This week brings amazing opportunities to celebrate the Class of 2023 for their accomplishments not only this year, but over the past four years! Thanks to all the parents and family members who came to The Ledge as our guests on Thursday for our Ledger Honors Convocation. We look forward to seeing the parents and family members of our graduating seniors this Sunday, May 21st at Horace Mann High School for our Senior Awards Ceremony, beginning promptly at 2:00 P.M. 

Additionally, please review the information about how our final assessment week will work by referencing the schedule below. There's lots of information there; please feel free to reach out to me, Mr. Krueger, or Mr. Stamatakos in the High School Counseling Office with any questions! 

Our Lady of the Ledge, pray for us,

Eamonn O'Keeffe

High School Principal

There are many ways to give: your time, a basket or gift card (increments of $25 please), or an experience (such as an outing we can raffle off).

Also remember you can sign up a student in grades 9-12 to volunteer. They will receive service hours for the event!

Thank you for your willingness to make this year's Swing Fore Springs Event one to remember.

If you would like more information or have questions about donating an item or package, please contact Ashley Lane, Donor and Alumni Assistant Director, at 920-322-8001 or alane@smsacademy.org.

High School Art Show

The High School Art students have been working hard to create some amazing pieces of Art! To celebrate, the students will be hanging a student prepared Art Show. They will displaying the majority of their works outside the high school Art room with other pieces in the cafeteria and down by the High School Gym.

We will have the Art on display starting Wednesday May 17th after school and the show will come down Tuesday May 23rd. If you're in the building stop by and see what we have been up to this year!

Apprenticeship Opportunity at Grande Cheese

Grande is looking for a high school senior graduating in June who is interested in an apprenticeship program to be considered for a Facilities Maintenance Technician role in Fond du Lac at Grande's home office. 

The first year, the student would work alongside an experienced Maintenance Technician working on lights, kitchen, labs, office, utilities equipment, building automation system, and irrigation system. After the first year, Grande would sponsor and pay for the individual's apprenticeship classes through MPTC. 

Any interested student can apply online for this position. More information about the MPTC Program the student would be sponsored for can be found on MPTC's website.

SMSA Uniform Exchange

Have your students outgrown their school uniforms? Are you looking to swap with other SMSA families? Well here is your chance! SMSA is gearing up the the annual uniform exchange giving families the opportunity to exchange gently used uniform items that comply with the SMSA dress code.

The greatest needs for the exchange at this time are: Uniform shirts and polos, skirts, jumpers and fleece. 

If you have uniforms that you would like to donate, they can be dropped off at the North or South Hall office during school hours. Please help by making sure all uniforms are clean and free of holes, stains and torn seams.

If you have any questions or would like to help sort, set up, or volunteer at the exchange, please contact Kelly Mueller. Thank you!

PPA Banquet

The annual PPA banquet will be held on Wednesday, May 24th at 6:15 P.M. in the SMSA cafeteria.  This is a year-end celebration for all high school music, band, choir, jazz band, jazz choir, or theatre student participants and their families.  Awards from solo ensemble, music and theatre letters, etc. will be presented.  

An RVSP with your family headcounts by Monday, May 22nd would be appreciated via E-mail or text (920-979-3272).   

The dinner will include pasta, salads, desserts, drinks.  A free-will donation of $5 per family is being collected the evening of the event.  

If anyone is interested in providing a side dish, you can sign up online to let us know what you're bringing!

¡Vamos a Costa Rica!

The planning for the Spanish Costa Rica trip taking place from Saturday, June 10th - Saturday, June 17th 2024 is underway! We have a good number of students already registered for this awesome cultural and educational adventure at this point, but want to make sure that everyone who is interested signs up before the price goes up $400 dollars on May 21st. 

The sooner you sign up, the sooner you can start your Gift of Education Program in your social media! In 2019 a student fundraised her whole trip using this method. Click here to sign up and get started!

End of Year Transcript Instructions/Information for Seniors

With graduation on the horizon, please take a few moments to read the following information about SMSA and graduate responsibilities regarding final high school and college transcripts.

Q: “The college I’m attending is requesting a copy of my final SMSA transcript. When will that be sent?”

A: Mr. Stamatakos will send out final SMSA transcripts for all seniors between Monday, June 5th and Friday, June 9th to the colleges that students have reported they’ll be attending. Please notify Mr. Stamatakos before Monday, June 5th if your plans change and you’ll be attending a different school than the one you’ve reported. 

Q: “Will I get a copy of my final SMSA transcript after graduation?”

A: Yes! Mr. Stamatakos mail physical copies out to seniors’ home addresses between Monday, June 5th and Friday, June 9th.

Q: “I took a CAPP course through UW-Oshkosh/dual credit course with MPTC/dual credit course with Marian University at SMSA. Will SMSA send my transcript(s) from those colleges to the college I’m going to?”

A: NO. Students must submit transcript requests to those schools directly in order to have their transcripts from any/all of those colleges sent to your college of choice. Requests can all be made online using the following links:

• To request a transcript from MPTC: Click “Get Your MPTC Transcript” at the following page - https://bit.ly/38IziZG

• To request a transcript from UW-Oshkosh for CAPP courses: Follow the instructions here - https://bit.ly/3MFiTE0

• To request a transcript from Marian University: Go to https://bit.ly/39xqSVE and follow the prompts.

Important transcript notes:

If you’re currently taking a course from any of these three schools, wait until after graduation to submit your transcript request(s).

When asked where you want the transcript sent, please provide the address of your chosen college’s undergraduate admission office. For example:

Marquette University

ATTN: Office of Undergraduate Admission

P.O. Box 1881

Milwaukee, WI 53201

Be sure to submit a request to have your transcript mailed. Do not submit a request to have an electronic copy of your transcript sent to your chosen college! Many colleges do not accept electronic copies of transcripts as “official” even if they come directly from the college you’re requesting them from.

Q: “How do I send AP test scores to the college I’m attending?”

A: AP scores are generally available in July. You can view your scores and send your scores to colleges here: https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/. Click on the “Scores” link in the menu at the top of the page to get started. You do not need to send any scores you don’t want to! For example, if you get a score of “2” on your AP US History test you won’t receive college credit for it. Therefore, you don’t need to send that score to your college. A good rule is to send any scores of “3” or better to your college.

Please contact Mr. Stamatakos with any questions about this information!

Tennis Lesson Opportunities

FONDYTENNIS, run by tennis pro and enthusiast John Frausto is running group tennis lessons throughout the summer and fall! This is a fantastic boost for kids looking to play on the girls (fall) and boys (spring) SMSA high school teams, taught by a fun and energetic instructor!

Lessons are open to girls and boys ages elementary through high school. All levels of experience are welcome! Players will learn/work on developing strokes, play strategy, mental toughness, and conditioning. Often music is incorporated to elevate the fun factor! 

Lessons are held at the Fond du Lac High school tennis courts on Saturday mornings and Tuesday evenings. The first day of the spring session was scheduled for Saturday May 6th, but was cancelled due to wet courts, therefore the first day of the session will be Saturday May 13th.  The make-up date will be Saturday, June 10th.

Visit the FONDYTENNIS website for registration form brochures with dates and times. Venmo is accepted for easy, fast fee payment. Late registration is allowed with fees prorated.

Contact John Frausto with any questions about this exciting summer opportunity!

Dance Team Tryouts

The high school dance team will be having tryouts for the 2023-24 season on Sunday, May 21st from 5:30-7:30 P.M. All students trying out should meet in the Lobby by the S couch. The team has a Google Classroom with more information. The Classroom code is wehsbwe

This is open to all high school students and 8th graders who are registered for SMSA in the fall semester. Dance season is a winter season, but the team will have meetings in summer and fall to learn choreography and attend a summer camp. 

Anyone interested in trying out with questions can E-mail Coach Brusky at sbrusky@smsacademy.org.

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!

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