Office of
Catholic Schools
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Happy Advent
December 8 is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Bishop John Carroll, first Bishop of the United States, named Mary the patroness of the Diocese of Baltimore in 1792 for her protection in the new land. In 1846 she was named patroness of the United States. Let us ask for Mary’s help to follow in her footsteps of a life of following Jesus and staying true to the Gospel Message. We ask for her intercession for the United States in this challenging time.
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it know, that anyone
who fled to your protection,
implored thy help, or sought thy intercession,
was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence,
I fly unto thee O Virgin of virgins my Mother.
To the do I come, before thee I stand, sinful
and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy, hear and answer me.
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Next editions of the Office of Catholic Schools Newsletter:
December 18
January 8, 2021
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Look for topics in previous editions:
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Archive of Superintendent’s emails:
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Dec. 8 PowerSchool user group 8:30-10:00
Dec. 15 School Campus Ministers Meeting 10:00-12:00
Dec. 14 Winter MAP CRF due
Dec. 16 New Teachers/Methods B Faith Integration 3:30-4:30 virtual
Dec. 24 & 25 Christmas Eve and Christmas day-Diocesan offices closed
Dec. 31 Meemic Foundation Grants due
Jan. 4 Diocesan Offices reopen
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2020 Fall Conference Links |
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Purchasing What You Need, Needing What You Purchase |
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If you were not able to attend the conference this past week, here are some of the highlights from this session.
Communicate with the Diocesan Office of Catholic Schools when reviewing curriculum in order to collaborate with other schools and for support as needed.
Work with your DASA region to make purchases and professional development opportunities together if feasible.
Volume pricing is a benefit.
Determine your needs based on data. If the data reveals a change is needed evaluate whether it is the materials or the pedagogy/methodology being used. Perhaps the change needs to be in how one is teaching not what is being used. More professional development may be needed.
Research online content, investigating what other schools are using then evaluate what you are using to determine its effectiveness.
Determine if the materials being used can assist the teacher in faith integration and Catholic identity.
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Setting Tuition Rates and 2021-2022 Finance Planning |
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As a follow up to the tuition and financial information shared in the Fall Conference, there will be a separate webinar and discussion on Thursday, December 17, 2020 @ 3:30-4:30 to review the information and answer any questions or concerns schools may have. The webinar is open to principals, pastors, business managers, school board members and finance councils. This will be recorded.
Or you can call in +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) Meeting ID: 856 3221 1315
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DPI will be pulling student data on Tuesday, December 8th. Please make sure that all students have the appropriate information. Please contact Becky Krahn if you have any questions.
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SCHOOL SAFETY PLANS DUE JANUARY 1 |
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A race against the clock is on as all schools must annually file a safety plan with the State Department of Justice Office of School Safety by January 1, in accordance with state law.
Failing to file puts your school at risk of not having proper information available to law enforcement, should it need to come to your aid in a safety emergency.
Secondly, if schools don’t comply, they risk having the legislature intervene with more regulations and penalties. If schools don’t want further regulations, they have to cooperate with existing laws.
The Pandemic is not an excuse to avoid filing. In fact, last year when there was no virus, a large number of schools did not file and negative headlines followed. There’s enough in education to worry about without people thinking schools are unsafe.
WCRIS is working to have the filing requirement moved but until a change is made, the bottom line is this: Get a safety plan filed.
Here’s what the law requires and how to file:
Every school board or governing body of a private school must file the following information with the Office of School Safety by January 1, 2021. [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; and,
- 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.
To help schools streamline the process, the Department of Justice Office of School Safety (OSS) has a helpful checklist for submission.
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DPI Releases Choice Income Limits for 2021-2022 |
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For the 2021-22 school year, the family income of a student new to a choice program must be at or below the amount listed at the DPI site. All students must apply each year at dpi.wi.gov/choice. If a student is continuing in any of the choice programs or was on the choice waiting list for the same Choice program in the prior year, he or she does not need to meet the income limits.
Family income includes the income of the student’s parent(s)/legal guardian(s) that reside in the same household as the student applicant. If the student’s parents/legal guardians that reside in the same household are married, their income is reduced by $7,000 when determining income eligibility for the program (i.e. married family income minus $7,000).
For example, if a family of four with parents that are married has an income of $60,000, subtract $7,000 from their income and compare that amount ($53,000) to the income limit for a family of four in the appropriate table. Family size includes parents/legal guardians and their children by birth, marriage or adoption that reside in the same household as the student applicant.
At this time, the voucher amount for the 2021-2022 year has not been set as it has to be done by the legislature. School Choice Wisconsin does not believe that the amount will change significantly over the current rate due to a tight budget season. Schools should budget $4150 per 4K student, $8300 per K-8 student and $8946 for high school students.
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Faith Integration Resources for December |
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December has many feast days and events in our Catholic liturgical year. Some of the more notable:
December 8 Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
December 12 Our Lady of Guadalupe
December 13 St. Lucy
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Holiday Travel Guidelines from the Diocese |
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This information was recently communicated to all staff of the Curia. Please feel free to share with your school employees who have questions regarding travel.
As we head into deer hunting, Thanksgiving, and Christmas in a time of very high COVID-19 activity, we ask that great thought and care for the safety of self and others guide your plans. Included below are links to travel guidelines from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the CDC. If you are planning to travel this holiday season, please review these guidelines.
Employees should be aware of current guidelines from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the CDC:
Employees who have traveled within the U.S. should check themselves for symptoms and limit exposure to others outside of their home as much as possible for 14 days following their return.
All international travelers arriving into the U.S. should stay home for 14 days after their arrival. At home, they are expected to monitor their health and practice social distancing. To protect the health of others, these travelers should not go to work or school for 14 days.
Travelers who return from a cruise ship or river cruise voyage are advised to stay home for 14 days, monitor your health, and practice physical distancing. The CDC currently recommends that travelers defer all cruise travel worldwide.
Employees who are concerned about exposure by being physically present for onsite work must discuss if and how remote work may/may not remain available.
This holiday season will look different for all of us, but we know what precautions to follow. Let’s be safe and well out there. Happy holidays!
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Notify 6th Graders’ Parents |
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Since 2012, all public, charter and private schools have been required to provide information on meningococcal disease to parents and guardians of students enrolled in 6th grade. The DPI is required by state law to make information about the disease available to the schools. The information and suggested templates regarding meningococcal disease were recently updated and are under “immunization resources” on the DPI website.
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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:
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Dec. 9: Bishop Ricken
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Dec. 16: Fr. Dan Felton (50th Parish Life Line
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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Contacting Office of Catholic School Staff |
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With the various restrictions on the number of people in the office, our team is often working from home. If you need to reach us, please feel free to call our cell phones:
Todd Blahnik - 512-410-0120
Dean Gerondale - 303-810-7775
Lori Paul - 715-587-0009
Jane Schueller - 920-639-8535
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Registration for summer camp at Camp Tek opens on Friday, December 4th. The following sessions are being offered.
• Session 1: June 20 - June 25
• Session 2: June 27 - July 2
• Session 3: July 4 - July 9
• Session 4: July 11 - July 16
• Session 5: July 18 - July 23
• Session 6: July 25 - July 30
• Session 7: August 1 - August 6
Slots will fill quickly; register promptly!
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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.
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School Choice Deadlines
December 15 - Deadline for schools to submit to DPI the September 2020 Enrollment Audit. If your audit is done by CLA or Hawkins and Ash, the auditors will send it directly to DPI on your behalf.
January 5 - Deadline for schools to notify DPI of any student that is no longer in the Choice Program.
For example, if you had a Choice student who was at your school in September, but is now home schooling for the remainder of the year, you need to notify DPI that they are not enrolled.
January 10 - Deadline for schools to register to be able to participate in School Choice for the 2021-2022 school year. Failure to register will mean that your school will not be able to participate in the program for the 2021-2022 school year.
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REGISTER FOR SCHOOL CHOICE PARTICIPATION FOR THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR! |
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Registration to Participate in the 2021-2022 School Choice Program is Open!
All of the school registration forms and the auditor fee are due to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) by Sunday, January 10, 2021 unless otherwise noted in the cover letter.
The DPI recommends schools submit all forms and the fee no later than Thursday or Friday before the due date so there is DPI staff available if the school has questions.
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Beginning Tuesday, November 10, the Office of Catholic Schools is inviting teachers to join fellow educators in open conversation to support one another, share ideas and have a place to just “hang out “ with each other. We know schedules are tight, we are offering two different times for convenience.
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Check out the new Diocese of Green Bay Vocations website.
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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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Office of Catholic Schools Weekly COVID-19 Data Report |
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Here is the link to the report.
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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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