Elementary News

November 22nd, 2022

From the Desk of Steve Kelnhofer - Elementary School Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,


As you travel towards Thanksgiving, take time to sit quietly in the presence of of the Lord. Just you and Him. Fill your heart and mind with thankfulness. Then as you go through your Thanksgiving day, look for small moments to be thankful that were placed there just for you. For what we seek is what we will find. A grateful heart is one filled with love. Love connects us together in the world and us in the world to our Father in Heaven.


Thank you for giving me the joy of engaging moments with your child. Each of them have a special way of bringing joy into the lives of those around them. They get to influence me and those in our community with the joyful spirit of a child. This alone is bouquet of moments to be thankful.


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.


The trimester officially closed November 17th. Please check into Skyward for a communication tool regarding the learning happening. Skyward parent access will be turned back on November 22nd to view student 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 23rd-25th: No Classes Thanksgiving Holiday Break

  • November 28th: Classes resume

  • November 30th: All System Advent Reconciliation Services

  • December 8th: All System Mass at Holy Family (Feast of the Immaculate Conception)

  • 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.)

Principal's Pen Winners for November

We've recognized some amazing students so far this month as winner of the Principal's Pen!

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 special guest, receives a certificate with a brief sentence on how they followed The Ledger Way, and a principal’s pen.

Here are our winners so far!


Week of November 8th

The Special Guest was Chief Development Officer Katie Tank


  • Annie R. (3k) - She is very respectful. She is a quiet leader and a very kind friend to all!!

  • Holden S. (4K) – He is a leader in our classroom. He is a great role model on how to be a bucket filler, follow directions, and work hard! We love having him in our class.

  • Joelle K. (4K) – She is a wonderful example of the Ledger Way! She has a beautiful heart for Jesus, and always treats others with kindness and respect. She loves to learn and is a great friend to all! We love having her in our class!

  • Lucas L. (KG)– He is a student who always shows great respect in and out of the classroom. He demonstrates leadership within our classroom and loves to work as a school family. He is kind to all and always does his best!

  • Brandon (KG) - He is a respectful and hardworking leader. He is a great friend who always shows kindness. He is always willing to lend a helping hand to whoever is in need.

  • Clare S. (KG) – She is a great role model. She is always ready to learn and shows respect to everyone.

  • Mazie A. (1st) – She shows respect for her peers and teachers by raising her hand. She is a learner daily and includes others. She has a strong faith by participating in prayer.

  • Luke G. (1st) – He demonstrates the core values of leadership and learning. He is a wonderful role model to his classmates and leads others by setting the example and showing what the expectation is!

  • Eliza H. (1st) – Always being respectful to students and adults. She is always checking on other students to make sure they are okay. She starts every day with a positive mindset. She is very respectful to her peers and adults and is always ready to help them.

  • Addyson Z. (2nd) – She should be recognized for the learning core value because she is always ready to learn with her excellent listening skills, following directions and effort in all her work.

  • Scarlet H. (2nd) – She has a love for learning. She challenges herself in all subjects and takes pride in her work. She is a respectful student who follows the expectations and is a kind friend to all.


Week of November 14th

The Special Guest was Chief Development Officer Katie Tank


Monty R. (Grade 3) - He is very respectful to his peers and teachers. He is always coming to school prepared and ready to learn. He is someone you can rely on to help other classmates.

Piper V. (Grade 3) – Piper is a wonderful leader in our classroom community. She works hard everyday by being prepared and ready for lessons. She listens and follows directions and is a very good role model for others. She shares her faith with us by her kind ways and loving actions to others. She works hard to be the best she can be!

Nevaeh H. (Grade 3) – She is always ready for the day when she comes in. She takes responsibility for her learning. She is also a great leader in the classroom portraying many great qualities of a leader.

Jack J. (Grade 4) – He shows great responsibility for learning. He has wonderful leadership skills and makes everyone feel part of our classroom community.

Kaira B. (Grade 4) - She has a beautiful spirit about her, she is conscientious of her words and actions. She does quality work. She is polite and helpful, so kind to all her classmates.

Blake S. (Grade 4) – He demonstrates leadership by helping others when they need it. He also puts lots of ef ort into his work!

Jimena C. (Grade 5) – She is a role model for her peers. She is always thinking of others, treats others with respect, and gives 100% in all she does. She truly lives the Leader Way!

Nevaeh G. (Grade 5) – She shows the core values of faith and learning by enthusiastically sharing her knowledge of her faith in religion class. She also is a voracious reader and loves to apply what she has learned to other subjects.

Miles G. (Grade 5) – He is very respectful to classmates and adults. He has a love of learning and always tries his best.

Week of November 21st

The Special Guest was Chief Development Officer Katie Tank


  • Lillian A (Grade 6) - She has shown great improvement in her learning through hard work and participation in class. She takes responsibility for her learning and is a great member of our Ledger community.

  • Lilia R. (Grade 6) – She has numerous strengths that are centered around our core values. She is a faith filled respectable leader in and out of the classroom. She values her learning and is extremely responsible.

  • Kaiden O. (Grade 6) – He is a very kind and respectful young man to his teachers and peers. Kaden is always trying his hardest in class and is always willing to share his thoughts, ideas, and knowledge. He works well with others and includes all community members.

  • Bennett W. (Grade 7) – He has strong leadership skills, excellent quality of work, helpful to students and teachers.

  • Zosia G. (Grade 7) - She is always very pleasant to be around. She greets adults when she enters the room or sees you in the hallway. Love her Smile!! She works very hard to complete her work and is always very respectful!

  • Lucas B. (Grade 8) – He is a very kind kid who is very helpful and a role model for others. He is a very hard worker and is always putting his best ef ort forward.

  • Phoebe G. (Grade 8) – She is new this year and is a great addition to the 8th grade. She’s caring and very respectful. She knows what to do and how to do it properly. Always has a smile on her face when she enters the building. Great to have her in this class!

  • Sadie D. (Grade 8) – She is very respectful to everyone around her. She is always willing to help others and loves to learn. She is extremely kind, responsible, and always has a positive attitude.

  • Roman G. (Grade 8) – He is an exemplary role model of the SMSA Core values, particularly learning and responsibility. He strives to give his best ef ort in everything that he does, and he is always reflective of how he could improve as a student. He brings true joy to the classroom

Get Ready to Shop! Elves-R-Us is NEXT WEEK!

Elves-R-us is back for its 30th year!

Next week (11/28 - 12/2), students in grades 4K - 5th will have the opportunity to pair up with an 8th grade elf to go Christmas shopping for family and friends. An envelope and shopping schedule was sent home with your child’s homeroom teacher. In order to keep the Christmas shop stocked, we have partnered with a fundraising company this year.

As in past years, items will start as low as $0.25. This year, however, we will have a stock of gifts in value up to $20.00. Funds raised go to support local families through charity as well as offset the cost of the 8th grade class trip.

Supply issues and inflation have hit the Elves' shop, much like the rest of the economy. Although prices have increased this year, we are thrilled to offer a variety of items from which to choose and keep this tradition alive. There is something available for every budget, and we look forward to making this year’s Elves-R-Us a success!

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.

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: