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The Playbook

Table of Contents

Compiled from interviews with leaders of thriving Catholic schools, the Playbook is a free, online resource designed to help principals, headmasters, pastors, superintendents, teachers, and parents strengthen their schools. Use the links below to read one chapter at a time online. Or click here to download the entire book and print, share, and read it offline. 

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The full text of the Playbook can be read in an evening.

I

Introduction: Boom to Bust to... Renewal?

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The Playbook tells the stories of successful Catholic schools and identifies their common themes so that other Catholic schools can follow their lead and contribute to a renewal of Catholic education in America.

01

Mission: The Heart and Soul of a School 

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  • Leadership

  • Catholic Identity

  • Building an Apostolate

  • Daily Mass

  • Participation in the Liturgical Life of the Church

  • Catholic Formation in a Secular World

  • Technology

  • Cultivating Virtue

02

Pedagogy and Curriculum: The How and What a School Teaches

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  • Cultivating Wonder

  • Discussion Method

  • Integration of Disciplines

  • The Building Blocks of an Integrated Curriculum

  • History

  • Religion

  • Art

  • Language Arts: Literature, Grammar, Composition, Logic, Latin, Drama

  • Nature Studies: Science, Philosophy, Theology

  • Mathematics

  • Music

  • Physical Education

03

Teachers: The Lifeblood of a School

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  • Building a Culture of Friendship

  • Education is Fueled by Relationships

  • Confronting One of the "Hardest Parts of the Job"

  • Hiring: The "Most Important Moment" a School Leader's Work

  • Teacher Training and Faculty Development

  • Models of Servant Leadership

04

Families: The Primary Educators of Children​

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  • Partnership

  • Admissions

  • Recruiting

  • Integrating Parents into the Life of a School

05

Building Community: A Living Encounter with a Cultural Inheritance​

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  • Fostering Friendships

  • Communications with School Families

  • Establishing Unique Customs

06

Finances: The Business of Operating a Sustainable School​

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  • Tuition and Financial Assistance

  • Education Choice

  • Fundraising

07

Overseers: The Highest Level of Support for a School Community​

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  • Subsidiarity

  • Governing with Integrity

  • Parochial Schools and Pastors

  • Diocesan Schools and Superintendents 

  • Independent Schools and Boards of Directors

C

Conclusion: Answering the Call​

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Catholic education is in crisis. But it is also in renewal. Because while many schools are struggling to stay open, many others are thriving. It is not a mystery why: Catholic schools succeed when they are authentically Catholic.

A

Appendix: Required Classics​

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The following short list is our attempt at capturing the classic texts that absolutely should be included as required reading of every student attending Catholic school.

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