From the Office of Steve Kelnhofer, PreK - 8th Grade Principal

 

Dear Parents/Guardians,

 

It’s an amazing to witness the moments in time, that provide opportunity to show empathy and reflect on the mission before us.   After only a few weeks of school teachers, parents and students are all working together to form a beautiful partnership of to support academic excellence and growing leaders for tomorrow all rooted in Christ’s teachings.  Thank you for partnering with SMSA.  I appreciate each and every one of you.

 

Parent teacher conferences will be held on October 11th and 12th, 2022. Please look for communication coming out soon regarding signing up for a conference time.  SMSA is excited to build partnerships with each and every one of you.

 

Thank you for your continued partnership with SMSA, where together we get to inspire our youth to live with purpose, develop God-given strengths and commit to academic excellence.

 

God Bless,
Steven Kelnhofer
skelnhofer@smsacademy.org
Elementary Principal, SMSA

 

News and Information

Homecoming Week 2022!

 

Homecoming Week P3-8th grade dress up themes for each day:

 

NOTE: Participating in theme days of Homecoming week is to be done in good faith effort to sustain a respectful and responsible learning environment.  The choice of clothing is to not cause a problem for anyone else.  Political themed attire is not appropriate on any of the theme days.  Students who do not wish to participate may wear the school uniform.

 

ELEMENTARY (P3-8) THEME DAYS:

 

Monday (9/19) – Fun Hat Day in uniform dress

 

Tuesday (9/20) – Blue and White Day (spirit wear encouraged) with jeans or school appropriate bottoms

 

Wednesday (9/21) – Neon Day (can wear neon bottom that are school appropriate length, or school appropriate bottoms, jeans are also acceptable)

 

Thursday (9/22) –  Favorite comfortable t-shirt on top with bottoms that are comfortable and length and tightness appropriate for our school environment.  (Leggings will follow the dress code regulations per grade level.)

 

Friday (9/23) – Spirit Wear Day with jeans or school appropriate bottoms

 

Welcome to the Ledge Shannon LaLuzerne!

 

Shannon will be in the South Hall front office currently as the interim administrative assistant as SMSA goes through a transition.

 

Shannon has a kind heart and has excellent skills in communication and problem solving.  Shannon has shown to be a quick learner and is very good at multitasking as she adapts to situations and navigates them as she collaborates with others.  Her smile, joy and love for children and SMSA is infectious as she navigates the South Hall front office.  One of her greatest gifts is the way she builds positive relationships quickly and the way she makes everyone feel as they matter.  This is done in a beautiful manner that is hard to put into words.  There is a comfort in how she speaks and listens to others.

 

Please stop by the front office and welcome Shannon as the newest Ledger.  We are lucky and blessed to have her here at this moment in time in SMSA storied tradition.

 

2022 Christmas Card Fundraiser Recipient Nomination Form

 

A long-standing tradition at SMSA continues again this year with the Christmas Card Fundraiser! Students in Grades 4 through 8 will be creating and selling handmade Christmas Cards.  These cards will be sold for $2.00 each by the St. Mary’s Springs families after all the masses at Holy Family Parish sites on Saturday, December 3rd and Sunday, December 4th.

 

We will also be having a movie and popcorn afternoon, the day before Christmas Break, where students can bring in a donation to watch the movie of their choice and enjoy popcorn.  Everyone will be able to participate, whether they bring in a donation or not.

 

All proceeds from the card sale and movie/popcorn will go to benefit a local child (Fond du Lac County) and his/her family, who is currently or has had medical concerns/conditions.  Last year our Christmas Card Sale raised $4,200 for 9-year-old Mason Abraham and his family!

If you know of a child and their family that you feel is deserving of a nomination, please fill out the form using the link provided below.  All nominations will be reviewed and a recipient will be chosen by random draw.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfS6j6UyxWNzwxvpgoYbhX2SsGcijQpwtKm8GWmLAbAELmQjg/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0

 

 

2022-2023 SMSA Concession/Admission Help Needed!

 

Are you the parent of a SMSA Middle School or High School athlete?  If so, please consider signing up below to help out ABC (Athletic Booster Club) by volunteering your time and talent to work in concessions or admissions at an upcoming sport event.  Booster Club is encouraging ALL parents of ALL athletes to embrace teamwork and help out at an event that fits for your schedule.  For those that have already signed up and volunteered, ABC sincerely appreciates your help!                                                                                                                                                                                                 Use the links below to sign up through SignupGenius:

 

•         Varsity Football – https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4AAEA722ABF4C52-varsity
•         Varsity & JV Volleyball – https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4AAEA722ABF4C52-volleyball
•         JV Football – https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4AAEA722ABF4C52-jvfootball

 

Winter sports will be added at a future date with a follow up email.

 

LEGO League at 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

 

2022 Co-Ed Volleyball League for 4th & 5th Graders

 

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!

 

 

Welcome Back Spaghetti Dinner - September 21st

 

Please join us for the 5th annual Welcome Back Spaghetti Dinner (sponsored by the SMSA Grandparents Club) on Wednesday, September 21st, in the SMSA Cafeteria from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. All SMSA families, grandparents, faculty and staff members, and others interested in starting the school year off with great fellowship are invited to attend.

 

This year, Ala Roma will be catering the pasta! All meals are $5.00 and kids K4 and under are free! A maximum family meal is $25.00.

 

 

PPA Meeting Dates

PPA meeting Dates for the 2022-2023 school year are:

 

  • September 21
  • October 18 (note the revised date)
  • November 16
  • December 21
  • January 18
  • February 15
  • March 22
  • April 19
  • May 16 (note the revised date)

 

All meetings will be held at 6 pm in the Lauby Lounge (first floor teacher lounge).

 

Contact Maggie Rose with any questions about PPA!

 

Safeguarding God's Children (SEE) Training

SMSA will be hosting SEE training on Wednesday, September 28th at 6:00pm in the Multi-Purpose room. This training is needed for all volunteers, coaches and employees of SMSA.

 

Please sign up online through CMG Connect

 

If you have any questions please contact Carrie Wiza  at cwiza@smsacademy.org or 920-322-3215

 

 

Upcoming Dates

 

  • September 19-24: Homecoming Week
  • October 11 &12: Parent/teacher/student conferences
  • October 13 &14: No School (Teacher in-service)
  • May 26, 2023: Kindergarten – Eighth Grade Mass & 8th grade graduation at Holy Family at 9:00am
Scholarship Opportunities

No news at this time

 

Before/After School Care News

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