Office of
Catholic Schools
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In the Midst of Winter
Lord:
In the midst of Winter, when the days are cold and wind can pierce remind us of the warmth of your love.
In the midst of Winter, when days are short, dawn comes late, and dusk arrives early remind us that in the darkness your light still shines.
In the midst of Winter, when the flowers of spring still lie hidden in the earth, when leaves are off the trees, and the world can seem bleak remind us that Easter is but a short time away.
And when in our lives we feel as if we are experiencing a season of winter, reach out to us with the power of your resurrection so that we may feel the warmth of your love and see your light that alone can take away the darkness of our soul.
- Cal Wick
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SuperKids Information Presentation
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Keith Ahrens and Lisa Darling are planning to be here on Wednesday, March 13 to give an overview of the SuperKids reading program for PK- 2nd grade. The specific time has not been set, but we are hoping afternoon.
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Meemic Grants for February
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Accepting applications Wednesday, January 2, 2019 through Friday, March 29, 2019
- Enter to win a Chromebook for student artist; $300 grant for Club Member
- Recipients announced on Tuesday, April 30, 2019
- To view full program details, click here.
Accepting Applications Friday, February 1, 2019 through Thursday, February 28, 2019.
- Recipients announced on Thursday, March 7, 2019.
- To view full program details, click here.
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Misinformation about Tax Bill Strategy
- Our Ed Reform Coalition was working behind the scenes to get an editorial placed in the Racine Journal Times documenting the lies and misinformation about the tax bill strategy, which started in Racine and is now, as you know, spreading around the state.
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Welcome to the Wisconsin Choice Program
- Congratulations to St. John Nepomucene in Little Chute, St. Clare in Wrightstown, St. Mary in Greenville, Holy Trinity in Casco, All Saints Catholic School in Denmark, Holy Family Catholic School in Brillion, and St. Mary’s in Hilbert on joining the Wisconsin Choice Program for the 2019-2020 school year! A special thank you to Barbara Strawn at Roncalli High School for her work on helping some of the new schools!
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- The Wisconsin Healthy Schools Challenge is providing free, nutrition education classroom kits to the first 300 schools that register to participate in the new grant opportunity supported by Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. The kits include resources and tools to support school-wide nutrition education. When you register you “choose your challenge” and over the next few months complete activities and lessons to educate your students and their families on healthy lifestyles. Schools that register and submit Nutrition Challenge Summaries now until April 1 are eligible to win prizes and receive a $500 award. Click below for more information. https://www.wcris.org/sitting-new-smoking/
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Need a Water Bottle Filling Station?
New Grant for Installation in Schools
- The Delta Dental Foundation of Wisconsin announced a new grant program to replace existing water fountains with water bottle filling stations combined with a water fountain, similar to what many of you may have seen at airports throughout the US.
- The Cool Water program is open for participation by any school in Wisconsin, including private schools. Schools must meet certain eligibility criteria in order to be considered.
- Schools need to be within a community with optimally fluoridated water
- Schools must have a free-and-reduced lunch rate of 40% or higher
- Schools can apply if they currently do not have a water fountain/bottle filling station installed
- Selection will be based on the most creative and impactful implementation plan to encourage students and staff to drink more water
- The application is open now through March 31. Click for more information.
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Statement from DPI about Weather Closures
Dear Choice Administrators, Designee and Interested Parties:
This email is in response to the numerous inquiries we have had regarding the weather last week and the statutory requirement for hours and minutes of direct instruction. Please note, the Wisconsin State Superintendent does not have the authority to waive hours of instruction statewide (you may have read a news story about the governor in Minnesota giving a blanket waiver to all school districts—the Wisconsin Governor also does not have this authority).
Another question we have received is whether Choice schools may make up instructional time using virtual instruction. Under state law, Choice schools may not count instruction provided through the Internet between students and teachers geographically remote from each other as hours of instruction for purposes of Wis. Stat. ss. 119.23(2)(a)8. or 118.60(2)(a)8. Because Choice schools cannot count virtual instruction for this purpose, Choice schools may not do so to make up instructional time lost due to inclement weather.
Your school may need to revise its 2018-19 Hour of Instruction Report; however, this does not need to be submitted at this time. The revised report is due to DPI by May 15. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Tricia Collins, Director
School Management Services
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
125 S. Webster Street, Madison WI 53703
Phone: 608-266-7475
Fax: 608-267-9207
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NCEA Convention - April 23-25
There are two opportunities available to attend the NCEA Conference. We will have a bus going for a one day trip on Wednesday, April 24. GRACE will have a bus going on April 23 and returning on Thursday, April 25. (limited space)
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Register now for this FREE webinar!
The Consultation Process:
Effective Use of ESSA Strategies & Safeguards to
Ensure Equitable Participation
presented by Michelle Doyle
Tuesday, February 12, 2019, at 4:00 PM EST
Over the past few months, the webinars presented by MDEC have focused on the consultation process. This webinar brings it all together by focusing on strategies and safeguards in the consultation process to ensure equitable participation for your students.
During our time together, we’ll revisit all of the required consultation topics, talk about strategies for each of these topics to ensure that the consultation is a meaningful encounter that will benefit your students, and finally review the safeguards that are in the law to be sure you can achieve equitable services in all of the federal education programs benefiting private school students.
Click here for more information.
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2019 WCRIS Leadership Conference
- Still time to register for WCRIS Leadership Conference March 8
- Agenda
- 7:30-2:30
- Keynote: Meghan Gordon Cox: Miraculous Power of Reading in an Age of Distraction
- Register Today!
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NWEA Professional Development Day -
February 19, 2019 (Date change)
The MAP Growth Seminar on Informing Instruction has been changed to February 19. If you were registered for February 7, you are automatically registered for the rescheduled day. If you are not able to attend the rescheduled day, a refund will be issued or you can send another representative from your school. If you were not registered and would like to attend
register here
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Digital Learning Day
February 28, 2019
Check out all the resources.
February 28 - 9:30
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Marketing and Development Meeting Rescheduled
Due to winter weather, the Marketing and Development Initial Team Meeting has been moved to Thursday, February 28th from 1:00-3:00 at Bona Hall. Please RSVP to
Lori Paul
if you plan on attending.
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Upcoming Dates
February 11-
- DASA Northeast - Luxemburg noon
- DASA North - Oconto Falls - 1:00
February 12
- DASA Southeast - virtual meeting 1:00
February 13
- Watch for Contract Information
February 15
- DASA Southeast - Alpha Retreat - Roncalli 8-1
February 18
- DASA North - Alpha Retreat - Sacred Heart, Shawano 8:30-2:30
February 19
- NWEA MAP Growth Seminar 8:30-3:30
February 25
- DASA Central - St. Ignatius 1:30-3:30
February 28
- Diocesan Library Media Association (DLMA) Meeting at Appleton Public Library - 4:30-6:00
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Good News in Our Catholic Schools
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Compass News Stories - Strategic and Mission Plan for Catholic Schools
Here are all the media links connected to Tuesday’s event in Shawano:
The video news package for The Compass you can find here:
And the full length is here:
And The Compass full length story (will appear in next week’s Compass print edition):
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Join us in wishing Dr. Joseph Bound a happy retirement. We would like to thank him for his service and leadership with our Catholic Schools and parishes over the past
fourteen years.
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Office of Catholic Schools
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