MARCH 2018 Post it Notes is the exclusive monthly newsletter for Orange County Catholic Schools faculty and staff. To submit an item or share a story idea, email Jacqui Kennedy at jkennedy@rcbo.org.
MARCH 2018
Staff Spotlight: Maggie Schmid
The goals for Maggie Schmid’s students are straightforward: college and heaven. It’s a motto written on a poster above the white board at the front of Schmid’s classroom at School of Our Lady in Santa Ana, serving as a daily reminder of the priorities that her third-grade students must work toward. “We incorporate the heart and mind,” Schmid said. “We want our students to be aware of college and have higher education goals, but we also want to help them understand who they are as people. That comes before any academic goal. There’s only kindness in my classroom.” Schmid, a 2016 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, is part of the university’s Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) program. She’s in her second year teaching at School of Our Lady. ACE places recent graduates in classrooms of Catholic schools across the U.S. The new teachers spend the academic year in the classroom and take graduate-level education courses during the summer. After completing the program in two years, they earn a master’s degree in education. See Staff Spotlight on Page 2
School Spotlight
MARCH’S SCHOOL OF THE MONTH IS ST. BONAVENTURE SCHOOL At St. Bonaventure School, students spend today acquiring the skills they need to become innovators tomorrow. That means a strong commitment in the classroom to 21st-century Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) curriculum, which requires teachers and staff to constantly find new and exciting ways to engage learners in activities that encompass these areas. A recent example of the Huntington Beach school’s commitment to STEM is a field study trip to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. The trip gave students an opportunity to connect their science lessons with real world experiences, including launching rockets and building robots.
Superintendent’s corner Dear Educators, Welcome to the first diocesan school edition of Post it Notes. I have often wished a communication for all of our educators, and the stars have aligned with our Communications Department partnership. This will be the place that programs and people See Corner on Page 2
St. Bonaventure students had the privilege of experiencing an exclusive private tour which included viewing mission control, replicas of rovers and the clean room where rockets and satellites are assembled. Students also saw the beginnings of the building of the next Mars spacecraft, due to launch 2021. St. Bonaventure learners were able to connect NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) they are currently learning in the classroom to what the engineers are doing at JPL every day. Thanks to this incredible opportunity St. Bonaventure student academic ambitions are “out of this world!” For more information visit https://StBonaventureschool.org/
SALLY TODD in our schools, as well as timely teacher and administrator tips, will be highlighted. As a Catholic educator, with a “few” years in the field, I will offer some thoughts which,
Innovative Teaching Are You Doing Too Much? Through the years it seems as though more and more has been piled on the plates of teachers. From planning and grading to yard duty and testing, it seems that teachers are doing more than ever. It’s no wonder teacher burnout rates are so high. The good news is there is hope in the form of technology. While many teachers see technology integration as “just one more thing” added on top of everything they are already doing, the truth is technology, when used effectively, can actually ease the burdens faced by teachers. Learning management systems (LMS), such as Schoology and Canvas, can simplify workflow and management of student assignments. Adaptive programs, such as STAR and IXL, can provide immediate feedback on student mastery as well as assist in grouping students, all without having to grade any assignments. For those teachers who love grading papers, this will come as unwelcome news, but for those who prefer to spend their time elsewhere, adaptive programs provide a great opportunity for obtaining data to use in planning instruction. Here are a few tricks to save time and become even more effective in supporting learning for all of your students.
• Limit Grading – Use adaptive technology to grade and provide reports for you. This can allow you to grade only those few critical assignments rather than daily work. Consider adaptive programs in place of traditional homework. • Allow Technology to Help Differentiate – Don’t reinvent the wheel. Most adaptive programs will help differentiate for you by placing students in instructional groups for a particular skill. Some will even prescribe assignments for students to complete based on where they are in understanding the concept. • Collect Virtual Assignments – Use an LMS to manage how students turn in their work. You won’t feel buried in paperwork. Simplifying your daily life as a teacher will offer more time to work directly with students to provide the appropriate support for their academic success. For more information about the process of making teaching more “doable,” refer to the blog article from the Christensen Institute. Scott Gotreau Director of Educational Technology Diocese of Orange
Finding Faith A Lenten Reflection For most, Christmas and Easter are the seasons of joy. Our environment is alive with the sights and sounds of the season; music, decorations, parties and lots of sales–everything that makes a celebration a celebration. For me, Lent is my season of joy. Untouched by the media, it is a season to intimately reflect on the experience that Jesus embraced as our Savior. In 2nd grade, I learned to give up something big enough during Lent to show that I understood and felt the concept of “sacrifice.” But as an adult, Lent is when I experience the most profound relationship and conversations
with God. There are no distractions. He reminds me that I am so loved that no sacrifice was too much to make salvation possible for me. He held me in His love before I was born. Life is inundated by our solo effort to survive and succeed. Lent reminds me that I’m not alone. Someone is always listening, caring and loving me, every moment of my life. In the quiet stillness of Lent, without distraction or hype, I quietly, peacefully celebrate that I am a child of God. Nanci De la Rosa-Ricco Diocese of Orange – Department of Catholic Schools Primary Designated SEVIS Official
Calendar of Events Orange County Catholic Schools March and April 2018
March 27 Diocesan Principal Association Meetings Secondary 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. Pastoral Center-1C Elementary 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. Cathedral Academy Gym April 1 - April 7 Easter Week April 10 Curriculum Committee Meeting 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Pastoral Center -1D April 12 Teacher Recruitment Fair 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. St. Norbert School Family and Youth Center April 14 Teacher Recruitment Fair 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Our Lady Queen of Angels School April 20 Conference on Business & Ethics April 24 Superintendent Council Meeting 1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m. Pastoral Center-1D April 25 Tech Coordinators Meeting 2:30 p.m.-4 p.m. Pastoral Center-1F April 26 Religion Coordinator Meeting 1 p.m.-3p.m. Pastoral Center-1F
Spotlight Continued... In Schmid’s classroom, students learn both individually and in small groups. They rotate through different subjects and activities – spelling, religious studies, math and English - often all in the same morning. Although Schmid uses traditional classroom teaching methods, she emphasizes technology as a foundation for learning. Schmid incorporates ST Math, a program used across Diocese of Orange schools that empowers students to learn at their own
Corner Continued... hopefully, will be pertinent. This month, I’d like to summarize an article, It’s Not Just What You Say, It’s How You Say It*, that highlights effective communication. Below are points about email communication that the article addresses: 1) Reduce word clutter in emails: Just like bright clothing and jewelry detract from what a person is saying, multiple ideas and excess words can detract from what you are saying. Stick to one idea and clear language. 2) Find the context and wordage use of
pace, through adaptive math programs. All students are issued an iPad or Chromebook laptop with customizable learning programs. “Technology gives us the ability to access resources our students often don’t have at home,” Schmid said. “It also allows me to differentiate between different learning levels, allowing me to tailor instruction to each individual student. Technology keeps students engaged.” Schmid, who grew up in South Bend, Ind., majored in psychology, but always wanted to pursue teaching, especially
the email tone: Since emails do not have facial expressions or tone inflections, it’s highly important to communicate information in a positive word selection “tone.” Read over the email prior to sending to ensure that what is said will be “heard” and not elicit anger or frustration. 3) Setting the right tone for your audience: An email to a colleague would have a different tone than one to a parent. Always maintain professionalism as well as support for the person on the other end, depending upon the audience. 4) Find and maintain trust through inperson contact: Teachers relying only
in schools serving Hispanic populations. She said her experience teaching in an economically diverse area like Santa Ana has been rewarding, and she’s developed a newfound gratitude for education. “The moment you step into a teaching position you earn a gratitude for every teacher you’ve ever had,” Schmid said. “Teaching is a heavy-input profession there’s a lot that goes into it. I’ve learned so much every day. I’ve learned that God has a plan. And it’s awesome.” To learn more about the ACE program, visit https://ace.nd.edu.
on email communication with parents often run the risk of not developing an emotional connection. Face-to-face meetings with colleagues and parents are meant to establish a level of trust. Follow-through emails can then be used to communicate messages based upon a positive platform. 5) Know when spoken words are best: Sometimes a call works better than an email! May the blessings of Lent be with you. Happy communicating! *Posted by Amy Barnes, October 3, 2017; School Leaders Now