Leading with Faith

November 5th, 2024

11/5/24 It’s Election Day! Please Vote! - Click here for Polling Sites

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

NYSDOH Annual School Immunization Survey Due 12/15: Please work with your Public School District nurse to arrange for submission of your school’s annual immunization survey by 12/15/24. Your school or the District nurse will submit this survey via the Health Commerce System (HCS). If you have questions regarding the 2024-2025 School Immunization Survey, including how to access it, please contact me or visit https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/immunization/schools/.

BEDS Online Report Due to NYSED by 11/15: See the note about this in Laurie’s section.

Implementation of Elementary- and Intermediate-Level Science Investigations for Spring 2025: Academic Excellence

As we continue to enhance science education, this is the second year of implementation of the Elementary- and Intermediate-Level Science Investigations for the Spring 2025 administration. These investigations are designed to provide students with hands-on, inquiry-based learning experiences aligned with the New York State P-12 Science Learning Standards.

Purpose

The primary purpose of these investigations is to prepare students for the Elementary- and Intermediate-Level Science Tests. By engaging in these activities, students will develop the critical thinking, problem-solving, and laboratory skills necessary to succeed on the assessments.

Required Investigations

All students must successfully complete the required investigations before the administration of the Elementary- or Intermediate-Level Science Tests. At least 15% of the questions on the written test will measure content related to the performance expectations measured by the investigations. Other questions will assess concepts related to the activities undertaken by students in the investigations.

Elementary-level Science

• Structure and Properties of Matter: What’s in the Bag? (PE: 5-PS1-4)

• Weather and Climate: Cloud in a Bottle (PE: 3-ESS2-3)

• Energy: Light It Up (PE: 4-PS3-4)

• Life Cycles and Traits: Circle of Life (PE: 3-LS1-1)

Intermediate-level Science

• Structures and Properties of Matter: All Mixed Up (PE: MS-PS1-8)

• Energy: Cool It! (PE: MS-PS3-4)

• Weather and Climate: Air Mass Matters (MS-ESS2-5)

• Structure Function and Information Processing: It’s Alive? (MS-LS1-1)

Investigation Components

Each investigation includes:

• Teacher Directions

• Student Directions (must be duplicated for each student)

• Student Answer Packet (must be duplicated for each student, retained by the school for 6 months after the test, and can be provided to students for test preparation)

• Answer/Scoring Key

• Scoring Rubric (for teacher guidance, not reported to the State)

Student Data and Materials

• Students record data and answers in the Student Answer Packet.

• Schools are responsible for providing the necessary equipment and supplies, which are typically inexpensive.

• A list of materials is included in both the memo and the Teacher's Directions for each investigation.

Obtaining Investigations

• Investigations are available digitally through the exam ordering portal.

• Alternate language Student Directions and Answer Packets, or hard copies in Unified English Braille, can be requested from the Office of State Assessment.

Conclusion

We encourage all schools to prioritize the implementation of these investigations to ensure that students are well-prepared for the upcoming science assessments. By providing students with authentic, hands-on learning experiences, we can foster a deeper understanding of science concepts and inspire a lifelong love of learning.

Science | New York State Education Department

Frequently Asked Questions Related to Investigations for the Elementary- and Intermediate-level Science Tests

Required Investigations for the Elementary- and Intermediate-level Science Tests

Professional Development: Leadership & Governance

New and Aspiring Principals: Identifying Teacher Growth Goals and Planning for Growth (NSBECS 7.11) Free Webinar NCEA

Date & Time: Nov 7, 2024, 3:30 PM

Description

Helping teachers grow is job number one for school leaders who want to make a direct impact on the students in their care. The inherent challenge in doing this is developing a laser-like focus on improving an entire system while simultaneously addressing the individual needs of a diverse teaching staff. This session will address how to meet this challenge through goal setting at the individual, group, and school level. An expanded definition of supervision will be shared that moves beyond appraisal to a process that is a powerful mechanism for growth.

Registration link

**IMPORTANT IMMEDIATE CHANGE**

eSchool has changed the eSchoolData Parent Portal link. Parents must use this link to log in going forward: https://parentportal.eschooldata.com/buffalodiocese

If they log in through the old link they will get the error message found below my section.

NYS Testing Orders

A few reminders from eSchool regarding test ordering:

• Make sure to select a Lead Scoring Entity for each grade and subject matter. The entity you used last year is autocompleted for you, please adjust if you made any changes this year.

• Make sure that you order Science grade 5 and 8 tests.

• Make sure you are ordering test read versions only for students who have IEPs and 504 plans that specify it.

• Revisions can be made to orders all the way up to November 8th, the deadline date.

You can order your NYS tests HERE. This Friday is the deadline, Nov. 8th.

You can find detailed instructions on how to order your NYS testing HERE.

You can find detailed information about the Spring testing HERE.

If you are looking for information regarding the Elementary Science Investigations you can read this memo that explains it very well. Here is an FAQ about the Science testing as well.

Requesting Digital Copies of the Science Investigations: The Investigations will be made available to schools as digital copies only. Principals will be able to access and download the files using the exam ordering portal through which they make exam requests. Digital copies of the Student Directions and Student Answer Packets in alternate languages and hard copies in Unified English Braille may be requested by contacting the Office of State Assessment at emscassessinfo@nysed.gov.

For the schools who have ELLs, please read this memo regarding testing and storing the NYSESLAT tests.

Math Competition

Thank you to all of the schools who signed up for the Math competition! We have a total of 18 3-5 Teams and 23 6-8 Teams from 14 of our schools. We will have helpers from Mt. St. Mary’s and St. Francis High School’s Math Clubs to assist us during the day, as well as talk about the Math Club opportunities in their schools.

If you would like last year's tests to practice from, you can download them HERE.

Spelling Bee

It’s never too early to start thinking about the Annual Spelling Bee! We will be holding the Diocesan Spelling Bee on Monday, January 27th at Mount St. Mary’s High School. I have put this year’s study guides into a Google Folder you can all access here. There are study guides by grade level or lists you can use for a school wide Bee. A great resource to share with parents is this study list.

I would give the grades their individual spelling lists to study, but make the Overall Spelling Study List available to anyone who wants it.

If you are using those 50 words in the classroom spelling bee, make sure to have additional words on hand. You can always supplement with regular spelling words for each grade, or there are usually lists available through a Google search.

This listing from 2020 is a great use of words to practice from or use for a school spelling bee.

Here is the listing from 2022 as well.

A Catholic elementary school principal's day is incredibly dynamic and multifaceted. Here's a glimpse into what their day might look like:

Early Morning (7:30 AM - 8:30 AM)

• Arrival: The principal arrives early to greet students and teachers as they enter the building, creating a positive atmosphere.

• Prayer: As the faith leader, the principal leads the school in morning and dismissal prayers and models a robust faith life throughout the day.

• Quick Rounds: They might take a brief walk through the school to check on classrooms, ensuring everything is running smoothly.

• Administrative Tasks: They may tackle some paperwork, emails, or prepare for meetings.

Morning (8:30 AM - 12:00 PM)

• Classroom Visits: The principal spends time in classrooms to observe teaching methods, student engagement, and overall classroom climate.

• Meetings: They might have meetings with teachers, parents, or other staff members to discuss student progress, school initiatives, or disciplinary matters.

• Crisis Management: Unexpected situations may arise, such as student injuries or behavioral issues, requiring immediate attention.

• Lunch Duty: They may supervise the lunchroom or cafeteria to ensure a safe and orderly environment.

Afternoon (12:00 PM - 3:00 PM)

• Professional Development: The principal might lead or participate in professional development sessions for teachers, focusing on instructional strategies or school improvement initiatives.

• Reports: Administrative duties require frequent and formal reporting to the State, the Diocese, and other entities.

• Newsletters and Communications: Weekly newsletters and stakeholder communications are paramount, reporting on the progress of the school and its students, special events, and reminders.

• Community Outreach: They may meet with parents or community members to discuss school programs, volunteer opportunities, or address concerns.

• Curriculum and Instruction: The principal reviews curriculum materials, student assessments, and instructional practices to ensure alignment with standards and best practices.

• Budgeting and Finance: They may work on budget planning, grant writing, or financial reporting.

Late Afternoon (3:00 PM - 5:00 PM)

• Follow-up Meetings: The principal may have additional meetings with staff or parents to discuss ongoing issues or plan future initiatives.

• Evening Events: They may attend school events like Board meetings, HSA meetings, sports games, or performances.

Key Responsibilities Throughout the Day:

• Safety: The principal assures the ongoing safety and preparedness of students, faculty, and staff through vigilance, security, and knowledge of safety procedures.

• Promoting Catholic Identity: The principal constantly models, encourages, and supports the Catholic faith throughout the school through imagery, service programs, behavior, and prayer.

• Building Relationships: The principal fosters positive relationships with students, staff, parents, and the community.

• Instructional Leadership: They support teachers in providing high-quality instruction and student learning.

• School Culture and Climate: They create a positive and inclusive school culture where all students feel safe, supported, and engaged.

• Crisis Management: They are prepared to handle emergencies and crises effectively.

• School Improvement: They lead initiatives to improve student achievement and school performance.

While this is a general overview, the specific day-to-day tasks and priorities of a Catholic elementary school principal can vary widely depending on the school's needs and the principal's individual leadership style.

God bless our principals in all that they accomplish!

Have a blessed and safe week!