May 5, 2003

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

1.    Of Interest to Mentors:  A Vanderbilt training session for mentors will be held June 11-13 by the RPDC (Regional Professional Development Center.)  The cost of the training session is $75.00.  The location is yet to be announced but should be in the Columbus area.  Eighteen contact hours can be earned for attendance.  For more detailed information, contact Cindy Butchko, teacher at Immaculate Conception School, Columbus (614-267-6579).

2.    Summer Institute 2003:  The Upper Arlington and Worthington school districts will present a two day workshop for teachers on August 13 and 14.  Features of the workshop include a panel of national board certified teachers, multiple intelligence strategies for the classroom, global hot topics and much more.  The Institute will offer college credit (Bowling Green State University) or CEU options.
        Registration is available on-line at https://www.centrak.net/uacs/summerinst/register.asp.

3.    Teacher and Administrator Exchange Program:  Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the Fulbright Teacher and Administrator Exchange Program arranges direct one-to-one exchanges.  In most cases, both teachers secure a leave of absence with pay from their home institutions and then trade classrooms for the school year.  The program is open to educators from K-12 schools, and two-year and four-year colleges.
        Requirements - U.S. citizenship; fluency in English; bachelor's degree or higher; three years full-time teaching experience; current full-time teaching or administrative position.
        In addition to the general eligibility requirements, the applicant must also meet country specific subject, level, and language requirements detailed in the application.  There is no age limit.  Educators with families are encouraged to apply and bring their families along on the exchange.
        Most exchanges occur for an academic year.  Argentina, Mexico, Peru and the UK offer fall-semester exchanges.  The UK and Morocco offer six-week exchanges.  In addition to the teacher exchanges, there are administrative exchange opportunities in Argentina, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Mexico, Romania, Slovak Republic, Thailand, Turkey and the United Kingdom.  Jordan, Oman and Uruguay currently offer opportunities to host incoming administrators during site visits to the United States.  Germany offers a special program for U.S. superintendents to study school systems there for several weeks.  The program also offers an eight-week seminar in Italy or Greece for teachers of Latin, Greek or the Classics.
        The application deadline is October 15, 2003 for the 2004-05 program year.  The Fulbright Teacher and Administrator Exchange Program strives to reflect the ethnic diversity of the U.S. teaching population.  All country programs are tentative, subject to the availability of funds.
        To receive an application, telephone 1.800.726.0479, fax 202.479.6806 or e-mail fulbright@grad.usda.gov, or write to Fulbright Teacher and Administrator Exchange Program, Attention:  FCS, 600 Maryland Avenue SW, Suite 320, Washington, DC   20024-2520.   Application also available at www.fulbrightexchanges.org.

4.    Kindergarten Teachers Meeting Reminder:  The K teachers will meet at Champs at Easton on May 7 at 4:30.  The topic to be discussed is "End of the Year Activities & Field Trip Sites/Ideas."

5.    Weekly Religion Ideas Week of May 5-9:
            For Teachers - Throughout the year many teachers/catechists look through the objectives in the Religion Graded Course of Study K-12 that are connected with human sexuality.  Principals and Catechetical Leaders received a copy of these Human Sexuality objectives which are marked with two asterisks.**  If you need a copy of these, contact your religious education consultant. 
            For the younger grades topics like being aware of feelings, recognizing one's gifts and those of others, respect and care for one's body and those of others are important to emphasize.  For the intermediate level identifying their physical, emotional and intellectual needs, knowing that life is sacred from conception to death, the importance of building relationships, and having an awareness of the influence of contemporary society on living as a Christian would be important.  For the junior high level stressing Christian values and virtues in building and maintaining relationships, discussing various types of intimacy and various lifestyles or vocations which reflect a person's values, and defining the Catholic Church's teachings on moral issues would be good to emphasize.  For high school looking at how things in our society can dehumanize and abuse persons, describing conversion as it relates to morality, looking at the role of the community in Catholic moral formation and the religious dimensions of ethical issues would be good to study.
            For the Classroom - We have textbooks that can be used which are on our approved list - Benziger, Family Life (Grades K-8); Harcourt Religion Publishers, Growing in Love (Grades K-8); Sadlier, God's Own Making (Grades 4-8).  All these series can be used in the classroom or in the home.  Sensitive issues can be discussed in the classroom and/or at home through the parent handouts/booklets.  Connecting discussions about human growth and development with religion classes can connect the fact of human sexuality being a gift from God that helps each person grow in their personal identity.  Ave Maria Press, Your Life in Christ:  Foundations of Catholic Morality (Grades 9-12); Resources for Christian Living, Morality (Grades 9-12).
            Resources - Print Material for Adults - Human Sexuality:  A Catholic Perspective for Education and Lifelong Learning; Fran Ferder and John Heagle, Your Sexual Self (Ave Maria Press).  These are at the Department of Religious Education Resource Center.
            Videos -   VC 6732    Why Boys and Girls are Different - Pre-K
                            VC 6733    Where Do Babies Come From? - P
                            VC 6643    New and Improved Me:  Understanding Body Changes - IJ
                            VC 6735    Sex and the New You - J
                            VC 7056    Catholic Values and Sexuality
                            VC 6811    Sex, Lies and the Truth - JSA
                            VC 7179    No Apologies:  The Truth About Life, Love and Sex - JSA
                            VC 7180    Sex, Love and Relationships:  Straight Talk with Pam Stenzel - JSA
                            VC 6905    Human Sexuality:  Wonderful Gift, Awesome Responsibility - SA
These are all in the Department of Religious Education Media Center and many more are in the media catalog.   

 6.    Remember in your prayers
            . . . Kathy O'Dwyer, teacher at Trinity School, who is hospitalized.
            . . . Bob Kauderer, husband of St Cecilia School aide Judy Kauderer, who has had recent surgery.
            . . . Jan Reis, teacher at Saint Cecilia School, who is recovering from surgery.

Comments to office@cdeducation.org

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