Office of
Catholic Schools
|
|
|
On this Feast of St. Joseph we pray, as we have in the Year of St. Joseph, for His intercession for us in all our works and all we do for and with families.
Good St. Joseph, I ask you to intercede for me with Jesus to protect and care for me and our loved ones in our daily life and work, just as you did for the Holy Family. Help me to live a simple life of service and grow rich in faith. Guide me to do the very best I can for my family and friends. I pray for your guidance in my home and work life that I may also be a role model of honesty, charity and perseverance. Amen
|
|
Next editions of the Office of Catholic Schools Newsletter:
April 2 & 16, 2021
|
|
Look for topics in previous editions:
|
|
Archive of Superintendent’s emails:
|
|
March 24 New Teachers/Methods B Faith Integration 3:30-4:30 (Virtual)
March 31 Meemic Foundation Grants due
April 4 Easter (Diocesan offices are closed April 1-5)
April 6-8 NCEA Convention Virtual
April 9 Qtrly Payroll report due to Safe Environment for Background Checks
April 12 New School Administrators Workshop 9:00 AM-12:00 PM Virtual
April 13 PowerSchool User Group 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM Virtual
April 13 PowerSchool Brand New User – Session 3 1:00 – 3:00 PM
April 19 Principals Meeting TBD
April 28 New Teachers/Methods B Faith Integration 3:30-4:30 (Virtual)
April 30 Spring MAP Testing Window Closes
|
|
SITA Conference is scheduled for August 3,4,5. It is being planned as a virtual conference, but there is a secondary plan for in person at SNC. If you would like to present on an application you use or how you integrate technology into your teaching and learning please fill out the presenter form by April 1.
|
|
Thank you to everyone who attended the WCRIS Leadership Meeting via our first-ever “members only” webinar. We had 172 sign-ons with multiple people from each school participating. Here is the link to the PowerPoint shared by CESA 6:
|
|
Office of Catholic Schools EANS Webinar |
|
Thank you to all those who attended the webinar on Wednesday, March 17, 2021. If you missed the webinar you can view it HERE.
|
|
In case you missed it, you can now view all the presentations from the WISEdata Conference!
|
|
Any student graduating from a Wisconsin high school takes a civics test comprised of 100 questions that are identical to the 100 questions that may be asked of an individual during the process of applying for U.S. citizenship by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and the student must correctly answer at least 65 of those questions. For 2020 graduates the requirement was waived. However it has been reinstated for 2021 graduates. Here is the link with all the information and test and answer key. https://dpi.wi.gov/social-studies/laws/civics
|
|
Video Recording: Pause, Praise & Prayer Event |
|
Available to access at any time
If you were unable to attend this virtual night of Lenten reflection with Bishop Ricken or would like to share it with a friend, you can access the recording here: www.gbdioc.org/pause. The video chronicles how Bishop Ricken led us in music, Scripture, and prayer as we continually give praise and glory to God who is a God of hope, light, and new life.
|
|
The MAP window for spring is April 12-April 30
For those schools not associated with a system, your CRF from either winter or fall has been uploaded. If you have changes, please contact Jane Schueller.
|
|
NCEA Launches EANS website |
|
NCEA just launched the new EANS website! You can access it here In addition, they have created a list of eligible expenses you can use for the funds.
|
|
Lenten Activities for kids |
|
Here are some activities for use in school or at home! Please share with your teachers and or families. |
|
Teen Technology Use and Misuse - March 23, 6:30-7:30 |
|
Some of you may have heard about Justin Patchin, one of the leading voices in bullying and internet safety. He will be presenting for Oconto Falls. They still have spaces if you would be interested in joining the virtual meeting. “Oconto Falls Public Schools are bringing Justin Patchin in over Zoom to talk to families about cyberbullying. There are plenty of seats available, so please feel free to register yourselves and share the registration link with people you think might be interested. https://bit.ly/ofMarch
|
|
Superintendent of Wisconsin Race |
|
School Choice Provides Training Videos |
|
Open enrollment season can be both exciting and exhausting, in order to support your efforts we have put together a couple of tutorials on how to complete the Wisconsin parental choice programs application.
Filling out the choice program application can be an intimidating process for some parents. We have created a tutorial video that guides a parent from screen to screen on how to fill out the application. This tutorial doesn't intend to replace personal assistance but to serve as a tool to simplify the process.
School Choice Wisconsin has both the English and Spanish version of the tutorials, please feel free to use at your convenience. You can find the videos HERE. Some other resources for the open enrollment period HERE.
If you have any questions, comments or requests please contact Tammy Olivas 414.319.9160
|
|
Upcoming School
Choice Dates
|
|
Third Thursday in April (April 15) - PSCP
April 23 - PSCP
Early May - PSCP
- WISEdata Spring Demographics Snapshot: All schools must complete 2021-22 Assessment Demographic student data reporting in WISEdata. Correctly report the English Language Proficiency, Race Ethnicity, and student economic status. • Log in to view WISEdata Validation messages (check these regularly).
May 1 - PSCP
-
Deadline for continuing schools that selected the surety bond option in a previous school year to Page 11 of 13 provide a surety bond equal to 25% of the schools expected 2021-22 PSCP payments if the school has not yet been notified by the DPI that it is longer required to provide the surety bond (see Training 3-5: Surety Bond and New School Budget & Cash Flow Report).
|
|
One Year Later: Wisconsin Education and the Pandemic by WILL |
|
REGISTER NOW for this special webinar conversation with three Wisconsin school leaders on how they have managed to navigate and innovate through the COVID-19 crisis.
Friday March 19, 2021
11:30 am CST
DETAILS: On March 18, 2020, Wisconsin K-12 schools were forced to close their doors and switch to virtual learning. Over the next 12 months, school leaders worked to navigate local and state mandates while balancing student education and safety.
WILL Director of Education Policy, Libby Sobic, will discuss the challenges, successes and lessons learned with Kim Desotell, President of GRACE schools in Green Bay; Charles Moore, Principal at High Point Christian and Executive Director of Impact Christian Schools in Madison; and Shaun Luehring, President & CEO of LUMIN schools in southeastern Wisconsin.
|
|
Spring Break Travel Plans |
|
Thinking about scheduling some time away? Is there a Spring break destination in your future? Before you travel outside the state of Wisconsin, please review the pre and post travel recommendations provided by the CDC at this link:
Please note the “After You Travel” guidelines are in effect at the Diocese for any travel outside of Wisconsin. The same quarantine guidelines continue to apply even if teachers have received the vaccine.
|
|
Masking Update and Medical Exemption Reminder |
|
Dear Presidents, Superintendents, and Principals,
As a general reminder Emergency Order #1:Relating to Stopping the Spread of a New Highly Contagious Variant of COVID-19 by Requiring Face Coverings, is still in effect until March 20, 2021. Presently, all of our sixteen counties are at a high level according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services data.
Once the mask mandate is lifted, the Office of Catholic School is requiring the continued use of masks in the Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Green Bay, until such time as the county in which your school resides is at a moderate level as determined by the Case Count (Burden) reported by the Wisconsin Department of Health Service. Once that level has been maintained for 4 consecutive weeks, there will be new directives for the schools and masking.
Until the new directives are issued, please keep in mind the following:
- Post signs on your entry doors noting that "a mask is required to enter."
-
In your current communication like a weekly newsletter, remind parents that "to promote public and employee health, you can't enter many stores without shoes, shirt and a mask. The same is true for "INSERT YOUR SCHOOL NAME."
- Have a supply of disposable masks at the entry doors, so people without a mask can get one. You may have to have a monitor stationed at the entry, offering free masks to visitors, and inviting people who won't take a mask to leave and get one of their own -- if they don't like the ones the school is offering.
- If a student, staff or visitor has a health reason for not wearing a mask, have a plan of accommodation in place, such as:
- having a portable physical clear divider that can be placed at any desk/table for the non-masked person to have a meeting, observe a class or event, etc.;
- having a "drop-off" bin where items can be left at the school by a non-masking person and then delivered within the school by a masked volunteer/staff;
- allowing adults with no mask to volunteer outdoors
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Todd or Lori.
|
|
As you begin to post new job opportunities on WECAN, please close any open vacancies you may have forgotten to close. As a reminder, make sure your post directs applicants to apply through WECAN.
If you would like your position to be posted on the Diocesan website, please send all information to Lisa Gruber.
|
|
Offer from Newsela
Newsela is launching a new program. In order to help alleviate some of the stress of this crazy year, we’re offering “Bridge Pilots” through the end of the school year.
A “Bridge Pilot” will give a district full access to Newsela ELA, Social Studies, Science, and SEL along with asynchronous PD sessions through June 30th. This is an opportunity for your teachers and curriculum team to dive into Newsela resources to see if it will be a good fit going forward into the 21-22 school year. You'll need to activate the offer this month (March) so that we can be up and running coming back from Spring Break.
Mark Gallo wants to make sure that you’ll have the best experience possible with this Bridge Pilot and have built in two guardrails:
-
District Form - Mark put together a few questions around your district (school) goals and what you would be looking for from Newsela. This will help frame our…
- Solution Map/Path to Partnership meeting - We’ll schedule a short meeting to discuss rollout and make sure your teachers have everything they need to be successful with Newsela. We’ll also create a basic timeline with check in calls throughout the course of the year
Lenten Resources
Go to Next Vista for Learning https://www.nextvista.org for great ideas. See student videos demonstrating their learning and webinars. Developed by a Catholic school educator.
As part of the CARES Act, the DPI is offering free access to webinars, resources and networking for teachers to learn how they can support their students in a virtual classroom.
You can learn more about the program and what resources are available here.
CARES Act free professional learning through DPI and CESA 7
|
|
Curriculum review and connections: |
|
Please fill out the form in order that as schools/systems are looking at reviewing curriculum resources, they might be able to collaborate with other schools/systems. You could also use this resource to connect with other schools using different resources at which you might be looking.
|
|
2021-22 Contract Information |
|
On the teacher contract this year the main change is on line item 14 the additional sentence, “Administration will determine how instruction will be taught, whether virtually or in person, due to illness, school closure, snow days or any other type of emergency that may require the school to close.”
When looking at the total informational packet, you will see that the Diocesan Code of Personal and Ethical Conduct for Employees is taken from the Parish/School Employee Handbook of August 2019.
Contract forms, directions, and information are found on the diocesan school Google site ( http://bit.ly/3bftdSp), under "Governance and Leadership" then “Administrators” heading.
|
|
Upcoming Virtual Conferences for Catholic educators |
|
Parish Life Line:
Wednesday Mornings @ 9:30; via Zoom
- March 24: no meeting
- March 31: Re-engagement of Parishioners w/Peter Murphy
|
|
Center for Resilient Schools |
|
The Wisconsin Center for Resilient Schools is a new statewide coaching center designed to help school and/or district teams bring comprehensive school-based mental health and trauma sensitive, Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) to full scale implementation. This free resource is available to schools and districts in Wisconsin including private, charter, tribal and state schools.
If you have a school or district team working on comprehensive and systemic school-based mental health and/or SEL this center can help you to:
- Strengthen and align systems that support comprehensive school-based mental health and trauma sensitive social and emotional learning in order to promote academic success of each student
- Engage with data, resources and tools to create a sustainable plan to reach your desired outcomes
- Develop strategies for stakeholder engagement
- Explicitly position and communicate about trauma sensitive SEL as a lever for equity
Beginning on January 20, 2021, schools and district teams that are interested in coaching services can complete the service request form found here.
Check out the full press release here.
Please note that this center provides coaching for teams who are ready to fully implement School-Based Mental Health (SBMH) and trauma sensitive SEL. This is not a training opportunity. If you are just beginning to consider school-based mental health, social and emotional learning or trauma-sensitive schools, please see the resources from the Department of Public Instruction using the hyperlinks provided.
Thanks,
Chanell Crawford
Director, Parental Education Options
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Phone: 608-266-5880
|
|
Due to the uncertainty, disruptions and additional procedures and adjustments required by the current COVID pandemic we are waiving the ACRE requirement for 2021 for all parish religious education programs and all Catholic Schools. |
|
Please pass this link for MAP Resources to your teachers. There is a lot of information available to them for using the data to drive instruction and do goal setting with students.
|
|
Office of Catholic Schools Weekly COVID-19 Data Report |
|
Here is the link to the report.
|
|
NCEA Newlsetter Link
Click on icon below to read the latest issue of Catholic School Matters Newsletter from NCEA and Dr. Tim Uhl.
|
|
Office of Catholic Schools
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
