Leading with Faith

10/17/24 NYSED Elementary School AIS Claims Due

10/17/24 Government Services Update for Board Chairs, Chaplains, Pastors, & Principals

10/18/24 Send Ins. Services Dept. updated list of Staff for Asbestos and BBP Training

10/21/24 NCEA Updates/Corrections Due to our Office via Google Sheet

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!

10/31/24 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

BEDS Report: Thank you for completing your NCEA Reports and making any requested corrections (now or after you receive your review from our office); now I recommend that you move on to your NYS BEDS report. Once you complete the Google Sheet using the instructions we provided to help you prepare for the NYS BEDS report based on your student and staff attendance from 10/2/2024, you should enter the information online by 11/15/2024 using the NYSED Business Portal. When you are ready to file your BEDS report with NYSED, go to “IRS Data Exchange” under “My Applications” (do not use “BEDS/IMF” – that only holds your archival data now). After the application loads, you should see “BEDS - Nonpublic Data Form” for “Collection Year” 2024-2025 as one of your choices on the new webpage. Once you click on it you should be able to enter your data using this form. NYSED will warn you if you enter some things incorrectly; if that happens, make the necessary corrections and then update your Google Sheet before emailing us to let us know that both your Google Sheet is complete and the NYSED form has been successfully submitted to NYSED.

Reminder: School Fire Safety Inspections must be completed Due by December 1 – Click here for Forms and Info from the Fire Safety Report webpage.

School Administration Job Application Process/Interviewing Networking Event: On October 23rd from 4pm to 6pm, the Committee for Identifying and Developing Educational Leadership (CIDEL), of which I am a member, will be hosting a free School Administration Job Application Process/Interviewing Networking Event at the Canisius University Science Hall (click here for the event details). Current School Administrators (Superintendents, District Administrators, Building Principals) will be available to discuss the job application process and discuss interviewing strategies. Current teachers considering Educational Leadership and school administration, as well as current Educational Leaders (both building level and district level) are welcome to attend. Email Pat Hochadel at wnyesc222@gmail.com to register.

Asbestos Awareness Training Requirement: The Diocese of Buffalo Department of Insurance Services, managed by Aldrich & Cox Incorporated, sent you an email on 10/10/24 to remind you of the O.S.H.A. regulations that require all maintenance and custodial personnel who work in a location containing asbestos materials to attend an asbestos awareness training course annually. They also reminded you that O.S.H.A. mandates annual Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) training for employees whose duties may cause them to come into contact with blood or other bodily fluids during the course of their work day. The Diocese will provide this training online at no cost to your school; their email asks you to update the list of staff at your school who need to attend these training sessions by emailing Matt Buser at dobis@buffalodiocese.org. Should you have any questions, please contact Insurance Services at dobis@buffalodiocese.org. Check with your Business Manager to make sure this email was received; email me if you did not receive it and I will forward it to you.

Catholic School Teachers: Nurturing Faith and Academics: Catholic Identity

What sets Catholic schools apart from public schools?

Chris Panepinto, a Religion teacher at St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute, offers a unique perspective. As a former Catholic school student, current teacher, and parent, he emphasizes that Catholic schools not only teach academics but also instill teachings about Christ, self awareness, and lifelong friendship. He emphasized that Catholic schools not only teach academics and content but also instill a deep sense of faith and service, referred to as the "jelly donut."

Last Friday, over 400 educators from 23 Catholic elementary and middle schools gathered for the conference "Teach, Serve, Evangelize." The event focused on how Catholic school educators can model Christ-like behavior and help students become their best selves.

Bishop Michael Fisher, Adam Jarosz, Lisa Benzer, and the Department of Catholic Schools organized the conference, which included sessions on reflection, goal setting, and the Eucharist. Teachers explored the profile of a Catholic school student and the profile of a Catholic school teacher as a lead learner and role model, discussed the six tasks of a catechist, and learned about the Eucharistic Revival.

Key Themes and Strategies

• Christ-Centered Education: Teachers and students should strive to live according to Christian principles.

• Academic Excellence: Catholic schools prioritize academic achievement while fostering spiritual growth.

• Leadership Development: Students are encouraged to take on leadership roles and participate in service projects.

• Faith Formation: Teachers are equipped to share their faith with students and help them develop a deep understanding of Catholic teachings.

• Community Engagement: Catholic schools often have strong ties to their local parishes and communities.

The Ideal Catholic School Teacher

A successful Catholic school teacher is compassionate, patient, empathetic, a lifelong learner, deeply faithful, adaptable, and a positive role model. By embodying these qualities, teachers can create a nurturing and inspiring learning environment for their students.

To stay informed about Catholic schools in Western New York and learn about resources and strategies for integrating faith into instruction, we invite teachers to subscribe to the "Leading with Faith" newsletter.

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 16, 2024

Topics: October 11 debrief, Cyberbullying, Digital Citizenship and Teacher Observations

The Power of Observation: Why Classroom Observations Matter

‘Tis the Season…..for Observations!! 🙂

Classroom observations are more than just casual walk-through visits. They are a strategic tool that provides invaluable insights into the effectiveness of teaching practices, student engagement, curriculum effectiveness, and the overall learning environment. By carefully observing classrooms, educators can identify areas for improvement, celebrate successes, and ultimately enhance the quality of education.

Administrators are responsible to conduct observations of their faculty, but peer observations can also be of great value in fostering:

• Collective Insights: Observing a colleague's classroom can provide fresh perspectives and new ideas.

• Mutual Support: Peers can offer encouragement, support, and constructive feedback.

• Sharing of Best Practices: Educators can learn from each other's successful strategies.

• Sharing of Student-Centered Practices: Educators can learn about effective student-centered approaches.

• Improvement of Classroom Climate: Observing a positive and inclusive classroom can influence one's own teaching style.

• Observation of Effective Strategies: Seeing firsthand how a colleague engages students can inspire new techniques.

• Professional Relationships: Peer observations can strengthen professional relationships and sharing of experiences and challenges.

• A Culture of Collaboration: A culture of observation and feedback can promote collaboration and support.

• Self-Reflection: Observing others can lead to self-reflection and professional growth.

• Sharing of Experiences: Educators can learn from each other's experiences and challenges.

Whether it’s an administrator’s observation or a peer observation, a comprehensive classroom observation involves four key components:

1. Pre-Observation Planning with the Teacher:

• Purpose: Clearly define the goals of the observation. Are you assessing teaching strategies, student engagement, or curriculum implementation?

• Focus: Identify specific areas of interest to guide your observation.

• Tools: Prepare observation checklists or rubrics to structure your notes.

2. Observation:

• Presence: Observe unobtrusively to avoid disrupting the classroom routine.

• Attention: Pay close attention to interactions between teacher and students, student engagement, and the overall classroom atmosphere.

• Note-Taking: Record observations concisely and objectively.

3. Post-Observation Analysis:

• Review: Examine your notes and observations.

• Reflection: Consider the strengths and areas for improvement identified.

• Interpretation: Analyze the data to gain insights into teaching practices and student learning.

4. Feedback to the Teacher:

• Constructive Feedback: Provide specific and actionable feedback to the teacher. And don’t forget the applause where it’s earned!

• Collaboration: Work together to develop strategies for improvement.

• Support: Offer resources or professional development opportunities as needed.

Classroom observations are a powerful tool for improving the quality of education. By carefully planning, observing, analyzing, and providing feedback, educators can create more engaging, effective, and supportive learning environments for all students.

Wishing a blessed week to all our readers!