Category: General

Hello, St. John the Baptist Families and Friends! 

As we approach the start of another school year, I am filled with excitement and anticipation. Our plans are coming together, and the new office space at the front of the building is taking shape. 

I can’t even express how excited I am to take on this new adventure as the Principal here at St. John’s. I have had this goal for a while, but I was busy caring for my four children and elderly mother while working full-time as a kindergarten teacher, so my goal got pushed back. However, I have always believed God had a plan for me and would direct me when the time was right. 

For those who don’t know my background, the quick ‘drive-through version’ is that I am originally from Iowa, where I grew up, in a large Catholic family, in a small farming community. I graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Reading.  Before moving to Wisconsin, I taught 1st grade for three years in Altoona, Iowa. After moving here with my husband, Brett, I was a long-term sub for 5th grade and then a year-long sub for 4th grade in Luxemburg. Next, I taught Transitional Kindergarten in Denmark for several years and eventually moved to DePere, where I worked full-time as a kindergarten teacher for many years. During this time, I obtained my Master’s degree at Viterbo University and later received my Administrative Certificate from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota.

Knowing your children is important to me. I have been studying the names and faces in the school yearbook and I hope that many will be able to attend Popsicles on the Playground event on August 1st so I can begin making more connections. I will ask for clever ways to remember each name, so start encouraging your children to think of a few ideas to help me improve my name recall skills. 

One of the best parts about being in the education business is developing friendships and connections with families over the years and watching students grow up and contribute back to the community. I will miss the DePere families, but I look forward to building the same bond in the Howard-Suamico area. The circle just keeps getting bigger! See you soon!

1 Corinthians 2:9
“No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.”

Founded in 1888, St. John the Baptist School is a Catholic school in Howard where students grow in relationship with Jesus Christ, pursue high levels of academics, and are surrounded by a community rooted in Christian values. Our staff is committed to developing the whole child by nurturing each child’s academic, emotional, spiritual and behavioral development. By partnering with parents, we aim to individualize student learning in a structured environment where students grow and succeed.

St. John the Baptist 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) with open enrollment. St. John the Baptist provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. For more information about St. John the Baptist Catholic School, visit their website at https://sjbhschool.org.

GRACE stands for Green Bay Area Catholic Education and is a nine-school system that provides excellence in preschool through twelfth-grade education and serves the 23 Catholic parishes within the Greater Green Bay community. GRACE schools range in offerings and locations, and each has its own distinct history, focus, and parish connections. GRACE is among the largest Catholic school systems in the state of Wisconsin. To learn more, visit gracesystem.org.

Open House and School Pictures

Please join us for our annual Open House night! Meet the teacher, drop off supplies, get your school photo taken, and learn more about bussing, lunch accounts, the Spirit Store, and MORE! Enter through door #1 at or after 3:30 PM. Doors will not open until the start of the event.

**School Pictures will be taken by Harmann Studios in the CAFETERIA (downstairs).

• Students do not need to be in uniform for school pictures.  
• Students will receive a printed form on picture day with their image choices and online ordering instructions. Orders will be due 7 days following picture day. 
• The re-take day is October 4th

Founded in 1888, St. John the Baptist School is a Catholic school in Howard where students grow in relationship with Jesus Christ, pursue high levels of academics, and are surrounded by a community rooted in Christian values. Our staff is committed to developing the whole child by nurturing each child’s academic, emotional, spiritual and behavioral development. By partnering with parents, we aim to individualize student learning in a structured environment where students grow and succeed.

St. John the Baptist 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) with open enrollment. St. John the Baptist provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. For more information about St. John the Baptist Catholic School, visit their website at https://sjbhschool.org.

GRACE stands for Green Bay Area Catholic Education and is a nine-school system that provides excellence in preschool through twelfth-grade education and serves the 23 Catholic parishes within the Greater Green Bay community. GRACE schools range in offerings and locations, and each has its own distinct history, focus, and parish connections. GRACE is among the largest Catholic school systems in the state of Wisconsin. To learn more, visit gracesystem.org.

Parent Days recognizes and applauds the importance of partnering in the education of our young children at St. John the Baptist Catholic School. On Parent Days, parents are invited to attend Mass with there child and then stay afterward for a short program and refreshments. Please mark your calendars so you do not miss out!

• October 10 – Middle School
• October 24 – 4th Grade
• November 14 – 1st Grade
• January 23 – 3rd Grade
• February 6 – Kindergarten
• March 20 – 5th Grade
• April 24 – 2nd Grade 

Founded in 1888, St. John the Baptist School is a Catholic school in Howard where students grow in relationship with Jesus Christ, pursue high levels of academics, and are surrounded by a community rooted in Christian values. Our staff is committed to developing the whole child by nurturing each child’s academic, emotional, spiritual and behavioral development. By partnering with parents, we aim to individualize student learning in a structured environment where students grow and succeed.

St. John the Baptist 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) with open enrollment. St. John the Baptist provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. For more information about St. John the Baptist Catholic School, visit their website at https://sjbhschool.org.

GRACE stands for Green Bay Area Catholic Education and is a nine-school system that provides excellence in preschool through twelfth-grade education and serves the 23 Catholic parishes within the Greater Green Bay community. GRACE schools range in offerings and locations, and each has its own distinct history, focus, and parish connections. GRACE is among the largest Catholic school systems in the state of Wisconsin. To learn more, visit gracesystem.org.

By Matt Riebe, Director of Athletics and Activities, GRACE

I am honored to have been welcomed into the GRACE community since I started in my role in November 2023. This brand-new position to spearhead system-wide athletics and activities resulted from efforts involving key focus areas of the GRACE Strategic Plan. My role at GRACE is focused on helping communication and collaboration between GRACE Schools and to the greater community. GRACE is blessed with so many amazing individuals who give their time and talents to creating positive learning experiences to help our students grow and enjoy being a part of something bigger than themselves. To start, I have focused on identifying needs and supporting athletics programs, but my aim is to work on growing GRACE school activities in the near future.

My first weeks in my role revolved around ingraining myself at each GRACE school community. I met with the principals and athletic directors at each school to gather perspective on what extracurricular opportunities are currently available, common challenges faced by each school, and ideas to help build system-wide athletics at GRACE. My work has focused on creating avenues of communication for site athletic directors, booster clubs, and parish staff to work together and share knowledge between other GRACE schools and communicate effectively. 

The end goal is to find a way to communicate effectively and to cultivate environments that lead to positive experiences for students. We are working to increase participation in athletics at each school and building bridges across the system to open opportunities to play as many sports that may not be available at every school. We want to showcase the great things our schools are doing for students.

The connection with our CatholicLink partners, St. Norbert College and Notre Dame Academy, has opened up tremendous experiences for our students. We are creating amazing experiences for our students to interact and learn from high school and college student-athletes. Through this partnership, all GRACE students can attend St. Norbert College and Notre Dame Academy athletics events for free! Student-athletes from both schools are eager to give back and we are opening up opportunities for some great experiences for GRACE students.

I am very excited for the future of athletics and activities and I hope you join in on the fun!

Accomplishments

• Met with administrators at every level of athletics at each GRACE School to better understand the system, share knowledge, and provide support & guidance
• Hosted 7th and 8th grade basketball and track and field championships at St. Norbert College
• Formed a booster club at Chesterton Academy to help guide growing athletics programs and engage the school community
• Created a communication hub for all athletics seasons on gracesystem.org
• Established partnerships with area organization to supplement referee pools for games
• Met with CatholicLink partners to set up numerous collaborations such as volunteer programs, event passes to SNC/NDA games, and facility rentals
• Held an archery clinic for middle and high school students at St. John the Baptist, which included students from every GRACE school
• Guided the Holy Family Booster Club in filling their athletic director role and served as their interim athletic director to support the leadership transition

Future goals

• Growth of activity offerings and create collaborations between schools
• Introducing the GRACE Athletics Handbook to better communicate common policies and showcase opportunities for students in all sports
• Fostering athletics participation and forming independent teams at St. John Paul II and St. Thomas More
• Seek out opportunities to play other Catholic schools in our diocese

At Chesterton Academy, our Catholic Classical high school, athletics and activities have started to grow with boys and girls basketball and golf teams that finished their second seasons, as well as a chess team that finished in the top ten in the state this spring. We will be starting cross country and track & field programs starting next year, guided by the newly-created booster club to help build the necessary structure to support students and create strong high school programs.

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

Founded in 1888, St. John the Baptist School is a Catholic school in Howard where students grow in relationship with Jesus Christ, pursue high levels of academics, and are surrounded by a community rooted in Christian values. Our staff is committed to developing the whole child by nurturing each child’s academic, emotional, spiritual and behavioral development. By partnering with parents, we aim to individualize student learning in a structured environment where students grow and succeed.

St. John the Baptist 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) with open enrollment. St. John the Baptist provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. For more information about St. John the Baptist Catholic School, visit their website at https://sjbhschool.org.

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.

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

Founded in 1888, St. John the Baptist School is a Catholic school in Howard where students grow in relationship with Jesus Christ, pursue high levels of academics, and are surrounded by a community rooted in Christian values. Our staff is committed to developing the whole child by nurturing each child’s academic, emotional, spiritual and behavioral development. By partnering with parents, we aim to individualize student learning in a structured environment where students grow and succeed.

St. John the Baptist 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) with open enrollment. St. John the Baptist provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. For more information about St. John the Baptist Catholic School, visit their website at https://sjbhschool.org.

With gratitude and God’s guidance, we are delighted to share that Mrs. Gerene Thom will be joining St. John the Baptist School as Principal for the 2024-2025 school year, starting July 1, 2024. 

Mrs. Thom is a dedicated educational leader with a proven track record in enhancing student learning environments. Her exceptional skills in curriculum development, fostering student engagement, and nurturing staff growth have made her a respected figure in the field of education. With a deep commitment to building strong community relationships and implementing impactful school improvement initiatives, she brings a wealth of experience and expertise to St. John the Baptist School. 

Mrs. Thom has been serving the Unified School District of De Pere as a Kindergarten teacher since 2001. During her tenure, she has spearheaded numerous innovative programs, including the development of a district-wide Before and After School Program for students in K-4th grade, the establishment of a “Fine Motor Lab,” and the coordination of the annual district-wide fundraiser, “Redbird Rally.” She has also been instrumental in securing grants and organizing community events that celebrated district families’ cultural traditions. 

She holds an Administrative Principal Certification from St. Mary’s University, a Master of Education from Viterbo University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Iowa State University. Additionally, Mrs. Thom is a trained tutor using the Wilson Reading System and has completed various professional training programs to enhance her skills and knowledge. 

Reflecting on this new chapter, Mrs. Thom said, “I am very excited to work with St. John’s students, staff, and families. As a child, I attended a Catholic school, and I know the lifelong impact it has made on me. Building a strong Catholic faith foundation in our young students is so valuable. I look forward to this opportunity and will do my best to make a positive impact.”

GRACE President Kim Desotell expressed her enthusiasm about Mrs. Thom’s appointment, stating, “We are thrilled to welcome Mrs. Thom to St. John the Baptist School. Her visionary leadership, dedication to student development, and strong emphasis on community engagement make her an excellent choice to guide St. John the Baptist School into the future. She is eager to lead with a faith-first Catholic approach to all we do. We are confident that she will continue to uphold and enhance the values and educational excellence that our SJB community cherishes.”

This appointment was made possible through the diligent efforts of a dedicated search committee, including the thoughtful participation of parents, faculty, and staff. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all who contributed their time, prayers, and insights to this important process. 

As we prepare for an exciting 2024-2025 school year, please join us in welcoming Mrs. Gerene Thom and keeping her and the St. John the Baptist School community in your prayers. Together, let us continue to live out our faith and commitment to nurturing the hearts and minds of our students. 

Founded in 1888, St. John the Baptist School is a Catholic school in Howard where students grow in relationship with Jesus Christ, pursue high levels of academics, and are surrounded by a community rooted in Christian values. Our staff is committed to developing the whole child by nurturing each child’s academic, emotional, spiritual and behavioral development. By partnering with parents, we aim to individualize student learning in a structured environment where students grow and succeed.

St. John the Baptist 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) with open enrollment. St. John the Baptist provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. For more information about St. John the Baptist Catholic School, visit their website at https://sjbhschool.org.

GRACE stands for Green Bay Area Catholic Education and is a nine-school system that provides excellence in preschool through twelfth-grade education and serves the 23 Catholic parishes within the Greater Green Bay community. GRACE schools range in offerings and locations, and each has its own distinct history, focus, and parish connections. GRACE is among the largest Catholic school systems in the state of Wisconsin. To learn more, visit gracesystem.org.

Kindergarten

• Click here to view suggested activities.

1st Grade

• Click here to view suggested activities

2nd Grade

• Click here to view suggested activities.

3rd Grade

• Click here to view suggested activities.

4th Grade

• Click here to view suggested activities.

5th Grade

• Click here to view suggested activities.

Middle School

• Click here to view suggested activities.

Social/Emotional

• Saintly Storytime With Mrs. Kelly: Listen to Mrs. Kelly read some of your favorite books with Catholic and SEL themes. This simple and wholesome read-aloud will foster your child’s love of reading and help develop his or her social-emotional skills over the summer. 
• Social-Emotional Learning Bingo Challenge Board: Over the break, encourage your children to complete all of the tasks on the board, marking each one as completed. 
• Social-Emotional Learning Family Resources: This includes books and electronic resources you can use with your children to learn about and practice various social-emotional learning competencies. Enjoying these activities together is a great way to bond with your children while you learn! 
• Social-Emotional Learning Discussion Questions: These 25 discussion questions each address the different social-emotional learning competencies. These are great questions to ask your child at dinner, in the car, etc. The questions come in list form as well as in card form. To use the cards, cut them out and place them in a small basket, or hole punch them and place them on a book/binder ring. 
• Family Goal Sheets: Use the provided goal sheets to set goals as a family and as individuals. These are the perfect way to keep track of what you want to accomplish this summer. On both sheets, there is an area for reflection.

Places to Visit

• Click here to view a suggested list of places to visit this summer!

Founded in 1888, St. John the Baptist School is a Catholic school in Howard where students grow in relationship with Jesus Christ, pursue high levels of academics, and are surrounded by a community rooted in Christian values. Our staff is committed to developing the whole child by nurturing each child’s academic, emotional, spiritual and behavioral development. By partnering with parents, we aim to individualize student learning in a structured environment where students grow and succeed.

St. John the Baptist 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) with open enrollment. St. John the Baptist provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. For more information about St. John the Baptist Catholic School, visit their website at https://sjbhschool.org.

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!

Founded in 1888, St. John the Baptist School is a Catholic school in Howard where students grow in relationship with Jesus Christ, pursue high levels of academics, and are surrounded by a community rooted in Christian values. Our staff is committed to developing the whole child by nurturing each child’s academic, emotional, spiritual and behavioral development. By partnering with parents, we aim to individualize student learning in a structured environment where students grow and succeed.

St. John the Baptist 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) with open enrollment. St. John the Baptist provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. For more information about St. John the Baptist Catholic School, visit their website at https://sjbhschool.org.

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.

Founded in 1888, St. John the Baptist School is a Catholic school in Howard where students grow in relationship with Jesus Christ, pursue high levels of academics, and are surrounded by a community rooted in Christian values. Our staff is committed to developing the whole child by nurturing each child’s academic, emotional, spiritual and behavioral development. By partnering with parents, we aim to individualize student learning in a structured environment where students grow and succeed.

St. John the Baptist 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) with open enrollment. St. John the Baptist provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. For more information about St. John the Baptist Catholic School, visit their website at https://sjbhschool.org.

Thank you to those who were present to share in progress, successes, and goals! The slides are shared below. Reach out to Principal Vance with any questions!

Founded in 1888, St. John the Baptist School is a Catholic school in Howard where students grow in relationship with Jesus Christ, pursue high levels of academics, and are surrounded by a community rooted in Christian values. Our staff is committed to developing the whole child by nurturing each child’s academic, emotional, spiritual and behavioral development. By partnering with parents, we aim to individualize student learning in a structured environment where students grow and succeed.

St. John the Baptist 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) with open enrollment. St. John the Baptist provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. For more information about St. John the Baptist Catholic School, visit their website at https://sjbhschool.org.