Category: General

We are thrilled to announce that Amanda Boeke, a beloved Kindergarten teacher at St. Bernard Catholic School, a part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) system, has been named a finalist for the prestigious Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. The Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching are awarded by the Green Bay Chamber of Commerce annually to educators who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to their students, families, and the education community. Mrs. Boeke will advance to the final awards ceremony in April where award winners will be recognized.

GRACE President, Mrs. Kim Desotell stated, “Mrs. Boeke is an inspirational, loving and caring GRACE teacher. We are proud of her important contributions and the example of excellence she sets for others in the field of education.”

Mrs. Boeke has been a dedicated educator for eight years and has made a lasting impact on the lives of her students. She creates a warm and welcoming environment in her classroom, fostering a love of learning and encouraging each student to reach their full potential. Her peers and families describe her as kind, patient, and endlessly encouraging, making her students feel safe and valued in her classroom.

Mrs. Crystal Blahnik, Principal of St. Bernard Catholic School states: “It is a joy to see such a dedicated teacher be recognized in this very special way. Mrs. Boeke started her teaching career with us eight years ago and she is now a leader among her peers and highly respected among the school community. She most recently completed her MA in English Language Learning. This was something she pursued for her kids, so that she could help them be as successful as possible.”

Mrs. Boeke goes above and beyond to connect with her families and the larger school community, creating a strong sense of partnership and collaboration. She has a remarkable ability to connect with each student, understand their individual needs, and support their growth and development. Her colleagues and families rave about her unwavering commitment to her students, her exceptional work ethic, and her genuine love for teaching. This recognition is a testament to Mrs. Boeke’s exceptional dedication and hard work, and a shining example of the incredible impact that one dedicated teacher can have on the lives of their students. We are proud to have Mrs. Boeke as a member of the GRACE community and look forward to celebrating her achievements in the coming months.

St. Bernard Catholic School is a preschool through 8th grade school that is part of the GRACE System and that believes in an innovative, faith-based education with equal access to student services. This approach allows St. Bernard Catholic School to provide an academically sound, compelling, and faith-filled environment for all of its students. With St. Bernard of Clairvaux as their guide, they stand in the motto: Peace, Pray, Learn. More information can be found at saintbernardgb.com.

For media inquiries, contact Madeline Janssen, GRACE Director of Marketing & Communications at 920-499-7330 x 1014 or at communications@gracesystem.org.

“The GRACE Good Shepherd Mentoring Program has been extremely beneficial to Our Lady of Lourdes. Both students are getting something out of it. The mentor is excited about the opportunity to meet with the younger student and is a good role model for the student regarding how to react to different situations. We have seen recess issues of the student decline quite dramatically.” 

The GRACE Good Shepherd Mentoring Program was initiated by James Cullen, GRACE Director of Student Services, and piloted this school year at Our Lady of Lourdes. In the fall, the program will expand to include the Father Allouez, Notre Dame of De Pere, and St. John the Baptist schools. It gives an opportunity for selected students to partner up with an older mentor student to be a big brother/sister by meeting with them once or twice a week for 20-30 minutes at a time. The school principal and school counselor take the lead in choosing students to participate in the program. They share conversation, play games, and the younger student (mentee) can learn from the older student how to positively interact with others and make a connection with peers while also giving the older student (mentor) the opportunity to share their leadership skills and be a friend with the younger student. 

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. It is a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8). The school has open enrollment and provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. The best way to learn more is to visit their website.

Today will be highlighting one of the teachers at St. Thomas More Catholic School, Gaby Calawerts. She knew at a young age that she was called to be a teacher and growing up she loved learning languages. She chose to teach because she believes every student deserves to have a welcoming space where they can explore and be curious about the world, cultures, celebrations, and languages. The students are the reason she teaches and she hopes that they learn to love learning, share their God-given gifts with the world, and continue to explore what they are most passionate about!

Thank you, Ms. Calawerts, for being an awesome EL Coordinator!

St. Thomas More Catholic School is a beautiful, multicultural school filled with faithful and friendly staff members and students. At St. Thomas More, they build and support a bilingual and bicultural environment where both Spanish and English are used, taught and valued. They believe that parents and teachers alike play an integral role in the education and faith development of our children, so they seek to serve in partnership with families.

St. Thomas More is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. It is a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8). The school has open enrollment and provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. The best way to learn more is to visit their website or schedule a tour.

Today we are spotlighting a student from Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, Annabelle.

Annabelle loves to share her many talents with Our Lady of Lourdes staff and students. She loves going to school every day and achieves in math, art, reading, and music.

Thank you for sharing your creativity with our community, Annabelle!

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School offers proven academic excellence in an environment cultivated by a shared ownership model of students, parents and school staff. They value each student and stakeholder with a focus on the individual. In addition to strong academics, student success is enhanced through the offering of high-quality extracurricular programs. They are guided by the Lourdes Way – leadership, opportunity, unity, respect, dedication, educational excellence and spirituality. These fundamental principles drive their students’ everyday actions – in the classroom, during extracurricular activities and at home.

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. It is a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8). The school has open enrollment and provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. The best way to learn more is to visit their website.

During this past advent season, the countdown to Christmas at Holy Family Catholic School has become a giving event. The students from grades pre-K through eighth grade, their families, and school staff have been working together on a reverse advent calendar project to stock the shelves at Green Bay’s Hope Center Pantry. Each day, from November 28 through December 16, rather than getting a little something, participants donated an item based on a giving list. Pantry items on the list include cereal, soup, pasta, crackers and more.

Principal Jere Kubuske has reported that students have been excited to add food supplies to the tables each day. He said, “I’ve been very pleasantly surprised by how much we have. The whole table is completely filled, stacked up four feet tall [with] some overflow on each side.”

This effort, headed by teachers Courtney Wedan and Lynn Francois, is just one of Holy Family’s many service projects. Each project is a part of the educational experience and school culture at the school.

Mr. Kubuske adds, “Throughout the year, we have [many] things going on. We are very service-minded and experience driven.”

For more information about Holy Family Catholic School, visit their website at holyfamilygreenbay.com.

Happy children cared for by loving caregivers have settled into the GRACE Little Saints Childcare Program hosted at Holy Family Catholic School.

This program opened in August 2021 and now welcomes children of GRACE teachers, staff and our Catholic community from ages six weeks to three years old. The program consists of three classrooms featuring a faith-based early childhood curriculum full of music, books, playtime, snacks, and devoted, attentive teachers.

Developed under GRACE President Kimberly Desotell’s vision to recruit and maintain top talent within GRACE by providing an affordable, loving, and trustworthy childcare option for the families of GRACE staff, the program has grown well into its second year.

Currently there are three rooms – an infant room, toddler room, and childcare classroom. The program offers a developmentally-appropriate curriculum that strives to enhance social, emotional, physical, intellectual, and faith growth in young children. Parents and guardians are welcome to take a tour and meet with the Little Saints Childcare manager, Tami VanGruensven.

Ms. VanGruensven shares, “I look forward to getting to know the children and their families at Little Saints. It is so rewarding to watch them learn and grow. Please feel free to contact me about anything. I can be reached through email at tvangruensven@gracesystem.org or by phone at (920) 272-3123.”
Current families will have a future-intent sign up, with some babies already booked into next fall. Children are accepted at any time during the year if there is available room.

“We want their experiences at Little Saints to be remembered and cherished,” concludes Ms. VanGruensven.

Learn more about the Little Saints program here.

Today will be highlighting one of the wonderful teachers at Chesterton Academy of St. John Paul II Classical School, Mr. Guevara. He not only loves to imbue the faith in the students but is also the high school Biology, Astronomy, Algebra I, and Music teacher! Thank you for being so great, Mr. Guevara!

Chesterton Academy is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. It is a private Catholic school serving high school students (Grades 9-10, adding one grade each year) with open enrollment. The Academy provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. Learn more about Chesterton Academy by visiting their website.

Principal Jeff Young and Father Jim Baraniak O. Praem are thrilled to announce that Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School has successfully achieved “Lourdes 200”, its enrollment goal of 200 students for the 2022-2023 school year. This accomplishment would not have been possible without the support of the Our Lady of Lourdes parish community.

Father Jim Baraniak’s leadership has brought a renewed sense of energy and enthusiasm to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School. Our Lady of Lourdes Parish continues to enjoy an influx of new parishioners and Father Jim’s passion for education and his commitment to the Catholic faith have inspired many families to choose Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School for their children’s education.

Principal Mr. Jeff Young maintains a calm and composed demeanor that has been invaluable in helping to create a positive and welcoming atmosphere to the students and faculty of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School. When challenges arise, Mr. Young approaches them with a level head and a solutions-oriented mindset. From adapting new educational technologies to navigating the challenges of the pandemic, Mr. Young has consistently demonstrated the ability to make thoughtful and strategic decisions that have helped Our Lady of Lourdes thrive.

A key factor in the success of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School is the strong partnerships that have been established with parents and the community. These partnerships have helped to create a collaborative, positive, and supportive learning environment for students. At Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, the education of the whole child is a top priority. In addition to providing a strong academic foundation, the school also places a strong emphasis on the spiritual and moral development of its students. The faith of its students is an integral part of the educational experience where students are able to grow in their understanding and love of God. The school’s incredible teachers are another major contributor to its success. They are dedicated professionals who are committed to helping students achieve their full potential. Their expertise and passion for teaching is evident in the excellent academics offered at the school.

In addition to its talented faculty, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School recently participated in the CatholicLink Leadership Academy. This experience helped to set goals and strategic initiatives together as a school community. The “Lourdes 200” accomplishment would not have been possible without the support of the broader Our Lady of Lourdes community. GRACE and Our Lady of Lourdes leadership are grateful to the dedicated staff, parents, and parish members for their support and look forward to continued growth ahead.

Learn more about Our Lady of Lourdes on their website here.

Catch up on all of the latest GRACE news by checking out the Spring 2023 Newsletter. Read about Holy Family Catholic School’s pantry drive, celebrate GRACE’s Golden Apple award recipients, learn how Our Lady of Lourdes achieved their enrollment goal, and more!

Our teacher spotlight is back and this time we are highlighting Middle School Science Teacher Amie Ciriacks!

She enjoys helping students realize their potential and new interests at St. Thomas More School. Her own interests include running, gardening, and playing board games. Thank you for all that you do for the students at St. Thomas More, Amie Ciriacks!

St. Thomas More is a beautiful, multicultural school filled with faithful and friendly staff members and students. They we build and support a bilingual and bicultural environment where both Spanish and English are used, taught and valued. The school believes that parents and teachers alike play an integral role in the education and faith development of our children, so they seek to serve in partnership with families. Learn more about the school on their website here.