February 14, 2005

1.    Graduate Studies Opportunity:  Otterbein College will be having an Open House on February 24 to provide information and the opportunity to register for graduate classes.  More information is available at www.otterbein.edu/dept/educ/openhouse.

2.    Arab World Workshop for Teachers:  Designed for novices, this workshop will introduce participants to the language, traditions, and society of the Arab world.  Particular aspects of Arab culture will be highlighted, such as public baths and calligraphy, with the purpose of providing teachers points of interest which may be integrated into their curriculum.  Information on other educational resources will be provided as well.  Contact wightman.16@osu.edu for more information.
        Date of the workshop is March 19, 2005.

3.    Weekly Religion Ideas:  Lent - As we enter the season of Lent, some of your students may have questions about the many customs that take place.  So along with some resources brief explanations have also been provided.

        Ashes - Ashes are an ancient symbol of repentance (sackcloth and ashes).  They also remind us of our mortality ("remember that you are dust") and thus of the day when we will stand before God and be judged.  Being marked with ashes at the beginning of Lent indicates our recognition of the need for deeper conversion of our lives during this season of renewal.

        Giving Something Up - For older Catholics, the first thought that Lent brings to mind is giving something up.  In childhood, the standard was to give up candy, a discipline that found suitable reward in the baskets of sugary treats we received on Easter.  Some of even added to the Easter surplus by saving candy all through Lent, stockpiling what we would have eaten had we not promised to give it up.
        Lent is about conversion, turning our lives more completely over to Christ and his way of life.  That always involves giving up sin in some form.  The goal is not just to abstain for the duration of Lent but to root sin out of our lives forever.  Conversion means leaving behind an old way of living and acting in order to embrace new life in Christ.  For catechumens, Lent is a period intended to bring their initial conversion to completion.

        Lawrence E. Mick:  Our Sunday Visitor

        Abstinence and Fasting
1)    Abstinence on all the Fridays of Lent, and on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
        No meat may be eaten on days of abstinence.
        Catholics 14 years and older are bound to abstain from meat.
         The ill, pregnant and nursing mothers are exempt.
2)    Fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
        Fasting means having only one full meal to maintain one's strength.  Two smaller, meatless and penitential meals are permitted according to one's needs, but they should not together equal the one full meal.  Eating solid foods between meals is not permitted.
        Catholics over 18 but not yet 60 years are bound to fast.  Again, ill, pregnant and nursing mothers are exempt.

A Lenten Prayer
        Gracious God,
        during this Lenten season,
        As I ponder your word of life,
        may these words take root in my heart.

        Jesus, you told us that we do not live
        on bread alone, but on every word
        that comes from the mouth of God.

        As I ponder the word of life,
        may I hear God's word for me.

        Holy Spirit, open my heart
        that I may embrace the word of God and live it
        in truth and freedom.

        Amen.

Websites 
        Some great websites to pull material off for school and parish activities during lent
        1.    Sadlier Publishing:  www.webelieveweb.com
        2.    Our Sunday Visitor:  www.osv.com/lent.

4.    Principal Opening:
            The Diocese of Youngstown is seeking highly qualified candidates for the positions of principal at Holy Family School, Poland, Ohio and for Saint Patrick School, Kent, Ohio.  Candidates must be practicing Catholics and must have appropriate academic preparation that includes significant coursework in religious education.
            Send a resume with cover letter to Mrs. Judy Bogden
                                                                Office of Catholic Schools
                                                                144 W. Wood St.
                                                                Youngstown, OH    44503
                                                                www.ygnpersonnel@doy.org
            For further information call 330-744-8451, extension 286.

5.    Conservation Poster Contest:  The Franklin SWCD is once again sponsoring a poster contest on grocery paper bags.  The contest is open to all Franklin County students in grades K-12.  The winning posters will be displayed at events throughout the county, while the remaining poster bags are given to customers as regular grocery sacks, bringing the environmental message and students' art work into the community.  The awards ceremony for the winners will be held at the Rose Festival in Whetstone Park on June 11, 2005.
        The 2005 poster contest theme is "Celebrate Water Conservation" focusing on ways we can conserve and protect our local water resources.  The contest runs from Feb-April.  Students are judged in age categories, K-1, 2-3, 4-6, 7-8, 9-12.  Call Linda Pettit at 614-486-9613 to participate.

6.    Teaching Primitive Skills in the Classroom:  Early skills developed by native people around the world depend upon a great awareness of the environment.  Teaching these skills can hone students' observation skills and can get them excited about learning.  This hands-on workshop held on Saturday, March 19, 2005 from 8:30 am - 4:00 pm is geared to classroom teachers.  The presenters are from the Medicine Woods Nature Center.  It will be held at Highbanks Metro Park.  The registration fee is $15.  Geared for grades 4-12.

7.    Ohio Department of Education Seeks Nominees to Serve on Credential Review Board:  In June 2004, Senate Bill 2 directed the State Board of Education to establish a Credential Review Board to be responsible for assessing individuals pursuing alternative routes to educator licensure and out-of-state educators seeking licensure in Ohio.
        The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) is currently seeking individuals interested in serving on this 15-member Board, which will include three appointees from each of the following five stakeholder groups:
*School district administrators who have responsibilities in the area of human resources;
*Other practicing administrators including principals and superintendents;
*Classroom teachers with five or more years experience who have earned distinctions at the local, regional, state or national level;
*Higher education representatives from university teacher education departments;
*Community or business leaders with an informed perspective on educational issues.
        Credential Review Board Responsibilities - The primary responsibilities of the Credential Review Board will include the following:
*Serve as a forum for assessing qualifications of candidates for initial Ohio educator licensure who require analysis beyond a conventional review by the Office of Certification and Licensure.
*Conduct structured and systematic credential reviews that provide due process while maintaining a holistic, flexible and solution-focused approach;
*Take into consideration factors such as experience, academic qualifications obtained through accredited institutions, and professional accomplishments of candidates that may serve as a basis for meeting licensure requirements through alternative means.
        Board members will serve renewable two-year terms, except that initial appointments will be for either two- or three-year terms to vary the expiration of terms and to ensure continuity of service on the board.  Members also will participate in approximately three panel meetings per year, in addition to attending the two general meetings of the full board.
        How to Apply - ODE invites you to submit your application by mail, which can be downloaded at https://www.ode.state.oh.us/teaching-profession/crb.asp,  https://www.ode.state.oh.us/teaching-profession/crb.asp, by Friday, February 18, 2005, to Jennifer Kangas, Ohio Department of Education, 25 S. Front St., Mail Stop 105, Columbus, OH    43215.  For additional information. please contact Jennifer Kangas at 614-387-7717, or call toll free at 1-877-OHIO-EDU.

8.    Congratulations to:
            the eighth grade class at Saints Peter and Paul School, Wellston who placed tenth in the State (out of sixty competing schools) in the Thinking Cap Quiz Bowl Competition.
            the seventh grade Power of the Pen team from Saint Michael School, Columbus which placed third overall and the eighth grade team which placed second over-all.  The following students were among the top 15 writers in each group:  Kyle Becker, Emily Shultz, John Lyons, Megan Zagger.  Eleven students from St. Michael School will go on to compete in the regional tournament at New Albany Middle School in March.

Comments to office@cdeducation.org

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