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

In these final days of the school year, students and teachers are preparing for final semester assessments and projects! Here are some reminders to support a good final week of the school year:

—Monday, May 26: Happy Memorial Day Holiday! NO SCHOOL

—Thursday, May 29: Final Day of classes for Seniors (Class of 2025!) Senior lockers will need to be emptied and cleaned by the end of the day. All textbooks returned to teachers and Chromebooks should be returned to Mr. Poetzel in the MPR. Families shall be charged for any unreturned school owned equipment or learning resource. Commencement rehearsal day will be Friday, May 30th for the members of the Class of 2025 at Holy Family Church from 10:30 – 12 Noon!

—Friday, May 30th: Final Day of classes for all students in grades 9-11. All students in grades 9-11 must return all textbooks and school issued learning resources to teachers, and Chromebooks should be returned to Mr. Poetzel in the MPR. Families shall be charged for any unreturned school owned equipment or learning resource.

—Detentions: Any detentions earned before May 28th, will be served on May 28th. Any detentions earned on or after May 28th will be served on SATURDAY morning, May 31st (8am). Mr. Krueger will schedule any final detention obligations.

–If a student misses a concluding assessment/exam due to an excused absence, the student must contact the teacher immediately to arrange for a make-up assessment/exam. If unable to reach the teacher, the student should contact the Counseling Office. Teachers shall not seek students to schedule make-up assessments.

–If the student’s absence is unexcused, the teacher is under no obligation to provide a make-up concluding assessment/exam.

–Approved make-up concluding assessments/exams must be administered in-person and completed by the end of the day on May 30. If a medical excuse or illness makes this unreasonable, teachers may request from the principal that a student be given an INC grade for Semester II. If approved, the student will have extra days (10 days by policy) to resolve the INC grade.

–Virtual make-up of concluding assessments/exams is not permitted.

–By policy, parents/guardians may submit a request for “Anticipated Absence” at any time during the school year – including days on which a concluding assessment has been scheduled. The green form may be obtained in the North Hall Main Office and must be submitted at least ONE WEEK PRIOR to the anticipated absence date. When completed, the form will be signed by a parent/guardian and submitted to the administrator who monitors student daily attendance (Mr. Krueger).

–If a student or their parent has not completed the “Anticipated Absence form” and had it approved, there shall not be any obligation on the part of SMSA to provide an alternative concluding assessments or exam.

–Alternative concluding assessments or exams may NOT be scheduled for a date/time AFTER the originally scheduled exam period.

–Students who are approved for anticipated absence during concluding class and assessment days:

–SMSA faculty are expected to support and accommodate any student/family who has planned properly for an anticipated absence.

–Students may ONLY have a concluding assessment/exam rescheduled for a date and time earlier than the originally scheduled assessment date/time. This is a consistent norm of academic fairness, and a best practice of high performing schools.

–Students are responsible for initiating and making alternative arrangements with their teachers. Teachers shall not seek students to schedule Anticipated Absence alternative assessments.

–While not always possible, it is recommended that students receive a true alternative assessment/exam – different from the rest of the class. This is a consistent norm of academic fairness, and a best practice of high performing schools.

–An alternative assessment should be of equal weight, scope and challenge as the original.

We are grateful for a full and blessed school year on the Ledge! Thank you for your partnership in the mission of Catholic education in Fond du Lac.

Our Lady of the Ledge, pray for us.

Eamonn O’Keeffe
Principal, High School

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Click here to complete your Scrip Tuition Agreement. Send to cgilles@smsacademy.org.

Anyone interested in trying out for Varsity dance for the 2025-26 season, there are two ways to sign up. You can sign up in the cafeteria on the bulletin board or e-mail head coach Stephanie Brusky at Sbrusky@smsacademy.org. You will receive the informational slide show and tryout routine via e-mail. Live tryouts are tentatively scheduled for Sat, May 31st – 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the high school. If you can not make that date we can make other arrangements please indicate this when you sign up.

The SMSA Athletic and Co-Curricular Code of Conduct Meetings will be held on June 23th, July 21th and August 6th at 6:00 pm in Baker Gym. All 5th through 12th grade students interested in participating in athletics or co-curricular activities during the 2025-2026 school year, MUST attend one of the meetings along with their parent or guardian. Those students intending to play high school football, should attend either the June 23th or July 21th meeting.

Click on the link below for the necessary athletic forms. All athletic forms must be completed and turned in prior to participating in the intended sport or activity. Please contact Kelly Mueller at kmueller@smsacademy.org if you have any questions about the status of your child’s physical or other athletic paperwork.

Athletic-Paperwork-2025

Please Click Here – Grades 9-12 Registration

Did you know? You can Refer-A-Family and receive tuition credit!

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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May 26, 2025 – Memorial Day – No School

May 30, 2025 – Commencement Practice – Seniors Only – REQUIRED

June 1, 2025 – Baccalaureate Mass & Commencement

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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.

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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