Our projects for educators

Conferences

The Association organizes Annual Conferences of Members. The conferences focus on the issues of Catholic Schools, the presentation of annual reports and future plans.

“AFFIRMS”

This program is based on the model of the program for Catholic Schools created by Craighead Institute in Scotland. The program consists of 6 Reflection Exercises and/or 6 Faith Sharing Sessions. Their length varies from 80-120 minutes to 1-2 days. The authors of the program suggest to hold 1-2 Reflection Exercises and/or 1-2 Faith Sharing Sessions in one school during the academic year. So, the program is carried out within a period of at least 3 years in one school.

The aims of the program:

- to create an opportunity for the Catholic school community to take quality time for its staff
- to encourage the personal development of staff members as individuals and as a community
- to raise and reflect upon issues which are important to the Catholic school, in a structured and non-threatening atmosphere
- to encourage more personal reflection

This program is open to all members of the school, regardless their belief and practice.

“A Development Program for Catholic Schools”

“Faith and learning” program is developed by Catholic Education Commission, Scotland. There are 6 modules for Catholic School self-evaluation in this program. There is also a suggestion to implement not more than 2 modules each school year. The program would last at least for 3 years in one Catholic School.

The aims of the program:

- affirm the principles upon which Catholic schools are founded;
- assist the Catholic community to a clearer understanding of the purpose of the Catholic school and its distinctive character among other educational establishments;
- provide a forum wherein the Catholic aspects of the school may be discussed, evaluated and developed;
- assist Catholic schools to analyze realistically their present situation and provide guidelines for planning improvement;
- to propose practices and activities which could enhance the Catholic identity of the school;
- help senior management and School Boards understand the uniqueness of their educational responsibilities in the Catholic school.

“The development of critical thinking”

This program, prepared by Lithuanian Center of Modern Didactics, is meant to develop the pupils’ critical thinking skills. It is a series of workshops, presenting at large the notion of critical thinking, the methodologies that encourage pupils’ critical thought in different subjects. Moreover, it presents and analyses different teaching/learning strategies and schemes. The cycle consists of three workshops.

A.P.P.L.E. courses

Every year the Association is collaborating with the TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER (www.pprc.lt) and organize A.P.P.L.E. (American Professional Partnership for Lithuanian Education) courses for the educators of Catholic Schools. Each year the topics are chosen according to the actual needs of the educators.

Retreats

Retreat is the time to calm down and to run away from the daily routine. It is the time to look inside ourselves and our relationship with others in the presence of God. Above all, it is an invitation to restore our relationship with God.

The Association organizes retreats for the principals and educators of Catholic Schools. Besides, it collaborates with the Institute of Life and Faith inviting educators to the organized retreats.

Seminars for the leaders and the leading staff of the Catholic Schools

The seminars help to take a deeper look into the Catholic dimension of education, to get information about Catholic school managing and planning, to consider nowaday challenges to Catholic education.

The seminars are lead by Professor Bart McGettrick, University of Glasgow (Scotland).