Latest Updates
Literature-Based Mock Trials – Teacher Opportunity for Next School Year
Posted: May 12, 2022
The Rendell Center Literature-Based Mock Trials are an easy-to-follow instructional framework for educators interested in developing literature-based mock trials with their students, grades K to 8. The Rendell Center Mock Trial framework is easy to follow.
It is designed to focus on the literature and history the students are reading in the classroom. The goal is to enrich the students’ learning experience while teaching them about the American government and its judicial system. The framework is one that marries literature, history, and civic literacy in an ongoing effort to provide students with the knowledge and disposition of engaged citizens. These are skills they will carry throughout their lives.
Some of our schools have participated in this program in the past and have found it to be very much worthwhile and, as such, we would like to provide the opportunity for more classes to participate in the coming school year.
Interested teachers are invited to attend an information webinar (Meeting ID: 938 4824 4230) on Tuesday, May 24 at 3:15 PM.
Please let Sister Edward know at sr.equinn@archphila.org by May 23 if you plan to attend. Thank you.
Professional Development: IDEA Workshop Series
Posted: April 7, 2022Click HERE to sign up for the workshops below.
Congratulations to Leylanie F., Presentation BVM – 2022 AOP Religion Bee!!
Posted: April 4, 2022
Congratulations to Leylanie F. for her participation in the 2022 Archdiocese Religion Bee!!! She first competed against the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th graders at Presentation BVM School and moved onto the next round of competition at Archbishop Ryan High School. Although she did not go on to the finals, we are oh so very proud of her. She was welcomed back with accolades on the board and chocolate from her 8th grade classmates and friends!
2022 Early Childhood Conference
Posted: February 15, 2022Click the image below for the pdf version of the brochure.
2022 Archdiocese of Philadelphia Religion Bee
Posted: February 15, 2022
The 2022 Archdiocese of Philadelphia Religion Bee will be held in March and is open to students in grades 5 – 8 who attend one of the 102 AOP Catholic Elementary Schools or private schools who work with the Archdiocese. Visit the Religion Bee page for more information.
Thirty-First Annual Catechetical Convocation
Posted: February 1, 2022Click the image below for the .pdf version.
CSW: February 1 – Celebrate Your Students
Posted: January 20, 2022
What do you do to celebrate your student body? Do you have events/activities recognizing your student body’s accomplishments? Do you encourage students to reflect on the benefits of receiving a Catholic education? All students contribute to your school community no matter how big or small. Sharing stories allows current families and prospective families to see all of the wonderful opportunities Catholic education can bring. Make sure you share these stories on your website/social media platforms.
Ideas for Celebrating your Students
- Have a Dress Down Day.
- During snack or lunch have a special snack for them (Philly pretzel, water ice, etc.).
- Make a special video from the faculty and staff. Kids always love when they see their teachers doing something fun. This can also be posted on social media.
- Highlight students’ achievements. This can also be posted on social media.
- Wear your school colors.
- Teacher swap for a class period. Have your Pre-K teacher do a fun activity with the 3rd grade, etc.
- Schedule times for older students to do an activity with the younger students.
- Take pictures and short videos throughout the day highlighting your student body. Families love seeing pictures of their kids on social media. When they see pictures they instantly share them so all of their friends and family can see them.
- Have a “parade” for your students. Make signs for morning drop-off, balloons, etc. Celebrate your students.
CSW: January 31 – Celebrate Your Community
Posted: January 13, 2022
A central aspect of Catholic education is learning the importance of service to others. Let’s celebrate our school community by taking part in service activities, both local and beyond! What do you do on this day to celebrate your community? To me, we always remember how someone made us feel. That feeling stays with us. That feeling will then touch another person. Let’s celebrate our communities and have warm feelings filer through. CSW is a great opportunity to market our school.
Ideas for Celebrating your Community
- Do you have families who are essential workers? Do you have families who are active duty military? Have students create care packages for them. Write personalized notes. A handwritten note has a different “feeling” and “meaning” than one that was typed.
- Host a dress-down day fundraiser, asking students to donate $1 toward a charity.
- Schedule visits for community members/prospective families to come in for muffins and coffee. This can be an opportunity to have your school community interact with members of your community/parish and along with meeting your students. This can be another great way to have prospective families come into your school
- Have students make a thank you video that you can promote on your social media platforms and website.
- Schedule student lead community tours. You can get alum, parishioners, prospective families into the school and they can “feel” the excitement and warmth of catholic education.
- Reminder that anything you do is a great way to market your school and your social media platforms and website.
Whenever having any type of event or activity it is always a great practice to gather their information (name, address, and phone number, etc.). Sending out a handwritten thank-you letter can go a long way. Have a student, teacher, family member, board member etc. send a handwritten thank you letter. Create stickers or small magnets that can go into the card. Sticker mule is a great site for inexpensive stickers and magnets. Create your own postcards that you can use to send out these written letters. Vista Print is a great site for this.
CSW – January 20: Celebrate Your Parish ~
Posted: January 11, 2022
As we kick start CSW we begin by celebrating our parishes! What a great way to do this than having a special mass on Sunday, January 30, 2022 for our school community and parishioners. *TIP: Even if you are not a parish school, reach out to local parishes to see if you can be part of a Mass during CSW. This is a great way to reinforce the shared commitment of faith and academics forming the whole child.
Tips on preparing to Celebrate Your Parish during Catholic Schools Week:
- Personally invite your school community, parishioners, alum, PREP students to mass. Have your PREP students and current students have a special seat in the front that is reserved for them. Post on social media platforms, email invitations (make an invitation on Canva), mail an invitation to prospective families (PREP, CYO, baptism, families who have toured).
- Personally invite families who have children under 3 and have been baptized to mass letting them know about CSW.
- Involve students and teachers in the liturgy when celebrating mass by offering readings, speaking, and singing in the choir.
- Invite your Home and School, Board, students in uniform to welcome families to mass. Do this at each mass.
- Have a family, alum, student share their story of your school at mass.
- Encourage random acts of kindness by distributing written prayers.
- After mass invite everyone to your Open House. During Open House plan some activities for the kids like a scavenger hunt and once they are done with the scavenger hunt they get a prize (candy is always a hit).
- Throughout the day remind families about CSW and the events/activities you will be hosting.
- When posting on your social media platforms make sure you tag your parishes and tag us, as well, so we can see how you are celebrating CSW.
The Miraculous Medal Shrine is also offering to come and bless classrooms and students during Catholic Schools Week right on site (or via Zoom if you prefer). Faculty, administrators, and ministers only need to reach out via our website—or just email Gina directly, gingiosi@cammonline.org to schedule a time to participate in this free event.
Visit the CSW web page for all of your marketing material needs. Thank you for all that you do! We can’t wait to see how our schools Celebrate Your Parish during CSW!