Archdiocesan Academic School Calendar for 2012-2013

TO: Elementary and Secondary Principals
FROM: Tom Lord, Interim Superintendent of Catholic Schools
SUBJECT: Archdiocesan Academic School Calendar for 2012-2013
DATE: December 15, 2011

Annually, the Catholic Schools Department prepares an Archdiocesan Academic School Calendar to be presented to all Catholic school principals. Archdiocesan School Policy (Management Section 5.1d) requires each school to submit its calendar to the Catholic Schools Department for the upcoming academic year. See calendar attachment. Each school calendar may have different starting dates and ending dates, but each school must show at least 180 student contact days for the academic year of 2012-2013. Any deviation from this requirement must be approved by the superintendent.

Please refer to the attached 2012-2013 Academic Calendar to begin using the online calendar tool. Every time you press the “save” button, your work is saved so you can modify your school’s information as needed. Calendars must be submitted by the end of May, 2012. The Catholic Schools Department will consider the calendar “final” on May 31st, and then begin to harvest the information within the first two weeks in June.

My colleagues and I will be looking for a school calendar that demonstrates a rigorous plan for student instruction. Within their respective calendars, Principals should also provide opportunities for professional growth and faith formation. The September 14, 2012 Teacher Excellence Day and the March 22, 2013 Deanery Curriculum Development Day are full days when all school principals and teachers are expected to attend. Also note that the date for the 2013 Fulcrum Foundation Celebration of Light is still to be determined. Once this date is scheduled (either the last Friday in January or the first Friday in February), school auctions should not be celebrated that weekend.

I hope that this information and calendar tool assists you in carefully thinking through and planning for the ministry of Catholic education to our students, their parents, and your faculties and staffs. I will be reviewing these calendars by region with each of the assistant superintendents. Should questions arise, I will be contacting the school’s principal for clarification.

Blessings and Peace to you and your faculties and staff during the upcoming Christmas season.