February 19, 2010

To: St. Gabriel and St. Michael Parishioners and Parents

Dear Parishioners and Parents,

In an effort to communicate with you regarding the uniting of St. Gabriel and St. Michael, the Archangels, Schools, I offer the following information.

My name is Virginia Suttner and I have been involved in Catholic education for a total of 31 years as teacher, principal and educational consultant for the Office of Catholic Education. On February 10, 2010, I was officially appointed as coordinator to assist and oversee staffing, curriculum, administration, and other related issues in this transition process.

Thus far in my short tenure as coordinator, I have interviewed the faculty and staff of both schools in order to better understand their strengths and the challenges they have faced in this unification process. I have had individual meetings with both principals to learn more about their school’s unique profiles. Additionally, Father Larry Crawford and Father Varghese Maliakkal met briefly with me to provide their perspective of this rapidly approaching merger.

A West Deanery Commission has been established with three members from St. Gabriel, five members from St. Michael, both pastors, the Dean of the West Deanery and the newly appointed coordinator. The members of this Commission are committed, involved and excited about this incredible opportunity to take part in the creation of a preschool through grade 12 Catholic school.

The Commission first met on February 16, 2010 to discuss four critical issues that must be addressed immediately: tuition, staffing, registration and communication. At the next Commission meeting on February 23, we will determine the tuition rates and registration fees for the next school year, 2010-2011, discuss hiring processes for administrators, faculty and staff, and review marketing materials.

An Open House has been scheduled at St. Michael the Archangel School, Sunday, February 28, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. We would like to invite all interested parents to an informational meeting immediately following the Open House. We want to be open to your concerns and will do our best to answer any questions that you may have.

I ask for your prayers and cooperation as I work with all of you on this new educational opportunity for your students.

Sincerely,

Virginia Suttner

West Deanery Consolidation Coordinator

Archbishop Buechlein has approved our plans to go forward with the educational partnership between St. Gabriel School, St. Michael’s School, Cardinal Ritter High School, and Marian University. Below is the text of a letter he sent to Father Larry outlining the steps that will occur to facilitate the transition. More information will be forthcoming soon.

Most Rev. Daniel M.Buechlein, O.S.B.
Archdiocese of Indianapolis
P.O. Box 1410
Indianapolis, IN 46206-1410
317-236-1400

February 2 , 2010
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Reverend Larry Crawford
Saint Gabriel Catholic Church
6000 W 34th St
Indianapolis IN 46224

Dear Fr. Crawford:

I have reviewed the latest recommendations for enhancing Catholic education in the West Deanery. I thank you for your hard work and time. I appreciate the sacrifices you have made to attend the meetings and to consider prayerfully and carefully the best options for guaranteeing the success of Catholic education in the West Deanery.

After consulting with Monsignor Schaedel, Father Crawford, Father Varghese, and Mickey Lentz and our Office of Catholic Education staff, I believe we are all in agreement that it would be best for the schools and parishes involved if we proceed in phases.

Phase I

Based on the committee’s recommendation, the Archdiocese approves the following:

1. The Archdiocese will appoint an outside coordinator to assist and oversee staffing, curriculum administration, and other related transition issues. This position will start in early February of 2010 and will end with the opening of the 2010-2011 school year.
2. The governance of St. Michael School for us 2010-2011 will be by a newly fanned commission made up of five members from St. Michael School. three members from Sf. Gabriel School. the two pastors, the Dean of the West Deanery, and the newly appointed out.side coordinator. This new commission should be in place as soon as possihle.
3. The 7th and 8th grade programs at St. Michael School and Cardinal Ritter High School will continue to work in close collaboration with one another during the 2010-2001 school year and will continue to be operated out of both sites.

Items of priority to be addressed:

• Smooth and effective integration of students, parents, and faculty/staff St. Gabriel to St.Michael Schools for the 2010-11 school term
• Further collaboration of the 7th and 8th grade programs at Sf. Michael and Cardinal Ritter schools
• Begin the marketing and communication of the collaboration with a focus on the advantages
• Continued discussions and planning of the curriculum
• Implement professional development program for instructors Pre-K to 8
• Identify and implement actions to provide a phasing in of curriculum

Phase II

Based on the committee’s recommendation, the Archdiocese approves the following:

1. A new Board of Limited Jurisdiction for Cardinal Ritter High School and St. Michael the Archangel School will he established that ensures representation and expertise by January 1, 2011.
2. The Chief Executive Officer of this new Board of Limited Jurisdiction is the President of Cardinal Ritter High School

Items of priority to be addressed:

• Establishment of administrative structure for this new union of schools
• Implement active marketing and advancement plans to increase enrollment and resources
• Continued discussions with Marian University on increased collaboration

I am pleased that these efforts are continuing to move forward. There is still much work to be done and I encourage everyone involved to continue to stay focused on what is best for the children of the West Deanery.

Again, I would like to give my sincere thanks to the committee members from St. Gabriel School, Saint Michael the Archangel School and Cardinal Ritter High School for all of your hard work, time and innovative ideas.

May God bless you and your continued work to strengthen Catholic education in the West Deanery.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Daniel M. Buechlein, O.S.B.
Archbishop of Indianapolis

February 4, 2010
As many of you may already know the Archbishop has given us the day off on Monday, February 8th, 2010. We are so appreciative for this.
As long as we do not have to close school for weather issues we will not have to make up the day. I built in such a day in our school calendar. We understand that this is a shortened week, followed by another shortened week. Even with two Mondays in a row out of school, the students’ overall time spent learning is not shortened.
Thank you for your support and thank you Archbishop Daniel.

In-gatorness,

Miss Sarah J. Watson
Principal

January 29, 2010

 

Dear Friends of Saint Gabriel the Archangel Catholic School,

 

As you may be aware, our annual observance of Catholic Schools Week starts today, Sunday, January 31, 2010.  Many students look forward to this week each year because it includes enjoyable events and special treats.  But it’s also a time for us to celebrate the enduring value of Catholic education and focus on the gift that it provides to America’s young people.  During Catholic Schools Week, we reach out to the community to build awareness of what our school offers.  We thank those who work hard every day to make our school excellent: students, families, faculty, staff, volunteers, community supporters, and local and national leaders. 

 

One of the most important roles of families is preparing young people for fulfilling lives of love and service to their families, their communities, and the Lord.  That is why the 2010 Catholic Schools Week Theme is particularly fitting.  “Catholic Schools:  Dividends for Life” underscores the long-standing tradition of Catholic education to instill in students the faith, knowledge, morals, and discipline that will enable them to fulfill their future roles in life.  Now, more than ever, a Catholic education is truly an investment in the future that is worth the investment of every family.

 

Please join in the celebration of Catholic Schools Week this year.  If you have students attending Saint Gabriel the Archangel Catholic School please encourage them to dress in the dress down days each day and participate fully in the programs offered each afternoon.  Every morning at 9:45 AM, the students of the school are attending a special prayer service in the Church.  All are invited to attend.  I think any guest would be impressed by the attitude, behavior, and accomplishments of the students they observe.

 

Also, please join me in saying thank you to the teachers, staff, administrators, school commission members, volunteers, and everyone else involved in running Saint Gabriel the Archangel Catholic School.  Through their dedication and commitment, they make our school an excellent example of how Catholic schools provide dividends for life. 

 

In gator-ness,

 

 

Sarah J. Watson

Principal

BAND INSTRUMENTS!!!!

Parents of 5th, 6th and 7th graders interested in Band are reminded of the Band Instrument meeting on Thursday, January 21st from 6 pm until 7:30 pm in the Cardinal Ritter High School Band Room. Instrument paperwork will be necessary to fill out because I would like to have the instruments delivered on the first day of practice: Feb 1st. Monday at 3:15pm in the bandroom at Cardinal Ritter.

If your child has not made up their mind as to which instrument they want to play, then please know that there will be an “Instrument Petting Zoo” so they can try out different instruments to see if they like one.

Contact Mr. Guanajuato if you have any questions…..eguanajuato@cardinalritter.org

We’ve been referring to our new school partnership between St. Gabriel, St. Michael, Cardinal Ritter, and Marian University as providing “21st Century Education”  Below are some questions and answers about what we mean by 21st Century Education. For more information about the new school partnership see the articles below titled “Frequently Asked Questions About the Future of St. Gabriel School” and “Our Continuing Commitment to Catholic Education”

What is a 21^st Century Education Curriculum?
It is bold.  It breaks the mold.  It is flexible, creative, challenging, and complex.  It addresses a rapidly changing world filled with fantastic new problems as well as exciting new possibilities.  Fortunately, there is a growing body of research supporting an increasing number of 21st century schools.  We have living proof, inspiring examples to follow, in schools across the United States.  These schools vary, but are united in the fundamentals of 21st century education.

Schools in the state of Indiana are already using this approach (Some of them are: Creekside Middle School, Westlane Middle School, Zionsville Middle School, Franklin Township, Middle School East, Center for Inquiry School #2, and Cardinal Ritter High School).  This is not an educational fad, but rather what the work force will require of our students.  As schools it is our responsibility to help the students be ready to be active parishioners and productive citizens. 

How does the classroom change with 21^st century education?
In the 21^st Century classroom, there is a primary focus on determining what the child has learned/retained (assessment) and continuing to utilize learning/teaching techniques to achieved the desired outcomes.

21^st Century education is not moving away from basic education and fundamentals, but rather 21^st Century education is attempting to improve upon the “delivery” of basic education through more application and creative involvement.  These have always been valid teaching tools but overlooked in the more traditional ways of teaching.  It is an enhancement of what we already do very well.

How should education be structured to meet the needs of students in this 21^st century world?  How do we now define “School”, “Teacher” “Learner” and “Curriculum”? 

Schools in the 21^st century will be laced with a project-based curriculum for life aimed at engaging students in addressing real-world problems, issues important to humanity, and questions that matter. 

Traditional terms are redefined, the following new definitions for “School”, “Teacher” and “Learner” appropriate for the 21^st century:

“Schools” will go “from ‘buildings’ to nerve centers, with walls that are porous and transparent, connecting teachers, students and the community to the wealth of knowledge that exists in the world.”

“Teacher” - From primary role as a dispenser of information to orchestrator of learning and helping students turn information into knowledge, and knowledge into wisdom.   Fundamental skills are still taught, but they appear different imbedded within the curriculum.   

“Learner” - In the past a learner was a young person who went to school, spent a specified amount of time in certain courses, received passing grades and graduated.  Today we must see learners in a new context:

“First – we must maintain student interest by helping them see how what they are learning prepares them for life in the real world. 

“Second – we must instill curiosity, which is fundamental to lifelong learning. 

 “Third – we must be flexible in how we teach.

“Fourth – we must excite learners to become even more resourceful so that they will continue to learn outside the formal school day.”

Traditional Classroom	21st Century Classroom
Teacher-centered:  teacher is center of attention and provider of information	Student-centered:  teacher is facilitator/coach
Time-based	Outcome-based
Focus:  memorization of discrete facts	Focus:  what students Know, Can Do and Are Like after all the details are forgotten.
Lessons focus on the lower level of Bloom’s Taxonomy – knowledge, comprehension and application.	Learning is designed on upper levels of Blooms’ – synthesis, analysis and evaluation (and includes lower levels as curriculum is designed down from the top.)
Textbook-driven	Research-driven
Passive learning	Active learning
Grades averaged	Grades based on what was learned
Curriculum/School is irrelevant and meaningless to the students.	Curriculum is connected to students’ interests, experiences, talents and the real world.
Literacy is the 3 R’s – reading, writing and math	Multiple literacies of the 21st century – aligned to living and working in a globalized new millennium.
Print is the primary vehicle of learning and assessment.	Performances, projects and multiple forms of media are used for learning and assessment
Diversity in student learning is ignored.	Curriculum and instruction address student learning diversity
Teacher is judge.  No one else sees student work	Self, Peer and Other assessments.  Public audience, authentic assessments.
Fragmented Curriculum	Integrated and Interdisciplinary curriculum

What are the pillars to a 21^st Century education?
There are eight official pillars to 21^st Century education; however the model we will adopt will include nine pillars.  We are adding a Catholic Identity Pillar.  The nine pillars include the following: becoming a Discerning Believer, Innovation, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Collaboration, Communication, Self-Directed Learning, Media Literacy, and Global Awareness. 

How will we ensure that we will keep our Catholic Identity?
Each of the three schools involved in this project is rich with Catholic Identity.  We will be preserving this in the new school.  Our schools are first founded on the principle of Catholicism and we recognize that Christ is the reason for all of our schools.  This is and will continue to be the number one reason we educate students in the school.  Students, Faculty, Staff, and stakeholders will continue to be able to participate in the aspects of Catholicism that they chose their school for in the first place.  Students will continue to participate in Sacraments and their parish lives. 

 The Archdiocesan Religion Curriculum will continue to be followed in both Religion classes and the core content classes.  Service and stewardship projects will continue, and the life of Christ will be modeled for the students and faculty each day.

Teachers in the grade school will have more collaboration with the teachers in the high school to make sure that each student is receiving the best religion curriculum available.

Are there websites I can use to get more information?
There are several great sources for 21^st Century education.  Some of them include: 

«  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKZEP-xruH4
«  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ILQrUrEWe8
«  http://www.wvexecutive.com/featured/summer07/21st-century-education/
«  http://www.mentoringminds.com/critical-thinking-wheel.php
«  http://www.metropolismag.com/story/20090218/ideos-ten-tips-for-creating-a-21st-century-classroom-experience
«  http://www.21stcenturyschools.com/What_is_21st_Century_Education.htm
«  21^st Century Skills by Bernie Trilling and Charles Fadel (Click here to see this book at Amazon.com)

Where will the 7^th and 8^th Grade  classes be located in the fall?
At this time, no determination has been made about the Saint Gabriel the Archangel Catholic School and Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic School 7^th and 8^th graders placement for the fall of 2010.  A focus group will be formed to solicit concerns and comments in regards to this decision. 

Don’t we need more money for technology to implement 21^st Century education?
Technology is the not the key to implementing the 21^st Century education, it is only a small portion of this.  The 21^st Century skills are easily taught without an overhaul of technology being brought into the school.  However, technology does make teaching in the 21^st century easier, and we will be exploring means to fund the enhancement of technology in our school.

YouTube videos on our October 25, 2009 parish meeting is now available in our parish photo and video gallery. This is the meeting described in the articles below where a proposal was presented to pay down our debt and to renovate our church. There were also many questions and answers about the new partnership between St. Gabriel School, St. Michael’s, Cardinal Ritter Jr/Sr High and Marian University. Click here to visit our gallery and see highlights of this important meeting about the future of our parish.

Photos of the conceptual design of how we might renovate the church will be available soon.

What you really want to know about the partnership of Cardinal Ritter Jr./Sr. High School, St. Gabriel the Archangel School and St. Michael the Archangel School

Is Saint Gabriel the Archangel Catholic School closing?
Saint Gabriel the Archangel Catholic School is not closing. The students attending Saint Gabriel now will have the amazing opportunity to be part of a new school. The opportunities there will be afforded to our students are countless. This is a brand new school, based on 21^st century education. Because of the proximity of the two schools, it only makes sense that we will use St. Michael and Cardinal Ritter High School’s current buildings, at 30^th and Tibbs. The resources we will be able to provide number many more than our current resources. We will be able to have a school counselor, more equipment, a streamlined curriculum, spiritual opportunities, social advantages, athletic opportunities, and much more; and we can do this all while maintaining a similar class size.

Is Saint Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Parish closing?
Saint Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Parish is not closing. Saint Gabriel Parish will have ownership in the new school. This new school will be the Catholic school for the Saint Gabriel Parish families. The Saint Gabriel Parish will continue to operate.

Where will our students be receiving sacramental preparation?
Parishioners of Saint Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Parish and their families will still have Sacramental Preparation at Saint Gabriel Parish. The program for Sacramental Preparation will continue to operate out of each parish’s faith formation offices. The Saint Gabriel program currently operates in this manner.

Is the plan for Saint Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Parish to become a Hispanic parish?
Saint Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Parish will continue to honor and hold dear its multicultural community. We will continue to welcome anyone who would like to be part of our parish community to join.

What does the new school mean for our students?
The students of Saint Gabriel the Archangel Catholic School will attend school in a new school building. Each student at Saint Gabriel the Archangel Catholic School, no matter their educational ability will continue to be taught with the same compassion that is provided to them currently. In addition, we will be able to better serve those with special needs, both for remediation and acceleration.

What will the name of the new school be?
The name of the new school is one of the many still unanswered questions.

How will the staff be hired for the new school?
Staffing decisions for the new school have not yet been made. Once these are made, they will be shared with the communities.

Is there a major plan/vision that you are not sharing with us?
There are still many unanswered questions about the new school. There are a number of people working to get questions answered. During this process, we are bound to hear things on the street that may not be true. As facts are settled, we will be sharing them with you. One of the reasons we are bringing families onboard now as opposed to after all decisions are made is that we want to get you involved by serving on committees helping to make some of the decisions. It is our hope that everyone feels that the new creation is in fact ours. As opportunities arise, we will be contacting people to sit on committees to help with the task at hand.

What happens to the existing Saint Gabriel the Archangel Catholic School building?
Do I need to transfer parishes?
There have been no decisions made as to what will happen to the current Saint Gabriel the Archangel Catholic School building. There are many possibilities yet to explore. A committee of parishioners will be gathered to begin these discussions.

What will the tuition be at the new school?
Tuition and other financial questions regarding the new school have not yet been settled. When this information is available, it will be shared.

Who will be in charge of the new school?
The new school will have a board of directors, a president, and principals. The individuals who will fill these positions have yet to be named.

STATEMENT OF OCTOBER 11, 2009

In a letter called, RENEWING OUR COMMITMENT TO CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION IN THE THIRD MILLENNIUM, the United States Bishops wrote the following: “Young people of the third millennium must be a source of energy and leadership in our Church and our nation. Therefore, we must provide young people with an academically rigorous and doctrinally sound program of education and faith formation designed to strengthen their union with Christ and his Church. Catholic schools collaborate with parents and guardians in raising and forming their children as families struggle with the changing and challenging cultural and moral contexts in which they find themselves. Catholic schools provide young people with sound Church teaching through a broad-based curriculum, where faith and culture are intertwined in all areas of a school’s life. By equipping our young people with a sound education, rooted in the Gospel message, the Person of Jesus Christ, and rich in the cherished traditions and liturgical practices of our faith, we ensure that they have the foundation to live morally and uprightly in our complex modern world.”

“Ongoing faith formation and professional development programs must also be available so that administrators and teachers in Catholic schools can continue to grow in their ministry of education. These programs will introduce new and effective initiatives, educational models, and approaches, while always maintaining a sound Catholic identity in our schools.”

We have followed the Bishops mandate to review “effective initiates, educational models and approaches, while always maintaining a sound Catholic identity in our schools.” It is the responsibility of each Pastor in collaboration with the educational leaders of the West Deanery and the guidance of the Office of Catholic Education of the Archdiocese to ensure that the precious children entrusted to our care by God and by generous parents are receiving the very best educational opportunity. To that end, discussions have been ongoing at the leadership level to 1) assess our current programs and resources, and 2) to review all of the options for ongoing growth and improvement and 3) to ultimately make a recommendation to the Archdiocese.

Our discussions have been very much aware of the nature of change and how difficult it has become in our society. We also recognize that often change is mis-perceived as a negative comment on the past or those who have gone before us. Nothing could be further from the truth. We stand on the shoulders of our current and past Pastors, administrators and faculty who have shown nothing but dedication and service as we try to shape an even better future for our children. We are about polishing the gem. We are about providing the sort of curriculum and learning environment that will allow us to move from excellent to extraordinary.

Our entire focus during these discussions has been on the children and their future. How might we serve them better with a seamless faith-filled curriculum P-K through 12^th grade with potential for being P-K to 16? We believe in a faith filled curriculum PK-12/16 committed to preparing its students to succeed in a global and equally dynamic community; a curriculum whose outcomes inspire students to be discerning believers, problem solvers, innovators , communicators, collaborators, media literate, self-directed and globally aware. How do we best address issues related to insuring that the educational program is available, affordable and accessible? How do we best serve varying student needs based upon age and experience? We want an educational community that seamless provides Gospel based faith formation so that all that is learned in school will be seen in the light of service and social justice. We want an educational community in the West Deanery that is safe, caring and where students are known by name. We want an educational community where age-appropriate academic challenges are made and achieved so that we graduate students who are successful and confident of future success – personally and academically.

While all of the details have yet to be worked out, it is now clear in what direction our vision is taking us and it is time to share it with you.

As of July 1, 2010, a new and exciting educational program will be introduced that will include contributions from Cardinal Ritter Junior-Senior High School, St. Michael’s and St. Gabriel’s elementary schools. The vision also includes greater collaboration with Marian University. St. Gabriel’s will no longer serve as a center for elementary education. The many exciting ministry options for the use of the building will be reviewed through a discernment process by parish leadership including the Parish Council. The building which currently houses St. Michael’s students will be reconfigured to welcome the students currently enrolled at St. Gabriel’s. All of the new programs will be directed and overseen by a single board and administration yet to be named. Transition issues related to faculty and staff, tuition, financial aid, student placement and facility use will continue to be addressed in a spirit of justice.

Names of participants:

• Father Crawford
• Father Varghese
• Steve Padgett
• Paul Lockard
• Jo Hoy
• Sarah Watson
• Eve Gill
• Lisa Zetzl
• Matt Goddard

All of the questions you may have in your mind right now may not be able to be answered today. As soon as more details are available, more will be shared with you. As we continue to develop what will be a new experience for our Deanery, we certainly ask for your prayers and your patience.

May God bless you all!