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Contact Information



Prairie Catholic School and Parishes


  • Prairie Catholic School Office - (608) 326-8624

  • Prairie Catholic Day Care - (608) 326-5383

  • St. Gabriel's Church Rectory - (608) 326-2404

  • St. John's Church Rectory - (608) 326-6511

Administration

Rev. James C. Weighner -- Pastor

Fr. Weighner was born on Oct. 10, 1960 in Waukon, Iowa, the 7th of Philip and Catherine Weighner’s 13 children. He graduated from Allamakee Sr. High school in 1979 and from Loras College in 1984 with a degree in Business Management. He worked for his families manufacturing business and farming operation until entering seminary in 1997. He received his degree in Philosophy from the Athenaeum Pontificium Regina Apostolorum in 2001, after which he began his studies for the Diocese of La Crosse. His first two years of theology were at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Oh, and he graduated from Mundelein Seminary in 2007. On June 11, 2007 he was ordained by Bishop Jerome Listecki for the diocese of La Crosse.

His first assignment was as Associate Pastor at Notre Dame Parish in Chippewa Falls and Sacred Heart parish in Jim Falls, and as chaplain and instructor at McDonell high school and Notre Dame middle school. After one year, he was assigned to Holy Ghost parish in Chippewa Falls and St. Bridget’s parish as Associate Pastor while retaining his chaplain duties. In July of 2009 he was named Parochial Administrator of St John Nepomucene Parish and St Gabriel Parish in Prairie du Chien and Sacred Heart Parish in Wauzeka. In 2011, Fr. Weighner was relieved from his responsibilities as administrator for Sacred Heart parish in Wauzeka and named pastor of St. John's and St Gabriel's in Prairie du Chien, followed by being named pastor of the newly formed Holy Family parish of Prairie du Chien in 2012.
07/2009

pastor@prairiecatholic.org

(608)-326-2404

Deacon Mark Grunwald -- Parish Deacon


dcnmark@prairiecatholic.org

Mrs. Mary Henry -- School Principal

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your principal and educational partner at Prairie Catholic School. I’m here to support you, students and families! My husband Don and I live in Viroqua. We have two grown children together that are twins, two grown step children and 3 granddaughters. These first couple of months I will work hard to establish relationships with the staff, students and families and showing you I care about each one of you!

Mary was born on the Assumption of Mary into heaven on August 15, 1961 in Marshfield, Wisconsin. She is the third child of Leo and Joyce Bronkalla in their family of four children. Mary graduated from Baraboo Senior High School in 1979 and is YOUNGER than Fr. Jim! Mary’s family was in education, with her father holding the position as public school district administrator of the communities they lived in as she was growing up. Later, in her father’s career he worked for the Department of Public Instruction, DPI in Madison until his retirement. Joyce was the elementary school librarian at Mary’s school in Little Chute. Leo in 1971 accepted a new position in Baraboo and the family moved. Joyce then worked for the University of Baraboo/Sauk media center until her retirement. Both of her parents are doing well and celebrated their 6oth wedding anniversary this past June.

Mary attended UW-Stout and graduated in 1984 with Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education. She began her teaching career at Bayfield School District as their kindergarten teacher. She filled that position for one year as a teacher was on a leave of absences. Mary fell in love with the beauty of the Great Lake area and went back and taught for three summer’s school sessions. In 1985 she was offered a teaching position in the Viroqua Area School District.

1/22/18

principal@prairiecatholic.org

(608)-326-8624

Mrs. Sandy Halverson -- St. Gabriel's Church Rectory Office Manager, Holy Family Parish


sgp@prairiecatholic.org

608-326-2404

Mrs. Lana Gratace -- St. John's Church Rectory Office Manager, Holy Family Parish


lgratace@prairiecatholic.org

608-326-6511

Mrs. Rose Ziel -- Office Manager, Prairie Catholic School


rziel@prairiecatholic.org

608-326-8624

Mrs. Janet Nelson -- Librarian, Prairie Catholic School











Mrs. Annie Beinborn -- Librarian, Prairie Catholic School



Teachers

Mrs. Janet Steiner -- Pre-Kindergarten

Mrs. Steiner graduated from WWTC with an Associate Degree in Child Care & Development. She worked for ten years with the B.A. Kennedy Pre-K program before starting the program here at St. Gabriel’s. Janet has taught since 1988 at Prairie Catholic/St. Gabriel’s and has an Advanced Religious Education Certification from the Diocese of La Crosse. Janet, her husband Dirk and their four children are all graduates of Prairie Catholic/St. Gabriel’s School.

09/01/88

jsteiner@prairiecatholic.org







Mrs. Mary Huser -- Kindergarten

Mrs. Huser graduated from Viterbo College with a B.S. Degree in Early Childhood Education. Mary has over 40 post graduate credits in the field of education and has Advanced Religious Education Certification from the Diocese of La Crosse. Over the years she has been nominated by parents for the Kohl Excellence in Education Award on several occasions. She has taught at Prairie Catholic for 30+ years. Mrs. Huser is a parishioner of St. Gabriel’s and a graduate of St. Gabriel’s School also. She has three children. All have graduated from Prairie Catholic School.

09/01/85

mhuser@prairiecatholic.org







Mrs. Lori Hemmer -- Grade 1

Mrs. Hemmer is a graduate of U. W. La Crosse with a B.S. Degree in Elementary Education. She has 40 plus credits beyond her degree in the areas of Language Arts, Math and Science and has Advanced Religious Education Certification from the Diocese of La Crosse. Mrs. Hemmer has been nominated by parents for the Kohl Excellence in Teaching Award on several occasions. Mrs. Hemmer has taught at Prairie Catholic for 30+ years. Lori and her five children are all graduates of Prairie Catholic School.

09/01/85

lhemmer@prairiecatholic.org







Ms. Rachel Felten -- Grade 2

Ms. Felten was raised in Caledonia, MN. She graduated from Caledonia Area High School in 2012, where she was involved with soccer and National Honor Society. She recently graduated from Winona State University this past spring with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education and minors in Reading Instruction and Middle School Social Studies.

09/01/??

rfelten@prairiecatholic.org







Mrs. Jennifer Wachuta -- Grade 3

Mrs. Wachuta is a graduate of Viterbo College with a B.S. Degree in Early Childhood Education. She has many post graduate credits in the field of education, many in the field of science. She regularly attended Southwest Academy, a series of Math, Science, and Technology courses offered for teachers in the past. She has advanced certification in Religious Education from the Diocese of La Crosse. Mrs. Wachuta has taught since 1983 at Prairie Catholic. She has also tutored students and taught science at U.W. Platteville in the College for Kid’s summer program. In addition Mrs. Wachuta has been nominated by her peers and school parents for the NCEA Distinguished Teacher Award on several occasions. Jennifer served as a board member of WEST (Wisconsin Elementary Science Teachers) and participated annually at the WEST Science Day in Stevens Point by holding workshops for parents and children. Jennifer has two children, both of whom graduated from Prairie Catholic.

09/01/83

jwachuta@prairiecatholic.org







Mrs. Joahn Post -- Grade 4

Mrs. Post graduated from U.W. Platteville with a B.S. Degree in Elementary Education. She did substitute teaching for seven years. Mrs. Post’s has taught since 1990 at Prairie Catholic School. She has 24 post graduate credits in the field of education including a reading endorsement, and has attended Southwest Academy during the summer months. In addition she holds Basic Certification in Religious Education from the Diocese of La Crosse. Mrs. Post has two adult children and two grandchildren.

09/01/90

jpost@prairiecatholic.org







Mrs. Michelle Kapfhamer -- Grade 5

Mrs. Kapfhamer graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato with a degree in Elementary Education with a middle school math emphasis. She started teaching at Prairie Catholic in 2015. She lives in Prairie du Chien with her husband, Kraig and their two children, Ava and Jack.

09/01/15

mkapfhamer@prairiecatholic.org







Mrs. Kathleen Igou -- 6th Grade Homeroom
Math / Reading / Student Council Advisor

Mrs. Igou graduated from UW-Platteville in 2003 with a degree in Elementary Education and a Minor in Mathematics. Mrs. Igou earned a degree in Business Management from Upper Iowa University in 1992. From 1999 to 2006 she subbed in Prairie du Chien School District. Mrs. Igou and her husband Terry and all four of their children graduated from Prairie Catholic School. The Igou’s have seven grandchildren, one enrolled in Prairie Catholic.

09/01/06

kigou@prairiecatholic.org






Miss Jean Pelleymounter -- 7th Grade Homeroom
Religion / English

Miss Pelleymounter graduated from Mount Mercy College with a B.S. Degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Music. She has Advanced Certification in Religious Education from the Diocese of La Crosse. Miss Pelleymounter taught for 5 years in Dubuque in the Catholic schools and one year at Bloomington where she also served as Principal. She has taught at Prairie Catholic since 1984. In addition, she was nominated for the national Disney Hand Teacher Award. Miss Pelleymounter was a Weather Spotter in the Prairie du Chien area for KCRG television in Cedar Rapids.

09/01/84

jpelleymounter@prairiecatholic.org






Mr. Bill Huser -- 8th Grade Homeroom
History / Science / Social Studies / Geography

Mr. Huser teaches 8th Grade US History and Life Science, 7th Grade Civics and Earth Science, and 6th Grade World Geography and General Science. This is his 30th year teaching at Prairie Catholic.

09/01/85

whuser@prairiecatholic.org






Mrs. Luana Steimke
Music and Art - PreK through 8th Grade

Mrs. Stiemke is a graduate of Concordia University in Chicago. She earned a B.A. in Elementary Education, with a major in Humanities and the Performing Arts. This has allowed her to work in many different areas, a great advantage during the first half of her married life, when she and her family moved at least 11 times in 17 years. Prior to coming to Prairie du Chien, Mrs. S. taught in various parochial school positions, grades PK-3, in Joliet, IL; Cedarburg, Hartland, and Oak Creek, WI. She also worked as assistant children’s librarian in Sparta, nanny for a Jewish family in Milwaukee, playground supervisor (for 200 kids!) and middle school computer lab administrator in McFarland, and as an aide in an English immersion preschool for immigrant families in Madison. Along the way she worked with children’s choirs and taught piano lessons to 25 students. After moving to Prairie du Chien in 1998, Mrs. S. has worked as a childcare provider for three families, drama director for the PDC Park and Recreation Dept., assistant director for the PDC High School Musicals and Plays, ran the Middle School Choral Festival at St. John’s school in 1999 and she taught kindergarten at St. Gabriel School for three years. A life-long music lover, Mrs. S. has played viola since the age of 9, participating in many school and community orchestras, studied piano for several years in high school and college, and has sung in various choirs and groups beginning in 7th grade. The Stiemke’s have three adult children, one of whom will be the third generation music teacher in the family. Mrs. Stiemke feels so blessed to be able to “come home” to teach again at Prairie Catholic schools, and is looking forward to a challenging and wonderful year.

09/01/99

lstiemke@prairiecatholic.org







Mrs. Clarissa Russell - Spanish / Technology (PreK through 8th Grade)

Clarissa Russell is a first year teacher (2016) at Prairie Catholic teaching Technology and Spanish. She grew up in Prairie du Chien, WI and attended Prairie Catholic Schools through 8th grade. She recently graduated from Northwestern College in Orange City, IA with a B.A. Degree in Spanish and a minor in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL).During school, Clarissa worked as a TA for a Spanish professor as well as a Peer-tutor for Spanish in the College's Peer Learning Center. She has also used her practicum and many volunteer hours tutoring local immigrants in English while in college. Additionally, Clarissa spent her spring semester studying abroad in Guatemala learning Spanish, staying with host families, experiencing and traveling a new culture, understanding poverty, and working at a Special Needs School which have all contributed greatly to gaining a larger world-view and becoming more fluent in the Spanish language. Clarissa is very excited about teaching this year!

09/01/15

crussell@prairiecatholic.org







Mike Wallace – Phy Ed

Mr. Wallace graduated from Winona State University with a B.S. in Physical Education and minor in Coaching. He is married to his wife Brittany and they have two children.

09/01/16

mwallace@prairiecatholic.org







Mrs. Jennifer Nack -- Teacher Aide


Email:









Mrs. Judy Gillitzer -- Teacher Aide


Email:



Daycare Staff

Taegan Stine -- Daycare Director - Prairie Catholic School


tstine@prairiecatholic.org

(608)-326-5383

Mrs. Julie Schwager -- Early Childhood Class Teacher


(608)326-5383

jschwager@prairiecatholic.org



Lunch Program Staff

Mrs. Molly Kirschbaum -- Kitchen Director


hotlunch@prairiecatholic.org



Custodians

Mr. Mick Rooney -- Maintenance Director (Holy Family Parish and Prairie Catholic School)



pdccatholicmaint@prairiecatholic.org

Mr. Richard Tesar -- Cleaning (Churches and Daycare)

Dick is responsible for cleaning St. Gabriel's Church, St. John's Church, St. Gabriel's Daycare, and St. Gabriel's Rectory.








Mrs. Connie Lessard -- Janitor




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