Monthly In-Services Enrich Teachers Talents

The first Friday of every month is a half day for the students at our school, but the teachers stay for the remainder of the day and take enrichment courses, attend conferences and workshops, and discuss strategies how best to work with each child.   These "in-service" days cover a variety of topics from differentiation, to technology, to internet safety, just to name a few. 

The staff also attended in-services held outside the school with other teachers in the Archdiocese.  Here are two examples:

In March, our teachers headed to St. Paul Catholic High School in Bristol to attend the CATHOLIC EDUCATORS FAITH CONFERENCE.

The day started with a Prayer Service led by our Superintendent, Mr. Dale Hoyt.  That was followed by the Keynote Address, “Building a School of Faith,” given by Father Michael Dolan, a Priest of the Archdiocese.

The highlight of the Conference was Mass with Archbishop Mansell who made a point to thank all those in the Ministry of Catholic Education. 

The teachers also broke into small groups and went to workshops such as “Praying the Gospels,” “Teaching as Ministry – In Service to the Family,” and “Celebrating our Catholic Traditions,” where they learned and reflected further on their ministry to our children.

Everyone visited various exhibits from publishers, technology companies, and other entities showing off the latest tools in the field of education. 

Before heading home, those in the Archdiocese celebrating significant milestones were honored, such as our own Mrs. Kisiel, who just finished her 20th year in Catholic School Ministry, and Mrs. DeCarlo, who just finished her 15th.

In April, our teachers headed to the Hynes Center in Boston for the annual National Catholic Education Association Convention.

There were speakers helping our teachers understand the future of education, particularly Catholic Education, in our country.  There were three full ballrooms full of exhibits of publishers, technology companies, etc.; all featuring the latest in education and gave them a glimpse into the future of education.

Teachers were able to attend individual sessions featuring renown speakers from around the country.  Some workshops that were held included those that help them relate the Bible to the current world, more ways to help teach our children that they are all gifts from God, and learning how Math is best taught in the 21st Century.  They also picked up tips on how to differentiate instruction, saw what’s next in technology and what to do about strategically planning for the future.

They joined with educators from throughout the region and country and celebrated Mass with the Archbishop of Atlanta.  Everyone came away from that Mass uplifted by praying & singing with so many men and women who share our ministry.