MAY 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.
MAY 2018
Staff Spotlight: Jason Lawrence
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ason Lawrence has built one of the region’s top robotics programs at Santa Margarita Catholic High School. For his work, commitment and leadership, Lawrence was recently named among the Top 25 teachers in Orange County by Parenting OC Magazine. Lawrence oversees the high school’s robotics team, SMbly Required. The team regularly takes top honors at FIRST Robotics Competitions, which brings together high school robotics programs from across the globe. “The program is very holistic,” he said. “It touches on all parts of the work force.” Students in the after-school program learn the fundamentals of engineering and design. They work collaboratively to build robots, while taking on tasks like project management, problem solving, organizational communication and leadership. “The program incorporates the whole business side of what we do,” he said. “It’s like running an engineering company. Students are the employees and the leadership.” Students learn from professionals See Staff Spotlight on Page 2
School Spotlight
ST. IRENAEUS PARISH SCHOOL IN CYPRESS
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t St. Irenaeus Parish School, faith extends beyond the four walls of the classroom and it starts with staff and faculty. During the school week, teachers speak of Jesus’ love and care for those in need. On the weekend, they take the concept of “practice what you preach” to a whole new level as they engage in multiple activities to help their community. Administrators, teachers and staff are committed to helping students become “faith-filled active Catholics.” Students are prepared to face the challenges they will encounter in high school and beyond. Coach Rodolfo Flores is one of many
Superintendent’s corner
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ith Easter behind us and the weather warming, we are now asking the question: “Is summer far behind?” Of course we know the answer, and it puts us educators into a bit of a panic because of the myriad of things on our plates before the door is closed on this school year. See Corner on Page 2
examples of the commitment to service from the St. Irenaeus teaching community. This year, Coach Flores ran the Los Angeles Marathon for a special cause – to raise money for the Special Olympics Southern California, as well as St. Irenaeus Parish School. The fundraising effort will help enrich the lives of athletes with intellectual disabilities. Coach Flores, who has been teaching physical education at St. Irenaeus since 2005, has gathered the support of family, friends, and the entire school community to help him achieve his mission of helping those in need.
SALLY TODD Though we are faced with the dilemma of the flurry of end-of-year activities, I would like us to continue to reflect on how both our elementary and our secondary students are growing
Innovative Teaching Is Technology Taking Over Your Job?
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e hear it repeatedly: Technology has automated another job, leaving more workers unemployed. Amazon alone has impacted the retail industry significantly enough to force companies into closing stores. So what about education? Are teachers’ jobs jeopardized by those little machines that can access so much information? After all, we live in an age where online education is becoming more prevalent than ever and Siri, Alexa, and Google apparently know as much as any professor. Free online classes (known as MOOCs) and Khan Academy are just a few ways students can learn without a teacher. And let’s face it, today’s students would much rather learn from these sources than from the “sage on the stage.” Ultimately technology’s impact on teachers boils down to one question: What is your primary role as a teacher? If you responded that it is to provide information to, or impart knowledge on your students, you can be headed for the unemployment line, courtesy of technology’s hostile takeover. We humans cannot compete with the vast amounts of information available to students at their fingertips. At last there is some good news. Teachers can save themselves from those job-eating machines. According to Michael Trucano, the World Bank’s senior education & technology policy specialist and global lead for innovation in education, “Introducing new technologies will, however, replace some of the things that teachers do – and require that teachers take on new, often times more sophisticated, duties and responsibilities.” In other words, what is required for many teachers is a shift in mindset about teaching. The teacher is no longer the font of all knowledge. Thus, their instructional practices must reflect that shift. Whole class lecture and note-taking has lost its effect on learning.
Teachers must choose to educate in ways that technology cannot. 1. Personal Interaction – Computers are great at providing data from a standardized test, but they can never measure the heart of a student, nor their feelings. The personal connection between teacher and student is invaluable. Only a teacher can truly understand a student’s full needs. 2. Collaboration – While it is possible to collaborate virtually, students still need to work together in a live environment. Collaboration with other human beings is a major concern for businesses. These skills can only be addressed in a live setting. 3. Communication – Of course digital communication (email, social media, text, etc.) is important. Just as important is the ability to communicate through writing and speech. These areas simply cannot be assessed effectively by technology. 4. Creativity/Critical Thinking/Problem Solving – Students need to develop these skills to be successful in their careers. Again, the ability of technology to provide the coaching necessary to develop these skills is quite limited. These are just a few areas in which human teachers far surpass data-filled machines. There is no doubt that technology provides an essential benefit to education and there is much research that bears this out. No matter how advanced artificial intelligence becomes, there will never be a substitute for the Godgiven gifts of humans to other humans. So rest assured that your job is secure if your mindset is right. For more information, check out Michael Trucano’s blog post at http://blogs.worldbank.org/edutech/techand-teachers Scott Gotreau Director of Educational Technology Diocese of Orange
Finding Faith
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Calendar of Events Orange County Catholic Schools May 2018
Wednesday, May 9
Tech Task Force Meeting 2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. Pastoral Center – 1D
May 7- May 18
Renaissance Testing Window #3
Thursday, May 10
Extended Care Meeting 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Pastoral Center – 1AB
Tuesday, May 15
Diocesan Principal Association Meetings Secondary 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. Pastoral Center- 1D Elementary 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Cathedral Academy
Wednesday, May 23
Consultative School Board 7:30 a.m. – 10 a.m. Pastoral Center -1AB
Monday, May 28 Memorial Day
Tuesday, May 29
Diocesan Curriculum Committee 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Pastoral Center-1D
here is an even flow of liturgical seasons from Lent to Easter to the time when the flow seems to subside. We are then in Ordinary time. Life is anything but ordinary - especially when it includes, at its core, faith. Lent allowed me to savor a quiet, profound dialogue with Our Lord. Easter brings me into the joyful light of His resurrection. I will then have months to continue my conversation and savor the precious gift of life that He gives me every amazing day. When I take time to look around me and listen, I feel his presence near me. I feel calm and loved. The beauty that he surrounds me with is sometimes overwhelming. I choose to see beyond the things that cloud my view of what has been created for me. If you go to the beach this summer, take a moment to really look at the ocean, the sky. Look at the children with slightly burned cheeks and sand in their hair. There is nothing ordinary about a life that is full of an unconditional love and gifted every day with these precious moments. Each season celebrates something beautiful. I choose to call this next season Extraordinary time. Nanci De la Rosa-Ricco Diocese of Orange – Department of Catholic Schools Primary Designated SEVIS Official (PDSO)
Spotlight Continued... from local universities and engineering firms, who serve as teachers as mentors. Students are also exposed to various industries and career tracks – marketing, business and engineering. “Students are given a platform to explore their interests,” he said. “One hundred percent of my students can go professional in their field.” Lawrence volunteered to organize the robotics team, which was founded in 2015.
Corner Continued... in becoming the self-assured leaders that we wish them to be — both today and in the future. How do we help them to “stand on their own two feet” with grace and dignity? Having been in education 45 years as a teacher and an administrator, the word “shifting” has been one of my favorites in the changing world of teaching and learning. Therefore, in Catholic education today, I am using “shifting” in my own perceptions in relation to my thoughts direction. 1. Shifting from a focus on “product” to “process.” It is not necessarily what students know, but how they got there.
The team has since earned high honors at many competitions, including the 2016 FIRST Robotics Competition World Championship where they earned second ranked rookie team in their division. Lawrence grew up in Michigan attending Christian schools. His teachers had a positive influence on him, and their work inspired him to become a teacher. “My teachers cared and made a difference in the lives of their students,” he said. “Ministry was something always important to me. Taking God’s word and
Learning is not an end; adapting, embracing and thinking critically open the world of learning. 2. Shifting from a focus on “assessment” to “self-assessment.” If we are shifting in education to focus more on the “process of learning,” our learners will have to be able to assess their progress through their own unique journeys—a component of student-centered learning! 3. Shifting from “technology-integration” to “innovative teaching and learning.” For the past few years, the focus has been on what technology we should use. Instead, “shifting” the mindset framework to the type of learning that needs to take place and then
seeing it make a difference in people’s lives was the most inspirational thing to me.” The robotics program at Santa Margarita helps students develop concepts they’ve learn in the classroom and often leads them to develop interest in new fields, Lawrence said. “Anyone can learn robotics,” Lawrence said. “Students don’t need to come in with anything more than a desire to learn, gain new skills and have fun.”
incorporating the correct methodology to accomplish desired results should take precedence. Finally, for all this shifting, focusing on the internalization of faith of our students in our Catholic schools will always remain primary and constant. Our job is not to prepare students for something. Our job is to help students prepare themselves for anything. -A.J. JulianiMay you be blessed as you continue your journey toward the end of the school year — hopefully, no rough bumps!