High School News

One treasured Lenten tradition practiced by Catholics is participating in the Stations of the Cross. Pilgrims to Jerusalem often find their way to the “Via Dolorosa”, meaning “sorrowful way” or “way of suffering.” This was the path of Jesus with his Cross on the road to Calvary. When we take time for the Stations of the Cross, we walk along the road with Jesus from being condemned, to taking up his cross, to falling under its weight, to being nailed to the cross, to dying on the cross, and being laid in a tomb. Of course, three days after Jesus’ grueling Way of the Cross, women find an empty tomb.

Our students learn that in his life on earth Jesus experienced the many joys that come along with a loving family, meaningful faith, and deep friendship. He also suffered the pain of human hardship, grief, betrayal, abandonment, humiliation, anxiety, emotional agony, and brutal physical abuse. By meditating on the Way of the Cross, all of us can come closer to Jesus, and find in Our Lord a person who not only fully understands the most difficult human suffering - but can show each of us the way to overcome any challenge.

On the Ledge, students have the opportunity to reflect on the Way of the Cross. We pray daily with our students. They learn theology - and not only through theology classes - but also through the many ways that Campus Ministry and our SMSA teachers and counselors minister to provide insight, opportunity, and guidance. We teach our students about Salvation history, the joy of the Gospel, social responsibility, the sacrificial and unconditional love of Christ, and the hope of the Resurrection. As Ledgers they are reminded often that God loves them and has a plan for their life. We hope that as they grow and develop as young people, our beloved Ledgers will come to grasp their calling as Christians, value their relationship with Jesus more and more, and trust in His Way for their life.

SPRING BREAK &...

On behalf of the high school faculty and staff, we wish all high school families a joyful and safe Spring Break! After we return to school on March 20th, there will be exactly five class days left in Quarter 3, just 14 class days to Good Friday and Easter Break, and only 50 days until the final day of classes for the school year. The remainder of the 2022-23 school year will move very quickly, and Spring will be a welcome companion for our journey.

Like for all of us, Spring is a wonderful and welcome season for high school students. It can also be a challenging time for teens to maintain positive focus and momentum on school matters. As such, it is an important time of year for parents and guardians to check-in more regularly than usual with their Ledgers about school studies. Thanks for your continued partnership as we move forward in 2022-23.

Our Lady of the Ledge, pray for us.

Eamonn O’Keeffe

High School Principal

Upcoming Dates

Friday, March 10th - Final day of classes before Spring Break
Monday, March 13th to Friday, March 17th - SPRING BREAK/ No Classes
Monday, March 20th - Classes Resume

Parents of Performing Arts Meeting Dates

Parents of Performing Arts meeting dates for the 2022-2023 school year are:

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!

WI Parental Choice Program Open Enrollment for 2023-2024

The WPCP online application period will open February 1st, 2023 and close on Thursday April 20th, 2023.

The DPI requires current Choice families to fill out an application for the 2023-2024 school year. Filling out the application informs the DPI that you want to receive your Choice voucher for the following school year. If the DPI does not receive an application from a current Choice family the voucher will not be renewed.

New and current families must electronically submit their application at:

https://dpi.wi.gov/parental-education-options/choice-programs/student-applications

NEW families must be income eligible to apply. The following income limits have been posted for 2023-2024:

Family Size Maximum Yearly Income

1 $29,898

2 $40,282

3 $50,666

4 $61,050

5 $71,434

6 $81,818

For each additional member in a family add $10,384.

Family income includes the income of the student’s parent(s)/legal guardian(s) that reside in the same household as the student.

Current Choice families are not required to provide income documentation. Proof of residency documents are required for current and new families.

Information about WPCP can be found on the SMSA website.

Questions can be directed to:

Carol Ellestad: SMSA Choice Designee

cellestad@smsacademy.org or 920.322.8002.

NEW-SIMPLE-QUICK -- SMSA Online Registration for 2023-2024

Registration for the 2023-2024 school year will be completed online through your Family Access account, in Skyward. Step-by-step instructions can be found on SMSA's website.

Due to Skyward system limitations, using your cell phone to complete online registration will not work.

All current families must complete online registration for each student.

Log into your Family Access account in Skyward. If you have misplaced your login credentials for Skyward, please use the Forgot Login/Password link found on the Skyward login page and follow the directions.

Online registration includes information verification regarding your family and student(s). Registering your child(ren) is needed to determine class size and seats available in each classroom for 2023-2024. The registration fee will be part of your 2023-2024 tuition statement

To secure your seat for the 2023-2024 school year complete online registration by Monday, March 20th.

After March 20th, SMSA will open registration to the public. If grade levels fill to the maximum seats available, students will be put on a waiting list.

If you have questions regarding online registration, please email us at registration@smsacademy.org

Click these links to access the following:

● Tuition Policies

● Tuition Assistance

● To enroll a NEW student

● Online Registration Instructions

Post Prom 2023

Spring is on the horizon!! Saturday, May 6th is the Junior/Senior Prom and the SMSA Post-Prom Parent Committee is beginning to work out all the details for the 2023 Post Prom, to be held at Ledgeview Lanes this year.

Since Post Prom is a school approved, but not a school sponsored event, parent support is also needed and greatly appreciated in order to make this event a memorable success. Please consider giving a monetary donation or gift card donation - any amount is helpful! We collected over $4,000 last year from our junior/senior parents. We would like to continue to have every student leave with a prize.

If you are able to contribute donations of cash, checks (payable to SMSA Post Prom) or gift cards, please give directly to Stephanie Korb or donate via Venmo (Post prom in memo). The Venmo address is @Stephanie-Korb-4. If donating through Venmo, please do not accept the purchase protection prompt as this adds a service fee for taxable goods which is not applicable.

Cash/Checks/Gift Cards can also be dropped off at SMSA's North Office. Please be sure to label the envelope Post Prom and put a memo on checks. Please, only donate what you are comfortable with as any amount is greatly appreciated.

To be well prepared, it is requested all donations be secured and received by Friday, April 14th. Please contact Stephanie Korb at 920-960-8568 or Dawn Blanck at 920-517-0525 with any questions.

Thank you all for your help in making this a successful post prom!

Payment for Dual Enrollment Courses for 2023-2024

St. Mary's Springs Academy supports students who wish to begin their college career while still a high school student. SMSA maintains partnerships with the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh through the Cooperative Academic Partnership Program (CAPP), Marian University, and Moraine Park Technical College to offer students a variety of options to earn college credit while still enrolled at SMSA.

You are receiving this E-mail because your student has requested to take one or more dual enrollment courses next year through UW-Oshkosh and/or Marian University. As outlined in the 2023-2024 High School Curriculum Guide, the cost for any college credit earned through either UW-Oshkosh or Marian University will be an added expense to the family above and beyond the cost of SMSA’s annual tuition. Students were also made aware of the additional cost during the all-class meetings about the registration process and timeline that occurred at the beginning of the second semester.

Students wishing to register for any/all of the courses below must return this form (completed and signed by both student and a parent) along with a check (made out to St. Mary’s Springs Academy) for the total amount of all courses requested to the North Hall Office no later than Friday, March 31st. Our dual enrollment partners will bill St. Mary’s Springs Academy for the cost of tuition for all students enrolled in dual enrollment courses at a later date. The payments collected from SMSA families on/before March 31st will be remitted to those institutions by St. Mary’s Springs Academy at that time.

Students who fail to submit this form and payment by Friday, March 31st will be enrolled in alternate courses by the high school counseling office.

Students who withdraw from any course(s) prior to the end of the first semester add/drop date of the 2023-2024 school year will receive a full refund for the cost of each course. No payment will be refunded after the last date of the add/drop period.

Note: those students wishing to enroll in CAPP Statistics through UW-Oshkosh must present appropriate scores on the UW-System Math Placement Test as a prerequisite to taking the course. The placement test will be available to students after we return from Spring Break. Students can take the test the first time online with any necessary retakes completed in person through the Testing Center at UW-Oshkosh. Those students who fail to present appropriate placement test scores will receive a full refund of their payment to UW-Oshkosh for CAPP Statistics.

If you participate in one of the State of Wisconsin’s voucher programs or anticipate difficulty paying the full amount owed for all courses by March 31st please contact SMSA’s Business Office to discuss payment options.

Forward Exam Testing Window: March 20th-March 31st

St. Mary’s Springs Academy is preparing for our students in 3rd – 8th grade as well as 10th grade to participate in the Wisconsin Forward Exam.

The Forward Exam is designed to gauge how well students are doing in relation to the Wisconsin Academic Standards. These standards outline what students should know and be able to do in order to be college and career ready. The Forward Exam is a Wisconsin computer-based exam that is administered in the spring of each school year at the grade levels seen below:

Grade 10 in Social Studies

This year, testing at SMSA will take place during the weeks of March 20th and March 27th. The Forward Exam must be administered in person and cannot be proctored virtually. We ask for our support by having your child(ren) attend school during the testing window.

For more information, please review the Wisconsin DPI Forward Information Guide for Families.

Volunteers needed for Children's Museum of Fond du Lac's Easter EGGstravaganza!

CMFDL is looking for volunteers for our Easter EGGstravaganza event on Saturday, April 1st from 9:00 A.M.-3:30 P.M.! Volunteers will assist with running our activities and facilitating the egg hunt. We are also looking for someone to dress up as the Easter Bunny!

Volunteers must be over 13 years old. Any volunteers under 13 will need parental supervision. Interested individuals can submit their availability online at: https://forms.gle/bnKLujUtRcDhyGeY9.

The shifts will be 8:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M., 11:30 A.M.-2:30 P.M., and 2:30 P.M.-4:00 P.M. Interested volunteers can select multiple shifts if they want to help us all day. The last shift is for the sensory-friendly version of the event for our visitors with sensory processing sensitivities.

Optional Practice ACT Test for the Class of 2024

SMSA is offering current Juniors a second opportunity to take a Practice ACT test ahead of the live ACT test they'll sit for in April!

The practice test is scheduled for Saturday, March 25th from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM CST on campus at St. Mary’s Springs Academy. There is no charge to take this practice test and, as in February, students will receive their test scores immediately following the exam!

Those interested in participating can register for the test online at:

www.revolutionprep.com/partners/103351/

or by scanning the QR Code below.

Students and parents also have an option to schedule a free 30-minute score report review with a Revolution Prep testing expert who will interpret the practice test results and develop a customized plan to prepare for future ACT test sittings. Students and parents can pre-schedule this Score Report Review at: www.revolutionprep.com/jaime-wareham

If you have questions or want to learn more about Revolution Prep, you can reach out to Jaime Wareham, at (412) 552-3532 or by email at jaime.wareham@revolutionprep.com

Ledgerfest RSVP Deadline is March 10th!

STAND UP FOR SPRINGS!

The RSVP deadline is Friday, March 10th. That's tomorrow!

Enjoy an evening of laughs and mingling with your friends and fellow SMSA families. Come dressed in casual night out attire, enjoy fantastic food catered by CRAVE, cash bar, entertainment provided by improv comedy troupe Fish Sticks, raffles and the best silent and live auction to date, all in support of St. Mary's Springs Academy!

When: Saturday, April 1, 2023. Doors open at 5:00 P.M.

Where: THELMA Sadoff Center for the Arts - 51 Sheboygan St., Fond du Lac

This year's Ledgerfest is a can't miss event! Register NOW before it is too late!

Questions? Contact Kristin Zitlow

Volunteer Sign Up For Ledgerfest

The Ledgerfest committee is looking for volunteers to help at this year's Ledgerfest event, Saturday, April 1st. Click here to review volunteer options, times and to sign up.

If you have not yet registered, we invite you to Stand Up For Springs on April 1st at THELMA Sadoff Center for the Arts. The Doors open at 5:00 P.M. enjoy an evening of mingling in a comedy club atmosphere, delicious food catered by Crave, raffles, live and silent auction, and plenty of laughs provided by improv comedy troupe, Fish Sticks Comedy!

Click here for event details and to register to attend.

Scholarship Website for SMSA Seniors

Last year, Mr. Stamatakos created a website that SMSA seniors can use to learn about local scholarship opportunities that they can apply for to help fund their college educations at two and four-year colleges. The website will continue to be updated throughout the coming months as updated applications for the current senior class are received by Mr. Stamatakos. Mr. Stamatakos will also E-mail out applications for these scholarships to the senior class and to parents of seniors as he receives them...so please check your E-mail for these opportunities!

Please visit the website early and often to start learning about scholarship opportunities that you can take advantage of!

Yearbook Snap

Yearbook is looking for your photos!

Yearbook Snap, Walsworth Yearbooks’ new mobile app version of Community Upload, allows you to share your photos with the yearbook staff! Yearbook Snap is available for iPhones and iPads in the App Store, and for Android phones in Google Play.

The app allows parents and students to take photos at games, dances, theatre performances, concerts, or your favorite hangout and upload them to the yearbook staff immediately using their mobile device.

The access code to share your photos with Walsworth and your yearbook staff is: SMSA2023.

Please submit your photos today!

2022-2023 Yearbooks & Senior Ads

2022-2023 high school yearbooks are now available to order from Walsworth!

Order yearbooks and senior ads online today!

Earn a $1,000/year Scholarship Just for visiting Marian University!

AODA Resources for Familes

Red Ribbon Resources for Students & Families:

Drugfree.org - Prevention tips for helping your teen make safe choices

NIDA for Teens - the National Institute on Drug Abuse provides information on teen brains and addiction

Just Think Twice - informative site that includes drug facts, common myths and possible consequences of drug use

Stop Underage Drinking - comprehensive research and resources to prevent underage drinking

Crisis Resources for Families

Crisis Resources for Families.pdf

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

988.pdf

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.

Colleges Visiting SMSA

College visits are open to all juniors and seniors! Sign up for all visits in your SCOIR account!

Job Opportunities

Just Posted! Lifeguarding Opportunities

Kelley Country Creamery

Fond du Lac Boys & Girls Club

Fond du Lac County Health Department

Ledger Learning Guide

The Ledger Learning Guides are a rebranded version of the “Virtual Learning Guide” that was designed in March 2020 to serve parents, students, and teachers at the start of the virtual learning term. Moving forward, whether students are learning on the Ledge in person or online at home, the LLG will provide a weekly overview of course learning targets and access to course links. Teachers will be updating course pages and learning expectations prior to the beginning of each new academic week.

The Ledger Learning Guide will not be as comprehensive or detailed as Google Classroom or other course calendars/schedules but does provide a meaningful overview of all SMSA courses and content being learned.

The Ledger Learning Guide for the 2022-2023 Academic Year can be viewed here.

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