February 9, 2004

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

1.    American Electric Power Workshop:   AEP, in conjunction with local universities and organizations in eight states, will sponsor 19 workshops for teachers of grades K-12 in summer 2004.  Course topics will include energy, environmental, economic and scientific inquiry issues.
        Workshops range from two to ten days.  Many offer graduate credit.
        For further information contact Barry Schumann at 614-716-1668.

2.    Starlight Express:  Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Starlight Express, a feel good musical with something for everyone, will be presented at the Ohio Theater in Columbus from April 20th through the 25th.  The show is appropriate for all ages.  To order group tickets call 614-224-7654 (ext. 226).

3.    Middle Childhood Education:  In response to requests from the field, the State Board of Education has passed a resolution creating a Middle Childhood Education Generalist Endorsement for grades 4 through 6.  This endorsement permits these teachers to add the remaining content areas to their license so they can teach in self-contained classrooms.  To earn the endorsement, teachers must take six additional semester hours of coursework in each of the remaining content areas and pass a test of content knowledge in the two additional areas.
        Colleges and universities are currently identifying the courses that will be required from their institutions for teachers wishing to add this endorsement.

4.    ODU Fee Waiver Policy:  Ohio Dominican University will honor fee waivers for the M.Ed. program only and not their other masters programs.  One fee waiver may be used for one undergraduate course.  One fee waiver may be used for one credit hour of a graduate-level education course.  Only one fee waiver may be used per course per person.

5.    Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Monterey, California:  The Diocese of Monterey is seeking a qualified and experienced educational leader who is deeply committed to further the development of the faith life and academic excellence of the thirteen elementary and five high schools within the Diocese.  The position is effective July 1, 2004.
        For further information contact: 
            Stefanie Olsen, Associate Director
            Human Resources
            631 Abrego Street
            PO Box 2048
            Monterey CA    93942
            humanres@dioceseofmonterey.org

6.    Weekly Religion Ideas:
        Baptism and Lent:  Objectives Standard III:D-1,11,14,20
        For the Teacher - Renewing our commitment to our Baptism is the focus for Lent.  The General Directory for Catechesis (GDC) states that "the adult baptismal catechumenate is the inspiration for all catechesis.  The catechumenal formation should inspire the other forms of catechesis in both their objectives and in their dynamism."  #59.  What are some of the components of that catechumenal process?
1)    Reminding of and preparing students for the initiation sacraments:  Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.
2)    Sharing of their faith journeys in their life.  Key moments.
3)    Reflecting on their personal experiences of scripture, prayer, sacraments, the church community, service, reconciliation, decision making and understanding the Catholic Tradition according to their age level.
4)    Asking them where is God is inviting them to grow.
This would be a wonderful model of all religion lessons during Lent and perhaps during the entire year.

        For the Classroom:  How could this focus of Baptism and the initiation sacraments be celebrated/remembered in the classroom?
1)    Review the meaning of Baptism...have them bring in their candles, certificates, pictures of when they were baptized.  Celebrate Baptismal days with prayer, a song, a treat.  Have a renewal of the baptismal vows some time during this season.
2)    Discuss the meaning of sacramental symbols in:  sign of the cross, pouring of immersion in water, anointing with oil, the white garment, receiving the sacred bread and wine, laying on of hands.
3)    Share the meaning of the Sunday readings or at least the Gospel for our lives now.
4)    Teach them new prayer forms of our tradition:  common rote prayers, meditative prayer, prayer with song and gesture, contemplative prayer, spontaneous prayer, liturgy of the hours, written and journal prayers, etc.  Have regular time for prayer and prayer services during Lent. Pray for those joining the Church at this time.
5)    Adopt a particular service that the class will do so they realize Baptism is for service to others in the church or wider world community.

    Resources - Pamphlet "Christian Initiation of Adults" from Our Sunday Visitor.
Videos - VC 7382 A Child's View of Community and VC 7381 Teen Discipleship.  There are videos on Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.  Call your consultant.  We have several Books on Prayer - In My Heart Room by M. Terese Donze, ASC (Liguori Publishers), Guided Mediations for Children (2 levels); Prayer Times for Primary and Intermediate Grades by M. Kathleen Glavich, SND; Let us Gather (Prayer Services) by Deborah McCann; (Twenty-Third Publications) Day by Day with God (Sadlier) Bless the Day by Patricia Mathson (Ave Maria Press) Celebrating the Gospels Cycles A, B, C by Gaynell Cronin (Liguori Publications).  All of these are in our Print Library.

7.    Please keep Peggy Griffith in your prayers.  Her mother died last Wednesday and her father-in-law died four weeks ago.  Peggy is the EMI algebra teacher in ten of our elementary schools and former teacher at Bishop Hartley.
 

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