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

Fellow Jesuit educated members of our Springs community know that the spiritual discernment practice of St. Ignatius of Loyola is designed to help people recognize God in daily life. What is meant by discernment? Here is my best Jesuit educated explanation: In our Christian spiritual tradition, discernment begins as a conscious desire for attentiveness to God, a desire to include God in our lives, and a desire to consult God as we make decisions that impact ourselves and others. A teacher of mine once described discernment as the act of “consulting Heaven before making earthly decisions.” When discernment becomes a spiritual habit, it can help us become familiar with God’s voice almost as well as we can hear a human voice.

For Christians, the choices we make must always be about love. There are always other factors to consider, but the deepest question for us as Christians is “What does love call for in this situation?” We ask ourselves, “What would Jesus do?” …or the Ignatian twist – “What would love do?” Love is the deepest calling of the Christian life, yet consulting God’s voice with choices we make is likely more rare than reality for most of us.

The mission of SMSA calls us to integrate God’s love and Good News into the education of your children. Please know that we take this calling seriously, but because we are human, we also need help to live into this noble calling. Educators and parents will make mistakes of course. But we also know that, in the end, how we have loved one another on the Ledge, in our families, and in society is all that matters. Developing the habit of discernment – regularly consulting God as we make decisions – will surely get us closer to the heart of God in the work we do as partners in the education of our Ledgers. Any decision making process that fails to ask the “love question” misses the point of the Christian practice of discernment. Pray with me that God draws us ever closer to his heart so that we may more confidently know HIS will for spreading love in our lives.

Please click the link below to take this SHORT survey regarding engagement. The survey invitation has been available since October 30th. This will be the final week the survey link is posted. Next month, we will share survey results with parents through eLedger. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScSK7B9gwsenbyFSAg3YBB14smEIOnVc8SXrgoqqbe3gWFjMA/viewform

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

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Student Council is in need of frozen dish and refrigerator pie crust for making their pies for Holy Family’s Thanksgiving meal.

Order your Ledger basketball apparel now by clicking the link below. The store will be open through Sunday, November 17, 2024.

SMSA Basketball Apparel Store

St. Mary’s Springs Highschool Theater presents All’s Fair by Pat Cook.
It is time again for the county fair in Flat Rock, Texas! In between the jelly judging, local politicin’ and some extraordinary spoon playing, folks can see “Nature’s Boo-Boos,” an exhibit where teenager Tommy Rogers feels right at home, especially when he tries to do “Shakespeare in the Park”! Meanwhile, the Ladies’ Auxiliary is hoping to collect funds for a hedge around the courthouse to keep all the dogs from frequenting it, while school supporters have set up a fortune-telling booth for money to get the school bus repainted yellow instead of camouflage `cause, “The bus sits there waitin’ fer the kids and they can’t find it!” This riotous but loving look at country life is chock-full of wisecracks, especially from the town gossips. So kick off your shoes, pick up a cup of lemonade and join us at the fair! No Refunds, No Exchanges.

The show will be held at the North Fond du Lac Horace Mann PAC at 225 McKinley Street. Shows are Friday, November 22nd at 7pm, Saturday, November 23rd at 7pm, and Sunday November 24th at 1pm.
Tickets are available at www.hometowntickets.com $12 for adults and $7 for students and seniors.

Click Here to Purchase Tickets

The HS Music Department is having their annual poinsettia sale. You can purchase tickets in the North Hall Office.

Tickets are $20 and are being sold now through Dec 1st. Once you purchase your ticket, you take it to Haentze’s Floral to pick out your beautiful, red poinsettia..

Thank you for supporting the HS Jazz Ensembles trip to Italy in March!

Click here to read the November issue of the high school Ledger Pick-Axe student newspaper. 

Want to support the NFDL – SMSA wrestling team? Purchase your wrestling apparel at the link below. All orders must be placed by November 24, 2024.

Click Here to Purchase

Please note that St. Mary’s Springs name will be corrected before going to print.

RaiseRight – SMSA’s SCRIP Program

Enroll NOW – Start Earning Tuition Credit Through RaiseRight

Students seeking volunteer opportunities please consider putting your skills to good use as you encourage kiddos and families to find their inner super power at CMFDL’s Super Saturday! November 16th shifts available between 9 and 4pm. Sign up here.

Who will win $20,000 this year!? It could be you, or someone you know! Each SMSA family has received 5 BMR tickets to sell and/or purchase before the noon drawing on Friday, January 10, 2025.

Tickets may be returned to school with your child, or to the North, South or Scrip offices any time before the noon drawing on Friday, January 10, 2025.

If you have any questions, or if you would like to purchase additional tickets, please contact a member of the BMR committee, listed below.

Valerie Everson

920.251.3719

Stephanie Fessler

920.960.0556

Katie Mathos

920.979.6757

Lisa Shannon

920.539.2892

Sasha Smith

920.517.1693

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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November 23 – High School Placement Test for all 8th graders seeking admission to SMSA high school
November 22-24 – SMSA High School Play at Horace Mann HS Auditorium, North Fond du Lac
November 25, 26 – Senior Retreat Days
November 27, 28, 29 – Thanksgiving Holiday Break

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Discover the incredible opportunities that await you as a Youth Apprentice. Feel free to contact SMSA Counseling with any questions.

• Marian University: Monday, November 18, 2024 @ 12:10 PM – 12:50 PM

Admissions Counselors come to our campus to answer questions about the application process, scholarships, housing and much more. They are here for our students and are extremely knowledgeable. We highly recommend students attend these campus visits even if they don’t know if they will apply there. Meeting with these College Professionals gives students the opportunity to become more familiar with the application process and future plans. Please let counseling know by email if your student would like to attend any of the visits listed above for November.

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:
December 3rd, 2024 — Eagle Flexible Packaging
December 17th, 2024 — Quality Truck Care Center
January 7th, 2025 — City of FDL Fire Department
January 21st, 2025 — CD Smith
February 4th, 2025 — Integrity Saw and Tool, Inc.
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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