notes/March2008.asp - National Catholic Educational Association

A new look for NCEA Notes premiered with the September 2007 issue. Also, NCEA has gone Green. The new, improved NCEA Notes is printed on recycled paper with 100% soy ink. We hope you enjoy this issue.

President Karen Ristau talks about First Lady Laura Bush's visit to Holy Redeemer Catholic School in Washington, DC, during Catholic Schools Week. Mrs. Bush remarked on the almost "unbelievable record" of 99% of students graduating from Catholic schools and praised educators for preparing children for lives of compassion and service.

Bro. Robert Bimonte, FSC encourages us to make the move from the stable to Calvary, from Christmas to Easter. Openess to risk-taking and suffering are essential to developing an adult faith. Also mentioned are several convention workshops to note and a brief report on the successful "NCEA Special Needs Conference-Welcome and Included," held in January.

Bro. William Cambell, SM builds upon the document he quoted from in his January article, Build Bethlehem Everywhere, published by the Canadian Catholic School Trustees' Association. He discusses the four hungers of the human heart as mentioned in the article: lonliness, woundedness, weariness and isolation. Also mentioned is the "Catholic School Leadership Institute 2008" to be held this summer. More information can be found in the Events section of this Web site (go to www.ncea.org).

Drs. Lorraine Ozar and Michael Boyle continue their discussion of feedback by focusing on rubrics. Rubrics provide a set of criteria used in assessment of a complex learning task. They will present a double workshop at the convention based on their NCEA Notes articles, called "Preventing Students from Becoming 'Curriculum Casaulties.'" Below are the references found in their article:

Sr. Mary Frances Taymans, SND and Christiane Connors reflect on the complex issue of immigration in light of our Christian discipleship. They name the legitimate tensions found in any treatment of immigration but urge schools to have an informed and morally grounded conversation among faculty and students.

A General Information page highlights those being honored with awards from the Secondary Department, lifts up two new books that will be available for sale starting Convention week, and invites members to relax in the Common Ground Meeting Room at convention, a place to take a break and network with other delegates.

Daniel Curtin examines the enduring impact of the Bearing Witness Program, an intensive program for middle school and high school educators focusing on the Holocaust, anti-Semitism, Judaism and genocide. Eight locations around the country will offer programs this summer, and a workshop on Bearing Witness will be offered at convention. To learn more, go to: www.adl.org/bearing_witness/default.asp.

This year, CACE Conversations will look at faith formation for adults. It will take place at convention on Wednesday from 1:15 - 4:15 pm.

Symposium on Catholic Urban Education Models
At the end of the NCEA Convention, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and CACE are sponsoring a Symposium on Catholic Urban Education Models. Scheduled for Friday, March 28, 2008 in the Indianapolis Convention Center from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm, it will feature Reverend Ron Nuzzi and Reverend Joseph O'Keefe, SJ as keynote speakers. Presentations will also be made on various models of urban Catholic schools from across the nation. The Archdiocese of Indianapolis is handling the separate registration and fee payments. Information may be found at http://www.archindy.org/ncea/symposium.html

Regina Haney reviews the steps to take for succession planning. Change comes to every instititution eventually and planning now for a new head of school can make the transition to new leadership a successful one.

Dr. Vincent Culotta discusses the risks of macro-management. Over-focusing on the broad, long-term goals of the school can mean you miss important details and undermine mission. Strong committees are one solution.

Sr. Dale McDonald, PBVM details the accomplishments of the 260-plus students and others who covered Capitol Hill in late January for National Appreciation Day For Catholic Schools. More than 200 meetings were held with congressional leaders.

Sr. Mary Tracy, SNJM looks at the pros and cons of having a full-time events coordinator. Schools should strive for a "signature event," which can raise substantial funds and build community.

Sr. Mary Angela Shaughnessy, SCN discusses whether "liquidated damage clauses" in teacher contracts are helpful in recouping costs associated with hiring a replacement for an employee who leaves a position early.

Dr. Mary Brock reviews research showing that induction programs for teachers in the first year of teaching increases retention and helps them become part of the school community. Induction topics that are helpful include personal faith formation and infusion of Catholic values into academic content.

Referemces
Brock, B. L., & Chatlain, G.L. (In Press).
Brock, B. L., & Grady, M. L. (2007). From first year to first rate: Principals guiding beginning teacher (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Chatlain, G. L., & Noonan, B. (2005). Teacher induction in Catholic schools. Catholic Education: A Journal of Inquiry and Practice, 9(4), 449-512.
Cook, T. J., & Engel, M. T. (2006). Predicting retention of Catholic high school religion teachers in the United States. Journal of Empirical Theology, 19(2), 163-181.
Guarino, C. M., Santibanez, L., & Dailey, G. A. (2006). Teacher recruitment and retention: A review of the recent empirical literature. Review of Educational Research, 76(2), 173-208.
Ingersoll, R. M. (2001). Teacher turnover and teacher shortages: An organizational analysis. American Educational Research Journal, 38, 400-534.
National Commission on Teaching and America's Future. (2003, January). No dream denied: A pledge to America's children. [Document Number 4269]. Washington, D.C.: Author.
Squillini, C. (2001). Teacher commitment and longevity in Catholic schools. Catholic Education: A Journal of Inquiry and Practice, 4(3), 335-354.
Taymans, M. F. (2007). Department of secondary schools. NCEA Notes, 40(5), 7, Washington, DC: National Catholic Educational Association.
Weiss, E. M., & Weiss, S. G. (1999). Beginning teacher induction. Eric Document, ED43487.

Birthday Blessings for Pope Benedict - A gift of public service from U.S. Catholic youth and students This is an exciting new campaign designed to honor the pope when he visits the United States April 15-20, 2008 with volunteer service. Thousands of hours have already been pledged. Go to: http://ncea.catholic.org/