October 2015 – Newsletter | Diocese of La Crosse

Dear Administrators,

I enjoyed seeing all of the teachers at the fall regionals. I am grateful to the Regis, Aquinas, and Assumption Schools for hosting.

Catherine Anderson and her team want everyone to know they enjoyed presenting to you. I attached two Word documents and one pdf file from her presentation.

Teachers interested in National Board Certification and / or the St. Mary’s University graduate credit can contact Catherine. Her email is canderson2489@gmail.com

Professional Growth Plan

You should be working with all of your teachers to help them develop a good Professional Growth Plan. The Professional Growth Plan form is not an evaluation form, but you have the duty to help teachers develop a solid plan. If you feel a teacher’s goal is not worthwhile, you have to help the teacher see why he or she needs to improve the goal, or create an entirely new goal.

Evaluations and Observations

All new teachers must be evaluated using the current Diocesan evaluation form.

The decision to evaluate a veteran teacher is a local decision this year. If you are concerned about a veteran teacher, you must use the current Diocesan evaluation form to evaluate that teacher. The teacher needs to be informed that you have concerns, and the teacher needs to be given constructive ideas on how to improve. Obviously, you will need to do multiple observations of the teacher in question. Please remember, contracts are issued in April. You will need good documentation before April to non-renew a teacher.

For your convenience I attached the current Diocesan Evaluation form that you will use.

You are required to observe all your teachers. I attached the Diocesan Classroom Observation form you can choose to use, or you may use a different form or tool to complete your observations. Regardless of the observation form or tool you use, please make sure you document all your observations.

Building and Grounds Director

Travis Simpson is no longer the Director for the Building and Grounds Office; he has officially resigned. All communication directed to the Building and Grounds Office should go to Kathy Haverland, (khaverland@diolc.org), the administrative assistant to the office. Please note that Marie Gernes, the Diocesan Finance Officer, is also responding to questions for the Building and Grounds Office.

Asbestos Video for New Administrators, Maintenance, and Asbestos Designated Persons

New administrators, maintenance and asbestos designated persons need to view a one hour asbestos video (minimum requirement). Contact the Office of Buildings and Grounds (khaverland@diolc.org) to sign out the video.

Asbestos form from the State

You should have received the attached asbestos form from the State of Wisconsin. The form is attached just in case you did not receive one. I know the form instructs you to return it to the state, but please complete the form and send it to Kathy Haverland here at the Diocese of La Crosse. Please do not send the state form back to the state. Kathy will submit all of your forms together. It is our understanding this will limit the amount of contacts you receive from the state.

If you have already sent the form back into the state, please let Kathy know. Thank you.

Anti-Bullying Video

Below is a link to a thoughtful anti-bullying video. It has been out for a couple of years, so some of you may recognize it. I know the video was produced by the Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons), and thus, there is no mention of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, but I like the overall gospel message it contains.

The video is a little over ten minutes long and is produced for older students.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYVvE4tr2BI

School Directory Update

I apologize. The School Directory Update form should have been given to you this summer. There is one form for parish schools and one form for school systems. You should find the two forms attached. Your information will help us correctly create the 2015-2016 Catholic Schools Directory. Please return your form by Friday, October 16^th. If there are no changes at your school or within your system, please simply fill in the enrollment number(s) for your school(s) and email the form back to us. Thank you.

Curriculum Day, November 10, 2015

Our fall day to work on the Math and Science curriculums is November 10^th. We are inviting those teachers and administrators who participated in the summer curriculum retreat last June to come to Immaculate Conception School to continue their work.

Math teachers are reminded to bring their assessments and assessment data for unit two.

We are also looking for more high school science teachers. Any high school science teacher, even if he or she did not attend the summer curriculum retreat, is encouraged to come to Immaculate Conception on November 10^th to specifically help with the high school curriculum.

Finally, there will be a third group at this workshop. Curriculum team leaders will be leading educators through the basics of the ACE Curriculum Process. So, any Social Studies, Math, or Science (K-8) teachers or any Administrators who have never attended an ACE workshop are encouraged to come.

This workshop day will be provided at no cost to participants. Please find a registration form attached.

Mandatory Reporter procedure

After speaking with Jim Birnbaum and reviewing the Safe Environment Training video, I want to clarify the procedure, the steps we need our teachers to follow as mandatory reporters reporting suspected child abuse or neglect.

Call the county’s child protective services
THIS IS ALWAYS FIRST AND MUST BE DONE!
Contact the principal
Contact the parents with the principal
This is discretionary. Domestic situations, especially where parents are involved, may mean you do not contact parents.
Contact your pastor
Contact the Superintendent for Catholic Schools

Teaching the Way of Love

Please find the most recent Teaching the Way of Love article attached.

WCRIS

During the month of October, you will be billed for your WCRIS dues. The bill is based on the official student enrollment count from the 2014-2015 school year that you reported on your NCEA DataBank form. The cost is $1.65 per student enrolled.

This year’s one day WCRIS conference on February 12, 2016. Follow this link for information http://www.wcris.org/ . Dr. Robert Marzano is the keynote presenter.

Pro-Life Month

October is Pro-Life Month. The Diocese of La Crosse’s Pro-Life page is http://www.dioceseoflacrosse.com/ministries/respect_life.htm . The USCCB’s Pro-Life activities page ishttp://www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/index.cfm .

Knights of Columbus Essay Contest

I spoke with state office for the Knights of Columbus. The Culture of Life Essay Contest is managed by the local councils. I hope they have been in contact with you. A link to the contest writing prompt, rules, etc. is http://kofcknights.org/States/Culture%20of%20Life%20Essay.pdf .

Reminders

Form 5578: Remember to file the Annual Certification of Racial nondiscrimination for Private School Exempt Form Federal Income Tax. Please send us a copy. The form and instructions are attached to this newsletter for your convenience.

Part II of the September Report is due on October 16. This form was sent in the September newsletter.

WRISA annual reports were due to the Office of Schools by the end of September.

CALENDAR

Tuesday, October 6 – Evaluation Committee Meeting
St. Joseph’s School, Menomonie
Wednesday, October 7 – NTF II – Holy Cross Diocesan Center, La Crosse
Thursday, October 8 – NTF II – St. Joseph Parish, Stevens Point
Tuesday, October 20 – System Presidents and Controllers’ Meeting – Holy Cross Diocesan Center, La Crosse
Tuesday, October 27 – High School Principals’ Meeting – Columbus High School, Marshfield
November 2 – 20 – Iowa Tests of Basic Skills
Tuesday, November 10 – Curriculum Workshop Day, – Immaculate Conception School, Eau Claire

I hope everyone has a safe and happy October!

LINKS

October 2015 – Newsletter

CALENDAR

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