Leading with Faith
by Stephanie Genco Gasiecki
Middle States Self-Study: Teacher Volunteers Needed
As we continue our systemwide Middle States accreditation work, we are now preparing for the 07 Curricular Areas Self-Study. We are asking each school to identify 1–2 teacher volunteers to participate in short 30-minute Teams meetings on Thursday, January 15, 2026. Please include teacher name(s) and school when signing up using the link below. Your insight and classroom perspective are essential as we shape a unified curricular vision for our diocesan school system. Sign up teachers here.
STAR Winter Benchmark Window: January 5–23
Our Winter STAR window opens right after break—January 5–23. Please take a moment to revisit this year’s updated best practices before testing begins. A reminder that our next STAR Champion Meeting will be held on January 9 at 2:00 PM. We’ll answer questions, review guidance for a smooth winter administration, and discuss setting district benchmarks.
Register for the Diocesan Chess Tournament
We’re excited to host this year’s Diocesan Chess Tournament on Saturday, January 31, 2026 at Cardinal O'Hara High School (39 O'Hara Drive, Tonawanda).
Check-in: 9:00 AM; Tournament begins: 9:30 AM
Format:
Round-robin for beginner & intermediate players
Round-robin progressing to single elimination for advanced players
Please use the form below to register your students and include grade level and skill level for each participant. Registration deadline: January 21, 2026 Chess Registration Form
Interested in a STREAM Committee?
We are forming a Diocesan STREAM Committee to help strengthen, support, and expand STREAM education across our PreK–8 schools. Current and former STREAM Coordinators are invited to apply for this leadership opportunity. STREAM Committee members will serve as diocesan-level teacher leaders who collaborate with the Assistant Superintendent for Academics & Data to help guide STREAM programming, provide professional development, and support school implementation. Members help shape meaningful, hands-on learning experiences for teachers and students across the diocese. See the full description here. If interested, please email a brief letter of interest to Stephanie by Thursday, December 11.
Discerning Leaders Cohort – Still Time to Join
There is still time for teachers and principals to join this year’s Discerning Leaders Program with CSAANYS. This is a powerful opportunity for spiritual growth, reflection, and leadership development. If someone on your team would benefit from this formation experience, please send an email of interest.
Social Studies Curriculum Committee Meeting – December 11
All Social Studies teachers are welcome to join our upcoming SS Curriculum Committee meeting on December 11, 1–3 PM (Teams). We’ll review the current curriculum, discuss needs, and begin shaping next steps together. Please RSVP for the call here.
by Chris Riso
12/12/25 NYSDOH Annual School Immunization Survey Due 12/12
12/15/25 Deadline to Apply for Free UB Graduate Courses Starting 12/26/25
12/16/25 Fire Safety Inspection Report Due 12/16/2025
12/19/25 Complete Eight of the 12 Required Evacuation or Lockdown Drills
12/26/25 Deadline to Apply for Free SUNY Empire Graduate Courses Starting 1/13/26
1/15/26 Deadline to Apply for Free UB Graduate Courses Starting 1/21/26
Action Alert: On 12/3/25, I sent an email to Principals asking them to sign a petition about our objection to a bill that would restrict the rights of students who attend our Catholic schools who receive Special Education Services from the public school district. The New York State Board of Regents is proposing to take away critically important rights from Catholic school parents of children with special needs – while keeping these rights for public school families. Specifically, the proposal would prohibit Catholic and other private school parents from seeking an “impartial hearing” when they have a concern with the implementation of special education services provided to their child by the local public school district. Impartial Hearings have proven essential in ensuring that children get the special education services they need. Denying private school families this right while allowing it for public school parents creates a double standard which is clearly unfair and unacceptable. Please sign this online petition and then ask your staff, parents, and school community to also consider signing it.
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 at no cost to you.
University at Buffalo Professional Development for Religious and Independent School Teachers
Available online courses for Winter & Spring 2026 - University at Buffalo
Online application deadline for University at Buffalo winter 2026 courses is December 15, 2025 (classes begin 12/26/2025)
Online application deadline for University at Buffalo spring 2026 courses is January 15, 2026 (classes begin 1/21/2026)
University at Buffalo Winter 2026 and Spring 2026 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
Complete the SUNY Empire application – December 26, 2025 (Classes begin 1/13/2025)
Additional information and application instructions - SUNY Empire
If you have questions, please contact Graduate Student Services at 518-587-2100, ext. 2429, or TitleIIa@sunyempire.edu
by Nancy DiBerardino
Safe Environment
At this time of year, we tend to forget to review our schools’ Safe Environment accounts. Please take a moment to review your school's information and look for employees who are not up to date with their monthly bulletins or those employees that are on the verge of being suspended. This is the time of year that these issues can be fixed before it gets out of hand. Please be aware that accounts will be suspended at midnight on December 31st.
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.
Important Update: After 40 years of occupying the former Courier Express Building, the employees of the Catholic Center are beginning to move into our new location at 801 Main Street, Buffalo, NY. Office phone numbers will remain the same. Floor by floor is slowly being emptied out. The Catholic Schools Office is tentatively scheduled to move on December 15th. I will keep you posted.
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. Using a variety of musical selections, this youth concert tackles the topics of respect, personal responsibility, cooperation, and community, all through the orchestra. The BPO has a unique platform for this topic: 73 individual voices all working together to create a beautiful sound. This concert also will feature selections from Leonard Bernstein’s famous West Side Story, a musical known for its powerful story about the impacts of intolerance. Click here to register.
Save the Date: Annual Art Show is being hosted this year by Chesterton Academy located at 5331 Genesee Street, Bowmansville, NY from Monday, May 18, 2026 (Set-Up) through Tuesday, May 26, 2026 due to the holiday weekend the school has added an extra day for participants to pick-up their art work. For additional information please contact Dr. Kathy Dimitrievski at kdimitrievski@buffalochestertonacademy.org
12/11, 10:30-11:30am - Virtual Principal Meeting
12/11, 1-3pm - SS Curriculum Committee Meeting
1/7, 2-3pm, STAR Champion Meeting
1/8, 8:30-3pm, Principal Meeting
1/31, Chess Tournament
2/10, 10:15am, BPO