Assumption Catholic Schools Wrapped up the 2022-23 School Year
In total at the end of the year, there were 419 students enrolled in grades K-12 and an additional 42 at the early childhood center
2015 457
2016 428
2017 402
2018 391
2019 390
2020 387
2021 410
2022 419
Enrollment for 2023-24 is still ongoing but a projected 442 students in K-12 is possible. We continue to offer 2 sections of each grade K-8. Our primary enrollment area is the greater Wisconsin Rapids area but we do have students from as far away as Rosholt and Necedah, plus a few international students. (Spain and Vietnam)
ACT scores taken by the 11th grade students. The 2023 state average was not available at this time
- 2019 23.4
- 2020 24.2
- 2021 20.4
- 2023 23.0
Math and English Language Arts remain priority areas for Assumption Catholic Schools. Based on a variety of standardized tests our schools are making progress.
% Proficient Math at or above 40th percentile
OLQH 76.0%
SVDP 75.0%
MS HS 71.0%
% Proficient English at or above 40th percentile
OLQH 88.0%
SVDP 69.0%
MS HS 55.0%
The new English Language Arts books at the K-5 level purchased in 2021-22 have begun to improve scores and a focus on phonics will be priority for 2022-23. For the 2023-24 school year a new math series from Memoria Press was selected. This book returns the focus in math to mastery of skills which then build on each other at the higher levels.
Campus Ministry Highlights of the year
Spring 2023 - Chris Stefanick presentation
through out the year
Steubenville brought many students closer to the Faith. This year, Assumption has nearly doubled the amount of participants going to a Steubenville conference compared to last year with about 40 young people.
There were 11 students total from the entire system who were accepted into the Faith this last year during the Easter Season.
A couple new ministries turned out to be very successful. The Dead Theologians Society is a fun youth group. "Arise" is a new middle school youth group meeting monthly that students greatly enjoy.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd continues in grades K-5
Daily Mass offered at the Assumption building
Weekly Mass at the elementary buildings
Multiple opportunities for Sacrament of Reconciliation
grade and school level retreats
Virtue=Strength
In 2019 we began working with this program. Initially, it was designed to infuse our Catholic faith deeper into the athletic program with prayers, ceremonies and other activities but in the past two years, we have expanded it to include virtue lessons into the daily life of the K-12 program. To see an example of one way these materials are used please visit the president's blog on the web site.
The community of the Wisconsin Rapids Deanery will thrive as shown by a renewal of synergy between parishes and educational apostolates, shared commitment to the mission and growth of the Church, and excellent formation of students, teachers, and catechists.
We aspire to uphold the characteristics of Catholic Schools as defined by Archbishop James Miller;
Centered in the Person of Jesus Christ
Contributing to the Evangelizing Mission of the Church
Distinguished by Excellence
Educating the Whole Child
Steeped in a Catholic Worldview
Sustained by Gospel Witness
Shaped by Communion and Community
Accessible to All Students
Established by the Express Authority of the Bishop
Each year the Diocese of La Crosse administers a test of religion knowledge to all students in grades 5, 8 and 11. For purposes of interpretation, the Diocese considers a score of 85% or better mastered, 70 - 85% proficient and below 70% as needs improvement.
The 2022-23 results
5th grade 76.09% (diocesan average 72.12%)
8th grade 66.09% (diocesan average 74.73%)
11th grade 67.3% (diocesan average 63.00%)
August 2022
Eucharistic Revival - Blessing of Classrooms and Eucharistic procession around Assumption Catholic MS and HS
Fall Sports
Cross Country - conference champions, state qualifier, 4th place individual girl's
Tennis - sectional qualifiers
Volleyball- regional champions
Football- first conference championship since 1975, WIAA playoffs
December 2022
Christmas concerts at all schools
January 2023
During Homecoming and Catholic Schools Week, all K-12 students and staff join together to celebrate mass. We were blessed this year to have Bishop William Callahan celebrate Catholic Schools Week Mass with us at St. Peter and Paul Church.
HS students participated in March for Life
Winter Sports
Girl's Basketball - conference and regional champions
First ever girl's wrestling state qualifiers (2 wrestlers)
March 2023
8th grade trip to Washington DC
Assumption Talent Show
April 2023
11 students completed their Rite of Christian Initiation and were welcomed into the Catholic Church
Spring Sports
Bella Thomas 100 meter girls division 3 state champion, 200 meter girls division 3 silver medal and broke a 40 year old school record in the 200 meter
Softball- conference, regional and sectional champions, state qualifier
Soccer - conference, regional champions
Golf - sectional qualifiers
WIAA Division 4 Female Athlete of the Year - Kristin Casey
Highlights from the Schools
St. Lawrence ECC
Our Lady Queen of Heaven
- Visits by Magnolia a poodle reading dog
- As part of our homebound parishioner ministry, our students write “Thinking of You” notes which are being sent to local homebound parishioners.
- Members of the Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings Hockey team and Paul Pechmann, General Manager and Head Coach, have graciously volunteered their time by coming into our school and participating in physical education classes with our students.
- With the help of Royal Parents, who supplied a portion of the funding, we have had a portable planetarium visit our school as well as local children’s author Lisl Detlefsen.
St. Vincent de Paul
- 5th grade rocketry program and demonstration by the Civil Air Patrol
- Bridge to Bridge walk for fitness
- Reading is a fundamental piece of what we do in grades 3-5. Our book clubs are a favorite part of our day. The more we read, the more we know. The more we know, the more places we go. Our teachers find so many ways to keep our reading program strong. More and more students are reaching and surpassing their goal of reading a million words.
- Our Family Fun Night was planned for March and included reading, math, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and Family Fitness. Bringing us all together creates relationships that can become stronger each year. We are currently working towards bringing more family events throughout the year.
- The Meade/Witter Foundation made possible our performance of The Barber of Seville through the Opera for the Young program. Students tried out for speaking choir parts. We performed for the school and our visitors. We are currently working towards a new sound system and risers.
Assumption Catholic Middle and High Schools
- A Feast of the Assumption Family Event was hosted at our Assumption campus.
- High school class options have been expanded to include Family and Consumer Education and Building Trades.
- Sacred Art and stairway prayers have been added throughout campus and a Holy Family statue has been added to the grounds outside.
Completed Chapel renovation
New carpet, ceilings and lights select rooms at SVDP and the MS HS building
Asbestos abatement continues
Outdoor seating at SVDP
New boilers and water heater at MS HS
New cafeteria floor
Ceilings and lights at MS HS and SVDP
Carpet at SLECC
Rooftop heating/cooling units at MS HS
Holy Family Statue and garden
Sacred Art
Planned for Summer 2023
HVAC work at OLQH
Roof at SVDP
Water bottle station on 3rd floor at Assumption
repair to the Mary statue and wall at Assumption
Remodel boy's restroom at OLQH
Roof on the athletic hallway at Assumption
Central offices relocated to SVDP rectory to make more classroom space in the Assumption building
new white boards at Assumption and SVDP
Partial list of Future needs
Windows, ceilings, lights and window treatments at OLQH
Window treatments at SVDP
parking lot at Assumption
finish floor, ceilings and lights in last 4 classrooms at Assumption
parking lot work at SVDP and Assumption
Each school completed a self study between Spring 2020 to Fall 2021. In October 2021, a team of 20 school administrators from various schools in the Diocese reviewed our self study and visited the schools. The end result was a set of reports for the four schools that will be used to form a part of our strategic plan for the next six years. Accreditation is outside validation that says we are following best practices and can prove we are doing what we say we are doing. Assumption Catholic Schools has full accreditation from WRISA.
The 4 domains are:
Mission and Catholic Identity
The Church’s teaching mission includes inviting young people to a relationship with Jesus Christ or deepening an existing relationship with Jesus, inserting young people into the life of the Church, and assisting young people to see and understand the role of faith in one’s daily life and in the larger society. “This unique Catholic identity makes our Catholic elementary and secondary schools ‘schools for the human person’ and allows them to fill a critical role in the future life of our Church, our country and our world”
Governance and Leadership
Central to the mission of the Church is the work of Catholic school education. The success of this mission depends on the key components of effective governance, which provides direction or authority, and leadership, which ensures effective operations. Catholic school governance and leadership can be seen as a ministry that promotes and protects the responsibilities and rights of the school community. Governance and leadership based on the principles and practices of excellence are essential to insuring the Catholic identity, academic excellence, and operational vitality of the school. Although governance models vary based on the sponsorship of the school, those who serve on the governing body or leadership team in Catholic schools provide for an environment for the teaching of doctrine and Sacred Scripture, the building and experiencing of community, the serving of others, and the opportunity for worship.
Academic Excellence
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops affirms the message of the Congregation on Catholic Education that intellectual development of the person and growth as a Christian go forward hand in hand. Rooted in the mission of the Church, the Catholic school brings faith, culture and life together in harmony. In 2005, the bishops noted that “young people of the third millennium must be a source of energy and leadership in our Church and our nation. And, therefore, we must provide young people with an academically rigorous and doctrinally sound program of education” (Renewing Our Commitment to Catholic Elementary and Secondary School is in the Third Millennium, 2005). The essential elements of “an academically rigorous and doctrinally sound program” mandate curricular experiences—including co-curricular and extra-curricular activities— which are rigorous, relevant, research-based, and infused with Catholic faith and traditions. The following essential elements provide a framework for the design, implementation, and assessment of authentic academic excellence in Catholic school education from prekindergarten through secondary school.
Operational Vitality
Catholic schools are temporal organizations committed to the Church and the mission of Catholic education including a commitment to a culture of excellence and rigor. These schools exist in a milieu of constant socioeconomic challenges grounded in continuous need for sustainable financial planning, human resource/personnel management and professional formation, facilities maintenance and enhancement, and the requirement for institutional advancement and contemporary communication. Catholic schools must adopt and maintain standards for operational vitality in these areas and define the norms and expectations for fundamental procedures to support and ensure viability and sustainability. When a school does not maintain standards for operational vitality, the continuation of academic excellence is in grave jeopardy. Over time, even an academically rigorous school with strong Catholic identity will not survive without operational vitality. Standards for operational vitality must focus on the “operation” of the school—how it works and how it is supported—in four key areas: finances, human resources/personnel, facilities, and institutional advancement. The leader/leadership team must manage each area and be subject to the direct oversight of the governing body in these matters.
