What’s Happening in Catholic Ed: October 2024


Papal Prayer Intention for October

For a Shared Mission:

We pray that the Church continue to sustain in all ways a Synodal lifestyle, as a sign of co-responsibility, promoting the participation, the communion and the mission shared among priests, religious and lay people.

News Articles

Bishops propose Catholic education ‘varium’ to CCHD

Nearly two dozen U.S. bishops have petitioned the USCCB to reshape the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, with a focus on providing scholarships to Catholic schools.

Record number of students assisted for the 10th year in a row

For the 10th year in a row, the Catholic Education Foundation is distributing a record amount of tuition assistance to a record number of students in the Archdiocese of Louisville. The foundation announced Sept. 19 that it awarded tuition assistance to 3,750 students with a total of $8.3 million in aid. That is up from last year, when 3,700 students received $8 million in aid, according to a press release from the Catholic Education Foundation.

Governor Celebrates St. Peter The Apostle Catholic School Groundbreaking in Boerne

St. Peter the Apostle Catholic School will provide the Boerne community with a faith-based education option for parents to choose. The anticipated opening of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic School will be in the fall of 2025 as the church was able to meet its first fundraising goal this past summer. “I can’t think of a better Saint for this school to honor than St. Peter,” said Governor Abbott. “Here at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic School, children will get a classical liberal arts education with a strong Christian foundation. Parents deserve education freedom.

Diocese of Trenton, Department of Catholic Schools, Receives Multi-Year Grant to Establish Designated Fund for Catholic School Teachers

The Diocese will use the fund's income to provide stipends for teachers who demonstrate excellence and innovation, while also supporting professional development, leadership programs, and scholarships for advanced degrees or certifications. The Diocese has long fostered a culture of innovation and excellence, making it a leader in shaping the future of Catholic education.

From Bishop Hendricken to Villanova: A mother’s quest for educational inclusion

Inclusion has become a buzzword today – inclusion of race, gender, age; inclusion in workspaces, churches, schools. For centuries, the Catholic Church has practiced inclusivity, prioritizing care of the poor and the marginalized. One group can sometimes still be overlooked, especially in Catholic education: those with disabilities. Some strides have been made recently, however.

EWTN News/RealClear poll takes pulse of spiritual health of U.S. Catholics

The findings of a new EWTN News/RealClear Opinion Research survey shed light on the spiritual health of adult Catholic U.S. citizens and reveal consistently concerning indicators of low Mass attendance, low belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and sporadic (though growing) participation in the sacrament of confession.

Sacred Art or Synthetic Imitation? The Catholic Challenge to AI-Driven Creations

One prominent example of AI’s encroachment into sacred art is the project known as “generation of the sAInts,” where AI-generated images of saints have been created and shared on platforms like Instagram and Reddit.

Catholic educators help students navigate ethics of newest tech

Many Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore encourage students to use technology in a way that respects academic integrity.

Not-So-Great Expectations: Students Reading Fewer Books In English Class

In many English classrooms across America, assignments to read full-length novels are becoming less common. Some teachers focus instead on selected passages — a concession to perceptions of shorter attention spans, pressure to prepare for standardized tests and a sense that short-form content will prepare students for the modern, digital world. The student featured in this article transferred to a Catholic school for a better education.

'Always a Ram': Gloucester Catholic holds vigil for Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau

South Jersey mourners gathered together in Gloucester City to remember brothers John and Matthew Gaudreau in the place where their hockey careers took off, the school and community that they never forgot. Back at the pair’s high school alma mater, school colors maroon and gold adorned the Gloucester Catholic gymnasium, alongside tributes and photographs of the late hockey players, who were killed by a suspected drunken driver Aug. 29.


Organize/Report

  • State Non-Public School Enrollment Report

  • Send First Trimester Progress Reports to parents

  • Schedule mid-year formal observations

  • Open applications for new students for next school year

  • Open tuition assistance portal

Plan/Prepare

  • Plan Veterans’ Day with prayer service and/or patriotic display

  • Plan Thanksgiving Prayer Service

  • Plan Christmas Staff Party

  • Plan for delivery of safe environment lessons (youth protection)

Host/Attend

  • Parent - Teacher conferences

  • Donor appreciation event

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


Advancement Resources

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Can systems thinking save more Catholic schools?

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What’s Happening in Catholic Ed: September 2024