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

I hope this message finds you enjoying Spring and the change of seasons! This school year continues to pass swiftly, and with May on the horizon, we can sense an acceleration of our days on the Ledge.

This is the second communication designed to provide an overview of key special events during May and June. Please mark your calendars!

Wednesday, May 1 National Honor Society Induction Ceremony (SMSA Hutter Gym) from 6-7:30pm. The family members of newly inducted juniors and seniors will receive an invitation to attend this annual event of the St. Mary Springs Chapter of the NHS.

Saturday, May 4 Junior/Senior Prom and Post Prom. Tickets are on sale. Watch for more event details from our junior class officers and moderators.

Saturday, May 11 Jazz Night. (Avenue 795) from 6-8:30pm This will be the final 2023-24 performance for the SMSA vocal and instrumental jazz ensembles. Family and friends are encouraged to attend.

Wednesday, May 15 Spring Concert (Holy Family Church) from 7-8:30pm. This will be the final chance for some senior students to share their musical gifts publicly in our community. Family and friends are encouraged to attend. Special senior recognitions shall be part of the program.

Thursday, May 16 Ledger Honors Convocation (Holy Family Church – NEW venue for this event) from 9am – 10:30am. This is an assembly that includes ALL high school students, and integrates annual Department Awards and SMSA heritage awards. The accomplishments of underclassmen and our seniors shall be highlighted and celebrated. Key legacy and heritage awards will be presented in the presence of the whole school community. ALL SMSA parents are welcome to attend. A livestream link to the event will also be made available.

Sunday, May 19 Senior Honors Ceremony (Stayer Center, Marian University – NEW venue for this event) from 2-4pm. This special event and reception is for all seniors and their parents, who will be joined by class moderators and administration. The event agenda shall include: sharing the traditional senior superlatives; viewing the senior video; and a special “parade of seniors” – which includes the formal presentation of cap & gown as well as special gift from Campus Ministry to all graduates. The high school accomplishments and future plans of each senior shall be highlighted.

Wednesday, May 29 Final Day of Classes for Quarter 4, Semester II and the 2023-24 School Year.

Thursday, May 30 Commencement Practice (Holy Family Church) from 10:30 to 12 Noon. Seniors are required to attend this required rehearsal with class moderators and administration for Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement.

Sunday, June 2 Baccalaureate Mass & Commencement (Holy Family Church) beginning at 2:30pm. SGraduates are asked to arrive and check-in at Holy Family Church by 2:00pm to begin lining up in the church hall. There is no limit/restriction on guest attendance. After a brief 15 minute break following Baccalaureate Mass, the Class of 2024 Commencement ceremony will begin in the Church (approximately 3:30 pm). Diplomas are presented to each graduate at Commencement. Both events will be livestreamed.

For the Class of 2024, the traditional “Big Three” events for families include – Ledger Honors Convocation, Senior Honors Ceremony, and Baccalaureate Mass & Commencement. These key events not only recognize our seniors, but also uniquely celebrate our Springs mission and heritage.

It has been my privilege to participate in the educational and developmental journey of the Class of 2024 – a resilient group who have contributed many gifts to the Springs community. The faculty, staff and administration look forward to celebrating with the Springs Class of 2024 during their final weeks of high school!

Our Lady of the Ledge, pray for us.
Mr. Eamonn O’Keeffe
Principal, High School

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ABC Booster Club scholarship applications for senior high school student athletes are now available. The scholarship was established to assist post-secondary education bound high school seniors who participated in St. Mary’s Springs High School athletics.

Please return completed applications to Mr. Redig or Mrs. Mueller. Applications are DUE APRIL 24, 2024.

Click Here For Scholarship Information & Application

During the month of April, which is known around the country as child abuse prevention month, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee recognizes April 22th – April 26th as Safe Environment Awareness Week. St. Mary’s Springs Academy wants families to know that we are committed to maintaining safe environments in our school through adult child abuse prevention training; criminal background checks for all clergy, volunteers working with minors, and employees; safety training for children in each grade level; and adhering to all mandatory reporting requirement laws.

This year join, help St. Mary’s Springs Academy mark our support for child abuse prevention by wearing the color blue on Monday, April 22nd. This would be a blue top (spirit-wear or other) with uniform pants. Wearing blue helps remind us and encourage others to prevent child abuse and support healthy children and families.

This merit-based scholarship will award $1,000 to one current, female, SMSA junior, to be applied to tuition for her senior year at SMSA.  Applicants will be evaluated based on essay responses and GPA.

Please submit applications to me via email (alane@smsacademy.org) no later than Monday, April 29, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. No late applications will be accepted or considered.

AG Scholarship Application – Click Here

Staff Appreciation Week is coming up, May 6th -10th!! Planning is underway for this special week for our SMSA Staff and our Parent Connectors Group is looking for monetary donations of any amount to assist with events that will be happening throughout that week. One very popular day for our staff is the luncheon we host for them.

If you would like to contribute towards events for the week, you can either send cash or check to school in a sealed envelope with “Staff Appreciation Week- Andrea Nuss” written on it (checks payable to Andrea Nuss) or Venmo @Jeff-Nuss-3 (last four digits -4355).

All contributions are due by Wednesday, May 1st. We greatly appreciate your support during this wonderful week honoring our fabulous SMSA Staff! Also, be watching for more details regarding the events that will be happening in the upcoming weeks! Thank you!

Sports Performance Enhancement & Explosive Development (SPEED)

Summer Sports Performance Camp

June 10 to July 25, 2024

Speed Camp High School Registration

After recent student attendance audits we would like to send out a reminder of our current attendance policies for our high school students.  Below are excerpts from the 2023-24 Student/Parent Handbook regarding appointments, excused absences, and attendance on the day of co-curricular activities.  The entire handbook may be found on our website by clicking here. 

Appointments  

Every effort should be made to schedule medical, dental, counseling or personal appointments outside of regular school hours. If it cannot be avoided,  parent(s)/ guardian(s) must send a signed note with logistic details of the appointment to the North Hall Office prior to 8:30 a.m. Absences for non-medical related appointments are considered highly disruptive to school culture and student learning and are thus strongly discouraged. 

• The student presents a note signed by the parent/guardian to the North Hall Office BEFORE the first bell. The note is to be dated and the reason for the necessary permission to leave school.

• • The Principal or Assistant Principal retains the right to verify appointments and length of appointments.

• For a student to remain eligible to participate in school sanctioned after-school activities or events following a doctor/dentist appointment scheduled during a school day, the student must present a note from the doctor’s office upon returning to school.

Excused Absence

Parents are required to call the Attendance phone line (920-322-8036) or email attendance@smsacademy.org on the day of absence before 8:30 a.m. 

Archdiocesan Policy outlines  reasons for which a student may be absent without being considered truant:

• Student Illness (medical confirmation may be required after three days or a pattern of similar illnesses is called in by the parent) or medical emergency. 
• Severe illness or death in the family.
• Religious observances or services. 
• Court appearance or legal procedure that requires student attendance. 
• School sponsored activities that require the student to be off campus.
• Pre-arranged absences pre-approved by the Principal or Assistant Principal that address a special and specific student need. (ie-college visits, family trips, quarantine imposed by a public health officer). 
• Suspension from school (out-of-school suspensions must be counted as truancy unless included in list of excused absences). 
• Parents are expected to give a reason for the absence.  Administration will have the final say if an absence is considered excused or unexcused.

Absence & Co-curricular School Activities

Per the SMSA High School Co-Curricular Code of Conduct:

• Students must attend school ALL DAY on the day of scheduled events and/or practices in order to participate.  Students that are marked absent for any part of the day due to illness or are determined to have an unexcused absence are ineligible to participate in co-curricular activities that day.

1. Students may not participate in any school sanctioned co-curricular activity during/after school on the same day as an unexcused absence. Failure to be in attendance as stated will result in non-participation in all co-curricular events and practices that day. 
2. Exceptions to these attendance rules will include the following: (a) Absence from campus which have been excused for a funeral, court appearance, school approved field trips, documented medical appointments, or for other unusual or extenuating circumstances as cleared in advance by administration; (b) Absence from campus related to a classroom activity or grade requirement.

High school academic and athletic administration reserve the right to determine the status of any absence as “excused” or “unexcused”.

If you have any questions about whether an absence is considered “excused’ or “unexcused” feel free to reach out to Kyle Krueger, High School Assistant Principal at kkrueger@smsacademy.org, Athletic Director Mitch Redig at mredig@smsacademy.org, or Athletic Administrator Kelly Mueller at kmueller@smsacademy.org.  

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

Click Here to Learn More!

Traveling abroad is an exciting and enriching opportunity for students where they can experience the beauty, authenticity and relevance of the subject they are studying. Students are responsible for funding the majority of their trip; however, SMSA has established this account to aid in funding bus transportation to and from the airport. Your donation today will ensure students, along with faculty chaperones, have a safe and reliable mode of transportation to start and end their traveling abroad experience.

This summer, students have an opportunity to travel to Costa Rica for Spanish class, and Germany for their German class. Thank you for supporting SMSA’s World Language Travel Experiences!

To make a donation, click here!

The Spring HS Musical: The Hunchback of Notre Dame Friday, April 19-21: 7 PM Friday and Saturday, 1 PM Sunday at NFDL HS.

The Spring MS Musical: Moana, JR Friday, April 26 at 7 PM, Saturday, April 27 at 1 PM and 7 PM at Theisen MS.

All tickets can be purchased at Hometowntickets.com.

Join us on the third Wednesday of each month for the PPA meeting. All parents who have children in Middle School or High School music are encouraged to attend.

Last meeting of the school year:
Tuesday, May 14, 2024 Note the change in usual day
All meetings will be held at 6 pm in the Lauby Lounge (first floor teacher lounge).

Contact Anne Brunette (6brunettes@charter.net) with any questions about the PPA!

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April 19, 2024 – No School – Teacher In-service

April 19 – 21, 2024 – High School Musical – Hunchback of Notre Dame

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Dear Juniors and Seniors,
The next Envision Fond du Lac tour is scheduled for Tuesday, April 23rd  at Aurora Healthcare. These tours are designed for students looking to go into the Trades or looking for YA opportunities. We are looking for 4 Juniors or Seniors to attend this tour.

Please email the high school counselors if you are interested in the tour and please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions! Also! Please see that chart below for upcoming tour locations! Please feel free to contact the high school counselors to reserve a spot!

Upcoming 2024 Trade Tours
April 23rd– Aurora Healthcare
May 7th– JF Ahern
May 21st– Michels Corporation

The Fond du Lac Children’s Museum is looking to add a dynamic member to their team! Playmaker team members fill up to 15 hours a week, willing to work around extracurricular activities.

Click here to fill out an application today!

In honor of Fr. Edward Sippel and his lifelong dedication of service to the Catholic Church and the Fond du Lac area, Holy Family Catholic Community will award two $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school students who, along with their parent(s), have been registered members of Holy Family Catholic Community for at least one year prior to applying for the scholarship. Students must have received the Sacrament of Confirmation to be eligible to apply. Application and materials are due by May 3, 2024. For more information, please visit hffdl.org/scholarship.

Please refer to the information provided at the link below, for local and state scholarships that SMSA seniors can apply for. This list is always subject to change and may not be all-inclusive.

Local scholarship opportunities (Fond du Lac area) are listed first, followed by opportunities for residents of the state of Wisconsin.

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