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April 21, 2016
Hello Notre Dame Families!
I had the privilege to attend the Golden Apple Awards for Teacher Excellence last evening.. It was a special night for Mrs.Kohl, her daughters, the GRACE System represented by Mrs. Desotell and Notre Dame School. Mrs. Kohl was one of 52 teachers who were recognized for being a Teacher Of Distinction. I wish to thank Mrs. Desotell, GRACE President for attending as well.
As I listened to the presentations last night, I learned that in spite of all of the rules, handbooks, conferences, schedules and classes that make school complex and overwhelming, there were three very simple things that all of us at Notre Dame School should think about and remember:
School Rule- Work Hard and Be Good
A Good School- My Child Wants To Come To School Everyday.
Good Teachers- Passionate Professionals Who Teach and Learn Everyday.
What good words to live by at Notre Dame. With the things all of us do each day to make our school a great place, maybe we can live by the following three things mentioned above. The three things above are powerful sayings to live by.
Yesterday Deann Ponciano from Catholic Student Exchange spoke to the middle school students yesterday about Catholic Student Exchange. Catholic Student Exchange is a student exchange program that allows students from Guatemala to attend school in the United States on a six week to two month basis. The exchange student attends all of the classes and activities our middle school students participate in. The student also speaks to some of the elementary school classes. Notre Dame School will already host a student from Guatemala this fall. If you would like to learn more about the Catholic Student Exchange Program refer to www.catholicstudentexchange.org
We are most blessed to have Gretchen Price and Kelly Heniff as part of our Notre Dame Family. Gretchen and Kelly are Elementary Education students from St. Norbert College who supervise the middle school at recess and walk them to and from lunch. The middle school teachers and I appreciate their presence. I told Kelly and Gretchen that this will be great experience for them as they pursue their goals as teachers. It is also exciting that Gretchen and Kelly will also be helping us out next year.
The last day to purchase SCRIP for this school year is April 24 by 8:30 am. If you wish to purchase it online you must do so by April 23 at 11:59 PM. Anything purchased after this time will be put toward the 2016-2017 school year. Statements will be sent out at that time and payment is due upon receipt. You are also reminded that volunteer hours are due April 30. Statements will be sent out at that time and payment is due upon receipt. The Administrative Assistants and the Site Advisory Council appreciate your prompt attention concerning Service Hours. If you have any questions as to Service Hours, please refer to the Parent Handbook.
The students did a great job in reading and keeping track of their minutes during National Library Week. These numbers considerably exceeded 200 minutes per week. Mrs. Healy's class won a Pajama Day. Mrs. Muenster's class finished second and are able to pick out five new books for their classroom. Our National Library Week activities will be featured in a future issue of THE COMPASS.
I was privileged to attend the annual Awards Banquet of the Abbot Pennings Chapter of the Knights of Columbus last Friday. Notre Dame School received a $1500 check from the Knights that will go in our tuition assistance fund. As a Fourth Degree Knight, I informed Mr. Pete Nordeen that it was the best KC event I ever attended. One of the initiatives all of the Knights of Columbus is to focus upon Right To Life. If you are interested in learning more about the Knights of Columbus, contact Pete Nordeen.
The Athletic/Booster Club is sponsoring an Athletic Banquet on Thursday, April 28. I think this event is a tremendous vehicle to affirm our coaches and players. Our Athletic Program at Notre Dame allows all of us to keep athletics in its proper perspective. I personally appreciate the regular communication I have with Mrs.Wolfram, our Athletic Director. I have told Mrs.Wolfram in my previous school I was both Principal and Athletic Director. I think being AD is more difficult than being Principal. If your child has participated in any aspect of Notre Dame Athletics, please attend.
Recently we hosted the first of three spring WCATY face to face sessions. Anne Rogalski, a well-respected WCATY instructor and previous classroom teacher and principal shared the following with Mrs. Patterson, our Supportive Consultant who is our WCATY Coordinator:
- The GRACE System as a whole is very impressive.
- The GRACE schools are very warm and welcoming. People really reached out to us.
- The GRACE students are exceptional. The students are very polite, respectful and very deep thinkers.
WHAT A TESTIMONY! The hospitality of GRACE Students says a great deal about all of us who are part of our great GRACE System.
If you can, please attend our Mass next Wednesday. April 27. The school will celebrate Administrative Assistants' Day. I think I can speak for all of us when we see all of the hard work and attention both Mrs. Lamers and Mrs. Nance provide our students, parents, staff and especially me to help make our school run as effectively as it does. I value the relationship I have with both of them. If you cannot attend Mass next Wednesday, I would encourage you to affirm them via a card or e-mail. I want to thank Home School and Spirituality for recognizing me yesterday on Principals' Day. It was totally unexpected. Notre Dame School is a special place to be, and all of us work as a team to make it that special place.
As the ultimate teacher, Jesus demonstrates his simple but powerful teaching method in this weekend's Gospel from John. Jesus asks the disciples to love one another. His message is very much in line with the three items I learned from last evening's Golden Apple Awards Dinner.
May all of you have a great rest of the week!
God Bless,
James A. (Jim) Clark, Principal
"I CAN DO EVERYTHING THROUGH HIM WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH."
Philippians 4:13
Parent Education
Mr. Clark has set up a Education Post at the top of our webpage. This week he added the topic Math Curriculum Review for Notre Dame of De Pere . This site is updated constantly. There are many valuable tools in which parents can educate themselves in different aspects of their children's education. Very helpful information. Check it out here.
Scrip and Volunteer Information ~ Important News
The last day to purchase SCRIP for this school yeast is April 24th by 8:30 am (April 23rd by 11:59 pm online)
Anything purchased after this time will be pit toward the 2016-2017 school year. Statements will be sent out at that time and payment is due upon receipt.
VOLUNTEER HOURS are due April 30th. Statements will be sent out at that time and payment is due upon receipt.
Overdue Overhaul ~ Phase 2
After spending a week focusing on the wonderful things that our libraries bring us, we are SO EXCITED to kick off Phase 2 of the Overdue Overhaul - a fundraiser focused on transitioning the Notre Dame Libraries into Learning Commons where the students can focus on creative learning!
We accomplished so much last year in Phase 1 - THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! We can't wait to finish this project to make the Notre Dame Libraries and Classrooms a place where our students can fuel their passion for reading, research, and creative thinking!
Our main goals for Phase 2 of the Overdue Overhaul are:
- Purchase Technology for the Notre Dame Elementary School Library
- $500 Book Allotment for all Middle School Classrooms
- Update and Increase the book selection at both the Elementary and Middle School Libraries
- Transition the Middle School Library Annex into a Small Group Creative Learning Space
Please consider donating to help us realize our goal of creating a first class learning space for our students! Thank you! Please click here
Athletic Banquet
Mark your calendars: There will be an athletic banquet for all the kids that participated in sports this school year and their parents on Thursday April 28th in the Middle School Gym. All athletes will received pins and letters at that time. Details to follow.
NDA - Cross Country Informational Meeting
For current 8th grade students. Sunday May 15th at 5:30. For more information please click here
¡Celebremos!
Friday May 6th GRACE Spanish teachers invite you to the first all GRACE celebration. Join us to celebrate the community, diversity and Christian Spirit that is GRACE. For more information please click here
Linc Darner's Boys Basketball Camp
Linc Darner"s Boys Basketball Day Camp at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is a great opportunity for young boys aspiring to improve as basketball players. Through drills and competition this camp is designed to give kids a fun and exciting introduction to the fundamentals of basketball that will help maximize and develop their basket ball skills.
For more detailed information please click here.
GRACE Middle School Golf Tournament
This is a new event for middle school students. This event will be on Friday May 13th, starting at 4:30 pm. It will be at The Woods, on the east side of Green Bay.
This is similar to a high school meet. All golfers must know how to golf on their own. It is not a class.
More detail next week! At this time they just need to know if there are golfers in the GRACE schools who are interested. They tentatively have planned for 20 golfers. Information, questions and to sign up please contact Sue Aerts at saerts@gracesystem.org
Please HELP!!!!
We are in DESPERATE need for volunteers for lunch time. We need volunteers for the lunch room to help serve and also we need volunteers to help walk the middle school students over to the elementary school for lunch. Please Help!! We need you!! Please click here to sign up: Lunch Volunteer Help!!
SCRIP News
Are you still in need of some VOLUNTEER HOURS for the current school year?
The SCRIP office is looking for a few more volunteers to help sell SCRIP during the remainder of the year! There are morning and afternoon shifts available as well as opportunities in both the Middle and Elementary buildings... Choose whatever fits best with your schedule.
If you have never sold SCRIP before ~ training will be available!
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