Elementary News
October 20th, 2022
In this week's Elementary eLedger
From the Desk of Steve Kelnhofer - Elementary School Principal
Dear Parents/Guardians,
The autumn leaves are showing their true colors as the school year marches forward. Students in Grades 2 - 8 have completed their MAP testing for the fall, parent/teacher conferences have been completed and our awesome teachers continue to inspire throughout the moments of the school days. One could say our true colors are being shown as well.
Thank you to the Parent Connectors Committee and the volunteers that put together special treats for the teachers last week for the two evenings of conferences. This kind gesture means so much to us at SMSA. We appreciate all you do to support our teachers as we go through the school year. You are truly amazing with hearts of filled with love.
We are seeking feedback from the two evenings of parent/teacher conferences. Please fill out this form to help us better serve you.
Our classroom Halloween parties will be held on Oct. 28th. Please see more details form individual homeroom teachers. Parents must be SEE trained to attend the classroom parties. Oct. 27th will be our annual Trunk or Treat in out upper parking lot. Please look below for more information. It's so much fun to build community at these events.
Thank you for your continued partnership with SMSA. Together we will create a path for tomorrow’s children to achieve amazing dreams.
God Bless,
Elementary Principal, SMSA
Upcoming Dates
October 27: Trunk or Treat
October 28: Elementary Halloween Parties and Middle School Halloween dance after school
November 1: All Saints Day - All System Mass at Holy Family at 9:00 AM
May 26, 2023: Kindergarten – Eighth Grade Mass & 8th grade graduation at Holy Family at 9:00 AM
Parents of Performing Arts Meeting Dates
Parents of Performing Arts meeting Dates for the 2022-2023 school year are:
November 16
December 21
January 18
February 15
March 22
April 19
May 16 (note the revised date)
All meetings will be held at 6 pm in the Lauby Lounge (first floor teacher lounge).
Contact Maggie Rose with any questions about PPA!
Skyward Resources
Parents, please use the following links...
To make a lunch payment using eFunds
To check a student's information, (After logging into your Skyward account, click the "Student Information" tab on the left hand column.)
Principal's Pen - Week of 10/17/22
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. K. and Mr. Fisher and a special guest, receives a certificate with a brief sentence on how they followed The Ledger Way, and a principal’s pen.
This weeks Special Guest was President Stacey Akey!
The Principal's Pen award winners for the week of October 10th are:
Lucy H (6th)- She shows amazing respect, learning, responsibility and leadership within the classroom. She comes to class prepared, ready to always share her knowledge and treats her teachers and classmates with respect. She is a true Ledger leader in all aspects at SMSA!
Aiden R (6th) – He promotes leadership by following the Leader Way. He thrives for learning and is very respectful.
Kendal K (6th) – She takes great pride in her learning and is a respectful and responsible student.
Michael S (7th) – Does an amazing job of including everyone and is very supportive and encouraging of others.
Ty D (7th) - Is very respectful to his teachers and his classmates. He always asks before he proceeds to do things that shows responsibility and respect. He follows classroom rules well.
Greta B (7th) – She is willing to learn and be respectful to teachers and other students. She helps us have a peaceful community.
Callie R (8th) – She has been a leader in the class and beyond this year! She is always respectful and kind! She has made new students feel welcomed to SMSA!
Cleary T (8th) – Has really turned a corner this year. He is focused on his work, respectful to his classmates and teachers, and is really showing leadership skills. Very proud of him!
Genevieve (8th) – She is very respectful in class. She does her work, listens, respects others and also helps other as needed. She is an awesome student.
Principal's Pen - Week of 10/10/22
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. K. and Mr. Fisher and a special guest, receives a certificate with a brief sentence on how they followed The Ledger Way, and a principal’s pen.
This weeks Special Guest was President Stacey Akey!
The Principal's Pen award winners for the week of October 10th are:
Kinleigh G (3rd)- She is always taking responsibility for her learning. She is a great leader in the classroom and kind to others!
Nikita M (3rd) – has a tremendous amount of faith in God. This shows in her actions and words and how she is always praying for others in our daily intentions. She’s wonderful leader by modeling all the classroom expectations for her peers. She works hard in school, is always prepared and ready for switches and she has a positive, happy energy that she brings to our class.
Sophia N. (3rd)– She is a leader in the classroom. Also helping others and giving students reminders on what they need out or what they should be doing.
Ashley H (4th)– She is very respectful of her teachers and classmates. She helps out whenever needed.
Stella K (4th)- She always treats her classmates with kindness and respect. She consistently puts forth her best effort in all her classes!
Brooklyn Z (4th) – She always does quality work, she stays on task, and helps others in learning. She always leads by example.
Addison K (5th) – She always tries her best and comes to class ready to learn. She is always kind and helpful to others!
Charlie R (5th) – He is eager to learn, shows respect to other students, and is a leader, both academically and socially.
Rudy V (5th) – He is always working hard, doing the right thing, and encouraging other to do the same.
Lost & Found!
Please check out the lost and found items (By the South Office)
Are you missing anything . . . Come and pick it up!
We will be cleaning out the lost and found by Friday October 21st.
We will be donating the items that have not found their home.
Trunk or Treat 2022!
Middle School Halloween Dance
Grades 6-8 will have a Halloween Party on Friday, October 28th from 4:00 - 6:00 PM in Baker Gym.
Parents/Guardians will need to contact Christa Lewis if your child is planning on leaving earlier than 6:00 PM. Parents/Guardians may pick up their student in front of the North Hall Office at 6:00 PM.
Students should bring their costumes and accessories to school to change into prior to the dance. We will be serving pizza and prizes will be rewarded for various activities.
Please remind your student that this is a school sponsored event, and all behavior protocol will be in place for the duration of the dance.
We would like to thank the Parent Connectors for supporting this wonderful opportunity!
Donations for Trunk or Treat Event & Middle School Halloween Dance
Our Parent Connectors Group is looking for families to donate items for our Trunk or Treat Event on Thursday, October 27th or the Middle School Halloween Dance on Friday, October 28th. If interested in donating an item or two, please use the following links to sign up.
Trunk or Treat Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0a45a9ab2caaf58-smsa
Middle School Halloween Dance Link: https://signup.com/go/QxbeAJ
More details regarding each events donations are located in their sign ups. Thank you so much! We appreciate you!
If you have any questions, please email Andrea Nuss.
Middle School Musical Parent and Student Informational Meeting
The Middle School Theatre Department is presenting Shrek Jr.!
Any student in 6th through 8th grade is invited to participate. We will be having an informational parent and student meeting on Wednesday, November 9th at 6:00 PM in the Cafeteria.
At this meeting, you will be given the information you and your child need to make a confident decision: When, Where, Expectations, etc.
Attending this meeting does not lock you into participating, it simply gives you the important information you need to decide if this is the right fit for your family.
SMSA's (Elementary & Middle School Students) Got Talent!
Big Money Raffle (BMR) Tickets Are On Sale NOW!
It is BMR time on The Ledge! Every SMSA family has received five (5) BMR tickets to sell and/or purchase to help ensure this System fundraiser is a success. (If you have not received your tickets, please check your youngest child's backpack, as any remaining tickets were sent home this week). Tickets may be returned to school with your child anytime before the live drawing at noon on Friday, January 13th, 2023.
Additional tickets can be purchased at the North, South or Scrip office or by contacting Kristin Zitlow at kzitlow@smsacademy.org or 920-322-8006.
Thank you for supporting SMSA's Big Money Raffle!
The Big Money Raffle (BMR) Committee Needs You!
Do you own a company or know of a company willing to help us sell SMSA’s Big Money Raffle tickets? Companies that choose to become a BMR ticket location will have their company logo placed on BMR promotional materials, including posters and radio ads.
We would appreciate an opportunity to hang a BMR poster and leave a few tickets for sale. Please email Kristin Zitlow ASAP if you are interested in participating.
Stay tuned for more information regarding BMR ticket distribution in early October!
Thank you for your support!
The BMR Committee (Kelly Baker, Jenny Baker, Valerie Everson, Sasha Smith)
2022-2023 SMSA Concession/Admission Help Needed!
Are you the parent of a SMSA Middle School or High School athlete? If so, please consider signing up below to help out ABC (Athletic Booster Club) by volunteering your time and talent to work in concessions or admissions at an upcoming sport event.
Booster Club is encouraging ALL parents of ALL athletes to embrace teamwork and help out at an event that fits for your schedule. For those that have already signed up and volunteered, ABC sincerely appreciates your help!
Use the links below to sign up through SignupGenius:
Winter sports will be added at a future date with a follow up email
LEGO League at SMSA!
To parents and students currently in 3rd-7th grade:
Do you like Legos, robotics, lots of research about new ideas, inventing things, improving your community, and working as a team? Keep reading!
WHAT IS FIRST? FIRST is an international organization that stands for “For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology”. It introduces STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) to students through fun, exciting, hands-on, real-world learning.
LEGO TEAM AT SCHOOL: SMSA started a Lego League team last year, named Bot Busters. We are starting our second season. Each team can have a maximum of 10 students from 4th to 8th grade. Schools can have more than one team. Each team needs two dedicated coaches. This season, our team is full, but we would love to expand and grow next year!
THE SEASON: Each season has two components:
1) Robot design, coding, and robot games to complete missions.
2) Researching a solution to a challenge (presented by FIRST each year), and designing an invention to help solve the problem. Researching the challenge, problems, and solutions requires field trips, interviews with field experts and stakeholders, internet searches, and the building of prototypes.
2022 FIRST CHALLENGE: This season’s challenge is how to make energy more affordable, sustainable, or reliable, by looking at where energy comes from, and how it is stored, distributed, and used. This challenge aligns with the United Nations sustainable development goal #7.
The solution to the challenge should have the ability to positively impact the local community, so students are encouraged to think locally about how to solve the challenge. This focus allows students to get to know local businesses and people when doing research.
At this time, we are researching biofuels…so if anyone with knowledge of this would like to offer an interview or help, please let us know!
THE FUTURE: We would love to see Lego League grow next year so we can accommodate more students. But we can’t do it without help. We need parents to consider coaching and volunteering. The time commitment is significant, but the rewards are great.
If this opportunity sounds interesting to you and your student, please consider asking us questions, dropping by our meetings (after school Tuesdays and Fridays), volunteering some small amount of time this year (not required), or maybe even coming to our competition or scrimmage.
In all, this organization and team provides a very unique opportunity. The time it takes for parent volunteers and the students is significant, but the rewards are many. The life skills students learn, the intensity of the games, the independence they show, and the curiosity fostered is something which will be remembered long after school is completed.
So please, contact us to learn more.
Sandy Schwoerer: sandyschwoerer@gmail.com
Mary Jo Rammer: mhalbmaier@hotmail.com
Lauren Bellmore: laurenbellmore@gmail.com
2022 Co-Ed Volleyball League for 4th & 5th Graders
The Fond du Lac School District Recreation Department is running a co-ed volleyball league for 4th and 5th graders! Check out more information about the program, how to sign up a student, and how to help out as a coach!
School Safety
As always, if you or your child become aware of a potentially dangerous situation that may threaten campus safety, we urge you to contact the Fond du Lac Police Department.
To report life threatening urgent matters, please dial 9-1-1. To report concerns that may not be urgent, please call 920-322-3700. You may also call the high school main office at 920-322-8062.
Speak Up/Speak Out (SUSO)
Created by the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of School Safety (OSS), the Speak Up, Speak Out Resource Center (SUSO) is a comprehensive, one-stop place to turn with important concerns currently offering: threat assessment consultation, critical incident response, and general school safety guidance.
Visit the SUSO website for additional information on these three services as well as resources on school safety best practices.
Standards-Based Grading
St. Mary’s Spring Academy is excited to introduce Standards Based Grading in grades kindergarten through third grade for the 2022-23 school year! Standards Based Grading is a best practice initiative the Archdiocese of Milwaukee is leading all of its schools towards implementing in the coming school year.
The objective of the video series is to educate parents in short videos to unpack Standard Based Grading. The series intends to deliver an education and mind shift to understand Standards Based Grading, why Standards Based Grading is best practice, and how Standards Based Grading functions with the parent and teacher supporting the student’s journey.
Please watch the following videos to learn more about Standards-Based Grading at SMSA: