Principal’s Desk News & Information Upcoming Dates School Care News

Dear St. Mary’s Springs Academy Families,
We hope this newsletter finds you well and thriving. As we move forward into the spring season, we are filled with gratitude for your continued support and partnership in nurturing our students’ growth and success.

Welcome back to the Ledge following spring break! We hope your family had the opportunity to spend quality time together. The moments spent with family—sharing laughter, working together, and having conversations about growing up—are truly special. We encourage you to carve out time for your child(ren), as the saying goes, “They grow up fast.” It feels like just yesterday when our current 8th graders were in Kindergarten.

We are preparing for our students in 3rd – 8th grade as well as 10th grade to participate in the Wisconsin Forward Exam. The Forward Exam is designed to gauge how well students are doing in relation to the Wisconsin Academic Standards. These standards outline what students should know and be able to do in order to be college and career ready.
Testing Details:
Grades 3-8: ELA (English Language Arts) and Mathematics
Grades 4 and 8: Science
Grades 4, 8, and 10: Social Studies
Testing Schedule:
Dates: Testing at SMSA will take place during the week of Monday, March 31st and during the week of Monday, April 5th.
Format: The Forward Exam must be administered in person and cannot be proctored virtually.

We kindly ask for your support by ensuring that your child(ren) attend school during the testing window. For more information, please use go to Wisconsin DPI Forward Information Guide for Families.

As a reminder, we ask for your cooperation in keeping our drop-off and pick-up zones safe. Please use the hug and go lane when dropping off or picking up your child(ren) without exiting your vehicle. If you need to park and meet your child(ren), the middle of the south parking lot is a great place to do so. It takes all of us, as a respectful community, to keep everyone safe and traffic moving as efficiently as possible. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

We are grateful for your ongoing support in making our school community a wonderful place for our children to learn and grow. Together, we can create a nurturing environment that fosters their success.

We look forward to continuing this partnership and celebrating many more achievements together!

Warm regards,
Steven Kelnhofer
Elementary Principal, SMSA

The Principal’s Pen is an opportunity for teachers to recognize students who consistently demonstrate “The Ledger Way” with a focus on faith, learning, respect for leadership, community and responsibility. The students chosen will attend a special breakfast with Mr. Kelnhofer, Mr. Thuerwachter and a special guest. They will also receive a certificate with a brief sentence on how they followed “The Ledger Way,” and a principal’s pen. This week’s special guest speaker was Greg Brunette, Director of Business Operations.

Finley B. (P3) – Finley treats her classmates with respect and kindness. Finley’s faith shows in her actions and kind words.

Braxson S. (P3) – Braxson is extremely kind and loves to learn! He is respectful to everyone in word and in action and is a wonderful example for his classmates.
Otto D. (K4) – Otto is a respectful student who shows our Ledger Core values! Otto is a leader in our class, he lives his faith by seeking out extra opportunities to be a helper to his teachers and peers, he loves learning and always does his best, and creates community in our classroom by being a kind friend to all. We love having Otto in our class!
Gwenevere S. (K4) – Gwenevere is a sweet and kind girl who gets along with everyone – she is a friend to all! She comes in each day with a smile on her face, ready to learn!
Nailah B. (Kindergarten) – Nailah is a respectful student. She is always ready to learn and willing to help anyone out. She is a great role model!
Ezra E. (Kindergarten) – Ezra has grown so much this year! He makes our classroom community wonderful as he is always making others smile and laugh. Erza loves to participate in class by asking and answering questions to learn more!
Jack F. (Kindergarten) – Jack is a kind and respectful student. Jack loves to learn and always does his best and is ready and willing to answer any questions. He has been a great influence on all students with his kind heart and willingness to help all friends in and out of our classroom.
Angus H. (Grade 1) – Angus is always looking to learn more. It is not uncommon for Angus to ask for more information on a topic. He thinks through how he can find out more and then takes action. Gus is a great example of someone that shows our Ledger Core value of learning.
Mary G. (Grade 1) – Mary is an outstanding friend known for her kindness and willingness to help others. She approaches school with enthusiasm and has a genuine love for learning. I’m proud to see her grow and excel academically, consistently completing her work on time. Mary embodies respect, responsibility, and safety, making her a reliable presence among her peers. Keep up the great work, Mary! Your dedication and kindness are valued!
Adrian N. (Grade 1) – Adrian is a very respectful student who is always willing to help others. He is a great friend to everyone and is very responsible. He is also a leader in the classroom!
Annastasia G. (Grade 2) – Anna starts every day with a positive mindset. She works hard on academics. She is respectful to adults and her peers.

Jack S. (2nd Grade) – Jack always has a smile on his face. Jack is a responsible boy who works hard and does his best.
Lucas L. (Grade 2 ) – Lucas is a great example of many of the core values in the classroom. He is very responsible with his work. He respects his teachers and classmates. He loves learning, challenges himself in all subjects and is a critical thinker. He is a great leader in the classroom, always doing what is expected and following God’s teachings.

The Ledgerfest Online Silent Auction is heating up! 

Don’t miss your chance to bid on some outstanding packages, including exclusive grade-level packages donated by our amazing Ledger families, one-of-a-kind art projects created by our talented students, and a range of exciting items for everyone – whether you’re looking to treat yourself or find a perfect gift. There’s something for every taste and budget!

We are excited to announce a canned good donation drive in partnership with three Marian University students for their capstone project, Broken Bread! This initiative aims to support those in need in our community. Donations will be accepted from March 31st to April 11th, and the grade that collects the most donations will earn a sweet reward—donuts! Let’s come together to make a difference and show our community spirit. Your generous contributions will go a long way in helping those who need it most. Thank you for your support!

The Fond du Lac Public Library is hosting a Teen Photo Contest! No one sees the world exactly the way you do. Share your unique point of view through the 11th-annual Fond du Lac Teen Photo Contest.

Area teens are invited to submit photos in three categories:

Music: Capture the concept of music in a photo.
Portrait: Share someone’s story through a portrait. How will you show their essence in a photo?
Anything Goes: Share with us any photo you have taken that you feel is award-worthy!

The photographer who submits the photo judged best overall will win a grand prize $250 Visa gift card. Honorable mention awards will be given for the winners of each category.

The contest is open to teens who attend school in Fond du Lac County in grades six through 12.

Deadline to enter is April 9, 2025, after which the library will gather a VIP panel to judge entries.

Entries will be displayed in the library’s Langdon Divers Gallery in May.
Full contest rules and guidelines are available here or by calling (920) 322-3940.

It’s a great chance for students to gain recognition for their work and have a chance to win $250!

Are you a parent or grandparent looking for a meaningful way to give back to our school community? The library is the perfect place for you to make a difference, meet new people, and share your love of reading and learning with our students!

We’re looking for dedicated SEE trained volunteers to assist with a variety of activities, including:
-Helping with children’s reading programs
-Assisting in shelving and organizing books
By volunteering, you can:
-Inspire a love of reading in young minds
-Enjoy flexible volunteer hours (weekly commitment or on call sub)

Whether you have an hour a week or a few hours a month, your time will make a huge impact.

Come join our library family and help us create a welcoming space for everyone!

Sign up today! Please fill out the following link; https://forms.gle/PtEAqYrdrMXiSJBH7 or email library@smsacademy.org with any questions.

Staff Appreciation Week is coming..May 5th – 9th! Planning has begun for this very special week, and we will once again be providing a luncheon for our fabulous SMSA Staff. If you are interested in contributing towards this luncheon, you can either send cash or check (payable to Andrea Nuss) to school in a sealed envelope with Staff Appreciation Luncheon written on it or Venmo @Jeff-Nuss-3 (4355- last four digits). All contributions are due by April 30th. Thank you so much! Please watch for details about this week in the upcoming weeks.

Thank you! ~Staff Appreciation Committee

Enjoy the day off of school by coming to Korneli’s on the Avenue for our annual SMSA Skate Day! Children in 3K – 5th Grade will skate from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm and 6th – 8th Grade from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Children need to be accompanied by an adult. It will be $5.00 for admission and $3.00 for skate rental. You are welcome to bring your own skates. Concession stand and arcade area will be open. NO RSVP needed. If you have any questions, please email Andrea Nuss, alnuss@charter.net. We hope to see you at our SMSA Skate Day!

Our 5th-8th Grade Spring Concert will be held on Wednesday, May 14th in Hutter gymnasium.

More information to come!

The Football Fundamentals Camp is a non-contact camp with emphasis on skills that make the game of football safer and more fun to participate in.

DATES: 07/14/2025 – 07/17/2025 (Monday-Thursday)
TIME: 3:30 PM – 6:00 PM
LOCATION: St. Mary’s Springs Athletic Field
255 Cty Road K
Fond du Lac, WI 54937

Football-Fundamentals-Camp-2025

36th Annual Baseball Clinic
Saturday, April 19th

– 8:30a to 11:00a. Check-in starts at: 8:00 a.m. @ Fondy High School. Please enter at Entrance #19, behind the school, directly opposite the tennis courts.
CLINIC WILL BE INDOORS – TENNIS SHOES, PLEASE
There will be a coaches talk at 11:30a at the Varsity Baseball Field at the complex for those that are interested.

Baseball Clinic 2025 (English)

Baseball Clinic (Spanish)

Did you know? You can Refer-A-Family and receive tuition credit!

Click Here to Learn More!

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May 14, 2025 – 5th-8th Grade Spring Concert

May 14, 2025 – Student Show Case & Book Fair

May 28, 2025 – Kindergarten – Eighth Grade Mass & 8th grade graduation at Holy Family at 9:00 am

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Registration is upon us for Extended Care 2025-2026 school year. A friendly reminder when registering for Extended Care there is a $100.00 non-refundable registration fee.

In order for your child/children to have a saved spot in extended care this fee will need to be paid at the time of registration. Checks can be made payable to SMSA (Extended Care) to the south office. Reminder, spots fill up quickly.

Please email extendedcare@smsacademy.org if you have any questions.

Thank you

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