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Mary Claire: Thanks for your inspiring leadership. To you and the rest of the Board, a Blessed Christmas. bj
On Dec 22, 2010, at 8:10 AM, Mary Claire Ryan wrote:

> Dear NMNS Board,
>
> Combined with a Christmas wish from the Network team, here is some information about Network programs and activities which await us in 2011. This was sent out to school leaders late last week and I thought it would be of interest to you.
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> A gentle reminder: if Holiday parties find you in the company of friends awakened to the educational issues facing our country and they want to be part of the solution, please send them my way. It would be a privilege to introduce them to our work.
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> I hope each of you knows what a gift you are to the NativityMiguel Network.
> May the gift of the Holy Child bring you and yours much joy and peace.
>
> With gratitude,
>
> Mary Claire
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> Dear Colleagues,
>
> It's that time of year when we all send annual appeal letters to our friends. In part, my letter read:
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> We in the NativityMiguel Network proudly align ourselves with educational reformers from all sectors, and yet promote our distinct contribution to bringing excellent education to children most in need. This year we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the founding of New York Nativity Mission Center, which sowed the seeds of the NativityMiguel educational movement with impact beyond what any of us imagined - now 65 schools and growing. With attendance, graduation, and college attendance rates far outstripping the norms for low-income students (indeed for all students), NativityMiguel Schools clearly work to bridge the achievement gap.
>
> But our schools do more. They infuse education with faith and with respect for the dignity and potential of every person. They draw on rich spiritual traditions that teach compassion, hope and responsibility. They nurture the soul. These faith-based elements are intrinsic to NativityMiguel schools' success - and to the commitment of many of our partners in mission....
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> And in the true spirit of this season of Advent, we rejoice in and for our faith, and we wait in hope. We at the Network office wait and work day in a day out on behalf of our 65 member schools. I thought I'd take this post-conference/pre-Christmas opportunity to tell you what you can anticipate from the Network in 2011.
>
> Melodie Hessling continues her impressive work as Director of Mission Effectiveness:
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> · Collegial Visits - dates, visiting team members and leaders, travel and accommodations have been set for six visits in 2011. Conference calls were held for all participants providing background information and documents for review before the visits. ¼ of our schools will have an individual involved in a collegial visit this year. This level of participation is exciting and vital to achieving the following goals of collegial visits: develop and implement a national strategy for continued growth and sustainability of NativityMiguel schools; assess quality and achieve consistency in meeting the nine mission effectiveness standard; measure results and prove impact in the lives of the student; build a nationally recognized NativityMiguel "brand"; and secure significant national resources from public, private, and philanthropic sources to support programs/schools. A calendar for visits scheduled in succeeding years will be available soon.
> · Mission Measurement - at this writing, all but a few member schools have submitted the Network survey. We look forward to a careful and prompt look at the data and communication of its findings. In addition to the general school and GSP data, we are working hard to find the most efficient means for collecting student level data which is essential to informing our programs as well as communicating our success. Thanks to those of you on the Principals Council who are helping in this effort and kudos to the Council for their work on establishing a Mentoring Program for New Principals.
> · Academic Enrichment Initiative - stay tuned for details of this important and exciting program being planned for Summer 2011. Just to whet your appetite: I hope we have made it clear that the Network is committed to do our part to raise the level of instruction and leadership in each of our schools. To that end, the AEI is a series of professional enrichment workshops that will build the capacity of our school leaders, increase teacher effectiveness and create a curriculum that is clear in student outcomes, end goals, and comprehensively prepares our students for college preparatory high schools and beyond.
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> David Kubacki has set out some ambitious goals for the National Graduate Support Program for the rest of this school year:
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> · College Fairs & College Access - create a "College Access Focus Group" (with GSPs, alumni, & high school and college admissions personnel) to assess the future role of the Network in the Regional College Fairs and other college access activities
> · Revising the Ultimate Binder for Graduate Support Professionals - review and update the essential practices in the Ultimate Binder and create a web portal where best practices can be shared and discussed
> · Spring Webinar Series - hold monthly webinars from January-May on Graduate Support hot topics including: Grad Support Staff Retention, Undocumented Students, Supporting Students in Public Schools, securing state funding for GSP, & The Shape of Catholic Higher Education
> · National Alumni Network - continue the great work that has been happening with the alums including a regional fundraiser in March and an Alumni Think Tank in April in Boston
> · University Partnerships - continue to work with the Network leadership and Saint Mary's University to replicate the Countdown to College program in other regions
> · Data Initiative - a data initiative is planned for January-June 2011 which will involve the implementation of the ConnectEDU Alumni Tracking Platform & the collection of National Student Clearinghouse data
> · Regionalization of GSP - develop a plan for regionalizing certain programs and activities of the national and local Graduate Support Programs, and target talent for implementation
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> Other News
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> · Leadership Academy - Work continues on restructuring a Leadership Academy for this summer and funding is being sought for the quality program deserved by our leaders. For those of you in the first cohort, expect to hear from us soon but please pencil in the week of June 20th-24th.
> · Aggressive fund raising continues in our Network Development office to support the implementation and further development of the programs listed above. As always, should you know a foundation or individual who might be well suited to the National Network, please contact Greg Naleski or Abby Ransler. As you know, a personal introduction could be significant.
> · At our October board meeting, it was agreed that we would compile a Marketing and PR plan that could support the goal of raising the profile of the Network. This will complement our work with Cornerstone Government Affairs. More will follow on this in the months ahead.
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> Perhaps this is enough for now. We are aiming to issue a monthly e-news bringing you up to date on Network programs and activities. That being said, I hope you know that we are always available to answer questions and hear your comments and concerns.
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> We are privileged to partner with you in this mission and send our warmest wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
>
> Mary Claire and Network Team
>
> Strengthen your hearts for the coming of the Lord is near.
> James 5:8
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