Dear Parents/Guardians,                                                       

We are having a blast celebrating Homecoming!  Students are doing a great job dressing up and having fun.   The big Homecoming game will be on our new turf on Oct. 9, 2021.  Please click here for FAQs on the big game!  Thank you for supporting SMSA and your child(ren) on the journey. 

Parent teacher conferences will be held on October 13th and 14th, 2021 from 4:00 until 6:30.  We will be offering virtual and in person conferences.  A communication from the homeroom teachers was sent out.  Please sign up for your conference time by Oct. 10th if you are a parent of a child in grades P3 – Grade 5.  Grades 6 – 8 will be an open house style of conferencing.

During Conferences we will be hosting a BOOK FAIR in the Library.  Please feel free to stop by during conferences and take a look around at all the amazing adventures in the library.  Thank youLisa Serovyfor leading this charge, and thank you to all the volunteers who are lending a helping hand. 

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

God Bless,

Steven Kelnhofer

skelnhofer@smsacademy.org

Elementary Principal, SMSA

Important Dates

Oct. 8 – No School (Teacher Convention)

Oct. 13 & 14 – Parent Teacher Conferences

Oct. 29th – Halloween classroom parties

Standards Based Grading

As I have mentioned in previous eLedgers, St. Mary’s Spring Academy is excited to introduce Standards Based Grading in grades kindergarten through third grade for the 2021-22 school year! Standards Based Grading is a best practice initiative the Archdiocese of Milwaukee is leading all of its schools towards implementing in the coming school year.  

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

Hello Parents and Guardians!

It’s that time of year again! Time for St. Mary’s Springs Academy’s “Big Money Raffle” (BMR). This cash raffle is one of only three major fundraisers for SMSA that involves EVERY family, Pre-K through 12th grade. Who will be the big $20,000 winner this year!?

Each family will be receiving 5 BMR tickets to sell and/or purchase this week. With the success we had last year, we will be distributing tickets again this year as follows:

– If your youngest child attending SMSA is in grades P3 – 8th grade, you will receive your tickets in their backpack.

– If your youngest child attending SMSA is in high school, your tickets will be delivered to the primary address in our system this week. Please check your front door or paper box.

Please review the information included in the envelope regarding this fundraiser. Tickets may be returned to school with your child or to the North, South or Scrip offices any time before the drawing on Friday, January 14, 2022. If you have any questions, or if you would like to purchase additional tickets, please contact Kristin Zitlow at kzitlow@smsacademy.org or 920-322-8006. Participation from every family truly makes a difference.

Thank you for your support!

St. Mary’s Springs and Holy Family have partnered up to help promote and celebrate two great events happening on Saturday, October 9th.

Holy Family has extended a part of their parking lot to Ledger Nation to use for extra spaces for the homecoming football game taking place on the Ledge.  Holiday Automotive will be providing shuttles to and from the homecoming football game.

After the game, stick around at Holy Family to enjoy their Octoberfest celebration.  Click here to visit their Facebook page for more information!

Click here to view the flyer!

Have you heard the news!? St. Mary’s Springs Academy is excited to participate again this year in the Soles for Catholic Education Walk! This year, we are bringing the walk to our students, who will be participating in an adventure during gym classes the week of October 11 – 15, 2021. Be sure to ask your student about their virtual adventure to “The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception” in Washington, D.C.

Students are also invited to participate in a “Spirit Wear” day (spirit wear top and appropriate athletic bottoms only, no jeans) on Wednesday, October 13, 2021 with a suggested donation of $3 per student. Please send the money with your student in an envelope labeled “Soles Walk Donation”. The money raised directly benefits our Soles Walk fundraising goal of $5,000. The impact of your donation will do even more to help our school, as generous Soles Walk sponsors have stepped up to match a portion of donations we receive, up to our goal of $5,000!

We look forward to celebrating this year’s Soles for Catholic Education Walk with our students! Thank you for your support!

More information will be coming on Parent/Teacher Conferences.

Tuesday October 12 2:30-4pm

Wednesday October 13 2:30-7:30pm

Thursday October 14 2:30-7:30pm

Friday October 15 7:30-8:30am

Location: SMSA Library

Come check out the Book Fair and K-5 Pumpkin Creations. Vote for your favorite class pumpkin ($1 donation to ALL FOR BOOKS), winning class wins a pizza party! Students will preview the book fair on Tuesday and Wednesday; teachers will also have a wish list of the books they would like to add to their classroom libraries. Great time to start that Christmas shopping!

Did you get one of SCHOLASTIC’s Blue Reusable Bags at our last fair?  If you did, AND you can find it, AND you BRING IT ALONG TO THE FAIR to use…you can pick a pumpkin for an added surprise at checkout!

Can’t make it to the fair, but want to help support our school? Check out our online Scholastic Book Fair store: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/stmarysspringsacad.  Please note: any Scholastic Gift Certificates your child won from summer reading is NOT VALID ON-LINE, in-person only.

We HIGHLY ENCOURAGE WEARING A MASK when attending the book fair, since at times social distancing may be harder to do.

Care to help? Sign up here: https://signup.com/go/jusZaRg

Trunk or Treat is back! We are very excited to celebrate Halloween with our SMSA family in a safe and fun way! Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 28th from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. This event will take place in the upper green parking lot. Students will dress up in their Halloween costumes and trick or treat to each car. Make sure to bring lots of candy and decorating your car is encouraged.

Click here to view the flyer.

Please watch for more information on this fun dress up day!

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, receives a certificate with a brief sentence on how they followed The Ledger Way, and a principal’s pen. 

This week’s Principal’s Pen awards goes to:

Marigold Smith – 3K, Marigold is recognized for being a kind friend and is a brave girl coming to preschool

Samantha Besson – 5K, Samantha is recognized for being kind, helpful, and always ready to learn when she walks in the door

Ava Zappa – 5K, Ava is being recognized for being kind to others and always lending a helping hand

Maeda Richardson – 1st grade, Maeda is being recognized for demonstrating the Ledger Way through her leadership qualities.  She listens carefully to directions when they are given and helps other friends whenever she can

Hazel Stahowiak – 2nd grade, Hazel is being recognized for being a leader. She helps others with tasks and is an example in the classroom.  She is a great role model for the expectations.

Nevaeh Hedrich – 2nd grade, Nevaeh is being recognized for starting every morning with a positive mindset.  She has the attitude of “keep on trying….don’t give up”

Piper Varebrook – 2nd grade, Piper is being recognized for her leadership.  She is always helping others during work time if someone asks for help.

Click here to read the October Specials Newsletter.

None at this time.

No news at this time.

Would you like to get more involved as a parent at SMSA? On supply drop off day, you will be receiving a Parent Connectors Volunteer Form. Please fill out this form with the ways you would be interested in helping and return it to school by Friday, September 17th. You will then receive emails regarding upcoming events and ways to assist throughout the year. Thank you so much! We couldn’t do this without our amazing volunteers. If you have any questions, please reach out to Andrea Nuss, alnuss@charter.net.

We are looking for an individual(s) who are interested in helping co-chair our book fairs (fall/spring) as well as oversee our summer reading program.  If you are interested in knowing more about this volunteer position and have any questions, please contact our current chair, Lisa Serovy at serovy@charter.net.