Principal’s Desk News & Information Upcoming Dates High School Counseling

As we approach Homecoming Spirit Week on the Ledge, I want to take a moment to address an important matter concerning school spirit and student behavior. Homecoming is an awesome annual opportunity to celebrate our community, build school pride, and create positive memories. At St. Mary’s Springs Academy, how we celebrate is just as important as what we celebrate.

In recent years, occasional student-led “shenanigans”/pranks associated with Homecoming have sometimes distracted us from our purpose, and crossed boundaries of appropriate behavior.  We have learned that social media ideas – including“dares” – can influence student expectations about Homecoming.  While such activities may be intended as harmless fun, they can result in significant costs of time and resources, disrupt school operations, send the wrong message about our school, and—most importantly—create safety concerns for students, employees, families, and members of our community.

We can all agree that there can be no tolerance for violence, vandalism, trespassing, property damage, harassment, or other unsafe or unlawful behavior. Students may not enter or remain on school property beyond the established hours of an approved, school sanctioned event. Activities that interfere with school operations or systems, damage property, compromise security, diminish our SMSA reputation, Catholic mission and identity, or place others at risk are not acceptable.

As a Catholic school, we expect our students to lead by demonstrating respect, responsibility, good judgment, and care for others in the community. These expectations apply during Homecoming just as they do at every other week of the school year. Homecoming “mischief” is not an entitlement at St. Mary’s Springs Academy, nor is it something that students or families should expect the school to sanction. 

We ask parents and guardians to reinforce these expectations at home. Please help Ledgers understand that genuine school spirit strengthens our community rather than causing disruption. Together, we can ensure that Homecoming reflects who we are: a Catholic community rooted in the core values of faith, respect, responsibility, leadership, learning, and care for the community.

Finally, for your information and ready reference, please click HERE to view HOCO Spirit Week events.

Thank you for your partnership and support. Go Ledgers! 

Our Lady of the Ledge, pray for us! 

Eamonn O’Keeffe 

Principal, High School

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On Tuesday, September 22, all high school students completed a quick survey to provide their shirt size for their grade-level Field Day shirt for Homecoming Week.

Because of the tight turnaround needed to get the shirts ordered in time, we needed to collect sizes as quickly as possible. Now, it’s time to place your order!

As we continue working to streamline payments this year, we’re excited to offer an easy online payment option for Field Day shirts. We hope this makes the process quick and convenient for families!

Click here to purchase your student’s grade-level Field Day shirt. Shirts are $10 each, your total will be displayed before you enter your CC information, please review this carefully. Please note, we are aware of a technical issue with our payment system, if you receive a message stating that “payment is taking longer than expected…,” please DO NOT resubmit your order. If you have questions regarding your order, please reach out to Kristin Zitlow at kzitlow@smsacademy.org.

Prefer to pay with cash? No problem! Please provide Mrs. Zitlow with your name and class year in an envelope along with your $10 payment.

There is also an option during checkout to help cover the cost of a shirt for a student who may need financial assistance, helping ensure everyone has a matching grade-level shirt for Field Day.

Any funds raised above the cost of the shirts will go toward the High School Student Council budget to help support future student activities and events.

Thank you for helping make Homecoming Week a great one for our Ledgers!

Seniors:

Juniors:

Sophomores:

Freshman:

The National Honor Society is sponsoring a Coats for Kids Drive at SMSA from Monday, September 28th through Friday October 30st. Each fall The Salvation Army collaborates with schools, agencies, and communities to collect requests for new and used winter outerwear for families in need. They also organize the county’s largest winter outerwear distribution. We are asking for donations to help The Salvation Army to ensure they can provide coats for everyone who needs one. Donation boxes will be located at the north and south hall offices.

Would you like to get involved at SMSA?

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!!

If you have a student in music or theater and are interested in learning more about how to support our fantastic programs at SMSA, please feel free to attend our fun and friendly monthly meetings for the PPA. We meet the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 6pm in the conference room outside the Business Office unless there is a conflict with our music/theater programs. All are welcome!

October 21st
November 18th
December 9th

Learn how you can get involved. Contact PPA@smsacademy.org to learn more!

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!

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

October 5-9, 2026 – Homecoming Week

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The following schools will be at SMSA to talk with students. Please sign up in the North hall Office.

UW Whitewater – Whitewater, Wisconsin
Wednesday, October 14th | 10:00 – 10:45 AM
UW Whitewater offers more than 170 undergraduate programs across a wide range of fields, including business, education, communications, arts, sciences, and technology. The university is especially known for its strong business, education, communication, accounting, and computer science programs. Popular majors include:
Business
Education
Computer Science & Information Technology
Accounting
Kinesiology & Health
Social Work
Political Science
Criminal Justice

St Olaf College – Northfield, Minnesota
Monday, October 26th | 1:45 PM – 2:25 PM
St. Olaf offers a liberal arts education with more than 85 majors, and pre-professional programs. The college is especially known for its strong biology, psychology, economics, environmental studies, computer science, and music programs. Popular majors include:
Biology / Neuroscience
Quantitative Economics
Political Science
Music & Music Performance
Statistics & Data Science

UW – La Crosse – La Crosse, Wisconsin
Tuesday, October 27th | 9:45 – 10:15 AM
UW La Crosse offers more than 100 undergraduate programs across a variety of fields, including health sciences, business, education, science, technology, and the liberal arts. The university is especially known for its strong health sciences, exercise and sport science, education, business, biology, and environmental science programs. Popular majors include:
Exercise & Sport Science
Health Sciences / Nursing
Business
Education
Computer Science & Information Systems
Nutrition & Dietetics
Recreation Management
Political Science
Mathematics & Statistics

UW – Platteville – Platteville, Wisconsin
Thursday, October 29th | 12:10 – 12:50 PM
UW Platteville offers more than 100 undergraduate programs across fields including engineering, business, agriculture, education, technology, and the liberal arts. The university is especially known for its strong engineering, agriculture, business, construction management, and criminal justice programs. Popular majors include:
Engineering
Agriculture
Construction Management
Computer Science & Information Technology
Biology
Mechanical & Manufacturing Technology
Environmental Science
Forensic Investigation
Graphic Design
Industrial Technology

When: October 7th, 2026
Time: 8:00-11:30am
Where: MPTC Fond du Lac Campus
235 N National Avenue
Fond du Lac, WI 54935

Click here for additional information.

When: October 12th, 2026
Time: 8:00-11:30am
Where: MPTC Fond du Lac Campus
235 N National Avenue
Fond du Lac, WI 54935

Click here for more information!

When: October 7 , 2026
Time: 8:00-11:30am
Where: MPTC Fond du Lac Campus
235 N National Avenue
Fond du Lac, WI 54935

Click here for more information

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