Leading with Faith
by Joleen Dimitroff
Catholic Community,
This past week, I was reminded once again of the incredible spirit that fills our Catholic school communities.
I was invited by Principal Mary Pauly to Immaculate Conception School in East Aurora for their annual Pumpkin Carving Spooktacular — and what a spooktacular time it was! This amazing community-building event brought families together in faith and fun. A heartfelt thank-you to local businessman Jack Attfield, owner of Newport Comer Funeral Home, for his generous sponsorship. These are the kinds of experiences that create lifelong memories and strengthen the bonds of our Catholic school family.
Assistant Superintendent Stephanie Genco Gasiecki and I also had the joy of attending The Living Wax Museum at St. Benedict School. We were so impressed by the creativity and reverence of the fourth-grade students, who researched their favorite Patron Saints and then brought them to life! Each student created a prayer card and presentation board, then transformed themselves into their chosen saint to share their story with visitors. I was deeply touched by how beautifully the children embodied the spirit and virtues of these holy men and women. A special thank-you to Principal Ryan Kloetzer, Assistant Principal Kayla Aydelott, and the wonderful fourth-grade teachers, Jaclyn Henderson and Abbey Smith, for inspiring our children to learn and live their faith so joyfully.
Finally, our Catholic Education Team had a heartwarming visit to Northern Chautauqua Catholic School. The students and staff gave us such a warm welcome — and the many handmade gifts they presented were simply delightful. My office is now adorned with their beautiful cards and a very special Thumbprint Tree wall hanging made by the Pre-K class. I will cherish it always.
Moments like these remind me why we do what we do — to nurture faith, learning, and community in every child and family we serve. Thank you to all our principals, teachers, and parents who make Catholic education such a living expression of God’s love in Western New York.
by Stephanie Genco Gasiecki
Middle States Accreditation Update
The Self-Study process is an important opportunity to reflect on strengths, identify growth areas, and celebrate the excellence happening across our classrooms. Thank you to all who are contributing your time and insight—your efforts help ensure our schools remain strong, mission-driven communities of learning.
November Middle States Goals:
- Complete “01 - Foundations Standard for Accreditation” with Planning Team
- Complete “2 - Profile of the Component and Student Performance” w/ Internal Coordinators
- Complete “02 - Governance & Organization Standard” with Planning Team
- Consider Attendance at Organizing for Self Study Workshop and Developing the Plan Workshop
Reach out to your Senior Principal or me with any questions about completing parts of the self study or working with your planning team. We really are here to support you.
STREAM Coordinator Professional Development Morning
Wednesday, November 19, 8:30-11:30am
Coffee & Bagels will be provided
Location pending - will be sent out with registration by the beginning of next week!
We’re excited to announce that KidWind is being integrated into our STREAM program! KidWind offers engaging, hands-on learning experiences focused on renewable energy and engineering design. It’s a fun and meaningful way to help students connect science, creativity, and Catholic social teaching around care for creation. A trainer from KidWind will be with us for this morning to share more about the program and explore hands-on learning.
STAR Champions: Upcoming Virtual Meetings
Our STAR Champions will meet virtually to review data, set goals, and plan for data-driven instruction. These sessions are a great way to stay aligned and support one another.
Meeting dates:
11/20, 1/7, 3/12, 5/1 from 2:00–3:00 PM
Meeting/Calendar links will be emailed. If someone else at your school should be receiving STAR updates, let me know—I'm updating the contact list.
Social Studies Curriculum Update
We’re inviting all SS teachers, elementary teachers who teach SS, and interested principals to join our upcoming virtual committee call. We’ll discuss the current state of our curriculum, share ideas/needs, and plan for the future of SS education in our schools.
Meeting Date: 12/11, 1–3 PM - Join meeting with this link
Be sure you've ordered your science tests!
The Online Ordering Systems for the 2026 Spring 3-8 Assessments and January Regents is open until November 14th. Please make sure you have placed orders.
Best Practices Spotlight: Differentiated Instruction
Meeting students where they are is essential for growth. Here are three simple ways to get started with differentiated instruction in your classroom:
Start small – Choose one lesson or unit and plan two different ways for students to show what they know.
Use flexible grouping – Shift student groups regularly based on learning goals and lessons, not just general ability levels.
Offer choice – Provide options for how students access content or demonstrate understanding—this increases engagement and ownership.
Differentiation doesn’t have to be complex—it’s about being intentional and responsive. Even small changes can make a big difference for learners!
by Chris Riso
11/4/25 Election Day - Please Vote!
11/14/25 BEDS Report Due to NYSED via Business Portal IRS-Data Exchange
12/1/25 Fire Safety Inspection Must be Completed; Report Due 12/16/2025
12/12/25 NYSDOH Annual School Immunization Survey Due 12/12
12/16/25 Fire Safety Inspection Report Due 12/16/2025
12/19/25 Complete Eight of the 12 Required Evacuation or Lockdown Drills
NYS Nonpublic School Anti-Bullying Law Enacted: The NYS “Jack Reid Law: Protect All Students Act” was signed into law by Governor Hochul on October 23, 2025 and must now be implemented at all of our Catholic Schools. This bill protects all elementary, middle school and high school students in New York from harassment and bullying by extending many of the protections of the Dignity for All Students Act to nonpublic schools. Now that this is law, our schools must implement the following:
“Bullying and harassment prevention and response. No student shall be subjected to harassment or bullying, including cyberbullying, by other students on school property or at a school function.”
“Adopt a written in plain-language and age-appropriate anti-bullying and harassment policy, which must be published on the school's website or internal parent/student portal and shared annually with employees, parents, and students. Such policy shall include…information on how bullying and harassment is defined, how incidents will be reported, investigated, and documented, and an age-appropriate process for notifying the victim about the final outcome of the investigation.”
“School employees who witness bullying or harassment, or receive an oral or written report of bullying or harassment, shall promptly notify the principal or head of school or the principal's or head of school's designee, orally not later than one school day after such school employee witnesses or receives a report of bullying and harassment, and must file a written report with the principal or head of school's designee not later than two school days after making the initial oral report.”
“Upon a report of bullying, harassment, or retaliation, the principal or head of school, or the principal or head of school's designee, must investigate promptly, communicate their findings with the victim and take immediate steps and appropriate follow-up action reasonably calculated to ensure that such conduct has stopped and ensure the safety of the student or students including retaliation against any individual who in good faith reports such bullying or assists in the investigation.”
To assist you with the implementation of this new mandate, we have updated some language currently in our Elementary School Procedures. Please consider this new language found here along with some advice from CSAANYS (click here). The CSAANYS advice reminds you to update your policies and procedures in your handbooks, posting the policy on your website, and informing your school community about these policies. Please contact me for more information about this new law.
NYSDOH Annual School Immunization Survey Due 12/12: Please work with your Public School District nurse to arrange for submission of your school’s annual immunization survey by 12/12/25. Your school or the District nurse will submit this survey via the Health Commerce System (HCS). If you have questions regarding the 2025-2026 School Immunization Survey, including how to access it, please contact me, visit https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/immunization/schools/, email the Bureau of School Immunizations at osas@health.ny.gov, or call (518) 474-1944.
BEDS Online Report Due to NYSED by 11/14: Please email Steph after your NYSED online form has been successfully submitted and your Google BEDS Sheet is complete.
by Nancy DiBerardino
Save the Date: Catholic Schools Day at the BPO will take place on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at Kleinhans Music Hall starting at 10:15 AM. The theme for this year will be Building Harmony. All students, grades 1-4 are invited to attend. More information will be forthcoming. Registration will be included in our newsletter the last week of November.
Safe Environment Training for Youth in Catholic Schools
This is a mandatory training that takes place yearly in our Catholic schools.
The deadline for this training to be completed and recorded on-line is January 15, 2026.
Attached please find a document that explains why this training is done, how to access the resources and how to record on-line that the training has been completed.
12th Grade Mass Registration
The 12th Grade Mass will take place on Tuesday, December 2nd at St.Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY at 10:30 AM. Registration for this event is required by November 17th. The registration form will be used for creating our seating chart. Register your school here.
8th Grade Mass Registration Form
The 8th grade Mass will take place on Wednesday, December 3rd at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY at 10:30 AM. Registration for this event is required by November 17th. The registration form will be used for creating our seating chart. Register your school here.
11/14 - BEDS Report Due
11/19 - STREAM Coordinator Meeting
11/20 - STAR Champion Meeting
12/2 - 12th Grade Mass
12/3 - 8th Grade Mass
12/1 - Fire Safety Inspections Completed
12/11 - SS Curriculum Committee Meeting