St. Mary's Springs Academy (SMSA), a pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade Archdiocesan Catholic educational system, recently partnered with Marian University, a Catholic university in the Agnesian tradition, to increase opportunities for families, professionals and students living in the Fond du Lac community and beyond.
The cover photo depicts from left to right, Doug Olig, lead principal of SMSA; Kevin Shaw, president of SMSA; Dr. Steven DiSalvo, president of Marian; and Stacey Akey, vice president of enrollment management at Marian, signing the agreement at the ceremony.
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The Archdiocese of Milwaukee Office for Schools is recognizing several schools in the revised Exemplary Schools Program, re-launched in the 2009-10 school year.
Previously part of the accreditation process, the Exemplary Schools Program is now a separate process to identify schools with exceptional programs. Schools applied for recognition in several categories by submitting written applications. Schools with superior written applications were selected to be visited by a team of experts. After the site visits, the following schools were identified as having exemplary programs:
These schools will be honored at the Archdiocesan Educators Convention in October. A new application cycle will begin in the spring of 2011.
The Catholic Schools Strategic Marketing Plan received top honors at the annual Paragon Awards Tuesday, May 25. The Paragon Awards are sponsored by the Public Relations Society of America’s Southeastern Wisconsin chapter.
The marketing plan received an excellence award for “Grassroots Marketing” – the only entry to receive an excellence award in that category. Additionally, the marketing plan was one of just four entries to be finalists for the overall “Best in Show” award.
Nearly 100 entries in about 20 categories were submitted to independent judges in New York. The Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s Catholic Schools Strategic Marketing Plan impressed the judges with its guerilla approach to marketing.
Launched in the spring of 2009, the marketing plan turns existing marketing strategies upside down by placing 60% of the focus on the internal Ambassador and 30% on Prospects. After just one year of implementation, the plan is already producing tangible results in the archdiocese’s 127 Catholic schools – principals are attributing upwards of 380 new students for the 2010-11 school year to the plan’s tactics and tools.
The Communication Office of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee partnered with Emerald Isle Marketing PR to develop the Catholic Schools Strategic Marketing Plan.
PRSA is the largest community of public relations and communications professionals in the United States. The Paragon Awards were established in 1983 to honor creative and strategic public relations and marketing excellence.
Congratulations to all of the Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee!
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee announced today that Kathleen Cepelka, Ph.D., has been hired as superintendent of Catholic Schools. "Dr. Cepelka brings exceptional credentials to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee," Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki said. "She will be an asset to our school staff, parents, students and supporters of Catholic schools. Kathleen has a passion for education, especially Catholic education." In her role with the archdiocese, Cepelka will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies that promote and enhance quality Catholic education. “What I believe about Catholic education, and what I’ve attempted to develop in all the Catholic schools where I’ve ministered over those years, has been profoundly and permanently influenced by post-Vatican II Church documents on Catholic education, particularly To Teach as Jesus Did,” Cepelka said. “Authentic Catholic schools, I believe, are vibrant communities of faith in which the message of the Gospel is regularly taught and responsibly lived, communities of worship in which every aspect of school life is rooted in prayer, and communities of service that prepare their graduates to effect positive societal change.”
Cepelka, a Whitefish Bay resident and member of both Gesu Parish and the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, received a Ph.D. in education administration from Marquette University in 1992. She holds master's degrees from the University of St. Thomas and Ball State University and received a bachelor's degree from Marian University. Dr. Cepelka has spent over 40 years serving Catholic schools in various capacities. Her work at Marquette University College of Education has included service as both a full and part-time faculty member. She currently serves as the associate dean of the College of Education and is director of teacher education. She also actively supports numerous organizations including Pius XI High School Board of Directors, the Dominican High School Leadership Transition Team, Saint Clare Center Advisory Board, and the Capuchin Province of St. Joseph Public Relations Ministry, Schools’ Theology and Faith Formation Committee. In addition, she is co-chair of the Greater Milwaukee Catholic Education Consortium (GMCEC). As superintendent, Cepelka will oversee the operation of 13 secondary and 114 elementary schools in the 10-county Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Cepelka will begin on July 1.