Curriculum Blog - Kristin Dixon

“Catholic schools, which always strive to join their work of education with the explicit proclamation of the Gospel, are a most valuable resource for the evangelization of culture…”


EVANGELII GAUDIUM
 Pope Francis

We are at our best when Catholic schools become instruments of God’s love in the world. We make this happen through our words, in the taught and lived curriculum, and how we model in our daily interactions with one another. The “evangelization of culture” does require greater and greater creativity.

How do we do this? The four goals of our OCS Strategic Plan can guide us and encourage us to ask key questions about the work we do…

1 – Are we Catholic in our religion curriculum? Do we encourage our students to move beyond service to understand Pope Francis’ call to “missionary discipleship”?
2 – Throughout the day, do we take time to integrate Catholic teachings in all that we teach?
3 – Do we seek pathways to include all families at our tables?
4 – Do we seek to learn from our history and establish better structures to support children in becoming all that God dreams for each?

Each goal requires a willingness to engage with the culture, and creatively integrate and communicate Christ’s message of love, forgiveness and mercy. Hopefully, the following Resource Documents, Committee Work and Professional Development Opportunities offer you support in your ministries as you work your schools strategic and accreditation goals:

Resource Documents for all Elementary Grade Levels

Elementary Religion Curriculum – Beyond the Standards
Yes, the Religion Standards have been delivered to each elementary school. However, in presenting the standards to the schools, the teachers expressed a need for the following:
a. A student vocabulary list for each grade level
b. A way to integrate the weighty grade level standards
What we have created for teachers is a one page, front and back, document of the essential questions for each grade level that includes the vocabulary for each grade level. Principals will receive the grade level Essential Questions at the KickStart next week, and the document will live on line. The possible uses? For use as a course outline…for your classroom word wall…for parents at back-to-school night…as a touchstone to be certain you are covering all the key concepts at your grade level.


Curriculum Committee Work

High School Religion Curriculum
We continue the task of translating the Bishops’ Framework for High School Religion into course standards. I thank our committee from each of the Catholic High Schools and look forward to resuming our work on (date).

Math Standards Review
Thank you to the members of the Math Standards Review. We continue our work together and prepare to meet on>>>. Participation on this committee is a great way for a school to stay in the knowledge loop – to receive information first hand. If you would like a teacher to be involved in this group, and do not currently have representation, please send me an email. We are always happy to widen the net!

Professional Development
Integrating Religion Standards – Unit Design Workshop
We integrate religion standards throughout the school day, within all content areas. Not as an afterthought, or one of those wonderful “in the moments” connections, but as an intentional, planned-for outcome. Beginning this month, teachers will have the opportunity to attend a 3 hour in-service on Unit Design with the goal of integration! Click the link above for the many regional dates and registration form.
Classroom Walkthroughs with a Tool and a Plan - Teachscape

Training offered in the use of an on-line tool fostering feedback and informing professional learning. Feedback ultimately leads to improvement in educator practice and student success.

Our fourth co-hort training with Susan Abelein from Catapult Learning is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, January 11 and 12, 2016. In this training, Dr. Abelein will assist working with the tool, using the data for feedback and decision making, and link evaluations to targeted professional learning goals. For cost, use of Title funds, and commitments click the link above for registration. The Office for Catholic Schools is committed to supporting this initiative with time before our principal meetings in the creative use of this tool.
Educational Leadership Conference: Serving all Learners
We are prepared to host approximately 320 teachers and administrators from 49 schools in our Archdiocese for our Annual Summer Conference. This year, we made some changes:
· Hosting the conference at two sites, Holy Rosary, Edmonds and St. Michael’s Olympia.
· A two-day conference
From the initial response in terms of enrollment, we believe that this has been a positive change, and we will assess this again through the evaluation forms. We also worked closely with the Diverse Learners Committee to develop our topic for the Conference. Serving Diverse Learners has proven to be a timely topic, that is supported through Goal 3 of our Strategic Plan – to increase access to our schools for all students.
Thank you to our hosting schools and principals Mrs. Sue Venable and Mr. Connor Geraghty for their gracious hospitality.

Teacher Excellence Day
Our theme this year, inspired by the Sermon on the Mount Gospel, is “Feed One Another.” What is our miracle? We feed one another with our presence and the willingness to share! Thank you to the nearly 80 presenters who will offer their wisdom on October 2, 2015 to teachers and administrators at our two sites, St. Charles Borromeo, Tacoma and Bishop Blanch High School Seattle. Over 1500 participants will begin the day with Mass celebrating and affirming our Catholic identity. We will hear from our Superintendent, Dr. Haggarty who will share his vision, and from his colleague Dr. Kevin Baxter, Superintendent of Los Angeles Catholic Schools reflect on our theme. Throughout the day, you will have the opportunity to peruse the goods offered in our exhibitor area.
Thank you to our hosting schools and principals Mr. Dan Hill and Mrs. Sheila Kries for their willingness to open their schools for this important event.

EdVantage – Your Guide to What’s Happening!
The principal will receive copies of the 2015-2016 EdVantage for all teachers. Please look for this in your back-to-school information.