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

During this first week of October the Church celebrates the feast days of two popular Franciscan saints who happen to be favorites of mine. The Feast Day of St. Therese of Lisieux was celebrated on October 1. St. Francis of Assisi is celebrated in the Church on October 4. For as long as I can remember, my family has had a special devotion to St. Therese and St. Francis. I have also been fortunate to serve in Franciscan institutions and be educated and formed by Franciscan sisters and priests.

Saints like Therese and Francis show us a spirituality that is uncomplicated and intensely down-to-earth. They model a personal humility rooted in the scriptural messages of the Old and New Testament. Just like Francis and Therese, many of us learn to love through trials of frustration, disappointment, and failure. Like them, we too can learn and grow in holiness through seemingly minor incidents of our daily lives. St. Therese called this her ‘Little way:’ “Doing little things but with great love.”

Neither Francis or Therese strived to be perfect…instead, they sought to be open to God’s presence in all of their encounters…finding God in the humblest of places, in the most vulnerable people, in everyday experiences and chores. St. Francis and St. Therese can show us how to experience the living God present in our every-day lives, and even when we least expect it.

The Catholic Social Responsibility Guidebook of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee was designed with clear guiding principles for integrating key Catholic social teachings into school culture. It provides theological resources that correspond to contemporary challenges, and alignment of Catholic Social Teachings to current Archdiocesan curriculum, policies, and accreditation standards. All SMSA parents and guardians are invited to become familiar with this document.

https://www.archmil.org/ArchMil/Resources/COMM/CatholicSocialResponsibilityGuidebookforCatholicSchoolsFinal9.22.21.pdf

Here is an overview of Racism addressed in the document:
“Our Church teaches that racism is a sin that divides the human family and violates the fundamental human dignity of the Children of God. The existence of racism in our world requires Catholic schools to respond with action and with love for our neighbor. As all human life is sacred and created in the image of God, Catholics reject racist ideas, personal acts of racism, and systemic racism found in social structures that perpetuate injustice. Thus, Catholic schools provide a safe and loving environment rich in resources for helping students understand and appreciate their own inherent dignity and that of all people. As students encounter Jesus, they learn to love as Jesus loves. Catholic educators teach and model the essence of Catholic social action: love for God and neighbor.” [Guidebook p. 9]

On the Ledge, we all have room to grow, and we value opportunities to meaningfully reflect on our own moments of conscious and implicit bias. Like the Church itself, SMSA strives to be a welcoming and inclusive community that embraces human diversity while also seeking spiritual unity as Children of one God.

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

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Homecoming Activities and dress-up – classes earned spirit points for each student dressed up, food drive items, and pep rally spirit.

Monday, October 14, 2024
Dress Up: Pajamas

Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Activity: Powder Puff
Dress Up: Salad Dressing
Freshman: Bleu Cheese- wear blue
Sophomores: French Dressing- fancy
Juniors: A Thousand Islands – Hawaiian
Seniors: Ranch Dressing- Cowboy

Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Activity: 9:30 am Mass
Dress Up: Class theme
Freshman: eVaporate the Vikings/ white out or wizards
Sophomores: Wash Away WLA / beach
Juniors: Villainize the Vikings /
Seniors: Sleigh WLA / Christmas

Thursday, October 17, 2024
Activity: Power Buff
Dress Up: Rhyme without Reason – dress up as something that rhymes with your class word. Example: hat -cat
Seniors: Day
Juniors: Spy
Sophomores: Rap
Freshman: Hat

Friday, October 18, 2024
Activity: Pep Rallly
Food Drive- Student Council will be collecting the food items used to make weekly warming shelter lunches from November through March. Please be generous!

Scoring System – bring in the following items to your homeroom any day of homecoming week.
Paper Bags-2
Snacks-6
Case of water-10
Peanut Butter-5
Jelly-4

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.

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

Click Here to Learn More!

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October 3,4  – NO CLASSES. School Closed for Faculty Inservice Day

October 9 – PSAT Exam for qualifying Juniors

October 10 – Picture Retake Day

October 14 – Fall Concert (7pm) Prairie Theatre, 400 University Drive, Fond du Lac

October 18 – Homecoming Pep Rally and Football Game

October 19 – Homecoming Dance

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Minneapolis College of Art & Design – Tuesday, October 1, 2024 from 9:55AM-10:35AM
Northern Michigan University – Tuesday, October 8, 2024 from 12:10 PM-12:50 PM
Lawrence University – Tuesday, October 8, 2024 from 1:45 PM-2:25 PM
Grand Canyon University – Tuesday, October 8, 2024 from 2:35 PM-3:15 PM
Concordia University-Wisconsin – Thursday, October 10, 2024 from 1:45 PM-2:25 PM
St Olaf College – Friday, October 11, 2024 from 8:20 AM-9:00 AM
Marian University – Wednesday, October 16, 2024 from 12:10 PM-12:50 PM
Moraine Park Technical College – Thursday, October 24, 2024 from 11:30-12:15
Saint Norbert College – Friday, October 25, 2024 from 9:55 AM-10:35 AM
University of Wisconsin-Platteville – Wednesday, October 30, 2024 from 8:20 AM-9:00 AM

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 October.

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:
October 15th, 2024 — Fond du Lac Wastewater Treatment & Resource Recovery Facility
October 29, 2024 — Holiday Automotive
November 12th, 2024 — Spark Ops.
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.

Fond du Lac Aquatic Center (and the outdoor pools as well) are hiring lifeguards, and have a training course coming up next month!

Please click here for additional information

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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