Curriculum Curriculum CouncilCouncil

Welcome!Welcome!We’ll have lunch at 11:30, please enjoy We’ll have lunch at 11:30, please enjoy

coffee and snacks!coffee and snacks!

In gratitude for our food and place to meet we’d like to thank

ALL:

Lord God, As we ponder the blessings and challenges of this past year, grant us the serenity of your Spirit and openness of heart to the wonders you have done in us and will continue do in faithfulness to us, your children. We make this prayer to you through Christ our Lord. Amen

We Welcome New Members:•April Parker, St. Pius X, Lower Elementary ELA

•Ellen Tehan, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Middle School Math

•Kim Antolini, Christ the King, High School Math

•Celene Little, St. Ann, Elementary Learning Support

•Sigrid Couch, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Middle School Learning Support

Minutes: Attendees included Janice Ritter, Kathleen Miller, Jacqui Durrett, April Parker, Erin Read, Connie Rafferty, Kay Roberts, Chris Nunez, Kim Antolini, Danita Ostasiewski, Patti Dickson, Katherine Bouchon, Judy Lapietra, Michael Smith, Patty Martin-Wong, Patty Fischer, Tammy Harris, Nannette Dolan, Terri Hardy, Carol London, Socky Davaz, Deb Lee, Terri Taylor, Celene Little, Sigrid Couch

Curriculum Council Agenda•Overview of the conference • What we’ve learned• Discussion regarding the AdvancEd/Religion in-

service and curriculum in-service for next year•Discussion regarding the Curriculum Council’s goals and direction for next year

• Vertical alignment meetings• PD program development in literacy and

subject area• Curriculum alignment in special areas across

diocese• Diocesan curriculum development

•Structure and Membership - what should the membership look like, include administrators, tenure?•Discussion regarding professional development

““The conference on Friday was a joy!  Thank you for arranging a The conference on Friday was a joy!  Thank you for arranging a day for teachers that was affirming, interesting, and sensitive to day for teachers that was affirming, interesting, and sensitive to the great diversity of men and women who have answered God’s the great diversity of men and women who have answered God’s call to teach in Catholic schools.  This lovely, stimulating day was call to teach in Catholic schools.  This lovely, stimulating day was everything a professional day should be, and as I listened to everything a professional day should be, and as I listened to conversations around me in sessions and on the way home, I conversations around me in sessions and on the way home, I believe that attendees came away grateful for the organization, believe that attendees came away grateful for the organization, the delicious lunch, the choice of positive speakers, and the great the delicious lunch, the choice of positive speakers, and the great jazz band entertainment.  jazz band entertainment.  Please pass on my thanks to the many Please pass on my thanks to the many involved.  I know an event like this involved.  I know an event like this doesn’t happen without many, many doesn’t happen without many, many helpers.helpers.”” Teacher Teacher

Analysis of the Conference:

1.Registration: no problems with traffic or pickup. Need to include room numbers not session numbers.2.Breakfast: no problems, many appreciative comments3.Prayer Service: high approval rating, Mass was mentioned a few times4.Keynote Speakers: high approval rating. Went too long. We’ll address this going forward5.Breakout Sessions: Technology was an issue (even with our tech support process in place), Time was an issue – both starting and 45 minutes was too short, Presenter webpages were unknown, Variety of presenters was appreciated

Things We’ve Learned:1.Timing:

a) Speaker will be provided with a large timer b) Lunch could be 45 minutes if lines are set up to be

quickc) Breakout sessions need to be 1 hour

2.Technology:a) Presenter will be asked to practice their setups in

another classroom/school to alert them to potential problems

b) Presenters will be encouraged to bring their own equipment

3.Using our Resources:a) Working with PTO and parent volunteers really

helped improve our event • PTO’s have agreed to support future events.

MACS PTO’s have agreed to put $400 line item in their budget for diocesan in-services

Future In-Services – Council’s Role1.Curriculum Council’s Focus for In-Services

a) Move away from process planning to more curriculum-related area support

b) Provide support and advice regarding the types of presentations and speakers in the various areas

2.Fall in-service (10//17/14): AdvancED/Religion focus (Bishop McGuinness)

a. Agenda: AdvancED update (Janice), Catholic School Education (Father Arnsparger), ???

b. Role of the Council – to be determined based on plans, Catholicity integration?

3.March in-service (3/27/15): Curriculum focus (CCHS)a) Agenda: Mass, speaker, breakout sessionsb) Role of the Council – presentations, speakersMinutes: Council will send Jacqui their thoughts on the Fall and March

In-services. Of particular note: Continuing work on infusing Catholicity (how to proceed). Need more preparation prior to in-service (we had each school watch movie last year – need to do something more). March in-service will have a more specific Catholic education strand – look for presenters to address this. Communication: Jacqui will look into setting up Edmodo this summer rather than or in addition to wiki for diocesan sharing.

Curriculum Council Future Goals and Direction1.Vertical Alignment - Curriculum meetings

a) How should they be organized and scheduled? b) Can Council take planning lead on these with support from diocese?

2.Curriculum alignment in special areas across diocesea) How can this be accomplished?

•Discussion of Council’s Structure and Membership•Meetings – Smaller content/grade level specificMinutes: Alignment: Council will send Jacqui their thoughts on the Alignment meetings (by curriculum areas). Of particular note: Elementary levels teach all subjects – how do you do Diocesan Alignment meetings on curriculum? Regional versus diocesan meetings – merits to each – how do we address that? Encouraging ongoing dialogue and cooperation. Encourage collegiality and open discussion. Do we try to do all areas in one or two years? Sharing Resources: Can we set up a sharing site for schools to share resources and ideas? Some resources are purchased with foundation funds – we need to speak with foundation about sharing resources outside the area but still within the diocese.Membership: How should membership be structured? Currently there are slots for Lower and Upper Elementary, Middle and High School for each of the following subjects: ELA, Math, Religion, Science, Social Studies, and three levels for PE, Computer, Art Guidance, World Languages, Library, Music and Learning Support (not all slots are filled) – there are 38 members. How do you think it should be structured? How long should the tenure be? 3 years was mentioned. The selection process was described – looking for teacher with leadership in their area, principals asked to weigh in. What are your thoughts on selection?CC Meetings: Are they too large? Should they be split up MS/HS and Elem?

Diocese of Charlotte Catholic Schools Curriculum1.Continue working to create a Diocese of Charlotte Catholic Schools Curriculum (example)

a) 1 curriculum area per year?• (Do we map it to the DPI Textbook Adoption schedule?)

b) Structure?c) How to involve everyoned) How to use what we’ve already worked on – perhaps in a

different wayMinutes: Catholic Curriculum: How do we continue to build our unique DOCCS Catholic Curriculum? Took a look at the Arch. of Hartford Curriculum StandardsIs what we’ve already begun last September going in the right direction, something we can build on, something we need to complete as is? Should we be building something more simple, not so closely integrated to Standards? Discussion about wonderful work done in some groups and in others lack of cooperation, enthusiasm, preparedness. Possible causes of this were discussed. Need to better use the theology teachers – assign them directly to groups. Should we “chunk” the work? Should we give each person a specific responsibility to their group? Should the groups be smaller? Need better Catholicity preparation, especially for the non-Catholic teachers. Last year we had everyone view a movie prior to the meeting – what should we do to better prepare for next year. Some discussed a book read. Reminder that it is not just Catholic Social Services – there are many, many aspects of Catholicism that could be infused. Noted that some subjects were much easier than others – math is an example. How do we address this?

Professional Development Issues•Needs discussion

1. What do your curriculum areas need for professional development?

2. How often? How structured•Current plans for internal diocesan PD program

1. Teacher lead2. Areas to be covered (curriculum and locality)3. Cost4. Your thoughts and advice?

•What role should the council play in PD:• Interest in being a presenter?Minutes:

Professional Development:Provided overview of an in-house diocesan PD program we are developing to start next year (similar to the one we have in place with Nic Finelli): Teacher presenters, up to $200 stipend ($300 if double teachers) – this entirely depends on the number of attendees. Cost $25-$30 per attendee, 3:30-5:30, Pastoral Center and regional. Input from the Council: Looking for suggestions for types of PD needed in your areas and looking for presenter recommendations (also CC members to be presenters if they are interested).Looking for Council’s thoughts on this and help identifying potential classes and presenters.Of particular note: Suggested that we should be looking for Catholicity infusion classes for this PD program as well as the in-services. Stipends for Curriculum Council members: Question was raised about a stipend or non-monetary incentive for council members. This is something we’ll have to talk to the diocesan principals about. Members send any other ideas about this to Jacqui

Thank you for everything you’ve done this year on the Curriculum Council. Working together we will continue to improve and build our Catholic Schools.We appreciate your willingness to serve in such a key leadership role.

May God bless you in all that you do. Have a relaxing and renewing summer.

Janice RitterKathleen MillerJacqui Durrett