Principal’s Desk News & Information Upcoming Dates High School Counseling

All students in grades 9-11 must bring a fully charged Chromebook for testing. Seniors are off from school – no classes.

On April 12th, juniors will take the “ACT® Test with writing,” while freshmen and sophomores will take the “PreACT.” SMSA teachers will administer these standardized tests on campus. Being an ACT District School, SMSA is able to ensure that our Ledgers have a chance to complete these important academic assessments in a familiar environment. Whether going on to college or into the workforce, student readiness for life after high school is measured by these tests. The outcomes and feedback from these tests are valuable for students, parents and educators. The results help inform instruction and guide students about their academic strengths.

All Ledgers in grades 9-11 are expected to arrive on campus no later than 8:15 am so that they are able to report ready to test inside their assigned classrooms promptly at 8:20am. Your help in ensuring your student arrives early to school on District Testing Day day is greatly appreciated! Any student who arrives late to their testing session will not be allowed to enter the classroom based on strict ACT and PreACT testing rules and protocols, and thus, shall be prohibited from testing on that day.

Both the ACT® Test – with writing – and the PreACT will be conducted digitally. Therefore all students will need to bring a fully charged school issued Chromebook. Without their fully charged school issued Chromebook, students will be unable to participate in testing for the day.

All 9th & 10th grade students will be released from campus at 12 Noon.

11th grade students will be released from campus at approximately 1:10 p.m.

Hot lunch shall not be available for high school students on April 12th. Ledgers in grades 9-11 will be expected to leave campus directly after they are released from testing.

Please make arrangements for pick-up as needed, as students will not have access to stay on campus after testing.

SMSA is excited to facilitate this opportunity for your student. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our District Assessment Coordinator, Melissa Trepte, at mtrepte@smsacademy.org .

It is with great pleasure that the administration and faculty welcomes the following students as new members of the St. Mary’s Springs Academy chapter of the National Honor Society. The Faculty Council was impressed with the achievements and activities of all of these Ledgers – especially as aligned to the four NHS pillars of scholarship, service, leadership and character. Students will be officially inducted into the NHS on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 from 6-7:30pm during a special induction ceremony for new members and their families.

Braun, Gabriel R.
Brunette, Teresa G.
Casper, Traci J.
Coon, Alexaundrea J.
Desiderio, Leo J.
Everson, Justin A.
Feudner, Natalie J.
Fidziukiewicz, Simon P.
Freund, Braeden J.
Galligan, Nevaeh R.
Gitter, Tessa C.
Grafton, Peyton M.
Hoffmann, Tyler W.
HoHuh, Suhaeng
Huhn, Emmitt A.
Hyland, Brody N.
Konkol, Gracie M.
Kremer, Olivia E.
Kristmann, Olivia L.
Lewis, Braelyn M.
Meyer, Savannah R.
Norton, Hazen J.
Nuss, Olivia C.
Pierret, Ella S.
Pitz, Caden T.
Rameker, Lily A.
Rathke, Lucile M.
Rebek, Khalil R.
Reilley, Katelyn J.
Reinke, Benjamin T.
Sheehy, Sean D.
Taylor, Emily D.
Welsch, Alexandra C.
Willis, Anna M.

Again, congratulations!

Our Lady of the Ledge, pray for us.
Eamonn O’Keeffe, Principal (High School)

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ABC Booster Club scholarship applications for senior high school student athletes are now available. The scholarship was established to assist post-secondary education bound high school seniors who participated in St. Mary’s Springs High School athletics.

Please return completed applications to Mr. Redig or Mrs. Mueller. Applications are DUE APRIL 24, 2024.

Click Here For Scholarship Information & Application

This merit-based scholarship will award $1,000 to one current, female, SMSA junior, to be applied to tuition for her senior year at SMSA.  Applicants will be evaluated based on essay responses and GPA.

Please submit applications to me via email (alane@smsacademy.org) no later than Monday, April 29, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. No late applications will be accepted or considered.

AG Scholarship Application – Click Here

Staff Appreciation Week is coming up, May 6th -10th!! Planning is underway for this special week for our SMSA Staff and our Parent Connectors Group is looking for monetary donations of any amount to assist with events that will be happening throughout that week. One very popular day for our staff is the luncheon we host for them.

If you would like to contribute towards events for the week, you can either send cash or check to school in a sealed envelope with “Staff Appreciation Week- Andrea Nuss” written on it (checks payable to Andrea Nuss) or Venmo @Jeff-Nuss-3 (last four digits -4355).

All contributions are due by Wednesday, May 1st. We greatly appreciate your support during this wonderful week honoring our fabulous SMSA Staff! Also, be watching for more details regarding the events that will be happening in the upcoming weeks! Thank you!

After recent student attendance audits we would like to send out a reminder of our current attendance policies for our high school students.  Below are excerpts from the 2023-24 Student/Parent Handbook regarding appointments, excused absences, and attendance on the day of co-curricular activities.  The entire handbook may be found on our website by clicking here. 

Appointments  

Every effort should be made to schedule medical, dental, counseling or personal appointments outside of regular school hours. If it cannot be avoided,  parent(s)/ guardian(s) must send a signed note with logistic details of the appointment to the North Hall Office prior to 8:30 a.m. Absences for non-medical related appointments are considered highly disruptive to school culture and student learning and are thus strongly discouraged. 

• The student presents a note signed by the parent/guardian to the North Hall Office BEFORE the first bell. The note is to be dated and the reason for the necessary permission to leave school.

• • The Principal or Assistant Principal retains the right to verify appointments and length of appointments.

• For a student to remain eligible to participate in school sanctioned after-school activities or events following a doctor/dentist appointment scheduled during a school day, the student must present a note from the doctor’s office upon returning to school.

Excused Absence

Parents are required to call the Attendance phone line (920-322-8036) or email attendance@smsacademy.org on the day of absence before 8:30 a.m. 

Archdiocesan Policy outlines  reasons for which a student may be absent without being considered truant:

• Student Illness (medical confirmation may be required after three days or a pattern of similar illnesses is called in by the parent) or medical emergency. 
• Severe illness or death in the family.
• Religious observances or services. 
• Court appearance or legal procedure that requires student attendance. 
• School sponsored activities that require the student to be off campus.
• Pre-arranged absences pre-approved by the Principal or Assistant Principal that address a special and specific student need. (ie-college visits, family trips, quarantine imposed by a public health officer). 
• Suspension from school (out-of-school suspensions must be counted as truancy unless included in list of excused absences). 
• Parents are expected to give a reason for the absence.  Administration will have the final say if an absence is considered excused or unexcused.

Absence & Co-curricular School Activities

Per the SMSA High School Co-Curricular Code of Conduct:

• Students must attend school ALL DAY on the day of scheduled events and/or practices in order to participate.  Students that are marked absent for any part of the day due to illness or are determined to have an unexcused absence are ineligible to participate in co-curricular activities that day.

1. Students may not participate in any school sanctioned co-curricular activity during/after school on the same day as an unexcused absence. Failure to be in attendance as stated will result in non-participation in all co-curricular events and practices that day. 
2. Exceptions to these attendance rules will include the following: (a) Absence from campus which have been excused for a funeral, court appearance, school approved field trips, documented medical appointments, or for other unusual or extenuating circumstances as cleared in advance by administration; (b) Absence from campus related to a classroom activity or grade requirement.

High school academic and athletic administration reserve the right to determine the status of any absence as “excused” or “unexcused”.

If you have any questions about whether an absence is considered “excused’ or “unexcused” feel free to reach out to Kyle Krueger, High School Assistant Principal at kkrueger@smsacademy.org, Athletic Director Mitch Redig at mredig@smsacademy.org, or Athletic Administrator Kelly Mueller at kmueller@smsacademy.org.  

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

Click Here to Learn More!

Traveling abroad is an exciting and enriching opportunity for students where they can experience the beauty, authenticity and relevance of the subject they are studying. Students are responsible for funding the majority of their trip; however, SMSA has established this account to aid in funding bus transportation to and from the airport. Your donation today will ensure students, along with faculty chaperones, have a safe and reliable mode of transportation to start and end their traveling abroad experience.

This summer, students have an opportunity to travel to Costa Rica for Spanish class, and Germany for their German class. Thank you for supporting SMSA’s World Language Travel Experiences!

To make a donation, click here!

Join us on the third Wednesday of each month in Lauby Lounge for the PPA meeting. All parents who have children in Middle School or High School music are encouraged to attend.

Don’t forget to sign up to volunteer to help make the musical a success! Many hands make light work!

Meeting dates:
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Tuesday, May 14, 2024 Note the change in usual day
All meetings will be held at 6 pm in the Lauby Lounge (first floor teacher lounge).

Contact Anne Brunette (6brunettes@charter.net) with any questions about the PPA!

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April 19, 2024 – No School – Teacher In-service

April 19 – 21, 2024 – High School Musical – Hunchback of Notre Dame

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Dear Juniors and Seniors,
The next Envision Fond du Lac tour is scheduled for Tuesday, April 23rd  at Aurora Healthcare. These tours are designed for students looking to go into the Trades or looking for YA opportunities. We are looking for 4 Juniors or Seniors to attend this tour.

Please email the high school counselors if you are interested in the tour and please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions! Also! Please see that chart below for upcoming tour locations! Please feel free to contact the high school counselors to reserve a spot!

Upcoming 2024 Trade Tours
April 23rd– Aurora Healthcare
May 7th– JF Ahern
May 21st– Michels Corporation

The Fond du Lac Children’s Museum is looking to add a dynamic member to their team! Playmaker team members fill up to 15 hours a week, willing to work around extracurricular activities.

Click here to fill out an application today!

In honor of Fr. Edward Sippel and his lifelong dedication of service to the Catholic Church and the Fond du Lac area, Holy Family Catholic Community will award two $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school students who, along with their parent(s), have been registered members of Holy Family Catholic Community for at least one year prior to applying for the scholarship. Students must have received the Sacrament of Confirmation to be eligible to apply. Application and materials are due by May 3, 2024. For more information, please visit hffdl.org/scholarship.

Please refer to the information provided at the link below, for local and state scholarships that SMSA seniors can apply for. This list is always subject to change and may not be all-inclusive.

Local scholarship opportunities (Fond du Lac area) are listed first, followed by opportunities for residents of the state of Wisconsin.

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