During the month of May, Catholics have special devotion to our Mary.

What are you doing in your school to honor Mary?

How will your students draw closer to our Blessed Mother this month?

The Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee 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.

Amen.

Next editions of the Office of Catholic Schools Newsletter:

Friday, May 19

Friday, June 2

Reminders for May and the End of the School Year

• Remind faculty to return contracts no later than May 15th (if issued on April 15th)
• Obtain letters of resignation/retirement from teachers not returning
• Review MAP data with teachers
• Conduct walk-throughs in all classrooms
• Request teachers’ student supplies list for the next school year
• Distribute End-of-Year procedures to teachers
• Finalize graduation plans/liturgy
• Remind teachers to prepare and distribute 4th Quarter Progress Reports
• Plan end of year activities, if applicable
• Conduct fire drill
• Hold graduation ceremony/event(s)
• Review handbooks (parent, student, faculty) for possible revision
• Send WRISA Action Plan to Diocesan Education Office by June 1 if your school hosted a WRISA team visit during the school year
• Distribute 4th Quarter Report Cards (or in June)
• Order supplies and texts
• Coordinate with parish calendar any school functions using the school building for the next school year
• Work on special reports/projects and do planning for the future
• Schedule duties for teachers for the next school year
• Refine class/teacher schedules

Important Message about Assessments

Dear Catholic School Leaders,

As you are aware, since January, the Office of Catholic Schools and other members of the Curia staff have been discerning the need to move to a new assessment platform.  We kept you updated about the concerns with NCEA in the newsletter. As we have shared, NWEA was bought out and there are concerns regarding potential items within the assessment that conflict with the teachings of the Catholic Church. During this time, we have spoken with our point of contact at NWEA and reviewed responses from the company. While our NWEA contact assured us that the current assessment has been scrubbed and there are no longer conflicts to Catholic teaching identified at this time, there was no assurance and the Diocese was not satisfied that this would continue to be the case going forward. Therefore, following this school year, the schools in the Diocese of Green Bay will no longer be utilizing MAP tests through NWEA.

At this time, we are working to identify what needs to be completed and the timeline in which the work needs to be done. We will be sending out a checklist of reports (student cumulative reports, grade reports, other historical data) that will need to be saved for your records (some of this you probably already save). As soon as those details are available, the information will be communicated to schools. 

Over the past few months, we identified a new assessment option and worked closely with the company.  Multiple departments from the Diocese reviewed the contract before a decision was made to move forward. Some of our schools have been using the new assessment with good reports. Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, all of our schools will be using Renaissance Star 360 as our assessment tool.  

We recognize that this change is monumental, especially after so many years using MAP assessments. Training and professional development will be provided to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible.  

Again, we will be sure to communicate updates about storing historical data from MAP and getting started with Star as those updates become available. Please feel free to contact Liz Goldman (lgoldman@gbdioc.org or 920-272-8163) if you have any questions about the transition.  

Sincerely in Christ,

The Office of Catholic Schools

May 19

Deadline for schools to complete verification of 2023-24 school year MPCP and RPCP student applications from the March open application period via OAS (see Explanation of Application Requirements and Process section of the School Application Processing webpage and all units of Training 8: Student Applications & Eligibility on the On Demand Training webpage).

By the End of May

The DPI remits, by direct deposit, the May state aid payments to eligible schools based on each school’s Second Friday in January Count Report (see Training 9-1: Payment Process, Pupil Count Report & Audit Overview on the On Demand Training webpage and the Choice Program Payments - Frequently Asked Questions webpage).

By Last Day of School

• WISEdata: Schools that participated in the PSCP in the 2022-23 school year must complete a Data Quality Review of the 2022-23 Attendance Data.

· WISEdata Spring Demographics Snapshot: All schools must complete 2022-23 Assessment Demographic student data reporting in WISEdata. All demographics will be captured in the snapshot: Race/Ethnicity, Gender, Grade Level, Disability Status, EL Status, Choice Participant Status and the two data elements for Economically Disadvantaged Status-- Economically Disadvantaged Status and Food Services Eligibility (see Snapshot Preparation Guidance page).

Log in to the WISEdata portal via WISEhome to view Validation messages (check these regularly).

• Close out the school year in your SIS by exiting students with the last day of student enrollment and Exit Type, and Credential Type for high school graduates. If you have questions, please enter a WISE Support Help Ticket or contact your SIS vendor.

Announcement from the Office of School Safety

The Office of School Safety is holding additional training around the state. Click the link below to register.

https://www.doj.state.wi.us/office-school-safety/training-opportunities

Assessment Updates

Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, the Diocese of Green Bay will be partnering with Renaissance Star for our annual assessments. There will be training for schools as we begin with this new platform. Click the link below to learn more about the resources Star has available for students and teachers.

Boardworks is partnered with hundreds of Catholic schools across the country and just recently partnered with The Diocese of Madison to help their teachers.

Boardworks provides ready-made interactive, teaching resources for all core subjects including Math, Science, ELA, and History. The supplemental curriculum content is specifically designed to encourage engaging and differentiated learning in the classroom in grades K-12.

Best of all, we are a ONE-TIME PURCHASE!!! 

Below, I have linked in a few bits of further information that could be useful.

1. Boardworks Overview Video
2. Sample Math Lesson
3. Sample Science Lesson
4. Case Studies

If you are interested in learning more, please call 913.660.2645 or schedule time with me by clicking here.

Ian Mathews

Educational Consultant, Boardworks

C: 913-660-2645 | F: 877-418-7996

boardworkseducation.com

Interactive curriculum resources for K-12 teachers and students

"Sophia Institute for teachers was founded in 2013 to renew and rebuild Catholic culture through serve to Catholic education." Sophia Institute for Teachers

Each summer, the Diocese of Green Bay hosts a 2-day event for Catholic school teachers and parish catechists to attend. This is FREE to all who particpate. We are excited for the line up planned for this year.

• The Catholic Faith and Science
• Tuesday, August 1
• Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help
• Source and Summit: The Most Holy Eucharist
• Wednesday, August 2
• Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help

Seating is limited, so Sign Up NOW!

Eastern Wisconsin Instruction Technology Consortium

Act Now for School Safety - Share with School Community

The Legislature has made improving K-12 education a priority in Wisconsin. Millions of dollars from the state’s record budget surplus may be distributed to public schools. It’s WCRIS’ goal that private schools are not forgotten.

Because private schools educate 10% of Wisconsin’s K-12 enrollment, WCRIS is proposing they receive 10% of the portion of the budget surplus allocated to public schools in the form of a one-time Private K-12 School Health and Safety Grant Program. The grants would fund needed efforts to:

• Address school safety;
• Enhance mental health services;
• Improve building air quality;
• Provide cleaner and safer water;
• Target learning loss;
• Upgrade internet connectivity and access.

These grants would be available to your school, free of federal strings.

Read WCRIS’ proposal here, which is already in the hands of legislators. But we need you to tell them just how much this grant program would impact your school.

Click the button below to electronically send a letter to your local legislators through WCRIS’ Advocacy Portal to support Health and Safety Grants for Private K-12 Schools. Instructions on how to identify your legislators and what to write in your message to effectively advocate for your school can be found on the webpage.

Watch a short tutorial on how to use our Advocacy Portal.

Encourage your school community to use the portal. Download a flier here to include in your school’s newsletter and send home with students.

Make sure your legislators don’t forget your school when they’re doling out state surplus funds. Take action today!

Diocese of Green Bay

Superintendent Job Posting

The Diocese of Green Bay is accepting applications for the next Superintendent. We are seeking someone who:

• Is a devout, practicing Catholic who has an in-depth familiarity with the Church’s structure and reflects official Catholic teachings and values in his or her personal and professional life.
• Has a master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher learning in Education, Business or Public Administration with a minimum of five years’ experience in Catholic school administration and three years teaching experience. A valid driver’s license is required.
• Has knowledge of school law/educational law, legal codes, precedents, government regulations (i.e. Title programs).
• Possesses excellent oral, written communications, and organizational skills,
• Has leadership - willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
• Has the ability to make administrative decisions in accordance with federal and state laws, Diocesan regulations, and school system policies and procedures.

PREFERRED:

• Degree/Certificate from Catholic Schools Leadership program desired.
• Bilingual in English/Spanish desired.
• Wisconsin School Administrator’s and/or Superintendent’s license desired.

If interested in this position, please apply at: https://www.gbdioc.org/front-page/careers

School Choice Information

NEW TO THE CHOICE PROGRAM(S) WORKING GROUP

We at School Choice Wisconsin understand that being new to the choice program or a new choice administrator can be confusing and daunting at times. To help alleviate some of those issues, we are creating a working group that will be meeting on the third Wednesday of each month via Zoom, March thru July, and will be held from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM on those dates. (These sessions will supplement, but do not take the place of the DPI trainings.)

General format of the sessions:

•  Important upcoming dates and what is expected of the school
•  General updates about what is going on with the choice programs
• Tips and Tricks from experts
•  Informal Q&A time

Why you should register for the working group:

•  Your school is new to the program
• You are a new choice administrator
• Succession planning (Never a bad idea for more people to understand duties and requirements)
• Networking with other choice schools and administrators
• Access to advice/guidance from experts about the program(s)

If you or someone at your school would be interested in this opportunity, click on the dates below to register for the Zoom session.

• 
  
• To register for Wednesday, May 17, 2023, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM click here
• To register for Wednesday, June 21, 2023, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM click here
• To register for Wednesday, July 19, 2023, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM click here

Media Relations 101 from WCRIS

WCRIS schools have recently received an influx of media inquiries as K-12 education is a headlining topic this legislative session. Some of these questions have challenged our schools’ beliefs and values.

In response, WCRIS created a one-page “Media Relations 101” guide to help members confidently navigate media inquiries.

You can find it in our website’s Membership Portal. If you don’t have an account, click “Sign Up Here,” and WCRIS staff will approve your registration. Contact WCRIS for assistance.

It’s important to note that your oversight association, diocese or synod should always be your first call when contacted by the media. Then, loop in WCRIS.

NCEA Newsletter Link

Click on icon below to read the latest issue of Catholic School Matters Newsletter from NCEA and Dr. Tim Uhl. (updated link)

Office of Catholic Schools

Questions? Contact us at education@gbdioc.org or (920) 272-8273.

www.gbdioc.org/catholicschools