E-NEWS
NCEA Secondary Schools Department
Dear Catholic Secondary School Educator
Welcome to the first edition of E-News in 2008. The information supplied in this monthly newsletter aims to keep Catholic high school administrators, faculty, staff, and students up-to-date on professional development opportunities, new curriculum resources, and relevant news stories. As a service provided by the Secondary Schools Department at the National Catholic Educational Association, we strive to support our members throughout the school year and as always, we appreciate your feedback.
Kindly distribute E-News to others in your school community.
Please refer to the following headings:
Upcoming: A few spaces remain for Seeking and Sustaining Leadership: a Conversation with Current and Emerging Catholic High School Leadership in San Antonio, Texas from February 20 to the 22, 2008. Please contact the secondary schools department by the end of the week for availability.
NCEA Convention Indianapolis, March 25 to 28, 2008: Exciting new additions to the convention program you do not want to miss like the Common Ground Meeting Room and tours of nearby schools! Throughout Convention, the Department will provide secondary school delegates with a centrally located space to network between sessions, attend interactive panel discussions, and take a break from the fast-paced convention hallways. In addition, Roncalli and Cardinal Ritter high schools in Indianapolis will provide shuttles for delegates to witness an outstanding special needs program, a fine arts program, and an exemplary school initiative to go green.
Forthcoming publications: The Secondary Schools Department is currently working on four publications for release winter 2008. They are The Care Team Approach, Building Community through School Success Teams, Creating a Successful Auction: Maximizing Revenue and Building Relationships, and Selected Legal Issues at Catholic High Schools. The authors of both of these publications will also present at Convention 2008 in Indianapolis.
The Care Team Approach: Care Teams are school-based groups composed of administrators, teachers, and support staff, such as counselors and social workers who collaborate in finding solutions to problems at-risk students and/or families might encounter. Written by psychologists and based on a program already in place in St. Louis, this book offers systematic instructions on how to better understand students’ social-emotional needs and address these needs with interventions that highlight students’ strengths.Building Community through School Success Teams: One reviewer called it “a must have book for all Catholic school administrators,” while another described it as “the missing piece” for schools striving to meet students’ needs in a Catholic tradition. The School Success Team (SST) model is widely used in public schools across the country. This book, designed particularly for Catholic high schools, guides educators interested in using this model in overcoming classroom or learning challenges.Creating a Successful Auction: Maximizing Revenue and Building Relationships: This book details how to host a successful dinner and live auction at a Catholic high school. Author Katie Thiemann shares her years of experience at improving donor relations, auction packages, and increasing net revenue at Catholic institutions.Selected Legal Issues at Catholic High Schools, 2nd ed.: Sister Mary Angela Shaughnessy is compiling a review of legal concerns at Catholic schools in the twenty-first century.
Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance (TA) Center: The start of a new year and an appropriate time to become re-acquainted with key issues and best practices concerning school emergency management. Check out the Department of Education’s REMS center recently published new resources at http://rems.ed.gov/index.cfm?event=publications
Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Framework for the Development of Catechetical Materials for Young People of High School Age
The much-anticipated Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Framework for the Development of Catechetical Materials for Young People of High School Age is now available on the USCCB website as a pdf: http://www.usccb.org/education/framework.pdf
College Connection Program
Help your high school graduates stay “connected” to their faith when they enter college, especially secular schools or private non-Catholic schools. The College Connection program started by Serra International prepares packets of information for recent Catholic high school graduates to help them find the “Catholic presence” at their higher education institution. With the permission of the student, the College Connection program shares the student’s information to their school’s Campus Minister who would then keep the student informed about spiritual activities and facilities on campus. For more information, please contact Dick Stolly from Serra International at 419.227.8019, dikstoly@wcoil.com
Learning About Democracy in Kenya
Education for Justice recently produced a resource that follows the aftermath of Kenya’s presidential elections in December. This timely six-page resource examines the implications of the election results and provides a framework to explore why the election results are under scrutiny and its impact on Kenyan citizens.
Free SAT and ACT Prep Materials from Pro Football Players
A group of NFL, AFL, CFL, and NFL Europe football players have sponsored a SAT and ACT Power Prep CD and DVD ROM program for Catholic high school students nationwide. Normally selling at $199.95, the prep materials are available to students FREE. Spread the word among your students and faculty and take advantage of this generous gift. For more information check out http://sat.eknowledge.com/catholic.asp, or download the brochure.
Improving STEM Disciplines Online
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) now offers free online resources to improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) at the high school level. “Highlights for High School” provides valuable instruction for high school teachers of STEM disciplines. Access these free online courses at http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/hs/home/home/index.htm to help improve technology engineering education at American high schools.
Earn a Masters Degree in Church Management
Villanova University’s School of Business has recently launched a master’s degree in church management as part of an effort by Catholic universities to improve transparency, financial accountability, and leadership skills of Catholic Church officials. http://www.villanova.edu/business/graduate/church/
Making Quality Count in American Classrooms
Education Week invites readers to review its free annual report, Quality Counts: Tapping into Teaching, on how states can maximize educators’ full potential. Although geared to policy issues, its commentary on teacher training, compensation, and general support by school systems provides strategies that may be applicable in Catholic schools.
Global Classrooms
Opportunities abound for American and international students to network with each other. Some to consider include:
iEARN (International Education and Resource Network), the world’s largest non-profit global network, enables teachers and youth to use the Internet and other technologies to collaborate on projects that enhance global learning. Allow your students to research water from local rivers in their community and compare results with students in Bangladesh, India, and Nepal. Apply for grants so your class can participate in worldwide youth summits on topics ranging from natural disasters to global peace processes. Join youth and teacher forums to share project ideas and collaborate with schools around the world. If your school is considering joining this global network, check out the upcoming online teacher-training course. Learn more about potential collaborative projects at http://www.iearn.org/projects/index.html, or check out the iEARN Online Newsletter at http://us.iearn.org/press_room/newsletters/index.php, or read success stories and curriculum integration tips at http://us.iearn.org/professional_development/curriculum/index.php
Summer Youth Program in China: TOMORROW leads middle and high school-age students on a tour through China to gain new cultural perspectives, learn Mandarin, develop leadership skills and more. http://www.globalinteractions.org/2008-events-programs/2008challenge.aspx
The Teachers of Critical Languages Program assists EFL teachers from China and Jordan to come to the US and teach their respective language for one year at either elementary or secondary schools. Your school will need to have a Chinese program already established. Please see the attachment for program highlights from December. You can contact Ben Dunbar at Bdunbar@americancouncils.org
If your school already has a Chinese language instructor, he or she might qualify for the Intensive Summer Language Institutes to develop language skills in China over the summer. For information, contact HeatonWE@state.gov
The Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) program brings international teachers to the United States. http://www.irex.org/programs/tea/index.asp
*The listed curriculum resources are for your consideration and do not represent any endorsement by NCEA.
The U.S. Department of Education has begun the nomination process for the 2008 American Stars of Teaching recognition program. As a part of the Department’s Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative, the awards recognize five private school teachers in addition to public school teachers across the country. The deadline to nominate a private school teacher is March 31, 2008. To submit a nomination, complete the form at http://www.t2tweb.us/AmStar/Nominate.asp.
Do you have a Shakespearean bard in disguise at your school? The second annual Bantam Classic Shakespeare Scholar Essay Contest offers high school students the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of Shakespeare and win $2,500 and other prizes. For official rules and information, http://www.randomhouse.com/highschool/pdf/ShakespeareEssayContestFlyer.pdf. Contest runs from January 23 to May 1, 2008.
Social Studies Chairs and Teachers: The National Endowment for the Humanities Institute Thomas Jefferson: Personality, Character and Public Life will take place from July 13 to August 8, 2008, with the first three weeks in residence at Boston University and the fourth week at Monticello. Activities will include talks by leading Jefferson scholars and field trips to the Massachusetts Historical Society and Adams National Historical Park. Stipends for selected teachers is $3,000. The deadline for application is March 3, 2008.
Do you know a high school student who has taken action to fight global poverty? Protect the environment? Promote human rights? Prevent HIV/AIDS? Mercy Corps Global Action Awards honor U.S. high school students who have led a project that had a direct, positive impact on people in developing countries or that raised awareness about global poverty. Honorees receive $5,000 for their education or a charity of their choice. For more information, please contact gaa@nyc.mercycorps.org. Deadline is January 31, 2008.
The International Young Eco-Hero Awards presented by Action for Nature Foundation recognizes students ages 8 to 16 whose personal actions have improved the environment through its International Young Eco-Hero Awards. Deadline is February 28, 2008.
Sr. Mary Frances Taymans, SND, Executive Director
Sr. Mary E. Tracy, SNJM, Associate Executive Director
Mr. Gary Meyerl, Assistant Executive Director
Ms. Christiane Connors, Director of Special Projects
Mr. Michael Conroy, Administrative Assistant
Mrs. Kelly Endreola, Administrative Assistant
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