Leading with Faith

ASAP NCEA Updates/Corrections Due to our Office via Google Sheet

10/23/24 Elementary Schools: Sept. Income Statements due to N. DiBerardino

10/23/24 School Administration Job Application Process & Interviewing Networking Event

10/26/24 Last day to register to vote in NYS – Encourage all Families to Vote!

10/29/24 PDS Training - How to Create Income Statements and Balance Sheets

10/31/24 Deadline to Register for Albany RISE Conference to get Free Hotel Room

11/1/24 Title I Letters Sent to Each Public School District w/Poverty Students

11/15/24 BEDS Report Due to NYSED via Business Portal IRS-Data Exchange

12/1/24 Fire Safety Inspection Must be Completed; Report Due 12/16/2024

Elementary School Income Statement Due: At the request of Bishop Mike and the Finance Committee of our Catholic Elementary Schools Advisory Board, we requested a copy of your September 2024 Income Statement (or “Balance Sheet”) by 10/18/24. Details of this request and instructions from Adam Berry on how to run this report were sent to Parish School Business Managers and Principals in a 10/9/24 email. If you have not already done so, please run this report and send it to Nancy DiBerardino from our office at ndiberardino@buffalodiocese.org by 10/23/24.

Training on Creating Income Statements and Balance Sheets in PDS: Adam Berry is hosting an online PDS Ledger training session on 10/29/24 from 12:30 pm to 3:45 pm via Microsoft Teams. Although there are a number of PDS topics being covered during this session, he will also explain how to run the Balance Sheet and Income Statement reports, which we recently requested from all elementary schools. Only 20 spots are available and today is the registration deadline so please sign up today using this link if you wish to attend.

NYS Testing Program Updates: Academic Excellence

This article combines information from Erie 1 BOCES and NYSED State Assessments regarding the NYS testing program.

Ordering Score Reports

All Assessments: WNYRIC Test Score team will print color and black & white copies of score reports for ELA, Math, Science, NYSESLAT, and NYSSA assessments.

• Ordering Process:

• Login to the WNYRIC Test Scoring Site. WNYRIC Test Scoring Site,

• Go to Ordering > Score Reports and select the year 2024.

• Choose desired reports, update, and change grade levels using the dropdown menu.

• Use "Go Back" to select a different subject.

• After selecting all reports, run the "Report of Orders" for verification.

• Access documentation for website access issues under Help > Documentation.

• ONLINE ORDERING PROCESS – SCORED REPORTS

Regents Exams: Science

Schools have the option to select which Science Regents exam to administer in June 2025. For further details, please refer to the following links:

• June 2025 Regents Examination Schedule

• Administration of New Regents Examinations

• Implementation Schedule for New Regents Examinations in Mathematics, Science, and English Language Arts

Important Note for 8th Graders:

Eighth graders are required to take only one NYS science exam - either the grade 8 science exam or a Regents Science exam. Please ensure the correct course code is entered in eschool.

Contact:

For inquiries, contact the Test Scoring Team at their email address: testscoring@e1b.org

NYS Testing Survey (Catholic Schools):

The Department of Catholic Education requests completing the attached NYS Testing Survey by November 15th, 2024. This data helps with:

• Coordinating Regents scoring

• Providing targeted support for schools

• NYS Testing Survey 24-25

Blue Ribbon Schools Application Deadline

October 28, 2024, is the deadline for private/Catholic schools to apply for the National Blue Ribbon Schools Award for 2025. All private schools apply through the Council for American Private Education (CAPE). Complete instructions and application links are available on the CAPE website.

Invitation to Nominate a Distinguished Pastor/School Chaplain

We invite you to nominate a Pastor/School Chaplain who exemplifies exceptional leadership, unwavering commitment to Catholic values, and a dedication to fostering a thriving parish and Catholic school community.

The Distinguished Pastor/School Chaplain award recognizes those who actively support our mission of Catholic Schools to teach, serve, and evangelize, proclaiming the glory of God. We seek a priest who fosters a collaborative relationship with their school leader, engages meaningfully with students, faculty, and staff, and is a respected pastoral leader prioritizing their role within the school.

Criteria for Nomination

The Distinguished Pastor/School Chaplain award recognizes priests who:

• Lead their parishes and schools with passion and vision.

• Actively participate in the community of Catholic school pastors, chaplains, and principals.

• Demonstrate exceptional spiritual leadership, community-building skills, and mentorship abilities.

Nominations

To nominate a Pastor/School Chaplain, please complete the nomination form.

Please submit your completed nomination form by Tuesday, October 29.

Pastor/School Chaplain Nomination Form

Weekly Virtual Principal Meetings

Meeting Details:

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

• Platform: Microsoft Teams (link sent by Laurie)

Next Meeting: Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Topics: Empowering God’s Children Classes, VIRTUS review

The Importance of School Fire and Other Safety Drills

School fire drills, along with other safety drills, play a critical role in ensuring the safety and well-being of students and staff. These drills help to:

• Prepare for emergencies: By practicing evacuation procedures and response protocols, students and staff become familiar with the correct actions to take in case of a fire or other emergency.

• Reduce panic: Regular drills help to minimize panic and confusion during real emergencies, as everyone knows their role and responsibilities.

• Identify safety hazards: Drills can help to identify potential safety hazards that may need to be addressed to improve overall school safety.

• Enhance emergency response: Drills can help to improve the effectiveness of emergency response teams and ensure that they are prepared to handle various types of emergencies.

Types of safety drills that schools may conduct:

• Fire drills: These drills simulate a fire emergency and practice evacuation procedures.

• Lockdown drills: These drills simulate a threat or intruder situation and practice secure-in-place procedures.

• Evacuation drills: These drills practice evacuating the school building for various reasons, such as a natural disaster or chemical spill.

It is important for schools to conduct regular safety drills to ensure that everyone is prepared to respond effectively in case of an emergency. These last, warm days of autumn provide a terrific time to finalize those required drills that take our kiddos outdoors!

Have a blessed and safe week!