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

Dear Families,
As we move through this school year, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt appreciation for your continued support and partnership. Your involvement makes a significant difference in our school community, and together, we are creating a nurturing and enriching environment for our students.

This week, I had the pleasure of observing a third-grade reading lesson where students were actively engaged in learning about the muscular system, focusing on voluntary and involuntary muscles. It was truly inspiring to see their enthusiasm and understanding shine through as the students digested the lesson.

SMSA is excited to support the Medina family and their 3 children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy this Advent season. Please read more below in the eledger to learn about the Medina family and how we as an SMSA Ledger community connect our mission and the Catholic social teachings to real world application.

The clearing of the brush project near the playground is moving along as planned. Thank you for your understanding and patience during this process.

Please note that the first trimester ends on November 15th. Skyward will be turned off for parent view until November 20th. On this date, digital report cards can be signed and viewed.

Please mark your calendars for the following important dates:
November 15: End of the First Trimester
November 27-29: No school for Thanksgiving break
December 10: 5th – 8th grade Christmas Concert (1:00 and 6:30 in the Hutter gym)
December 11: Kindergarten – 4th grade Christmas Concert (12:45 and 6:30 in the Hutter gym)
December 11: Early Childhood P3 and 4K Christmas Concert (8:15am in the Baker gym)

In closing, thank you for being such an integral part of our school family. We are grateful for your ongoing support and engagement in our school activities. Your involvement not only enhances our students’ learning experiences, but also strengthens our school community. We look forward to continuing our collaboration and celebrating more achievements together in the coming weeks!

Warm regards,
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 will attend a special breakfast with Mr. Kelnhofer, Mr. Thuerwachter and a special guest. They will 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 Mr. Eamonn O’Keeffe, High School Principal.

Rose R. (Grade 3) – Rose is a very respectful student. She works hard and is a leader for those all around her. Rose always comes to school with a smile on her face ready to learn.

Estelle Z. (Grade 3) – Estelle works very hard on her class work and is always participating in class. She isn’t afraid to ask questions. Estelle is also very helpful.

Lucy M. (Grade 4) – Lucy demonstrates SMSA Core values through her learning by always doing her best work. She shows Community by always helping out in the room, holding doors, and she is kind to everyone.

Eli R. (Grade 4) – Eli is an outstanding member of our classroom community! He truly cares about everyone. He is respectful, responsible, a focused learner, and filled with faith.

Austin S. (Grade 4) – Austin is responsible by having his work done on time. He is a hard worker and willing to help out when needed.

Madison G. (Grade 5) – Madison is respectful and kind to her peers and teachers. She is always willing to help others and stays focused on her tasks.

Elsie A. (Grade 5) – Elsie always goes above and beyond. She is very kind and a great problem solver. She is also a great artist and a wonderful leader in the classroom.

Piper V. (Grade 5) – Piper takes pride in assignments and projects. She strives to be prepared for every subject, and shows a desire to learn. Piper is respectful to all classmates.

The third annual SMSA Talent Show will take place at 1:15pm on Thursday, November 21 in Baker Gym. Parents, please arrive no earlier than 1pm and enter through the North Entrance. Enjoy the show!

The students in grades 4-8 at St. Mary’s Springs Academy have created unique and original Christmas cards. These cards will be sold for $2.00 after the Masses at Holy Family Parish sites on Saturday, December 7th and Sunday, December 8th. All proceeds from the Christmas Card Sale will benefit The Medina family.

The Medina family has 3 children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Mateo is 13, Javier is 8, and Amelia is 6 years old. Mateo spent his first year in and out of the hospital. He had surgeries for a feeding tube and trach to help him breathe. Javier receives spinal injected medicine every 4 months for life. He has a feeding tube and wears a bipap at night. Javier is unable to run or jump and lost his ability to smile. Amelia was diagnosed before she was born. She received a one time infusion and currently shows no signs of Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

You can help by clicking here to sign up to sell the Christmas cards after one of the Masses

This is a wonderful opportunity to earn service hours!

Your support of this project and of The Medina Family is greatly appreciated!

You can help by clicking here to sign up to sell the Christmas cards after one of the Masses.

As the weather cools, our thoughts turn toward the holiday season ahead! At SMSA that means the 30+ year tradition of Elves-R-Us is just around the corner! Please be on the lookout for information regarding this year’s event to come home with your student the week of November 18th. Shopping days will run December 2 – December 6.

Please click HERE to view the Elves-R-Us FAQs! We can’t wait for another year of Elves-R-Us!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

SMSA has exciting safety news to share with our Ledger community. The project creates a safer school environment for our students and allows access to the upper playground for security cameras. An anonymous donor has allowed landscaping company, Country Touch Lawn Care and Landscaping LLC, to come to the ledge and clear out the dead trees, bushes, and brush between the lower and upper playgrounds.  In turn, the company will plant no mow grass (grass that grows approx 12-16 inches high and creates a lush green lawn that is essentially weed-free as the grass matures).

The safety and well being of our students is our top priority. Within the next week, there will be a barricade set up on the lower playground between the grotto and the basketball hoop. The barrier’s purpose is to store the brush from each day’s work. We are asking all staff, students, and parents to stay away from this barricade to help ensure the safety of everyone’s wellbeing.

The landscapers will be working throughout the day between the playgrounds. During after school hours and on the weekend is when the chipping of wood and brush will occur on the lower playground. This will allow our classrooms the highest amount of productivity and create a quiet learning environment during school hours. If landscaping equipment is left on campus at the end of the school day, it’ll be stored near the storage shed by highway 23 on the south side of campus. This project is estimated to be completed in approximately 2-3 weeks.

In addition to the landscaping project, SMSA would like to alleviate a couple of issues regarding the lower playground after school. The two issues surfacing are unsupervised children and child ball play near door 14 that’s interfering with people crossing the same area to transition to their vehicles from kindergarten pick up.

Per the handbook, “Students are not to remain on the premises for the purpose of playing on the playground or campus grounds after school if they are not supervised by their parent/guardian. Students outside the school building are accountable to parents/guardians after the final bell rings.”

To support the first concern and to emphasize parental supervision, periodically at 3:15pm, a staff member will come outside to announce that each student needs to stand by their parent/guardian to check in for supervision. This will allow the staff member and parents to visually see if all students are being supervised after school hours by a parent/guardian. If a child is not paired up with their guardian, the child will be asked to go inside the south office entrance area and sit and wait for their parent to arrive until 3:20. After 3:20pm, the child will be enrolled into the extended care program.

If a ball travels above the brick wall on the lower playground, please bring it to the attention of a staff member or the front office. The ball will be returned back to you as soon as possible. Please don’t go and get the ball yourself. The expectation is for students and parents not to go on top of the brick retaining wall.

Parents, if you are allowing your child(ren) to play on the school playground or on campus grounds after school hours, it‘s the guardians responsibility to supervise them.

To support the second issue, Kindergarten classes will be utilizing door 14 during after school pick up. Students that are playing will in turn be allowed to play ball on the north side of the lower playground by door 13 where the cement is located as they are supervised by their guardian.

Thank you for your cooperation and for your partnership to help keep children safe as we continue to be a learning community.

RaiseRight – SMSA’s SCRIP Program

Enroll NOW – Start Earning Tuition Credit Through RaiseRight

Click here to purchase your 2024-2025 elementary (PreK-8th Grade) yearbook.

Please check the lost and found located outside of the south office. Items not picked up by Thanksgiving Break will be donated or put in the uniform exchange.

Who will win $20,000 this year!? It could be you, or someone you know! Each SMSA family has received 5 BMR tickets to sell and/or purchase before the noon drawing on Friday, January 10, 2025.

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November 23 – High School Placement Test for all 8th graders seeking admission to SMSA high school

November 27-29: No school for Thanksgiving break
December 10: 5th – 8th grade Christmas Concert (1:00 and 6:30 in the Hutter gym)
December 11: Kindergarten – 4th grade Christmas Concert (12:45 and 6:30 in the Hutter gym)
December 11: Early Childhood P3 and 4K Christmas Concert (8:15am in the Baker gym)

December 14 – High School Placement Test for all 8th graders seeking admission to SMSA high school
May 28 – Kindergarten – Eighth Grade Mass & 8th grade graduation at Holy Family at 9:00 am

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Parents please remember in order for your child/children to have a spot in extended care the $100.00 registration fee per family needs to be turned in to the south office.

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

Registration for SMSA’s Extended Care Program can be done online through your Skyward Family Access account.

Thank you

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