President's Report
President's Report
Siena Catholic Schools of Racine ignites a spirit of excellence in faith, knowledge, and service,
inspiring students to be who God created them to be.
June/July 2026
Embedded Files
From the President
From the President
June/July
Graduation 2026
As we close out another beautiful school year, during the week of June we celebrate the meaningful milestones of our 8th-grade and high school graduates (Graduation Schedule 2026). For many of these students, their journey began in 3K or Kindergarten at Siena, making this moment especially joyful as we reflect on the privilege of watching them grow, learn, and flourish over the years. Their accomplishments are a testament not only to their dedication but also to the unwavering commitment of our staff, who have nurtured their gifts, instilled our mission, and prepared them with the knowledge, faith, and confidence needed for a successful transition to the next chapter of their lives. We give thanks to the many individuals who provided their love to each student.
St. Catherine's Baccalaureate Mass
What a touching moment as the St. Catherine's Class of 2026 gathered for Baccalaureate Mass. We were reminded of the profound gift of the Eucharist, a sacred moment where Christ meets us and strengthens us for the journey ahead. In this celebration, our graduates were not only honored, but blessed, sent forth with faith, hope, and love. May they always carry the grace of the Mass in their hearts, trusting that God walks with them in every step of what lies ahead. Thank you to Father Juan and Father Richter for celebrating this special Mass. Cannot wait to watch as they celebrate their graduation this Sunday. Congratulations to all. You have made us all very proud! (VIDEO)
Parish Festivals - THANK YOU!
I had the privilege of witnessing something truly special—our Siena Catholic Schools staff living our mission beyond the walls of our schools.
To each of you who generously gave your weekend time to volunteer at our community festivals, thank you. Your willingness to serve with joyful hearts is a beautiful reflection of who we are as a Catholic school family. Time is one of the greatest gifts we can offer, and your commitment to serving our parish communities did not go unnoticed.
These festivals were about so much more than volunteering. They were an opportunity to strengthen the bonds between our schools and our parishes, reminding everyone that we are one Catholic family united in faith, service, and love. Your presence demonstrated the spirit of hospitality, compassion, and collaboration that defines Siena Catholic Schools.
At the same time, each conversation, every smile, and every welcoming interaction helped share the incredible story of our schools. You became ambassadors for Catholic education, showcasing the joy, excellence, and faith-filled community that our students, families, and staff experience each day. Together, we planted seeds that will continue to grow throughout our city.
Thank you for representing Siena Catholic Schools with such grace, generosity, and enthusiasm. I am deeply grateful for your servant hearts, your dedication to our mission, and your unwavering commitment to building stronger relationships within our parish and greater Racine community.
May God continue to bless each of you for the countless ways you serve others with love. I am incredibly proud to serve alongside such an extraordinary team.
St. Leo the Great - Community Mass
This celebration of Mass during our St. Leo the Great Festival was a powerful reminder of God's goodness and the many blessings He pours upon our Catholic community. We were deeply honored to welcome Archbishop Grob and are grateful to all who joined us in prayer, fellowship, and worship.
As we came together under one roof, we witnessed the beauty of our diverse community united by one faith, one Church, and one mission. In those moments, we were reminded that Christ continues to transform us into one strong Catholic family, rooted in love, hope, and service.
A heartfelt thank you to all of our priests throughout Racine for their faithful leadership, joyful witness, and unwavering commitment to shepherding our communities. Your ministry inspires us each day.
May we always remain grateful for the gift of the Eucharist, the blessings of our Catholic faith, and the countless ways God continues to bring us together in unity. What a joyful celebration of faith, community, and the goodness of God!
Theme Kick- Off - "Doing Small Things with Great Love"
As we begin the 2026–27 school year, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who helped bring our Welcome Back Theme to life.
This year's theme, "Doing Small Things with Great Love," reminds us that the greatest impact is often found in the smallest acts of kindness, compassion, patience, and service. Every smile shared with a student, every word of encouragement offered to a colleague, every lesson prepared with care, and every moment of grace shown throughout the day reflect Christ's love in action.
May this theme guide our hearts and our work throughout the year as we continue to serve one another with joy, purpose, and great love.
Wishing each of you a blessed and inspiring 2026–2027 school year!
*As a reminder, Dr.Sue'sViews videos are on Siena's FB site. Please check the videos and other key communications and "Like" or "Love" us.
Catholic Identity
Catholic Identity
New Priests
We say goodbye to Fr. Juan, Fr. Michael, Fr. Richter, and Fr. Joseph H. Thank you for all you have done for us. We will miss you and are praying for you.
We are excited to welcome
Fr. Jose Mario Nieto
Fr. Jose is the pastor of the newly formed St. Leo the Great Parish in Racine, WI. Originally from Colombia, he transitioned from a background in engineering and mission work to the priesthood, uniquely bridging the gap between faith and the natural sciences.
Fr. Joel Kolb
Fr. Joel Kolb is a recently ordained priest for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Prior to the seminary, he served in the U.S. Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer. A native of West Bend, WI, he entered Saint Francis de Sales Seminary and was ordained in May 2026.
He will primarily be working with the High School students at St. Catherine’s High School.
Fr. Andrew Swietlik
Father Andrew Swietlik is a newly ordained priest for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, having completed his formation at Saint Francis de Sales Seminary. Before discerning his vocation, he earned an Electrical Engineering degree from UW-Madison and took organ lessons, giving him a unique and analytical background. Growing up in Elm Grove, Wisconsin as one of 10 children, Fr. Swietlik brings a strong sense of community and family-focused leadership to his ministry. He balances this warmth with a dedication to prayer and a willingness to make deep personal sacrifices for his flock.
He will primarily be working with the Elementary School students.
Fr. Mark Obeten
Fr. Mark Obeten is a dedicated priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and a highly regarded educator at Catholic Memorial High School. Known for his contagious joy and pastoral care, he brings a strong background in teaching, theology, and ministry to the community. He spent several years at St. Jude the Apostle Parish in Wauwatosa before moving into his recent assignment as Shared Associate Pastor across four parishes: St. Louis (Caledonia), Saint Mary (Racine), St. Paul the Apostle (Racine), and St. Rita (Racine).
He will be working with St. Rita’s school students.
Vacation Bible School
St. Lucy - JUNE (pictures)
St. Patrick - JULY
St. Mary By The Lake - AUGUST
Steubenville
5 Students going with St. Lucy Parish to Steubenville Catholic Youth Conference
Weekend went really well and all the kids had a great time.
Catholic Heart Mission Trip
5 Students going to Catholic Heart Mission Trip in July
LEAVING ON SUNDAY!
K-8 Religion Curriculum PD
New Religion Curriculum for K-8 Schools
Alive In Christ
Family Life RCL Benzinger
Books are now in and we had a Professional Development Morning to learn about the books
Non-religion teachers met together to go over ideas of how to integrate religion into their classrooms.
Graduation 2026
Graduation 2026
St. Joseph Catholic School -8th Grade Graduates! - Siena Catholic Schools of Racine.MOV53 Years - Ken's Kiedrowicz's Retirement
53 Years - Ken's Kiedrowicz's Retirement
After 53 years in education, your legacy is not measured in years, but in the countless lives you have shaped with wisdom, faith, knowledge, patience, and unwavering care. You have been a steady light for generations of students, guiding them not only in knowledge, but in character and purpose. Your classroom was more than a place of learning—it was a place of belonging, encouragement, and growth. As you step into this new chapter, may you carry with you the gratitude of all who were blessed to learn from you and the deep knowledge that your impact will endure for years to come. Congratulations Ken! You are loved and will be missed greatly.
July 3 Feast Day of St. Thomas
July 3 Feast Day of St. Thomas
St. Thomas the Apostle was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ and is a revered saint in Christian tradition. He is best known for initially doubting reports of Jesus' resurrection until seeing the risen Christ himself. His feast day is celebrated on July 3 in the Roman Catholic calendar and by many other Christian communities.
Almighty and ever living God, who didst strengthen thine apostle Thomas with sure and certain faith in thy Son's resurrection: Grant us so perfectly and without doubt to believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God, that our faith may never be found wanting in thy sight; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen
Groundbreaking Ceremony for Project 2026
Groundbreaking Ceremony for Project 2026
YOUTUBE: Project 2026
All Saints Festival (Northwest Parishes) 2026
All Saints Festival (Northwest Parishes) 2026
Saints on the Lake Festival 2026
Saints on the Lake Festival 2026
Projects
Projects
PROJECT 2026/2027
Groundbreaking
Project 2026 groundbreaking took place on May 28 at 10 a.m. St. Catherine’s High School (see photos above). It was a wonderful event!
Timeline and Meetings
Continue work on Project 2027
The Executive Operations Committee met on July 1 to review key action items and timeline
Contractor bids, interviews and review will take place in August
Project 2027 Proxies
Proxy C to the building commission on Oct. 8
Proxy D to the building commission on Dec. 3
For more information, please see the Link to the Project 2026-2027 homepage
St. Catherine's Main Entrance
St. Catherine's Main Entrance
Academics
Academics
Siena Summer School
St. Catherine's High School June 10-July 8 at SCHS (English, Algebra, Credit Recovery, Speed and Strength Training)
Siena Grade Schools (grades 5K-8) June 25-July 22 at John Paul II Academy (Literacy/Reading, Math, Creative Arts, PE, Civics, & Character Education)
Summer Professional Learning - administration/staff have been busy engaging in summer learning as well. A few examples are:
ISTE/ASCD National Conference focused on educational technology and leadership
Science of Reading Mini-Con for K-5 Teachers
Book study on HS mathematics through the Closing the Achievement Gap Consortium
Gear Up for TCI's Back to School Summit focused on social studies instruction/curriculum resources
National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) - Learn Spanish for Catholic School Life
Human Resources
Human Resources
New Hires:
05/27/2026 Jalen Johnson - Custodian at St. Joseph
06/08/2026 - Kayla Mickelson - Custodian at OLOGA
06/29/2026 - Terri Huck - Principal Substitute at St. Lucy
07/07/2026 - Shannon Yeargin - Executive Administrative Assistant
Separations:
05/29/2026 Rogelio Moreno - Custodian at SCHS
05/31/2026 Caroline Kennedy - Custodian at
06/16/2026 Linsey Liebherr - Counselor at St. Rita/St. Lucy
06/18/2026 Jose Maldonado Religion Teacher at SCHS
06/19/2026 Kellie Rapp - Director of Admissions for Siena
06/19/2026 Becca Shurman - HR Manager for Siena
26/27 Recruiting Update
Updated July 7, 2026
Operations
Operations
Project 2026 (SCHS Main Entry Safe/Secure Entry) continues on-track for both timeline and budget. Footings for the new entry landing and ramp are being poured and completed. Demo on the interior and all asbestos abatement was completed without major issues. Bukacek continues to do a great job managing the project milestones.
Summer school concludes at SCHS on July 8 and the additional construction renovation projects will begin in the cafeteria and loading ramp by Door 5 next week. Ceiling asbestos abatement was completed so the new kitchen valance can be installed. Both projects will be managed so they are completed on-time and under-budget. These were funded by a grant from Love One Another thru the Archdiocese.
New contract school night cleaning companies were sourced, vetted and selected due to dissatisfaction with the previous vendor. The locations are SCHS, John Paul II Academy, the Villa and Main Street office suites. CSS started service at JPIIA for summer school and has gotten off to an excellent start. We are hopeful that this increases the quality of requested services and demonstrates that we hold our contractors accountable.
The FEMA school safety grant is still on-hold and no announcements have been received despite promises numerouls times. The new 2026-27 cycle has opened and we are resubmitting our 2025-26 package.
SCHS Water Heater replacement will begin in mid-late July following the completion of summer school. The existing water heaters are beyond their life cycle and a grant was received thru Love One Another to replace them. Currently, the kitchen has unable to get their dishwasher to heat to proper santization temperatures so they have been forced to hand-wash or use disposable items. The new heaters will resolve this issue.
Summer cleaning and maintenance tasks continue to be worked on at all non-summer school locations. The Operations team will ensure things are ready to go in August for the new school year.
An Operations training day will be held in late-July to increase maintenance knowledge of our team and plan for the start of the school year.
Advancement
Advancement
Admissions, Enrollment, Financial Aid & Choice
During our 8th grade graduation celebration, we were honored to recognize the graduates who will continue their faith-filled educational journey at St. Catherine's. These students took part in our first-ever Angel Pinning Ceremony, establishing a special new tradition at Siena that we look forward to carrying on for years to come.
To celebrate our graduating 8th graders who will soon become freshmen at St. Catherine's, each student received a "Property of St. Cat's" T-shirt as a special welcome into the Angel family. We are proud to support them as they take this next step and look forward to witnessing their growth in faith, knowledge, leadership, and service during their time at St. Cat's.
Admissions is also working on completing our Admissions resource book and standard operating procedures to ensure consistency in the Siena family of schools.
This financial aid season, I have had the opportunity to meet one-on-one with families to discuss financial assistance and better understand their individual circumstances. We know that life changes, and what a family needed last year may not be what will help them this year. Taking the time to have these conversations has been a wonderful experience, enabling us to respond more thoughtfully to each family's needs. This personalized approach has proven to be successful and has organically become an important part of how we support our Siena families.
The July Choice application period is open through July 20. During our summer hours, we encourage families who need assistance with the admissions or Choice process to schedule a time to meet with our team.
Upcoming Choice application windows for the 2026–2027 school year:
• July 1–20
• August 1–20 (final application period for the 2026–2027 school year)We're here to help and look forward to supporting your family through the enrollment process!
Parents are encouraged to apply through the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program Parent Application Portal.
The new St. Catherine's Scholarship Bulletin Board is officially up! We are proud of the many students who have taken the initiative to apply for scholarships, and we are thrilled to celebrate the numerous students who have already been awarded scholarship opportunities. The Admissions Team has been inspired by the dedication, thoughtfulness, and heart reflected in their applications and writing. We congratulate our students on their achievements and look forward to all they will accomplish in the future.
Development & Alumni Relations
Development activity has focused on donor engagement, campaign planning, and strengthening the systems needed to support long-term fundraising growth.
Wrapping up the Fiscal Year:
Fiscal Year End Appeal going out in support of the St. Catherine's Annual Fund.
Will finish the 25/26 year ahead of budget in revenue and below budget in expenses.
Additional updates:
Development will be gathering with fellow Advancement Team members, Dr. Sue, and Michelle Stokes to review Siena’s strategic plan goals and progress updates to better align development priorities with measurable outcomes, revenue growth, donor engagement, and long-term campaign readiness.
Plans to improve our data and database are underway, as we partnered with Blackbaud to identify and prioritize areas to address.
Development continues to review existing development-related policies. It is working collaboratively with other departments to create and refine policies that strengthen department structure, clarify processes, and support consistent fundraising and donor stewardship.
Development is building a comprehensive partnership and sponsorship framework to support Siena programs, events, and broader institutional priorities.
Planning is underway for Siena Ignites (October 29, 2026), a new event designed to strengthen community engagement, expand sponsorship opportunities, and support Siena’s broader development strategy.
Project 2026 Groundbreaking Ceremony
Development is working with the St. Catherine’s High School Foundation to update templates, strengthen documentation, and improve consistency in gift acknowledgments, donor agreements, and related processes.
Marketing & Communications
New SCHS website development is heading towards final stages. We are working closely with the DesignsTouch developers to finalize content for a mutli-functional and user-friendly website.
We are beginning to look at options for a new Siena website, where all schools will be located under the same site.
Marketing campaigns underway to promote open positions for the upcoming school year.
Siena has ads running with the Racine Theater Guild, Visit Racine, RAMAC, Racine Interfaith Coalition, and Woodman's - please keep an eye out!
Technology
Technology
All iPads and Chromebooks recieved, will begin setting up devices week of July 13
Saved almost 50% of Project 2026 budget and was still able to purchase all technology.
Was able to get SCHS rewired for paging and bell systems at a large discount.
Was donated over $20k in network equipment for SCHS
Finance
Finance
The 26/27 operating budget has been approved by the Board of Directors.
Meetings held with the CFO of The Archdiocese of Milwaukee as well as VP Commercial Lending at Town Bank, regarding the positive growth in cash flow and debt usage.
Budget Manager training is being developed and will be presented during the 26/27 Back-to-School Days. This is a workshop/training session hosted by David for all of Siena's budget managers. Key Points will include:
Proper planning and oversight of departmental budgets.
Processes and procedures for procurement, including purchase orders, use of restricted funds, and new vendor onboarding.
Expectations and accountability.
Siena Catholic Schools of Racine
Siena Catholic Schools of Racine
Mission: Siena Catholic Schools of Racine ignites a spirit of excellence in faith, knowledge, and service, inspiring students to be who God created them to be.
Vision: Rooted in the teachings of Christ and His Church, Siena Catholic Schools of Racine is a premier option for Catholic Education, empowering all members of the Siena Community to live out their vocations in the world as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Values:
Collaboration: We strengthen our community by fostering relationships with families, parishioners, and partners.
Innovation: We cultivate creative thinkers who transform problems into possibilities in an ever-changing society.
Education: We develop the whole child in spirit, mind, and body through Catholic teachings.
Excellence: We foster a faith-filled environment in which high standards guide exceptional performance.
Service: We care for God’s creation by fostering faith, learning, and responsible stewardship.
Tradition: We honor our Dominican roots through prayer, study, service, and community.
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