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The schools of the Archdiocese of Seattle, in communion with the Archbishop, in collaboration with parents, parish leadership, and the community, and in the service of teaching Gospel values and the faith of the Catholic Church, educate students in grades K to 12 for leadership and service to the church and society through excellent religious, academic, and co-curricular programs that strive to be accessible to all.

Catholic Education
Through each of their programs, especially religious education, Catholic schools collaborate with parents as the primary educators of their children in faith, hope and love.

• Supported by their parishes and communities, Catholic schools educate the whole person -- mind, heart and spirit -- by teaching, modeling and instiling the teachings of the Gospel and of the Catholic faith.
• These teachings, expressed through sacraments, religious traditions and lived example, fosterin students an ethical and Christ-like way of life.
• By learning to value this way of life, students grow to respect the intrinsic dignity of each person and to serve as leaders in search of a just and peaceful society and church.

Through Excellent Religious, Academic and Co-Curricular Programs
The Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of Seattle develop the growth of each student toward his or her full potential by providing high-quality instruction in all areas.

• Catholic schools offer programs designed to develop the spiritual, academic, artistic, athletic and leadership potentials of their students.
• Catholic schools encourage and prepare students to attain high standards of achievement.
• All schools seek accreditation through an established process of review.
• Teachers receive certification from the State of Washington, and teachers of religion from the Archdiocese of Seattle.

That Strive To Be Accessible To All
Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of Seattle respect all students and strive to be accessible by:

• Providing tuition assistance for families with financial need.
• Serving a population that comprises the ricih ethnic diversity of the archdiocese.
• Providing reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities.
• Ensuring the viability of present schools.
• Opening new schools in underserved areas of the Archdiocese.
• Welcoming children who value a Catholic education, regardless of religious background, depending on space available.

Administration and Monitoring of Federal Programs.

Data Gathering and Dissemination.

Technology: The Catholic Schools Department website hosts our online professional learning community that promotes a centralized approach to online forums, databases, tools, and reports so all schools have shared access to communication, data and common reports to support compliance and accreditation requirements.

Marketing and Development: Includes hiring a freelance photographer to visit 15-20 schools each year on an ongoing basis to capture consistent, high-quality images of Catholic school life (the photos will be used for CSD marketing purposes, and will also be made available for each school’s use at no charge); creating a short video to promote Catholic schools in our region; materials, food and associated costs for periodic Development Director Meetings (facilitated by Fulcrum Foundation staff); advertising on behalf of all our Catholic schools, both in print and online media.

Curriculum: Resources, guidelines, and on-going support in PreK – 12 curriculum development, instruction and assessment to support student learning.

Consortium Support & Training: – Resource support for DESTINY, our automated library software database from Follett Software, PowerSchool, our automated student information system from Pearson, and ITBS, our common assessment tool for elementary schools from Riverside Publishing, are the three consortiums that are expanding within the Archdiocese of Seattle.

Development and Publication of a Catholic School Policy and Procedure Handbook.

Liaison with:
Services to Principals:

• Accreditation Implementation and training support for the accreditation process for elementary and high schools:
  - Training for schools beginning the process
  - Ongoing consultation during writing of the self-study
  - Selection of team chairs and members
  - Training of team committee members
  - Support at the pre-visit and visit for each school accreditation
• Handling Grievance
• Identification/Formation of Potential Principals
• Instructional Support
• Mentor Principal Program
• Principal Applicant Screening
• Principal Evaluation
• Principal Orientation: We assist the pastors and search committees in providing the Applitrack application online system. We gather candidates for principal positions, do background clearance and review their applications. We meet with the search committees at their locations and provide support for conducting the principal search and interviews. We work with each committee through all the steps of selection.
• New Principals are provided a two-day retreat/workshop at Palisades. They are provided background information for whom to contact, how to get information, review of policy and general orientation. In the month before school begins, the Assistant Superintendent for Personnel travels to spend a day (or several hours) reviewing what questions have come up while they have been getting into their new position, answering more questions and supporting their transition.
• During their first year, we provide four day-long inservice opportunities for them to meet, share concerns or joys with each other and have presentations from different departments they need to interact with in their position. We meet with Human Resources, Parish Finances, Office of Catholic Faith Formation, and the staff of the Office for Catholic Schools.
• Teacher Applicants/Orientation - We assist the principals by maintaining the application system through Applitrack. Applitrack helps us collect applications and screen for all employment opportunities in the schools. It also provides an ongoing service throughout the year of screening applicants hoping to substitute. This is updated each winter and “non viable” candidates removed to make this more useful. This system has increased our application pool for all positions greatly. We do background checks for those who are seeking to be substitute teachers and communicate with them the responsibility for attending the Safe Environment program.
• We hold a New Teacher Orientation workshop and provide information about the schools and provide speakers to help them understand the responsibilities for Catholic schools. There is an orientation for teachers new to teaching with experienced teachers from the Catholic school system. This is an opportunity for them to meet other new teachers and get questions answered. This is a two-day event and as part of the event they are given the opportunity to attend the Safe Environment program.
• Working with School Commissions, Pastors, Pastoral Life Directors, Search Committees
• Awards and Recognition – The employees are honored with pins and notice for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, etc. years of service. These years of service are noted in written programs. The principals verify the service and hold local ceremonies.
• Executive Principals Committee – Leadership Services
• Quarterly Principals Meetings
• Principal Retreats/In-service Speakers

Professional Development:

• Teacher Excellence Day – Professional Development opportunity for all teachers and administrators.
• K-12 Academic Articulation – Deanery Curriculum Day is one of the two Archdiocesan professional development days to promote local PreK – 12 leadership, vision and initiatives with professional development themes that promote instructional excellence.
• Northwest Catholic Educational Leadership Institute – Professional Development opportunity sponsored by the Catholic Schools Department and Seattle University College of Education. Instructional strategies and education.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES NOT FUNDED BY THE PER PUPIL TAX OR THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS DEPARTMENT BUDGET

Intervention Services:
Office of Catholic Faith Formation:

Current OCS Staff Contact List