Volume 6, Issue 15
March 3, 2008

Message from the Secretary for Education/Superintendent
We have just passed the mid-point of Lent. This is a good time to review our resolve to practice special prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Our Holy Father suggested we look at almsgiving. I quoted his words in the last issue of this Bulletin. In this bulletin, I would like to address a different view of fasting. Actually, it comes from the January 2008 issue of the Catholic Update published by St. Anthony Messenger Press. Susan K. Rowland offers this suggestion: fasting from the various types of clutter in our lives. It is something to think about. In our busy lives, we don’t often take the time to pause and ask ourselves if we need all of the “stuff” we have, but also whether we need the thoughts and worries we carry around in our minds and hearts. The saying “Let Go and Let God” is a wonderful mantra to adopt during this season. It is worth a try and is guaranteed to bring peace of mind and heart.

Calendar Correction
Please note: NEOEA Day is October 17, 2008 not October 10. Therefore, the Vendor Day Event sponsored by the Office of Catholic Education will take place on October 17, 2008. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused you in scheduling your events.

Any other scheduled events on the OCE Calendar of Events will be changed to accommodate the Vendor Day. Stay tuned!

High Schools Invited to Participate in Words of Welcome Contest
High School Principals should have received information on a contest sponsored by the Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin and underwritten by the Knights of Columbus. The essay contest is a way to welcome Pope Benedict XVI to the U.S. The deadline for essays is March 13. Contest guidelines can also be found at www.WordsofWelcome.org. There are also great resources for preparing students for the Pope’s visit at http://www.vatican.va.

Vatican Treasures to Tour in Cleveland
It is not often that the Vatican goes on a road show. “Vatican Splendors from Saint Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Swiss Guard” which opened this month at Florida International Museum in St. Petersburg will also visit Cleveland after it closes in St. Petersburg in May, and St. Paul, Minnesota as the last stop on the tour. The exhibit brings some of the Catholic Church’s most exquisite items on this three-city U.S. tour. Some of the items are not even displayed in Rome. The exhibit will be housed at the Western Reserve Historical Society here in Cleveland. More details will be made available soon.

President Bush Calls for “Pell Grants for Kids;” Announces Summit on Faith-Based Schools
In his State of the Union address, President Bush told Congress that faith-based schools “are disappearing at an alarming rate in many of America’s inner cities” and said he would “convene a White House summit aimed at strengthening these lifelines of learning.”

The president then asked Congress to support a new “Pell Grants for Kids” initiative “to open the doors of these schools to more children.” The program would provide funds to allow low-income students in poor-performing public schools to attend religious or independent schools, or public schools in another district. “We have seen how Pell Grants help low-income college students realize their full potential,” said the president. “Now let’s apply that same spirit to help liberate poor children trapped in failing public schools.” Go to http://www.capenet.org for more information about the Pell Grants program and the summit.

Partners in Grief – Hospice of the Western Reserve
Marita Pompeani, MSSA, LISW, is school liaison for the Hospice of the Western Reserve. The Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Bereavement Center at the Hospice publishes The Bereavement Newsletter for Schools: Partners in Grief, an e-newsletter with resources for school crisis response services accessible at www.hospicewr.org.

Upcoming workshops include:

Cultural Sensitivity: Implications for Grief Support
Includes the Hispanic, Arab American and African American perspectives.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 8:00 am-Registration; 8:15-11:30 am program

Lakewood YMCA
16915 Detroit Avenue
Lakewood, OH 44107

The bereavement center, in collaboration with the Lakewood Teen Center, will offer this workshop for school and social services personnel on the cultural aspects of grief within various ethnic communities. Call 216.391.8336 to register.

Living With Grief®: Children and Adolescents, Live-Via Satellite and Webcast
Moderated by Frank Sesno, Professor of Media and Public Affairs at The George Washington University and Special Correspondent with CNN.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 1:30-4:30 pm
South Pointe Hospital
4110 Warrensville Center Road
Warrensville Heights, OH 44122
Call The Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Bereavement Center of Hospice of the Western Reserve to register for this free program at 216.486.6838.

Facing Death: Grief and Loss at School
Friday, October 17, 2008

The bereavement center’s NEOEA Day in-service for educators.

The Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Bereavement Center offers educational programs for students of all ages. Several area high schools have featured this program within the death and dying segment of their health class. Designed to actively involve students in the learning process, the high school curriculum addresses the following topics:

• Hospice and bereavement
• The dying process
• Supporting those involved in the dying process
• Trauma, grief and loss
• Teen grief and effective ways to cope
• Helpful and unhelpful responses to grieving friends
• Teen volunteer opportunities with Hospice of the Western Reserve

Call 216.486.6287 for more information about this or other educational programs for your students.

Teen Aggression, Violence & Abuse Conference
National expert on teen violence, Dr. James Garbarino, will join local authorities at the 2008 Bellflower Center for Prevention of Child Abuse Power of Prevention Conference on Thursday, April 10 at Landerhaven.

Dr. Garbarino has served as consultant or advisor to a wide range of organizations, including the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse, the National Institute for Mental Health, the American Medical Association, the National Black Child Development Institute, the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect, and the FBI.

Parents, teachers, administrators, social service workers and children’s service workers are encouraged to attend the conference. Counselors and social workers can earn five CEUs.

Schedule:
8:30 am – Sign-in and continental breakfast begin
Luncheon featuring Dr. Garbarino as Keynote Speaker and featured throughout the day
3:30 pm – Conclusion of the Conference

Registration which includes continental breakfast and lunch:
On or before March 15 costs $90.
After March 15, the cost is $100.
Please contact Carol Pruitt, Bellflower Center for Prevention of Child Abuse, 11811 Shaker Blvd., Suite 220, Cleveland, OH 44120, 216.229.2420; fax: 216.229.2474 or email: carolpruitt@bellflowercenter.org.

John Carroll University Invites You to Its Education Career Fair
The fair, hosted by the Center for Career Services and the Education Department will be held on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 from 7:45 am to 4:00 pm. This event will acquaint JCU students with your school as well as allow you to interview qualified candidates. Each recruiter will have the opportunity to interview 10 students. If you anticipate several openings, you are encouraged to bring additional recruiters.

To register, go to the JCU web site: http://www.jcu.edu/careercenter and click on Career Connection. LOG IN UNDER EMPLOYERS. Then enter your user name and password. CLICK ON THE CAREER EVENTS TAB and look for the 2008 John Carroll University Annual Education Career Fair and REGISTER.

When registering please indicate under POSITIONS AVAILABLE your specific anticipated needs and licensure requirements. The cost of this event is $50 per school, which includes one representative and one lunch. Each additional representative will be charged an additional $10. YOU MAY PAY BY CREDIT CARD OR GENERATE YOUR OWN INVOICE AND PAY BY CHECK.

If you are unable to attend on April 16, 2008, please consider interviewing at the Career Center between February and May 2008. Contact Barb Koeth, Employer Relations, at 216.397.4431 to schedule a date or for technical assistance in registering.

JCU is asking principals to please email bkoeth@jcu.edu if you have hired any JCU students for the 2007-2008 school year and include: their names, job titles, location, salary and start date.

Cleveland Indians High Achievers Kids Club – Online
The 2008 Indians High Achievers Kids Club is presented by KeyBank, with support from The Plain Dealer. The goal of this newly developed online venture –– FREE TO STUDENTS IN GRADES K-8 –– is to give an outlet for northeast Ohio students to have fun through learning with a focus on education and citizenship, supported by spokesmen Eric Wedge and Ryan Garko.

Students earn points for good grades, reading and attendance with options for bonus points to be redeemed for GREAT rewards including backpacks, t-shirts, game tickets and more. Parents may sign up their children online at http://click.mlb.com/ct/click?q=15-mYP_IGculokcKCTAVp0kEZDA7KnR

Early Sign-up Bonus – Register before March 13 to be eligible for the High Achievers Kids Club Parade that will take place prior to Kids Opening Day on April 13. Membership entitles Kids Club member and one (1) guest to participate in a special pregame, on-field parade. (Note: Game tickets are required for parade participation.)

Diamond Improvement Grant
New in 2008, Cleveland Indians Charities (CIC) established a youth baseball and softball $50,000 grant program. With support from Majestic Steel, this Baseball Diamond Improvement Grant will benefit NE Ohio teams and leagues in need of new bleachers, backstops, fences and other equipment. More information and how to apply may be found at http://click.mlb.com/ct/click?q=54-16ovIZK4Cetzape0OsValdQ4zSuR

Cleveland Indians in the Community
On the second Friday of each month, “Indians in the Community” offers a new and fulfilling opportunity for the Indians organization to volunteer in the greater Cleveland surroundings. The program offers 5 core components for volunteers to participate: Health & Disease, Social Services, Education, Arts/Culture & Humanities, and Environment & Animals. Go to Indians in the Community: http://click.mlb.com/ct/click?q=be-B7ixQCpGUPSH-_vbnJrV5ooHO31R

NCEA Publication, Momentum, Features Cleveland Schools
The February/March issue of Momentum with its theme of Diversity contains articles on Metro Catholic School and St. Joseph Academy. Metro Catholic School Called the Miracle on 54 th Street written by Sr. Marie Helene Minut, SND, teacher at Metro, honors the school on its 20 th anniversary. We congratulate Sr. Anne Maline, Director and the staff and students of the school that skeptics said would not last three years! What a great article, Sr. Helene.

St. Joseph Academy is featured, too, in Visiting Teacher Helps Young Women Understand FirsthandThe Culture and People of China. Congratulations to Audrey Menard, principal, who applied for a grant that was one of only 13 accepted by the U.S. State Department to secure a faculty member to teach Mandarin Chinese for the 2007-2008 school year. Congratulations, Audrey!

And, one more connection to Cleveland is the article on the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, as diverse as the many countries in which our armed services are deployed. Archbishop Timothy Broglio, a native of our diocese, recently was honored for being named to head this archdiocese that encompasses all of the branches of military service.

Members of NCEA receive Momentum as part of membership.

Metro Catholic Student Receives Exemplary Leadership in Diversity Award
For the second year in a row Metro Catholic is privileged to have one of its students honored for Exemplary Leadership in the Field of Diversity. At the annual luncheon sponsored by The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio and the Charter One Foundation, CECILIA YONLY was honored for her participation in activities at school that raise awareness of the riches of diversity. She also shares the richness of her native culture with the school community. Congratulations to Cecilia and her family as well as the wonderful staff of Metro Catholic that makes such an award possible by their hard work and care with all of the students.

Congratulations, Awardees in Cleveland Clinic’s Literary eXpressions™ Program

Trinity High School
Karen Flanagan
William Jatsek, Jr.– Blue, 2 Red, White, and 5 Honorable Mention awards!
Kristine Castro
Kimberly Daley
Maggie Kall
Steven Borowy
Kelvin Luu
Anthony Papa
Lauren Jakubowski

Magnificat High School
Bridget Keaney – Blue Ribbon Award

Beaumont |
Arianna Bovell – Red Ribbon Award

St. Joseph Academy
Anne Marie O’Toole – Blue Ribbon Award

Just Think, Inc., Invention Convention
This year on January 12, over 250 school districts in Cuyahoga, Medina, and Lorain counties were invited to participate in the Invention Convention program where the top 140 students from across the region displayed their creations at the Second Annual Cleveland competition held at the Great Lakes Science Center. This competition has been in existence for 13 years in the Columbus area. It differs from science fairs in that the focus of the curriculum is to recognize simple to complex problems that individuals face everyday and follow them through the process of creating solutions to them.

A second grade student from Lincoln Elementary in Lakewood won the grand prize, a $2,500 CollegeAdvantage Scholarship for her invention, American Chopsticks, solving the problem of getting food on a fork or spoon without using your fingers.

Jakob Walz, a fourth grader from St. Thomas More won a $500 college scholarship for his invention, Secure-A-Can, a solution to keeping trash cans from blowing out of the yard.

Jacob Caraffi and James Duman, grade seven, St. Thomas More, both won $50 savings bonds, and John Houghtling, grade four, St. Mel School also won a $50 savings bond. We congratulate our students who participated and especially those that won recognition for their inventions.

The Invention Convention will include a state final this fall as well. We encourage all of our schools to participate in the Invention Convention.

Earth Day Coalition’s 2008 Art, Poetry and Essay Contest

Upcoming Events:

Earthfest 2008 is on Sunday, April 20, 2008 at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

Volunteer Orientation Trainings – March 10 from 6–7:30 pm at the Carnegie West Branch of the Cleveland Public Library and April 12 from 10–11:30 am at the Carnegie West Branch of the Cleveland Public Library. The Library is located at 1900 Fulton Road in the Ohio City Neighborhood just north of the intersection of Fulton Road and Lorain Avenue. You may park on the street or at St. Patrick’s Church parking lot. Please call 216.281.6468 ext. 221 for more information.

The 2008 Art, Poetry and Essay Contest is open to all students grades K-12.

Entries are to be received by March 28, 2008.

Visit the web site www.earthdaycoalition.org for details about the Art, Poetry and Essay Contest, registration form and other information. You may also call 216.281.6468.

National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry in Cleveland

The Cleveland diocese is hosting Formed by Living Waters, the National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry, December 4-7, 2008 at the Cleveland Convention Center. The convention will feature:

• dynamic prayer and worship events including daily Eucharist and Reconciliation;
• more than 50 workshop choices
• youth ministry resource expo with more than 100 exhibitors and a tech learning center
• specialized pre-conferences
• sports and spirituality symposium
• dedicated tracks on adolescent catechesis, young adult and campus ministry, and for volunteers

The conference is sponsored by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry.

For more information and to register go to www.nfcym.org.

Song on CD Helps Children, K-3, Respond to a Sexual Predator

Nan Havens, organist and choir director for St. George Catholic Church in Bourbonnais, Illinois, has written a song entitled, “Just Tell Them, No!” for children K-3 to help them respond to someone if that person tries to take sexual advantage of them. If you are interested, you may visit Nan’s web site to hear a portion of the song: http://www.justtellthemno.com. The web site also tells you how to order the CD.

Archbishop Hoban Scholarship Program
This is a reminder to all High School Principals and Guidance Counselors: The 2008 Archbishop Hoban Scholarship applications are due today, Monday, March 3, 2008. If you have not done so already, please forward the applications to the Office of Catholic Education, Secondary Schools Department. If there are any questions, please contact Sandy Williams at 216-696-6525, ext. 4990 or swiliams@dioceseofcleveland.org

The International Eucharistic Congress
An International Eucharistic Congress is a special week-long gathering of Catholics from around the world that come together to celebrate their faith in the Eucharist and give witness to the Gospel by living moments of prayer, reflection and community. This summer the 49th International Eucharistic Congress will take place from June 15 through June 22 in Quebec, Canada, marking the 400 th Anniversary of the founding of Quebec. This year’s theme is: The Eucharist: Gift of God for the Life of the World.

The intention of a Eucharistic Congress is to awaken and revive faith in the Eucharist. This is a great opportunity for those that are able to attend this event. It is also a great opportunity to reflect more deeply on the meaning of the Holy Eucharist in our own parish life.

In spiritual preparation for the Eucharistic Congress there are several things that Catholics can do. Seven excellent adult catechetical sessions from John Paul II and Benedict XVI on the Eucharist are available for study and meditation. Check the diocesan web site for them: www.dioceseofcleveland.org. Use the A-Z list to find the official link to this site and click on International Eucharistic Congress.

Copies of the official song to the Congress: “God’s Gift” is available by calling Novalis at 1-800-668-2547. This is a good way to celebrate the Congress in your parish or school.

Prayer cards are available from Image Prayer at 1-800-769-1147. These cards may be used for daily prayer and reflection on the Eucharist.

Information for Parents
The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University has just launched a new forum –– PARENT POWER –– on its Web site www.casacolumbia.org to engage parents in a conversation about how to raise kids alcohol- and drug-free.

The Center wants to hear from parents all across America to learn about their experiences in talking/listening to their children about alcohol, marijuana, pills, and other drugs. What works? What doesn’t work? What are the questions parents want answered? The comments of parents will help shape the Center’s second book, Parent Power, a guide to raising healthy and substance free children that will be published in 2009. To share their thoughts, questions, and ideas parents may simply log on to www.casacolumbia.org and click on the Parent Power link.