Catholic educators come face-to-face with race
More than 50 Catholic educators nationwide participated in this three-evening course facilitated by Marin Catholic art teacher Orin Carpenter, who graciously shared his experience of growing up Black as expressed through his "In Danger Species" series. Educators were invited to process their own experiences of racism through art and given resources to use in their classrooms. The course is being offered again April 13-15.
|
|
|
Catholic educators address
anti-racist classrooms and curricula
The five-week professional development course Creating Equitable Curriculum led 50 Catholic educators to examine the foundational pedagogy and theory of antiracist classrooms and ways that Catholic school practices can lead to equity. “Taking this course helped me realize that student representation amongst school leadership matters ... and I must create spaces for student cultures and languages within my school environment,” shared Derek Wetzel of ICA Cristo Rey High School in San Francisco. The course was taught by Dr. Sterling Brown, Dean of Students at Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha; Jeremy Alexander, Boston College Lynch School of Education and Human Development doctoral student; and Dr. Melodie Wyttenbach, Executive Director of the Roche Center for Catholic Education. The course will be offered again on Thursday evenings April 22, 29 and May 6,13 from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m.
|
|
|
Superintendent PLC supports
national leaders through pandemic
The Superintendent PLC launched by the Roche Center in partnership with Fr. Ronald Nuzzi of Catapult Learning, became a critical resource for navigating this past year in Catholic education. Leaders from a dozen archdioceses gathered frequently, sometimes weekly, to process, encourage, learn from and pray with one another. “Having this group during this very difficult time of COVID-19 was a blessing. It was a safe place for me to share and I always felt like I walked away learning something I didn't know or looking at something with a new perspective,” shared Pamela Lyons, Superintendent of San Francisco. Learn more about the Superintendent PLC, which launches every January.
|
|
|
Nearly 5,000 make virtual Ignatian pilgrimage!
Close to 5,000 pilgrims followed in the footsteps of St. Ignatius for a 12-week virtual journey that included “stops” in sites of spiritual significance. Through the Journey with Ignatius app developed by the Institute for Advanced Studies in partnership with the Roche Center and The Church in the 21st Century (C21) Center at Boston College, participants had access to daily readings, reflections and examens, along with a community page where they could share personal reflections and photos. Participants could even log their steps to track the journey! Join us for the next virtual pilgrimage, which begins in February.
|
|
|
Spring 2021 Faith Formation and
Professional Development Opportunities
|
|
|
|
This Lent, the Roche Center is offering a free six-week virtual retreat for Catholic educators, which provides the space to process the personal and professional experience of teaching during the pandemic. Using Jesus’ own time in the desert and themes of wilderness, temptation and sustenance, participants will reflect in community on how the pandemic has impacted their emotional well-being, their relationship with God, their faith, and their teaching. Sessions will be held from 3:00–4:00 p.m. EST on the following Sundays: February 21, 28, and March 7, 14, 21, 28. Facilitated by Roche Center staff.
|
|
|
|
Every month this semester, G.R.A.C.E. (Global Researchers Advancing Catholic Education) is offering free webinars on topics addressing the challenges and opportunities facing Catholic schools. The goal of the series is to share scholarship and increase dialogue with international colleagues committed to this important work. Upcoming webinars include:
- Beyond Test Scores: Measuring the Contributions of Catholic Schools and Universities (January 19)
- Learning Poverty and Education Pluralism: The Global Catholic Education Report 2021 (February 16)
- Risking to Live and Love Like Jesus: The Heart of the Teacher in a Catholic School (March 9)
- The Distinctiveness and Development of African Catholic Education (April 13)
-
Edith Stein: Catholic Education in Service of Personhood (May 11)
|
|
|
|
In the Christian tradition, “sacramentality” is the belief that the created world is imbued with the intimacy and infinitude of God. This includes the creative work of art. Acknowledging the critical role educators play in facilitating difficult conversations about racial (in)justice, Marin Catholic school art teacher Orin Carpenter will engage visual art as a way to lead students through challenging dialogue and emotions. Offered April 13, 14 and 15 from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. Cost is $50 per participant, or $25 each if more than one person from a school registers.
|
|
|
|
Creating antiracist Catholic schools means adhering to the Church's teachings that value and support inclusive curriculum, pedagogy, and policies, while deeply understanding the systemic racism that shapes many of our current instructional practices. This course examines the foundational pedagogy and theory of antiracist classrooms, and school and classroom practices that lead to equity, and it challenges teachers to create an equitable curriculum they can implement in their classrooms. The course will be offered on Thursday evenings April 22, 29 and May 6,13 from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. Cost is $50 per participant, or $25 each if more than one person from a school registers.
|
|
|
|
This 30-minute virtual program designed to creatively engage children and families begins at 9:00 a.m. EST and is co-facilitated by Ms. Anne Krane, preschool teacher at St. Columbkille Partnership School, and Fr. Quang Tran, SJ, of Boston College. Families listen to the Word, pray together, and creatively express the joy of the Gospel through read-alouds, song and art. "I like praying with my arms because I'm active and it keeps us all connected!" shared one young participant. Any and all families are welcome to join for Breakfast, which is co-sponsored by The Church in the 21st Century (C21) Center. The best part? Breakfast with God is free!
|
|
Photo credits (Unsplash): CDC, Chris Montgomery and Eniko Kis |
|
|
|
|
|
|
