Principal’s Desk News & Information Upcoming Dates School Care News
Dear Parents/Guardians,
We are approaching the end of our first trimester of school. The trimester official closes Nov. 15th, which is only three weeks away. Skyward is our main communication to display student learning that is happening at SMSA with your child(ren). If you have not yet interacted with Skyward regarding the learning that is happening for your child(ren), please click here to support your journey with Skyward.
SMSA will be participating in a few events in the coming weeks. We’ll be celebrating Red Ribbon Day on Oct. 25th. This special day is dedicated to promoting safe and healthy choices among our students and community. Please see a previous Skyward message sent early this week for more information.
Grades 6- 8 students are welcome to celebrate Halloween at our MS Halloween Party after school in Baker gym starting at 4:00 on Oct. 25th. Our P3 – grade 5 Halloween classroom parties will be held on October 31st. Please see more details from your child’s homeroom teacher. Parents must be SEE trained to attend the classroom parties. October 31st will be our annual Trunk or Treat, held in the upper parking lot. Please make sure you are registered for Trunk or Treat.
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
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 was Mr. Krueger. Mr. Krueger is devoted to serving our students, staff, and families by instilling and sustaining Catholic values at SMSA!
This week’s Principal Pen award winners are:
Natalie K. (6th grade) Natalie has a strong drive to learn, demonstrated by her high level of responsibility and her consistent respect for both her teachers and peers.
Seamus H. (6th grade) Seamus is extremely respectful and always ready to learn. He is a leader at SMSA by always trying his best and leading by example.
Annaleigh S. (6th grade) Annie embodies SMSA Core Values through her faith, respect, and community spirit. She actively prays, is kind, courteous, and includes everyone in her group.
Talen S. (7th grade) Talen truly embodies our core values of faith and respect. He’s always the first to volunteer at chapel Masses and consistently shows exceptional courtesy to his teachers and peers. Talen is the kind of young man our “Little Ledgers” can look up to as a role model!
Alianna R. (7th grade) Alianna is always a very positive student with a smile on her face as she enters the room. She is always willing to help out even without being asked.
Jillian R. (7th grade) I am always impressed with Jillian. She embodies all of our core values at SMSA. She is very kind, hardworking, respectful and a leader in class.
Asher D. (8th grade) Asher is very respectful and kind to all. His sense of humor and outgoing personality makes everyone smile!
Lilia R. (8th grade) Lilia is always on task and prepared for class. She is very mature, and always respectful. Lilia is a super student and person!
Vincent F. (grade 8) Vincent has shown faith and leadership by being willing to lead the Rosary and read at Mass.
We are SO pleased and grateful to announce the grand total for this year’s incredibly successful Penny War – $2,454.91!
Congratulations to the 6th Graders – winner of a pizza party!! And congratulations to all students in elementary (PreK-8th grade) for earning a free out of uniform day on November 26th, the last day of school before Thanksgiving break!
These funds are used in several beautiful ways:
2 Loaves and Fishes Meals – each meal involves many students and staff in the making and distributing of lasagna meals to the needy in our community. Last Wednesday, our first meal fed over 200 people! A picture is attached.
Annual Bibles and Blankets Project during Catholic Schools Week – we purchase fleece pieces and bibles to create warm blanket bundles that the Holy Family Warming Shelter distribues to their guests throughout the season.
Remaining funds will be donated to the Holy Family Warming Shelter to help meet their operational needs during the 24-25 season.
A huge thank you to Christine Zimmerman and the Grandparents Club for all of your help with counting coins, many trips to the bank, and all of the time you spent supporting this project! Also my sincerest thank you to our amazing ladies in the South Hall office – Mrs. Morasch and Mrs. Winkler – for managing all the details that go into making this fundraiser such a success! And of course, thank you to all of the students and staff who brought in your coins and battled hard. You should feel so proud!
It’s that time of year again! Time for St. Mary’s Springs Academy’s “Big Money Raffle” (BMR). Who will win $20,000 this year!?
This cash raffle is one of only three major fundraisers for SMSA that involves EVERY family, Pre-K through 12th grade. Each family receives 5 BMR tickets to sell and/or purchase.
All tickets have been handed out, 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 noon drawing on Friday, January 10, 2025.
If you have any questions, or if you would like to purchase additional tickets, please contact a member of the BMR committee, listed below.
Valerie Everson
920.251.3719
Stephanie Fessler
920.960.0556
Katie Mathos
920.979.6757
Lisa Shannon
920.539.2892
Sasha Smith
920.517.1693
Trunk or Treat is coming, Thursday, October 31st!!! Just a reminder, due to a new policy from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, you must be SEE trained to pass out candy. Thank you to all who have already signed up to pass out candy! We would love to have more cars passing out candy!
Sign up to hand out candy and confirm your SEE Training status by clicking here. Please complete the registration form by Friday, October 25. Thank you!!
5:15 pm – 5:45 pm Car Decorating for parents who are passing out candy (Must be registered and SEE trained)
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm – Trunk or Treat Event
If you are not handing out candy and just want to attend the event with your kids, you do not need to register and SEE training is not required. Please park in the lower lot at school and walk up to the South lot to enjoy the event.
SEE TRAINING:
SEE Training is required for anyone that wants to volunteer, chaperone, or attend classroom events. If you need to update your SEE Training (required every 5 years) or take the course for the first time, click on this link SEE Training and follow the instructions below.
Initial SEE Training
• Click on Register for New Account
• Enter the required information and click on Next Step
• Under Required Trainings click on Initial Safe Environment for Clergy, Employees, and Volunteers and complete all required steps
• Attend in-person Safe Environment Session
SEE Training Renewal
• Under Existing Accounts, click on Sign In
• Under Required Trainings click on Renewal Safe Environment for Clergy, Employees, and Volunteers
• Complete all required steps
If you have any questions, please reach out to Jenn Ellestad, jenn.ellestad@gmail.com or Cathy Dux, cathydux@gmail.com.
Hope to see you at our Trunk or Treat Event!
Jenn, Cathy, Becky, Holly & Andrea
Trunk or Treat Committee
October 25th: Middle School Halloween dance after school
October 31st: Elementary Halloween Parties (Last hour of the school day)
October 31st: Trunk or Treat (Evening program)
May 28th: Kindergarten – Eighth Grade Mass & 8th grade graduation at Holy Family at 9:00 am
The Fond du Lac Running Club is hosting our annual “It’s Fun to Run” Youth Run at Buttermilk Creek Park the morning of Saturday, October 26. This is an entirely free event for youth in grades 5 and under.
Mark your calendar for Friday, October 25th from 3-6 pm for our annual SPOOKTACULAR event! Enjoy monster mash, mad scientist experiments, caramel apple station, prizes and more!
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