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