Directly before coming to the Ledge, Mrs. Gentile served for four years as Associate Director of the Saint Clare Center for Ministry and Leadership at Cardinal Stritch University. In her role, she revised, administered and taught in Sustaining the Mission, the theological education program required of all

K–12 Catholic school teachers in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. She helped to revise and manage the Center’s Lay Ministry Institute, including serving as an instructor, teaching adult courses in Church History, Social Justice and Spirituality and Scripture. She directed the San Damiano Encounter summer program for high school youth, a program in which Ledgers have participated.

During her time at Stritch, Mrs. Gentile also helped to write two successful proposals to the Lilly Foundation: a $680,000 grant proposal to the Lilly Foundation ‘Thriving in Ministry Project’ for the Collaborative Parish Leadership Project, run by the Saint Clare Center; and a successful $130,000 grant proposal to the Lilly Foundation’s ‘Youth Theology Network Project’ to sustain the San Damiano Encounter.

From 2007-2017 Mrs. Gentile served as a Theology teacher at Catholic Memorial High School in Waukesha where she taught all grade levels of theology courses. In 2015 she was honored as the Catholic Memorial “Teacher of the Year!” At CMH, she coordinated the International Baccalaureate Creativity, Action and Service Program for 11th and 12th graders, and chaired the Character Education Committee. For 7 years at CMH Mrs. Gentile was the faculty advisor for a student-run homelessness awareness organization and was also faculty advisor for student-run inter-cultural opportunities such as a “switch day” and interfaith panel with Messmer High School. Prior to her time at Catholic Memorial, Mrs. Gentile taught English and Philosophy to high school students in Milwaukee.

Upon joining SMSA in January, Mrs. Gentile shared, “Throughout my career in education, I have held many different teaching and administrative positions. The Theology classroom is a space in which I can, in a very special way, exercise my skills, live into and out of my values, and do work in direct pursuit of the goal of building the beloved community.”

QUARTER GRADES:

Quarter Report Cards were available to print through the Skyward Parent access on November 2. As a reminder, Quarter grades are not “permanent grades” - rather serve as an important indicator of student progress toward semester achievement. Only semester grades bear “academic credit.” As such, only semester grades are recognized as permanent record grades at SMSA and by state statute. Semester grades are the only grades that appear on the student permanent record (high school transcript) which may be requested by higher education and employers.

LATE AND/OR MISSING SCHOOL WORK POLICY:

Informed by the Ledger Way core values of respect, responsibility and community, all SMSA teachers and students abide by the same norm for late and missing school work. Missing work is not only disruptive to the student, but also to the learning of other students, the efforts of teachers and the overall learning process. When a medical excuse or other valid extenuating circumstances are verified, exceptions may be granted. As a standard practice, however, students and parents should be advised of the following SMSA norm:

• Assignments submitted one calendar day late shall be accepted, but may earn 95% of full grade potential.

• Assignments submitted up to 3 calendar days late shall be accepted, but may earn 90% of full grade potential.

• Assignments submitted 4-7 calendar days late shall be accepted, but may earn only 80% of full grade potential.

• Assignments submitted after 8 calendar days late shall not be accepted, and will be recorded as a “zero” grade.

Our Lady of the Ledge, pray for us.

Eamonn O’Keeffe

High School Principal

Student Council Pie Baking for Thanksgiving & Ingredients Contest

It's been a long standing tradition for the High School students to bake pies for the Loaves and Fishes Thanksgiving dinner. In the past, this was an initiative of our Key Club and then picked up by the Student Council. As result of COVID-19 protocol over the past two years we were only allowed to collect pie ingredients and donate them to the Salvation Army food pantry.

This year pie baking is back!!!

The Student Council will be collecting supplies to make pies for Holy Family's Thanksgiving dinner from Monday, November 7th through Friday, November 11th. The ingredients will be collected in the main lobby by the S Couch every day next week before school. Student Council will be making the pies after school on Monday, November 21st. Please help us to make someone’s Thanksgiving extra special.

Homeroom vs. Homeroom vs. Faculty and Staff

• 1 point = canned cherry, blueberry and apple pie filling

• 2 points = boxed or frozen pie crust

• 3 points = frozen deep dish crusts

The leading team after Wednesday will receive a treat! The winning homeroom at the end of the week will get donuts on Monday!

National Honor Society's Fall Blood Drive

This years NHS Fall Blood Drive will be held on November 9th, 2022. The Drive will be held in the High School's Hutter Gymnasium from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM. If you have any questions please contact Lauren Liethen or Dr. Jeff Biessman.

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.

Job Opportunities

Fond du Lac Boys & Girls Club

Children's Museum of Fond du Lac

Kohl's Department Store

Ledger Learning Guide