Advancement News

The Houska Family Helps CC Say THANK YOU TO OUR BENEFACTORS

If there is one thing CC takes great pride in, it is the fact that we try so hard to never miss an opportunity to say THANK YOU to those who have such a significant role in making CC great - our benefactors.

Since moving to Novi in the fall of 2005, we have tried to recognize and thank our donors in several displays throughout the building. However, after 15 years, we are running out of wall space to be able to properly honor them.

Technology was the solution to our dilemma. In March 2020, just prior to the order to close school because of the pandemic, work was started on the purchase and programming of a 65” Interactive Video Monitor that now graces the wall adjacent to the entrance of the Office of Advancement & Alumni Relations.

Featured on this monitor is the list of all of our donors, including those who give annually to the Annual Fund, Endowment Fund, and Memorial Fund. Additionally, those who gave to our “Teach Us To Be Men” campaign (2013-2018) have finally found a place to be permanently recognized. Information also includes members of the Fr. Richard Elmer, C.S.B. ’46 Society and the St. Basil Legacy Society. You can even meet your Advancement Team!

We are excited about the future, because there is no limit to space on this monitor. Work has already begun to add alumni photos, class composite photos, historical facts, and school history. It is our hope that someday you will be able to find individual alumni photos listed both alphabetically and by class. Perhaps someday, digital yearbooks will be accessible on this monitor.

Catholic Central would like to graciously acknowledge the Houska Family for their generosity.

Ann Houska

Mark Houska

Ryan Houska ’08

DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

ST. BASIL LEGACY SOCIETY

2020 Tax Savings Can Increase Personal Cash Flow Share Some of These $$ With Catholic Central

The year 2020 will be remembered as the Year of COVID-19. A booming economy, record low unemployment, and record stock market, IRA, and 401K balances all came crashing down as this virus raced throughout the world. Economies shut down, and our personal wealth plummeted. Fortunately, the market and employment are recovering, and businesses are reigniting. Knowledge about the virus and how to minimize the risks has improved, and we are well on the way to a vaccine. Despite the current

environment, there is good news for increased personal cashflow to help ourselves and CC. Here are a few.

• Federal Assistance - Many families received $1200 per adult and $500 per child. Those out of work received unemployment assistance, and many small business owners received loan aid.

• Standard Deductions - Increases in 2020 to $12,400 for

individuals plus $1650 if over 65 and $24,800 for married

taxpayers filing jointly with an additional $1300 for each

spouse over 65.

• The CARES ACT – One Time Opportunities in 2020 to improve cash flow.

A) Those who do not claim itemized deductions (take the standard deduction) are allowed to take an above-the-line deduction of up to $300 for qualified charitable cash contributions.

B) The Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) on IRAs and 401(k)s is waived for the 2020 tax year. Since RMDs are treated as ordinary income, this is a big tax savings for all of us in the 70-1/2 and older age bracket. It may also put some into a lower tax bracket. • IRA Withdrawals - As in previous years, those 70-1/2 and older who do not itemize on their tax returns can donate up to $100,000 per year. The amount donated reduces one’s adjusted gross income (AGI) by the amount donated plus may place one into a lower tax bracket. • Long Term Capital Gains Rates On Taxable Investments - 0% rate applies to taxable income on single returns up to $40,000, joint returns up to $80,000; 20% rate starts at $441,451 for single filers, $496,601 for joint filers; 15% on taxable income between the 0% and 20% break points. Note: Single and joint filers with modified AGI over $200,000 and $250,000 owe a 3.8% surtax on net investment incomes on top of the 15% and 20% capital gains rate. • 529 Savings Plans - As part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, one can now withdraw up to $10,000 per year, per student, tax free, from one’s 529 Savings Plan to help pay for school tuition at private/parochial elementary and high schools – that means CC!

• Appreciated Stock - Maybe the best donation vehicle of all. Stock(s) that has (have), peaked in value could be a (the) candidate for donation. Why? Double Tax Benefit! No Long

Term Capital Gains Tax + Charitable Deduction for the Full Market Value!

Note: The investment must have been held long term

(over 1 year) and it must be donated outright (transferred from your portfolio directly to CC).

God Bless!

Rudy Seichter ’59 - Director of Planned Giving (248) 596-3845 • rseichter@catholiccentral.net

As always, every individual’s financial circumstances are unique. Therefore, we advise you to consult with your financial advisor/tax attorney before making any charitable donations.

Advancement in Action

The Hermann and Demmer Families answer the Covid-19 Call

We learned very quickly in March, when the pandemic first affected our community and students were sent home to finish the year online, that if online learning was to continue at CC, we needed to do it better. To do it the best!

Throughout the spring and summer, CC administration, faculty, IT, and facility staff worked tirelessly to prepare our building and our classrooms with the best technology to enhance the “virtual” learning experience.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Hermann and Demmer Families, CC was supremely prepared to welcome students back for both in-school and on-line learning on August 17, 2020.

All classrooms were equipped with the finest Logitech Cameras and 60” TV Monitors to provide faculty with the ability to see all students while instructing and students with the ability to see their teacher and all of their classmates.

Catholic Central would like to graciously acknowledge the Hermann and Demmer Families for their generosity.

Roylene and Edward Hermann ’60 (dec.) Sue and Bill Hermann ’68

Laurie and Bill Hermann ’91

Kelly and Dave Hermann ’92 Molly and Ken Hermann ’08 Sharon and Bill Demmer

Katie and Matt Demmer ’99

You too can answer the Covid-19 call. No gift is TOO SMALL, and EVERY gift makes a difference.

Are you invested in CC? To give a gift and make an investment, please call the Office of Advancement today at (248) 596-3838 or go to http://www.catholiccentral.net/giving.

FAITH OVER FEAR: An Update from CC Presi dent, Ed Turek ’85

In these uncertain times, how has CC remained committed to teaching Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge in a healthy and safe environment?

What is the best way for alumni, parents, and friends to support the mission of CC? We appreciate and rely entirely on their prayers and financial support. Yet, right now, more than ever, we need open minds and open hearts in support of our efforts.

Overall, what is your feeling about the current situation at Catholic Central? CC is strong. We have a great foundation, a growing endowment, and people who are truly dedicated to the mission.

GOODNESS • First and foremost, we remain founded in our faith. We will continue to have Mass, either outside or live streamed to the classrooms and to each home. As we proudly display in our entry hall: Jesus Christ is the reason for Catholic Central. We know that we must constantly turn to Him and rely on our faith to remain committed to our students.

• It is important we remain focused on our holistic approach to caring for the whole person. We are focused on the overall wellness of the young men - especially their mental health - while returning to the rigor and traditional excellence of a CC education.

• I also must thank our donors for the goodness they have shown during this time. Many of our alumni were tuned in to the ways the pandemic would have a profound effect on our mission and reached out to lead. Without the tremendous support we received, we would not have been able to install new technology and safety measures so quickly. We are truly prepared to continue teaching no matter what stage of the pandemic we are in, and it is all thanks to our donors’ goodness.

DISCIPLINE • None of this works without discipline! Our students - whether at home or in the building - are adhering to our dress code and expected behavior. We now have the additional responsibility of wearing masks, completing self-screens and temperature checks before entering the building, and maintaining social distancing. It takes discipline to do all of that on top of the academic work.

• We also need to remain disciplined in our efforts to continue learning how to utilize our new technology and fight through the little hiccups that appear. Our students need to log in, on time, from home during class, and the students in the building need to come prepared with a charged device. We might not throw backpacks out windows anymore, but the students need to be prepped for class!

KNOWLEDGE • We remain committed to excellence, and that requires us to be flexible. We continue to collect information and are consistently evaluating our offerings. A survey that went out at the end of the first week sought to gauge family satisfaction, and more than 93% of responses were positive.

• Our teachers continue to train! They have spent hours learning new information, sharing tips and best practices in preparation for the year, and will continue to train throughout the year.

• We are also keeping the rigor of the classes at a high level. Whether students are in the building or logged on from home, the engagement levels, workload, and expectations remain the same.

CC Return To School Plan

Since our school building was closed, and classes were forced to move to a virtual learning experience last March, our school administration, faculty, and staff have been working hard to create a plan to mitigate the risk of exposure and allow our students to return to the school building this fall and continue learning in a safe and responsible way. All the while, our work has been guided by one simple concept:

FAITH OVER FEAR

Under the leadership of our president, Ed Turek ’85, and principal, Fr. Patrick Fulton, C.S.B., committees were formed to address specific areas of school life and to establish best processes and policies that are in the best interest of our community.

In-Person Instruction Retu n s to CC

Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Return to School Roadmap allows for students and faculty to return to the school building and resume in-person instruction in Phase 4 of the MI Safe Start Plan. The current plan allows students to return to school with a hybrid model that separates the students into two groups, Group A and Group B. Technology in the Classrooms Thanks to the generosity of the Hermann and Demmer Families (see article on page 20), each classroom has been equipped with audio visual technology that allows for students and teachers to conduct live, online learning for increased student engagement.

Mental, Social, and Emotional Health Last school year, CC welcomed Mrs. Jodi Siberski as the new Student Wellness Counselor. Mrs. Siberski helps our students and families address mental health concerns, especially any concerns associated with the impact of COVID-19.

Both groups alternate days of in-person instruction and online, live instruction via Google Meet. This hybrid format limits the number of students in the building each day and allows for better social distancing and cleaning practices.

Athletics and Co-Curricular Activities Athletics and co-curricular activities have resumed with strict social distancing and hygiene protocols. Thanks to our partnership with Mercy Elite Sports Performance, students were able to attend outside workouts throughout the summer. Those workouts have continued into the school year, and athletics have resumed under the direction of the Michigan High School Athletic Association and the Detroit Catholic High School League.

Take a virtual tour, scan the QR code or go to www.catholiccentral.net/return-to-school-plan.

Health and Safety Protocols Catholic Central has partnered with a nursing agency to staff a school nurse in the building every day. The nurse will helps provide a greater level of communication and clarity when dealing with health issues in the building, specifically those related to COVID-19. The school nurse is well versed with HIPAA and FERPA regulations.

CC has installed numerous hand sanitizing stations and signage throughout the building to help maintain personal hygiene and social distancing. The building’s ventilation system was also updated to a MERV-14 air filtration system. All health and safety protocols follow CDC, state, and local guidelines. Furthermore, all students, faculty, and staff are able to be tested onsite.

Shamrock LE@D The Shamrock LE@D program stands for “Live Education @ Distance.” Students and their families have an option of enrolling in the Shamrock LE@D program which allows for the students to stay 100% online and attend live classes remotely. Students live stream into their classes via Google Meet. Families have the option to enroll into or opt out of this program at the beginning/end of each quarter.

All students, faculty, staff, administration, and limited visitors are required to wear a mask in the building and must complete a health screening before entering the building each day to identify symptoms and temperature concerns. The main entrance is equipped with new temporal scanning kiosks to scan temperatures for all who enter the building.

Shamrock LE@D

The Shamrock LE@D program stands for “Live Education @ Distance.” Students and their families have an option for the students to stay 100% online and attend live classes remotely.

To read the complete detailed Return to School Plan (pdf), follow the QR code (left). Learn more at www.catholiccentral.net/return-to-school-plan or scan the QR code (right).