High School News
April 6th 2023
April 6th 2023
In this week's High School eLedger
LENT ON THE LEDGE: HAPPY EASTER!
Today, Lent 2023 concludes. Today we enter the sacred space between the Lent and Easter seasons. We call it Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday! During this sacred time between the liturgical season of Lent and Easter, Christians commemorate the final days of Jesus, including the Last Supper, the agony in the garden, His arrest and prosecution. We journey with Jesus through these trials and try to imagine the torture and humiliation our Lord’s Way of the Cross and crucifixion.
As believers, we live with faith that our resurrected, living Lord continues to accompany each of us daily, through all of the joys, opportunities and challenges that are part of life. The Good News is that God lives among us! When we truly enter into the mystery of our faith - it always gives us the most hope of all!
In Catholic education, we are blessed to see the paschal mystery repeated on a regular basis. Everyone makes mistakes…Ledgers, faculty and staff. There can be hard days, disappointing days on the Ledge. Yet there is a palpable desire within our Springs community to help one another learn from mistakes of all kinds. Human acts of empathy and kindness will always allow for reflection and growth - for everyone. We encounter the risen Jesus in times when others truly look out for our best interest, and offer us selfless support. We thank God for the gift of resurrection, for the promise of mercy and new life, and for the presence of caring companions along our life’s journey.
This Easter, we pray that God’s grace will deepen our faith and move us closer to one another in the Springs community. Thank you for choosing to be a part of this life giving learning community. On behalf of all my colleagues at SMSA, Happy Easter!
DISTRICT TESTING DAY: APRIL 13th
Students in Grades 9-11 will be engaged with academic testing on Thursday April 13th. Juniors will be taking the ACT Test while freshman and sophomores will have the Pre-ACT Test administered. This is a required day of school for Grades 9-11, and senior students have no school. We are very fortunate to be able to administer these tests on campus at SMSA as our own district, with only our own students, administered by our own faculty!
Since testing will be online for all students, parents should make sure that students bring Chromebooks fully charged on April 13th. We appreciate your support for this important day.
Our Lady of the Ledge, pray for us.
High School Principal
Thursday, April 6th - Holy Thursday, the final day of classes before Easter Break
Friday, April 7th - Good Friday, NO CLASSES
Monday, April 10th - Easter Monday, NO CLASSES
Tuesday, April 11th - Classes resume
Thursday, April 13th - District Testing Day for Grades 9-11 (Pre-Act or ACT). NO SCHOOL for Seniors.
Wednesday, April 19th - Junior Retreat Day
Friday, April 21st- Sunday, April 23rd - High School Spring Musical "Sweeny Todd"
Parents of Performing Arts meeting Dates for the 2022-2023 school year are:
April 19
May 16 (note the revised date)
All meetings will be held at 6:00 P.M. in the Lauby Lounge (first floor teacher lounge).
PPA scholarship application links for the 2023-2024 school year are now live. This is applicable for any students that have been involved in the SMSA music/theatre programs and are currently in grades 6-12th. Applications are due no later than Thursday, April 6th.
Middle School (currently in grades 6th - 8th): https://forms.gle/hBEg6EusvbeXHYwy5
High School (currently in grades 9th - 11th): https://forms.gle/97xCA9CvoTBEJUc29
Graduating Seniors (in Spring 2023): https://forms.gle/Pq8a5ZkusfgiuhiYA
Contact Maggie Rose with any questions about PPA!
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.
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:
Have you ever wondered what it feels like to go zip-lining in the rainforest? Would you like to experience 7 days of amazing views, rainforest, volcanos and awesome food? What about playing soccer against children from a local school?
These are some of the adventures you will get to experience on our next international trip to Costa Rica in June 2024.This trip is open to students who completed or are in their first year of High School Spanish. There will be an informational meeting on Thursday April 13th at 6:00 P.M. in the cafeteria.
If you are unable to make the meeting or need additional information contact Señora Theel at stheel@smsacademy.org to receive more information about this oportunidad increíble!
Is your youngest SMSA student graduating this May? 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!
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!
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
The results are in!
You helped us raise over $135,000 via ticket sales, sponsorships, auction items and raffles. This $135,000 + has an immediate use - giving students at SMSA an unparalleled Catholic education and experience. Thank you!
If you were not able to attend Ledgerfest, the highlight of the evening was senior student, Reese N., who took the stage to share her personal experience as a Ledger. In her words, "Springs is a family," is more than just a cliché phrase used on The Ledge. Watch as she illustrates just what this family means to her. P.S. get the Kleenex box ready!
Finally, thank you to our amazing Ledgerfest committee: Jenn Ellestad, Stephanie Fessler, Melissa Heaney, Molly Jaster, Meredith Kahnke, Theresa Menting, Andrea Nuss, Tya Robles, and Kayla Schumacher. This event would not be possible without your time, dedication and talents!
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:
Going to ssmhealth.com/volunteer
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:
Complete an online application
Once we receive the application a member of volunteer services will contact the student to perform a brief phone screening and interview
Volunteer orientation times are scheduled following the interview
For RETURNING Volunteers:
Email: Jason.Blonigen@ssmhealth.com
Please indicate that you are a returning student in the subject line
Please include your name and phone number in the email
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
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 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 high school yearbooks are now available to order from Walsworth!
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
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.
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.
College visits are open to all juniors and seniors! Sign up for all visits in your SCOIR account!
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.