Principal’s Desk News & Information Upcoming Dates High School Counseling
Wednesday, May 29 Final Day of Classes for Quarter 4, Semester II and the 2023-24 School Year.
Thursday, May 30 Commencement Practice (Holy Family Church) from 10:30 to 12 Noon, REQUIRED. Seniors will attend a required rehearsal with class moderators and administration for Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement.
Sunday, June 2 Baccalaureate Mass & Commencement (Holy Family Church) beginning at 2:30pm, REQUIRED. Students are asked to arrive and check-in at Holy Family Church by 2:00pm to begin lining up in the church hall. There is no limit/restriction on guest attendance. After a brief 15 minute break following Baccalaureate Mass, the Class of 2024 Commencement ceremony will begin in the Church (approximately 3:30 pm). Diplomas are presented to each graduate at Commencement. Both events will be livestreamed.
With the arrival of May, students and teachers are preparing for final semester assessments and projects! Here are some reminders for good planning:
Guidelines for Student Make-Ups:
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 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 ten (10) school days (policy) to resolve the INC grade.
Virtual make-up of concluding assessments/exams is not permitted.
Guidelines for Student Anticipated Absence Requests:
Any request for alternative time to take a concluding assessment/exams must be approved by the principal at least one week prior to the student anticipated absence.
Alternative concluding assessments or exams may NOT be scheduled for a date/time AFTER the originally scheduled exam period.
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).
Students who are approved for anticipated absence during concluding class and assessment days:
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.
SMSA faculty are expected to support and accommodate any student/family who has planned properly for an anticipated absence.
Our Lady of the Ledge, pray for us.
Mr. Eamonn O’Keeffe
Principal, High School
Thank you to all of the parents who helped make this a great year of performing arts at SMSA!
Thanks to Christa Lewis and Andrea Pannier for doing an amazing job of leading our high school music departments.
Thanks also to Gerry Scudella and Sonya Packer for leading the middle school.
All parents with kids in music or theater, join us next year to help make it another amazing year!
Is your youngest SMSA student graduating this May? If you answered “yes” we need to know where to apply your Scrip credits acquired this year. That’s right – your Scrip credits can be applied to ANY tuition-based school as long as we know where your student is headed. Click here to complete the required form and return to the Scrip office by May 31st (the end of the Scrip fiscal year). Have an undecided student? No worries, select “future use” on the form and receive your credit at the end of next fiscal year.
AND… sending your youngest off to further their education doesn’t mean you should stop using Scrip. Continue to purchase Scrip, receive a check to apply to your student’s school, and continue to support SMSA.
Noon Kiwanis is looking for volunteers to help at their tent during Walleye Weekend. PLENTY of opportunities to earn service hours, while having fun, listening to great music (Kiwanis tent is located by the GRANDE stage), and give back to your community. Volunteer opportunities are available for teens and adults.
Click here to view volunteer opportunities and sign up!
Sports Performance Enhancement & Explosive Development (SPEED)
Summer Sports Performance Camp, June 10 to July 25, 2024.
Speed Camp High School Registration
Monday, May 27, 2024 – No School – Memorial Day
Sunday, June 2, 2024 – Baccalaureate Mass & Commencement
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.