010) by Joan Chittister

3. Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI (2017) by David Grann.

4. Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir (2022) by Matthew Perry.

5. Living Your Strengths, Catholic Edition: Discover Your God-Given Talents and Inspire Your Community (2003) by Albert L Wiseman, Donald Clifton, Curt Liesveld, et al.
   

Click this link for a full list of my professional reading

November 28, 2023 "Tuition Recommendations"

November 14, 2023 "Progress Report"

November 7, 2023 "Building Leadership"

October 31, 2023 "Positive Classrooms"

October 24, 2023 "Board Training"

For previous newsletters, click this link

A few years ago I set out to write a book which would explore the challenges of Catholic school leadership. My premise that there are no easy answers and that we have to learn from our (and other's) mistakes in order to form a mindset appropriate for orchestrating conflict proved prescient as we all faced completely new and unexpected challenges in 2020. The book,Orchestrating Conflict: Case Studies in Catholic Leadership is now available on Amazon or on the Barnes & Noble site in print or e-book formats. The book explores issues in Catholic school leadership and the tensions between building community and following Church policies and introduces deliberate practice as a method for leadership formation. Most recently, I have completed a new book proposal so book #2 is underway!