Thank You SMSA Families!

Thank you to all of the families who contributed towards the Christmas gathering for our SMSA Staff. The staff really enjoyed their evening together at Schmitty’s. We were also able to gift each staff member a $10 gift card and treat in their mailbox this past week!

Thank you again to all of the families who made this event possible!

Andrea Nuss & Valerie Everson

SMSA System Wide Open House

Invite your family and friends interested in SMSA to come join us at our Open House on Wednesday, February 1st, 2023, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM. This "Open Campus" event is for grades P3-12. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet with SMSA faculty, staff and administrators, tour our campus and discover how an SMSA education is possible through our Tuition Assistance Program and Wisconsin School Choice.

Featured spaces to explore during the event include: The Chapel of St. Mary, Our Lady of the Ledge, Innovative Classrooms, the K-8 library, the High School Science Wing, The Elementary Fine Arts Wing, our Student Success Suite, and much more.

For more information, please contact Kelly Mueller.

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.

Safeguarding God's Children - Upcoming Training

SMSA will be hosting Safeguarding God's Children(SEE) training on Wednesday, March 8th at 5:30 PM in the Multi Purpose Room. Please sign up for the training at: https://milwaukee.cmgconnect.org/

If you have any questions please contact Carrie Wiza at cwiza@smsacademy.org or 920-322-3215.

"Rachel's Challenge" Coming to The Ledge

As part of this year’s Catholic Schools Week, St. Mary’s Springs Academy will welcome Rachel’s Challenge to stimulate academic achievement and social-emotional learning by focusing on the connections a between students, faculty and staff.

Using the remarkable story of Rachel Scott, the first victim of the Columbine High School tragedy, Rachel’s Challenge awakens individual hope and purpose, which in turn promotes safer, more connected school communities. A Rachel’s Challenge staff member will share Rachel’s story with the entire SMSA school community on Thursday, February 2^nd.

Dr. Robert Marzano, respected education researcher and author states, “Rachel’s Challenge is the most powerful intervention I have seen in 40 years of working in education.” Rachel’s story unlocks the desire for change. Then, its programs come alongside the existing efforts of the school to sustain a culture where harassment, violence and self-harm are reduced; where teachers are free to teach and students are empowered to learn.

An independent study conducted by Multi-Dimensional Education, LLC, a nationally recognized educational program evaluator, found that, “Schools implementing Rachel’s Challenge with fidelity achieved statistically significant gains in community engagement, faculty/student relationships, leadership potential, and school climate; along with a reduction in bullying behavior.”

Using age-appropriate programming for K-12, Rachel’s Challenge schools have reported up to 84% reductions in disciplinary referrals. As many as 150 suicides are averted annually, as reported by students themselves. In a pre-and post-attitudinal survey of 9,881 students from socioeconomically and demographically diverse schools across the US and Canada, respondents reported a 282% increase in the number of students feeling safe at school after participating in Rachel Challenge.

In just over two decades of social-emotional and mental health training, Rachel’s Challenge has reached over 30 million students, educators, and community members. Rachel’s Challenge continues to work hard to turn the ideals of kindness and compassion into actionable strategies that help promote a safe and productive learning environment.

Contact Mr. Stamatakos, Mrs. McCarthy, or Mrs. Desiderio in St. Mary’s Springs Academy’s Pupil Services Office with any questions about Rachel’s Challenge.

Walgreens Scrip is Back!

The wait is over! Walgreen's $25 and $100 physical gift cards are back in stock! Thank you for your patience.