What Counts in Catholic Education?

One of my favorite quotes:

Not everything that counts can be counted,and not everything that can be counted counts.

Why is this quote appropriate today? We're getting ready to start taking the Iowa Assessments, which we do every year the first two weeks in October. The data we glean from these tests is valuable, providing administration, teachers, and parents with a glimpse into the minds of our students. What have they achieved? What are their innate learning styles? What directions do we take in the future, knowing what we know as a result of these tests?

Clearly, standardized tests are an integral part of education today, public or private. And yet they are only one small portion of the tools we use to evaluate a child's progress toward all of the goals we have: spiritual, academic, social, emotional, physical, etc.

We don't have a standardized test to measure kindness, compassion, and empathy - and yet most of us would agree that these qualities are crucial to a healthy, mature person. We don't have a test for perseverance and persistence (well, the tests exist, but we don't have them in school). And yet recent research shows that these traits are vital for success in life. The ability to bounce back from failure is far more predictive of success in life than a string of unchallenged "successes" - or A's on the report cards.

This year we'll be taking the new form of the Iowa Assessments, aligned to the new Common Core standards. The diocese has advised us that we can expect lower test scores in this first year of the new tests, since it will take time to align curriculum with this new metric.

We'll continue to provide information to parents about the educational progress of our children, and we'll continuously work to improve our educational environment. Just remember that the scores on standardized tests are not the only "scores" that count!

Slow Down. Say No. Walk More.

A couple of years ago, when I was in the middle of a very stressful period of the school year, I took some time to think about what would be most helpful. I came up with the phrase above: Slow down. Say no. Walk more.

Slow down. How often do we make time in our day for prayer and reflection? Time to just "be" rather than to be constantly "doing?" In everyone's lives, students, parents, and staff alike, we equate "doing" things with being productive. While it's true that there are many things that must be done each day (homework, housework, reports, projects, meetings) it's also true that we'll burnout quickly if we don't take time to slow down, reflect, and take time for prayer, for reading, for meditation.

Say no. We've been conditioned to say "yes" much more easily than we say "no." Often this comes from a need to please others, to be helpful, to be respected. And yet saying "no" can protect precious time from being squandered on things that may be urgent, but aren't in the long run the most important or the best use of our time. Does your child really need one more activity? Do they have any time during the week to just go outside and play? Can your child amuse himself for a sustained period of time, following his or her own interests?

I'm an introvert by nature, so as a child I enjoyed solitary pursuits: reading, writing my own "books," needlework and crafts. As an adult, those pursuits are still the ones I enjoy the most. Does your child have time to discover what she's passionate about? (I still played team sports and enjoyed being active in our church's "Teen Club," so having time for yourself doesn't mean isolation.)

Walk more. It's far too easy to "sit" - in school, at home doing homework, in the car to and from school and events. That's just as true for children as it is for adults. I've been using a "Fitbit" pedometer for over a year now, and I'm amazed at how easy it is to put more movement in my day - when I'm aware that I should walk more. Walking upstairs to talk to a teacher rather than sending an email, visiting classrooms instead of sitting in meetings, and being outside more in general during the day can make all the difference between a highly sedentary 4,000 steps a day and a much healthier 10,000 steps a day. (Clearly, I still have to remind myself to work at this one!)

Can your child walk or ride a bike to school? Walk over to a friend's house? Walk to the park or ride a bike around the neighborhood? Walking more is a simple, easy way to encourage healthier levels of activity.

Recently, the Grosse Pointe Patch had a great article subtitled "Why less is more." This article gives practical, helpful suggestions for ways to "say no" and avoid the over-scheduled child. How can  you use these ideas in your family life? Let us know in the comments!

The moral lives of young people

Last week, David Brooks had an op-ed piece in the New York Times, If It Feels Right..., that caught my eye. (and Msgr. Halfpenny's as well, since he copied it and put it in my mailbox).

The article discusses a recent study from the University of Notre Dame regarding the state of America's youth.

It's actually rather depressing, from the point of view of a Catholic school principal. Over and over again, the 18 - 23 year olds who were interviewed about making moral choices gave examples that reflected an "extreme moral individualism" - they made moral choices based solely on how the choice made them feel. I hear young adults say this all the time - "Who am I to say whether that's right or wrong for someone else? It's up to them."

Clearly, this is not what we believe as Catholics! It's not always easy to walk as a disciple of the Lord, but we always have the moral compass, that absolute truth, that points us to eternal life. It's why our Savior has given us his Word - so that can say, definitively, "This is wrong. This is what I should do, instead."

Somehow, our society has missed that message. Perhaps because we don't receive the Eucharist regularly - every Sunday. Perhaps because we're seduced by the media messages that tell us "it's all about me." Whatever the reason, we have our work cut out for us!

When I talk to parents about our school and our faith being counter-cultural, this is what I mean. We need to constantly share the Good News, the absolute truth of our salvation, in spite of the often louder voices calling us to an extreme moral relativity. All choices are NOT equally appropriate. It's why our "moral unit," our community, is our parish family. This is where we learn to transcend our own selfish impulses, to make the often difficult decisions that are best in the long run, for all of society, not just for me.

I suspect some of this extreme moral relativism may be at the root of many of our current political and economic difficulties - but that's another blog post!

Catholic Humor

Thanks to St. Paul graduate (and current Stanford student) Ben VanBerkum for the link to this great story:

All the Lights Went Out
Humor
During a Eucharistic Congress, a number of priests from different orders are gathered in a church for Vespers. While they are praying, a fuse blows and all the lights went out.
The Benedictines continue praying from memory, without missing a beat.
The Jesuits begin to discuss whether the blown fuse means they are dispensed from the obligation to pray Vespers.
The Franciscans compose a song of praise for God’s gift of darkness.
The Dominicans revisit their ongoing debate on light as a signification of the transmission of divine knowledge.
The Carmelites fall into silence and slow, steady breathing.
The parish priest, who is hosting the others, walks the stairs down to the basement and replaces the fuse.

(God bless all of our hardworking, compassionate, practical parish priests!)

Our crisis plan doesn't cover this...

On September 11, 2001, I was in school, having been the principal at St. Isaac Jogues for the past four years. My librarian came into my office and mentioned that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. I assumed it was a small plane, and thought, "How awful. I wonder how they got so far off course?"

Not two minutes later, my husband called from Selfridge (where he was the Operations Support Group Commander at the time) and said, "Mary, this is big. That was an airline jet that crashed into the World Trade Center, and we don't think it was an accident. Turn on the news."

We had a pastoral staff meeting scheduled for that morning, and I walked over the parish offices where we watched the news in horror. We were watching, together, as they broke in with the news that a third plane had crashed, and I knew from the footage we were watching that it WASN'T New York City.  I said, "I have to be back over in school." And I left the staff meeting immediately.

The rest of that morning is a horrible blur. I couldn't DO anything but walk the halls of the building, checking in on students and staff. We had the teachers turn off the televisions and directed them to just keep teaching and keep as much information from the children as possible. I comforted one teacher who had a son in the military Special Forces, and worried about my brother. I knew Tom had just been reassigned to the Pentagon and was, in fact, scheduled to arrive in Washington DC that very day. (we learned several hours later that he was still en route when the crash occurred).

My clearest memory of that morning, when we heard the news about the plane crash in Pennsylvania, was that no crisis plan in the world could prepare me for dealing with something like this. (Coincidentally, we had just completed work on our school's crisis plan). We kept the students in the building at lunchtime, not sure if another tragedy wouldn't occur, again, even closer to home. Many parents called school that morning, but actually most students stayed in school for the entire day.

Like everyone else in America, my life changed, fundamentally, ten  years ago today. My husband's work with the Michigan Air National Guard changed from a back up, support force, to a full, active, constantly deploying wing. Dave finished his career with the military in 2008, retiring as the Wing Vice Commander. During those seven years he faced, over and over again, the reality of directing those under him into harm's way. He himself flew a plane into Afghanistan that took bullets to the tail. I don't think any of us will ever again feel as safe and secure as we did on September 10, 2001, knowing on that day that the continental United States had never been attacked by such a threat.

From the vantage point of today, looking back ten years, it's more clear to me than ever that the ONLY thing that makes any sense at all is my faith in God. How else can you understand such a horror? Our human perspective doesn't let us make any sense of such irrational hatred. Only a  God who loves us, unconditionally, and grieves with us at such terror, can help us make decisions for the future based on love. Msgr. Halfpenny reminds me frequently to "speak the truth in love." That's the only crisis plan that can last.

Current News, from the principal's perspective

I read two articles with my morning coffee today and thought I would share them with you, along with my thoughts. The first is a Detroit News article on the MEAP cut scores and how they may be changing.

According to Michigan Superintendent of Schools, Michael Flanagan, the current cut scores "disguise dismal ability levels."

Why is this important at St. Paul? Parents often ask me how our standardized test scores compare with the test scores in the public school. We use the norm-referenced Iowa Test of Basic Skills. The public schools in Michigan use the criterion-referenced MEAP test.

It's like comparing apples and oranges. The criterion referenced tests set a basic, or "criterion" level that everyone SHOULD be able to meet (assuming all variables are in place - good instruction, parent support, healthy meals, etc.). Norm-referenced tests provide a "bell curve" of results - there are items on the test designed to be too difficult for the average child at a grade level.

Why are the MEAP cut scores important? Because they tell parents if their child is proficient, or performing at a reasonable level. For criterion referenced tests, these are items students should know. But in Michigan, for example, a 4th grader only needs to get 29% of the items correct on the 4th grade Math test (where all the items are designed at a 4th grade level) to be considered proficient. This does a disservice to parents, giving them a false sense of a child's progress.

I'll be following this story closely to see if the State Board of Education actually changes the cut scores. Politically, it may be very difficult to label many, many more schools as "failing."

The second is a CNN article  titled "What teachers really want to tell parents." This article was written by Ron Clark, Disney's American Teacher of the Year, and my initial reaction was "Every word in this article is true." My second reaction was that I didn't want to offend anybody! I hope you'll read his article with an open heart and an open mind. Every teacher and administrator at St. Paul truly loves your child and wants only the best for each one of our students. Within that context, we occasionally have to share news with parents that may be difficult to hear. While the year is still fresh and new, this article can be a great reminder to all of us to work together to help our children through the normal ups and downs of school life!

First Full Day of School

We're well into our first (rainy) day of school, and already the students are engaged and excited about learning. As I visited the junior high classrooms this morning, I took pictures to help you get a sense of what it "feels" like to be a St. Paul student: focused, respectful, and deeply involved in learning.

Mrs. Morris's Science class

Mrs. Barnes' 4th grade Music class

Mrs. Shaum's Literature class

Miss Ryan's Social Studies class

Mr. Novak's Science class

Ms. Vermeulen's Math class

Ms. Koperski's Social Studies class

School is waiting for you.

It's September once again, and St. Paul Catholic School is waiting for our students and their families to arrive on Tuesday. The faculty and staff are working hard to prepare our classrooms so that amazing learning about our faith, our world, and ourselves can happen.

On Monday, the entire St. Paul parish and school staff met at Sacred Heart Major Seminary for our annual retreat. This year's retreat, led by our new Auxiliary Bishop, the Most Reverend Michael Byrnes, focused our attention on St. Paul and the Eucharist.

On Tuesday and  Wednesday, the school staff met at school for extended in-service and planning for the 2011-2012 school year.

Several of our teachers have created websites, blogs, and twitter feeds to help our families and students stay connected with St. Paul school. Click on the Websites tab above to see those pages.

Mrs. Shaum's personal blog gives you a sense of how our teachers feel about the coming year. Don't you wish you could be a student again in such a classroom? All of those books, just waiting to be read!

As principal, I can tell you that we are blessed with a dedicated, faith-filled faculty. As we worked and prayed together this week, I learned anew what a phenomenal, collegial team we have. It's going to be a graced year. Welcome back, everyone!