Office of
Catholic Schools
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Feast of the Transfiguration
Today; August 6th!
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord which honors when the apostles get their first real glimpse of Jesus in his ultimate glory.
O God, who in the glorious Transfiguration
of your Only Begotten Son
confirmed the mysteries of faith by the witness of the Fathers
and wonderfully prefigured our full adoption to sonship,
grant, we pray, to your servants,
that, listening to the voice of your beloved Son,
we may merit to become co-heirs with him.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
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Next editions of the Office of Catholic Schools Newsletter:
August 20 & September3, 2021
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Look for topics in previous editions:
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Archive of Superintendent’s emails:
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Calendar Items
(See details in articles below)
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August 9 New Administrator Orientation 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
August 9 PowerSchool Training
August 10 PowerSchool User Group Meeting (virtual)
August 10 New Teacher Orientation (location TBD) 9:00 AM - 11:30 PM
August 11-12 Sophia Institute - Shrine 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
August 17 New Teacher Orientation (location TBD) 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
August 17 DPI Webinar: SNPS Vouchers
August 17 PowerSchool Administrator Training
August 17 Super Kid Training (K, 1st Grade)
August 18 Super Kid Training (2nd Grade, Admin)
August 18 Parish Life Line
August 23 Re-Launch FCC at Green Bay Distillery ALL DAY
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During the 2021-2022 school year we have several schools and the St. Mary Catholic School System having a site visit.
Each school will have a core team for the visit. If you or a teacher would like to be part of a team to understand and be part of the process, please fill out the form or contact Jane Schueller for further information.
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Virtual Instruction for Choice Students |
With a new school year approaching, there may be questions regarding virtual instruction for schools that participate in the Choice program. Information about virtual instruction can be found in On-Demand Training 9-3, which is available on the Choice Programs: On Demand Training webpage. Pages 2-4 of Training 9-3 provide information about pupil count and attendance in a virtual setting. Page 4 of Training 3-1 provides information regarding counting virtual instruction toward hours of instruction.
If a Choice or SNSP school opts to provide virtual instruction, either synchronously, asynchronously, or both, DPI recommends the school notify its accrediting entity to ensure that the school is aware of any additional requirements the accrediting entity may have connected to this change in programming. DPI recommends this whether the virtual instruction is being provided through a contract, agreement, or by the school itself.
If schools have remaining questions about virtual instruction after reviewing the resources described above, please contact the Choice consultants via email at privateschoolchoice@dpi.wi.gov.
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Thanks for your help in keeping all God's children safe! As you encourage volunteers to help at your school, please keep in mind the diocesan Safe Environment Requirements. All employees (paid personnel regardless of position/job title) and all adult volunteers who have contact with minors as part of their volunteer duties are required to:
- Have a Diocese of Green Bay approved background check,
- Complete a VIRTUS "Protecting God's Children" Adult Awareness session. Online safe environment training is now available.
- Review and sign either the Our Promise to Protect (employees) or the Diocesan Code of Pastoral Conduct for Volunteers (volunteers).
Instructions on how to complete each step can be found by following this LINK.
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The following are dates for different user groups who may need training in different areas. Please click on the button below to register.
- PowerSchool admin training August 9th 1pm-3pm -Focus on Principals
- PowerSchool User Group meeting August 10th 8:30am-10:00pm online-link
- PowerSchool admin training August 17th 1pm-3pm -Getting ready for the 1st day tips and tricks
- PowerSchool E-collect August 19th 10:30-12:00 E-collect Basics-
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DPI Approves EANS Reimbursement Determination |
Last week, DPI approved the request that EANS reimbursements approved by CESA 6 prior to June 30, but not yet paid, will reduce the amount of cash on hand required to support your Choice reserve as of 6/30/21.
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How is this helpful?
Usually DPI does not treat accounts receivables favorably for this calculation. For instance, your school bought items earlier in the year and is awaiting a reimbursement through CESA 6. Your cash is depleted. Once approved as an eligible EANS reimbursement, the government funds are guaranteed and you should not be penalized because the payment is still in process. DPI plans to send an email to schools in mid-August explaining this use of the waiver authority granted in SB302.
(Note: EANS reimbursements are still treated as offsetting government revenue, lowering your eligible education expense for the Choice audit, as explained in DPI's COVID Funding Bulletin.)
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Using Mission Insite to Grow Your School |
The Diocese has a powerful tool available for our schools to use to help grow! Mission Insite! We now have more information as well as detailed instructions on the school website. Check it out at https://gbdiocschools.org/mission-insite! |
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COVID 19 Testing at Your School |
If your school is contemplating using COVID checks for preventing the spread of the virus among unvaccinated students, the state will help you pay for it. Schools will be connected to testing partners who will handle on-site COVID-19 testing for teachers and staff, as well as students and families. This federally funded program is voluntary for schools and all testing services will be provided for free, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. See details of the K-12 School Testing Program.
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From WI Institute of Law & Liberty (W.I.L.L), here is appropriate verbiage for your school’s Title IX Policy:
[NAME OF SCHOOL] admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs, and other school-administered programs.
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One of the ways many of our schools are growing their enrollment is with participation in the SNSP (Special Needs Scholarship Program) offered by DPI. If you have any students with an active IEP in your school and you do not participate in SNSP, you are losing out on available funding for your school. Currently the SNSP voucher provides just over $13,000 per student. |
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This training will:
- Provide an overview of the SNSP
- Explain the process for determining the eligibility of applications and transfer requests for the SNSP
- Explain the enrollment audit requirements that are unique to the SNSP.
For questions or to begin the registration process to participate in SNSP for the 2022-2023 school year, please contact Lori Paul.
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Choice Amounts for '21-'22 and '22-'23 School Years |
The voucher amounts have been finalized. DPI has confirmed a $37 increase for K-8 this fall and $64 increase the following year.
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2021-22
$8,337
$8,983
$13,014
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2022-23
$8,401
$9,047
$13,078
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Choice Governing Board Changes |
As a reminder, the Governing Board Update form is available on the School Submitted Reports and Forms webpage. Schools use this form to report changes to board members and board member contact information.
For System schools this typically will be any new school board members. For parish schools this will typically be a new priest.
By August 1, 2021, schools with governing board member changes (members who have joined or left the board since the last time the school reported governing board changes to the DPI) must submit the form to notify DPI of these changes. If a school does not have any changes to report, no action is required, and the school should not submit the form.
New board members, current board members with a name or contact information change, and in most circumstances, the school’s Choice administrator must sign the form. The DPI recommends filling out and signing the form electronically (see directions on form). The form may also be printed, completed, signed manually, and then scanned and sent to the DPI in an email at privateschoolchoice@dpi.wi.gov.
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Get to Know a Few More of Our New Administrators |
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Todd Phillips
Asst. Headmaster
St. Ignatius Chesteron Academy
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Samantha Meyers
Principal
Chilton Area Catholic Schools
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Patrick McKeown
Headmaster
Chestertwon Acadamy
SJPII Classical School
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Martha Holst
Principal
Divine Savior
Catholic School
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The Office of Pro Life would like to inform parishes and schools that there will NOT be a planned Diocesan pilgrimage to Washington DC for the annual March for Life 2022. This event takes months of planning and although there is noticeable improvement with the pandemic, we cannot guarantee what the conditions for Covid 19 and other issues will be in January 2022. We are closely monitoring this and are hoping to be able to offer a safe Diocesan pilgrimage in the coming years.
Save the date for January '22 however because we will again host a local Diocesan Pro Life event – Disciples for Life 2022. Stay tuned for more details as this year we will have a specific track for youth/young adults. Our Disciples for Life event will be held at the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help on Saturday January 22, 2022. Bishop Ricken will again be in attendance and offering our Diocesan Respect Life Mass at this event.
Any questions, please feel free to reach out to the Office of Pro Life, (920) 272-8315.
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E-rate through Diocesan Advocates |
The Diocesan Office of Catholic Schools is contracted with Diocesan Advocates to assist eligible schools and libraries to obtain e-rate funds on telecommunications/internet services, etc. If interested in applying for these funds through Diocesan Advocates please email Debbie Linnane, dlinnane@gbdioc.org for further information.
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On July 5, the new Superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) took office in Madison.
Dr. Jill Underly won the 2021 April election for the four-year term as the state’s top education official. She comes to Madison after six years as the Superintendent of the Pecatonica School District.
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Opportunity for Your School to 'Appear' on Relevant Radio |
Our schools now have the opportunity to sing at the Cathedral for 9:00 Mass one Sunday a month. The Mass is also nationally live streamed on Relevant Radio. The benefits for your students include:
- singing at the cathedral, the mother church of the diocese (sometimes with Bishop Ricken as celebrant)
- witnessing that the Catholic Church is much larger than their school or parish
- offering their God-given talents for the benefit of many at Mass
- having national exposure for your school on live radio and livestream
Additionally, these opportunities can help form our parish musicians for today and for the future.
Hymns will be pre-selected, sent at least six weeks in advance, and do not need to be sung in harmony. Each chorus will have the opportunity to sing a sacred piece of their choosing as a prelude/anthem. There will be a cathedral cantor unless a student has experience as a cantor. Guidance will be provided. If your school is interested in participating, please contact Regina Reale at the Cathedral. Her phone number is 920-432-4348 or you can email her at rutile.sfx@gmail.com.
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TEC: Teens Encounter Christ |
Any teen 16 ½ or older is invited to join TEC's first retreat of 2021, on October 28-31*, for a weekend of faith, fellowship, and fun at St Joseph Catholic Church in Green Bay.
Other weekends scheduled are in January 2022 and March 2022.
TEC allows attendees to draw closer to God through Eucharistic adoration, mass, and the sacrament of reconciliation, all while growing in community with each other. There’s also ample time for great discussion, awesome activities, and plenty of good food. (Give God one weekend and let Him speak to your heart!)
Registration is $60, with scholarships available. Registration due by October 10, 2021
Please note: all religious Education staff/campus ministers and those working in youth ministry are encouraged to attend and are able to do so free of charge.
*Retreat begins on Friday at 9am and runs through 5pm Sunday.
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We will be offering two New Teacher orientation sessions. There will be an in person gathering on August 10, 9:00-11:30 at the Diocesan campus in the St. Francis Xavier Room (Chancery). August 17 will be a virtual Zoom meeting. Please register your new teachers (anyone new to working in a Diocese of Green Bay Catholic school) There will also be a follow up orientation for teachers hired after August 17.
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If you have had any staffing changes, please let your MAP administrator know in order to mark them as inactive. System schools have a designated administrator. Non-system schools, please contact Jane Schueller.
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Adding Grades for the 2022-23 School Year |
If your school is considering adding grades for the 2022-2023 school year, now is the time to start the planning process. The Office of Catholic Schools can assist by providing a feasibility study based on Mission Insite data to help your school board make an informed decision. Please contact Lori Paul for more information or assistance.
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Please make sure that you have updated Powerschool with your enrollments for the 2021-2022 school year. We are starting to pull data and want to make sure that we are looking at the correct information. |
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Re-Launch of FCC: Workshop for Administrators
Monday, August 23; 9am-3pm, Green Bay Disillery
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On Monday, August 23, 2021 there will be a Diocesan wide administrator in-service at the Green Bay Distillery on Mike McCarthy Way. The topic of this in-service will be the re-launch of our Foundational Catechetical Certification (FCC) program, a significant change in how our diocese will be equipping catechists, Catholic school administrators, teachers, catechetical leaders and youth ministers beginning next month.
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And since we'll all be together on the 23rd . . . An Optional Add-on Event:
Recognizing Anxiety in Students Post-Pandemic
Julie Duffy, Mental Health Counselor for Catholic Charities, will conduct an optional 45 minute presentation on anxiety in children post-pandemic. Julie will provide insight and awareness on how to give hope to difficult circumstances. This is being offered in response to the questions several leaders have asked about helping students cope with the anxieties they face. All participants of the Re-launch event are welcome to attend!
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New Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) opens June 29th - August 13th |
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The first 45-day window for ECF will open on June 29, 2021 for eligible purchases to be made July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. Keep in mind that this application window will use the E-rate platform but will not follow the same E-rate application procedures you may be familiar with.
The following are eligible services and equipment, if provided to students, staff or library patrons OFF-CAMPUS that otherwise would not have adequate access to internet or a device.
Eligible Items: (100% Covered up to allowable caps)
Equipment - $250 cap on Wi-Fi hotspots
- Wi-Fi hotspots
- Modems (e.g., air cards)
- Routers
- Devices that combine a modem and router
Connected Learning Devices - $400 cap per devices, one device per student, no allowance for breakage or spares
- Connected devices (laptop computers and tablet computers)
Broadband – 1 hotspot per user or 1 fixed connection to the home
- Commercial Broadband Internet
- Installation, activation, fees & taxes
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UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION |
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As staff turn-over happens when one school year ends and another begins, schools should update the Department of Justice Office of School Safety with your new contact information.
Updating your information now will help you meet the annual January 1 deadline to submit your school material to the DOJ as required by 2017 Act 143.
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2021-2022 SCHOOL CHOICE DATES |
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June 30 2021, closes the 2020-21 school year. We made it, and what a year we have had!!
July 1 is the start of the 2021-22 school year. Each year, the Choice team prepares a document, referred to as the Important Dates Document. It highlights the essential Private School Choice Programs (PSCP) dates and provides brief descriptions explaining the requirements for private schools that participate in the PSCP. The deadlines are listed chronologically from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. Additionally, the Important Dates Document includes links to assist schools in locating pertinent information regarding the deadlines and requirements. You will find the document on the Private School Choice Programs: Information for Schools webpage
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Parish Life Line Zoom Meetings |
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Please join us as you're able and invite anyone else who might like to be a part of the conversation. For additional information or questions, email disciplesontheway@gbdioc.org
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Upcoming sessions:
- Wednesday, August 18th at 9:30 a.m.
- Ken Utech, Utech Group, whose topic will be "Bureaucracy: Breaking through Status Quo"
How to participate:
You can also visit www.zoom.us/join and use this login information: Meeting ID - 953 114 988 Password - 916480
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Remember your WRISA annual reports will be due in the Office of Catholic Schools by October 1, 2021. Summer is a good time to update your staff qualifications (including the number of professional development hours), your goals (including progress made), waivers and exceptions. If you complete these parts early you won't have much to do in the first month of school for this report!
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Traumatic Event Crisis Intervention Workshop |
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CESA 6 is offering a crisis response training November 1 and 2. This is the model that Xavier uses as part of our membership in a local consortium of schools that help each other respond to situations like a death of a student/parent/teacher. Here is a link to that training. The cost is $295 per participant. This is a great opportunity to build a network of people to help one another.
This course will provide participants with knowledge, protocols and materials designed to facilitate
- competent, thorough and proactive pre-incident (traumatic event) preparation,
- subsequent day (after students and staff have returned to school) deployment of crisis response team members and management of the building response, and
- familiarity with a variety of intervention strategies and documents specifically designed to strengthen building response following a traumatic event.
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For schools that are going to be new to Superkids and any of our schools that are already using this resource, there will be PD training August 17 and 18 at St. Nicholas School in Freedom. The schedule is as follows:
August 17: 8:30-11:30 Kindergarten
12:30-3:30 First Grade
August 18 8:30-11:30 Second Grade
12:30-2:00 Administrators
Virtual Phonemic Awareness (K-2)
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Save the Date: All Schools Mass |
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The Diocesan Celebrate Catholic Schools Mass will be held November 3. The tentative location is Assumption Blessed Mary Virgin Parish in Pulaski. Details will be outlined at a later date.
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There will be a Discipleship Seminar for all parish staff, school principals and system presidents on Thursday, October 21, 2021 at the new Resch Complex.
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Curriculum review and connections: |
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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.
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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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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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