Office of
Catholic Schools
February 4, 2022
Celebrate Black History Month
As we finish Catholic Schools Week and Celebrate Black History Month, take some time to learn about Sister Thea Bowman. In the 1980’s Sr. Thea was invited a few times to the Diocese of Green Bay to pray and sing with educators and catechists. She reminds us that we are all children of God.  
Celebrating Catholic Schools Week
In solidarity and good fun, our office celebrated Catholic Schools week with Wear-Your-HS-Colors-to-Work Day, Crazy Socks Day, and Mass & Pizza Day. We salute and thank you for everything you do to minister to the children and families in our Catholic Schools!
Crazy Socks at the Families & Schools Office!
Resources
Next edition of the Office of Catholic Schools Newsletter:

February 18, 2022
Look for topics in previous editions:


Archive of Superintendent’s emails:

Calendar Items
(See details in articles below)
Feb 4 Deadline for RISE submission (read more below)
Feb 4 Deadline for EANS Inventory Sheet (see below)
Feb 13 Sunday TV Mass returns to 10:30am time slot
Feb 18 Deadline for Two Eagles Foundation Grants
Mar 1 SNSP Filing Deadline (see below)
New Items:
2022-2023 Calendar
Are you starting to plan the 2022-2023 school year? We are! Click Here to view the 2022-2023 calendar! Remember to check back as dates to change!  

Use the DPI Days and Hours of Instruction Calculator to be sure you have the correct amount of hours of instruction.
Did You Complete Your EANS Inventory Sheet?
As we previously informed you, a Google Sheet was created and sent to every school in the program to maintain their inventory moving forward. 

Please update the sheet with all items that are required to be labeled and inventoried. As a reminder, all items purchased with EANS funds need to be labeled with the following statement "Purchased with EANS Funds". If you have a question whether something needs to be on your inventory sheet, you can use the EANS Allowable Expenses Sheet by referencing column J.

You must complete the request by February 4, 2022. Once you have populated your inventory sheet, please notify CESA 6 at eans@cesa6.org that you have completed updating your inventory sheet.
New WisPolitics.com Directory
The 12-page publication includes photos and contact information for: state lawmakers, the congressional delegation, the Evers administration and other top officials as well as a preview of the 2022 election year that includes races for Milwaukee mayor, U.S. Senate, governor, state constitutional offices and many legislative offices.
Portal Open
Just a reminder that on February 1st the application portal for School Choice opened! What does this mean for your school?

  1. Make sure you let your current voucher families know that they need to apply for the 2022-2023 school year!
  2. Check your OAS portal for NEW students - many families will apply for Choice before they ever contact the school!
  3. Get the word out!! Include information in your social media, newsletters, and parish bulletins through April 15th.

Remember that the income levels for families has increased this year! Click here to get the amounts.  

Need help? Please contact Lori at 920-272-8163 for lpaul@gbdioc.org.
Hispanic Outreach for School Choice

We are pleased to announce that Tammy Olivas will once again be the contact for Hispanic outreach during the open application period this spring. Her email remains the same: tammy@hispanicsforschoolchoice.com.

Additionally, School Choice has both English and Spanish enrollment materials available on their website in digital form and available for order in print form: https://schoolchoicewi.org/2022-enrollment-marketing-materials/.
Special Needs Scholarship Program (SNSP)
The deadline for schools to file the 2022-23 ITP and the school’s special education program profile in order to be eligible to participate in the SNSP in the 2022-23 school year is March 1, 2022

To begin, you must complete the intent form (link below) . DPI will then send additional instructions on what is required.
Updated DHS COVID Guidelines
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) released updates to their Guidelines for the Prevention, Investigation, and Control of COVID-19 Outbreaks in K-12 Schools in Wisconsin.

There is also an addition to this summary of the key takeaways and updates to the guidance.. If you have questions concerning the DHS guidance, please email the CDES Outbreaks inbox at DHSCDESOutbreaks@dhs.wisconsin.gov

In conjunction with this release, DPI’s COVID-19 Infection Control and Mitigation Measures for Wisconsin Schools 2021/2022 has also been updated and posted. Questions concerning the DPI measures can be directed to Louise Wilson, DPI’s School Nursing and Health Services Consultant, at louise.wilson@dpi.wi.gov

Thank you for all you do to keep our students and educators safe and healthy.
Reimbursement for School Mental Health Programs
DPI Student Services, Prevention & Wellness (SSPW) Team is now accepting claims for Aid for School Mental Health Programs.

Eligibility for school districts, private schools (as defined in Wis. Stat. § 115.364[1][am]), and independent charter schools (as defined in Wis. Stat. § 115.364[1][a]) is based on calculations around year to year eligible expenditures. School districts, private schools, and independent charter schools may receive partial reimbursement for salary and fringe benefits paid to employ, hire, or retain social workers or the costs to contract for the services of a social worker when the school district, private school, or independent charter school increased in its expenditures in the 2020-21 school year compared to the 2019-20 school year. To read more about the program details, visit the Aid for School Mental Health Programs page.

This year’s Claim Form is now available, and must be submitted to the Department by March 12, 2022, to receive reimbursement for eligible expenditures made in the preceding school year. Claim forms must be submitted online. 

Questions about this program should be directed to Julie Incitti, School Social Work Consultant, at julie.incitti@dpi.wi.gov or (608) 266-0963. 
Get Rid of Your Old Computer Hardware
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Tech Graveyards of Wisconsin would like the opportunity to purchase your excess, off-lease and or EOL (End Of Life) hardware. They will pick up all equipment from your site and pay you for your old equipment. They will take - PC’s, Laptops, Chromebooks, Drives, Printer, Over stock toner, and phones.  

For more information, please contact:
Tim Golubeff; Tech Graveyard; techgraveyards@gmail.com; 414-367-6673; West Allis WI
From the Office of Safe Environment & VIRTUS
The importance of Screening & Selecting Employees and Volunteers: This article provides insight as to why the screening process is essential to safe environments. Read how this step of "screening and selecting" is helpful; what methods should be in place; how the process impacts the employee or volunteer; and, continuing our commitment to screen and select. Read the entire article (2 pages).
Curriculum Corner
Textbook Evaluation: myView Literacy, by Savvas
St. Mary in Greenville has evaluated myView Literacy, by Savvas (formerly Pearson) for their K-3 grade reading. If anyone would like to know more about it contact Deb Fuller.
Success Story: IEW Materials
If you are looking for a writing program, a couple of our schools are having great success with IEW materials (Institute for Excellence in Writing). Check out their website www.iewschools.com or contact Natan VandeHey for more information. 
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PBS Learning Media - Invite teachers to check out www.pbslearningmedia.org for a variety of curriculum materials. During the Olympics and Black History Month, there are several videos and other resources celebrating the gifts and accomplishments of people around the world.  
Franciscan at Home = Catechetical Certification
If you and your teachers have not started working on the new Catechetical Certification portal, don’t hesitate to let us know how we can help. Contact Jane at jschueller@gbdioc.org.
Social Media:

Don’t forget to occasionally check out Diocese of Green Bay Administrators Facebook group. Click icon at left to go there now!
Textbook Resources Review
If you are planning a change in content resources, please contact Jane Schueller in order that schools can collaborate as needed or fill out the tab on the spreadsheet. 

It would be helpful if all schools could fill out the Textbook spreadsheet to assist in knowing what schools are using.
Battle of the Books for Catholic Schools
A group of schools is interested in doing a Battle of the Books for our Diocese. A group of six schools has met and is working on compiling the list of books. The plan is to gear the books and questions to fifth-eighth graders. The “battle” for two teams from each school is tentatively scheduled for May 16. 

If you are interested in more information or getting involved, please contact Jane Schueller.
Curriculum Review & 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. 
Worth Repeating
February 23 Principal Meeting Cancelled
On the Diocese school calendar, there was a virtual principal meeting scheduled for February 23. Because of the importance of having our principals at the Jason Evert presentation, we will NOT be having the principal meeting and instead ask you to plan on attending Jason’s presentation.

(See article below w/link to registration).
IXL Overview: Miss the Meeting?
On January 18 personnel from IXL did a presentation on the product that can be used as a diagnostic tool as well as a practice or extended curriculum for Math, Reading, Science and Social Studies. Some of our schools are already successfully using the online product. Feel free to watch the video presentation if you were not able to attend in person.
Ahrens Group Presentation
On January 11, Keith Ahrens did a presentation on the many resources available to schools in the areas of English Language Arts and Math. Here are follow up materials and a video of the presentation for anyone who was not able to attend in person.

Tuition Grant Opportunity:
Elementary Schools, Time Sensative
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We have received notification of a grant from Two Eagles Foundation. The foundation supports non-public schools with high moral and academic merit. The questionnaire needs to be emailed to the foundation by February 18, 2022. Grants for tuition assistance are up to $50,000 per school per academic year. Apply today!
Know Someone Who Could Use a Winter Coat?
Catholic Charities received a donation of adult winter coats from Knights of Columbus. They have a few Smalls but more Large and XL in Women and Medium, Large and XL in Men sizes. If you know of any parents who could use a winter coat please contact Kellie Dekarske.
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Mental Health Educator Series:
Expressive Therapies: Why Music & Art Therapy Are Vital Tools
Join this ongoing series (via Zoom) on mental health topics. In this session, February 10th, 9am-10am (Zoom) we'll learn why music and art therapy are crucial interventions for care providers and school/ministry leaders to use. The endless physical and mental benefits of incorporating these expressive arts will be discussed, and examples of how to incorporate these interventions will be shared.

Presenter: Josie Brown, APSW, Catholic Charities
Jason Evert on Gender-Related Issues: February 24, 2022; 8am-Noon
Jason will present two sessions (60 minutes each):
Theology of the Body
Called to Love

Nativity Parish, Green Bay
8am-Noon
No Fee, but Registration Required
Save the Date: May 4, 2022
All School Rosary Event
Because of the great feedback we received from the all school Rosary event in October, we will be holding another all school Rosary event on May 4, 2022 at 9:00am. More information will be coming but please mark your calendars now.
Upcoming DPI Webinars
The DPI’s Choice Program Team will be hosting webinars covering various areas of the program.
The trainings are open to new schools to the program or schools already in the program.

Schools can prepare now by ordering a WCRIS Choice Handbook. This Handbook covers all the topics below as well as an appendix of important dates and resources. You can order a handbook here. The following trainings are at 3:30 pm:
NWEA MAP Resources
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.  
More . . .
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

Questions? Contact us at education@gbdioc.org or (920) 272-8273.
Diocese of Green Bay
The Compass