FROM THE OFFICE OF EAMONN O'KEEFFE, 9TH - 12TH GRADE PRINCIPAL

Catholic Social Responsibility – Installment #3

The Catholic Social Responsibility Guidebook is designed to provide educators in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee with clear guiding principles for integrating Catholic social responsibility into school culture, and provides theological resources that correspond to four contemporary challenges, and alignment of Catholic Social Teachings to current Archdiocesan curriculum, policies, and accreditation standards. CatholicSocialResponsibilityGuidebookforCatholicSchoolsFinal9.22.21.pdf

 

All SMSA parents and guardians are invited to become familiar with this document.  The two previous installments provided excerpt overviews of the challenges associated with ‘Culture’ and ‘Racism.’  This week’s challenge overview, “Civic Participation for the Common Good:”

 

“Contemporary political dialogue has become more contentious and polarized. This divisive

approach to political discourse has influenced all aspects of society, including Catholic

Schools. The Catholic Church’s role in guiding its faithful into active political life is to

instruct and illuminate the consciences of the faithful, so that their actions may promote the

dignity of all human persons and enhance the common good. Catholic schools are called to

equip our students with the knowledge, understanding, and skills to interpret and respond to

contemporary social circumstances in light of the Gospel and the truth of our Catholic Church

and Tradition. Catholic schools, while respecting the human dignity of every person, realize

that not all points of view are equally valid, and therefore place a high value on the

development of conscience, positive communication skills, reflection, negotiation and

problem solving in the context of a Catholic faith. Catholic schools form faithful citizens who

act with courage to build common ground and make peace even in deeply fractured

communities.” [Guidebook p. 12]

 

I urge parents and guardians to take a closer look at the Church’s theological response to the challenges associated with “Civic Participation for the Common Good,” provided in the Guidebook

 

Click here for a link to further resource information on Catholic Social Responsibility released by the Archdiocese: 

 

Our Lady of the Ledge, pray for us. 

Eamonn O’Keeffe 

Principal, High School

Upcoming Dates

Friday, November 5th – Final day of classes for Quarter I

Monday, November 8th – NO CLASSES/ Teacher Inservice and Quarter Grading Day

Tuesday, November 9th – Classes Resume for Quarter II 

Wednesday, November 10th – High School Parent & Guardian -Teacher Conferences, 4:00 to 6:30 p.m.


2022 Yearbook Updates - Order Deadline December 1st

The deadline to order a 2022 yearbook will be December 1, 2021. Prices will be $50 before the deadline and $65 for any payments after December 1 until April 15th, then they will end. To order, visit SMSA’s website homepage, scroll down to the bottom where you will see a “yearbook” banner. From there, the banner will redirect you to Walsworth where you can order a yearbook, and for senior parents, order a personal ad.

 

This year we will be using “yearbook snap,” an app that allows students and parents to submit photos from the year. After downloading the app from Google play or the App Store, select St. Mary’s Springs Academy as your school and use this access code-SMSA2022. You will then be ready to submit photos from your camera roll!

News and Information

Big Money Raffle (BMR) Tickets – Blue And White!

As a reminder, please only sell and/or purchase the BLUE and WHITE BMR tickets for the Friday, January 14, 2022 drawing. Please throw away any pink tickets that you may still have.

 

We appreciate your support in selling and/or purchasing the new blue and white tickets and returning them to school on or before Friday, January 14, 2022. Your participation is vital to the success of this fundraiser and reaching our goal of raising $100,000 for our school. We cannot wait to pull the $20,000 winning ticket on Friday, January 14, 2022 at noon.

 

Please contact Kristin Zitlow at kzitlow@smsacademy.org or 920-322-8006 with any questions.


End Of Quarter I 

We thank the Holy Mother and our good Lord for a positive Quarter I on the Ledge!  While our campus and daily school  rituals are not fully back to a pre-COVID routine, each day we gain confidence and hope that Ledger experiences are normalizing.   

 

Please note that Friday, November 5th is the final day of classes for Quarter I.  There are no classes on Monday, November 8th, as teachers will be engaged with professional development and finalizing Quarter I grades.  Classes resume on Tuesday, November 9th as Quarter II begins!  


Skyward Access Restricted

As is our practice at SMSA, students, parents and guardians will not have access to Skyward gradebooks as grading is finalized by teachers from 3:30 p.m. on November 5th until 12:30 p.m. on November 10th.  After that time, students, parents and guardians will regain normal gradebook access to Skyward and may view and print Quarter I Report Cards. 


Eligibility Review 

Like with the Mid-Quarter Progress Reports, student eligibility for participation in co-curricular activities – including theatre, clubs, organizations and athletics – is reviewed at the academic quarter marking period. Students earning a Quarter I failing grade in one or more courses will be ineligible to participate for at least 8 days.  Assistant Principal, Dean of Student Life,  Mr. Krueger manages the eligibility process and will communicate directly with students and parents who are impacted. 


Parent & Guardian-Teacher Conferences Next Week

A Skyward message was emailed to high school parents and guardians this week regarding high school Parent & Guardian-Teacher Conferences, which are scheduled for Wednesday, November 10th between 4:00 to 6:30 p.m.  This year, conferences shall be in-person, with teachers available in their classrooms.  An “open house” format will be observed, so it is not necessary for parents to schedule appointments with teachers in advance.   We recommend that conferences last no longer than 10 minutes on November 10th.  If more time for discussion is desired, parents and guardians may schedule another dedicated appointment with teachers for a virtual or in-person meeting.  Our high school Counseling Office will also be open for business during Parent & Guardian – Teacher Conferences.  Please feel free to meet and greet Mrs. Taylor McCarthy and Mr. James Stamatakos while you are on campus.  They are eager to share information about Counseling Office services and activities and meet parents and guardians.


High School Counseling

News and Information

Introducing SCOIR!

Dear Freshmen, Sophomore, and Junior Parents:

 

The counseling team is pleased to announce that we are introducing a new system called SCOIR (pronounced “Score”) to help you and your student navigate the college selection and application process.

 

Mr. Stamatakos and Mrs. McCarthy will visit English classes next week to help our freshmen, sophomores, and juniors gain access to SCOIR. Shortly afterward, Mr. Stamatakos will send you an email invitation so that you can link to their account.

 

As a parent or guardian, you will be able to view their profiles, see their college list, conduct your own college searches, and suggest colleges for your student to consider. SCOIR also provides parents with financial tools so that you can get a better sense of the cost of attendance at various colleges during the selection process.

 

We are excited to be able to provide SCOIR to our students and families, and we feel confident that you will find it helpful and easy to use. Before you get started, please take a few moments to watch this brief video below to help you become familiar with how to use SCOIR:

 

https://vimeo.com/475995423

 

Please contact Mr. Stamatakos with any questions you have about this new program!


Upcoming Dates

None at this time.

 


Career Exploration

None at this time.


Job Opportunities

The Children’s Museum of Fond du Lac

The Children’s Museum of Fond du Lac is now hiring Museum Associates, to work 3-15 hours per week. Ideal candidates are creative and enjoy working with children and adults, in addition to being helpful, friendly and proactive. Click here to apply, fill out a short application.


Join The Pizza Ranch Team

If you, or a friend, are interested in applying for a position at Pizza Ranch Fond du Lac, please go to www.pizzaranch.com/careers to apply.  Our management team will contact you for an interview.

Pizza Ranch Fond du Lac is offering:

  • Competitive Pay
  • Great Team
  • Scholarship Opportunities
  • Fun Work Environment
  • Flexible Schedule 
  • Free Food!!

Pizza Ranch Fond du Lac:  920-929-8800


Scholarship Opportunities

Lands’ End School Starboard Scholarship

WIN A $5,000 LANDS’ END SCHOOL STARBOARD SCHOLARSHIP

 

The Lands’ End School Starboard Scholarship acknowledges and rewards students who display exceptional leadership skills. Up to five scholarships will be awarded to eligible Preferred School students in grades 8‑12. Please see full eligibility guidelines. The Lands’ End School Starboard Scholarship Program was established to assist middle and high school students, currently in grades 8-12, who are enrolled at a Lands’ End Preferred School in the U.S. (SMSA Preferred School Number: 900157314)

 

2021-2022 Application now available. Applications will be accepted now through December 15, 2021 or until 1,000 applications have been received.

 

https://www.landsend.com/starboard-scholarship/


Michael J. Wolfe Scholarship Essay Contest

Attention All Teens! Would you like the opportunity to win some cash? The FDL Chapter of WRTL is sponsoring the Michael J. Wolfe Essay Contest. Write an essay expressing your pro life views and you could win $100, $200, or $300. Please see attached correspondence for details.

 

Please click here to view the flyer.


UW Oshkosh CAPP Scholarship

Scholarship information from UW Oshkosh:

 

Giving back to kids and schools is one of the hallmarks of the CAPP mission. We do this in a variety of ways through all our courses, but directly through scholarships for students that have had at least one UW Oshkosh CAPP class, who want to pursue their post-secondary degrees at UW Oshkosh.

 

The Business CAPP Awards, click here for info, are meant for those students coming to a UW Oshkosh campus, pursuing a business degree. These are $500 awards (15 of them).

 

The Titan Thunder CAPP Scholarship is open as of TODAY, for students interested in being in our new marching band….TITAN THUNDER. These are $500 awards as well (15 of them). It can be found at https://uwosh.academicworks.com/opportunities/8612

 

Remember, a student is eligible for all CAPP funded scholarships by having taken at least ONE UW Oshkosh CAPP course over their HS career. Remind those students who had one of our classes as a freshman or a sophomore that they too are in the mix! Additionally, some of our awards can be stacked together (Honors College and Titan Thunder, for example).

 

All UW Oshkosh scholarships can be found by searching from the Academic Works homepage: https://uwosh.academicworks.com/


College/University SMSA visits

These visits will be taking place during lunch (1:00 to 1:45 p.m.) the next few weeks:

11/9: Carroll University

11/9: Iowa State University

11/9: National Guard

11/10: Marian University

11/11: Marines


College/University Virtual Visits

None at this time.