U

August 20, 2015

Dear Parents,

I would like to welcome all of you to the 2015-2016 school year.  There is always a bit of excitement and anxiety that goes on this time of year. Once the students get into the swing of things, everything will be just fine.

Before we look at the present and future, I would like to take you on a journey as to what took place this summer.  Notre Dame School did not "sit still" during the summer.  I thought you may want to know about all of the things attempted and completed while summer vacation occurred.

A number of new teachers were hired this past summer.  Ms. Miranda Den Ruyter will teach second grade along with Ms. Korinek.  Ms. Den Ruyter is a graduate of St. Norbert College with a degree in Elementary Education.  Ms. Jenna Jossart will teach fifth grade with Ms. Kabat. Ms. Jossart is a graduate of St. Norbert College with a degree in Elementary Education.  Mrs. Sarah Patterson will be the new Supportive Consultant. Mrs. Patterson is a graduate of U.W. Platteville in Education. Mrs. Patterson has worked at St. John The Baptist School for eight years.  We announced before the end of the school year the hiring of Ms. Katie Summers as our Middle School Language Arts/ Forensics Coach, and Ms. Virginia Janssen as our Art Teacher.  Mrs. Jean Healy will teach third grade along with Mrs. Kohl.  I am very confident our new teachers will do an excellent job working with their experienced "teammates."  

The Overdue/Overhaul Project has provided both libraries to be converted into Media Centers complete with age appropriate furniture, new carpeting and improved technology.  We will continue to update our new Media Centers with new books and technology.  The Overdue/Overhaul Project has come a long way in improving the Literacy Program at both buildings.

The Early Childhood Area ( Pre School and Kindergarten) is undergoing a "face lift" as well.  Age appropriate materials have been purchased for the Early Childhood classrooms.  Structural changes in the Early Childhood Wing will begin after the first of the school year.  One important marketing goal this year is to attract and retain more in our Early Childhood Area.  Improved resources and technology as well as the excellent instruction offered by Mrs. Kuehl, Mrs. Murphy, Mrs. Gilson and Mrs. Hoeppner will go a long way in retaining our current students as well as recruiting more students in the younger ages..

The artrooms at both buildings have been renovated.  Mrs. Janssen has a lot of wonderful ideas to provide our students with great opportunities to display their artistic intelligence.  Wait until you see ARTSONIA as part of Ms. Janssen's webpage.

The Middle School Math Curriculum will change this year.  The focus on this year's program is to align more closely with the Diocesan Standards in Math as well as to provide students with appropriate textbooks and resources for a more effective understanding of Math.  Ms. Norppa has devoted her summer in becoming familiar with the new Math Series A Big Idea as a basis for classroom instruction.

The fourth graders will be using new Social Studies books that align more with curriculum standards.  The books are published by the Wisconsin Historical Society, which is the best resource for curriculum materials on the state of Wisconsin, which is the main topic taught in fourth grade Social Studies.

Even the elementary office got painted this summer.  I asked some parents to pick out the color as I am "color blind."  Please stop in and see the wonderful job parents and teachers did to make the area so attractive.

I have written before that the sign of a great school is that it is always "a work in progress."  We cannot be content in "standing pat" as education is an ever changing process.  Notre Dame School and its "customers" have a great deal to be proud of. On behalf of the teaching staff, I want to thank all of you for your support, prayers and participation.  

Please call either building if you have any questions about forms, procedures or other information that we reviewed at the parent meetings.  I can empathize with all of you as you receive so much paperwork that needs to be completed this time of year.  Don't hesitate in letting us know how we can be of help to you.  Our job this time of year is to provide you and your child(ren) with the best support we can.

The school year begins very shortly. Let us all get ready to work together to make the 2015-2016 school year the "best ever" at Notre Dame School.

God Bless,

James A.( Jim) Clark, Principal

"I CAN DO EVERYTHING THROUGH HIM WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH."

Philippians 4:13