Office of
Catholic Schools
|
|
|
As we enter into the holiest days of the liturgical year, may the name of Jesus be praised and adored above all things. May we be blessed by the humble love and mercy of God and imitate Jesus saving love for others. May the joy of the resurrection live in our hearts and be a source of strength in all we do.
Thank you to all our schools who shared portions of their Lenten services and Stations of the Cross on their Facebook pages for all to enjoy and use as prayer. Our students are blessed to have the opportunity to be in schools of faith.
|
|
Next editions of the Office of Catholic Schools Newsletter:
April 16, 2021
|
|
Look for topics in previous editions:
|
|
Archive of Superintendent’s emails:
|
|
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
|
|
Office of Safe Environment Survey |
|
It is once again time for the Annual Safe Environment Survey for all parishes and schools. Your designated LoSEC will receive the Annual Safe Environment Survey link April 16, 2021. I am asking you to please ensure your LoSEC gathers the proper data and completes the survey online by Friday, May 14, 2021. We are asking that you, as School Principal/Administrator, sign the Survey acknowledging that you have reviewed the information provided and the data is accurate to the best of your knowledge. As in the past, we are also requiring each school to send in an accompanying spreadsheet that lists the names of the employees and volunteers reflected in the survey data.
|
|
Please pass along to Kindergarten teachers |
|
Kindergarten Standards Progress Reports - There will be a meeting on Thursday, April 8 to introduce teachers to a standards progress report in PowerSchool .
Jane Schueller is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Kindergarten Standards Report Card preview
Time: Apr 8, 2021 03:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 882 6266 7026
Passcode: 1234
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,88262667026#,,,,*1234# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 882 6266 7026
Passcode: 1234
|
|
YOUR ACTION NEEDED
Stop Attack on Private School Freedom
|
|
Faith leaders from the religious organizations that underwrite and sponsor many WCRIS school groups are urging its school boosters to contact U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson, to ask them to oppose the Equality Act (H.R. 5), which is intended to “prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation, and for other purposes.”
In February, the bill passed in the US House and is now being considered by the Senate. Both Senators have strong beliefs in this area of the law and likely won’t change their minds, however by reaching out you may help temper their zeal and you can inform them about how seriously this will affect their constituents. This advocacy can have an enormous influence on how they lobby their Senate leaders to schedule the bill for a vote, or whether a vigorous filibuster is waged. If they detect strong opposition from the folks back home, they may be more likely to allow their leaders to leave the bill in committee.
Religious leaders stress that everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. They also point out that the Act, in many ways, does the opposite. Instead of respecting differences in beliefs about marriage and sexuality, the Equality Act would discriminate against people of faith.
The Equality Act would:
- punish faith-based organizations, such as charities and schools who serve everyone in their communities, simply because of their beliefs;
- force girls and women to compete against boys and men for limited opportunities in sports, and to share locker rooms and shower spaces with biological males who identify as women;
- force people in everyday life, and especially health care workers, to support gender transition;
- and expand what the government considers a “public” place, forcing even some church halls to host functions that conflict with the sponsoring church’s beliefs.
Please urge Senators Baldwin and Johnson to oppose it. You can email Senators Baldwin and Johnson through the contact forms on their individual websites.
Or, you can use this quick advocacy link provided by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). They are the only religious school group with a quick link to email the senators, and they invite you to use it, even if you are not Catholic.
|
|
Spring Webinar Series by Archdiocese of Chicago: Growing PreK Enrollment |
|
Like many schools nationwide, this school year saw steep losses in the PreK population in the Archdiocese of Chicago, however the horizon looks brighter with vaccinations on the rise and folks going back to work. Parents' comfort levels with in-person school for preschoolers may shift as our communities begin to re-open. Is your school ready to convert potential PreK families to members of your school community?
To help, the Archdiocese developed a spring webinar series dedicated to growing your school's early childhood enrollment, specifically preschool. We know that a healthy preschool provides a strong feeder to overall enrollment.
We recommend you view each 15-20 minute webinar linked below in order. Please contact Lori Paul with any additional questions.
|
|
The CESA Network will be hosting a webinar on April 6 at 2 pm.
The webinar will cover the EANS program deadlines, the application process, allowable uses of EANS and the CESA Product and Service Catalog.
If you have any questions about your application or did not receive an application please contact the DPI’s EANS team at EANS@dpi.wi.gov.
|
|
The EANS Application period is currently open through April 12th. The information gathered in the application will allow DPI to finalize allocations. Click on the button for more important details!
|
|
WCRIS has released its annual report. The link can be found here!
|
|
High School Student Leadership Conference |
|
The National High School Leadership Conference by Catholic Link is April 17 from 10-4. If you have any sophomores that you would like to recommend to attend this Free program, they need to be registered by Thursday, April 8. Contact Mary Schaupp at Catholic Link to register at catholiclink@snc.edu.
|
|
USDE Wants Our Best Practices from Schooling In the Pandemic |
|
The U.S. Department of Education created a new clearinghouse to share the lessons learned from schools that have reopened. These lessons will help other schools reopen across the country.
School leaders, teachers and support staff are invited to submit what they learned from operating in-person during the pandemic.
|
|
Every year each school must file a Form 5578 – Certification of Racial Nondiscrimination with the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by the appropriate May 15th. The form and instructions on how to complete can be found here. Please make sure your business office is aware of this filing.
|
|
2nd Annual Pray for Our City: Green Bay event! |
|
This year we'll conduct 24 hours of prayer from 6:00 am on Saturday, April 10, 2021 until 6:00am the following day. Once again, each PrayerLeader (area pastors, priests, preachers, leaders, and teachers) will take 15-minute shifts throughout the day to log-in to an internet stream and pray (teach, worship, reflect).
This is an opportunity to take on the mantle of prayer and ecumenism together. In 2020 it was truly astonishing and beautiful to watch faith leaders from all over our city (and the world) and from all different faith communities lead our city in prayer.
|
|
The MAP window for spring is April 12-April 30
Apologies for the confusion dates may have caused. Our test window is April 12-April 30. The window will stay open through the first week of May for make up tests.
|
|
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:
|
|
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
|
|
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).
|
|
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
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
• Wednesday, April 7 at 9:30 a.m.
• Fostering and nurturing vocations with Fr. Mark Mleziva, Vocations Director
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
