The Immaculate Conception
On Wednesday, Catholics all over the world celebrated the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a Holy Day of obligation in the Church. Mary is the patroness of the United States, and of course, St. Mary’s Springs Academy. This feast celebrates the miraculous, spotless conception of Mary in the womb of St. Anne, her mother. Later in her life, at the moment God invites her to become the birth mother of Our Lord and Savior, an Angel acknowledges Mary’s sinless conception proclaiming “Hail, full of Grace, the Lord is with you…”.
Salvation history has a sort of call-and-response rhythm to it. From the beginning of time, God calls and humanity responds. We also see people cry out for God, and God responding – often in miraculous ways. Perhaps this very pattern has been your lived experience. Though born without sin, Mary was also endowed with free will. By courageously, freely and faithfully answering “yes” to God’s amazing call/invitation, Mary enters into a deeper relationship with her creator, and with all of us, forever! Her affirmative reply to God leads to Jesus and to the “salvation” of all humanity. God’s will is done in that moment, and forevermore.
Accomplishing God’s will. This is our goal and calling as Christians and as Ledgers. The mission of all Catholic schools and all Christian people is to glorify God by responding with a courageous, risky “yes, Lord” just as Mary did. How blessed are we to have Mary as our patron, and the example she provides that God is “with us!” Mary models the perfect Christian response to God’s invitation to relationship. Each day on the Ledge, we pray to the Holy Mother, asking for her motherly spiritual support for our daily efforts to be God’s people. We ask her to help us say yes to God in small and big ways.
While we are not a perfect learning community, we are truly blessed to see God’s work accomplished at SMSA. Over and over, time, talent and treasure is generously shared with the Springs to benefit our mission and to advance learning holistically. Our Catholic identity and mission focused approach to strategic planning keeps our Springs community focused on God’s plan, and our collective yearning that God remains present “with us” always – and in all ways. O Come, o come Emmanuel!
School Safety
Every Ledger’s safety is the top priority for all who serve at the Springs. As such, SMSA takes responsibility to establish and conduct various safety audits and drills throughout the school year. Parents, you likely remember fire and tornado drills from your school days. As required by the Wisconsin Department of Justice and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and in partnership with local and regional educational leaders and first responders from healthcare and law enforcement, SMSA is developing additional plans and drills to help our school community be better prepared for a variety of emergency scenarios. We believe that by establishing, communicating, and then practicing a comprehensive set of safety drills, SMSA will be best prepared to manage potentially difficult situations more effectively.
Later this month and school year, SMSA leadership shall communicate new versions of emergency plans and safety drills with parents. We plan to practice these best approaches with students, faculty and staff. Please watch for more detailed communications about safety plans and drills, and for new resources designed to help parents effectively discuss school safety with their children.
At SMSA we take school safety seriously, and strive to provide a healthy school culture and positive learning environment. We fully understand the important role parents play as our partners to accomplish this goal. It really does take everyone staying alert and working together to keep our Ledgers safe. As always, if you or your child become aware of a potentially dangerous situation that may threaten campus safety, we urge you to contact the Fond du Lac Police Department. To report life threatening urgent matters, please dial 9-1-1. To report concerns that may not be urgent, please call 920-322-3700. You may also call the high school main office at 920-322-8062.
Loving Patroness, Our lady of the Ledge, pray for us.
Eamonn O’Keeffe
Principal, High School