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It's Good to be Here!
Dear Families,
Two upcoming happenings around SMV that are worth mentioning. On September 15, Home and School will be hosting the annual Parish Picnic. For those new to the community, this is a fantastic event and one not to miss. There is a tent and a field and a myriad of things for kids of all ages to do. My one-year-old got to play with bubbles and attempt with supreme caution a bouncy house, while I got to mingle and meet so many of our school and parish families. The food and drinks are all free and a good time is all but guaranteed, but please consider joining your prayers with mine for good weather.
On a completely different note, this year is our school’s accreditation year, which is a seven-year process that most religious schools in Wisconsin must undergo. Though it takes place every seven years, for us the majority of work falls under a two-year period. Last year was our self-study year, meaning that SMV staff broke into teams to review and evaluate our practices, and compare them against articulated standards indicative of high-performing Catholic schools. The teachers spent many off-days and Wednesday afternoons compiling artifacts and evidence towards our performance on these standards. Over the summer, Mrs. Pogacar and I reviewed and submitted the work.
This fall (November 5-6), a team full of area school administrators will be coming to our school, to review our work, meet our wonderful staff and students, and give us our final score. Not to sugarcoat it, the process is a lot of work, but it is work that has value. I once compared the process to an examination of conscience, where there are distinct questions designed to guide your reflection. You really learn a lot about yourself through the process, and in the spirit of continuous improvement, these lessons can be really valuable. At the same time, you also realize there is a lot going well. I can’t wait to show off our school, our hardworking staff, and our precocious students to the wider Archdiocese of Milwaukee community. We have a lot to feel good about here at St. Mary’s Visitation.
God Bless,
Siggy Spelter
Principal
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