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

“It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you.”

-St. Mother Teresa

This exceptional wisdom from St. Mother Teresa serves as such an important reminder about our Christian calling.  On the Ledge, we pray before each day, and during each class.   Each time faculty and staff gather for meetings or professional development, we also pray together.  As Catholic school professionals, communal prayer helps us to center our minds on mission, and to acknowledge that God is a partner in our workday efforts to educate your children at SMSA.  One prayer that has been adopted by one of my weekly standing committees is offered here: 

Lord Jesus Christ,

Keep us mindful of the mission we share:

to teach the Gospel in word and action;

to serve others without judgment;

and to create a community robust in goodwill, prayer and love. 

Sustain us each day with Your grace, 

as we strive to give ourselves completely for those you entrust to our care. 

Help us remember that YOU are with us always, 

and that we imitate YOU whenever we love others.  

Amen.

This year, I have come to love the final sentence of this prayer.  It aligns well with Mother Teresa’s quote… loving others as the common thread  way to make God known.   Emmanuel, God with us. 

A 1970’s era church hymn proclaims: “They will know we are Christians by our love…” My Christmas wish and prayer for the Springs community is that – during this Christmas and every subsequent day of our lives –  we get better at recognizing God present in others, and also at making God known to others through our own loving choices and actions.  

St. Mother Teresa often shared that she and her sisters in the Missionaries of Charity prayed each morning to see the face of Christ in each of their sick and dying patients.  Interestingly, many of the Sister’s patients in India were non-Christians,  usually from the Muslim or Buddhist faith traditions.   As we know, the Missionaries of Charity continue to find Jesus in one another, and in the vulnerable people they serve each day in the name of our Lord. 

May we do likewise. Merry Christmas!

Starting December 24, 2025 Skyward family access will be restricted until Friday, January 9, 2026 while grades are being entered. After that time, Family Access will again be restored for students and parents to view and print Quarter 2 Report Cards.

As we enter the final days of Semester I, we look forward to the Christmas Holiday break. We also cast our eyes forward to a new year and the start of the next academic term in January – our SMSA J-Term ‘26! All high school Ledgers shall begin J-Term classes on Monday, January 5, 2026.  

Students will report to one of four locations for their individualized learning experiences. SMSA High School faculty and staff are prepared to support students in the following placements:

• 143 students will attend classes on the SMSA campus, including 11 students enrolled in “Introduction to Sports Management” class offered through Wisconsin Lutheran College.
• 98 students will attend  classes on the Moraine Park Technical College (MPTC) campus.
• 7 students will attend classes on the Marian University campus. 
• 17 students will participate on-site at their Youth Apprenticeship work placements. 

Students who successfully complete their J-Term course (in any location/setting) shall receive 0.5 academic credits from SMSA.  Some students may earn additional dual college credit from their institution – either Marian University, Wisconsin Lutheran College, or MPTC.

As you already know – whether meeting on-campus or off-campus  and per DPI and Archdiocesan policy –  attendance shall be recorded daily in all classes.  Due to the shortened/condensed nature of the term, by policy students who are absent for part or all of three or more days will be withdrawn without academic credit  (applies to all locations/settings).  Students who are withdrawn from an existing J-Term course due to attendance non-compliance, shall be re-assigned to an approved credit-recovery course for 0.5 credits to be completed during Quarter 3 to fulfill the J-Term credit requirement. 

Along with our faculty and staff, I am looking forward to J-Term ‘26! We are all excited and eager to engage with Ledgers in this unique format, and learn from our experiences together – always with an eye to continuous improvement. Please reach out to our counselors, teachers or to me with any questions that may arise around J-Term.  Per our J-Term practice,  a parent survey will be sent at the conclusion of J-Term ‘26. 

For a complete copy of J-Term details and expectations for each location/site, please click the link. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UdgdMgNhTRk-KnOGCJuxkcibIMxEvdAtb4enVNCfuaQ/edit?usp=sharing

As always, thanks for your partnership and support of our school programming! 

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

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Registration for the 2026-2027 academic school year is open for families with students currently enrolled at SMSA until January 9, 2026. Registration will be completed online through your Family Access account in Skyward. Step-by-step instructions can be found on the website by following the link Online Registration Instructions.

Reminder, Skyward online registration can be completed using your cell phone.

All current families must complete Online Registration for each student.

Log into your Family Access account in Skyward.  If you have misplaced your login credentials for Skyward, please email jpoetzel@smsacademy.org.

Online Registration includes information verification regarding your family and student(s). Registration will open for students not currently enrolled in SMSA in January 2026. Early registration will assist in determining class sizes for the 2026-2027 academic year. The registration fee will become part of your 2026-2027 tuition statement.

Current families must complete registration by January 9, 2026.

If you have questions regarding online registration use this link registration@smsacademy.org.

Click these links to access the following:

• Tuition Policies

• Tuition Assistance

• To enroll a NEW student

• Online Registration Instructions

The yearbook staff is hard at work collecting memories of your child’s senior year. We need your help for two sections of the yearbook.
1. Senior Ads: The yearbook staff is offering you the opportunity to show your love and support with a personal senior ad. What a great way to let your senior know how proud you are of the accomplishments and progress made during the years spent at Springs!  Your submitted message and photos will be used in your ad. Need ideas? Please see the ads in the 2025 yearbook for inspiration.

All senior ads, including pictures and payment, must be submitted online through Walsworth Yearbooks. If interested, please click the HS yearbook order link on the St. Mary’s Springs Academy website homepage for more information.

Yearbook ads will be designed by Yearbook staff members.
Please select your ad size:
Full-page………………… $180
Half-page……………..…. $110
Quarter-page………….… $ 75

Reserve your space now! Assemble and send your pictures and message, along with your payment to Walsworth at the SMSA website homepage link.

Please submit payment, pictures, and messages by January 15, 2026!
(Thank you to those who have already submitted an ad.)

2. Senior portraits: Please have your senior portraits sent in (either by you or your photographer) to hsyearbook@smsacademy.org. It will be shared with guidance counselors Mary Cauley and Taylor McCarthy as well as Brand and Community Engagement Strategist Kristin Zitlow.
Requirements for Senior Portraits
– Must be in JPEG format
– 300 DPI
– Must be in color
– Headshots only
– No hats or accessories
Deadline for senior portrait submissions is January 15, 2026.

(Thank you to those who have already submitted your child’s portrait.)
If you have questions, please contact your SMSA Yearbook Staff at
hsyearbook@smsacademy.org.

The National Honor Society is selling Christmas Ornaments to fundraise for different service projects in the community. Please consider supporting the students by purchasing an ornament for $10 dollars. You can purchase one from the North or South Office as well as at the Scrip Office. If you need additional information, please don’t hesitate to contact the NHS Moderator Mrs. Theel at stheel@smsacademy.org.

Thank you for supporting our students.

For over fourteen years several SMSA families have sponsored a Christmas Gathering for SMSA teachers, administrators, and staff as a way to show their gratitude. For many families, the contribution was given in place of individual Christmas gifts, or as an added appreciation.
The special luncheon for all the staff to enjoy will be provided during a school day in January.

Please note, this opportunity is optional and offered to any SMSA family that would like to contribute. We ask each family interested in participating for a minimum donation of $50.

Monetary donations for the special luncheon will be accepted through Friday, December 19. Please mail your contribution to Andrea Nuss, W4642 Mill Road, Fond du Lac, WI 54937. Checks may be made payable to Andrea Nuss. If you are interested in paying through Venmo, please send to @Valerie-Everson-4, last 4 digits 3719.

Please address questions to Valerie Everson at valerie@everson-law.com, or to Andrea Nuss at alnuss@charter.net.

Blessings to you during this holiday season!
Andrea Nuss & Valerie Everson

Junior & Senior Parents:
If you are interested in being a part of the 2026 post prom committee, please email Valerie Everson at valerie@everson-law.com or call/text 920-251-3719. Our first meeting will be on January 7 at 6P in the cafeteria.

Who will win $20,000 this year!?

The BMR cash raffle is one of only three major fundraisers for SMSA that involves EVERY family, Pre-K through 12th grade. Each family receives 5 BMR tickets to sell and/or purchase. 

Tickets have been distributed to the youngest child per family in our System. Please be sure to check their backpacks or ask them if they were handed your families tickets after school.

Please review the information included in the envelope regarding this fundraiser.  Sold tickets may be returned to school with your child, or to the North, South or Scrip offices any time before the live noon drawing on Friday, January 16, 2026.

If you have any questions, or if you would like to purchase additional tickets, please contact a member of the BMR committee, listed below.

Valerie Everson

920.251.3719

Stephanie Fessler

920.960.0556

Katie Mathos

920.979.6757

Lisa Shannon

920.539.2892

WE CAN DO BETTER!!

Volunteer Participation – 36 Families for Football and Volleyball of over 212 possible families = 17% participation.  A huge thanks to those that have helped make our events a success without you there wouldn’t be any refreshments.

There are plenty of upcoming events, links for Boys and Girls basketball are below. This is a fun way to help, and this is NOT JUST THE BASKETBALL PARENTS!!!!!! to fill the spots as the booster club is for all Sports and Cheer/Dance.

Where have Booster Club donations gone this year to date:

• Girls Soccer Uniforms & Backpacks
• Volleyball Uniforms
• Cross Country Uniforms
• AV equipment for New Team Room
• Football Uniforms – first time in over 50 years from Booster Club
• Video Equipment for Football
• Baseball Uniforms
• More to come

Help fill a spot:

Boys Hoops Sign Ups – https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4AAEA722ABF4C52-60555215-202526

Girls Hoops Sign Ups – https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4AAEA722ABF4C52-60555208-202526

Thanks Athletic Booster Club

Planning has begun for our annual Ledgerfest fundraising event—mark your calendars for Saturday, March 28, 2026! You won’t want to miss this exciting evening celebrating SMSA.

Once again, we’re asking each grade level to contribute toward creating some incredible auction baskets. Your support makes a huge difference in making Ledgerfest a success!

If you would like to contribute towards your child’s grade level basket, click this link: https://smsacademy.ejoinme.org/LF26class to donate online. Once you enter a donation amount and click next, please fill in your child’s name and grade level (if you are donating for more than one child, please list each name and grade level along with the amount for each child). If you prefer, you may still send cash or check (payable to Andrea Nuss) in an envelope marked: Ledgerfest/Ashley Lane. Please also indicate your child’s grade level on the envelope.

All contributions are due by Thursday, February 5th. Thank you so much!
If you have any questions, please reach out to your grade-level lead:
P3: Lindsey Pietrowski – pietrowski.lindsey@gmail.com
K4: Allison Geiger – kageiger@att.net
K5: Amy Meyer-Bremer – ameyer17@outlook.com
1st Grade: Betsy Royce – ejmiazga@gmail.com
2nd Grade: Molly Jaster – molly.jaster@gmail.com
3rd Grade: Jourdan Jacobs – jourdanjacobs@gmail.com
4th Grade: Katie Heller – katieheller11@gmail.com
5th Grade: Jenn Ellestad – jenn.ellestad@gmail.com
6th Grade: Andrea Nuss – alnuss@charter.net
7th Grade: Tya Robles – tyajean623@gmail.com
8th Grade: Shannon LaLuzerne – slaluzerne@smsacademy.org
High School (9-12): Andrea Nuss – alnuss@charter.net, Betsey Gitter – kevandbets@gmail.com and Pam Kristmann – pamkristmann@gmail.com

Thank you for your generosity and for helping make Ledgerfest 2026 another amazing celebration of our Ledger community!

Mark your calendars — Ledgerfest is happening Saturday, March 28, 2026!

We are bringing all the fun, energy, and team spirit you can handle — it’s sure to be a night full of laughs, cheers, and good times!
Location: FCC (400 University Dr. Fdl)
Time: Doors open at 5:00 pm

Want in on the action? Join the Ledgerfest Committee!
Help dream up ideas, decorate, and make this year’s event the best one yet. Reach out to Ashley Lane if you’d like to join the team — it’s a total blast and a great way to get involved!

Get ready… this event is sure to be a slam dunk!
It’s going to be a night you won’t want to miss!

HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOKS ARE FOR SALE

High school yearbooks are available to purchase online at the SMSA website for $65. Get yours by clicking here!

Future PPA dates:
January 21st
February 18th
March 18th
April 15th
May 20th

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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December 24, 2025 – January 2, 2026 – Christmas Break

January 5, 2026 – J-Term Begins

January 16, 2026 – BMR Drawing

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Women in Construction — an empowering event designed to inspire young minds to explore careers in the ever-evolving construction industry!
Save the Date:
– Tuesday, March 10, 2026
– 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
– Stayer Center at Marian University, 45 S. National Ave., Fond du Lac, WI

We are excited to announce that several college representatives will be visiting SMSA to meet with interested students. This is a great opportunity to learn more about each school and connect directly with the admissions counselors who will be reviewing applications.

Upcoming Visits

SMSA is proud to participate in another year of Trade Tours through the Fond du Lac R.O.C.K. program, which stands for Retention, Opportunity, Community, and Knowledge. This program aimed at working specifically with high school seniors and juniors who are piecing together their plans post high school graduation. This program provides career exploration through business tours and job shadows. Fond du Lac R.O.C.K. is a program of Envision Greater Fond du Lac.

Please let counseling know if your student would be interested in joining a future tour.

For additional information please visit click here.

The scholarship website has now moved to Naviance! Please remind your senior to check their Naviance account regularly for the latest scholarship updates. The Counseling Department will continue adding new opportunities as they arrive.

These state and local scholarships are specifically available to Springs students. To view them, students can log into Naviance and navigate to: Colleges → Scholarships & Money → Scholarship Search. There, they’ll find an up to date list of scholarships curated by SMSA counselors.
Please reach out to counseling with any questions!

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