Dear Parents/Guardians,                                                       

The first week of school was wonderful.  The students seem to be finding their groove and adjusting to the school day.  They bring such great joy with them as they interact with the school community.  A couple of days ago I saw a couple of students helping each other during the hold zone while reading books with each other.  It was a wonderful sight of unity and community matched with a learning opportunity.  So many of these stories can be found and shared if we search for them.  The Ledger Way is alive and well. 

Safety

Thank you for supporting our new parking plan on the upper parking lot.  It appears everyone is pitching in and doing their part and only using the middle lane to exit the lot.  Thank you for working together to keep everyone safe.  

We’ve noticed a few dogs on the lower playground after school.  We are asking you to please leave pets in the car or at home.  Pets are not allowed on our lower playground.  This is to keep everyone safe as we dismiss school.  Thank you for your cooperation.

Covid Symptoms

Please continue to partner with us and be a “symptom checker” at home. Below is a guide to guide you in the morning. 

Symptom Checker: Please check your child for the following symptoms prior to each school day.

At least two of the following symptoms = stay home  

• Fever over 100℉ 
• Chills 
• Muscle aches 
• Headache 
• Sore Throat 
• Nausea or Vomiting 
• Diarrhea 
• Unusual Fatigue 
• Congestion or runny nose 

OR 

At least one of the following symptoms = stay home 

• Cough 
• Shortness of breath 
• Difficulty breathing 
• Loss of taste 
• Loss of smell 

All-System Mass Reminders – September 17th

Just a couple reminders regarding our upcoming All-System Mass on Friday, September 17th.

• Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Mask Mandate – Currently, there is a federal mandate requiring passengers and drivers to wear a mask while riding in a school bus.  We understand this mandate is different from our Return to the Ledge plan, however, we must follow this mandate whenever we are riding on a school bus, including to and from 

Holy Family for Mass.  Masks still remain optional at Holy Family.

Click here for FAQs for passenger and driver masking.  

• Mass Attire Reminders – Grades K – 5th boys and girls are not required to wear Mass day attire for prayer services or Mass (click here to view our Mass day attire defined in the dress code handbook).  Please note, shorts are not permitted at Mass.  Pants must be worn by boys and girls.  Girls may also choose to wear a school appropriate skirt.  If the day is warm, students may bring a pair of shorts to change into once they return to school from Mass.

Grades 6th – 8th boys and girls are required to wear Lands’ End oxford button down shirts, with the SMSA logo, in white, French blue, Land’s End Lake blue and white stripes.  Boys must wear an approved SMSA Lands’ End striped neck or bow tie (click here for more information on Mass attire in the dress code handbook).  Like grades K – 5th, pants must be worn by boys and girls.  Girls may also choose to wear a school appropriate skirt.  

Please note, we are aware that some families have not yet received their Lands’ End uniforms.  Because of this, we are waiving the Mass attire requirements for those families. If this pertains to your family please have you child wear: 

Grades K – 5th boys and girls – Plain polos or oxford shirts in our school colors of royal, navy, black or white with school approved pants or skirts.

Grades 6th – 12th boys and girls – any colored oxford shirt with school approved pants or skirts.  Boys must wear a necktie or bowtie.

This exception will be valid until Friday, October 15th.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support of SMSA.  Please continue to read the eLedger as our main communication tool.  Please ask your questions, because we are here to seek understanding and support you. 

God Bless,

Steven Kelnhofer

skelnhofer@smsacademy.org

Elementary Principal, SMSA

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

Come and cheer on the Ledgers as they play Campbellsport on Thursday, September 16th, at 7:00 p.m. All SMSA grade school students get free admission to the game. Our teams are looking forward to seeing you in the stands! Go Ledgers!

Our first All-System Mass will be held on Friday, September 17th at 9:15 a.m. at Holy Family. 

All parents are welcome to attend!

Can’t attend in person?  Click here to visit Holy Family’s Facebook page shortly before 9:15 a.m. to view the live stream.

Just a reminder to fill out your Parent Connectors volunteer form to get more involved in our school community! You should have received it at either supply drop off day or your child will be bringing it home in their folder. Only one per family needs to be filled out. 

Please return them to school by Friday, September 17th. You will be receiving an email once all of them have been collected.

*If your youngest child is in 6th – 8th grade and you would like to be involved with donating items or helping with things for our staff, please email Andrea Nuss, alnuss@charter.net.

Thank you so much to all of our volunteers! We couldn’t do it without YOU!

Please note, there will be no school October 7th and 8th due to faculty in-service.

More information will be coming on Parent/Teacher Conferences.

Mark your calendars for the upcoming fall Book Fair! October 13 – 15, 2021, come check us out during Parent Teacher conferences.

Returning this year will be the Great Pumpkin room competition, come vote for your favorite story pumpkin. We also will be offering more middle school options than in the past. Stay tuned for more information.

Mr K challenged our Junior Ledgers to read 150,000 minutes this past summer, our students read a cumulative 148,072 minutes. This means Mr. K is safe this year from getting sprayed with silly string! 

Next summer we need more students on board and recording their minutes so we can surpass Mr. K’s challenge!

Congratulations to our top class; who win a Root Beer Float Celebration: 3rd Grade 34,916 minutes

Congratulations to our top reader: Rudy V. 6,451 minutes. Rudy will receive a $25 gift certificate to be used at the Fall Book Fair!

Here is the breakdown of the top readers per grade and their gift certificate winnings:

4K:

1st: Annastasia G ($20)

2nd: Caylee L ($15)

3rd: Molly O. ($10)

Kindergarten

1st: Janie B ($20)

2nd: Jackson W ($15)

3rd: Nathaniel B ($10)

First Grade

1st: Cerena G ($20)

2nd: Emilie W ($15)

3rd: Lucy M ($10)

Second Grade

1st: George B ($20)

2nd: Aiden M ($15)

3rd: Jake H ($10)

Third Grade

1st: Braden L ($20)

2nd: Cameryn K ($15)

3rd: Ellison A ($10)

Fourth Grade:

1st: Rudy

2nd: Andrew H ($15)

3rd: Vincent B ($10)

Fifth Grade:

1st: Kendal K ($20)

2nd: Will M ($15)

3rd: Chelsea G ($10)

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.