School System, Multi-Age Highlight Busy 2005-06 by Jason Koshinskie Equitable,” He Says
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Bi-weekly news bulletin of the Catholic Diocese of Erie August 28, 2005 www.ErieRCD.org School system, multi-age highlight busy 2005-06 By Jason Koshinskie equitable,” he says. “So, where throughout the diocese, the 2004- FaithLife editor we can be system-like, we want 05 school year saw that change to. We’re using an intelligent with the implementation of the Even as students cling to their approach.” Stanford 10s. Now in its second final days of summer freedom, year, educators are interested in they know they will soon find Multi-age classrooms seeing comparative results. themselves back in the familiar “This year, because we’ll setting of the classroom. With a successful first year of have a second set of scores, we While parents may breathe a multi-age classrooms under its can do some good comparisons collective sigh of relief as the belt, the diocese is continuing to and see student progress,” 2005-06 school year quickly introduce the same approach in Kovacs says. “What we would approaches, many teachers, prin- more schools. expect to see from any given cipals and administrators have Last year, four schools began group of kids is at least one been hard at work to make sure using multi-age classroom cur- year’s growth. We hope for more the academic year is a successful riculums. Schools using the than that.” one. approach for selected grade lev- The data from the Stanford els include St. Thomas School, 10s won’t be compared to the A system-like approach Corry; St. Boniface School, Erie; Iowa results because they are Dylan Vogt, a sophmore at Cathedral Prep, picks up his Tablet PC and St. Andrew School, Erie. St. structurally different tests, she before the start of the school year. The school is in the process of The major initiative that will Gregory School in North East says. making the Tablet PCs and wireless Internet available to every continue this school year will be used the approach throughout the student. developing a system of schools, entire school. Living the faith says Fr. Schultz. That campaign This year, St. Thomas, St. involved in a project for their ing freshmen class in five began last year with the forming Boniface and St. Andrew schools A new religion curriculum classroom or school; intermedi- years. of the Northern Vicariate are adding additional multi-age that includes a service-oriented ate students will complete a proj- “We expect 180 incoming Diocesan Educational Council. classrooms while St. Patrick component will also be put in ect for their school or parish; and freshmen,” says headmaster Fr. This year, the Eastern and School, Franklin, and Sacred place this year. middle school and high schools Scott Jabo. “There were 149 Western Vicariates will be Heart School, Erie, are joining “It’s important that we have students will be involved in a freshmen last year. It’s a nice brought into that group to form a the initiative. objectives that students need to parish or community project. spike.” diocesan-wide council. “It works well in all direc- learn, but we also feel that reli- Fr. Jabo says the enrollment “It’s a system-like approach, tions,” says Darlene Kovacs, gion is different than other cur- New principals jump can be attributed to sever- trying to combine where we can who develops and oversees the ricular areas,” Kovacs says. al issues. to use our resources best,” says elementary and middle school “This is your faith. We don’t Diocesan schools have two “The technology program Fr. Shultz, vicar for education. curriculum for the diocese’s want to just keep it in the pages new principals this year. St. has created a huge boost of “I’m not sure exactly what they Office of Education. “It’s educa- of a book. We want to take that Joseph School, Warren, wel- interest in the school,” he says. will mean. Each school is still tionally sound and it’s research faith and go out and make it comes Sandra Dawes and St. “We’re in the process of mak- independent. We’re not trying to based. It’s not just about saving real.” Bernard School, Bradford, wel- ing Tablet PCs and a wireless take them over. But we’re trying money, although that’s certainly To go along with the academ- comes Kimberly Mooney. Internet program available for to become more system-like and a piece of it. It works as an effec- ic principles of the faith, a second each student. Last year’s class efficient.” tive educational setting for kids. portion of the curriculum indi- Tapping into technology found it to be very successful The areas most likely affected So, it’s a no-lose situation.” cates that students on all grade and word has gotten around by the diocesan-wide approach levels must complete a service One school that is seeing a about it.” include marketing, purchasing Goodbye Iowas, hello project or activity during the significant increase in enroll- Other changes include cam- and a possible common tuition Stanford 10s course of the school year. ment this year is Cathedral Prep pus renovations, increased structure, Fr. Schultz says. The projects are geared High School in Erie. When class- scholarship money, a growing “We’ve got to make sure our After years of using the toward various academic levels. es resume this week, the school Arts/ Technology Department teachers are all being paid what is Iowas as the standardized test Primary children will be will welcome its largest incom- and ongoing marketing. St. Boniface hosts anniversary Mass 1M-plus visit Cologne for WYD COLOGNE, Germany (CNS) — In back-to-back encounters with more than a million young people from around the world, Pope Benedict XVI urged them to discover the transforming power of the faith and join the “true revolution” of personal holiness. At a World Youth Day vigil Aug. 20 and a closing Mass the next day, the pope preached about the inspiration of the saints and the mystery of the Eucharist, encouraging the youths to change themselves if they want to change the world. “Only from the saints, only from God does CNS photo from Reuters Bishop Trautman visits with Peg and Walter Burrows after Mass true revolution come,” he told a Aug. 14 at Sacred Heart Parish, Erie. The couple, of St. Thomas vast candlelit crowd spread Pope Benedict XVI arrives for the World Youth Day Mass at Parish, Corry, are celebrating 65 years of marriage. Marienfeld outside Cologne, Germany, Aug. 21. The service across a field outside Cologne. attended by more than 1 million people concluded the internation- Congratulations to all the Mass celebrated by Bishop The pope was presiding for the al Catholic youth gathering and came at the end of the pope's first couples being honored this Donald Trautman. Sixteen cou- first time over World Youth Day, visit abroad since his election in April. weekend at St. Boniface Parish, ples are celebrating their 25th and he did so in a solemn and Kersey, during the Erie wedding anniversary, 38 couples dignified style. At the vigil, he John Paul II, there was no papal crowd in adoration of the Diocese’s annual anniversary are celebrating their 50th, three sat quietly as he watched slow bantering with the crowd or light- Eucharist. Mass celebration. couples are celebrating their 60th liturgical dancing and listened to hearted silliness. At the end of the Look for local coverage of Fifty-nine couple and their and two couples are celebrating Scripture readings. Unlike simi- long evening, dressed in a golden World Youth Day in the Sept. 11 families will attend the Kersey their 65th. lar megameetings with Pope cope, Pope Benedict led the issue of FaithLife. News Briefs Briefly Faith magazine focuses on Fr. Villegas becomes U.S. citizen U.S. WORLD By the Way... St. Joe’s offers faith, A native and a priest of the the Shrine of Our Lady of teens for Sept./Oct. issue Archdiocese of Yucatan in Guadalupe, Fr. Villegas looks for- St. Ann Parish, Erie, is celebrating 33 stem cell discussions Mexico, Fr. Jorge Villegas, pastor ward to continuing his work with Gov. Rendell lifts abortion restric- Pontificating with priests: Marx, years of First Friday and First Saturday Hang on for a great of St. Stephan Parish in Erie, the Hispanic population of the Erie tions on funding in state budget vocations and papal infallibility devotions and 100 years of the dedication St. Joseph Parish/Bread of Life ride with Jesse Spade of became a citizen of the United Diocese. of the church with a visit from the world Community, Erie, invites you to a Erie and Meghan Larsen States on Aug. 8. “Since I was a little boy, I have famous International Pilgrim Virgin complimentary dinner and discus- of Coudersport, Faith been interested in the American PITTSBURGH (CNS) — Before Pennsylvania VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI With the change of immigra- Statue of Our Lady of Fatima Aug. 26- sion to kick off its Alpha program magazine’s 2005 Teens of culture,” he says. “The divine Gov. Ed Rendell signed the state budget, he vetoed interrupted his summer vacation recently to give the tion rules since 9/11, Fr. Villegas Sept. 1 from 6-9 p.m. the Year. They’re featured providence is working in really language prohibiting funding for abortion-related longest talk of his pontificate, a two-hour tour de 28. A “Fatima Farewell” service will be says holding dual citizenship Alpha is a basic introduction to on the cover of the mysterious ways, don’t you programs and restored a $6.6 million appropriation force covering such diverse topics as papal infallibil- held at the church Aug.