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

During the past two years, SMSA has proudly observed a nearly two point increase in its ACT school composite scores. Such ACT composite score increases are rare and hard to come by for schools. This exciting outcome reflects our strong academic program as well as the hard work of Ledgers and their teachers.

In recent years, teachers have spent hundreds of hours in professional development, faculty meetings and weekly prep time training to better align what students learn in the classroom with what students are expected to know on the ACT. They are improving the ‘college readiness’ of Ledgers! The Wisconsin State Standards are aligned to national common core standards – which comprise the ACT. The standards are intentionally integrated through each core academic area of the SMSA curriculum. By underscoring ‘essential standards’ in each course, faculty reinforce the WI State Standards! So now, when they take the ACT during junior year, Ledgers are reading test questions and academic concepts that are quite familiar to them!

Students have been working hard to learn and demonstrate competency in the core curriculum, but they have also been given more time to ‘practice’ the Pre-ACT and ACT through some sound ACT test prep programs that have become standard on the Ledge.

Juniors have both mandatory and optional sessions of ACT Test Prep with Revolution Test Prep that are offered each year. One optional Revolution Test Prep session is offered this Saturday . Please Click Here to register.

In addition, junior Ledgers also have more than 20 sessions of On To College (OTC) ACT Test Prep that is integrated through J-Term and Homeroom. These extra opportunities to understand testing content and reinforce testing skills help our Ledgers grow in confidence and competence as they take the Pre-ACT and ACT each Spring! By the way, after a successful introduction in 2023-24, this year OTC was expanded to freshmen and sophomores so they could better prepare for the Pre-ACT.

This year our school Testing Day is scheduled for April 4th. On that day, all freshmen and sophomores will have the Pre-ACT administered to them on campus by SMSA teachers. The ACT will be administered for juniors. That same day, seniors are off campus for a designated college visit day as they plan to continue their learning next year and into their bright futures!

Developing confident lifelong learners is a big part of our mission on the Ledge. It’s what we are preparing our young people to do…and we continue to improve on this goal!

Our Lady of the Ledge, pray for us.

Mr. Eamonn O’Keeffe,
High School Principal

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To order your Valentine’s Day Singing Telegram click here!

Your support makes a BIG impact! The Ledgerfest Silent Auction’s success is thanks to amazing contributions like Class Baskets, one of our top fundraisers! Your donation could TRIPLE its value, directly benefiting SMSA and your student.

Donate HERE, or send cash/check (attention: Ashley Lane/LF25). Don’t forget to include your child’s grade with your donation. Thank you!

Join St. Mary’s Springs Academy for the hilarious and heartwarming musical “The Addams Family” from March 7th to 9th at Horace Mann theater! Tickets available at hometowntickets.com

CESA 6 is excited to share the latest edition of the Career Readiness Corner, this resource is designed to empower families and students with valuable insights and tools for planning their future careers.

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

As SMSA’s winter sports begin, please click on the links below to sign up to help with admission and concession stands at both the boys’ and girls’ home basketball games.

Boys Hoops Sign Up

Girls Hoops Sign Up

HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOKS ARE FOR SALE

High school yearbooks are available to purchase online at the SMSA website for $55. Prices go up on March 31, 2025 to $65. Get yours by clicking here!

Are you wanting to get more involved in our Parent Connectors Group? If so, look for the Parent Connectors volunteer form in your packet you will be receiving at the supply drop off day (3K-5th Grade). If your youngest child is in 6th grade or above, you won’t be receiving a form to fill out but can email Andrea Nuss, alnuss@charter.net, to share that you are interested in being a part of our group. Every year a new email group gets created so please submit your form even if you have done so in the past years. Also, only one form per family is needed to be filled out. Throughout the year, our group has various school family events as well shows our amazing SMSA Staff how appreciative we are for them. By being a part of our group, you will receive emails that shares ways you can help with these events through volunteering and donating. Our group wouldn’t be a successful without all of the wonderful people involved in it. Thank you so much! If you have any questions, please email Andrea Nuss, alnuss@charter.net.

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February 6 & 7 – No School – Teacher In-service

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On behalf of Lakeshore Elementary PTO, we are offering up to three $500 scholarships to graduating seniors in the Fond du Lac area that have previously attended at least one full year at Lakeshore Elementary School. The deadline to apply is Thursday March 20th.

2025 Lakeshore PTO Scholarship

SMSA is proud to participate in another year of Trade Tours through the Fond du Lac R.O.C.K. program, which stands for Retention, Opportunity, Community, and Knowledge. This program aimed at working specifically with high school seniors and juniors who are piecing together their plans post high school graduation. This program provides career exploration through business tours and job shadows. Fond du Lac R.O.C.K. is a program of Envision Greater Fond du Lac. Please let counseling know if your student would be interested in joining a future tour.

2024-25 Trade Tour Schedule:
February 18th, 2025 — MEC Manufacturing Facilities
March 4th, 2025 — Kondex
April 8th, 2025 — City of FDL Construction & Maintenance
April 22nd, 2025 — JF Ahern & Co.

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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