Leading with Faith

12/20/24 2024-25 Draft Budget and Tuition Rates Due to N. DiBerardino

12/20/24 Complete Eight of the 12 Required Evacuation or Lockdown Drills

1/15/25 Deadline to Apply for Free UB Graduate Courses Starting 1/22/25

Urgent Request for Draft of 2025-2026 School Budget and Tuition Rates: On 12/10/2024, Bishop Mike emailed all schools with an important request. He is requiring that all schools submit their draft operational budgets and tuition rates for the 2025-2026 academic year electronically to Nancy DiBerardino at ndiberardino@buffalodiocese.org by December 20, 2024 (this Friday). Please reach out to our office if you have any questions or need any assistance with this request.

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.

• University at Buffalo Professional Development for Religious and Independent School Teachers

• Available online courses for Winter & Spring 2025 - University at Buffalo

• Online application deadline for University at Buffalo winter 2025 courses was December 15, 2024 (classes begin 12/27/2025)

• Online application deadline for University at Buffalo spring 2025 courses is January 15, 2025 (classes begin 1/22/2025)

• University at Buffalo Winter 2025 and Spring 2025 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

• Available online courses for Spring 2025 - SUNY Empire

• Complete the SUNY Empire application – December 27, 2024 (Classes begin 1/13/2025)

• Additional information and application instructions - SUNY Empire

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

As we journey through Advent, may we find peace and hope in the anticipation of Christmas. As the Jubilee Year of 2025 approaches, bringing with it a year of hope, may the spirit of Christmas fill your hearts with joy and peace. Let us come together as a family and community to celebrate the birth of Christ and embrace the promise of a brighter future.

Invitation to Showcase Your School at the Catholic Education Dinner

Dear Principals, Heads of Schools, and STREAM Coordinators,

We are thrilled to invite your schools to participate in the Catholic Schools Showcase during the cocktail hour at the 25th Annual Catholic Education Dinner. This exciting event will be held on Wednesday, February 5th, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center.

The Showcase is a unique opportunity for your school to shine! We encourage you to highlight what makes your school exceptional, whether it's your innovative STREAM programs or other unique offerings. Showcase your school's distinctive approach to education and how you're shaping the future of Catholic education. It's a chance to share your strengths and exciting initiatives in a dynamic and engaging setting.

• Selection Process: Please complete the application form emailed to you and return it by Friday, January 10th. Schools will be notified of their selection by January 15th. Feel free to submit multiple applications if you have various initiatives you'd like to feature.

We look forward to receiving your application and making this year's Catholic Education Dinner a resounding success!

If you have any questions, please contact Laura DeMizio, Special Events Coordinator, at 716-847-8373 or Ldemizio@buffalodiocese.org.

Weekly Virtual Principal Meetings: Academic Excellence

Meeting Details:

• Day and Time: Wednesdays, 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM

• Platform: Microsoft Teams (link sent by Laurie)

Next Meeting: Wednesday, December 18, 2024 - No meeting- Merry Christmas!

STAR Testing

Please make sure you are reaching out to me with questions or issues, and not reaching out to Jenn Brown. I am your first line of defense to answer your questions and resolve issues. If I can’t help you, then I forward it off to support for guidance. Thank you.

eSchool Coordinators

Recently Renaissance/eSchool held a presentation regarding updates that are coming to eSchool. Most of it is not pertinent to our schools, but there are a few enhancements to attendance and bell systems you may find useful. If you’re interested in what is being updated you can view a powerpoint about it here.

Spelling Bee

You can sign your school up for the spelling bee anytime by emailing me your interest and get the names of your spellers to me at a later date. If you already know your speller names, please register using this link by Jan. 17th.

Chess Tournament

Here is the registration form for the Chess Tournament. Schools should register all of their students by Jan. 24th.

Science Fair

It’s time for our elementary scientists to start planning their experiments, and this is an excellent tool to assist them with ideas and the Scientific Process! The Science Fair will be held again this year during the X-STREAM Games on March 29th at St. Joseph’s Collegiate. Parents should read this helpful rule guide first, and then feel free to sign up their Scientists anytime before March 21st. We need a minimum of 10 Scientists in a category to hold the judging for that category. If less than 10 sign up that category will be an exhibition of experiments. The four categories are:

• Life Science (all animal, plant and human body experiments)

• Physical Science (matter and structure, electricity, magnetism, sound, light, or anything else that shows how something works)

• Earth and Space Sciences (weather, Geology, space)

• Engineering (applying scientific principles to manufacturing and practical uses in mechanical, chemical, electrical, photographic, sound or environmental engineering, etc.)

A Gift for Yourself and Others: Self-Care and Affirmation

The holidays are approaching – and the break they provide always seems to come just in the nick of time! – and amid the affirmation we give to others, there is a need to be sure we affirm ourselves. Here are some helpful hints for self-care for principals and teachers:

• Prioritize sleep: Aim for 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night.

• Eat healthy foods: Fuel your body with nutritious meals and snacks.

• Exercise regularly: Find activities you enjoy and make time for them, even if it's just for 30 minutes a day.

• Take breaks: Step away from work and take short breaks throughout the day to rest and recharge.

• Connect with others: Spend time with loved ones and friends to build strong social connections.

• Practice mindfulness: Engage in activities like meditation or yoga to reduce stress and improve focus.

• Set boundaries: Learn to say no and prioritize your own needs.

• Seek support: Talk to a trusted friend, family member, or therapist about your challenges.

• Celebrate your successes: Acknowledge your accomplishments, no matter how small.

• Take time for yourself: Do something you enjoy, such as reading, listening to music, or taking a bath.

Remember, self-care is not selfish. It's essential for your well-being and your ability to be an effective educator.

Likewise, affirmation, the practice of recognizing and acknowledging the positive qualities and contributions of others, plays a crucial role in building a strong and supportive community within a school setting, and enhances your own sense of well-being. Here's a breakdown of the effects of affirmation in this context:

Benefits for Individuals:

• Enhanced Self-Esteem: When students and staff feel seen, valued, and appreciated, their self-esteem is boosted. This positive self-perception leads to increased confidence and motivation.

• Reduced Stress and Anxiety: Affirmation can help alleviate feelings of stress and anxiety by creating a sense of belonging and security.

• Improved Academic Performance: Students who feel supported and valued are more likely to be engaged in their learning and achieve better academic outcomes.

• Increased Resilience: Affirmation can help individuals develop resilience, the ability to bounce back from challenges and setbacks.

Benefits for the School Community:

• Stronger Relationships: Affirmation fosters positive relationships between students, teachers, and staff. When people feel valued, they are more likely to be open, respectful, and supportive of one another.

• Improved School Climate: A culture of affirmation contributes to a positive and inclusive school climate where everyone feels welcome and respected.

• Increased Collaboration: When individuals feel affirmed, they are more likely to collaborate and work together towards common goals.

• Reduced Bullying and Conflict: Affirmation can help reduce bullying and conflict by promoting empathy and understanding.

How to Implement Affirmation in Schools:

• Verbal Affirmation: Use positive language, offer specific compliments, and express gratitude for contributions.

• Written Affirmation: Write notes of appreciation, send encouraging emails, or create a "Wall of Affirmations."

• Nonverbal Affirmation: Use gestures like smiles, nods, and high-fives to show support and approval.

• Community-Building Activities: Organize activities that promote connection and shared experiences, such as group projects, team-building exercises, or social events.

• Inclusive Practices: Ensure that all students and staff feel included and valued, regardless of their background or abilities.

By incorporating affirmation into the daily life of a school, educators can create a more positive, supportive, and inclusive learning environment for all. Take a little extra time in this Christmas season to brush up on affirming others and in so doing, I promise you’ll feel uplifted yourself!

Have a safe week, and a WONDERFUL and BLESSED Christmas!!

With Catholic Schools week coming up quickly, I wanted to share some ways you can consider integrating STREAM activities and principles into your school’s celebrations!

1/27: Parents & Families—If you’re hosting an open house, consider STREAM-related exhibits and hands-on activities for visitors, like some of these.

1/28: Students & Teachers—It’s time for some friendly competition, students vs. teachers. You could create a series of challenges using Minute to Win It games. Other ideas could be having older students plan activities for younger ones, or working on collaborative projects between classes.

1/29: Lunar New Year—These could be done at school throughout the week, or you could send one home for students to work on: Lunar New Year Activities

1/30: Veterans & Grandparents—Veterans - Collect items for donation or write thank-you cards. Grandparents - Have students read/record stories to share/send to grandparents to build personal connection and share quality time.

1/31: Vocations—Conduct student interviews of priests, sisters, brothers, & deacons for the school newspaper or bulletin - or write thank-you notes.

2/1: Community—This is a perfect opportunity to develop a student-led community service project, or to invite a guest from one of our community partners.

You can download this flyer to get all the ideas and share with your schools. These are all just suggestions to help make your STREAM integration easier, or to spark your own creativity! Remember, anything can be connected to STREAM when you allow students to create and explore, provide hands-on activities, or get involved with your community. If you’d like more ideas or help planning something, or have any questions, please reach out! stream@wnycatholicschools.org.

STREAM Coordinators: Our first meeting will be today/Tuesday 12/17 from 2:45-3:45 on google meet. Looking forward to seeing many of you there!