MACSC Newsletter
Serving parish, diocesan, and independent Catholic schools in the (arch)dioceses of Baltimore, Washington, Arlington, Richmond, Wheeling-Charleston, and Wilmington.
- Baltimore—St. Pius X School will introduce a Montessori primary program for 2011-2012.
- Washington—Archdiocese approves two new Catholic schools.
- Arlington—Eight diocesan schools have been named among the 100 Top Schools in Virginia.
- Richmond—St. Patrick Catholic School raises 1 million pennies for Haitian orphanage.
- Wheeling-Charleston—Our Lady of Peace School in Wheeling wins a Catholic Schools for Tomorrow Award for Innovation in Catholic Identity.
- Wilmington—Two diocesan school students win Doodles 4 Google contest.
Support the Consortium
Make a donation today. Your donation will help the Consortium increase awareness of our Catholic Schools. Your support will help us enhance the Catholic identity of our schools, provide contemporary leadership development, advocate for our children, leverage our combined purchasing power, and advance other efforts to ensure the continued availability of excellent, affordable, and accessible Catholic schools. Thank you for your generosity.
Green Tip for Summer!
Before you plan your next landscaping project for your home or school, read up on energy-efficient landscaping practices. A well-designed landscape can reduce your heating and cooling costs. For example, planting trees for shade can reduce the temperatures inside a home as much as 10°F. Although it may take years for new trees to grow large enough to shade your roof, certain landscaping changes can provide immediate results. For example, by shading your air conditioning unit with small trees or shrubs, you can increase its efficiency by as much as 10%. Also, fast-growing vines can shade walls during their first growing season. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Savers website offers a comprehensive resource on energy-efficient landscaping, including strategies based on your regional climate.MACSC Mission
To 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: 301-908-7812
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:
Greetings from the Executive DirectorGreetings from the Executive Director
Dear Friends of Catholic Education,
It's June and a time for happy celebrations, fond farewells, and opportunities for safe and relaxing summer fun.
This year we say congratulations to more than 7,700 students who are graduating from Catholic secondary schools in our six (arch)dioceses. We pray that God will continue to bless them, so that the lessons learned in their Catholic school will forever shape their lives. For students who will continue in our Catholic elementary and secondary schools next year, we know that their faith formation and education will equip them to lead lives grounded in the teachings of Jesus.
June is also a time to say thank you. On behalf of the Consortium, I want to thank the teachers, principals, pastors, staff, and administrators who have taught our children and successfully led our schools. Their dedication and commitment to Catholic education is, as they say, "priceless". And to all whose contributions of time, resources, and talent support our children and schools, we also extend our deep appreciation. You know that you are investing in Catholic education-an important treasure and resource for children, families, our Church, and our society.
This June is special as it marks the conclusion of the Year of the Priest which was announced by our Holy Father, Benedict XVI, to bring special attention to the role and ministry of our priests. We are grateful for the lives and work of priests and especially our pastors whose commitment to Catholic education enables Catholic schools to thrive, and in particular, to our pastors who have participated in our inaugural or second Pastor and Principal Institute.
We will be spending some of our time this summer working to identify and launch new opportunities to support our Catholic schools. We are also thinking about how best to communicate with our schools and colleagues. If you have ideas, I hope you will share them with me. In the meantime, I hope you will take advantage of the energy cooperative now available to our Catholic school colleagues who live in Maryland, Delaware/ and DC.
Best wishes to each of you for a happy and safe summer!
Mary Ellen Hrutka, PhD
Executive Director
For all our news and programs, check out the MACSC website.
Two photos above: Students from Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax, VA, participate in the 2010 baccalaureate and graduation ceremonies.
As the temperatures go up, so do our energy bills! Now is the perfect time to enroll in the Consortium's Residential Energy Cooperative. This month, our Coop expands beyond Maryland's borders and offers Catholic school employees who reside in Delaware and the District of Columbia the opportunity to join. At this time, Delaware residents may secure contract rates for only electricity supply (not natural gas). The Consortium is able to offer this money-saving opportunity in partnership with CQI Associates, which has negotiated prices with licensed electricity and natural gas suppliers to get the lowest rates for you.
You are eligible to join if you 1) you are employed by a Catholic school, parish, or diocese; 2) you reside in Delaware, Maryland, or DC; and 3) you live in the Allegheny Power, BGE, Delmarva Power, Pepco and/or Washington Natural Gas service territory. On average, you will save 10% to 14% annually on your residential energy bills! All you have to do is JOIN...for FREE.
To learn more and to enroll in the program, visit the Consortium's Residential Energy Coop web page.
Receive Free Books from First Book
Seeking new reading materials for your school library or religious programs? First Book has a large supply of FREE religious books that are suitable for preschool and young elementary school children. The available titles include My Little Golden Book about God, Noah’s Ark, and The Story of Jesus. To apply, go to the First Book website and register your eligible program/school. Be sure to choose the following affiliation under Step 1: Mid-Atlantic Catholic Consortium. Once you have registered, review the list of available titles and submit the online application. You will receive an email stating whether you have been approved for books within 1-2 weeks of completing an application. The books are free, but recipients will have to pay shipping costs of 35 cents per book.
First Book is a non-profit organization that provides new books to children in need to address one of the most important, yet overlooked, factors affecting literacy—access to books. For more information, visit the First Book website.
Borders Offers Free Books to
Kids 12 and Under
Borders bookstores are offering free books to children 12 and under who complete the Double-Dog Dare summer reading program. To participate in the program, children should download the Double-Dog Dare program form and record the books they read. Once a child has read 10 books, he or she can bring the form to any Borders or Waldenbooks store to receive a free book. Children will have a choice of 10 popular titles. The program runs through August 26, 2010.
New Report Calculates Taxpayer
Savings from BOAST Tax Credit
According to a new report released by the Foundation for Educational Choice, the BOAST Maryland Tax Credit could produce net fiscal savings to the state of Maryland ranging from $7 million to $267 million over a 10-year period.
The study, authored by economist Brian Gottlob, showed that per-pupil state education aid expenditures would be reduced for each public school student who receives a private school scholarship funded by the BOAST Tax Credit program. According to the study report, under no situation would the BOAST tax credit negatively impact local school districts or their per-pupil resources.
"This puts to bed the myth that a tax credit program would cost Maryland schools money," said Robert Enlow, President and CEO of the Foundation for Educational Choice. "The data show that the opposite is true. In this case, everyone wins. The state wins, taxpayers win, K-12 education wins and most importantly, parents and students win since they will have more school choices."
To read the full report or the executive summary, visit the website of the Foundation for Educational Choice.
Two reports issued by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) attest to the quality education provided by private schools, including Catholic schools. The first report, titled Trends in the Use of School Choice: 1993 to 2007, revealed that parents of private school students are more likely to be “very satisfied” with their schools than parents of public school students. 79% of parents whose children attend religiously-affiliated private schools reported being very satisfied with their school compared to 52% of parents whose children attend assigned public schools. Parents of children who attend religious schools were also more likely to be very satisfied with their school’s teachers, academic standards, and discipline.
Another NCES publication, Digest of Education Statistics 2009, reported that private high school students are more likely to take and complete high level math and science courses than their public school counterparts. For example, 83 percent of Catholic school graduates completed one or more courses in chemistry I, physics I, chemistry II, physics II, or advanced biology, compared to 67 percent of public school graduates.
A detailed summary of both reports is included in the May 2010 issue of CAPE Outlook, the newsletter of the Council for American Private Education.
ASCD Outstanding Young Educator Award
ASCD (formerly the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development) presents this award to educators 40 years old or younger who exemplify a passion for educating the whole child; show a positive impact on student achievement; and demonstrate leadership in their school and community. Candidates must be a full-time preK-20 educator (teacher or administrator) and must be nominated by a full-time preK-20 educator.
Award: $10,000
To Apply: Educators should submit the online nomination form to nominate a colleague.
Deadline: August 1, 2010
Toshiba America Foundation Grants for 6-12 Science and Mathematics EducationThe Toshiba America Foundation is seeking grant proposals from teachers of grades 6 through 12 who are passionate about making science and mathematics more engaging for students. Grants may be used to support classroom projects or purchase instructional equipment that will make learning more exciting for students.
Award: Various ($5,000 and up)
To Apply: Submit the application form by email to 6to12Applications@tai.toshiba.com. Before submitting a completed proposal, teachers are encouraged to call the Toshiba America Foundation team at 212-596-0620 to discuss their project ideas.
Deadline: August 2, 2010
Father, I have knowledge, so will You show me now,
How to use it wisely and find a way somehow
To make the world I live in a little better place,
And make life with its problems a little bit easier to face. Grant me faith and courage and put purpose in my days, And show me how to serve Thee in effective ways.
So my education, my knowledge and my skill
May find their true fulfillment as I learn to do Thy will.
And may I ever be aware in everything I do,
That knowledge comes from learning, and wisdom comes from You.
Amen. From CatholicDoors.com
