Principal’s Desk News & Information Upcoming Dates High School Counseling

Advent has been a time of waiting and praying, a season to prepare for Emmanuel, God with us.

And though we ‘wait’ for God to come, the faithful believe that God is never absent.

We believe that God is with us always. Emmanuel.

As “Advent people,” we are called to prepare a place for God:
in our school…in our homes…in our relationships…in our lives…in our hearts.

Advent asks us to prepare and to be alert,
for the Lord’s coming, to recognize the signs of God with us…not just in this season…but in ALL the seasons of our life.

God’s nearness is the true gift of this season. Yet, looking at our world, we can lose heart.

Our world is torn apart by violence, terror, war, disease, disagreements, anger, jealousy, poverty, greed, selfishness…

Too often these days, people seem quick to judge, and too slow to understand. Eager to defend personal rights, but hesitant to protect the needs of others. So many suffer injustice fueled by the ignorance of racism, sexism and intolerance.

As we conclude Advent with Christmas, perhaps we can see that God is waiting, too.

Is God waiting for us to rediscover that life is beautiful and full of potential?
Is God waiting for us to discover our best selves?
Is God waiting for us to forgive or make peace?
Is God waiting for us to do more, say more, love more?
Is God waiting for us to be courageous, heal division and build healthy communities?
Is God waiting for us to embrace empathy?
Is God waiting for us to recognize that He IS already with us?
Is God waiting for us to grasp our true calling…as His precious child?
Is God waiting for us to believe the Good News: He is alive, and He loves us!

In Advent, we wait, we prepare, we pray.
At Christmas, we pray for “Peace on earth and goodwill to all.”
May God’s peace begin today in our hearts.
During this Christmas, and in all the seasons of our lifetime, let us not keep God waiting.

Eamonn O’Keeffe
Principal, High School

After our SMSA Christmas and New Years Holiday Break, all students will begin J-Term on Monday, January 6, 2025! Please consult the J-Term ‘25 Brochure to review particular details of your son or daughters course, as well as the expectations and policies related to J-Term at SMSA.

This year, 211 students will be taking J-Term classes on the Ledge (on campus), while 49 students will report to Moraine Park Technical College, and 12 will be earning credit through the Youth Apprentice Program.

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Join your SMSA Ledgers Hockey team as they take on Arrowhead and honor our brave men and women who have and are currently surving in our Military during the Ledger Hockey Military Appreciation Game!

When: Saturday December 14, 2024
Time: 2:00pm Varsity
4:15 Junior Varsity
Where: Blueline Family Ice Center

Sign up with a partner in the office and pick a scene to rehearse. No memorization needed.

Prepare a snippet of a song (show tune preferred but not required).
Make sure to pick up an audition form and fill it out to bring to your audition time. Auditions will be held in the MS choir room 2077
Tech Crew will pick up a form in the office and fill it out. You will then turn it into the office. FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE!

SHOW DATES ARE MARCH 7-9, 2025.

Senior Parents,
As the holidays approach, so does the January 3, 2025 due date to order Senior Ads to be placed in the 2025 yearbook. Need ideas? Please see the ads in the 2024 yearbook for inspiration.

Senior Ads: All senior ads, including pictures and payment, must be submitted online through Walsworth Yearbooks. Please click the HS yearbook order link on the St. Mary’s Springs Academy website homepage for more information.

Yearbook ads will be designed by Yearbook members.
Please select your ad size:
Full-page………………… $180
Half-page……………..…. $110
Quarter-page…………. $ 75
Please submit senior ad payment, pictures, and messages by January 3, 2025!

Senior portraits: We have received about one-fourth of the Class of 2025’s portraits. Please have your senior portraits sent in (either by you or your photographer) to hsyearbook@smsacademy.org.

Requirements for Senior Portraits
• Must be in JPEG format
• 300 DPI
• Must be in color
• Headshots only
• No hats or accessories
Deadline for senior portrait submissions is January 3, 2025. Thank you for your support and cooperation.

-Your SMSA Yearbook Editors
If you have questions please contact hsyearbook@smsacademy.org

For over thirteen years several SMSA families have sponsored a Christmas Gathering for SMSA teachers, administrators, and staff as a way to show their gratitude. For many families, the contribution was given in place of individual Christmas gifts, or as an added appreciation.
This year, we will provide a special luncheon for all staff to enjoy during their school day in late January.

Please note, this opportunity is optional and offered to any SMSA family that would like to contribute. We ask each family interested in participating for a minimum donation of $50.

Monetary donations for the special luncheon will be accepted through Friday, December 20. Please mail your contribution to Andrea Nuss, W4642 Mill Road, Fond du Lac, WI 54937. Checks may be made payable to Andrea Nuss. Valerie Everson will be accepting Venmo payments @Valerie-Everson-4. The last 4 digits of her phone number are 3719.

Please address questions to Valerie Everson at valerie@everson-law.com , or to Andrea Nuss at alnuss@charter.net.

Blessings to you during this holiday season!

As SMSA’s winter sports begin, please click on the links below to sign up to help with admission and concession stands at both the boys’ and girls’ home basketball games.

Boys Hoops Sign Up

Girls Hoops Sign Up

Who will win $20,000 this year? It could be YOU or someone you know!

Each SMSA family has received 5 BMR tickets to sell and/or purchase before the NOON drawing on Friday, January 10, 2025. Don’t miss your chance to take home the grand prize!

Tickets can be returned with your child to school or dropped off at the North, South, or Scrip offices any time before the drawing.

Have questions or want to buy extra tickets? Reach out to a BMR committee member below.

The drawing will take place snow or shine! Remember last year?! Get your tickets in today – the clock is ticking!

Valerie Everson

920.251.3719

Stephanie Fessler

920.960.0556

Katie Mathos

920.979.6757

Lisa Shannon

920.539.2892

Sasha Smith

920.517.1693

HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOKS ARE FOR SALE

High school yearbooks are available to purchase online at the SMSA website for $55. Prices go up on March 31, 2025 to $65. Get yours by clicking here!

Are you wanting to get more involved in our Parent Connectors Group? If so, look for the Parent Connectors volunteer form in your packet you will be receiving at the supply drop off day (3K-5th Grade). If your youngest child is in 6th grade or above, you won’t be receiving a form to fill out but can email Andrea Nuss, alnuss@charter.net, to share that you are interested in being a part of our group. Every year a new email group gets created so please submit your form even if you have done so in the past years. Also, only one form per family is needed to be filled out. Throughout the year, our group has various school family events as well shows our amazing SMSA Staff how appreciative we are for them. By being a part of our group, you will receive emails that shares ways you can help with these events through volunteering and donating. Our group wouldn’t be a successful without all of the wonderful people involved in it. Thank you so much! If you have any questions, please email Andrea Nuss, alnuss@charter.net.

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December 16 – HS Christmas Concert at Holy Family Church (7pm)
December 20 – Final Day of Classes for Semester 1

December 23, 2024 – January 3, 2025 – Christmas Break

January 6, 2025 – J-Term Begins

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Admissions Counselors come to our campus to answer questions about the application process, scholarships, housing and much more. They are here for our students and are extremely knowledgeable. We highly recommend students attend these campus visits even if they don’t know if they will apply there. Meeting with these College Professionals gives students the opportunity to become more familiar with the application process and future plans. Please let counseling know by email if your student would like to attend any of the visits listed above for November.

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.

2024-25 Trade Tour Schedule:
December 17th, 2024 — Quality Truck Care Center
January 7th, 2025 — City of FDL Fire Department
January 21st, 2025 — CD Smith
February 4th, 2025 — Integrity Saw and Tool, Inc.
February 18th, 2025 — MEC Manufacturing Facilities
March 4th, 2025 — Kondex
April 8th, 2025 — City of FDL Construction & Maintenance
April 22nd, 2025 — JF Ahern & Co.

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.

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