Dear Parents/Guardians,

The first few days of school were filled with numerous smiles and the Ledger Way core values seen all over the school.  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 observed one student supporting a peer by helping them up and laughing off the situation.  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 second year of our parking plan on the upper parking lot.  It appears everyone is pitching in and doing their part by using the middle lane to exit the lot.   This process supports safety and support everyone driving forward and limiting the need to go in reverse where students and parents may be walking. Thank you for working together to keep everyone safe.

We are asking you to please leave pets in the car or at home when dropping off or picking up children.  Pets are not allowed on our lower playground.  This is to keep everyone safe as we drop off or dismiss from school.  Thank you for your cooperation.

All-System Mass Reminders

Just a couple reminders regarding our upcoming All-System Mass on Friday, September 2nd.  Grades K – 5th boys and girls are to follow our everyday school uniform attire for Mass.  Please note, shorts are not permitted at Mass.  Pants must be worn by boys.  Girls may choose to wear a school appropriate skirt or school appropriate pants to mass.  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. More information about Mass attire can be found online.  Pants must be worn by boys.  Girls may choose to wear a school appropriate skirt or school appropriate pants to mass.  Students may bring a pair of shorts to change into once they return to school from Mass.

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

To parents and students currently in 3rd-7th grade:

Do you like Legos, robotics, lots of research about new ideas, inventing things, improving your community, and working as a team?  Keep reading!

WHAT IS FIRST? FIRST is an international organization that stands for “For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology”.  It introduces STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) to students through fun, exciting, hands-on, real-world learning.

LEGO TEAM AT SCHOOL: SMSA started a Lego League team last year, named Bot Busters.  We are starting our second season. Each team can have a maximum of 10 students from 4th to 8th grade.  Schools can have more than one team.  Each team needs two dedicated coaches.  This season, our team is full, but we would love to expand and grow next year!

THE SEASON:  Each season has two components:

1) Robot design, coding, and robot games to complete missions.

2) Researching a solution to a challenge (presented by FIRST each year), and designing an invention to help solve the problem.  Researching the challenge, problems, and solutions requires field trips, interviews with field experts and stakeholders, internet searches, and the building of prototypes.

2022 FIRST CHALLENGE: This season’s challenge is how to make energy more affordable, sustainable, or reliable, by looking at where energy comes from, and how it is stored, distributed, and used.   This challenge aligns with the United Nations sustainable development goal #7.

The solution to the challenge should have the ability to positively impact the local community, so students are encouraged to think locally about how to solve the challenge.  This focus allows students to get to know local businesses and people when doing research.

At this time, we are researching biofuels…so if anyone with knowledge of this would like to offer an interview or help, please let us know!

THE FUTURE: We would love to see Lego League grow next year so we can accommodate more students.  But we can’t do it without help.  We need parents to consider coaching and volunteering.  The time commitment is significant, but the rewards are great.

If this opportunity sounds interesting to you and your student, please consider asking us questions, dropping by our meetings (after school Tuesdays and Fridays), volunteering some small amount of time this year (not required), or maybe even coming to our competition or scrimmage.

In all, this organization and team provides a very unique opportunity.  The time it takes for parent volunteers and the students is significant, but the rewards are many.  The life skills students learn, the intensity of the games, the independence they show, and the curiosity fostered is something which will be remembered long after school is completed.

So please, contact us to learn more.

Sandy Schwoerer: sandyschwoerer@gmail.com
Mary Jo Rammer: mhalbmaier@hotmail.com
Lauren Bellmore: laurenbellmore@gmail.com

The Fond du Lac School District Recreation Department is running a co-ed volleyball league for 4th and 5th graders! Check out more information about the program, how to sign up a student, and how to help out as a coach!

School Pictures 

September 9th – Grade P3 – Grade 5

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