Principal’s Desk News & Information Upcoming Dates School Care News
Elementary (PreK - 8) & Childcare - April 11, 2024
Apr 11
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Happy Easter Season! Our Savior has risen and has given us hope, joy and love. The Easter season causes me to reflect upon this question; How do I approach each new morning, as a given or a gift? Does the answer to this question cause us to pivot our everyday actions, or approach to the moments gifted to us in the day? Would gratitude become more intentional in the small moments and interactions throughout the our day? Would each moment be like a child finding an Easter Egg or their Easter basket? This 50 days of the Easter season let’s remember and treat each day as a gift. Let’s value the moments with each other for all they’re treasure.
Each day the faculty, staff along with the leadership team are blessed to have gifted moments, experiences and interactions with the SMSA family community. Together, the whole SMSA community changes the world to be a better tomorrow. This is proven each day I I get to see the children at SMSA with smiles while learning as we educate the whole child. We journey through learning experiences that are tough at times, and joyous at other times. All part of many individual journeys that we are blessed to travel through together.
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
Elementary Principal, SMSA
Principal's Pen Award Winners!
The Principal’s Pen is an opportunity for teachers to recognize students
who consistently demonstrate The Ledger Way with a focus on faith, learning, respect for leadership, community and responsibility. The students chosen will attend a special breakfast with Mr. K and Mr. Fisher and special guest, receives a certificate with a brief sentence on how they followed The Ledger Way, and a principal’s pen.
This week’s Special Guest was Greg Brunette-St. Mary’s Springs Academy Director of Business Operations and Carol Ellestad, System Business Coordinator. This week’s Principal Pen award winners are:
Elizabeth F. (3rd grade)- Lizzy is a very respectful student. She is a kind friend and is willing to help others when needed!
Emma J. (3rd grade)- Emma is a great example of leading by faith in our classroom. She is always looking out for others and offering a helping hand.
Sam H. (3rd grade)- Sam is a kind and respectful learner. She is a willing helper in our classroom and is a good friend to all.
Jaelyn S. (3rd grade) – Jaelyn is responsible by having her work done on time. She is also willing to help anyone who needs it.
Monty R. (4th grade) – Monty is a student who demonstrates leadership by having a positive attitude, doing his work well, by being kind to everyone.
Jake H. (4th grade)- Jake is always respectful to his teachers and classmates. He is also a very focused and a driven leader.
Cadence R. (5th grade)- Cadence is very responsible, she works well with her group and keeps them on task, she follows her faith seriously, she is respectful to her teachers. She is a positive leader in the classroom and is usually the voice of reason.
James E.( 5th grade)- James is a responsible 5th grader who is always respectful to adults and his classmates.
Jordy B. (5th grade) – Jordy follows the Ledger Way in the areas of leadership and responsibility. His assignments are always complete and turned in on time. When in a group Jordy works well with others helping to lead the group as they complete the task.
Are YOU are next SMSA Book Fair Chairperson?
The bi-annual book fair, sponsored by the Parent Connectors, is a beloved event at SMSA and we are looking for a new chairperson to lead the way into the future.
If you have elementary-aged children, would you consider chairing it? The only requirements are that you love books and are SEE-trained. Our upcoming Spring Book Fair is a great way to get your feet wet and shadow our current chair before leading the next fair in Fall 2024. You will have the support of past Book Fair Chairs, Parent Connectors, our SMSA Volunteer Community, and a Scholastic Rep to help you on your way, so you are not in it alone.
Please contact the current parent Host, Emily Adams, if you would like to learn more.
Emily Adams / SMSA Scholastic Book Fair Host
emilycainadams@me.com.
Save the Date! 8th Grade Ledger Legacy Club (LLC ) Pizza Ranch Fundraiser - May 6, 2024!
Save the Date...SMSA Student Showcase & Glow Show Art Display are coming!
Save the Date……Our SMSA Student Showcase (3K – 8th Grade) & Glow Show Art Display are back by popular demand…Wednesday, May 15th from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm (Open House Style). Glow Show Art Display will open at 3:15 pm once middle schoolers have been dismissed. A time to celebrate all of their hard work this school year! Your child(ren) will walk you through school showing you their best work in their classrooms, enjoy a prayer in the chapel, see their amazing artwork displayed at the Glow Show, stop in the music room & enjoy a sweet treat. It is going to be an “out of this world” event and we hope you can join us! No RSVP needed.
Grades 5-8 Spring Concert Information
Our 5th-8th Grade Concert will be on Monday, May 13th in Hutter gymnasium, at 6:30pm.
Students who are in BAND will report to the band room at 6:00pm and CHOIR ONLY students will report to the gym at 6:10pm.
All 7th and 8th grade BAND students should wear all black, and grades 5th and 6th grade BAND students should wear Sunday’s Best, no jeans or sweats.
All CHOIR ONLY students should wear Sunday’s Best, no jeans or sweats.
Concert times are 1:00pm and 6:30pm.
This is a graded event. All students are expected to participate.
Thank you!
Christa Lewis and Gerry Scudella
Staff Appreciation Week is coming!
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!
Refer-A-Family Program
2024-2025 Key Academic Calendar Dates
Click here to view key dates for the 2024-2025 Academic School Year, including SMSA’s start date, Christmas break, spring break and graduation dates.
Reminder that you can view this information, along with handbooks, dress code and uniform criteria and other important resources on our website year round by clicking here.
Fond du Lac Children's Museum - DINOSAUR DISCOVERY - Friday, April 19, 2024
The Fond du Lac Children’s Museum invites you to unearth fun during their special Dinosaur Discovery! Explore the fascinating world of dinosaurs, discover real fossils, and enjoy prehistoric crafts and activities, plus a special presentation led by Paleontologist Nick of the Dinosaur Discovery Museum!
WI Parental Choice Program Opens February 1, 2024
The WI Parental Choice Program (WPCP) online application period will open February 1, 2024 and will close on Thursday April 18, 2024.
The DPI requires current Choice families to fill out the application for the 2024-2025 school year. Filling out the application for next school year (2024-2025) informs the DPI that you want to receive your Choice voucher for 2024-2025. If the DPI does not receive an application from a current Choice family the DPI assumes that you do not want the voucher for the next school year and your voucher will not be renewed.
New and current families must electronically submit their application here.
Current Choice families are not required to provide income documentation.
NEW families, applying for a school voucher, must be income eligible to apply. The following income limits have been posted for 2024-2025:
Family Size Maximum Yearly Income*
1 $32,076
2 $43,384
3 $54,692
4 $66,000
5 $77,308
6 $88,616
For each additional member in a family add $11,308.
Family income includes the income of the student’s parent(s)/legal guardian(s) that reside in the same household as the student.
Current Choice families are not required to provide income documentation. Proof of residency documents are required for current and new families.
WI Parental Choice Program information is available on our SMSA website by going to the Enroll tab at the top.
Questions about WI Parental Choice Program (WPCP) can be directed to:
Carol Ellestad
SMSA Choice Designee
Parents of Performing Arts
Join us on the third Wednesday of each month in Lauby Lounge for the PPA meeting. All parents who have children in Middle School or High School are encouraged to attend.
Watch for an email to sign up to volunteer to help make the musical a success! Many hands make light work!
Meeting dates:
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
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!
Lost & Found
Please check the lost and found before next Friday, April 12, 2024, as all items will be collected and donated at that time.
April 19, 2024 – No School – In-service day
April 26-27, 2024 – Middle School Musical
May 15, 2024 – Student Showcase
Change in E-mail address for Child Care -before/afterschool care- Extended Care
Registration for SMSA’s Extended Care Program can be done online through your Skyward Family Access account.
This is the new email extendedcare@smsacademy.org. Please use this email moving forward.
Thank you