Key Dates for the 2023-2024 School Year

• August 21st, 2023 - Student Orientation Day (Specific times for each class level orientation will be communicated)

• August 22nd - First Day of classes (Semester 1)

• September 4th - No classes: Labor Day 

• October 5th & 6th - No classes: Teacher In Service Days 

• November 17th - No classes: Teacher Professional Development Day 

• November 22nd - 24th - No classes: Thanksgiving Holiday

• December 25th, 2023 - January 2nd, 2024 - No classes: Christmas Vacation

• February 9th - No classes: Teacher In Service Day

• March 11th - 15th - No classes: Spring Break

• March 29th - No classes: Good Friday

• April 1st - No classes: Easter Monday Holiday

• May 27th - No classes: Memorial Day Holiday 

• May 29th - Final Day of Semester 2 classes (End of Semester 2)

• June 2nd - High School Graduation

Thank You From the Woodrow Family!

Words cannot express our gratitude to the St Mary's Springs Academy community for the many  ways of support given to us.  Your outpouring of emotional and monetary help bestowed on our family during our recent loss of our home has been overwhelming. Cards from well-wishers, as well as providing for the  immediate needs of Nick and Lilly  with school supplies, uniforms, sports equipment and basic necessities for our entire family. From staff, administrators, faculty, SMSA families and anonymous donors, to the 7th grade girls, who initiated a bake sale for our benefit, it has been heartwarming.

Kindness and compassion expressed by classmates, teachers, to prayers and a Mass in the chapel provided a normalcy for both Nick and Lilly during this difficult time.  We are so fortunate to be examples of the fulfillment of the  Ledger Way and the Mission of SMSA.

Blessings,  

The Woodrow Family

Purchase Scrip for End of Year Faculty/Staff Appreciation!

Do you have a favorite teacher or staff member you would like to recognize at the end of the school year?  Scrip makes it easy!  Check out the items that are available to purchase at the Scrip office.  

If you don't know what to give, purchase a Scrip gift certificate.  It's the perfect solution and allows the recipient to choose whatever they would like!

Announcing our New Director of Admission and Enrollment Management and New Athletic Director!

SMSA President, Stacey Akey, is pleased to announce the selections of Mrs. Shannon LaLuzerne as the new Director of Admission and Enrollment Management and Mr. Mitchell Redig ‘01 as the new Athletic Director (AD).

In August 2022, current SMSA Athletic Director, Mr. Greg Hoffmann, who has served in the role since 2016, announced his intended retirement at the conclusion of the academic year. Mr. Hoffmann has helped SMSA to manage the many complexities and unprecedented growth of athletics on The Ledge, including 25 co-curricular sports and more than 100 coaches, in addition to the Booster Club volunteers. With his retirement, SMSA took the opportunity to restructure administration of athletics for grades 5-12, announcing the development of a new role, Athletic Administrator, to serve with the AD and assist in the increasing amount of responsibilities and compliance requirements. 

As a valued member of our SMSA community, Mrs. Kelly Mueller has graciously accepted the new role of Athletic Administrator. Mrs. Mueller has served as the Enrollment Director since 2017, and has been actively engaged with athletics at the Springs, having coached both middle and high school volleyball and helping to found the Junior Ledger Basketball Club in 2009. Her new position will supervise SMSA coaching staff and athletic booster volunteers for grades 5-12, and work in partnership with the newly appointed Athletic Director, Mr. Mitchell Redig. 

Cultivating a culture of excellence on The Ledge emanates through the trust, hard work, integrity and leadership of our faculty and staff. The promotion of Mrs. LaLuzerne and Mr. Redig demonstrates the great care we take in supporting and growing not just students, but our own employees, identifying those with strong forward momentum, achievement, and an advancement mindset. 

To learn more about the open positions of Administrative Assistant in the Elementary (PreK-8) Office and 6th grade math and science teacher, along with other open positions for the 2023-2024 academic year, please visit https://www.smsacademy.org/careers/. 

2023 Brown Bag Lunch Program 

Once again, Holy Family and The Salvation Army of Fond du Lac County are partnering to provide free bag lunches to children and families throughout our area on Tuesdays and Thursdays from June 13th to August 24th. 

Nutritional sack lunch includes peanut butter or meat sandwich, chips/snack, vegetable/fruit, dessert item and beverage. Children may pick up their own lunch. There must be an adult for any family wanting more than one lunch. 

Lunches can be picked up at the following locations: 

• Maplewood Commons Apartments, 912 Martin Ave,: 11:00-11:15 A.M.

• Church of Peace, 401 S. Military Rd. (Parking Lot): 11:00-11:15 A.M.

• Lakeside Garden Apartments, 409 N. Peters Ave,: 11:00-11:15 A.M.

• The Salvation Army, 237 N. Macy St.: 11:30-12:15 P.M.

Tick Information

Dear Parents/Guardians,

This is a reminder that tick season is upon us. We encourage you to check your children for ticks or signs of a tick bite each day.

While we do not check students for ticks while they are at school, it is possible that a tick will be discovered. Keep in mind that the playgrounds, as well as the track and field are near heavily treed and grassy areas.

Additional information regarding ticks and tickborne diseases can be found below. Please take a minute to review this information.

Tick Bite Prevention Tips:

• Wear light-colored clothing, which makes ticks more visible; wear long-sleeve shirts and tuck pant legs into socks.

• Avoid tick infested areas by walking in the center of trails to avoid contact with overgrown grass, brush, and leaf litter at trail edges.

Perform Tick Checks:

• Always check for ticks after being outdoors. Early removal can reduce the risk for infection.

• If you find a tick on your child, grasp the tick as close to your skin as possible and smoothly pull the tick from the skin with fine point tweezers. Wash the skin with soap and water.

Early Lyme Disease:

The tick must be attached to human skin for about 24 hours to transfer Lyme disease-causing bacteria.  A  rash appearing around the bite area, a flu-like illness and joint swelling may all be symptoms of Lyme disease. About 20 to 30 percent of infected people do not develop a rash but may show early symptoms of the disease, such as fever, headache, and fatigue. If Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics in the early stages, recovery is usually rapid and complete. If left undetected, the disease could cause other health issues.

Please see the following links for more information:

https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/tick/wisconsin.htm

https://wisconsin-ticks.russell.wisc.edu/

Thank you,

Allisen Willis, RN

Coordinator of Health Services

920-322-8017

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.

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!

News from the Kitchen

Food service accounts: 

As we near the end of the school year, now is the time to check the balances on your account to make sure your funds will cover the rest of the school year. We encourage you to take some time and look at your student accounts through Skyward. That will also give you information on your student’s purchases so you can estimate the amount necessary to reach the end of the school year. Our pricing for lunches and a la carte can be found on SMSA's website. 

Any amounts in the foodservice account will automatically carry over to next year, unless you request a refund from the business office. If you have any questions please contact food service or the business office. 

We thank you for the opportunity to feed your children this past year and look forward to next year!

Food service employment opportunities: 

Due to staff attrition within the kitchen this year we have some great opportunities opening up next year in food service. We offer competitive wages and benefits with a schedule that pairs up with your children’s school schedule. Opportunities can be found on SMSA's website!

Lands' End Uniform Sale

Lands' End is having a sale on school uniforms. Receive 25% off May 26th-29th using the CODE:  FLAG and the PIN: 2631.  

Happy shopping!

Scrip Tuition Agreement Forms - Due 5/31/23

Have you completed your Scrip Tuition Agreement for 2022-2023 credits?  This form MUST be completed each year so your Scrip credit is accurately dispersed.  Click here to obtain this form. 

The Scrip fiscal year ends on Wednesday, May 31st so that credit can be applied to your tuition statement that you will receive this summer.  If you selected to "bank" your credit for future use, you will receive a letter indicating what your balance is.  If you indicated that your credit be applied to another tuition-based school, you will receive your check mid- summer.

Mark your calendars for Friday, July 28th to make sure you don't miss SMSA's annual Swing Fore Springs event!

We invite you to golf 18 holes at one of two of Fond du Lac’s premier courses, Whispering Springs Golf Club or South Hills Golf and Country Club. The fun will not stop on the course; join us for a Summer Luau at South Hills B Bar as we continue our celebration of SMSA with food, drinks, entertainment and FUNraising.

Watch for invitations coming soon! Special thanks to CD Smith for their sponsorship of this year's event!

Now Hiring - Part Time After School Care Supervisor

St. Mary's Springs Academy is seeking an individual who desires an opportunity to work in a dynamic empowering environment with students and other supervisors in Grades P3-5 as a part-time supervisor for our after school care program. There are three different classrooms each containing a range of similar grade levels. After school activities include playing on the playground, puzzles, games, helping with homework, etc.

Candidates must be willing to work as a team member, collaborate with colleagues, possess good communication skills and complete the Safe Environment Education training. Candidates with experience in an elementary school, child care setting or a love of working with children are preferred, but not required.  Part-time (15-20 hrs.) 2:30-6:00 P.M (approximately) on scheduled school days during the academic year. 

Qualified candidates should send letter of interest, resume and completed application  (found online at www.smsacademy.org/careers) to: 

SMSA 

Attn: Carrie Wiza 

255 County Road K  

Fond du Lac, WI 54937 

or cwiza@smsacademy.org