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.

Scholarship Information Needed from the Class of 2023

Mr. Stamatakos would like all seniors who’ve received scholarship money from any colleges/universities they’ve been admitted to to report that information to him. SMSA uses this information in our recognition of seniors at Seniors Honors Convocation in May. We list the schools that awarded our seniors scholarships (but not the award amounts of those scholarships) in the list of students’ accomplishments during that program. 

SMSA also has many important people, both within and outside the walls of SMSA, who like to see that information. That includes President Akey, the Board of Directors, Mrs. Tank in the Advancement Office, and potential donors and strategic partners. If we can say, for example, that the Class of 2023 was offered a total $15,000,000 in scholarship money over the next year four years from colleges/universities and community-based organizations that’s pretty impressive! 

To clarify: Mr. Stamatakos only wants information about scholarships earned. Grants (from schools, the state of Wisconsin, and/or the Federal Government) don’t count. Sometimes schools will throw in small “extras” like Visit Awards or Early FAFSA Filer Awards. Students can also report those to Mr. Stamatakos. 

Please use this online form to report all of the scholarship money earned:

http://bit.ly/43sOMcu 

Students may complete this form one of two ways:

1. Upload scanned copies or pictures of acceptance/award letters to this form and submit it. Students may upload up to ten files to this form at once.

2. List the names, sources, and amounts (per year) of any scholarships received individually and submit the form. You may provide information about up to ten awards using this form.

The deadline to complete and submit this form is Friday, May 12th. If you receive any scholarships after that deadline passes, please E-mail Mr. Stamatakos with that information or with questions...especially if you don’t know exactly what information you need to report! 

Use Your Scrip Credits for Continuing Education! 

Is your youngest SMSA student graduating this June?  If you answered "yes" we need to know where to apply your Scrip credits acquired this year.  That's right - your Scrip credits can be applied to education at a four-year college, a two-year college, or ANY other tuition-based school as long as we know where your student is headed!  

Click here to download and complete the required form and return it to the Scrip office by Wednesday, May 31st (the end of the Scrip fiscal year).  

Have an undecided student?  No worries, select "future use" on the form and receive your credit at the end of next fiscal year. 

AND... sending your youngest off to further their education doesn't mean you should stop using Scrip!  Continue to purchase Scrip, receive a check to apply to your student's school, and continue to support SMSA.  You can be a Ledger forever!

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!

Academy Girls Scholarship - Now Accepting Applications!

Attention SMSA junior girls and respective parents/guardians:

Applications are now being accepted for the prestigious Academy Girls Scholarship!  This merit-based scholarship will award $1,000 to one current, female, SMSA junior, to be applied to tuition for her senior year at SMSA.  Applicants will be evaluated based on essay responses and GPA.

Please submit applications to me either in person, via email or through Google Docs, no later than Monday, April 24th at 3:30 P.M. No late applications will be accepted or considered. 

The award winner will be notified during the Honors Convocation scheduled for Thursday, May 18th.

The Academy Girls Scholarship application can be found online. Please feel free to contact me with any questions!

God bless,

Mrs. Tank

Chief Development Officer

ktank@smsacademy.org

Summer SSM Health Volunteer Opportunity

SSM Health is accepting applications for summer volunteers. This is an excellent opportunity for students to get a foot in the door in a health care setting to learn more about the different career opportunities in this field. 

Interested students should complete an application at: https://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/ap?ap=1064972467

Students can also apply by: 

1. Going to ssmhealth.com/volunteer

2. Set location on the top of the page to Fond du Lac and click the “Apply Now” button halfway down the page.

For NEW (first time Volunteers) - Teens must be 16 by June 1st to apply:

1. Complete an online application

2. Once we receive the application a member of volunteer services will contact the student to perform a brief phone screening and interview

3. Volunteer orientation times are scheduled following the interview

For RETURNING Volunteers:

1. Email: Jason.Blonigen@ssmhealth.com

2. Please indicate that you are a returning student in the subject line

3. Please include your name and phone number in the email

4. You will receive a response with further information

Additional Information:

• Summer volunteering runs from June through Mid-to-Late August

• Proof of COVID vaccination is required (1 st and 2 nd dose of Pfizer and Moderna or 1 st dose of Johnson and Johnson) for all on-site volunteers and employees

• Volunteers 18 or older must submit to a caregiver background check

• All on-site volunteers/employees must complete employee health lab testing for tuberculosis before starting

Please contact the volunteer coordinator, Jason, if you have any questions at 920-926-4873 or Jason.Blonigen@ssmhealth.com