Category: General

It is with immense joy and a spirit of anticipation that we announce the appointment of Mr. Francis Dempsey as the new Principal of Father Allouez Catholic School, commencing July 1, 2024 before the start of the 2024-2025 academic year.

Mr. Dempsey brings with him a wealth of experience and a profound commitment to Catholic education. In recent years, he has served diligently as the principal of St. Dominic Catholic School in Brookfield, WI, under the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Prior to his principalship, he began his career right here at GRACE’s St. Thomas More Catholic School and St. Matthew’s Catholic School (now known as Father Allouez Catholic School) before he dedicated over seven years to teaching Social Studies in both public and Catholic schools in the Milwaukee area.

A proud alumnus of St. Norbert College, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History and holds a Secondary Education Certification, Mr. Dempsey continued his academic journey at Marquette University, attaining a Masters of Education in Educational Policy and Leadership. His educational background, coupled with his devotion to Catholic values, makes him an exceptional choice to lead our Father Allouez Catholic School community.

Mr. Dempsey and his family are eager to return to the Green Bay area, bringing with them a renewed enthusiasm to serve our beloved GRACE community. A fun fact about Mr. Dempsey is that he also works with the National Football League as a Real-Time Entry (RTE) Statistician, providing real-time statistics from the field during Green Bay Packers home games!

GRACE President Desotell stated, “As distinguished principal Kay Franz retires after a long standing career of service, we are thrilled to announce Mr. Dempsey as our new principal. With his unwavering dedication to Catholic values, commitment to fostering academic excellence, and passion for nurturing a supportive school community, he possesses the foundational skills essential for guiding Father Allouez Catholic School into its next chapter.”

Mr. Dempsey shared, “I am overjoyed and humbled to (re)join the Father Allouez Catholic School Community after a few years away. I believe in a strong partnership between school families and our administration and teachers so that, ultimately, our students succeed. Together, I know that we will do wonderful things that will continue to make the FACS community strong and serve as an exemplar in GRACE and the greater Green Bay Area. I am looking forward to meeting you all and partnering together on this journey. God bless you all!”

As we embark on this new chapter together, let us extend a warm welcome to Mr. Francis Dempsey and his family. With faith as our guide and education as our mission, let us unite in prayerful support as we continue to nurture the hearts and minds of our students.

Read other stories in the new GRACE Spring 2024 newsletter by clicking the button below.

The Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System consists of nine schools. We focus on the development of each student grounded in our foundation of Catholic faith for grades PK3-10.

Our mission continues to evolve in these unique times as we embrace new technologies, deliver innovative teaching and learning strategies, and hire exceptional faculty and staff dedicated to the vocation of education. Our current GRACE Strategic Plan outlines action steps in the areas of faith, academics, vitality and experience that have assisted us to enjoy enrollment growth over the past five years.

Please know you are always welcome to visit our schools to learn more about our offerings and the culture that makes each of our GRACE schools unique. The rewards of a Catholic education are endless. The gift of a Catholic education prepares your child and will remain with them throughout their life. Learn more about us here.

By Samantha Skifton, Technology Integration Specialist, GRACE

Artificial Intelligence. If you read those words and immediately think that it can’t be good for the future of education, many would likely agree. Artificial Intelligence (AI) hit the world like a tidal wave in November of 2022 thanks to ChatGPT, a chat-based platform that can instantly generate text. There are a few common misconceptions we would like to clarify. First, AI is not a new creation. It has been part of the technological world since 1950, albeit in different forms. Second, you use AI almost daily and might not realize it. Do you ask Siri or Alexa to play your favorite songs or to schedule a reminder? Have you ever Googled something? Has your digital map recommended the shortest route? And don’t get me started on personalized ads! These daily tasks all use AI to some degree.

GRACE’s Technology Services team was tasked with researching AI at the start of the school year. Immediately hundreds of questions posed threats to how we view education. Did students need to hand write essays? Was this something that students or staff should even use? The questions didn’t stop, and neither did we. We knew that AI couldn’t be brushed under the rug for another day. Our investigation started exactly where it should: with our faith. Pope Francis has been addressing AI since 2016, and throughout that time his opinion hasn’t changed: AI is a gift from God which needs to serve our human potential and will challenge our teaching methods, however we are called to use AI morally and ethically to promote critical thinking (Address of His Holiness Pope Francis to Participants in the “Minerva Dialogues”, March 2023). 

Our focus became finding AI tools that were created specifically for educators. These tools save our teachers something precious: time. AI provides an almost instantaneous digital assistant to our teachers. The teacher who used to spend three hours creating review materials for students can now create a starting point in seconds. The first-year teacher who wants to create a project based on the novel Wonder has a multitude of ideas in minutes. The teacher who wants to give each student a personalized Christmas story can save hours of time creating them.

There are a few things we would like to affirm. We discourage teachers from distributing AI materials without first editing and making materials their own. AI is a starting point not the final draft. The use of ChatGPT is discouraged for all because, quite honestly, there are better tools available. As for students, the expectation is that their assigned work be original, not AI generated.  Blocking or banning use is almost impossible, instead the focus within the classroom is exhibiting academic honesty while demonstrating skill mastery.

We have before us a rare opportunity to pioneer an ethical and moral use of AI for education grounded in our GRACE mission. Our teachers will focus on utilizing AI to enhance academic rigor, professionalism, effectiveness, and evangelization while striving for excellence.

Read other stories in the new GRACE Spring 2024 newsletter by clicking the button below.

The Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System consists of nine schools. We focus on the development of each student grounded in our foundation of Catholic faith for grades PK3-10.

Our mission continues to evolve in these unique times as we embrace new technologies, deliver innovative teaching and learning strategies, and hire exceptional faculty and staff dedicated to the vocation of education. Our current GRACE Strategic Plan outlines action steps in the areas of faith, academics, vitality and experience that have assisted us to enjoy enrollment growth over the past five years.

Please know you are always welcome to visit our schools to learn more about our offerings and the culture that makes each of our GRACE schools unique. The rewards of a Catholic education are endless. The gift of a Catholic education prepares your child and will remain with them throughout their life. Learn more about us here.

By Deacon Dan Gray, Middle School Teacher, Holy Family Catholic School

On the Sunday after Easter, we hear the familiar story of Jesus appearing to his disciples in the locked room. Thomas is not present and when he returns and is told of the encounter, he reacts with disbelief. He asks for proof. He wants to see and feel and hear it directly before he will buy the story. Later, when Jesus appears and invites Thomas to touch his wounds, Thomas’ heartfelt and humble response is “my Lord and My God!”. What powerful words! Thomas recognizes the real presence of Jesus in his midst. 

Thomas is often disparaged for his initial skepticism about the reality of Jesus fully and physically present. His name has become synonymous with disbelief: a “Doubting Thomas”. I find this a bit unfair, why should he have believed such a far fetched story? He knew Jesus was dead. He knew that he would never be able to encounter him again. And yet it happened. The real presence of Jesus Christ in front of him, body, blood, soul and divinity. How lucky Thomas was to have this encounter! This very personal physical encounter with the one that he now knew for sure was God present. How interesting it would have been to observe this encounter. To see the joy on the face of Thomas and to see the reaction of the other disciples. 

What does this story mean for us today? I think it is particularly appropriate to contemplate when we realize the struggle that many are having in recognizing that Jesus is physically present for them. We hear disturbing statistics about the number of Catholics who are having difficulty understanding the reality of Jesus truly present in the Eucharist. While it is not good to read these statistics, I think they give Catholic educators a unique opportunity. 

This summer, I will have the privilege of representing Catholic educators from the Green Bay Diocese and particularly GRACE at the National Eucharistic Revival in Indianapolis. It promises to be a time of learning and energizing and renewal. I am excited to be able to bring back to this Diocese what I encounter. I am excited to be a part of an event that is wholly focused on the reality of Christ present in the Eucharist, and I cannot wait for the opportunity to help others understand what Jesus has given us. I cannot wait to share this experience with our students, our faculty and staff, our supporters, and the members of my home parishes of St. James in Cooperstown and St. Joseph Kellenersville. 

In the end, my real hope is that when each of us encounters Christ’s present body, blood, soul and divinity in the Eucharist, we not only say amen, yes I believe. I hope that we will also echo the words of Thomas: My Lord and My God.

Read other stories in the new GRACE Spring 2024 newsletter by clicking the button below.

The Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System consists of nine schools. We focus on the development of each student grounded in our foundation of Catholic faith for grades PK3-10.

Our mission continues to evolve in these unique times as we embrace new technologies, deliver innovative teaching and learning strategies, and hire exceptional faculty and staff dedicated to the vocation of education. Our current GRACE Strategic Plan outlines action steps in the areas of faith, academics, vitality and experience that have assisted us to enjoy enrollment growth over the past five years.

Please know you are always welcome to visit our schools to learn more about our offerings and the culture that makes each of our GRACE schools unique. The rewards of a Catholic education are endless. The gift of a Catholic education prepares your child and will remain with them throughout their life. Learn more about us here.

We recently conducted an interview with GRACE President of the Day, Megan M., a Grade 11 student from Chesterton Academy of St. John Paul II Classical School!

Q:  Could you tell us about yourself and your experience at Chesterton Academy of St. John Paul II Classical School? 

A:  I’ve always gone to Catholic school, from 4K all the way to 8th grade, and Chesterton Academy is a totally different Catholic educational experience, different than anything I’ve experienced before. They do such a great job of taking the Catholic faith and bringing it into the studies. That was never something I could connect before – until reading the ancient books, reading Thomas Aquinas, and these other old writers who were so strong in their faith that they could see it in the world, and now I’m able to do that. It’s made me look for ways to integrate faith into my life. 

Q: How has your Catholic faith played a role in your time at Chesterton?

A:  It has grown significantly since attending Chesterton. The examples of teachers; I had never seen someone so on fire than some of my teachers and that really pushed me to learn more and confront myself about how I feel about my faith. It made me realize that I really do care about it and I want to grow it farther.  I had one of my first amazing experiences in Adoration. I was trying to write something for a class and I was kind of frustrated. I saw the incense swirling and just got this beautiful sense and I knew exactly what to write and how to word my thoughts. I got an amazing reflection out of it that I still read back. 

Q:  Reflecting on your time at Chesterton, could you tell us what your favorite class or subject has been and why? 

A;  Weirdly it has become history, which I never really cared much about because I was either bored or it didn’t seem very interesting. But the way we’ve been taught, especially this year, has made it seem like more of a story and you can see it evolving over time. I wasn’t able to make that connection before. Now it’s so much easier to see history and how it reflects to now and how it leads to important events. It’s really cool. 

Q:  Beyond academics, what extracurricular activities or clubs have you been involved in? 

A:  I’ve really enjoyed our drama program. I’m in two plays this year. We just finished the first play a month ago and that was such a fun experience. I was working with the class under me which was such a good experience to get to know those kids on another level. Because drama is such a personal thing, you get to see how other peoples’ brains work, you get to learn about them, how they think, how they act, how they move and who they are in a different light and that was really interesting. 

Q:  As you near the end of your high school journey, what are you most looking forward to after graduation? 

A:  I’m looking forward to keeping in touch with my classmates and my teachers. If it works out, I would absolutely love to work in the GRACE system. I love my school, I love the values, and I would love to be able to work alongside my teachers or somewhere in the system. I love Catholic education and working with kids. That would be really fun and something I think I would really enjoy. 

Q:  In what ways do you feel like Chesterton or GRACE has prepared you for the future? 

A: At Chesterton we have the Socratic method, which means we are talking and discussing in class, and that pushes you to formulate your thoughts into actual sentences. Sometimes I will have a thought and not know how to word it, but this forces you to do that. So then in other aspects of your life, like when talking to my parents or my sister, I can actually formulate my thoughts into coherent sentences so we can actually have a discussion rather than just talking or not understanding each other. It’s been very helpful.

Q: Can you share any memorable moments from your time at Chesterton that have had a significant impact on you? 

A: Just how the students come together and we’re such a family. One of our students had a loss in their family and we all gathered together and went to the funeral together. It was really beautiful just seeing how everybody cares for everybody.

Q: How would you describe the community or camaraderie at Chesterton and how has it contributed to your overall high school experience?

A: There’s a very strong sense of family in the school. If you get along with one of the students and don’t necessarily know their siblings you can go over and have a conversation with the parents or the siblings. I remember when I was in middle school I was always scared of the older kids. But here I have little kids running to come up to me and say “I saw you doing ballroom dancing outside!” and they get all excited and it’s really sweet. It’s nice to not feel so alienated from the little kids and it’s cool to be able to be big siblings to other children. The teachers feel like another set of aunts and uncles and I love all of them. They know when to joke around and when to discipline. They are very good at gauging students and meeting them where they are. I’ve also made such great friends because we all have this commonality of our Catholic faith. We learn the same things, we start to discuss things. I’ve made friendships that will definitely last a lifetime and I’m very grateful for that. 

Q:  What message or advice would you give to other students considering Chesterton? 

A: Don’t be so scared about Latin or philosophy or some of the other more difficult subjects. Even if they’re difficult, they help you to grow your own mind, to learn stuff about yourself. Taking philosophy, I’ve learned how I think, how I’m able to develop information. I was very scared in the beginning and then you realize you’re a lot smarter than you think you are. 

Read other stories in the new GRACE Spring 2024 newsletter by clicking the button below.

The Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System consists of nine schools. We focus on the development of each student grounded in our foundation of Catholic faith for grades PK3-10.

Our mission continues to evolve in these unique times as we embrace new technologies, deliver innovative teaching and learning strategies, and hire exceptional faculty and staff dedicated to the vocation of education. Our current GRACE Strategic Plan outlines action steps in the areas of faith, academics, vitality and experience that have assisted us to enjoy enrollment growth over the past five years.

Please know you are always welcome to visit our schools to learn more about our offerings and the culture that makes each of our GRACE schools unique. The rewards of a Catholic education are endless. The gift of a Catholic education prepares your child and will remain with them throughout their life. Learn more about us here.

Teresa Adler officially joined the CatholicLeader Academy team on April 15th as the Director of Operations and Business Development. She has a background in development and most recently served as the Director of Resource Development at NeighborWorks Green Bay. Her enthusiasm, deep faith, and passion for Catholic education has already made a difference! She looks forward to meeting each of you and thanking you for your commitment to CatholicLink and CatholicLeader Academy.

As we welcome Teresa to the team, we also thank Glenn Timmerman for the countless hours of strategic level counsel and in the trenches hard work that he has given CatholicLeader Academy over the last two years. Among his many other talents, Glenn is also a superb producer. Please enjoy these four short videos that together tell the CLA Story, with a heartfelt endorsement from Bishop Ricken.

CatholicLink is an innovative, preschool-through-college partnership of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) school system, Notre Dame Academy and St. Norbert College, with the mission of attaining world-class Catholic education in the greater Green Bay area. Learn more about the CatholicLink program here.

The Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System consists of nine schools. We focus on the development of each student grounded in our foundation of Catholic faith for grades PK3-10.

Our mission continues to evolve in these unique times as we embrace new technologies, deliver innovative teaching and learning strategies, and hire exceptional faculty and staff dedicated to the vocation of education. Our current GRACE Strategic Plan outlines action steps in the areas of faith, academics, vitality and experience that have assisted us to enjoy enrollment growth over the past five years.

Please know you are always welcome to visit our schools to learn more about our offerings and the culture that makes each of our GRACE schools unique. The rewards of a Catholic education are endless. The gift of a Catholic education prepares your child and will remain with them throughout their life. Learn more about us here.

Today, we’d like to spotlight the outstanding principal from Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School with a question-and-answer. We are so blessed by dedicated and talented leaders such as Mr. Jeffrey Young! Join us in thanking him for his commitment to Catholic Education at OLOL!

Q: Principal Young, why do you choose to work for GRACE?

A:  The best part of my role is the ability to serve the OLOL students, families, and staff. Everyone who is invested in the school has a special place in my heart. I know each and every student and that helps me make decisions. I know the people that are affected by my decisions and my focus. I know the importance of “stacking” good decisions for the benefit of all stakeholders of our wonderful school. I love the relationships that I can build with our blessed community.

Q: What are some fun facts about you?

A: A fun fact about me is that I was the jump rope champ in my elementary school. The contest wasn’t about who could do the most tricks or the most jumps. We were set up in the gym and all told to jump rope. When the rope stopped for any reason then you were out. I was the last student standing and declared jump rope champ. That taught me a valuable lesson and one I still use to this day. Determination, focus, and never giving up can overcome any obstacle.

The Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System consists of nine schools. We focus on the development of each student grounded in our foundation of Catholic faith for grades PK3-10.

Our mission continues to evolve in these unique times as we embrace new technologies, deliver innovative teaching and learning strategies, and hire exceptional faculty and staff dedicated to the vocation of education. Our current GRACE Strategic Plan outlines action steps in the areas of faith, academics, vitality and experience that have assisted us to enjoy enrollment growth over the past five years.

Please know you are always welcome to visit our schools to learn more about our offerings and the culture that makes each of our GRACE schools unique. The rewards of a Catholic education are endless. The gift of a Catholic education prepares your child and will remain with them throughout their life. Learn more about us here.

By Kay Franz, Principal, Father Allouez Catholic School

This year the GRACE Catholic Identity Committee produced a booklet titled “An Introduction to the Mass and the Catholic Church” which was given to each middle school student in GRACE as an outcome of our GRACE Strategic Plan. The goal of the booklet is to assist families to grow in a deeper understanding of the Mass so that the beauty and miracles that occur during the Liturgy may enrich and enhance their family’s faith journey. 

The parents of the middle school students at Father Allouez Catholic School were asked to study and engage in conversation with their children about the four main parts of the Mass: the Introductory Rite, the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of the Eucharist and the Concluding Rites during the Lenten season.   

The families were also asked to create a visual display of their journey through the study of the Mass and how each part of the Liturgy impacted their daily life after they left Church. A faith fair exhibit of the projects (similar to a science fair) was held in the gym at the Resurrection Campus on March 21st.

The response to the project was an overwhelming success!  We had almost 100% participation and the results were phenomenal! The exhibit was followed by a teaching Mass celebrated by Father Tom Reynebeau. The evening concluded by breaking bread together as a community with a picnic dinner of hamburgers and hot dogs.

One thing we all learned from this experience is that the Mass is not about God reaching down to earth as much as it is about us being swept up into Heaven.

Read other stories in the new GRACE Spring 2024 newsletter by clicking the button below.

The Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System consists of nine schools. We focus on the development of each student grounded in our foundation of Catholic faith for grades PK3-10.

Our mission continues to evolve in these unique times as we embrace new technologies, deliver innovative teaching and learning strategies, and hire exceptional faculty and staff dedicated to the vocation of education. Our current GRACE Strategic Plan outlines action steps in the areas of faith, academics, vitality and experience that have assisted us to enjoy enrollment growth over the past five years.

Please know you are always welcome to visit our schools to learn more about our offerings and the culture that makes each of our GRACE schools unique. The rewards of a Catholic education are endless. The gift of a Catholic education prepares your child and will remain with them throughout their life. Learn more about us here.

Dear Members of the GRACE Community:

Warm spring greetings during this beautiful time of Easter, growth and reflection. I am filled with gratitude for the blessings that continue to enrich our beloved GRACE community. 

One of the cornerstones of our mission is to ensure that our schools are beacons of faith and knowledge, open to all those who seek the light of Catholic education. With the support of our 23 GRACE-affiliated parishes, we are steadfast in our commitment to welcoming every child into our classrooms regardless of background or circumstance. Together, we embrace our community knowing that it is through unity that we truly thrive to reach the kingdom- our ultimate yearning. 

The impact of a GRACE education extends far beyond the walls of our schools. By providing more students with access to quality education, we not only foster academic excellence but pave the way for brighter futures and boundless opportunities. Our commitment to nurturing a thriving community around us is rooted in the belief that Catholic education is the cornerstone of our students’ futures. 

I am delighted to report that our enrollment remains strong, a testament to the unwavering dedication of our staff and families and the enduring appeal of Catholic education in greater Green Bay. With robust and thriving schools, our students are provided not only with excellent academic opportunities but also with vibrant social experiences that help shape them into well-rounded individuals. Each child brings a unique perspective to our community enriching our classrooms with a tapestry of personalities and ideas. 

A steady enrollment also serves as the bedrock of our fiscal practices, ensuring the stability and sustainability of our schools for generations to come. Through the support of our growing community, we are empowered to uphold the traditions and teachings of our Catholic faith in partnership with our parents and parishes, nurturing the hearts and minds of our students. 

As we celebrate our successes, let us also cherish the bonds of friendship and unity that are forged within our GRACE family. Together, parents and educators alike form a supportive network that cultivates our beautiful community and creates a sense of belonging and lasting friendships for our students that endures long after graduation. 

I extend my deepest gratitude to each and every member of our GRACE community for your unwavering support and dedication to our mission. Together, let us continue to uphold the values of faith, excellence, and community that define us, inspiring future generations to shine brightly in the light of God’s love. 

With prayers, peace and warmest regards as we enter into these final days of the academic year!

Kimberly A. Desotell

President, GRACE 

This is an excerpt from the Spring 2024 GRACE Newsletter. Check out the whole newsletter by clicking the button below!

The Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System consists of nine schools. We focus on the development of each student grounded in our foundation of Catholic faith for grades PK3-10.

Our mission continues to evolve in these unique times as we embrace new technologies, deliver innovative teaching and learning strategies, and hire exceptional faculty and staff dedicated to the vocation of education. Our current GRACE Strategic Plan outlines action steps in the areas of faith, academics, vitality and experience that have assisted us to enjoy enrollment growth over the past five years.

Please know you are always welcome to visit our schools to learn more about our offerings and the culture that makes each of our GRACE schools unique. The rewards of a Catholic education are endless. The gift of a Catholic education prepares your child and will remain with them throughout their life. Learn more about us here.

The registration deadline for the GRACE: GOLD Summer Camp is approaching! Registration closes July 3! Learn more on the GOLD webpage and sign up today.

The Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System consists of nine schools. We focus on the development of each student grounded in our foundation of Catholic faith for grades PK3-10.

Our mission continues to evolve in these unique times as we embrace new technologies, deliver innovative teaching and learning strategies, and hire exceptional faculty and staff dedicated to the vocation of education. Our current GRACE Strategic Plan outlines action steps in the areas of faith, academics, vitality and experience that have assisted us to enjoy enrollment growth over the past five years.

Please know you are always welcome to visit our schools to learn more about our offerings and the culture that makes each of our GRACE schools unique. The rewards of a Catholic education are endless. The gift of a Catholic education prepares your child and will remain with them throughout their life. Learn more about us here.

The latest GRACE Spring 2024 newsletter is now available to read! This issue highlights the Father Allouez Catholic School Faith Fair, puts a spotlight on newcomer Father Adam Bradley, a thoughtful reflection from Deacon Dan, an update on GRACE athletics from new Director of Athletics and Activities, Matt Riebe, and even more!

Check it out by clicking the button below.

The Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System consists of nine schools. We focus on the development of each student grounded in our foundation of Catholic faith for grades PK3-10.

Our mission continues to evolve in these unique times as we embrace new technologies, deliver innovative teaching and learning strategies, and hire exceptional faculty and staff dedicated to the vocation of education. Our current GRACE Strategic Plan outlines action steps in the areas of faith, academics, vitality and experience that have assisted us to enjoy enrollment growth over the past five years.

Please know you are always welcome to visit our schools to learn more about our offerings and the culture that makes each of our GRACE schools unique. The rewards of a Catholic education are endless. The gift of a Catholic education prepares your child and will remain with them throughout their life. Learn more about us here.