Leading with Faith

2/3/25 Last Day to Submit Buffalo Public Schools Textbook Requisitions

2/28/25 HS Scholarships for Academic Excellence (SAE) Nominations Due Online (Post)

3/5/25 Quarterly Government Services Update at 3:15pm

3/8/25 CIDEL “Call to Leadership” - Free Professional Development

3/14/25 Last Day to Submit Erie 1 BOCES Textbook Requisitions

3/17/25 Save Mandated Services Claim online for C. Riso Review

3/31/25 NYSED Nonpublic Safety Equipment (NPSE) Claims Due

3/31/25 NYSED Elementary School AIS Claims Due

4/1/25 Online 2021-22 Mandated Services Claim Due to NYSED

Catholic School Advocacy for Federal Education Tax Credits: Thank you for those of you who responded to my call to action on 1/8/25 for advocacy on the Federal school choice bill. For those of you who missed it, the NYS Catholic Conference Action Alert at https://www.votervoice.net/NYSCATHOLIC/campaigns/119871/respond asks you to send a prewritten email to your US Representative and Senators urging them to support the federal Education Choice for Children Act (ECCA). Once your home address is entered, the process takes less than a minute to complete. After you send your email, please forward this request for participation to your teachers, school staff, parish staff, parents, and school community and encourage them to advocate for this program that will benefit families interested in our Catholic schools. Click these links for the social media posts on this advocacy campaign - Facebook, X (Twitter) - and consider reposting them.

Reminder: Updated Mandated Reporter Training Requirements: Social Services Law § 413 was amended last year to require additional training within the once-in-a-lifetime NYS “Mandated Identification and Reporting of Child Abuse and Maltreatment/Neglect” coursework that includes protocols to reduce implicit bias in decision-making processes, strategies for identifying adverse childhood experiences, and guidelines to assist in recognizing signs of abuse or maltreatment while interacting virtually. The law requires that all mandated reporters, including classroom teachers, educational administrators, and pupil personnel service providers, complete the updated training curriculum by April 1, 2025. The training requirement, with mandated personnel categories, can be found at Child Abuse Prevention Training | New York State Education Department (nysed.gov). For information about approved training providers, please see the Office of Teaching Initiatives website. Additionally, the Office of Children and Family Services has created a 2-hour web-based self-directed online training course that can be completed to satisfy this updated requirement.

Catholic Identity and Academic Excellence

Spring 8th Grade Full-Day Retreat with a Mass with Bishop Mike

Join us for the Spring 8th Grade Full-Day Retreat on March 28, 2025, as we prepare for the Jubilee year in the Church! This special day will include a Mass celebrated by Bishop Fisher, offering students a chance to deepen their faith, explore their relationship with God, and build stronger bonds with their peers. Through group discussions, prayer sessions, and spiritual exercises, students will engage in reflection and personal growth. This retreat provides a profound opportunity for students to grow in their faith, connect with the wider Catholic community, and receive spiritual guidance from Bishop Fisher. We encourage you to join us for this amazing experience that reinforces our Catholic identity as your students prepare for the next adventure in high school.

Please use the link below to register your 8th grade students by Monday, February 3, 2025.

March 28, 2025 8th Grade Retreat Registration Form

Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

The 2025 application cycle for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) is now open! Anyone--principals, teachers, parents, students, or members of the general public--may nominate exceptional STEM educators who are currently teaching grades 7-12 for the 2025 award year.

Applications must be completed by February 6, 2025, for teachers in grades 7-12. Elementary teachers (grades K-6) will be eligible to apply during a future cycle.

Weekly Virtual Principal Meetings

Meeting Details:

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

• Platform: Microsoft Teams (link sent by Laurie)

SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS

Establishing Student Study Teams (SSTs) and Response to Intervention (RtI) teams in elementary schools is crucial to providing effective support for all students. Student Study Teams are focused upon identifying a student’s academic and/or social-emotional challenges, and providing support through an individualized plan with measurable outcomes. RtI Teams focus on providing a multi-tiered system of support -- including universal supports (Tier 1), targeted supports (Tier 2), and intensive supports (Tier 3) -- to address learning difficulties early on, and to reduce the need to refer students for special education services. Here's a breakdown of on each type of team, and how to form them:

1. Student Study Teams (SSTs)

• Purpose:

• To proactively identify and address student learning and social-emotional needs.

• To develop and implement individualized student support plans.

• To prevent academic and behavioral challenges from escalating.

• Team Composition:

• Core Members:

• General education teacher(s)

• Student (when appropriate)

• Parent/guardian

• School counselor/social worker

• Other Potential Members:

• Special education teacher

• Reading specialist

• Speech-language pathologist

• School psychologist

• Administrator

• Key Steps:

• Early Identification:

• Implement universal screening assessments (e.g., reading fluency checks, behavior observation tools) to identify students who may need additional support.

• Utilize teacher observations, student work samples, and parent input.

• Data Collection and Analysis:

• Gather and analyze data on student performance across various areas (e.g., academics, behavior, social-emotional skills).

• Intervention Planning:

• Develop and implement targeted interventions based on student needs.

• Interventions should be:

• Research-based: Use evidence-supported strategies.

• Data-driven: Monitor student progress closely.

• Tiered: Provide increasing levels of support as needed.

• Progress Monitoring:

• Regularly monitor student progress using data.

• Adjust interventions as needed based on student response.

• Communication and Collaboration:

• Maintain open and consistent communication among all team members.

• Collaborate effectively to ensure the success of the student.

2. Response to Intervention (RTI) Teams

• Purpose:

• To provide a multi-tiered system of support for all students.

• To identify and address learning difficulties early on.

• To reduce the number of students referred for special education evaluation.

• Team Composition:

• Typically includes building-level administrators, special education teachers, general education teachers, school psychologists, and other relevant support staff.

• Key Steps:

• Tier 1 (Universal):

• High-quality instruction for all students in the general education classroom.

• Evidence-based curriculum and instructional practices.

• Universal screening assessments to identify students needing additional support.

• Tier 2 (Targeted):

• Small-group interventions for students who are not responding to Tier 1 instruction.

• More intensive instruction, such as:

• Small-group tutoring

• Supplemental instruction

• Use of technology

• Tier 3 (Intensive):

• Intensive, individualized interventions for students who are not responding to Tier 2 support.

• May include:

• One-on-one tutoring

• Specialized instruction from specialists (e.g., speech-language pathologist)

• Consideration for special education evaluation

Important Considerations

• Clear Roles and Responsibilities: Define clear roles and responsibilities for each team member.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Base all decisions on data and student progress.

• Effective Communication: Establish clear communication protocols among team members, students, and families.

• Professional Development: Provide ongoing professional development for all team members on RTI principles and effective intervention strategies.

• Family Involvement: Actively involve families in the process.

By effectively implementing SSTs and RtI teams, elementary schools can create a supportive and inclusive learning environment for all students.

Have a safe and blessed week!

Last Call Catholic Schools at the BPO – Tuesday, February 11, 2025

There are only a few days left to register for this wonderful event. Registration EXTENDED TO 1/22!!! Don’t miss out on this fun student experience.

BPO Registration Form

Virtue/Diocesan Character Trait

Month of January - Gratitude/Determination - Deadline February 14th.

Definition –Seeing everything as a gift and working hard and not giving up.

https://forms.gle/vC7dEccHKjvGrTYe8

Spring Bowling: Please let me know if your school is interested in participating. The season will start at the beginning of March 2025. Deadline is February 3rd.

Bowling Registration Form

Registration for the 2025 X-STREAM Games & Expo is Open!

You can find all of our games, expo, and event information, along with the registration form, here → STREAM website. Registrations MUST be in by Friday, February 28. See last week’s blog for more information, too.

STREAM Coordinators:

• Reminder of optional Office Hours today (1/21) 2:45-3:45. Please also feel free to extend this invitation/share the link on our Coordinator Meetings Calendar in Google Drive with any teachers working on STREAM Academies who may also want support or connection!

• We will be having a separate Google Meet for anyone who has questions about this year’s Robotic Competition. Please watch for this date.

• I’d love to visit you and your school, and to see/learn more about how STREAM is a part of it. I am also available to help with preparation for the X-STREAM Games. You can set up a visit by email at stream@wnycatholicschools.org

Principals:

There are many ways outside of the X-STREAM Games that I am available to support your school. For example, I could:

• Schedule a phone, google, or in-person meeting to discuss your school’s STREAM strengths, struggles, and goals.

• Visit your school to see STREAM activities in action!

• Work with you to plan professional development that would support STREAM and the related skills/strategies necessary to successfully implement it.

• Plan a STREAM activity to implement with or model for a group of teachers or students.

• Work with you on other STREAM goals! Reach out via email if you’d like to set something up for any time February-June.