Principal’s Desk News & Information Upcoming Dates High School Counseling
High School (9-12) - August 28, 2025
Aug 28
Welcome Mrs. Adsit & Mr. Czysz
It is my pleasure to introduce Mrs. Kristin Adsit and Dr. Evan Czysz (pronounced “Chish”) as the newest member of our high school faculty!
Mrs. Adsit is a native of Illinois, but she and her husband have been raising their family in Wisconsin for nearly 20 years. She fills the vacancy in the Theology Department due to the departure of Deacon Peter Gagnon. She earned her BA in Secondary Education from the University of Illinois (Champaign) and has a MA of Pastoral Studies from Loyola University (Chicago) where she also earned a Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies. Mrs. Adsit comes to the Springs with an impressive resume of educational service within the Church for the past 20 years, most recently serving as Director of Evangelization at St. Katharine Drexel in Beaver Dam since 2015. Some of our teachers recognize Kristin as an instructor for the Archdiocesan Sustaining the Mission program for school teachers since 2017. I know that she is very eager to meet the parents and guardians of her Ledgers!
Mr. Evan Czysz grew up in Racine County and has been pursuing his PhD. in Mathematics at the University of Northern Colorado before recently joining the instructional staff of Marian University this Summer. Prior to his PhD studies in Colorado, Mr. Czysz earned a Bachelor Degree in Psychology, and a Bachelor Degree in Mathematics from the UW – Whitewater. He will defend his doctoral dissertation this December in Colorado! For SMSA, Mr. Czysz is teaching College Calculus 1 as well as Stats and Probability courses, replacing Dr. Ventaraman, who has moved on from his teaching role with Marian University to pursue a new career as an adolescent counselor/ therapist.
We are thrilled to welcome both Mrs. Adsit and Mr. Czysz to the Ledge!
High School Back To School Night!
I hope to see all high school parents – or at least one from each family – on Wednesday, September 3rd for Back to School Night from 6:30 – 8:30pm. This event is organized so that all high school parents can walk in the footsteps of their children’s schedule, meet all of their teen’s teachers, and learn about classroom expectations and goals. The format of the evening evolves around a mini schedule of all 8 class periods (A & B Day schedules). You won’t want to miss the overview and tips of your child’s teachers! In addition, the high school administration will also be sharing information for parents in separate mini-presentations.
The Core Value of Learning
This year SMSA will highlight the Core Value of “Learning.” During the Orientation Day assembly, my remarks to students outlined the following basic challenge to our Ledgers regarding the basic building blocks of learning:
Be PRESENT to your situation and the people in it. If you do not ‘show up’ – it is impossible to gain new insights from any circumstance (i.e. a friend relationship, a school subject, an athletic team role, a service experience, a job…etc).
Not only is it important to be present, but next be OPEN to the possibility of knowing or experiencing something new. An attitude of openness is essential for recognizing new information and changing perspective.
Next, be ALERT and AWARE of opportunities for hearing, seeing, knowing or experiencing something new. Being present and open are surely important, but unless a person can truly ‘pay attention’ and stay alert for chances to grow in knowledge, it is hard to advance as a learner.
Strive to be CURIOUS, this is the actual fuel that ignites learning! Ask questions!! Curiosity is a sign that someone is intellectually ready to understand something anew.
Most important of all, strive to have a personal DESIRE/ WILL for knowledge, for growth, for learning. Without a desire to know more, do more, be more confident, see differently, or even change…learning and growth stalls. Remember, it is NOT your teacher’s responsibility to assure that you learn. It is YOUR responsibility to make this choice!
Our Lady of the Ledge, pray for us!
Eamonn O’Keeffe
Principal, High School
Would you like to get involved at SMSA?
If you are interested in getting involved at SMSA, be a part of the SMSA Parent Connectors Group! Our group focuses on building connections with our SMSA families through our events during the school year as well as celebrating our amazing SMSA Staff. If you have a child(ren) in grades preschool through 5th Grade, you received a blue Parent Connectors Volunteer Form at supply drop off day. If you are interested in helping with our group, please fill out the form & return it to your child’s teacher by Friday, September 5th. Only ONE per family is needed to be filled out. If your youngest child(ren) is in 6th Grade or older, please email me, alnuss@charter.net, letting me know you would like to be included in the group emails as they didn’t receive a volunteer form. Once they are all collected and entered, you will receive an email. Each year a NEW email group is created to keep it updated so even if you have been a part of the group email in years past, please let us know you continue to want to be. We greatly appreciate ALL of our volunteers! We couldn’t do what we do without all of your help! It is going to be a great school year! If you have any questions, please email Andrea Nuss, alnuss@charter.net.
Let's kick off the school with getting involved with our Parent Connectors Group!
Want to learn more about our SMSA Parent Connectors Group or have ideas on events we could add to our school year…come to one of our beginning of the school year meetings…Wednesday, September 10th at 7:45 am in the Multi-Purpose Room on 4th floor or Thursday, September 11th at 6:00 pm in the Library on the 3rd floor, please enter through the North Hall Entrance. It is a fun way to meet families & give back to our amazing school. If you are interested in learning more about this group but aren’t able to attend, please reach out to Andrea Nuss, alnuss@charter.net. We are so grateful for all of our volunteers!
SMSA Adult Sports Passes 2025-2026
Are you a fan of Ledger Athletics? SMSA Adult Sports Passes are now available for purchase. The SMSA Sports pass covers admission for any HOME Ledger sporting event where an entry fee is charged. (Excluding WIAA playoff games) Football, Volleyball, Basketball, and Hockey are examples of the sports that would be included in the pass. The SMSA Sports pass is $50.00 and are available for purchase in the North & South Hall Offices, the Scrip Suite, and at our home sporting events. Cash or checks made payable to SMSA will be accepted.
If you have any questions, please contact Kelly Mueller at kmueller@smsacademy.org. Thank you for supporting Ledger Athletics!
Safe Environment Training Sessions
Parents of Performing Arts Meeting
If your high school or middle school child participates in band, chorus, theater, or jazz vocals/band, you are invited to join the PPA and support arts programming at SMSA. Meetings are held on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 6 pm in the Lauby Lounge (first floor teacher lounge). Join us for our fall kick off meeting on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.
Learn how you can get involved. Contact PPA@smsacademy.org to learn more!
Information on our Fall Classes at Ries Driving School and the Driver Educational Grant for Students
“Great news! Round two of the Driver Education Grant program will launch on August 25th, 2025 at 9:00AM. Students and/or parents may visit us at Wisconsin Department of Transportation Driver Education Grant Program to apply.
Under the program, teens who are income eligible can apply to Wisconsin DMV to have their Class D (Regular) driver education paid for. Students with grants can enroll in any driver education program offered by an authorized driver education provider (such as a public school, CESA program, tribal or private school, or DMV-licensed driver training school). Similar to last year’s program, students will be issued coupons to provide directly to driver training schools. Driver training schools can then submit the coupons for reimbursement. Reimbursements are paid directly to driver training schools.
If you are currently enrolled to receive Driver Education Grant funding, there are no additional steps needed to be able to redeem coupons under the new funding. If you are not enrolled in the Driver Education Grant program, unsure of your status or have any other additional questions, please reach out to us at: dotdegrantprogram@dot.wi.gov”
Refer-A-Family Program - Earn $500 Towards Tution!
Envision Fond du Lac R.O.C.K. Program (Trade Tours)
SMSA is proud to participate in another year of Trade Tours through the Fond du Lac R.O.C.K. program, which stands for Retention, Opportunity, Community, and Knowledge. This program aimed at working specifically with high school seniors and juniors who are piecing together their plans post high school graduation. This program provides career exploration through business tours and job shadows. Fond du Lac R.O.C.K. is a program of Envision Greater Fond du Lac. Please let counseling know if your student would be interested in joining a future tour.
For additional information please visit click here.
Senior Scholarship Information
Please refer to the information provided at the link below, for local and state scholarships that SMSA seniors can apply for. This list is always subject to change and may not be all-inclusive.
Local scholarship opportunities (Fond du Lac area) are listed first, followed by opportunities for residents of the state of Wisconsin.