What’s Happening in Catholic Ed: September 2024

Written By Sarah Kerins

The month of September is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, whose memorial the Church celebrates on September 15.

Papal Prayer Intention for September

For the cry of the Earth

We pray that each one of us will hear and take to heart the cry of the Earth and of victims of natural disasters and climactic change, and that all will undertake to personally care for the world in which we live.

The Eucharistic Vocation of a Catholic School

What does the Eucharist have to do with the Catholic school? During this period of the Eucharistic Revival, this is a pivotal question, especially as our institutions continue to discern what it means to be Catholic today. What follows is intended to function as a primer on this topic, built around four key theses related to the Eucharist and Catholic education.

In Catholic education, there is so much hope on the horizon

In our Catholic schools, we strive to integrate coursework, interweaving subjects to assist students in understanding the “big picture,” of how the subjects work together to form a holistic view. In the words of Bishop Robert Barron, “at its best, education opens us to what elevates the soul and, ultimately, teaches us to be saints.”

Teaching at Catholic school led Our Lady of Refuge teacher and her son to the faith

It was something Leo always wanted for her and her son, but she also knew they needed something more — she knew they needed to become part of the Church. Leo started taking OCIA classes, and this Easter Vigil at Our Lady of Refuge Parish, she and her son were baptized together.

All-boys, scholarship-funded Jesuit Catholic school to open in Cincinnati (CNA)

A scholarship-funded Catholic academy for boys is set to open this August in Cincinnati with the help of state scholarships and private donors, reviving a building that has been unused for more than 30 years.

New Catholic trade school aims for debt-free alternative to college (Pillar)

Students of San Damiano College for the Trades will receive technical instruction and on-the-job training in their trade of choice, a liberal arts associate degree and spiritual formation, Kent Lasnoski, the school’s founding president, told The Pillar.

Archdiocese of Miami opens new school for low-income children

The Archdiocese of Miami has opened a K-4 school for underprivileged children, primarily serving the children of migrant families.

Diocese of Gary ‘able to dream’ after $150 million gift for Catholic schools

The Diocese of Gary announced the financial gift last month, calling it “the largest single investment ever given for PreK-12 Catholic education.”

West Catholic HS Receives $500K Grant To Launch Academic Support Program

West Catholic Preparatory High School has received a $500,000 grant from the Connelly Foundation for the 2024-2025 academic year. The funding will establish the De La Salle Academic Support Program.

Judge denies emergency relief to Catholic school challenging Maine antidiscrimination law

The school said the 2021 law is unconstitutional and specifically targets religious schools. St. Dominic said that in order to receive public tuition funds, it would be forced to require all employees to use students' preferred pronouns, and facilitate their efforts to change their gender identity, which it said could go against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland's commitment to respect parents' "inalienable" right to educate their children.

Oklahoma Supreme Court declines to stay ruling to rescind religious charter school contract (CNA)

The Oklahoma Supreme Court on Monday denied a stay of a recent ruling that required that the Statewide Charter School Board rescind a contract with a Catholic charter school.

Catholic School To Ban Student Use Of Cell Phones During School Day

Le Mars, Iowa — If your junior high or senior high school student attends Gehlen Catholic School, this year is going to be a little different there. Administrators tell us the school will not be allowing students to carry cell phones.

Catholic School Mascots Speak Out

The Catholic Star Herald asked Catholic school mascots, “What are you looking forward to in the 2024-25 school year?”

Review/Update

  • Update student data for accuracy in the Student Information System (SIS)

  • Ensure all NCEA reporting categories are complete for students and staff

Organize/Report

  • Schedule IST / SIT / Child study meetings

  • Complete reports for central office

  • Ensure all beginning of the year paperwork is completed

Plan/Prepare

  • Plan parent teacher conferences

  • Schedule all field trips

  • Plan All Hallows’ Eve, All Saints, All Souls Activities

Host/Attend

  • Hold Student Council elections / Practice for Installation Mass (if not done in the Spring)

  • Opening board Meeting

  • Meet with pastor(s)

  • Meet the teacher night/open house

Repeated Monthly Tasks

  • Check teacher lesson plans (weekly) and regular classroom walk-throughs

  • IST / SIT / Child study meetings

  • Conduct fire and other safety drills / Record results on Drill Form

  • Meet with pastor(s) and Faculty

  • Monthly Newsletter to parents

  • PTA Monthly Meeting

Getting off on the Right Foot

Sarah Kerins
Previous

What’s Happening in Catholic Ed: October 2024