Category: General

Students in Wednesday elective class build and test their own robots.

The Father Allouez Catholic School middle school students have the opportunity to participate in various elective classes.  One of the Wednesday elective classes that they can choose from is a hands-on robotics class with Mrs. Fink. This class offers students a valuable opportunity to explore and cultivate a diverse range of skills.  In the Robotics class students have worked through three important stages before the building started. They began with defining and categorizing what constitutes a robot. Next they discussed  how robots can benefit our daily lives. Lastly, they learned about the 3 Laws of Robotics by Isaac Asimov. They were then ready to build their very own robots!

The students have been building a Lego Spike design.  Students have enjoyed this immersive, hands-on learning process of building, testing, and programming their robot prototype. While they build and test they are identifying any problems that come up, they work together to determine a solution and try again! This process not only refines their technical abilities but also fosters teamwork and resilience.

Take a look at some pictures of the building and programming stages, and a few videos of students testing their robots!

Father Allouez Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. We are a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. Father Allouez provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually.

For more information about FACS, browse our website: https://fatherallouezschool.org.

Students and their families enjoyed goodies before school at Goodies With Grownups before school.

A cherished tradition embraced by students, parents, grandparents, and siblings not yet a Father Allouez student was held on October 12th, 2023. Before the school day, families were welcomed to gather in the St. Matthew campus cafeteria, where an array of goodies awaited them! They had tempting donuts, scrumptious yogurts, an assortment of fabulous fruits, and beverages like joyful juices and that energizing coffee!

Amidst this welcoming spread, families took the opportunity to bond with one another and form new connections. It was a heartwarming occasion, as laughter and stories filled the air, reuniting long-time friends and allowing everyone to catch up with those they hadn’t seen in a while.

After the goodies, parents and family are invited and encouraged to join the all school mass in church.

This event was made possible by our wonderful parent volunteers, who embody the spirit of community and togetherness at Father Allouez.

Check out our Facebook page to see pictures from the event! https://www.facebook.com/FatherAllouez/

Father Allouez Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. We are a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. Father Allouez provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually.

For more information about FACS, browse our website: https://fatherallouezschool.org.

Each year, schools in the GRACE System select a very special volunteer from their community to receive the outstanding volunteer award. This award was presented at the back-to-school mass. Father Allouez Catholic School is pleased to recognize Ann Farone for the award this year.

In the heart of the Father Allouez community, there is a role model of unwavering faith and boundless generosity — a dedicated volunteer whose commitment to our students, parents, and staff is outstanding. Today, we would like to honor Ann Farone for her willingness to serve our community with a heart overflowing with faith and smile that lights up our hallways.

Ann is a true guardian of the faith, and her unwavering devotion to sharing her spiritual journey with our school community has inspired us all. Whether it’s baking cookies for the Nativity of Mary celebration, offering her time to organize playground supervisors so the teacher can get a break for lunch, or assisting in the school offices and classrooms, her tireless efforts have made our school a better place for everyone.

In honoring Ann Farone today, we not only celebrate her contributions but also express our deep gratitude for the love, warmth, and faith she brings to our school.

Thank you, Ann, for being a shining example of faith, love, and selfless service!

Learn more about Father Allouez Catholic School by visiting their website.

Father Allouez Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. We are a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. Father Allouez provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually.

For more information about FACS, browse our website: https://fatherallouezschool.org.

Nominations are now open for the 2024 Golden Apple Awards! The prestigious Golden Apple Award recognizes exceptional Greater Green Bay teachers. Nominations for teachers and teams of teachers who have made a positive impact will be accepted now through Friday, October 27, at 3 p.m. The nomination forms can be found below:

• English: https://greatergreenbaychamber.typeform.com/to/THLGkS4W
• Spanish: https://greatergreenbaychamber.typeform.com/to/Ccc6IubJ

Please show your support and take some time to nominate our fantastic GRACE teachers!

Further information can be found here.

Father Allouez Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. We are a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. Father Allouez provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually.

For more information about FACS, browse our website: https://fatherallouezschool.org.

Father Tom Reynebeau, the pastor of Resurrection Parish, is undeniably a good shepherd to the children of Father Allouez Catholic School. His dedication to the students’ spiritual and moral development is a testament to his commitment to their well-being. Father Tom’s compassionate guidance, wisdom, and caring presence make him a source of inspiration in the lives of the young members of the school. He is a true blessing to Catholic Education, fostering not only religious understanding but also values of empathy, kindness, and community service.

Father Allouez Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. We are a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. Father Allouez provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually.

For more information about FACS, browse our website: https://fatherallouezschool.org.

STAR Assessments are short tests that provide teachers with personalized learning data for each student. Students may take a STAR test for early literacy, math, or reading. Teachers analyze the data they receive from STAR Assessments to learn what students already know and what they are ready to learn next, to monitor student growth, and to determine which students may need additional help. These tests are research-based and scientifically proven to help teachers guide each student on their unique path to proficiency.

More information can be found here.

Father Allouez Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. We are a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. Father Allouez provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually.

For more information about FACS, browse our website: https://fatherallouezschool.org.

The fourth grade at Father Allouez Catholic School was involved in doing service projects for the McCormick Assisted Living this year. There are 55 residents that currently reside at the facility. Students have done one project a month, starting in September and ending in May. The fourth graders learned how important doing service projects are and how even small things can really brighten someone’s day.

In September, they brought the residents SunnyD drinks. The students made some beautiful tags which were lovingly attached to each bottle.

In October, they bagged Halloween treats for residents who each received a bag of candy along with a special student note.

In November, they bagged candy corn for each of the residents. They designed a “Candy Corn Prayer” and wrote a little personal note on the back of the prayer to personalize the gift.

In December, they initiated a blanket drive and collected enough blankets to give one to each resident. The fourth graders were even able to donate some extra blankets to give to future residents! Each of the blankets were wrapped with care and given as a surprise to the residents for Christmas.

In January, the students decided to share Pop-Tarts with the residents. They had heard that they had not had Pop-Tarts since before the pandemic. They knew we had to remedy that for them! They purchased different flavors, labeled the boxes and added notes. It was all Poppin fun!

In February, they made the residents Valentines and attached them to a Valentine bag of pretzels.

In March, all of the residents received Skittles as a treat! The students made little cards to go with the Skittles or “Rainbow Seeds” as they called them. The cards were then attached to the bags of Skittles.

For April, they held a drive at school to collect items for their Easter basket project. The students were able to collect enough items to make a big Easter basket for each of the residents! They were able to take a walking field trip to visit the residents and hand deliver the baskets to everyone’s door! They loved the smiles and conversations that we had with the residents that day!

In May, they sent the residents homemade flower arrangements in coffee cups. They made tags to go on each arrangement.

The fourth graders of Father Allouez Catholic School have learned much about the importance of conducting service for their local community this year, and have made a huge impact on the lives of those residing at McCormick Assisted Living.

Father Allouez Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. We are a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. Father Allouez provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually.

For more information about FACS, browse our website: https://fatherallouezschool.org.

For the third year, GRACE’s Our Lady of Guadalupe (OLOG) Outreach Program was successfully presented to students and families from Father Allouez Catholic School, Holy Family Catholic School, St. Bernard Catholic School, and St. Thomas More Catholic School. A total of 172 children and adults from 56 families were involved and engaged in a series of workshops this past January through April.

Generously funded by Milwaukee’s Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, the OLOG Outreach Program is meant to establish family activities and student programming to help both parents and students understand how to work together on issues of school engagement and academic success while fostering cultural integration. Dr. Jamie Tyrrell, principal of St. Thomas More Catholic School, describes the program this way: “From my perspective, the OLOG Outreach Program is designed with Hispanic families first. We want them to feel like an integral part of our Catholic school system.”

Ninety eight percent of the students who attend St. Thomas More are Spanish speakers, so the program was very beneficial to the school.

“Our staff helped plan the workshops and were presenters,” she said, “We had a large portion of our families attend.”

The OLOG Outreach Program achieves all of their goals in the context of empowering families through faith. The topics of this year’s workshops were Faith at Home, Internet Safety and Mental Health, Importance of Early Childhood Literacy and Preparing for High School and Higher Education. Presented primarily in Spanish, each two-hour session included a prayer, presenters speaking on workshop topics, interactive activities, take-home materials for families to use at home, and refreshments. The presence of vocations was evident as priests celebrated Mass and led prayer with Sisters affiliated with our parishes participating as well. Childcare was provided for younger siblings in order to allow students and their parents to attend. Organizations who contributed their time and talents included the Diocese of Green Bay’s Hispanic Ministry, the Green Bay Police Department, the YMCA, and Casa Alba.

In addition, teachers from participating schools provided their integral support at the workshops. The 2022-23 OLOG Outreach Program Team members were Alejandra Beals, Crystal Blahnik, Gabrielle Calewarts, Kim Desotell, Kay Franz, Dr. Jamie Froh Tyrrell, Jere Kubuske, Karlet Negrete, Lisa Niemuth, and Edgar Zaragoza. This team’s role is to plan the workshop topics and participate in the workshops as well as provide evaluation as to the program’s objectives.

Mrs. Blahnik shared, “Over the course of this year’s workshops, families and students have connected and become friends. This program has facilitated a very strong community of Spanish-speaking families who are engaged with their childrens’ education and equipped with tools to help them raise their children to their full potential.”

Through participation in the GRACE OLOG Outreach Program, families:

• Engage with other families in deepening personal and family faith life.
• Enhance personal knowledge of community resources for the health, safety and well-being of the family unit.
• Learn strategies for maximizing at-home support of student learning.
• Acquire knowledge of technology utilized at their child’s school and how to access key information pertaining to their child’s learning.
• Receive guidance in deciphering standardized test scores and learn how educators use this information to design instruction.
• Connect with GRACE school families to deepen the spirit of community and family friendships.

GRACE will again offer the OLOG Outreach Program during the 2023-24 school year in January through April. Information will be available during the Fall 2023 semester.

Father Allouez Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. We are a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. Father Allouez provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually.

For more information about FACS, browse our website: https://fatherallouezschool.org.

GRACE’s Technology Integration Team has successfully rolled out their first “Tech Tote” this
year!

Since the inception of our Integration Team in 2020, we have been working toward the goal of providing the tools and training to help our educators successfully teach their students through integration of technology within the classroom. Over the past few years our team researched the best tools to help master our technology standards, secured funding through the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Green Bay to purchase these tools through various grants, created lesson plans and assembled totes.

This year our goal was to plan our strategy to introduce our first tote: Adafruit (coding circuit boards). After sharing an introductory video about Adafruit to teachers, the team scheduled a two-day presentation with every fourth grade class in GRACE. Day one included a discussion about “what is coding”, an introduction to the block coding software.

Students created their first block code so the circuit board would light up and make a siren sound. Day two was a software review, creation of a “lucky wheel” block code and transfer of the code to the actual circuit board. Students were thrilled to see their code work. Teachers learned along with the students and began generating ideas on how to incorporate Adafruit into other subject areas for next year.

The team has also begun to pilot several other tech tools to create additional totes for the 2023-24 school year with other grade levels. These tools include 3D Pens/Printers (Middle School), Spheros (Grades 3 & 5) and Beebots (K-Grade 2).

Father Allouez Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. We are a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. Father Allouez provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually.

For more information about FACS, browse our website: https://fatherallouezschool.org.

Greetings GRACE Families and Friends,

Over the 12 years that GRACE has existed as a system, we have found ways to become stronger together while continuing to celebrate the uniqueness of each of our communities. As I finish my first year as Superintendent and my seventh year with GRACE, I am amazed at the beauty and uniqueness of each school. Each community comes together in a unique way to serve children, create a Christian community for families, and live our Catholic faith. The gift of serving all our schools allows me to see the beauty and diversity of our Green Bay Catholic community.

In addition to faith and families, GRACE values high-quality education. One way we ensure this is through learning assessment tools. These tools hold us accountable and allow us to respond individually to each student. Our school leaders use the results to plan professional development and make curricular choices. Most importantly, our teachers look at the results of tests and quizzes and use them to adjust how they teach. One standardized assessment that we use is the Fountas and Pinnell Assessment. K-5 teachers administer this assessment by sitting individually with each child and reading with them. This standardized process determines reading levels to help students read and learn with books that fit their skills.

Over the past several years, the Diocese of Green Bay required the use of the NWEA Measures of Academic Progress Assessment (MAP tests). We will be ending the use of this assessment along with the rest of the Diocese of Green Bay and begin using the Star Assessment. The Star Assessment tests reading and math. This tool was selected in part because the tests are short, accurate, and the assessment data is efficiently accessible by our teachers to adjust instruction for each child. This test also better aligns with our Catholic faith in our schools.

This year, one of our biggest curriculum changes was using Project Lead the Way Launch, a hands-on science curriculum discussed elsewhere in this newsletter by our Director of Curriculum, Laura Blicharz. In the program, students begin each unit by learning about an area of science and then using that knowledge to solve problems through hands-on experimentation and design work. In addition to this work, we spent time with our teachers learning about how faith and science are interconnected and how to share these natural connections in the classroom.

GRACE also made great strides in technology this year. We are updating our long-term plans and strategy to remain low-cost and highly effective. This summer, projects are underway to increase the safety and security of our online environment. Our Technology Services Team continues to provide consistent and high-quality service to our teachers and students.

First and foremost, what makes Catholic education different is sharing the very person and love of Jesus with our teachers and students. It is also the way teachers seek to instill traditional Catholic values in our curriculum, handle problems on the playground with Catholic morals, and the way all staff helps each child learn to love one another. Our faith informs the decisions we make with our purchases of books, our Internet security, and every other decision. Most importantly, we point to our faith as the reason we treat students and families with love and respect.

Father Allouez Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. We are a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. Father Allouez provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually.

For more information about FACS, browse our website: https://fatherallouezschool.org.