Key Tasks for Principals

Important Monthly Reminders  |  Important Weekly Reminders

July  |  August  |  September  |  October  |  November  |  December
January  |  February  |  March  |  April  |  May  |  June


Important Monthly Reminders

  • Observe Liturgical Seasons and Feasts – focus on strong religious identity.  Invite parents to school Masses and prayer services.
  • Designate one bulletin board in a prominent location (school and classroom) for religious themes/holidays.  Use the suggested theme from the Office of Catechetical Formation.
  • Prepare and distribute a newsletter and calendar to all parents. Include a religious component and school highlights
  • Create at least one marketing initiative.
  • Meet with entire faculty at least once a month.  Encourage teachers to incorporate Religion Rigor, Relevance and Relationships into their lesson plans


Important Weekly Reminders
  • Email weekly memo, with updates, to teachers.
  • Visit classrooms and sign plan books.  Conduct classroom walk-throughs.
  • Prepare “School News” for the Parish Sunday Bulletin.
  • Conduct weekly/daily faculty prayer service.
  • Review sampling of students’ assessments/copybooks/daily work.


July Reminders

  • Review teacher evaluations.
  • Meet with Pastor and custodial staff regarding summer projects.
  • Review school calendar for upcoming year.
  • Schedule meetings with parish organizations, as needed.
  • Review Terra Nova scores, earmark weak areas, and plan strategies.
  • Review faculty handbook.
  • Check on orders for Archdiocesan forms.
  • Check for the current and complete set of Archdiocesan curriculum guidelines on the Portal.
  • Review Archdiocesan Policies and Procedures on the AOP Elementary Website.
  • Purge school office files.
  • Register new teachers for Archdiocesan New Teachers’ Orientation.
  • Plan teacher birthday celebrations & other important faculty milestones.
  • Register for Early Childhood Conference.
  • Register for Administrators August Professional Development Day.


August Reminders

  • Review school bus list; contact Public School District, Department of Transportation if problems arise
  • Send out letters to aides and volunteers
  • Send out/post opening-of-school letter and schedule to parents
  • Prepare September Monthly Calendar
  • Prepare opening day packet for faculty in-service
  • Conduct final walk-through with head custodian
  • Meet with new teachers and plan mentoring program
  • Schedule lunch and recess supervision
  • Fill remaining faculty and staff positions/revise staff directory; Review and update the substitute teacher list
  • Plan a welcome event for new families
  • Meet with Student Council Members
  • Compose memo on school policy regarding parties, holidays, decorations, sales, and so forth
  • Check cafeteria needs
  • Check Middle States Accreditation Status
  • Conduct first faculty meeting/Professional Development/Faculty Retreat kick off the school year
  • Finalize plans for Meet the Teacher/Back to School Night


September Reminders

  • Conduct first faculty meeting (if not done in August)
  • Review opening and closing of school procedures with faculty and students
  • Review plans for upcoming faculty meetings
  • Review all safety, security, and universal precaution rules and regulations with faculty; conduct drills and record results on Drill Form
  • Complete reports for Office of Catholic Education including Signed Accommodation Forms
  • Oversee orientation of new students (formal/informal)
  • Meet with new teachers (separate from regular orientation) to discuss their annual goals
  • Plan Rosary prayer service for October
  • Provide orientation for all who use the public address system
  • Begin signing plan books weekly (should be done in classroom)
  • Plan installation of Student Council Officers
  • Coordinate yearly Terra Nova Testing Program
  • Review Induction Process and complete the initial paperwork
  • Make personal visits to classrooms emphasizing expectations for students
  • Meet with Intermediate Unit Personnel/Nonpublic
  • Distribute/Post Updated Parent/Student Handbook
  • In consultation with school nurse, send letters home to students who lack required immunization
  • Prepare and distribute emergency contact information to all faculty and staff
  • Update family data in preparation for school directory
  • Instruct teachers to prepare Emergency Plan for substitute teachers
  • Update student data for accuracy in the Student Information System (SIS)
  • Set up schedule of teacher observations and evaluations


October Reminders

  • Send October 1st Enrollment Card/October Count Survey
  • Review student assessments, Scantron Algebra and Beacon
  • Send thank you notes to groups who helped with Back-to-School Night
  • Meet with subject coordinators and/or grade level leaders
  • Conduct fire and emergency drills/fill in Drill Form
  • Review teacher progress on goals as part of evaluation; create plans for staff in need of improvement
  • Monitor new students’ progress
  • Check SIS that all information is updated
  • Meet with Home and School Executive Board Members/Advisory Board/BLJ
  • Review bulletin boards and school exhibits
  • Plan All Saints’ activities /Thanksgiving Prayer Service
  • Attend Fall Conference
  • Observe Fire Safety Month
  • Send First Trimester Progress Reports to parents


November Reminders

  • Continue doing Classroom Walk-Throughs
  • Review students’ progress
  • Prepare Prayer service for Christmas/Advent Service
  • Observe Veterans’ Day with prayer service and/or patriotic display
  • Continue Induction Program Paperwork
  • Prepare a master schedule for December Parent-Teacher Conferences
  • Meet with staff in need of improvement; discuss remedial plan
  • Continue to review students’ assessments and the administration of benchmark assessments
  • Foster appreciation of other religions and cultures
  • Review procedures for inclement weather
  • Check utilization of Library, Science, and Technology Lab
  • Check Student Information is updated
  • Prepare Terra Nova Spreadsheet – if not on Option C


December Reminders
  • Prepare and review Vitality report and begin discussion with pastor regarding budget
  • Meet with head custodian to plan holiday work schedule
  • Continue to complete and log safety drills
  • Schedule classroom observations
  • Plan Advent/Christmas Programs
  • Begin planning for Catholic Schools Week
  • Review report cards/SIS/ distribute report cards
  • Remind teachers of protocol for parent conferences
  • Update Induction Paperwork and add to Inductee’s Professional File
  • Prepare and send preliminary high school placement cards


January Reminders

  • Welcome faculty and students back after the Christmas holidays
  • Plan service project for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  • Create remedial plans for staff in need of improvement
  • Review teacher progress on goals as part of evaluation
  • Review progress on all curriculum/STREAM initiatives
  • Continue making class visits and classroom walk-throughs
  • Finalize plans for Catholic School Weeks
  • Consult with teachers regarding possible retention of students
  • Design/update registration packets and media links
  • Advertise new registrations and start roll-over registration
  • Begin re-registration of current Students
  • Solicit assistance from school nurse for registration (health forms)
  • Dialogue with the Pastor/Finance Committee for tuition rates
  • Celebrate Catholic Schools Week
  • Continue Induction Program Paperwork


February Reminders

  • Encourage patriotic observances and projects for Presidents’ Day
  • Continue teacher observations
  • Supervise completion to Benchmark assessments
  • Continue registering new students
  • Send 2nd trimester Progress Reports to parents
  • Schedule parent conferences as needed
  • Check on status of school supplies and begin to generate book order lists and make arrangements to review new series
  • Prepare Lenten Prayer Services/Stations of the Cross
  • Prepare for the administration of the Terra Nova Testing


March Reminders

  • Prepare to defend budget recommendations
  • Plan observance of St. Patrick and St. Joseph Day
  • Oversee Terra Nova Testing (including correct return of materials)
  • Review report cards and SIS
  • Review student assessments
  • Establish scholarship and awards committee for 8th grade
  • Send to teachers letters of intent for upcoming school year
  • Update Induction paperwork
  • Continue formal teacher evaluations and classroom /review teacher progress on goals as part of evaluation
  • Plan Holy Week observances


April Reminders

  • Oversee plans for class trips
  • Coordinate plans for May Procession /spring concert
  • Prepare faculty evaluations
  • Contact parents of students in danger of not graduating/non-promotion of students identified in January
  • Establish summer vacation and work schedules for administrative team
  • Develop program for annual academic awards assembly
  • Celebrate Secretaries’ Day
  • Continue Induction Program Paperwork


May Reminders

  • Coordinate plans for summer packets
  • Complete evaluations of teachers
  • Meet to set teacher goals for the upcoming school year
  • Continue to conduct and log safety drills
  • Sign Certificates of Completion and award certificates-include Pastor
  • Review results of Terra Nova Testing
  • Complete paperwork for non-renewal of teachers by May 15th
  • Complete Induction Paperwork and forward to OCE
  • Compile teacher packet of end of year things to be done:
    • End of year Awards and Ceremonies
    • Promotion List
    • Repairs to classrooms
    • Inventory of school owned materials in each classroom
    • Stationery Lists (for your individual students, classroom)
    • Collection of Keys/Swipe Cards to the building/classrooms from the teachers
    • Educational Records Updated (Terra Nova Scores added)
    • Store end of year assessments and students tests


June Reminders

  • Oversee administration of final assessments
  • Review final report cards
  • Complete all end-of-the-year reports/send in 2 copies of Calendar
  • Organize end-of-year cleaning of school
  • Hold field day after assessments are completed
  • Distribute summer reading list suggestions; check for appropriateness – Math packet for review
  • Coordinate 8th Grade and Early Childhood closing exercises
  • Ensure that Neumann Scholarship paperwork is completed
  • Complete necessary paperwork for transferring students
  • Prepare for on-line entries of Government book orders
  • Meet with head custodian to finalize summer cleaning and maintenance schedule
  • Develop preliminary plans for opening of school
  • Check that all record cards have been completed and SIS updated
  • Collect keys/swipes
  • Update all Honors Math Records