I. Members Present

Joe Zins	Anita Bidleman	Lynne Morris
Donna Patterson	Lois Neltner	Bill Rice
Bill Benvie	Ann McMackin

II. Ex Officio Members Present

Fr. Jack

Bill Cavanaugh

Jodie Bender

Lisa Renken

III. Members Absent

Michael Vilaboy

IV. Guests Present

Kevin McMackin

V. Opening Prayer

The opening prayer was said by Fr. Jack.

VI. Approval of Minutes

Bill Rice moved to accept and Bill Benvie seconded the motion to approve the minutes of the meeting of June 21. All members were in favor.

VII. Reports

 

A. Pastoral - Report Fr. Jack

1. On Monday September 24 the Parish Pastoral Council will meet to develop their goals for the coming year.

2. Jerry Coomes is retiring and will be speaking at mass this Sunday. A photo album is being assembled for him.

3. Many gifts were given to St. Vivian in memory of Bill Michael. Some gifts are a new gospel book, new vestments and a tree was planted in front of church with a plaque to Bill.

4. Meetings are being held with the Amos group to help St. Vivian with racial awareness.

5. A group will be going to Harlan, Kentucky, to meet with our "twining" (partnering) Parish, St. Michael.

6. The work on the Ursuline Hall roof is completed.

7. Chris Siciliano has left to teach at Our Lady of Lourdes. Anita Bidleman is helping out in the Pastoral Associate role. Lynn Preston is the Pastoral secretary and Jackie Barron is The Religious Ed/Youth Ministry Secretary. Greg Hogg is St. Vivian's RCIA director.

8. Anita reminded us the parish mission starts Sunday November 25.

 

B. Temporal Affairs

No report

 

C. Religious Education /Youth Ministry - Jodie Bender

1. Jodie submitted a written report. Jodie also reported the following to the commission.

2. Jodie is working on a PSR handbook, which will be given to the education commission to be reviewed.

3. St. Vivian school liturgy schedule was sent home. Mr. Cavanaugh thanked Jodie for helping with the school mass today. He also thanked Miss Hendricks and the fourth grade for helping with the prayer service this past Friday.

4. Jodie is now heading up work for the Child Protective decree from the dioceses for St. Vivian. All the teachers and subs are trained. Organization heads have been notified as to those who have not been trained.

5. The 6th grade is invited to join the 7th and 8th grades to participate in the Youth Ministry program. Papers will be sent home in regards to this program through the religion teacher Mrs. Jennings.

 

D. Principal - Bill Cavanaugh

1. The transition has gone well this year. Miss Cappiello and Ms. LaShelle are new junior high teachers.

2. Enrollment at St. Vivian is around the same as last year. St. Vivian has no firm class number size policy. Some suggested that class size be limited to between 24 and 25 students, but this decision will need to be made following more study and discussion.

3. Open house is Tuesday September 25 at 7pm. It will be the same format as last year. The schedule may be changed for next year. Mr. Cavanaugh is working on some ideas and is consulting with the PTA for help with next year's open house. He also would like to ask help from the current school families to help welcome the new families to school.

4. Bridgett Raffenberg has been hired to be the part time technology coordinator. She will start October 11. The computer lab is up and running. Lisa Renken and Lindsay Byrnes are involved with a committee of parents that is developing the technology curriculum. Another group is working on technical concerns. Mr. Cavanaugh would like to see the lab used for adult education and is open to having it used by members of the diocese staff.

5. The accreditation site visit is scheduled for October 17 and 18. Thanks to those who helped with the accreditation. It continues to be a big job.

6. St. Vivian needs to update its crisis plan in light of September 11 and other issues. Communication is key for a good plan. St. Vivian may need to invest in walkie-talkies and an updated phone system to help with communication and safety around school. Many other safety concerns were discussed. For example, there are many concerns about the parking lots before and after school. Bill Rice suggested the Springfield Township Police be called for advice.

7. Information papers will come home on Friday's with more expansive newsletters to come home each quarter.

VIII. Liaisons and Related Organizations

Joe	School and Teachers
Ann	PTA and Minutes
Lynne	Pre-School
Anita	RCIA
Michael	Temporal Affairs
Donna	Youth Group
Bill Benvie	Adult Education
Lois	Lords Friendly Bunch

 

IX. Unfinished Business

The discussion of "Our Hearts are Burning" during the education commission meetings will not be continued.

X. New Business

A. Joe brought up the subject of the long range planning and establishment of goals for our school and parish. For example, we need a plan for the retention of our teachers and staff through better compensation, as well as for their professional development, so that St. Vivian remains an attractive place to work. Joe also suggested we discuss the future growth of our school, issues such as the size of student body, maintenance of physical plant, and how these issues impact the parish. These issues will be brought to the attention of Parish Pastoral Council. Bill Rice said that Roger Bacon formed a committee to work on goals and long-range plans and he may be able to help with long-range goals. School and parish goals cannot be separated.

B. Discussion was continued about reviewing the school handbook. The handbook is printed in the summer and therefore changes need to be given to the commission in February to have time to review the material before printing. Joe reminded the commission that we had discussed in the past that the handbook might need to be written in a "kinder, more friendly" tone. Mr. Cavanaugh will bring copies of the current school handbooks to the next meeting for those who do not have one.

C. Jodie will also have the PSR handbook ready to be review.

XI. Announcements

A. A mass for Peace and Justice will be held on Wednesday September 25, 2001 at 7pm.

B. A gift certificate and card were given to Chris Siciliano at the parish picnic from the Education Commission for her ten years of dedicated service to the parish.

C. Christ Renews His Parish will be held on November 10 and 11 for the women of the parish.

D. Next meeting is Thursday, October 18, in Ursuline Hall at 7pm.

XII. Adjournment

Donna motioned and Bill Rice seconded that the meeting be adjourned at 8:45pm.

 

 

 

Report from Jodie A. Bender, DRE/Dir. of Youth Ministry

These are the questions/points Joe passed on to me:

1. The biggest point would be, what do want our input on?

I have a working draft of the PSR Handbook and will want to have that "approved" by the commission and put into effect next year.  I would like to see families in PSR get a copy by the end of this school year.

Adult education regarding sacraments, even parish wide...where do we go?  This year, Fr. Bob Farrell will be the speaker for the First Penance and First Eucharist Parent Mtgs.  This change is in part due to the response Fr. Larry Mick received and also looking for a new approach.

2. How will Chris' departure affect your responsibilities? (I'm assuming Anita won't be doing all of it).

As it stands right now, I am the full time DRE and part-time Dir. of Youth Ministry.  I have taken over all aspects of religious education for the school.  I am the parish rep to the SHARING board (adult ed., but mainly geared at catechists).  This arrangement will be reviewed by Fr. Jack and I in December/January and then we will decide whether or not to continue or to make changes.

As for Anita, she will we responsible for the Liturgy aspects of the parish, bereavement, adult ed (parish wide) and she will be working until December/January.  At that time, it will be necessary to review what we will need to look at in terms of hiring a PA.

3. In one of the early meetings this year maybe you could explain the overall plan for First Communion this year, particularly any ideas you have for educating parents about the process and procedures, the relevant time lines, and how things are being coordinated with the 2nd grade teachers.

This ties into question #1.  With regard to the 2nd grade teachers, I will be approaching them the end of September.

4. How will the decision be made about whether 6th grade will be involved with the jr. high youth ministry this year?

Fr. Jack and I have already discussed this and have spoken to Bill too and 6th grade will be included in Jr. High Youth Ministry.

5. Are we doing anything with the Archdiocese regarding outreach to young adults (18-35) (RENEW 2000)?

As it stands now, there is no set outreach to young adults here at St. Vivian.  This area was removed during budget cut for this fiscal year and new programs were not begun.

6. Any updates on VBS and PSR?

VBS had 71 registered participants over the summer.  Maria Meyer helped coordinate this program and will be returning for 2002.  We had 11 adult parishioners involved in teaching, snacks, crafts and games and 21 junior high students who served as aids.

Registration was down this year, but I believe it due to St. Bart's VBS being held the same week.

PSR has 41 registered students for this year, up from 34 last year. 

Registrations tend to continue to come in until November.  We have grades K-8 (grades 7&8 combined) and have a catechist for each class.  Cathy Zimmerly plans the PSR prayer services that are held at the beginning of each class.  Our them this year is "We reaching without hearts and hands to share our time, talents and treasures."

7. What's happening with the high school kids this year? Updates on activities since June?

High School Youth Ministry summer update...mtgs. continued on Monday evenings through the end of August.  Summer activities also included workcamp, fund raising at the Reds games, service trips to Kids Cafe, Sunday coed softball and two pool parties.

Activities for this school year resume in October.  A new mailing/invite will be sent out to all high school students by the end of September.

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