Leading with Faith

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

1/15/25 Government Services Update for Board Chairs, Chaplains, Pastors, & Principals

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)

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

Mandated Services for 2023-24: NYSED still has not released the 2023-2024 Mandated Services forms, but the deadline will still be on 4/1/25. To help you prepare for the Mandated Services claim process, I have created a personalized Excel spreadsheet for each school which was sent to 11 schools over the last seven months. For the remaining 40 schools, if you are ready to begin working on your claim please send me an email to request your personalized “Form 1” Excel spreadsheet. Verifying the salary and benefits information on Form 1 and collecting official payroll and benefits reports to support those amounts is the most time-consuming part of the Mandated Services process. Additional information will be sent to all schools when the forms and online claims are made available by NYSED on the Business Portal later this month.

Mandated Services, Thoughts on Payroll and Benefits Records: Due to recent NYSED audits I highly recommend that you print out official payroll and benefits reports from your payroll and associated companies to support what you are claiming for Mandated Services. I thought some additional recommendations might be in order. For salary, I recommend you print out an official 2023-2024 payroll report from your payroll company, essentially a payroll report from 9/1/2023 to 8/31/2024. Ideally, the report would have a “regular” gross pay line for each person’s main educational duties (along with any “Bonus” pay for Christmas and Easter somehow indicated or included) with any stipends or pay for coaching or work in a before or after school program separated out since we can’t claim this pay on Mandated Services. If possible, the payroll report might show at least the employee share of their taxes and maybe even their Healthcare and retirement deductions. Here is what NYSED indicates in their 2022-23 User Guide on Page 12 with regard Payroll Records, along with an example:

• “Payroll records for those employees providing the mandated service, showing gross & net salary, and all payroll deductions including a breakdown of fringe benefits including sources of data (company names), must be maintained and made accessible upon request.

• Payroll company documents are preferred; if payroll is completed in-house, please provide payroll (w/ benefit breakdowns) on school letterhead, accompanied by staff hiring agreements or contracts.

• Please redact identifying information from documents.”

As for Benefits, you can claim the employer’s share of the following benefits, to the extent such share is actually paid for the benefit of employees engaged in providing required services: Retirement, Social Security and Medicare Taxes (F.I.C.A.), Workers’ Compensation Insurance, Life Insurance, Unemployment Insurance, Disability Insurance, Health Insurance, and Union Welfare benefits. Hopefully your Business Manager can access official benefits reports from each of the companies to “prove” these were the actual benefits paid to each person. I am not sure if your payroll company report would show the Social Security and Medicare Taxes paid by the school (not the employee) for each employee. Hopefully you can get official documents for Healthcare, retirement (“Who’s Where”), and legacy pension costs by employee. I’m not sure how to prove what you paid for Disability and Workers’ Comp.

Safety Equipment (NPSE) and AIS Program Update: NYSED still has not released the NPSE Year 10 and AIS Year 7 applications and guidance. I was told by NYSED that they hope to release these forms by the end of January. Once the updated forms are made available they will be posted on the “Funding Opportunities” webpage. I usually send out an email to schools with their current funding amounts and program advice, but I may wait until February to send those. If you are making NPSE or AIS decisions this month, please reach out to me to discuss your current situation. Remember, expenses for these programs must be completed and paid for by 3/31/24 in order for you to submit them for reimbursement using this year’s forms.

HS Only - 2025 Scholarships for Academic Excellence Must Be Submitted Online: The 2025 Scholarships for Academic Excellence Announcement due date is February 28, 2025. This is the first time the scholarship nominations will be accepted through SED Monitoring only. Click here for my October 15, 2024 post for more information regarding the upcoming submission.

Academic Excellence: Science Planning

We're thrilled to focus on science teaching and learning that leverages data to inform instruction, aligns curriculum maps from PK-12, utilizes aligned resources, and incorporates 3D learning.

What is 3D Learning?

3D learning emphasizes scientific engineering practices like asking questions, developing models, and analyzing data. It focuses on both disciplinary core concepts (content areas like physical science, life science, earth and space science, and engineering) and crosscutting concepts (broader themes like cause and effect, structures and functions, and energy and matter).

Recent Professional Development Session

Last week, 17 Catholic school educators from various PK-12 schools participated in a professional development session at the Catholic Center led by Jessica Kaufmann from Erie 1 BOCES. The session explored the evolving landscape of science instruction and provided guidance on developing lesson plans that address the NYS clusters and performance level descriptions.

Planning for the 2025-2026 School Year

As we embark on planning for the next academic year, consider these essential elements for implementing an engaging, hands-on science program:

• Schedule: Do your daily schedules include double blocks and dedicated lab time?

• Technology: Do you have a one-to-one device program (tablets or Chromebooks for students)?

• Facilities: Do you have a science lab equipped with a sink and running water?

• Budget: Have you allocated funds for new science resources in your budget?

Science Everywhere Resources

• Science Everywhere Webinar Recording: This initiative targets science education for four-year-olds. Access the recording on the OEL website.

• New York State Prekindergarten Early Learning Standards

Additional Support

• Office of Early Learning (OEL) Contact: OEL@nysed.gov for any inquiries.

Upcoming Science Professional Development

February 28th–Catholic Diocese Science Training Session

March 4th–Investigation training for ESS & Bio

February 4th & May 8th–ESS & Bio consortium

Mystery Science

Schools with Mystery Science subscriptions have access to 4 hours of professional development. Schedule your 4 sessions (hours) using this link: Mystery Science PD registration

Please contact Whitney Wagoner wwagoner@discoveryed.com if you have any questions or require further assistance.

Weekly Virtual Principal Meetings

Meeting Details:

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

• Platform: Microsoft Teams (link sent by Laurie)

Retention and Recruitment of Elementary Students

As we approach Catholic Schools Week and re-enrollment/new enrollment, effective marketing and outreach are paramount. Here are some suggestions for enhancing both student retention and recruitment:

Student Retention:

• Engaging Learning Environments:

• Hands-on Activities: Incorporate hands-on activities, games, and projects to make learning fun and interactive.

• Differentiated Instruction: Tailor instruction to meet the needs of individual students.

• Positive Reinforcement: Use positive reinforcement to motivate and encourage students.

• Strong Teacher-Student Relationships:

• Build Rapport: Take the time to get to know your students and build positive relationships.

• Communicate Effectively: Communicate regularly with parents and students to keep them informed and involved.

• Be Supportive: Offer support and encouragement to help students overcome challenges.

• Supportive School Climate:

• Positive School Culture: Create a positive and inclusive school culture where all students feel valued and respected.

• Conflict Resolution: Teach students effective conflict resolution skills.

• Anti-Bullying Programs: Implement anti-bullying programs to promote a safe and welcoming environment.

Student Recruitment:

• Community Outreach:

• Parent Workshops: Host workshops on topics such as early childhood development and school readiness.

• School Tours: Offer tours of the school to showcase the facilities and programs.

• Partnerships with Community Organizations: Collaborate with community organizations to reach out to families.

• Effective Marketing:

• School Website: Create a user-friendly website with information about the school's programs and achievements.

• Social Media: Use social media to share news, events, and positive stories about the school.

• Print Materials: Design eye-catching brochures and flyers to distribute in the community.

• Streamlined Enrollment Process:

• Easy-to-Follow Instructions: Provide clear and concise instructions for the enrollment process.

• Flexible Enrollment Options: Offer flexible enrollment options, such as online enrollment and extended enrollment periods.

• Efficient Processing: Process applications promptly and keep families informed about the status of their applications.

Preparing for New Enrollment

• Streamlined Enrollment Process:

• Online Application: Consider implementing an online application system to simplify the enrollment process.

• Clear Instructions: Provide clear instructions and required documents for new enrollment.

• Efficient Processing: Train staff to process applications efficiently and promptly.

• Welcoming New Families:

• Orientation: Organize a comprehensive orientation program for new families to introduce them to the school community.

• Parent-Teacher Communication: Establish effective communication channels between teachers and parents.

• Support Systems: Offer support systems for new students, such as mentorship programs or buddy systems.

By focusing on creating engaging learning environments, building strong relationships, and promoting the school through effective marketing and outreach, you can enhance both student retention and recruitment.

Have a safe and blessed week!

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

School Supply Order Form https://forms.gle/QZjruyFiPJbuJVzd6 This year there is a new Report Card Envelope for schools that have switched to trimesters.

2024-25 Elementary School Diploma Order Form (order by 1/17)

https://forms.gle/sshX9doGj6dRPt6r6

Virtue/Diocesan Character Trait

Month of December Generosity/Appreciation – Deadline to submit – January 10th.

Definition – Being thankful and showing gratitude for what others do for us.

https://forms.gle/vC7dEccHKjvGrTYe8

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 1/17!!! Don’t miss out on this fun student experience.

BPO 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.

Please continue to watch for updates, including the full day schedule, permission slips, FAQs, and volunteer opportunities. We will need many hands to help make this event a success, so please make sure you are saving the date for Saturday, March 29 (the full event will take place from 10am-3pm, but there will be opportunities to even lend a hand for an hour or two)!

A few 2025 X-STREAM Games Highlights:

• The Science Scrimmage Engineering Challenge has been announced! This year’s challenge will be building a Rocket Catcher - learn about it here. Teams do need to register to participate in this at X-STREAM Games in advance, to ensure we have materials and space for all teams.

• We will once again feature our Robotics Competition, with this year’s game being Rapid Relay. Visit this site for game details.

• Academies included in the Games will be Kitchen Chem, Ignite the Power of Art, Invention Convention, Arcade Academy, and CSI. If your students are working on a different Academy, they are welcome to bring displays of their work for our Expo! Please also register on the STREAM website.

• New this year: Public Speaking: Use Your Voice to Make a Difference! In this TED-talk-style competition, students will captivate the audience by sharing powerful stories, delivering impactful messages, or enlightening listeners on a topic they care deeply about.

STREAM Coordinators:

I am offering optional STREAM “Office Hours” twice a month where you are welcome to come to ask questions, share ideas, or connect. 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! These office hours will be from 2:45-3:45 on 1/21, 2/4, 2/24, and 3/6. If you do not have/cannot find the link, please reach out.

As always, I am available to support all your STREAM endeavors - reach out at stream@wnycatholicschools.org.