Principal’s Desk News & Information Upcoming Dates School Care News

Dear SMSA Families,

As we approach the end of another wonderful school year, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt appreciation for each of you. Your involvement and support play a vital role in our community, and we are grateful for your partnership as we guide our children toward bright futures.

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Mrs. Lewis and Mr. Scudella for their incredible leadership during the concert performance on Wednesday evening. Our 5th through 8th grade students truly shined, making their families and SMSA proud with their delightful musical pieces.

We are fortunate to have such dedicated educators who embody the Ledger Way core values. Their professionalism and commitment have fostered growth, learning, and joy among our young musicians. Thank you, Mrs. Lewis and Mr. Scudella, for your unwavering dedication and for bringing out the best in our students.

To add to our celebration, thank you to all of our teachers and staff for supporting our SMSA Student Showcase event this past Wednesday. This event showcases the year long learning that needs to be celebrated. Thank you to our faculty and staff for turning our school into a living museum including a Glow Show for one afternoon. As a learning community we have lots to celebrate as it’s good to reflect and remember the journey we traveled.

As the school year winds down, please take some time to check Skyward for updates on your child’s learning. This is a great opportunity to review any missing assignments or celebrate their accomplishments this year.

Our eighth grade students will have their last day of school on May 28th, following the K-8 Mass at Holy Family. After the Mass, we will honor our eighth graders with a special ceremony.

Students in grades P3 through grade 7 will continue classes until May 30th. The final week of school will be filled with exciting activities such as field day events, yearbook signing, and more. Please note that May 30th will be a full day of school.

As we wrap up this school year, let’s continue to support one another and celebrate our children’s achievements together. Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership.

God Bless,
Steven Kelnhofer
Elementary Principal, SMSA

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 attend a special breakfast with Mr. Kelnhofer, Mr. Thuerwachter and a special guest. They also receive a certificate with a brief sentence on how they followed “The Ledger Way,” and a principal’s pen. This week’s special guest speaker was Fr. Kevin Durand.

Diego R. (Grade 6) – Diego has grown tremendously this year—he’s respectful, hardworking, and empathetic. He cares deeply for the SMSA community and consistently supports his classmates with kindness and pride.
Charlotte B. (Grade 6) – Charlotte has worked so hard in math over the last few months. She never misses an opportunity to come and work with me during her recess time. This shows her willingness to put her learning first. I am so proud of the accomplishments she has made.
Abraham D. (Grade 6) – Abraham has grown throughout this year. He has become an outstanding listener in my class and shows respect in group work. He is responsible to ask what he has missed when he leaves the room for a lesson.
Brecken K. (Grade 7) – Brecken shows our core values of respect and community each day. He is always willing to lend a hand to both teachers and classmates, and he makes sure that everyone feels included. Keep shining, Brecken!
Andrew H. (Grade 7) – Andrew demonstrates positive leadership in class and is very respectful to others. He works well on his classroom assignments and strives to do his best. He demonstrates his faith and leadership for SMSA by serving for mass.
Jimena C. (Grade 7) – Jimena is a wonderful example of our core values at SMSA. She is very respectful to all adults and students. She is also very responsible and strives to be the best student she can be.
Shayley N. (Grade 8) – Shayley works very hard in her classes. She is very respectful to all, has a very strong faith, and works very well with others. She is also very kind and sweet.
Alex S. (Grade 8) – Alex has volunteered at most of the 8th grade Masses in a variety of roles, and sometimes multiple roles in one Mass. His willingness to get involved is very helpful in planning weekly Chapel services.
Aiden R. (Grade 8) – Aiden is a leader in faith to his classmates both inside and outside of the classroom. His attitude and positivity help make the classroom a peaceful place for all. He definitely sets an example of leading a Christ-like life.

Anyone interested in trying out for Varsity dance for the 2025-26 season, there are two ways to sign up. You can sign up in the cafeteria on the bulletin board or e-mail head coach Stephanie Brusky at Sbrusky@smsacademy.org. You will receive the informational slide show and tryout routine via e-mail. Live tryouts are tentatively scheduled for Sat, May 31st – 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the high school. If you can not make that date we can make other arrangements please indicate this when you sign up.

Hello Current Grade 4-7 Parents and Students:
This is a reminder regarding the SMSA Middle School Cheerleading meetings that are coming up soon! To find out more information on the program and to sign up to participate in SMSA Middle School Cheerleading for this fall, a parent, and the interested student, currently in Grades 4-7, MUST ATTEND ONE OF THE TWO available MANDATORY informational meetings, which will take place at Holy Family Parish Hall (271 Fourth Street Way; enter doors to the left of the Church near the sign “Parish Office”) on the following dates:
Sunday, May 18, 2025 from 6:30-7:30 PM OR
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 from 6:30-7:30 PM (Note change of date from the original email sent in March)

Please note that you and your child must attend one of the meetings even if your child has previously participated in cheerleading at SMSA. If you have any questions, please contact Head Coach Lindsey Kraig Bembenista at kraigbembenista@gmail.com, or call or text her at (920) 263-8255.

Lindsey Kraig Bembenista
Middle School Cheerleading Head Coach

Thank you to all the SMSA families who helped make Staff Appreciation Week-Road Trip Edition a huge success! Whether you contributed money for the staff luncheon, donated items for the grab and go breakfast, donated extra sides for the luncheon or helped with covering lunchroom or recess duties on the luncheon day, we appreciate YOU!! This week wouldn’t have been possible without your help. Thank you also to Fanna’s on the Fly and The Big Blue Yummy Food Trucks for your delicious food! A special thank you to our committee (Lisa Shannon, Andrea Nuss, Amy Meyer-Bremer, Becky Harmsen, Pam Mand, Ellen Kant, Erin Clark-Benedict and Marisa Tymusz) who planned this special week for our amazing staff! Thank you SMSA Families!!

Congratulations to our amazing girls in grades 3–5 who completed the annual Girls on the Run 5K this past Saturday! Their hard work, determination, and joyful spirit were truly inspiring. We are so proud of the way they supported one another and lived out the core values of community and leadership. Way to go, Ledgers!

We will be celebrating the end of the school year with field days for our 3K – 7th Grade students! We are looking for parent volunteers to help at the stations. All volunteers must be SEE trained in order to help. Mark your calendars…The field days are Thursday, May 29th (Kindergarten – 5th Grade) and Friday, May 30th (3K, 4K & 6th – 7th Grade).
Thursday, May 29th:
8:35 am – 11:05 am – Kindergarten – 2nd Grade
12:10 pm – 2:35 pm – 3rd – 5th Grade
Friday, May 30th:
8:35 am – 11:05 am – 3K – 4K
12:10 pm – 2:35 pm 6th – 7th Grade

Here is the link to sign up to help: https://signup.com/go/nJePnoQ

A reminder email will be sent to you when the date gets closer. Thank you so much for your willingness to help!

This summer, I’m excited to offer personalized one-on-one math tutoring sessions for students who could benefit from some extra support. Each session is one hour long, held on Wednesdays, and priced at $40. These sessions are for students that are currently in grades 5-7.

I have three open time slots and would love to help your child strengthen their math skills in a focused, supportive environment.

10:10-11:10 a.m.

12:00-1:00 p.m.

1:05-2:05 p.m.

Feel free to reach out if you’re interested or have any questions!

Thanks so much,

Heather Petersen

6th grade Math & Science Teacher

hpetersen@smsacademy.org

DATES: Monday, June 2 – Thursday, June 5

Grades 2-3 9:00 am – 10:00 pm

Grades 4-5-6 10:15 am  – 12:15 pm

Grades 7-8-9 12:30 pm  –  2:30 pm

** Grades are for the fall of the 2025-26 school year**

Click Here For Registration Form – SMS Girls Basketball Camp 2025

26th Annual Boys basketball camp for boys entering 4th through 9th grade (Grades for the 2025-26 school year). The camp will run from June 16th – June 19th and will cost $70.00. Registration ends Friday June 6th.

SMSA Boys Basketball Camp 2025 Registration Form

Please Click Here – Grades 5 – 8 Registration

The Football Fundamentals Camp is a non-contact camp with emphasis on skills that make the game of football safer and more fun to participate in.

DATES: 07/14/2025 – 07/17/2025 (Monday-Thursday)
TIME: 3:30 PM – 6:00 PM
LOCATION: St. Mary’s Springs Athletic Field
255 Cty Road K
Fond du Lac, WI 54937

Football-Fundamentals-Camp-2025

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

Click Here to Learn More!

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May 26, 2025 – No School – Memorial Day

May 28, 2025 – Kindergarten – Eighth Grade Mass & 8th grade graduation at Holy Family at 9:00 am

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Please note that Extended Care invoices will now be sent directly from Procare, rather than from SMSA’s Business Office. You may notice this change in your inbox, as shown in the below screenshot.

Recipients can expect their invoices to come from this email address: notifications@procaremessagingservice.com. If you reply to the email, your message will be directed to businessoffice@smsacademy.org, as usual.

If you have not received your invoice by May 5th, please check your Spam or Junk folders. To ensure future invoices arrive in your inbox, please mark the Procare email address as a trusted sender.

Thank you for your attention to this change and for your continued partnership.

Please sign up in the child care room if you will be utilizing the Extended Care in the afternoon on the last day of school Friday May 30th.

Registration is open for Extended Care 2025-2026 academic year. A friendly reminder when registering for Extended Care there is a $100.00 non-refundable registration fee.

In order for your child/children to have a saved spot in extended care this fee will need to be paid at the time of registration. Checks can be made payable to SMSA (Extended Care) to the south office. Reminder, spots fill up quickly.

Please email extendedcare@smsacademy.org if you have any questions.

Thank you

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