MACSC Newsletter
Serving parish, diocesan, and independent Catholic schools in the (arch)dioceses of Baltimore, Washington, Arlington, Richmond, Wheeling-Charleston, and Wilmington.
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Baltimore- Our Lady Mt. Carmel's Msgr. Hartnett recognized with NCEA Distinguished Pastor Award
- Washington - Blessed Sacrament School celebrates the Levie Arts Festival (April 1-3) to develop its students' curiosity and enhance the excitement of learning. Click here to see the all the great activities.
- Arlington- High School Students sweep pro-life essay contest.
- Richmond - High Schools report to Bishop DiLorenzo that religion programs are clear on Catholic identity.
- Wheeling-Charleston- St. Mary's is the only elementary school in the nation to participate in high school level poetry contest.
- Wilmington - Science classes are getting students out of books and into labs.
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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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Read about the recent activities and projects of the Mid-Atlantic Catholic Schools Consortium staff and member dioceses:
- IDEA Research Project with ACE Consulting
- Office Depot - Annual Rebate
- Grant Opportunities
- Saint Patrick
Happy St. Patrick's Day to you! Today we share and celebrate the wonderful lessons and legacy of St. Patrick. We are blessed to have four schools named for St. Patrick in the Mid-Atlantic region and extend special greetings to their students and teachers and families.
The Consortium continues to think about green in many ways. We are continuing our efforts to increase resources for our children, teachers and schools. This month we will distribute the first Office Depot rebate checks to our superintendents which will benefit the tuition assistance programs in each diocese. Thanks to all of you who are purchasing through U.S. Communities and Office Depot. We look forward to even a larger pot of green next year.
Across the Consortium, our schools are increasing their goals of "going green" and becoming even more responsible stewards of God's resources. To help them, we are introducing a new trash and recycling program which will lower the costs and bring new and environmentally appropriate recycling and other green services to our schools, parishes and other Catholic locations. You can find more information on our Partner Vendor website about Consolidated Green Services.
We continue to focus on the larger issues of affordability and the national, state and regional efforts required to ensure that all families can choose the educational options most appropriate for their children. We thank you for your support of the BOAST tax credit legislation in Maryland, School Choice Virginia, the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program, and the inclusion of private schools in the stimulus package Your efforts to contact your elected officials are so important and make a difference. Please look for updated information on our website about all of these important legislative initiatives.
We are inspired and encouraged by the words of St. Patrick in his Prayer for the Faithful. May God continue to bless you and yours and our children, teachers and Catholic Schools.
Mary Ellen Hrutka, PhD
For all our news and programs, check out the MACSC website.
The BOAST Maryland Tax Credit, a proposal that would increase scholarships for Catholic school students, provide grants to Catholic school teachers, and help stabilize enrollment at Catholic schools, is under consideration by the Maryland General Assembly. BOAST (Building Opportunities for All Students and Teachers), SB 715/HB 1259, passed the state Senate last year but was stalled in the House.
This year, the momentum to pass BOAST is strong. Together with other nonpublic schools and educational enrichment programs, the Maryland Catholic Conference is a founding member of the BOAST Alliance of Maryland. Catholic schools are playing an important role in the passage of BOAST and are excited to team up this year with enrichment programs like Boys and Girls Club, the Maryland Mentoring Partnership, and the National Aquarium in Baltimore to help pass the bill.
BOAST is modeled on a Pennsylvania program and offers a 75 percent state income tax credit to businesses that donate to scholarship organizations for nonpublic school students or enrichment programs for public school students. Because of the state’s tight budget situation, the 2009 BOAST bill simply authorizes the program but does not contain funding. Hearings on the bill were held March 10 in the state House and March 11 in the state Senate and included Catholic school students from around the state. Visit boastmaryland.org or mdcathcon.org to keep up-to-date on BOAST news!Learn more about BOAST and how you can support this initiative
Update on DC Opportunity Scholarship Program
Please click on the link below to read an update on the future of the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program from Patricia Weitzel-O'Neill, Ph.D., Superintendent of Schools, Archdiocese of Washington.
Letter from Dr. Weitzel-O'Neill
Pastor and Principal Leadership Institute
Twenty-two teams of Pastors and Principals met again for the February session of the Pastor and Principal Leadership Institute. This was a follow up to their initial session in October. The participants reported on their team projects which include such initiatives as increasing access to technology, exploring local business partnerships, engaging parents, creating and sustaining an endowment fund, and starting a summer academy.
The keynote address was given by Reverend Michael J. Garanzini, SJ, President, Loyola University Chicago on “Leading and Managing 21st Century Schools.” In the afternoon, Bill Black, Senior Vice President and Senior Partner, Fleishman-Hillard, Inc. presented on "Contemporary Communication Strategies and Opportunities" for the schools. Dr. Lorraine Ozar, Director, Center for Catholic School Effectiveness, Loyola University Chicago, School of Education, facilitated for the day.
The teams meet for their final session of the year in June.
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.
Impact of Stimulus Package on Catholic Schools
President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) includes unprecedented amounts of federal funds for education programs, some of which will benefit religious and independent schools.
The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) prepared a report to help private school officials understand the opportunities available under ARRA.
Read Private Schools and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
IDEA Research Project with ACE Consulting
The Mid-Atlantic Catholic Schools Consortium is partnering with the ACE Consulting Program of the University of Notre Dame on a collaborative research project. The purpose is to assist our six (arch)dioceses in advocating for the fair distribution of services available to their students from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, known as IDEA. This project builds on the Consortium's initial federal programs project which identified thousands of unclaimed federal dollars allocated to our students and teachers through the No Child Left Behind program. We have worked with each diocese to increase their access to timely and effective consultation and additional resources for students and teachers. The IDEA project will begin this spring.
U.S. Communities - New savings with Fisher Science Education
Fisher Science Education has joined the U.S. Communities program. This means savings of at least 30% on science supplies and materials.
Contact uscommunities@thermofisher.com to learn more about their products and the savings available to you.
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In the initial program year, the six (arch)dioceses earned a total of $9,038.00 in rebates by purchasing office supplies through a consortium wide account. The funds will be used to support their tuition assistance programs.
Through the MACSC partnership with U.S. Communities and Office Depot you can have access to nationally-negotiated discounts on products and services.
Don’t have your U.S. 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.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the Mathematics Education Trust (MET)
MET provides funds to support classroom teachers in the areas of improving classroom practices and increasing teachers' mathematical knowledge.
Award Range: Varies
Deadline: May 9, 2009
To apply: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
A+ for Energy Program
The BP America Foundation recognizes PreK-12 teachers for innovation and excellence in teaching energy and/or energy conservation in the classroom.
Award Range: $5,000 - $10,000
Deadline: April 6, 2009
To apply: A+ for Energy Program
Check out additional grant and financial resources on the MACSC website.
Wishing everyone a happy and joyous St. Patrick's Day. And special greetings to our schools in the Consortium named after this Apostle of Ireland.
St. Patrick's Catholic School (Rockville, MD)
Saint Patrick Catholic School (Norfolk, VA)
Saint Patrick Catholic School (Fredericksburg, VA)
St. Patrick Catholic School (Weston, WV)
We share the Prayer for the Faithful by Saint Patrick
May the Strength of God guide us.
May the Power of God preserve us.
May the Wisdom of God instruct us.
May the Hand of God protect us.
May the Way of God direct us.
May the Shield of God defend us.
May the Angels of God guard us.
- Against the snares of the evil one.
May Christ be with us!
May Christ be before us!
May Christ be in us,
Christ be over all!
May Thy Grace, Lord,
Always be ours,
This day, O Lord, and forevermore. Amen.
Learn more about Saint Patrick.