March 8, 2004

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

1.    Culture Fest Reminder:  Mayor Michael Coleman and the City of Columbus Community Relations Commission invites you, your staff, student body and friends to join a learning celebration on Friday, May 14 at Columbus City Hall.
        This all-day event features various ethnic groups depicting lifestyles of their native nations.  Presentations include entertainment and displays of commodities by individuals clothed in their native attire.  Also, food vendors will offer menus from other countries.
        This is an excellent opportunity for group studies and contemplation toward understanding and accepting diversity in our community.   Learning can be experienced in a relaxed, interesting, and fun-filled festive atmosphere.
        If you desire, you may schedule a group tour of City Hall to coincide with your visit to the Culture Fest.
        Your earliest reply to this invitation will facilitate registration for school bus parking and/or a City Hall tour.
        Please respond by any of the following modes:
                    telephone:  614-645-1950
                    Fax:           614-645-1862
                    E-mail:       gagray@cmhmetro.net

2.    Workshop for the School Secretary:  A workshop especially designed for school secretaries will be held at the Marriott Northwest Hotel, Columbus on
April 21-22.  Featured speakers will include Devon Hansen, a specialist in anger and change management, and Ty Sells, a training manager with Youth to Youth.
        Topics include round table discussions concerning central office, attendance office, guidance office, middle school, stress on the job, time management.  Concurrent sessions include working with students who bully, haze, and/or harass, and working relationships between the principal and the secretary.
        For further information contact program director JoAnne Rubsam (614-430-8311/e-mail <jrubsam@oassa.org>.  Website:  www.oassa.org.

3.    Announcing Faith Formation Congress 2004:  Mark your calendars.  The 2004 Faith Formation Congress is coming soon!
            Date:    Saturday, November 13, 2004
            Place:    The Fawcett Center
                        2400 Olentangy River Road
                        Columbus, Ohio
        The day will open with a Eucharistic Liturgy with Bishop James A. Griffin as celebrant.  Fr. Donald Senior, CP will give the homily/keynote address and will offer a workshop during the first session.

4.    Weekly Religion Ideas: 
March 3, 2004, Eucharist:  Objectives Standard III:  C-2; D-6,7,8

For Teachers:  March is a time for getting students and their parents ready for the celebration of First Eucharist in our parishes.  Older students and adults also need review.  "The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy" ¶10 states:  "The liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; it is also the fount from which all her power flows...all who are made sons of God by faith and baptism should come together to praise God in the midst of his Church, to take part in the Sacrifice and to eat the Lord's Supper."  In the Eucharist we receive the Risen Body of Christ.  It is a different body than ours.  Students need to recognize that the Eucharist bread is holy and blessed and is different from the other bread they eat.  Procedure for receiving Holy Communion is being explained at the workshops that the Liturgy Office will have in March on the General Instruction of the Roman Missal which catechists should attend, especially those who are preparing students for First Eucharist.

For the Classroom/Retreats/Meetings:  Videos that could be used are
    6343    Maria's First Communion    P
    6488    Grandma's Bread    All
    6528    A Child's First Communion    PI
    7239    What Do We Do at Mass    PU
    7382    A Child's View of Community    PI
    6895    The Mass for Young Children    PI
    7357    Sacrament:  We Feed, Eucharist   I
    6749    What Catholics Believe About the Eucharist    JSA
    7281    Why Go to Mass?    SA  
    6840    How to Prepare Your Child for First Eucharist    P/T
    6873    First Communion:  Taking Your Place at the Table    A,P/T
    6986    Eucharist Tape 6 (Introduction to Catholicism)    SA
    6904    Eucharist:  A Taste of God    SA
    7040    A Walk Through the Mass    SA
    7333    The Sacrament of the Eucharist:  Past and Present    SA
    6858    Eucharist:  Celebrating Community    SA
    6810    Eucharist:  Celebrating Christ Present    A,P/T
    6866    With Burning Hearts    A

Resources:  We have many supplementary texts on First Eucharist in our curriculum library for younger and older students:  Books in our library:  Come to the Feast by Richard N. Fragomeni; and Making the Eucharist Matter by Frank Anderson, MSC.
Catholic Know-How Magazines:  Preparing Your Child for First Communion 8 pages, $1.95 from Our Sunday Visitor (1-800-348-2440) or www.osv.com.  Pamphlet:  A summary of Pope John Paul II's new encyclical on the Eucharist which gives the Church's teaching on the Eucharist and how we all can demonstrate more reverence for the Blessed Sacrament.  This is also from Our Sunday Visitor (package of 50, $12.95).

Second Reminder:  The Diocesan LPDC will meet on April 1st at St. Anthony School.  All teachers are required by the State Department of Education and the Diocese of Columbus to have an LPDC approved IPDP (Individual Professional Development Plan).  Any teacher who does not have an approved IPDP will not be permitted to renew a license.

OSU Fee Waiver Requests:  OSU fee waiver requests for summer quarter are due any time between now and April 5.

Reimbursement Reminder:  Teachers are reminded to look at Article 13.2 A through D in the COACE agreement to refresh their understanding of being reimbursed should they not receive a fee waiver.
        Teachers should also review Article 23 which concerns T.A.C.T.

Comments to: office@cdeducation.org

Back to Monday Musings Index