MACSC Newsletter
Serving parish, diocesan, and independent Catholic schools in the (arch)dioceses of Baltimore, Washington, Arlington, Richmond, Wheeling-Charleston, and Wilmington.
- Baltimore- Archbishop O'Brien to meet with community leaders to focus on future of Catholic schools.
- Washington - Archbishop Carroll High School approved to offer International Baccalaureate program.
- Arlington- An eighth grader shares how St. Ambrose celebrates service.
- Richmond - Students learn about the legislative process
- Wheeling-Charleston- Forty-one high school students attended the National March for Life Rally in DC
- Wilmington - St. Mark's senior receives top honor for music. Read the School News section of The Dialog
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MACSC MissionTo make Catholic Schools the schools of choice for Catholic children and families, and all who may desire an education rooted in the Catholic Tradition and Gospel values.
Contact Us
Mid-Atlantic Catholic Schools Consortium
10 Francis Street
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: 410-280-0142
Fax: 410-269-1790
We welcome your comments and feedback at: midatlanticcsc@gmail.com
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http://www.midatlanticcsc.org/
Read about the recent activities and projects of the Mid-Atlantic Catholic Schools Consortium staff and member dioceses:
Dear Friends of the Mid-Atlantic Catholic Schools Consortium,
Happy Valentine’s Day to you and yours! We hope you will take the time to read this edition of our newsletter which is our Valentine’s greeting to you.
We have many opportunities in the month of February to express our affection and appreciation for our Catholic schools and for the many teachers, families, benefactors, and donors whose sacrifices and commitment continue to sustain the important tradition of Catholic schools. The state legislatures are now in session in each of our Consortium states. Please think about how you can communicate with your legislators about the importance of Catholic schools to your state and our families. Each of our Catholic Conferences provides information on how you can contact your legislator. If you have not yet done so, please register with your Catholic Conference to receive important legislative updates (You can find the Conferences on our website). Now, more than ever, we need the support of the entire Catholic community to protect and secure access to Catholic schools for all of our children.
The Consortium continues to work to bring new benefits and cost savings to all of our Catholic schools and locations. Please consider our conference call program and the purchasing opportunities available through US Communities and Office Depot. We are introducing new initiatives for trash and recycling services and collaborating to expand our energy cooperatives. If you have suggestions for other projects, please share them.
We look forward to our second session in our Pastor and Principal Institute and are grateful for the leadership and commitment demonstrated by these outstanding teams.
Again, Happy Valentine’s Day and every best wish,
Mary Ellen Hrutka, PhD
For all our news and programs, check out the MACSC website.
The Consortium has created fact sheets for several of our dioceses. Check out www.DiscoverCatholicSchools.org for information to share with parents, grandparents, and students as they consider Catholic Schools and a future of faith, fulfillment and achievement.
We currently have Fact Sheets available in English and Spanish for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Diocese of Arlington, and the Diocese of Richmond. (Others are coming soon).
Archdiocese of Baltimore:
The Catholic Diocese of Baltimore (PDF)
Las Escuelas Católicas de la Arquidiócesis de Baltimore (PDF)
Diocese of Arlington
The Catholic Diocese of Arlington (PDF)
La Diócesis Católica de Arlington (PDF)
Diocese of Richmond
The Catholic Diocese of Richmond (PDF)
The Catholic Diocese of Richmond (PDF)
Pastor and Principal Leadership Institute
On February 26th, our 23 teams of pastors and principals from the six Mid-Atlantic (arch)dioceses meet again for a one day workshop as part of the year-long Pastor and Principal Leadership Institute. This session will focus on leadership and contemporary communications. Reverend Michael J. Garanzini, SJ, President of Loyola University, Chicago will provide the keynote address on leadership for pastors and principals. Mr. Bill Black, Senior Vice President and Senior Partner, Fleishman-Hillard, will lead the afternoon session on strategic and effective communications that utilize new tools and techniques. Our teams will also provide updates on their school-based projects. Dr. Lorraine Ozar, Director of the Center for Catholic School Effectiveness at Loyola University, Chicago, continues to serve as our facilitator and curriculum expert.
The Institute is supported by generous donations from FACTS Management Company, William H. Sadlier, Inc., The Raskob Foundation for Catholic Activities, and The Marion I. & Henry J. Knott Foundation.Gifted and Talented Program in Norfolk - Update
Four schools in the Diocese of Richmond have been participating in a unique pilot program designed to provide instruction for all children enrolled in the Catholic schools in the City of Norfolk, VA using the principles of gifted and talented instruction. The principals and teachers from the four schools have been meeting regularly. The principals have observed that the collaborative efforts within and among the schools has impacted student achievement and school improvement.
Get the full update and read more about this unique program.
BOAST Maryland Legislative Reception
Support the BOAST Maryland Tax Credit - Building Opportunities for All Students and Teachers - by attending a BOAST Maryland Legislative Reception. The Maryland Catholic Conference is calling all Catholic school students, teachers, parents and supporters to join them on Wednesday, March 4th from 9 am - 1 pm to encourage legislators to support the BOAST tax credit. Register for the March 4th reception by February 23rd.
Learn more. Download a flyer or go to www.boastmaryland.org for more information!
Our Lady of Fatima parish in New Castle, Delaware is looking for anyone with extra cartons of T-12 Fluorescent Bulbs. If you've switched to new T-8 technology and have extra bulbs, they will purchase them from you. Contact Bob Boyd, Manager of Operations & Facilities at Our Lady of Fatima Parish & School at manager@olfschool.com if you have extras to unload.
MACSC Marketplace is a new feature to match up schools and parishes looking to purchase, sell or donate items. Do you have a surplus of supplies you want to sell? Recent renovations leave you with excess furniture? Or... are you looking to stock up on an item? Trying to match a discontinued item?
If so, send your request to midatlanticcsc@gmail.com to include in future newsletters. Be sure to include the point of contact.
New Lower Conference Calling Rate Available
We are pleased to announce that our conference call plan rate was reduced to 4 cents a minute. All our Catholic schools, dioceses and other locations and all friends of the Consortium are now eligible to received this preferred rate.
There are no contracts or monthly minimum call requirements. Please share with your friends and family. Learn more
Through the MACSC partnership with US Communities and Office Depot you can have access to great discounts on products and services.
Don’t have your US Communities or Office Depot account login? Email midatlanticcsc@gmail.com
Want an account? Schools, parish offices and other non-profits in the six Mid-Atlantic dioceses are eligible to join under the Consortium. Email midatlanticcsc@gmail.com
More information on the vendors and the benefits.
ING Unsung Heroes
Are you an educator with a class project that is short on funding but long on potential? Do you know a teacher looking for grant dollars? ING Unsung Heroes® could help you turn great ideas into reality for students.Award Range: $2,000 - $25,000
Deadline: April 30, 2009
To apply: ING Unsung Heroes Grant Application
Teaching Tolerance
Teaching Tolerance offers grants of $500 to $2500 to preK-12 classroom teachers for projects designed to reduce prejudice among youth, improve intergroup relations in schools and/or support educator professional development in these areas.
Award Range: $500 - $2,500
Deadline: Ongoing
To apply: http://www.tolerance.org/teach/grants/guide.jsp
Check out additional grant and financial resources on the MACSC website.
As we celebrate Valentine's Day this month, we share a message of love and charity....
Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, (love) is not pompous, it is not inflated,
it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,
it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.