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September 18, 2014
Dear Parents,
One of my biggest concerns this year is to get to know your child's name. I have usually been good with names, but it has been difficult with the number of students. One way I am trying to address this is to supervise the lunch periods. I have always supervised lunch as an attempt to know the students. All of our children have shown great manners and have been respectful to all of the adults. It has also been very impressive as to the number of parents who assist serving lunch. Good manners go a long way in the world and is a tribute to the children as well as to your efforts in working with them. Thank you and I hope to get to know as many student names as I can.
I would encourage you to follow me on Twitter. My twitter address is @Jim Clark 10. I follow many educational journals and sites such as NWEA, Type NWEA in the upper right hand corner. The information contained for MAP is very helpful. I would also ask you to check out a site called livebinders. This site also has many MAP related information. We will begin MAP testing the week of September 29. There have been some glitches with the technology aspect of administering the tests. We will have the glitches in the technology taken care of before then.
You may be familiar with a program known as APPP. Notre Dame Academy has pioneered this program. We at Notre Dame will be the first school in the GRACE system to implement APPP. APPP is a program that teaches children about appropriate behaviors, anti-bullying, and self respect among students. There will be a school wide assembly on October 3 at 1 pm. in the middle school gym. Students will be receiving a letter with the APPP pledge accompanying it. Please review it with your child when he/she brings it home. The APPP program and activities will be a fine program as it pertains to our school theme A RAINBOW OF EXCELLECE. APPP will also be a way both buildings can unite as one school. We have already done this with our weekly liturgies and the tie-dye shirt project that was completed almost two weeks ago.
Mr. Kurt Risch will be our long term instrumental music instructor. Mr.Risch has thirty years of experience teaching instrumental music at both the middle and high school level. Students will begin individual lessons as well as whole group sessions on Monday, September 22. Mr. Risch will do a great job filling in for Ms.Freeman. Keep Ms. Freeman and her mother in your prayers.
We have been able to purchase a large number of items from the recent Wisconsin International School Auction. Items purchased include Science tables and stools for the middle school, roll paper and stands for the art program, student desks for classrooms, white boards, SMART boards, and some other classroom items. A special thank you to Julie Van Straten in her work securing these items. A special thank you also goes to the teachers who were proactive in selecting items that were purchased.
The state of GRACE meeting took place on Tuesday evening. Topics of interest included:
- efforts at revising the pay structure for teachers
- Explanation of the marketing and development programs
- The starting date for the St. John Paul II Classical School
- Technology improvements in the past year for all of the GRACE schools
- Explanation of WCATY and the Odyssey Programs
Members of the audience then asked questions about items that the GRACE system could and should address. These included more development of programs for the Gifted and Talented, Guidance Counselors, and clarification of bus boundaries for the GRACE schools. Fr. Dane indicated that some of these items are and will be addressed by the Professional Team during this upcoming school year.
A parent asked me the other day about speaking after Mass as previous principals have done. In all my years as principal, I have never done that. I have not done that as it detracts from the liturgy and the reverence we should give it. I do not want my view to be interpreted as something that puts down past practice. Not speaking after Mass is my way for the students and others to know how important I feel the Liturgy is. I will show my presence throughout the Mass in ways such as being a Communion Distributor and Lector.
This weekend marks Catechetical Sunday. This special day commemorates the efforts all of us make to help our students pray and live their faith everyday. Jesus challenges us on Catechetical Sunday to model the Gospel message for our young people each and every day.
May all of you have a great weekend!
God Bless,
James A.(Jim) Clark, Principal
"Preach The Gospel, And If Necessary, Use Words."
On Line School Directory
We are excited to continue our on-line school directory and look forward to getting everyone the completed version as soon as possible!
After families have completed verification or inputing new data, the directory is going to continue to be available 2 ways:
2) PDF Printable version password protected at the Notre Dame of De Pere website. This will again allow school families access to up-dated information.
We are hoping to have this complete by the Open House in Sept, so please complete this information by Sept 8th. (It will take no more than 1-3 minutes to complete)
EXISTING FAMILIES
- You should have received an email from the 'My school Anywhere' site to confirm your information. Please follow the link in that email to ensure your information is included and up-to-date.
ALL FAMILIES
- If you do not have Internet capability to fill out this information, you can go to the school office for assistance.
- We will send another email for further information once this is all complete. All Notre Dame of De Pere families that input data will eventually receive an individual email granting you on-line directory access from the My School Anywhere site. We will also send the password to all school families for the PDF version on the ND website at that time. More information will come on all of this.
- If you are interested in sponsoring the directory and have your logo on the website as well as the PDF Printable version, please contact Sommer May (sommermay3@yahoo.com) or Jessie Lawton (lawtonjessie@yahoo.com).
We are looking forward to getting this up and running!
Friday September 19 (tomorrow)
Packer Dress Down Day for $1 minimum donation. Checks should be made out to GRACE. All proceeds will be going toward the Key Event.
Spooktacular Fun at Lambeau Field
Experience the thrills and chills of Halloween at the Lambeau Field Atrium. For more information please click here
Fall Cut Out Cookie Sale
Want to have cookies around the house for company or family? Let Carrie Zehms and her team do the cooking for you. You can order these cookies already beautifully decorated or have fun with the kids and order a kit. Either way the cooking is done for you. And they are yummy. If you would be interested in volunteering to help this could go against your Third Source Funding hours. For more information and the form to order click here
Notre Dame of De Pere Open House
Wednesday, September 24th from 6:00pm -7:30pm. To start the evening off there will be a brief 45 minute meeting at the elementary school campus gym to present some of our organizations. This meeting will answer many of your questions on how things at Notre Dame of De Pere are organized. After the meeting with the time remaining, everyone is welcome to tour classrooms and speak to the teachers. Here will be the topic of interest. Children are welcome to come if you would like them to be there.
Prayer - Jen Budde
Introduction of Staff
Home and School- Kathy Nordeen
SAC- Julie Van Straten
Third Source Funding - Alyssa Conway
Key Club - Jen Heideman
Comments- Jim Clark
Future Triton Softball Program
As school gets underway, it is time to start looking ahead to summer. Notre Dame Academy Softball is in the process of trying to get a feeder program set up to help teach and develop younger players. Our goal is to be able to assemble a 12u and a 14u team for the summer of 2015. These teams will work with the high school coaches throughout the winter and play in some tournaments during next summer. For more information please click here
Catholic Student Exchange
Is still looking for families that will take 7th & 8th grade exchange students. We already have one family that has volunteered. It is a wonderful experience and you will be glad you did it. If interested please call the middle school office 337-1115 or our CSE representative at (985) 209-7273.
Win a SMART board for Notre Dame of De Pere
The top 10 schools wit the highest earn & learn points win. Contest sponsored through Shopko. For more information click here
The Key Event
The Key Event, our Largest Fundraiser of the year, will take place on
Friday, November 7 at the Swan Club. Book your Babysitter now! For more information please click here
All Notre Dame Moms
You are invited to the MIP Welcome Back Breakfast Friday September 19th. For more information click here
We Run This City
GRACE Families and Friends are invited to the 2014 Green Bay Cross Country City Meet hosted by Notre Dame Academy on Thursday, September 17, 2014. Our team will be there so please come out and cheer them on. For more information click here
Interesting information from The Community Partnership for Children
Last week there was something wrong with this link so we are running it again.To view this information please click here
NDA Dance Clinic
Notre Dame Academy has a dance clinic for K-8 grade students for more information and to sign up please click here
Packer Fun Night
Please join us for a Packer Fun Night at Graystone to enjoy the Packers vs. Da Bears on September 28th. Bring the family and have some fun with friends. Your help and support is needed. For more details click here
A Message from Melissa Freeman - (Music Teacher)
Dear Notre Dame of De Pere Family,
I am overwhelmed with the wonderful outpouring of support and prayer that continue to pour in from the Notre Dame family! Thank you to colleagues, students, and parents for the nice emails. Prayer is indeed powerful! Mom and I have certainly felt lifted by your prayer. Special thanks to the families who have prayed rosaries, novenas, had Masses said, lit candles and sang extra loud at Mass. I am grateful to be able to spend this precious time with Mom. I am blessed to be part of this community rainbow of excellence! I look forward to the day I am able to return.
Blessings,
Melissa Freeman
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