Last week in the midst of Catholic Schools Week, we were able to hold the Diocesan Spelling Bee and the Diocesan Chess Tournament. I’m happy to report that we had excellent participation and competition!

Over 45 students participated in the Spelling Bee at Mt. St. Mary HS on Wednesday. We had students as young as 3rd grade representing their school. After 90 grueling minutes, two 7th graders emerged as the finalists. It was a tough competition but a wonderful setting. It was difficult to see the disappointment in the 46 students who lost (I was the reader and saw it up close!) and one could wonder why we conduct such a high stakes competition.

The same could be said about the chess tournament. We had over 50 students competing in two different divisions and only one student left as the winner. There was heartbreak and disappointment at Cardinal O’Hara High School. Why do we put students in positions to fail?

Well, let’s unpack that a bit. First we need to celebrate that these students were able to compete as the school representatives in an activity. It was an opportunity for them to shine and be recognized for their talents. It’s not about the victory, it’s about putting themselves in an uncomfortable situation and overcoming those challenges. And let’s face it, losing a chess match or misspelling a word at a spelling bee is a safe place. Students need to learn how to handle disappointment and failure, too.

I’m thankful that our students had the chance to shine last week and for all the schools that pushed their students to compete!

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

• The Public Speaking Tournament has been canceled due to lack of interest. We'll instead integrate public speaking events into the X-STREAM games on May 4th.

• The BPO Concert is coming up on Feb 13th. Have you ordered your transportation?

• Our Science Fair is just around the corner! March 9th at St. Andrew’s Country Day School. Register here and find information here or a parent letter here.

• It’s time to start thinking about Spring Bowling which begins March 5th. Sign up here before Feb. 27th. Here is a flyer for more information.

• The Character Virtue for February is Inclusion. Please submit your names here by March 2nd.

• Please sign up for the March Principal’s Meeting. It is on March 7 at St. John Vianney.

• ORDER 3 – 8 ANSWER SHEETS OR INDICATE TESTING ONLINE before Feb 19: The WNYRIC Test Score team would like you to log into their website, and “order” your paper AND computer based testing answer sheets. If you are testing via CBT, they would like you to log in and indicate “testing online” for each grade and subject.

• Order your School supplies here (like Cumulative cards, report card envelopes, etc.)

• Last call for Years of Service - due by 2/9 We honor 5 year increments only.

• X-Stream games are happening at St. Joseph’s Collegiate on May 4th. More details will come out shortly.

• Congratulations to our Spelling Bee Champion Marie S. from St. Stephens and our Runner-up Melina B. from St. Gregory the Great

• Chess Tournament, Champion: Carlino McClain, 8th grade from St. Andrew Country Day School. Runner-Up: Nick Smith, 7th grade from St. Christopher's. Novice bracket: Champion: Arush Patel, 6th grade from St. Andrew Country Day School; Runner-Up: Jonathan Bohan, 8th grade from Our Lady of Victory

• Ash Wednesday and Lent are right around the corner! (Feb 14th). How are you preparing?

• Middle School dance April 20th for 7th & 8th graders. Details TBA

Here's the link to the Office Blog

2/27/24 HS Scholarships for Academic Excellence (SAE) Nominations Due

3/9/24 CIDEL “Call to Leadership” Event: Free - Register by 3/1

3/11-12 Mandated Services Data Entry Sessions (Optional)

3/15/24 Last Day to Submit Erie 1 BOCES Textbook Requisitions

3/18/24 Save Mandated Services Claim online for C. Riso Review

3/31/24 NYSED Nonpublic Safety Equipment (NPSE) Claims Due

3/31/24 NYSED Elementary School AIS Claims Due

4/1/24 Online 2021-22 Mandated Services Claim Due to NYSED

NYSED Mandated Services Update: As you begin to work on your online claims, please see my important message about Mandate 1 emailed to all principals and Business Managers on 1/29/24 or 2/1/24. If you have not already done so, please consider opening a new 2022-23 Mandated Services claim via the NYSED Business Portal (http://portal.nysed.gov/); see my note in the 1/2/23 Catholic School Matters for information on how to do this. Even though you may not be ready to enter any information for your claim, having the claim open will allow me to look it over to make sure everything loaded properly (BEDS enrollment; test counts) and we have plenty of time to correct any problems.

Mandated Services Data Entry Sessions 3/11 & 3/12: If you are not using a paid preparer I highly recommend that you use the Mandated Services forms provided by me to prepare for online submission. I have arranged for two half-day sessions to assist you as you key in your Mandated Services claims (after your Excel spreadsheet and “Form 2” are completed):

Mon., Mar. 11 – Immaculate Conception, 510 Oakwood Ave, East Aurora, 14052, 1 - 4pm

Tues., Mar. 12 – St. Amelia School, 2999 Eggert Rd, Tonawanda 14150, 1:00 - 4:00pm

If you wish to attend one of these sessions please register by sending an email to me at criso@buffalodiocese.org or just show up. If you do not need the in-person assistance you can always submit the claim on your own. If you want me to look it over prior to submission, make sure you save it online by 3/18/24 for me to view before you click “submit”.

Previous posts from Mr. Riso

This season's Catholic School Matters podcast season is on hiatus. I"m currently recording some great episodes which will drop later this spring. Previous episodes:

• "Top 10 Lessons Learned as a Catholic High School President."
  
• Lauren May and Ron Matus from Step Up For Students
  
• Kelby Woodard
• The fifth and final installment of the Leadership Series on controversial issues.
  
• 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 Mental Models, Volume 2: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (2023) by Farnam Street, Shane Parrish, and Rhiannon Beaubien.
   

2. People Get Ready: Ritual, Solidarity, and Lived Ecclesiology in Catholic Roxbury (2023) by Susan Bigelow Reynolds
   

3. No Guilty Bystander: The Extraordinary Life of Bishop Thomas Gumbleton (2023) by Frank Fromherz & Suzanne Sattler, IHM.

4. Richard Rohr on Transformation: Collected Talks (1998) by Richard Rohr
   

5. The Equality Machine: Harnessing Digital Technology for a Brighter, More Inclusive Future (2022) by Orly Lobel.

Click this link for a full list of my professional reading

January 30, 2024 "Catholic School Week Surveys"

January 23, 2024 "St. Benedict & Intentional Community"

January 16, 2024 "Leadership & Anxiety"

January 9, 2024 "Diocesan Scorecard"

January 2, 2024 "Principal Meeting"

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!