Communication and Student Safety
Communication &
Student Safety
Clear communication and healthy boundaries help create a safe and positive learning environment where students can focus on learning, growing, and serving. We can reflect Christ’s love in all we do.
CARE FOR OTHERS
Relationships are an important part of life at CWC. Our relationships should reflect Christ’s love and provide a safe setting for students to learn, grow, and serve. We care deeply for the students entrusted to us and believe that by providing clear communication and setting healthy boundaries, we can create a safe, positive learning environment for all our students.
SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE
CWC’s communication expectations are designed to help protect students, support appropriate professional boundaries, and ensure school-related communication is safe, transparent and consistent.
WISCONSIN ACT 89
Recently adopted Wisconsin Act 89 requires public and private schools to establish policies for appropriate communication between employees or volunteers acting in their school roles and students, during and outside school hours. It requires annual employee training in identifying, preventing, and reporting grooming and professional boundary violations.
COMMUNICATION CHANNELS AT CWC
Using school-approved channels helps families know where to find information and how to reach the right person. It also supports school oversight and appropriate handling of school-related conversations. Those communication channels include:
ParentSquare: Parent Square brings together school announcements, classroom updates, team information, and direct communication with teachers and coaches.
FACTS: FACTS serves families for enrollment, grades, tuition, and lunch accounts.
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For school-related conversations, please use a school approved communication platform. If you contact a staff member through a personal text message or social media account about a school matter, they may direct the conversation to an approved channel (such as email or Parent Square). This helps us follow consistent expectations across classrooms, teams, and activities.
These expectations apply when staff members and volunteers are acting in their CWC roles, including outside the school day.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR FAMILIES?
Families should:
- Use the approved communication channels provided by the school, teacher, or coach
- Keep contact information current and review school messages regularly.
- Complete required volunteer steps before serving.
- Share concerns through the reporting contacts listed below.
For help with communication tools, contact the school office at 920-324-4233 or email office@wearecwc.org.
VOLUNTEERS AT CWC
Volunteers are an essential part of our school community. Parents, grandparents, church members, and other supporters help make many CWC experiences possible. We are grateful for the ways you serve God’s Kingdom at our school.
As part of our student safety practices, CWC is expanding its volunteer screening process. Depending on the role, volunteers will be asked to provide additional information, complete a background check, and review expectations for working and communicating with students. These steps help us apply consistent safeguards and prepare volunteers for their responsibilities. Familiarity with a family or a volunteer does not replace the school’s approval process.
Volunteers that have direct contact with students in their role will be contacted by the office to complete a background check and training.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Wisconsin Act 89 requires public and private schools to establish policies for appropriate communication between school employees or volunteers acting in their school roles and students. These expectations apply during and outside school hours. The law also requires annual employee training in identifying, preventing, and reporting grooming and professional boundary violations. At CWC, these requirements support our responsibility to care for students and maintain healthy, appropriate relationships.
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Clear communication strengthens our partnership between home and school. Using consistent channels helps families find important information, reach the right person, and stay connected to their child’s education. School-approved channels also support accountability and appropriate oversight of school-related conversations. They help us care for students while supporting the teachers, coaches, and volunteers who serve them.
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ParentSquare is the primary place for school announcements, classroom updates, team information, and direct messages to teachers and coaches. FACTS continues to serve families for enrollment, grades, tuition, and lunch accounts. If you are unsure where to direct a question, contact the school office. We will help you connect with the appropriate person
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Please use CWC’s approved channels for school-related conversations. If you contact a staff member through a personal phone number or social media account, they may direct the conversation to ParentSquare or another approved channel. Following the same process across classrooms, teams, and activities helps keep communication consistent and accountable.
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Our shared relationships are a valued part of the CWC community. When a conversation involves someone’s responsibilities at CWC, please use the school-approved communication channel—even if you also have a personal relationship. For example, a question about your child’s classroom experience or team schedule should go through an approved school channel. If you are unsure how the expectations apply to a particular situation, contact the school office.
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A notification delivered through ParentSquare is different from a personal text conversation with a staff member. ParentSquare can deliver school messages through text, email, or the app while keeping the communication within the school’s system. Receiving a school notification on your phone does not mean it was sent from a staff member’s personal account
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Employees and volunteers acting in their CWC roles must follow the school’s communication policy. Conversations should be appropriate to the student’s age and the adult’s responsibilities, and use approved methods. These expectations apply to classroom communication as well as coaching, clubs, trips, and other school activities
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Yes. Communication expectations apply when employees and volunteers are acting in their CWC roles, including evenings, weekends, school breaks, and off-campus activities. The purpose of the communication and the adult’s role matter, even when a conversation takes place away from school
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ParentSquare is available through a web browser as well as its mobile app. Families can also choose notification preferences. If you need help accessing your account or receiving school information, contact the school office. We want every family to remain connected.
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Volunteers help make many CWC experiences possible, and we are grateful for your willingness to serve. CWC is expanding its volunteer screening process as part of its broader commitment to student safety. Gathering information, completing background checks for designated roles, and reviewing expectations help us prepare volunteers and apply consistent safeguards. Act 89 addresses communication policies and employee training. CWC’s expanded background-check process is a school safety measure alongside those requirements.
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Anyone serving in a role covered by CWC’s screening requirements must complete the required steps, including parents, grandparents, and returning volunteers. Knowing someone personally or having served previously does not replace the approval process for a covered role. Consistent expectations help us care well for students and support everyone who volunteers.
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Requirements may depend on the responsibilities of the role. Attending an event as a guest or spectator is different from serving as a volunteer. CWC will contact you if you additional information is needed for your volunteer role.