MACSC Newsletter
Serving parish, diocesan, and independent Catholic schools in the (arch)dioceses of Baltimore, Washington, Arlington, Richmond, Wheeling-Charleston, and Wilmington.
- Baltimore- St. Louis School in Clarksville turns $300 donation into more than $1,000. The Catholic Review offering outreach contest to do the same. Deadline May 19. Details in article above.
- Washington -Ten teachers awarded for excellence and commitment to Catholic Education.
- Arlington- Ms. Chris Desmarais, Director of Paul VI Catholic High School's Options Program, was named a recipient of Exceptional Parent Magazine's Maxwell J. Schleifer Distinguished Service Award for her work on behalf of those with special needs or disabilities.
- Richmond - Discover more about the Catholic schools within the Catholic Diocese of Richmond.
- Wheeling-Charleston- Richard M. Barnabei is the new Dean/Athletic Director of Madonna High School.
- Wilmington - Outstanding High School Seniors Honored.
Support the Consortium
Your donation will help the Consortium increase awareness of our Catholic Schools. Your support will assist us to enhance the Catholic identity of our schools, provide contemporary leadership development, advocate for our children, leverage our combined purchasing power, and other efforts to ensure the continued availability of excellent, affordable, and accessible Catholic schools. Make a donation. Thank you for your generosity.
Go Green!
Tips for Improving the Environmental Impact of Schools
(This green tip brought to you by Consolidated Green Services. Trash and recycling program which will lower the costs and bring new and environmentally appropriate recycling and other green services. Contact them at MACSC@justsmartgreen.com)
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:
- Greetings from the Executive Director
St. Mary's Celebrating 140th Anniversary - Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Dear Friends of the Mid-Atlantic Catholic Schools Consortium,
Dear Friends,
Happy May! And May is a happy month for all of us as we welcome spring and the signs of renewal and tradition all around us. But it is especially happy for our children who are receiving their First Communion. I was honored to attend the celebration of the First Communion Mass for the second graders at St. Joseph Catholic School in Herndon, VA. Their excitement and joy on this special day was a reminder about the important role of our Catholic schools in preparing children to receive the sacraments and to develop the habits and values of faith-filled lives.
May is also an important time in the lives of our graduates. This year more than 7700 twelfth-grade students will graduate from 71 Catholic high schools across the 6 (arch)dioceses. We congratulate these students and wish them every blessing and success as they leave our secondary schools and prepare for college and their new responsibilities. Many of our graduates will receive full scholarships to attend colleges and universities across the country and we look forward to learning about their accomplishments in the future.
The Archdiocese of Washington continues to take a leadership role on behalf of the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program and urges permanent, full funding of the program for those already enrolled and to provide the same educational opportunity to all low-income students in the District. Of the 1,700 children in the program, 879 attend a Catholic elementary or high school. Please visit www.DCOpportunityScholarship.org for information on how you can help.
The Consortium continues to seek new resources and opportunities for all of our children, teachers and Catholic schools. Please visit our website at www.midatlanticcsc.org for updated grant opportunities and information on our strategic procurement programs.
And in this month of May, we conclude with a prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
With every best wish,
Mary Ellen Hrutka, PhD
For all our news and programs, check out the MACSC website.
St. Mary's Celebrates 140th Anniversary
St. Mary's School in Alexandria, Virginia celebrates its 140th anniversary. The school was established in 1868 by the Sisters of the Holy Cross.
The U.S. Department of Education released revised guidelines for Title IX which cover services for eligible private school students and teachers. The guidelines cover Title IX, Part E, Subpart 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and are designed to help private schools secure services for their students and teachers. Read the Guidance.
Read more about it in the CAPE May 2009 Newsletter or find more information on the U.S. Department of Education's website.
Webinar - "Education Stimulus: A Progress Report"
Education Week is hosting a free webinar on Thursday, May 21st, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Eastern time. "Education Stimulus: A Progress Report" will present an update on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, its impact on education and the progress to date.
Click here to register for this free event.
Catholic School Students Excel at Reading and Math
The National Center for Educational Statistics released a long term report that demonstrates Catholic school students have consistently scored higher in reading and math than their public school counterparts. Read the full report: The Nation's Report Card: Trends in Academic Progress in Reading and Mathematics 2008.
New Technology Products/Services Contract Through U.S. Communities
U.S. Communities announces a new Technology Products/ Equipment and Technology Services/Solutions contract. Participants can choose from several vendors for their technology needs.
TechDepot: Technology products and services
GTSI: Technology services and solutions
Insight Public Sector: Technology products/equipment and technology services/solutions
Learn more about these companies and all the products and services available to you at a discount through U.S. Communities.
Your school, parish, or non-profit organization can earn cash by simply searching the Internet or shopping online. GoodSearch.org uses a Yahoo based Internet search engine and gives an organization one cent per search. (100 supporters doing just 2 searches a day adds up to $730 a year in revenue!) Think of how often you go online to search for something. Can add up quickly. In addition, organizations can earn a percentage of online purchases from major retailers such as iTunes, Target and even eBay.
Want to GoodSearch for someone? Select MACSC in the "Who Do You GoodSearch For" line and help support the Mid-Atlantic Catholic Schools Consortium each time you start an online search at GoodSearch.org. Or, register your own organization, promote to your community, start searching, and start earning!
Grant Opportunity
The Dollar General Back-To-School Grant and Youth Literacy Grant
The Back-to-School Grant provides funding to schools to implement new programs, or purchase new equipment, materials, or software for their school library or media center. The Youth Literacy Grant provides support to implement or expand reading programs.
Award Range: Up to $5,000 (Back-to-School Grant). Up to $3,000 (Youth Literacy Grant)
Deadline: May 22, 2009
To apply: Dollar General Grant Opportunities
Prayer To The Blessed Virgin Mary
As we honor Mothers this month, we share a prayer to our Blessed Mother.
To Our Blessed Mother We fly to your protection, most holy Mother of God; please listen to our petitions and needs, and deliver us from all dangers, ever glorious and blessed Virgin Mary.
Mary, our model and mother, by your obedience and patience you have taught us how to be true children of God. Please help us by your powerful assistance to overcome all our weaknesses, and to fulfill perfectly our tasks in life.
By your compassionate aid may we ever stand in spirit with you beneath the cross of Christ so that we may also rejoice with you in your divine Son's triumphant victory over sin and death.
In your maternal kindness help us to be faithful to prayers in the company of God's Church as you were one with the Apostles in the upper room as you waited for the promised Spirit of Pentecost.
With your gracious assistance may we be near you in the glory of Christ's kingdom come to sing with you and all the faithful the eternal praise of God. Amen.
V. O Mary, conceived without sin,
R. Pray for us who have recourse to you.
You are all fair, O Virgin Mary,
You never knew the stain of sin;
You are the glory of Jerusalem,
You, the joy of Israel,
You, the great honor of our people,
You, the advocate of sinners.
O Mary, Virgin most prudent,
O Mary, Mother most merciful,
Pray for us,
Intercede for us with our Lord,
Jesus Christ.