Quarter 3 Ends

It will be one year ago, this Saturday, March 13th, that schools in the State of Wisconsin and across the country were ordered to close in-person learning to help stop the spread of COVID-19.  An unprecedented year of adjustments, worry and accommodation ensued for all of us!  What we thought might be a two week virtual term evolved  into 100% virtual learning experience for all of Quarter 4.  Thankfully, this year we are able to experience Quarter 4 in-person!  

Parents are reminded that this Friday, March 12th, marks the end of Quarter 3.  There are no classes scheduled at SMSA on March 12th, as faculty will be engaged in Quarter grading day activities. Skyward access for families will be closed from 8:00 a.m. on Friday, March 12th until 4:00 p.m. on Friday, March 19th as Quarter 3 grades are verified.  After that time, parents, guardians and students may once again access Skyward to print a Quarter 3 report card. 

Virtual Parent-teacher Conferences – March 17th

All high school parents and guardians are invited to schedule an appointment with teachers for the spring parent-teacher conferences on Wednesday, March 17th between 4:00 – 6:30 p.m.  These virtual appointments are important and convenient opportunities for home-school communications at the most fundamental level.  Please reference the Skyward message you received this week from Bobbijo Amerling regarding scheduling your parent/teacher conference appointments.  Also, feel free to reach out directly to Mrs. Amerling to make an appointment or to ask parent/teacher conference questions.

If you are unable to schedule a conference on this date designated by the school, please know that our teachers can be available during any week to schedule an individual appointment with parents and guardians to discuss student progress. Families can always feel free to reach out directly to teachers with academic questions or concerns. 

Bring On Prom – Save The Date, April 24th! 

I am very pleased to share, officially, that SMSA will host a Prom in 2021!  With local health conditions improving, resulting in new COVID-19 safety guidelines from the Fond du Lac County Health Department, it has thankfully become feasible to plan for larger gatherings of students that were previously prohibited.  

Here is what we can share at this time: 

Prom is confirmed for Saturday, April 24th from 8:00 – 11:00 p.m. at Whispering Springs Golf Club at 380 Whispering Springs Dr., Fond du Lac, WI 54937.  Student Council and the junior and senior class moderators are working to finalize Prom plans with school administration.  More details will be shared with students and parents as soon as possible. 

Our Lady of the Ledge, pray for us!

Be well, God bless. 

Eamonn O’Keeffe, Principal Grades 9 – 12

Friday, March 12th – End of Quarter 3 and Faculty Grading Day. NO CLASSES. Skyward family access closes temporarily. 

Monday, March 15th – Quarter 4 begins

Wednesday, March 17th – High school parent/teacher conferences (virtual).  Appointment links shared via Skyward Message Center 

Friday, March 19th – Skyward access reopens for families at 4:00 p.m. 

Monday, March 22nd – March 26th – No school, spring break

Sale ends TOMORROW, Friday, March 12th at 5:00 p.m.

Coach Hyland celebrates his 50th season coaching this year!  To commemorate this milestone season, we are offering a one-time sale of a retro colored, “throw-back” SMSA sweatshirt with a nod to Coach Hyland on the sleeve!

Pick up will be at SMSA in the Scrip Office (or shipped to you for a flat rate fee) the week of March 29th.  All proceeds will benefit expenses related to the artificial turf field upgrade at SMSA.

Click here to order yours before the sale ends!  Sizes available from Youth XS through a Men’s 5XL!  

Youth sweatshirt – $25

Adult sweatshirt – $42

Questions? Contact Chelsea McKay at cmckay@smsacademy.org.

Fond du Lac Public Library Teen Photo Contest is open to students in grades 6 through 12 who attend school or are homeschooled in Fond du Lac County.

Contest winner will recieve a $250 Visa gift card!

Send entries to teenphoto@fdlpl.org.

Click here to view the flyer.

Click here to view a short video.

This year’s Ledgerfest will be a week long virtual event, so mark your calendar and join us for the “Ledgerfest Challenge,” Monday – Saturday, April 5 – 10, 2021!

Click here for more details and check out our Ledgerfest Facebook event by clicking here.

High School Music Department Spring Concert: Wednesday, May 5th

Jazz Night: Saturday, May 8th

More info to come!

Click here to view these endorsed resources of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

Pope Francis recently wrote, “a worldwide tragedy like the COVID-19 pandemic momentarily revived the sense that we are a global community, all in the same boat, where one person’s problems are the problems of all…revealing once more the ineluctable and blessed awareness that we are part of one another, that we are brothers and sisters of one another.”

Yet, even as we see advancements with treatments and the vaccines, the pandemic continues to have ripple effects on our economy.  Many in the Archdiocese worry about feeding their families, making rent and meeting other basic needs.   

You can help with a donation to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee Coronavirus Emergency Fund.

With more students electing to learn virtually at this time of the year, I suggest parents of virtual learners review the links provided here. These are resources for better understanding virtual learning at SMSA. 

1. SMSA Ledger Learning Guides Home Page
2. HS Expectations for Virtual Learners DOC 2020-21
3. Expectations for Virtual Learners Slide Deck

Female Housing Options at UW-Madison – deadlines April 1st

UW-Madison is pleased to share information for women seniors graduating this spring with plans to attend UW Madison as freshmen in the Fall of 2021. 

Bernadette House is located on the fourth floor of Saint Paul’s Catholic Student Center and will be home to 9 freshman women who will share in an intentional living community focused on community, growth and virtue. The Bernadette community includes 3 upperclassman women who live with the freshmen and serve as role model house mother and sisters. The deadline to apply for these limited spots is Thursday, April 1, 2021. 

Applications for interviews and consideration should be sent to ktrumble@uwcatholic.org or by calling 608-447-0027. 

Please contact Mrs. Hackl in the counseling office for more information.

Business World in the Classroom Statewide Competitions – Deadlines March 15th

In partnership with Kwik Trip, our Wisconsin Business World program launched business-focused competitions open to all 6-12th grade students across the state. The project-based competitions will focus on innovation and production.

Click here for more information.

Cash prizes will be awarded to top student contestants.  Entry deadline is Monday, March 15th.

For questions or input about the competitions, please contact Michelle Grajkowski at (608) 258-3400 or mgrajkowski@wmc.org

Business World in the Classroom Statewide Competitions – Deadline March 15th

In partnership with Kwik Trip, our Wisconsin Business World program launched business-focused competitions open to all 6-12th grade students across the state. The project-based competitions will focus on innovation and production.

Click here for full information. 

Cash prizes will be awarded to top student contestants. Entry deadline is Monday, March 15, 2021.

For questions or input about the competitions, please contact Michelle Grajkowski at (608) 258-3400 or mgrajkowski@wmc.org

UW Placement Testing Update – Registration March 15th

Placement Testing will only be offered online this Spring. Registration for placement exams for Summer and Fall 2021 students is targeted to begin on March 15th.

Spring 2021 students can register by clicking here. 

College Goal Wisconsin-FAFSA – April 15th

College Goal Wisconsin provides free information and assistance to families who need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For students and families who have yet to fill out the FAFSA, College Goal Wisconsin is offering additional dates this spring to assist with the completion of the 2021-22 FAFSA.

Thursday, April 15th at 6:00 p.m.

To register for one event or to request additional information, please refer to https://collegegoalwi.org.

Bellin College Summer Nursing and Imaging Camps – Multiple Dates

Applications are now being accepted for Bellin College summer nursing and imaging camps. Applying to summer camps

How much does it cost?

• Nursing Day Camp:

Monday, July 26, 2021: $50

Tuesday, July 27, 2021: $50

Wednesday, July 28, 2021: $50

Includes camp t-shirt, lunch and clinical supplies

• Medical Imaging Day Camp

Thursday, July 29, 2021: $90

Includes camp t-shirt, lunch and clinical supplies

Payment is not required until after the participants have been selected to attend the camp.

How are the participants selected?

Students are selected after a holistic review of their application including the date the applied, GPA, essay question, and dates available.

Who can apply?

High school students who are sophomores and juniors at time of application.

Questions?

Please contact Claire Drevs at claire.drevs@bellincollege.edu.

Apply online at www.bellincollege.edu/summercamps.

BCI Burke Summer Opportunities

BCI Burke Company in Fond du Lac continues to grow and we would appreciate your help. We are in need of summer helpers to work full time in our factory this summer (40 hours per week- overtime available). 

Workers would need to be 16 years old or older to work on a variety of machines.

Please visit our website, by clicking here,to get a better sense of what we do.. We play at work!

Please apply by clicking here and click on ‘Seasonal Helper’.

Fond du Lac County Seasonal employment opportunities

Fond du Lac County is hiring for seasonal help this summer, pay for these positions is $11/hour.

Multiple different departments that hire for seasonal, such as:

Our highway department doing mostly manual physical labor.

Our parks department doing mostly grounds maintenance.

Our golf course (Rolling Meadows) doing a wide variety of tasks.

Our fairgrounds doing grounds maintenance as well.

Hours and duties vary by department, which are listed on each posting.  Please visit, www.governmentjobs.com/careers/fonddulaccounty to apply

Students can apply for more than one department if they are interested in doing so.

If you have any questions regarding these employment opportunities, please contact Stephanie Dahlke at Stephanie.Dahlke@fdlco.wi.gov or 920-929-3154.

Money Smart – Wisconsin 2021 Scholarship – Deadline March, 12th

Click here for information on this scholarship.

American Legion Americanism And Government Scholarship Program – Test Available Monday, March 8 through Friday March 19, 2021

The American Legion Americanism and Government Scholarship Program Department of Wisconsin

Purpose:

To promote “Americanism”, love of country, knowledge of government and allegiance to the U.S. flag to our youth. Eligible students are tested on their knowledge of U.S., Wisconsin and County Governments, the U.S. Constitution and flag etiquette.

What Is It?

The test consists of 50 questions; true/false, multiple choice, matching, and an essay question that must be answered in order to qualify for the scholarships. Students are not allowed to use outside resources for answers while taking this test.

Who Is Eligible?

Any student in the 10th, 11th, or 12th grade in any public, private, parochial or home-schooled within the State of Wisconsin may participate. Students may only take the test 1 time per year; however, students may participate all 3 years and be eligible for the scholarships for multiple years.

The test is available on-line on Monday, March 8 through Friday March 19, 2021.

Students Register on-line when taking the test. The test link is found by clicking here.  The link is only active during the test window.

Annually, 33 students throughout the State of Wisconsin are awarded scholarships selected by the Americanism Committee of The American Legion, Department of Wisconsin. The following scholarships are awarded:

11 students in Grade 10 receive a $250 scholarship

11 students in Grade 11 receive a $300 scholarship

11 students in Grade 12 receive a $750 scholarship

For more information contact The American Legion, Department of Wisconsin (608) 745-1090 or check out our website at wilegion.org.

2021 ABC Scholarship – deadlines April 15th

2021 ABC Scholarship applications are now available for SMSA seniors.  

Deadline is Thursday, April 15th, 2021 and can be found in Naviance

None at this time.

Upcoming Virtual College Visits

Marquette University – Tuesday, March 16th at 1:10 p.m.

UW Green Bay – Wednesday, March 17th at 1:10 p.m.

UW-Milwaukee – Friday, March 19th at 1:10 p.m.

St. Mary’s College (IN) – Monday, March 29th at 1:10 p.m.