Principal’s Desk News & Information Upcoming Dates School Care News

Dear SMSA Families,
We hope this message finds you well and enjoying the many blessings that come with a new school year! As we continue our journey together, we want to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude for your continued partnership, encouragement, and support. It is a joy to see our students growing in confidence, discovering their God-given gifts, building friendships, and finding new ways to contribute to our vibrant SMSA community.

This week, we celebrated a very special milestone—Happy 117th Birthday to the SMSA Ledger community! For 117 years, St. Mary’s Springs has been a place where faith, learning, and relationships come together to shape young people who are prepared to make a difference in the world. A birthday gives us three wonderful opportunities: to reflect on the past, to look with hope toward the future, and to be fully present in the moments we are blessed to share today. Each of these invites us to pause and give thanks for the people and experiences that have shaped who we are and for the incredible SMSA school community we continue to build together.

As we celebrate our history, we are also reminded of the importance of leadership. Leadership is part of who we are as Ledgers. It is not simply about holding a position or being the person in front of a group. Leadership is choosing to serve others, making good decisions, taking responsibility, showing courage, and using our God-given strengths to make our community better. Our students have countless opportunities each day to lead—in their classrooms, on the playground, in activities, through acts of kindness, and in the way they care for one another. We want every Ledger to recognize, “I can make a difference.”

As parents and educators, we have the privilege of modeling that same leadership for our children. When we listen with patience, communicate with respect, take responsibility, extend grace, and work together toward what is best for our students, we show them what authentic leadership looks like. Leadership begins with the small choices we make each day, and together we can help our students develop the confidence and character to lead with faith, humility, courage, and compassion.

Home and School Communication
We are pleased to share a new resource designed to help clarify home-school communication as each family journeys through the years with SMSA. Because students experience different developmental stages and levels of learning throughout a K–12 education, it is appropriate that expectations for home-school communication may look different across our various grade-level bands.

Our hope is that this new FAQ resource will provide clarity and help families understand what they can expect from SMSA teachers at each stage of their child’s educational journey. Just as importantly, we hope it strengthens our partnership and encourages open, respectful, and productive communication between home and school. Strong partnerships are an important part of leadership, and when adults work together, our students benefit most. Click here to read the home & school communication FAQ.

Thank you for being such an important part of the SMSA community. Together, we inspire our students to live purposeful lives, develop their God-given strengths, pursue academic excellence, and lead lives rooted in Christ’s teachings. We are grateful for the energy, encouragement, and support you bring to our school each day.

As we celebrate 117 years of the Ledger tradition, may we continue to look back with gratitude, forward with hope, and embrace each day as an opportunity to lead, serve, learn, and grow together. We look forward to seeing many of you at the upcoming conferences and continuing this wonderful partnership for the benefit of our students.

God Bless,
Steven Kelnhofer
Principal

God Bless,
Steven Kelnhofer
Principal

A long standing tradition at SMSA continues again this year with the Christmas Card Fundraiser, in which students in Grades 4 through 8 will be creating and selling handmade Christmas Cards. These cards will be sold for $2.00 each by the St. Mary’s Springs families after all the masses at Holy Family Parish sites on Saturday, December 5th and Sunday, December 6th. We will also be having a movie and popcorn afternoon, the day before Christmas Break, where students can bring in a donation to watch the movie of their choice and enjoy popcorn. Everyone will be able to participate, whether they bring in a donation or not. All proceeds from the card sale and movie/popcorn will go to benefit a local child (Fond du Lac County) and his/her family, who is currently or has had medical concerns/conditions.

If you know of a child and their family that you feel is deserving of a nomination, please click here to fill out the form. All nominations will be reviewed and a recipient will be chosen by random draw.

The Association of Children’s Museums and CMFDL is encouraging all families to participate in Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play! Kids will experience “BIG FUN”, including a bounce house, face painting, giveaways, raffle prizes, and more! Kids can touch and climb on the Zamboni, fire truck, police car, and more large vehicles. The event will take place in the Museum’s parking lot. All outdoor activities are FREE. Indoor play and activities are FREE with paid admission or membership.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR STUDENT VOLUNTEERS!

Email: info@cmfdl.org for volunteer opportunities or complete the Google form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1f5jCcolnz55BaGFcukWT41jy-zpwIE3Qqb8U5NF0SEg/edit

Please be aware of an upcoming DOT road closure that may impact travel to and from SMSA.

WIS 23 Eastbound will be fully closed from National Avenue to University Drive from September 8 at 6:00 a.m. through September 14 at 6:00 a.m.

Detour: National Avenue → Division Street → Prairie Road → WIS 23 Eastbound

Please plan ahead, allow additional travel time, and follow all posted detour signage. Thank you for your patience and cooperation!

Please read the below letter from Holy Family about registering for First Communion and Reconciliation preparation.

Please note: sacrament preparation will take place through the parish, not during classes at SMSA. Be sure to review the information carefully so you do not miss any important details or deadlines.

Parent Letter to SMSA 1st Grade Parents 2026

Are you looking to get more involved at SMSA? Join our Parent Connectors Group! Our group organizes events for our SMSA Families as well as supports our fabulous SMSA Staff throughout the year! If you have a child(ren) in P3 – 5th Grade, you received a volunteer form to fill out. Please fill this out and return it to school. If your youngest child is 6th grade or older, please use this link, https://forms.gle/m5vP4m7FtFcA2qVP8 to fill out the form. We appreciate all of our volunteers! We couldn’t do what we do each year without you! Only one form needs to be filled out per family. If you have been a part of group in the past, please still fill out the form as a new email group gets created each year. All forms are due by Friday, September 4th. If you have any questions, please email Andrea Nuss, alnuss@charter.net. Thank you so much! Have a wonderful school year!

Parent Connectors Volunteer Form 2026-2027

Are you looking to get more involved at SMSA? If so, join our Parent Connectors Group!! We organize events for our SMSA families & show our appreciation towards our amazing SMSA Staff throughout the year!! Please email Andrea Nuss, alnuss@charter.net if you are interested. Thank you so much!!

Did you know? You can Refer-A-Family and receive tuition credit!

Click Here to Learn More!

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October 1-2, 2026 – In-Service – No School

October 23, 2026 – No School –  In-Service – Elementary Students Only

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If your child/children are in need of extended care please email Ms. Tracey at (tsaunders@smsacademy.org).

Thank you

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