Common myths about Catholic schools dispelled

By: Gregg Hansel, Director of Education, Pacelli Catholic Schools

Fake news has gotten a lot of press in the last twelve months. People have created stories to influence others’ opinions. Certainly this is nothing new. All of us have stereotypes and thoughts that we believe about any number of things. They may come from an off-hand comment someone made, a one-time experience, or handed down from family.

Education is no different. I hear things about post-secondary education, public schools, and Catholic schools that, at times, just boggle my mind. While I would never presume to speak for all institutions, I can speak for Catholic schools. Here is some real news about Catholic schools.

Teachers – The teachers in Catholic schools are not only licensed and certified by state of Wisconsin, they are also certified in religion instruction through the Diocese of La Crosse. Pacelli Catholic School teachers have earned many Herb Kohl Teacher Fellowship Awards, recognizing their great quality as educators.

Quality – The quality of Catholic schools is outstanding. ACT scores at Pacelli High School this year averaged 24.7, the highest in the area. Pacelli elementary and middle schools have earned numerous national awards including 3 US Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School Awards. We are one of very few schools systems in the entire state that teaches computer coding in every grade beginning in kindergarten, skills that our students will need in our ever-changing world. Our commitment to small class sizes means that every child gets individual attention and challenges.

Affordability – I can’t tell you how often I have heard that Catholic schools are not affordable; that we are only for the wealthy. Talk about fake news! Many families can attend Catholic schools at no cost to them through the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program, or school choice program. Thanks to the generosity of community members, we are able to provide tens of thousands of dollars in tuition assistance annually, not to mention our countless scholarships awarded annually too. Work study programs are available at the high school level for students. Regardless of your income, Catholic schools can be affordable for you and your family.

Faith and Values –The cornerstone of Catholic education has always been making sure that students not only learn their faith, but put it into practice. The Catholic faith is infused throughout the day, and application takes it to an entire new level. Students take leadership roles in prayer, projects, and citizenship activities. Last year alone, our students of all grades contributed more than 12,000 hours of community service.

You don’t have to be Catholic to attend. – All are welcome in Catholic schools, regardless of their faith. In my thirty-three years, we have had families of almost every faith imaginable, and continue to welcome a diverse group of students today.

Opportunity – The opportunity to participate is tremendous.  If a student wants to participate in a sport or drama, they can and do. Extra-curricular programs are not only high quality, but inclusive. Fourteen sports are available and the fine arts offering is quite diverse including everything from Destination Imagination to multiple choirs and bands, musicals and plays abound. The beauty of a small schools system is if you want to participate, you have every opportunity to do so.

Our area is blessed with options for so many things, and as you can see, Catholic schools are a great option. Don’t let the myths and fake news out there get to you. Take a minute to reflect on the “real news” here and realize what a gem Catholic schools are in our community.

Stevens Point City Times: The Real Catholic Schools

School will be dismissed 2 hours early on Friday, December 16, 2016. Students will be dismissed at 12:55PM. All after school activities are cancelled today. Aftercare for elementary students is not available.

Mrs. Lindsey Retzki, 3rd Grade, Pacelli Catholic Elementary School-St. Stephen

Name: Lindsey Retzki

Grade & School You Teach: 3rd Grade at St. Stephen’s Elementary

Where did you grow up and go to high school and college?

I grew up right here in Stevens Point and attended Pacelli High School. After high school, I attended the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point for their education program.

Where was your first teaching job?

My first teaching job was a 3rd grade position at St. Vincent de Paul  in the Assumption Catholic Schools district in Wisconsin Rapids.

How long have you been teaching?

This is my 3rd year teaching in my own classroom.

How long have you been teaching at Pacelli Catholic Schools?

This is my first year teaching at St. Stephen’s.

What do you enjoy most about teaching at Pacelli Catholic Schools?

I truly enjoy the staff and other teachers I work with. Each individual is hardworking and passionate about education. It makes a great environment for our students to learn in.

What is unique about the education experience offered at PCS that you can’t find anywhere else?

The incredible, dedicated and experienced teachers. The system is filled with teachers that have been in the system for years. Many of them actually were my teachers in elementary, middle, and high school.

What was your favorite class when you were a student?

My favorite class was science class for its investigative and explorative nature. It is also my favorite class to teach.

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Honestly, as a kid, I always wanted to be a teacher. I would actually make my little brother play school with me. He hated it. 🙂

Who is your biggest inspiration/role model?

My biggest role model is my mom. She is the most patient, generous, and positive person I know.  

What are your hobbies? What do you like to do in your free time?

I love playing sports. My favorite sports are basketball and volleyball. I also enjoy watching movies, spending time with family and friends, country music, shopping, and coffee!

If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

If I could have one superpower, I would want to be able to fly. I love traveling but, I really do not like the long car rides.

What’s something that most people or your students don’t know about you?

I am unable to whistle.

What is the most important piece of advice you can give to a student?

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Mistakes is how you learn best.

Service learning, love of community service instilled in each child at Pacelli Catholic Schools

By: Ellen Lopas, Principal, Pacelli Catholic Elementary School-St. Bronislava & Pacelli Catholic Middle School

Service is an important component of a Pacelli Catholic Schools education. Our mission and vision for our students and staff is to provide assistance in many different aspects of our community.

At the high school level there are many ways we help the students to find the value of helping their community. Each year the entire senior class has a service day in which students go to various community agencies, neighbors, and our local parishes to perform acts of service. During the eight hour event, students helped rake lawns, move mulch, paint stairs, tear down a fence, and detail a number of cars for the Sisters of St. Joseph.

The high school also requires that each student document 15 hours of community service over the course of the school year. So far this semester, our high school students have served the community by recording over 1,800 hours of service outside the school day. Many of our high schoolers volunteer at local agencies, nursing homes, parishes, and more, often reporting that by serving the community they feel a stronger commitment to others and start to see their community through a bigger lense.

National Honor Society is another avenue that the high school students are a part of that requires service hours in the community. About 40% of our junior and senior classes participate in National Honors Society. The students are required to model the pillars of academic excellence, leadership, high moral character, and service to others. By the end of the year, each NHS student is required to log fifty hours of community service and leadership. As a school, this one club with just over forty students will log over 2,000 hours of service.  

At the middle school level the students are required to give three hours per quarter in service. There are many different types of service and we want the children to learn what kind of service is good for them. We want this to become a life skill and the students will learn how good it feels to help others.

Pacelli Catholic Middle School is also once again embarking on an international outreach project for Christmas with Casa Hogar, the orphanage that our Diocese founded in Lima, Peru. Our entire middle school is going to be putting together Christmas gift bags, which will be brought to Peru by students from Wisconsin Rapids who are going on a mission trip there this year. Next year, Pacelli High School students will again take their mission trip to Peru taking gift bags with them, too. We have a chance to demonstrate faith in action, and that is what being a Catholic is all about. We have seen first-hand the priceless reactions and smiling faces on the children of Casa Hogar when they receive gifts from us which truly makes our service worthwhile.

At the elementary level, all three of our schools do canned food drives, coat collections, money drives, and creation of gifts and caroling for nursing homes and the cancer center, among many other community projects. Even our early childhood center contributes to many of the same services in our community as well as collecting necessities for military veterans stationed overseas and cards for homebound people through meals on wheels.

Service learning helps young men and women to become members of their community who are caring and supportive of everyone. Pacelli Catholic Schools are committed to service and preparing our next generation of adults to care for and support all those in the community they live in and beyond.

Stevens Point City Times: Pacelli Gives Back

The following are news snippets from the November e-Newsletter highlighting the Pacelli Catholic School system, individual students, alumni, staff, and members of the PCS community who have recently been highlighted for their accomplishments.

PCMS students are putting on Peter Pan and Wendy this weekend at the high school. Shows will be Dec. 1 at 7pm, Dec. 2 at 7pm, and Dec. 3 at 2pm. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students.

4K & kindergarten students at St. Stan’s held their annual Thanksgiving Friendship Feast with families full of songs, treats, and service projects. St. Bron’s elementary students also held their Thanksgiving Fun Fest.

Frank Runyeon, former star of As the World Turns, presented “Salt & Light: A Comedy for Kids” to K-4.

Weston from PCMS was congratulated by Mr. Joseph Cahill from the VFW for winning the Patriot’s Pen Contest.

Joe Odhiambo, NBA All-Star Performer (’06, ’07, ’08, ’09), Former Phoenix Suns & Mercury Player, and World’s Greatest Basketball Dribbler (12-time Guinness World Record Holder) came to St. Stephen’s to motivate students and show off a few tricks.

Mrs. Emily Butz, 1st Grade, Pacelli Catholic Elementary School-St. Bronislava

Name: Emily Butz

Grade & School You Teach: First Grade at St. Bronislava

Where did you grow up and go to high school and college?

I grew up in Annandale, MN and attended high school in Maple Lake, MN. I graduated from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND with a B.S. in Elementary Education and a B.A. in Spanish.

Where was your first teaching job?

My first teaching job was teaching 1st grade at Winship Elementary, an English Language Learner magnet school,  in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

How long have you been teaching?

This is my second year teaching first grade!

How long have you been teaching at Pacelli Catholic Schools?

This is my first year at Pacelli Catholic Schools. My husband and I just moved to Stevens Point from North Dakota.

What do you enjoy most about teaching at Pacelli Catholic Schools?

What I enjoy most about teaching at Pacelli Catholic Schools is the wonderful students I have in my class and the great families in our system.

What is unique about the education experience offered at PCS that you can’t find anywhere else?

The unique education experience offered at PCS is that we get to incorporate our Catholic beliefs into our classrooms, which builds a positive environment for our students.   

What was your favorite class when you were a student?

When I was a student, I genuinely liked every subject! They are all so fun I can’t decide.  I suppose that’s why I turned to teaching when I was older!

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was in elementary school, I wanted to be a prima ballerina when I grew up.

Who is your biggest inspiration/role model?

My biggest role models are my parents. My mom is a wonderful teacher that I aspire to be like and my dad has shown me that hard work and determination can get you far in life.

What are your hobbies? What do you like to do in your free time?

In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, being outdoors, reading, baking, watching movies, playing piano, and crafting! I love traveling and I’m always up for new adventures.

If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

If I could have one superpower I would like to have the ability to apparate and disapparate (or in muggle terms, teleportation) so that I can transport to any place I would like whenever I feel like traveling!

What’s something that most people or your students don’t know about you?

I plan on visiting the six main continents  in my lifetime. Right now I’m at 3 out of 6! (Sorry Antarctica…I’ll count you as an extra credit excursion!)

What is the most important piece of advice you can give to a student?

1. Never give up!  
2. You do you. You are special and unique. Don’t worry about what others think.
3. Read, read, read!

College & Career Readiness Initiatives at PCHS

By: Larry Theiss, Principal, Pacelli Catholic High School

Preparing students for life after high school has been an important part of Pacelli Catholic High School’s mission for decades. Our track record shows our success.

Last spring, PCHS achieved the highest ACT score in the area with a composite score of 24.4 for our graduating seniors. Recently, the high school was also ranked by ACT as one of the top high schools in the state for post-secondary success.

But as the principal, I’m not satisfied with that. I want to help all of my students have a plan for success. Over the past three years, I have worked with my staff and community stakeholders to develop new programs and opportunities for our graduates.

One of the most important things we have done recently as a school is to begin exposing students to the various career paths available to them. Last spring, a small committee of students took charge to plan PCHS’s first Cardinal Career Fair. This fall, over 40 employers attended the event and met with over 200 students. Through this experience, the students were able to begin inquiring about careers in finance, engineering, medical fields, manufacturing, and many more. Next year the student-run event hopes to bring in over 60 employers.

Other opportunities include our internship and apprenticeship programs. Two years ago we began looking at means of providing our students with authentic opportunities to engage in their career interests.  In working with CESA 5 and local businesses/employers, we have been able to place 11 students with eight different employers working in a multitude of different fields ranging from banking to anthropology, manufacturing to marketing, education to computers, and more. Apprenticeship/internship students are assigned projects with real-world results hanging in the balance. Many students report back about how they are directly contributing to the company or program. In all cases, the students work side-by-side with a skilled mentor in the field. This gives them their first opportunity to professionally network and to more solidly craft their post-secondary plan.

This fall, PCHS began developing a partnership with MSTC. Through a grant from the Pacelli Education Foundation, we are going to begin offering college classes to Pacelli students. Not only will the students have a chance to earn college credit, they will also be able to begin their post-secondary education in high school. We currently have students from a broad range of career fields getting ready to take advantage of the program. The vision is that PCHS students will be able to earn as many as 16 college credits before high school graduation.

I am proud of the College & Career Readiness Program at PCHS. Students will have a chance to earn credits before graduation, develop clear post-secondary plans, and more importantly interact with adult mentors outside of Pacelli. The program not only benefits each student, but it also benefits the Stevens Point/Plover community by connecting great students with great employers.

Over the past two years, we have seen the great results of these initiatives. More and more alumni are coming back saying they are better prepared for college and their careers than many of their peers. I am excited about what the future holds for our Pacelli students. It is truly a privilege to work in a school setting with highly motivated students who excel academically, seeing a world of opportunities awaiting them. This provides me with the unique opportunity to work with them one-on-one to set them on the path to success.

Stevens Point City Times: The Path to Success