FROM THE OFFICE OF STEVE KELNHOFER, PREK - 8TH GRADE PRINCIPAL

Dear Parents and Guardians,

 

Welcome back from Spring break. I hope your family had an opportunity to spend time together. Time together to laugh, work and share faith are truly special moments in our lives. The opportunities for these moments can be captured and explored or can slip by as we are busy with other pieces of our lives. Take time now to spend time with your child(ren) because as the saying goes, “they grow up fast” as life moves forward.

 

The Ledger Way depicts St. Mary’s Springs Core Values that exemplify the commitment we have towards helping each student develop his/her moral compass. The areas of faith, learning, respect, leadership, community, and responsibility provide a lens through which our students can visualize how they may interact and treat each other as gifts from God. As we work together as a school community and in partnership with you as parents/guardians, we will prepare our students to meet future challenges and become faith filled leaders of tomorrow.

 

Forward testing
This week the fourth and eighth graders will continue with Forward testing in science and Social Studies.

 

Grades 6-8 Arrival to School Reminder
Students in grades 6-8 may enter the building as early as 7:30am through the North Hall office. At 7:30am they may proceed to the Middle School hallway and prepare for school to begin at 7:45am. If you choose to drop your child(ren) off earlier than 7:30am, please have them wear the appropriate layers necessary for them to wait outside before entering SMSA at 7:30am when the doors will automatically unlock to welcome students for the day of educational opportunity.

 

Thank you for your continued partnership with SMSA. Together we create a path for tomorrow’s children to achieve amazing dreams.

 

God Bless,
Steven Kelnhofer
skelnhofer@smsacademy.org
Elementary Principal, SMSA

 

Standards Based Grading

The objective of the video series is to educate parents in short videos to unpack Standard Based Grading. The series intends to deliver an education and mindshift to understand Standards Based Grading, why Standards Based Grading is best practice, and how Standards Based Grading functions with the parent and teacher supporting the student’s journey.

 

Please select the following six links to see the box set of SBG at SMSA.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC85kS-z_Mk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tecnwN4dXLU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7ejwOMhkAg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7jww2J7RJs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQO1AVjoMJ0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1jIyS7wso0


Upcoming Dates

April 1st – Students may begin to wear uniform shorts to school
April 4th – April 8th: Forward Testing for grades 4 & 8

April 8th – Skyward Report Cards are released
June 8, 2022: 8th grade graduation at Holy Family Church 9:00 a.m. Mass


Save Your Loose Change – Penny Wars – April 5th – 8th

A Penny War is underway, ending on Friday, April 8th for Grades Pre-K through 8!

 

Boy Scout and current Sophomore, Gavin T, is hosting a Penny War to raise money for his Eagle Scout project. He is planning to build a GaGa Ball Pit on the upper playground this Spring. More information on his project can be found by clicking here.

 

Penny war rules: 1 penny is equal to 1 point, but silver coins can be used to sabotage other teams. The grade with the most points wins a pizza party!


Help the little ones drive! Monday, April 18 – Friday, April 22

Hi Everyone,

 

My name is Zainah Ott, a local high school student at eAchieve Academy. At our school every student is required to complete a full credit of Service Learning. I wanted to use this opportunity to help our community, but especially the little ones.

 

I am hosting a Little Needs Drive at SMSA from Monday, April 18th to Friday, April 22nd. There will be 3 boxes in both the North and South Hall offices. There is one for each grade group: Elementary, Middle, and High School. With you and your students’ support we will be able to donate all items to the Fond du Lac Family Resource Center!

 

List of ideas include:
Diapers, pull-ups, pull-up underwear, wipes, diaper rash cream, bottles, sippy cups, baby spoons, baby bowls/plates, pacifiers, teething items, baby/children’s shampoo, lotion, nose cleaners and hairbrush/combs.

 

Thank you for your support of the Fond du Lac Family Resource Center!


News and Information

Lost and Found

Please check the lost and found tables located outside of the South Hall Office. All items remaining after Easter will be donated.


 

After School Child Care - Part Time

St. Mary’s Springs Academy is seeking an individual who desires an opportunity to work in a dynamic empowering environment with students in grades 4K-5 as a part-time supervisor for our before/after school care programs. Each of the three classrooms are custom to certain grade levels and activities associated with the range of the grade levels.  

 

A strong candidate is willing to work as a team member, collaborate with colleagues and complete the Safe Environment Education training. Person with experience in an elementary school and/or child care setting is preferred, but not required. Part-time (15-20 hrs.) from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. and/or 2:30 to 6:00 p.m. on scheduled school days during the academic year.  

 

Qualified candidates should send letter of interest, resume and completed application  (www.smsacademy.org/careers) to: SMSA, Attn: Carrie Wiza, 255 County Road K,  Fond du Lac, WI 54937 or cwiza@smsacademy.org


Junior Ledger Fastpitch Softball

Interested in joining the Junior Ledger Fastpitch Softball program?

Click here for information.

Click here for the liability waiver

Click here for the COVID-19 waiver

Scholarship Opportunities

Herb Herro Scholarship - Now Accepting Applications - Due April 14th at Noon

The Herb Herro Scholarship is offered to current 8th grade SMSA students, who intend to continue their SMSA journey in high school.

 

The scholarship is financial need-based, meaning that students/families must demonstrate financial need by way of completing the tuition assistance application (click here). In addition, students must complete an application/essay and obtain two letters of recommendation.

 

This award is a four-year commitment, typically anywhere from a 1/4 scholarship to a full-scholarship, renewable each year. Recipients are required to maintain a quarterly 3.0 grade point, complete 20 annual hours of community service, and show active participation in their parish to maintain their award from year to year.

 

Applications are confidential and managed in the SMSA Advancement and Business Offices. A special committee will read these applications, and if selected to move on to the next round, students will be called in for a formal interview with our panel on Wednesday, April 27, 2022 after school. If selected to interview, we will share more information about location and time via email.

 

Please return your completed application and two letters of recommendation by Thursday, April 14, 2022 at noon. These can be emailed to Katie Tank at ktank@smsacademy.org or mailed/delivered to:

 

St. Mary’s Springs Academy

Attn: Katie Tank

255 County Road K

Fond du Lac, WI 54937

 

Click here to download the Herb Herro Scholarship Application.

Click here to download the Herb Herro Scholarship Recommendation Form.

Before/After School Care News

After School Care for 2022/2023

The after school program has reached capacity in registrations for the next school year.  You may register for next school year, and your name will be added to a wait list.  As a reminder, the after school program is for students in grades P3 through grade 5. 


 

Parent Connectors - Join us Today

If you are interested in helping with our Parent Connectors Group, please contact Andrea Nuss, alnuss@charter.net.  We appreciate the support of our SMSA Families!