Dear Parents and Guardians,

Can you believe the end of the third quarter is just a couple of weeks away?  Friday, March 25th is the completion day of our third quarter together.  Please feel free to communicate or set up a conference with teachers during their business hours if you have a concern or question regarding the success of your child(ren).  SMSA encourages healthy partnerships to create a successful school experience and student achievement.  

Forward testing for grades 3 – 8 will be occurring at the end of March.  Please take time to read more about the Forward Test below.  Please join us in making this a successful endeavor by having your child(ren) here at SMSA during the testing window.  Thank you. 

Please know I’m praying for you during this Lenten season.  The prayer is for families and the importance of taking time to notice each other everyday and express an act of kindness to demonstrate care for each other.  We all need to be noticed and know we are cared for all the days of our lives.  

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

Standard Based Grading

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

Monday – Friday, March 21st – 25th and April 4th – April 8th: Forward Testing

Monday – Friday, March 28th – April 1st:  Spring Break

Friday, June 8th, 2022: 8th grade graduation at Holy Family Church 9:00 a.m. Mass

Ledgerfest Silent Auction – goes Live Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at Noon

Ledgerfest is fast approaching, Saturday, May 19, 2022! Whether you are attending in-person or will be out of town, you can sign up to bid on over 75 amazing silent auction items by clicking here. Pre-register now to map out your favorites.

Bidding begins on Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at noon and will close on Saturday, March 19, 2022 at 8:30 p.m. Bid high and bid often!

Forward Testing – Week of March 21st

St. Mary’s Springs Academy is preparing for our students in 3rd – 8th grade as well as 10th grade to participate in the Wisconsin Forward Exam.  The Forward Exam is designed to gauge how well students are doing in relation to the Wisconsin Academic Standards.  These standards outline what students should know and be able to do in order to be college and career ready. The Forward Exam is a WIsconsin computer-based exam that is administered in the spring of each school year at the grade levels seen below:

• Grades 3-8 in ELA (English Language Arts) and Mathematics
• Grades 4 and 8 in Science and,
• Grades 4,8, and 10 in Social Studies.

This year, testing at SMSA will take place during the week of Monday, March 21st as well as during the week of Monday, April 4th.  The Forward Exam must be administered in person and cannot be proctored virtually. We ask for our support by having your child(ren) attend school during the testing window.  For more information, please use this link to access the Wisconsin DPI Forward Information Guide for Families.

Please click here for information on how to order your elementary (PreK-8) yearbook.

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.

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. 

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!