Office of
Catholic Schools
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Next editions of the Office of Catholic Schools Newsletter:
November 6 & 20
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Look for topics in previous editions:
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Archive of Superintendent’s emails:
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Oct. 16 Fall MAP window closes
Oct. 28 New teachers/Methods B Faith Integration (Virtual 3:30-4:30)
Nov. 9 New Administrator workshop ( virtual 9:00-12:30)
Nov. 10 Powerschool user group (Virtual 8:30-10:30)
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New teacher Methods B
(FCC requirement)
all VIRTUAL 3:30-4:30
Oct. 28
Nov 18
Dec 16
Jan 20
Feb 24
March 24
April 28
May 19
We will be offering the Foundational Catechetical Course for our new teachers or any other teachers who would like to take this course.
All the sessions will be VIRTUAL 3:30-4:30. The sessions will also be recorded and will be able to be accessed through Google Classroom for those registered. Register
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NEW: Foundational Catechetical Certification (FCC) |
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With all the stress and pressure of the unknown that our teachers and administrators are under, the FCC requirement for our Catholic school administrators and teachers for this academic year (2020-2021) has been waived. Therefore, for 2020-2021 we will not require any FCC or Ongoing formation.
We would like to encourage watching the Vid Angel series on the life of Jesus called "The Chosen" Perhaps our educators could watch with colleagues or family. It is not a requirement but something we believe might be a blessing especially as we move into Advent. It has been free when watched through the app and is also available on YouTube.
Here are links to the Google and Apple app stores:
Or they may be able to try the VidAngel streaming service for a free trial period and watch it that way:
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HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
School Choice Wisconsin Drawing Contest 2020
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We recognize how challenging this year has been for all of you, your students and your families. For this reason Hispanic For School Choice Drawing Contest is more relevant than ever, we hope this opportunity invites a candid conversation on different cultures and traditions. It is through intentional education that we truly acquire tolerance and acceptance qualities. Let's embrace our differences and thrive as a society.
This year’s theme is:
“La Piñata”
Tradition says that breaking the piñata symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. One thing is a fact, Piñatas are colorful, beautiful and fun, enjoyed by children and adults alike, a true representation of joy and happiness.
Please share this information and encourage students to take part in this contest. Students K-12 are invited to participate, there are four categories. The grand winner of each category will take home a Smart Tablet.
For questions:
Tammy Olivas
262.378.2104
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Join Bishop Ricken for A Night of Hope |
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Monday, October 26 | 6:30 – 8:00 PM
We all carry burdens in life, burdens that weigh us down and cause us to be anxious of heart and mind. 2020 has certainly not been an easy year with all the upheaval in the world, and yet, there is hope. Living in hope means that we can give a name to our hope, Jesus Christ, who offers us comfort and strength.
Jesus knows our burdens better than anyone else and offers himself freely to us so that we can find rest for our soul. Jesus is the ultimate healer and the Divine Physician. It is by his wounds that we all have been healed (1 Peter 2:24).
Join Bishop Ricken for a virtual night of hope, where we will pray together and ask for the Lord’s guidance in our lives so that we can continue to live in hope. All are welcome to participate!
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Parish Life Line Zoom Meetings |
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Calling all Principals !!
Did you know that every Wednesday from 9:30 - 10:30 you can join with members of the parishes to be part of the conversation regarding many topics your school may be currently facing? Join as you are able and invite anyone else who might like to be a part of the conversation. All are welcome! For additional information, questions, or recordings of previous sessions, please email disciplesontheway@gbdioc.org.
Upcoming sessions:
Wednesday, October 21 at 9:30 a.m., topics include:
- Special guests from St. Mary Catholic Community in Appleton
- Re-branding and team building
How to participate:
You also have the option of going to www.zoom.us/join and using the following login information: Meeting ID - 953 114 988, Password - 916480
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MAP Growth – Tools to Support Learning Loss |
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This updated and expanded edition provides an overview of the state’s three choice programs as recently amended in the law, the requirements to join, and how to operate them. A separate handbook is being developed for the Special Needs Scholarship Program. Stay tuned.
The Choice Handbook is the only source of its kind in the state. All in one place, this guidebook provides a quick reference for important dates, amounts, and state bulletins and administrative rules that are hard to locate and impossible to find elsewhere.
The Handbook has been vetted by lawyers, accountants, choice school leaders, and includes hints and suggestions based on their real-life experiences. Even if you are a veteran Choice Administrator, you will find it a valuable and relevant resource.
Since issuing the First Edition of the Choice Handbook in 2018, many school principals requested additional copies for their parish councils, school board or other oversight committees as they evaluated whether or not to become a choice school. Order today and save 20 percent with free shipping and handling.
The Choice Handbook is due to arrive in schools later this month, just in time to look the handbook over and possibly file your DPI “Intent to Participate Form” by January 10 so your school can participate in Choice for the upcoming school year.
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Discover Catholic Schools Week |
Discover Catholic Schools Week is November 8 - 14, 2020. Families of students can be a big help when it comes to getting out the word to others in your community. Even in a virtual world, schools need help keeping a schedule of events, soliciting testimonials, tweeting and retweeting information, liking Facebook and Instagram posts. Use your parents to share how your school has helped them during the pandemic. More resources are available at https://www.ncea.org/csw/CSW/About_CSW/Discover_Catholic_Schools_Week.aspx
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Discover Catholic Schools Week Advertising Opportunity |
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The Office of Catholic Schools will be publishing an insert in the November 6th issue of the Compass in recognition of Discover Catholic Schools Week (November 8 - 14). Schools have the opportunity to place a color ad - business card size - for $50. Please see the flyer for more details.
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US Department of Education Opportunity |
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The US Department of education is looking to highlight success stories and best practices by schools during the pandemic. They have asked for stories about our successful transition back to the classroom and/or development of hybrid models of teaching. This might include some of the innovative or unique ways you are educating students in a new set of circumstances. The stories will be featured on the Successful Teacher Transition blog stories. We are asking for YOUR STORIES. Please submit to Lori Paul at lpaul@gbdioc.org by Friday, October 23.
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Providing Equitable Services to Students and Teachers in Non-Public Schools under the CARES Act Programs |
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The purpose of this revised document is to provide information about equitable services for students and teachers in non-public schools under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), Public Law 116-136, 134 Stat. 281 (Mar. 27, 2020), which authorized the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) to address the impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on educational services across the Nation. Two programs in the ESF require a local educational agency (LEA) that receives funds to provide equitable services to students and teachers in non-public schools "in the same manner as provided under section 1117" of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA):
- The Governor's Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER Fund) (Section 18002 of the CARES Act).
- The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER Fund) (Section 18003 of the CARES Act).
The three courts that issued decisions concluded that an LEA must determine the proportional share available to provide equitable services to non-public school students and teachers in accordance with section 1117(a)(4)(A) of the ESEA. This document revises the April 30 guidance to align with the courts' decisions.
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ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR CHILD CARE
TIME SENSATIVE
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The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) announced $50 million in funding for an additional round of Child Care Counts payments for early care and education.
Wisconsin has now set aside over $130 million of its Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding for early care and education, one of the highest rates of CARES Act dollars invested in early care and education. These critical investments of CARES funding continue to help Wisconsin stabilize the early care and education system, allowing child care providers to offer high-quality child care for Wisconsin families. They also helped counter an alarming loss of available child care. This March, roughly 40 percent of providers (1,729) reported to DCF they had closed their doors. That figure now stands at 5.3 percent (237 providers).
The Child Care Counts: COVID-19 Supplementary Payment Program – Round 2 has identical criteria to the most recent awards. It consists of two programs targeted at the current challenges early care and education providers face. Applications and program eligibility details will be available starting October 26, 2020, on DCF's website, with the application window closing November 6, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. Payment notifications will be issued on November 14, 2020.
IF YOUR SCHOOL OFFERS BEFORE OR AFTER SCHOOL CARE YOU CAN APPLY FOR FREE FUNDS TO SUPPORT YOUR OPERATIONS!!
DCF recently launched an initiative to connect families with local child care, including an interactive map that displays open, available care.
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CESA 6 Partners with Froedhert |
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CeSA 6 has partnered with Froedhert Memorial Hospital to offer Rapid COVID testing for school staff and their families. Students are not included in this offering. A school contacts Ted Neitzke at 262-483-3997 to get started in the program. The school will be billed $100 for any staff person or their family member that receives a test. Results are received within 24 hours. Currently it is being offered at Kimberly, Menasha, Hortonville, Oshkosh, Lomira and Hartford. Schools will be billed $100 per test given. Schools can determine how they want the costs to be allocated, however, the goal is to prevent those that test negative from having to remain out of school longer than necessary while waiting for a test. |
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Updated Quarantine and Isolation Times |
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DHS has updated information regarding Isolation and Quarantine and provided handouts you can give to your staff and students.
If you have been diagnosed with COVID 19 and felt sick - You can be released from Isolation if you have been well for 24 hours AND symptom free for 10 days.
If you have been diagnosed with COVID 19 and never felt sick - You can be released from isolation at least 10 days after your testing date.
If there has been close contact - you do need to quarantine for 14 days, even if you test negative.
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Office of Catholic Schools Weekly COVID-19 Data Report |
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Here is the link to the report.
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WEDSS is the Wisconsin Electronic Disease Surveillance System and is a secure, web-based system designed to facilitate reporting, investigation, and surveillance of communicable diseases in Wisconsin. It is designed for public health staff, infection control practitioners, clinical laboratories, clinics, and other disease reporters.
Recently, Outagamie County Health Department provided all our schools in that area with access to the system so that they could track the status of staff and students. If you are interested in getting access, you must contact your local county health department and they will submit the request on your behalf. It is completely the discretion of the local county health department to approve your access - but it is definitely worth asking for!
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A warning from Church Mutual: |
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“Due to the onset of COVID-19 and subsequent guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), organizations are using more chemical cleaners and disinfectants than ever before. Unfortunately, this has given rise to more accidents including severe chemical burns.”
“Making mistakes with cleaners and disinfectants can have serious consequences. As an example, the product used to disinfect playground equipment at one of our insured’s daycares was not diluted pursuant with the label instructions prior to application. As a result, several children sustained chemical burns. One child had significant injuries requiring multiple surgeries and treatment in the ICU burn unit.
Click here to learn how you can help reduce your organization’s risk of such accidents.”
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October is Respect Life Month |
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As Catholics, we believe that every life is sacred, from the moment of conception until natural death. Every person is made in the image and likeness of God, and so each and every person has inherent dignity. Resources in English and Spanish are available at https://www.respectlife.org/2020
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October 1 – Domestic Violence Awareness Month Begins
October 4 – Respect Life Sunday
October 4 – Peter’s Pence Collection
October 12 – Indigenous People’s Day
October 18 – World Mission Sunday
October 31 – Halloween
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Safe Environment with Students - During respect life month it is a good time for teachers to do one of the lessons with students. Teachers can find the resources here. Please be sure to have them document the lesson and the students who were not present as well as how they followed up with those students and parents.
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2020 Grant Applications Now Available |
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Each year the Catholic Foundation awards grants from the Advancing the Mission Endowments in Evangelization, Leadership Development, Lifelong Catechesis and the Monica Meyer Respect Life Endowment. The Foundation also has grants available through Lumen Christi and Catholic Foundation area of interest funds.
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Educational Consultant - Sr. Marcolette Madden |
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Sr. Marcolette is a passionate educator who has worked at Silver Lake College with pre-service teachers over the past years. She is available for in-services and consultation for your schools as needed. Please see the attached document with a list of her topics.
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Instructional Technology
EWITC/SITA Resources
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Please be aware that the sessions that were presented at SITA continue to be available to your district. Please pass along the link to this playlist of presentations to your teachers: |
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Check out this week's podcast, "Leadership in the Midst of Change and Adversity with Dr. Howard Fuller." This week, NCEA's Dr. Kevin Baxter interviews Dr. Howard Fuller, a longtime author, speaker, and civil rights advocate. In anticipation of Dr. Fuller's appearance at CLS 2020, this episode dives into the issues that are facing Catholic school leaders today, including distance learning, racism and a polarizing political climate. Dr. Fuller focuses his perspective on doing what's best for our students and making sure they feel loved and valued in the midst of change.
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A new study conducted by the University of Notre Dame, ACE and NCEA seeks to better understand parent perceptions and experiences with home-based learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as how they made decisions about the educational choices for their children in the 2020-2021 academic year. Please let your parents with at least one child in a PreK-12 Catholic school know about the survey. If they would like to participate in the study, a link to the survey is available online. No identifying information will be collected.
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If you’re interested in being a part of the first cohort of the New Leaders Academy, please register today! The New Leaders Academy is intended for early-career Catholic school leaders and is built around the four domains of the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Elementary and Secondary Catholic Schools (NSBECS). Watch a short video to learn more about this exciting professional development opportunity!
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Check out the new Diocese of Green Bay Vocations website.
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School Safety Deadline Reminder |
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By January 1, 2021, every school board and governing body of a private school must file the following information with the Office of School Safety [Wis. Stat. 118.07(4)(e)]:
- a copy of its School Safety Plan, including the most recent date on which the school board or governing body reviewed and approved the school safety plan;
- the date(s) of the required annual School Violence Drill(s) during the previous year, including certification that the school board or governing body reviewed a required written evaluation of the school violence drill;
- the date of the most recent school safety plan training (required under 118.07(4)(c)), and the number of attendees;
- the most recent date on which the school board or governing body consulted with a local law enforcement agency to conduct required on-site safety assessments.
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We will be having a Virtual All School Mass on Wednesday, February 3rd as part of Catholic Schools Week. Details to follow but we wanted to make sure everyone kept the morning of February 3rd free so we can worship together!
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Virtual Instruction Attendance Policy |
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Audits will now require that your school have a statement regarding how you will track attendance for those students learning virtually. Here is verbiage you can add to your current attendance policy:
Virtual or blended course offerings may use nontraditional data, such as course progress, engagement, synchronous instructional time, system activity, student logs, etc. to create an equivalency that can meet the rules of traditional reporting. Teachers will continue to take daily attendance when students are in session based on their cohort assignment for each course using our Powerschool student information system.
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Herb Kohl Scholarship and Awards |
Teacher and principal nominations for this year’s Herb Kohl Awards are open. The nomination deadline has not yet been announced, but it will likely be in fall.
If you nominated a teacher or principal last year after the nomination deadline, their names will be advanced for this year’s competition.
Please note that only nominated individuals can access the online application.
You or your school parents can nominate a teacher or principal here:
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Integrate science in your ELA class with the Article-A-Day sets below! 🔭 🌱
ReadWorks is free for everyone because we believe in barrier-free access to reading material for ALL children—regardless of ability to pay.
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NCEA Newlsetter Link
Click on icon below to read the latest issue of Catholic School Matters Newsletter from NCEA and Dr. Tim Uhl.
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Office of Catholic Schools
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