48 THE QUEENS COURIER • CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOLS • JANUARY 16, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Catholic Schools Week
A commitment to safety and
excellence at local schools
Th e Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens
remains committed to ensuring that
all Catholic schools in both boroughs
are safe environments for children and
youth.
Th e diocese reaches out to all clergy,
religious, lay instructors and volunteers
and ensures that all are in compliance
with regulations set forth by
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, as well as
state guidelines.
As part of this eff ort, the Diocese
of Brooklyn has a Safe Environment
Offi ce which ensures that all Catholic
schools and churches fulfi ll the bishop’s
guidelines and the diocese’s promise
to protect children and youth through
the mission and example set forth by
Jesus Christ.
One of the mandates is that all clergy,
religious and lay instructors and
volunteers attend a VIRTUS workshop,
a three-hour live awareness session
instructing adults on methods to protect
children through continued awareness
and vigilance. Th e participants
in these sessions learn the warning
signs of child sexual abuse, the methods
and means by which off enders
commit abuse and empowerment steps
designed to stop child sexual abuse
from occurring.
All clergy, employees and volunteers are
also mandated to read and the Diocese
Code of Conduct and sign a Statement
of Acknowledgment, both of which are
distributed at the VIRTUS sessions. Th e
Code of Conduct acknowledges the
importance of legal, professional and
responsible conduct of all who work with
children and young people. Copies of the
Code of Conduct are available on the diocese’s
website, dioceseofb rooklyn.org.
All employees and volunteers are also
required to undergo a thorough criminal
background screening before they start
their employment or service. Th e searches
are conducted through LexisNexis (for
volunteers) or HireRight (for employees).
All information is kept confi dential;
if a background check reveals something
nefarious, the pastor/administrator of a
parish will be notifi ed, and appropriate
steps will be taken.
Background checks will be rerun every
three years for employees and every fi ve
years for volunteers.
Learn more about the Diocese’s Offi ce of
Safe Environment at dioceseofb rooklyn.
org/protecting-children/offi ce-of-safe-environment.
— From the Diocese of Brooklyn
Make a diff erence by teaching at local Catholic schools
Th e Catholic elementary academies and
schools within the Diocese of Brooklyn
educate about 30,000 students in 86 academies
and schools. Since 1853, they can
be heard saying “we teach, we learn, we
serve.”
Th e Offi ce of the Superintendent of
Schools-Catholic School Support Services
continue to seek qualifi ed and committed
Catholic educators to advance the mission
of Catholic schools and academies.
Candidates for administrative positions
must meet the following qualifi cations:
• be a practicing Roman Catholic committed
to the mission of Catholic education;
• have 5 years successful teaching in a
Catholic, private or public school setting;
• have a Master’s Degree conferred
by a college or university registered by
the New York State Board of Regents
or accredited by an appropriate regional
accrediting agency;
• have New York State certifi cation in
School Administration and Supervision
or the equivalent; and
• have an Initial Certifi cate of Faith
Formation or be eligible to begin such
certifi cation upon employment.
Candidates for teaching positions must
meet the following qualifi cations:
• be a practicing Roman Catholic committed
to the mission of Catholic education;
• have a Bachelor’s Degree or higher;
and
• hold a valid New York State
Certifi cation or be eligible for certifi cation.
Visit www.dioceseofbrooklyn.org/
schools/teacher-and-principal-employment
for more information and to apply.
Aft er an initial review, qualifi ed candidates
will be notifi ed for screening interviews.
Photo via Getty Images
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