Catholic Schools Week

National Catholic Schools Week celebrations begin this Sunday, January 30th!  Like Catholic schools across the country, St. Mary’s Springs Academy will mark each day next week with a special theme, all designed to celebrate our Catholic school identity and heritage.  Appropriately CSW begins with Mass and ends with Mass. 

SMSA families are encouraged to attend the 10:00 a.m. Sunday Mass at Holy Family Church to help kick-off the week.  Students are encouraged to wear spirit wear with dress pants or skirts.  Students, faculty and staff will have various roles in the celebration, Fr. Justin Weber, our chaplain, is the celebrant, and Mrs. Akey will be sharing remarks after communion. Of course, coffee and donuts will be served after Mass!

Here is the high school plan and themes for Catholic Schools Week:

• Sunday, January 30th –  Celebrating Your Parish
  • 10am Mass at Holy Family followed by reception/ hospitality
• Monday, January 31st – Celebrate Your Community 
  • Wear Spiritwear to show Ledger pride! Ledger Wear Hats allowed 
• Tuesday, February 1st – Celebrating Students 
  • “Hats off” to students – students pay $5 to wear an appropriate hat and jersey. Money donated to MACC Fund (Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer)
  • Student Council distributes treats to students
  • Assembly at 1:45pm in Hutter Gym featuring  activities as well as student and faculty testimonials about the value of Catholic education. 
  • OPEN HOUSE for prospective families, 6-7:30pm followed by Girls Basketball in Hutter Gym
• Wednesday, February 2nd – Celebrating the Nation
  • Students wear appropriate, non political patriotic USA apparel (hats not permitted)
• Thursday, February 3rd – Celebrating Vocations 
  • Students may wear University/college apparel (no hats) 
• Friday, February 4th Celebrating Faculty, Staff and Volunteers
  • Dress up day for all students
  • All System Mass at Holy Family Church at 9:15am 

SMSA Adopts GoGuardian Beacon 

GoGuardian offers a variety of online services such as GoGuardian Admin and GoGuardian Teacher that over 10,000 schools use to help protect 5.5 million students from harmful or distracting online content while using school technology.  

Ever since the decision was made to adopt 1:1 Chromebooks for students, Go Guardian has been an important partner on the Ledge.  This school year, SMSA has expanded our GoGuardian product services to include GoGuardian Beacon as part of our school’s broader suicide prevention program. GoGuardian products are used in over 8,500 schools and 5,000 districts in the US, supporting over 23 million students.  

GoGuardian Beacon is important to our school community because suicide is now one of the most pressing issues facing youth; in fact, 18.8 percent of high school students in 2019 reported having seriously considered attempting suicide over the past 12 months, according to the Center of Disease Control. CDC, 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) (2019). Additionally, GoGuardian Beacon may help SMSA intervene even when students have difficulty asking adults for help. Nine out of ten teens (90%) who report symptoms of depression say they have gone online for information on mental health issues  – Digital Health Practices, Social Media Use, and Mental Well-Being Among Teens and Young Adults in the U.S. (2018).

Soon, SMSA parents will be receiving more details about how to engage with GoGuardian Beacon.  In the meantime, parents are urged to view the short 3 minute video introduction found at this link GoGuardian Beacon Demo

Internet Safety Presentation – Save the Date!

We are very pleased to announce that on February 23, SMSA will be hosting special live/in-person presentations focused on Internet safety.  Mr. Eric Szatkowski shall present to all high school students during the school day and will provide a special adult only presentation to parents at 6:00pm on that same evening in Baker Gym.  

Now retired from law enforcement, Mr. Szatkowski was a distinguished Special Agent with the Wisconsin Department of Justice/ Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) for 24 years, 16 assigned to the state’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in Milwaukee.  He was recognized as the Wisconsin Attorney General Law Enforcement Officer of the Year in 2014, and selected as a Special Agent-in-Charge in 2015.  Eric’s law enforcement experience also included undercover murder-for-hire, homicide, cold-case homicides, tracking fugitives, and drug enforcement. .

Eric’s dynamic presentations, attended by more than 300,000 people from Wisconsin and the U.S., use real life examples to take an in-depth look into the latest trends of digital exploitation of children and a comprehensive approach to Internet safety. All programs for youth are age-appropriate, and at SMSA will be designed for 6th-8th graders, high school students, and a powerful parents/adults-only program, “The Dark Side of Cyberspace: the Internet, Smart Phones, and Social Media.” 

More details about Mr. Szatkowski’s presentation will be shared in the weeks ahead.  At this time,  we urge all parents to save the date for this important opportunity for our Springs community.   

Our Lady of the Ledge, pray for us!

Eamonn O’Keeffe Principal, High School

Friday, January 21st – NO CLASSES/ Grading Day. Official End of Semester I.  Skyward parent and student access is restricted starting at 8:00 a.m. for grade entry and verification process. 

Monday, January 24th – Classes Resume, First Day of Semester II (A-Day)

Wednesday, January 26th – 3:30 p.m. Skyward parent/student access is restored to view Semester I Report Card.

Sunday, January 30th – Friday, February 4th – CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

Tuesday, February 1st – OPEN HOUSE for prospective SMSA families 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, February 10th – ZAPS ACT Test Prep workshop scheduled for all juniors ( 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) 

Friday, February 11th – No Classes, Faculty Professional Development, In-service Day

Monday, February 14th – No Classes, Professional Development, Faculty In-service Day

During Catholic Schools Week (January 30-February 5), the high school students will be actively living their faith by participating in a community service project, making tie blankets that will be distributed during Blessed Bites at St. Mary’s Church.

Students are asked to bring in one to two yards of fleece fabric BY FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, to be used for making the blankets. Each class level will be making five blankets during homeroom/lunch time throughout the week, into which will be folded a copy of the New Testament. This is a wonderful way to celebrate our Catholic faith in a real and powerful way, bringing warmth and the Good News to those in need in our community.

The project is being sponsored through SMSA Campus Ministry and through the generosity of our students who are willing to bring in their favorite solid colors or patterns of fleece fabric!

Click here to view the flyer.

SMSA is excited to announce we are participating in the fifth annual Many Gifts, One Nation: A Day of Giving, beginning Tuesday, February 1, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. (CST) and continuing through 11:00 a.m. (CST) on Wednesday, February 2nd. We are again pleased to announce that when we reach our “Day of Giving” goal of raising $10,000, we will be giving away a 100% tuition credit to one lucky SMSA student!

That’s right! 100% tuition credit for the 2022/2023 academic year will be awarded to one lucky SMSA student when we reach our $10,000 goal!

For every $100 donation made to our Many Gifts, One Nation: A Day of Giving campaign, your name will be entered for a chance to win, or gift, a 100% tuition credit for the 2022/2023 SMSA academic year. Donations must be made on our online giving site to qualify. 

To view full tuition credit rules, please click here.

Watch your email for more information.

Auditions for the high school musical “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” will be held on Tuesday, February 8th and Thursday, February 10th after school in the middle school choir room. 

Please sign up for a time in the office (preferably with a partner), and fill out an audition form to bring to your audition.

You will need to prepare a portion of a vocal song from a musical (any song is fine, but from a musical is best), and take a scene from the office to work on with your partner. Memorization is not needed.

Tech positions are also available on a first come, first serve basis. Please fill out a form and leave in the office by Thursday, February 10th.

Dear Juniors and Parents:

On Thursday, February 10, 2022, St. Mary’s Springs Academy will be hosting an ACT Workshop during the school day for all juniors. This will be a live, full day opportunity to learn practical, effective strategies that we believe will help our students perform their best on the ACT exam this April. We have covered the cost for all juniors to participate and each student will receive preparation books as part of this workshop.

The ACT preparation workshop will be facilitated by experienced trainers who will lead your student through practice tests, strategy sessions, and retests to use their newly learned skills. We have utilized this workshop in the past and have been impressed by the instructors and the effective strategies shared with our students.

Date: February 10, 2022

Start Time: 8:30 a.m.

End Time: 2:30 p.m.

Place: Multi-Purpose Room (4th Floor) and Mrs. Bartel’s Room (1050)

Please note that we will be hosting the National ACT exam for our current juniors on April 19th during the school day. The opportunity for students to take this exam in the comfort of our home campus has proven to be a benefit. More information about the April ACT exam for juniors on our campus will be shared as we get closer to that date.

Sincerely,

Mr. Stamatakos & Mrs. McCarthy

SMSA High School Counseling

Tired of flowers and chocolates? The SMSA Music Department is doing their annual Singing Telegrams fundraiser! 

The high school vocal jazz members, dressed in formal attire, will surprise that special recipient and serenade them in song. There is a video option as well. 

Visit, smsacademy.org/telegram, to reserve yours today!

School Safety

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. 

Speak Up Speak Out School Fact Sheet_final.pdf  Created by the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of School Safety (OSS), the Speak Up, Speak Out Resource Center (SUSO) is a comprehensive, one-stop place to turn with important concerns currently offering: threat assessment consultation, critical incident response, and general school safety guidance. Please click the link above for the SUSO flyer or visit the SUSO website https://speakup.widoj.gov/ for additional information on these three services as well as resources on school safety best practices.

Ledger Learning Guide

SMSA Ledger Learning Guides Home Page 2021-2022 School Year

Parents are invited to reference the Ledger Learning Guide each week.  Teachers are updating their course expectations  each week, identifying learning targets and referencing relevant standards.  

Ledgerfest Auction Package – Sponsored by High School Parents

The high school Ledgerfest parent committee is collecting funds to put together an amazing auction package for Ledgerfest – Luck of the Ledger – Saturday, March 19, 2022.

With your contribution, we are hoping to collect enough to create not one but TWO great packages for this year’s online auction. Click here, to make a donation today!

If you prefer, you may send cash or check (payable to Andrea Nuss) in an envelope marked: HS Ledgerfest/Kristin Zitlow.

No news at this time.

ACT Prep Workshop – February 10th

Dear Juniors and Parents:

On Thursday, February 10, 2022, St. Mary’s Springs Academy will be hosting an ACT Workshop during the school day for all juniors. This will be a live, full day opportunity to learn practical, effective strategies that we believe will help our students perform their best on the ACT exam this April. We have covered the cost for all juniors to participate and each student will receive preparation books as part of this workshop.

The ACT preparation workshop will be facilitated by experienced trainers who will lead your student through practice tests, strategy sessions, and retests to use their newly learned skills. We have utilized this workshop in the past and have been impressed by the instructors and the effective strategies shared with our students.

Date: February 10, 2022

Start Time: 8:30 a.m.

End Time: 2:30 p.m.

Place: Multi-Purpose Room (4th Floor) and Mrs. Bartel’s Room (1050)

Please note that we will be hosting the National ACT exam for our current juniors on April 19th during the school day. The opportunity for students to take this exam in the comfort of our home campus has proven to be a benefit. More information about the April ACT exam for juniors on our campus will be shared as we get closer to that date.

2022-2023 Course Registration – January 26th, 27th and 28th

Registration for current high school Freshman, Sophomores and Juniors will begin on Wednesday, January 26th – Friday, January 28th. Students will be meeting with Mr. Stamatakos, Mrs. McCarthy, and Mr. Norlander during those days as grade levels to go over the Course Request Worksheet, review the process of requesting courses and best practices, and reviewing the scheduling process for the spring semester. Further process information will come out in the weeks ahead.

ZAPS ACT Test Preparation Workshop for Juniors – February 10th

On Thursday, February 10, 2022, St. Mary’s Springs Academy will be hosting an ACT preparation workshop for all juniors during the normal school day. This will be a live, full day opportunity to learn practical and effective strategies that we believe will help our students perform their best on the ACT exam that will take place in April. The ACT preparation workshop will be facilitated by an experienced trainer who will lead students through practice tests, strategy sessions and retests to utilize their newly learned skills. SMSA has covered the cost for all juniors to participate in this experience and each student will receive preparation books as part of the workshop. More information will be shared directly with juniors in the few weeks.

None at this time.

Boys and Girls Club

Click here for more information on open positions.

University of Wisconsin-Madison Badger Precollege

Applications for Badger Summer Scholars and the Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Badger Precollege are now open.

Badger Summer Scholars is a two-week program in which students attend a college-level seminar in a topic of their choice, taught by UW-Madison instructors. Students also participate in the Jump Forward series, a workshop series on how to prepare for college, including topics on the admissions process, navigating college, career exploration and more.

The Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) engages talented students from across Wisconsin, the nation and the world in an intense, research-focused, three-week summer program. Designed to push students to the next academic level in an intimate learning environment, students in ALP enroll in a single course for an in-depth experience, with numerous opportunities to connect with instructors, build community and engage with peers.

Click here for the flyer

Click here for more information

None at this time.

None at this time.