Elementary News

What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday? This thought provoking question may remind us that our lives are filled with many blessings. Thanksgiving is a time for us to pause and give thanks for thee many blessings giving to us as gifts from God. Let us take time to be a good example and help our leaders for tomorrow to grow in the area of thanksgiving for small wonders, awesome people and amazing experiences we get to be surrounded by in the moments of our lives.

Thank you parents/guardians for our partnership in the educational process of growing children to be rooted in Christ’s teaching, learning about service to community, and becoming leaders for tomorrow.

SMSA is excited to support Clay Bowe and his family this Advent season. Please read the following letter to learn a couple of ways you can make a difference in your journey and another’s journey this Advent.

An Advent Story 2022

Brought to us yearly by the eighth grade students, teachers and volunteers, is the SMSA ELVES R US program. Please click here to learn more about ELVES R US and how SMSA families can encounter this wonderful opportunity.

We are approaching the end of our first trimester of school. The trimester officially closes November 17th. Please check into Skyward for a communication tool regarding the learning happening. Skyward will be turned off for parent view on the evening of November 17th and then turned back on November 22nd to view report cards. Please click here to learn more about accessing electronic report cards.

Thank you for your continued partnership with SMSA. Together we will create a path for tomorrow’s children to achieve amazing dreams.

God Bless,

Steven Kelnhofer

Elementary Principal, SMSA

Upcoming Dates

November 17th: End of the First Trimester
November 23rd-25th: No Classes Thanksgiving Holiday Break
November 28th: Classes resume
November 30th: All System Advent Reconciliation Services
May 26th, 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:

December 21
January 18
February 15
March 22
April 19
May 16 (note the revised date)

All meetings will be held at 6:00 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.)

SMSA First LEGO League Team Wins!

The SMSA “First Lego League” team “Bot Busters” competed this past weekend and received 1st place for their Innovative Project solution, and came in 2nd overall to qualify for regionals. They will compete on December 17th in Waukesha for a place in the State Finals and a chance to go to the National competition.

Team members:

Gabriel R.

Alyssa F.

Jameson S.

Addy S.

Jacob H.

Vincent B.

Dominick B.

Coaches:

Sandy S.

Mary Jo R.

Lauren B.

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.

We are in our second second 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. This season’s challenge is how to make energy more affordable, sustainable, or reliable.

Congratulations Bot Busters on this great win for SMSA!

Elementary Service Project for the Salvation Army

The Kindergarten-8th graders will be collecting items for the Salvation Army from November 7th - November 30th! Please see the information below to see what items students in each grade will be asked to collect. All items will be collected in both the South and North Hall Offices.

Please note: Kindergarten is collecting laundry soap and 8th grade is collecting shampoo and conditioner.

In addition to collecting these items, students will journal and reflect on the difference they are making and read books about helping, serving, & kindness.

Elves-R-Us

Save the dates - November 28th - December 2nd!

Elves R Us is back for its 30th year of Christmas fun and shopping! Students in grades 4K - 5th will have the opportunity to pair up with an 8th grade elf to do their own Christmas shopping for family and friends. A variety of items from coloring books to home decor will be available at a price point that is friendly to every budget. Our 8th grade students will have the opportunity to gain valuable leadership and business skills while younger students shop, wrap presents, and enjoy a treat!

The shopping schedule, money envelope with attached shop gift list have been sent home. Please check the date that your student will be shopping with their class, and be sure to send their Elves envelope to school on that day.

Happy shopping!

High School Placement Test

The High School Placement Test for the Class of 2027 will be held on Saturday, December 3rd, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The test will be admisistered at SMSA. If you have any questions, please contact Kelly Mueller at kmueller@smsacademy.org.

LedgerExpress is Coming!

Start your Christmas season off with a fun-filled afternoon!

Our Parent Connectors group will be once again hosting The LedgerExpress: A Christmas Celebration on Sunday, December 11th from 1:00 PM-2:30 PM. Wear your pajamas or dress in holiday gear, enjoy a cup of hot chocolate, make a Christmas craft, take pictures at our photo station, decorate a sweet treat, bounce in the bouncy house & play some holiday games.

Your child should have brought home the reservation form last week. The cost of the event is $7.00 per child. Please reserve your ticket by returning your form and fee to school by Tuesday, November 22nd.

If you have any questions, please contact Andrea Nuss.

Volunteers Needed for Christmas Card Sale

The students in grades 4-8 at St. Mary's Springs Academy have created unique and original Christmas cards. These cards will be sold for $2.00 after all the Masses at Holy Family Parish sites on Saturday, December 3rd and Sunday, December 4th. All proceeds from the Christmas Card Sale will benefit Clay Bowe.

Clay is a sweet boy that’s 11 years old and born with a rare chromosome disorder. He faces many medical challenges including seizures, dependent on oxygen, dystonia, and dysautonomia. Clay is globally delayed and requires full care. All of this is outweighed by the amount of love that Clay gives out. God surely knew that the world needed a bright light and he gave us Clay.

You can help our 4th-8th graders by signing up to sell the Christmas cards after one of the Masses

Your support of this project and of Clay is greatly appreciated!

Important Concert Dates!

Wednesday, December 14th: Grade 5-8 Christmas Concert at 1:00 PM and 6:30 PM in Hutter Gym

Thursday, December 15th: Grades K-4 Christmas Program at 12:45 PM and 6:30 PM in Hutter Gym

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:

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