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

For many of course, Thanksgiving is a most favorite holiday and celebration with family and close friends. In addition to the abundance of comfort foods and football, in the O’Keeffe household, Thanksgiving has always been a banquet of gratitude – an opportunity to reflect on the many blessings we have received as a family throughout the year. It is also a time for us to ask: “What more can we be doing for others?”

The New Testament is loaded with stories of banquets. In fact, the image of a banquet is one of the most common metaphors used by Jesus to explain the Kingdom of God. In one interesting reference found in Luke 14:13 people are told by Jesus, “When you have a party, invite those who are poor, crippled, maimed, or blind, because the fact that they cannot pay you back will mean you are fortunate.”

Everyday, not just during Thanksgiving and the religious feast of our tradition, the good Lord continually invites us to partake of HIS banquet, and it is up to us to RSVP. We see in Jesus’ own words, that the Heavenly Banquet is not like earthly ones. Heavenly banquets alway include those souls who are down on their luck or vulnerable in one way or another.

So as we celebrate abundance and football this Thanksgiving, we also reflect on ways we can each continue to share our blessings with those that have greater need. This is the essence of our Christian discipleship. Jesus did not call us to hoard our blessing. Rather, we are called to be generous like God…even sacrificing when necessary to give , give, give…especially to those who have most need of our generosity, attention and support.

In my experience, one of the defining characteristics of our Springs community is a willingness to “party!” Indeed we have much to celebrate on the Ledge! I also believe that God’s constant work among us is preparing SMSA to become an even more generous, welcoming and inclusive community – a force of great good in the broader world. Thank you for all that you already share so generously – especially with those in our Springs community and greater Fond du Lac that are struggling in one manner or another. Together, we shall continue doing our best to build the Kingdom at SMSA, and we know that God’s Kingdom has no boundaries!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our Ledger families!

Our Lady of the Ledge, pray for us.
Eamonn O’Keeffe,
High School Principal

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Sign up with a partner in the office and pick a scene to rehearse. No memorization needed.

Prepare a snippet of a song (show tune preferred but not required).
Make sure to pick up an audition form and fill it out to bring to your audition time. Auditions will be held in the MS choir room 2077
Tech Crew will pick up a form in the office and fill it out. You will then turn it into the office. FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE!

SHOW DATES ARE MARCH 7-9, 2025.

Senior Parents,
As the holidays approach, so does the January 3, 2025 due date to order Senior Ads to be placed in the 2025 yearbook. Need ideas? Please see the ads in the 2024 yearbook for inspiration.

Senior Ads: All senior ads, including pictures and payment, must be submitted online through Walsworth Yearbooks. Please click the HS yearbook order link on the St. Mary’s Springs Academy website homepage for more information.

Yearbook ads will be designed by Yearbook members.
Please select your ad size:
Full-page………………… $180
Half-page……………..…. $110
Quarter-page…………. $ 75
Please submit senior ad payment, pictures, and messages by January 3, 2025!

Senior portraits: We have received about one-fourth of the Class of 2025’s portraits. Please have your senior portraits sent in (either by you or your photographer) to hsyearbook@smsacademy.org.

Requirements for Senior Portraits
• Must be in JPEG format
• 300 DPI
• Must be in color
• Headshots only
• No hats or accessories
Deadline for senior portrait submissions is January 3, 2025. Thank you for your support and cooperation.

-Your SMSA Yearbook Editors
If you have questions please contact hsyearbook@smsacademy.org

If you are looking for a warm place to be during the winter months, come join us in the library as a volunteer! We have parents and grandparents who volunteer weekly, but if you can’t manage weekly we do have sub volunteer slots available as well. MUST be SEE Trained. Email Lisa at library@smsacademy.org with any questions or interest.

For over thirteen years several SMSA families have sponsored a Christmas Gathering for SMSA teachers, administrators, and staff as a way to show their gratitude. For many families, the contribution was given in place of individual Christmas gifts, or as an added appreciation.
This year, we will provide a special luncheon for all staff to enjoy during their school day in late January.

Please note, this opportunity is optional and offered to any SMSA family that would like to contribute. We ask each family interested in participating for a minimum donation of $50.

Monetary donations for the special luncheon will be accepted through Friday, December 20. Please mail your contribution to Andrea Nuss, W4642 Mill Road, Fond du Lac, WI 54937. Checks may be made payable to Andrea Nuss. Valerie Everson will be accepting Venmo payments @Valerie-Everson-4. The last 4 digits of her phone number are 3719.

Please address questions to Valerie Everson at valerie@everson-law.com , or to Andrea Nuss at alnuss@charter.net.

Blessings to you during this holiday season!

As SMSA’s winter sports begin, please click on the links below to sign up to help with admission and concession stands at both the boys’ and girls’ home basketball games.

Boys Hoops Sign Up

Girls Hoops Sign Up

Who will win $20,000 this year!? It could be you, or someone you know! Each SMSA family has received 5 BMR tickets to sell and/or purchase before the noon drawing on Friday, January 10, 2025.

Tickets may be returned to school with your child, or to the North, South or Scrip offices any time before the noon drawing on Friday, January 10, 2025.

If you have any questions, or if you would like to purchase additional tickets, please contact a member of the BMR committee, listed below.

Valerie Everson

920.251.3719

Stephanie Fessler

920.960.0556

Katie Mathos

920.979.6757

Lisa Shannon

920.539.2892

Sasha Smith

920.517.1693

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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November 27 – No Classes. Thanksgiving Holiday begins!
December 2 – Classes Resume
December 9 – Immaculate Conception Feast Day, All System Mass at Holy Family Church (9am)
December 16 – HS Christmas Concert at Holy Family Church (7pm)
December 20 – Final Day of Classes for Semester 1

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• December Dates To Be Announced

Admissions Counselors come to our campus to answer questions about the application process, scholarships, housing and much more. They are here for our students and are extremely knowledgeable. We highly recommend students attend these campus visits even if they don’t know if they will apply there. Meeting with these College Professionals gives students the opportunity to become more familiar with the application process and future plans. Please let counseling know by email if your student would like to attend any of the visits listed above for November.

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.

2024-25 Trade Tour Schedule:
December 3rd, 2024 — Eagle Flexible Packaging
December 17th, 2024 — Quality Truck Care Center
January 7th, 2025 — City of FDL Fire Department
January 21st, 2025 — CD Smith
February 4th, 2025 — Integrity Saw and Tool, Inc.
February 18th, 2025 — MEC Manufacturing Facilities
March 4th, 2025 — Kondex
April 8th, 2025 — City of FDL Construction & Maintenance
April 22nd, 2025 — JF Ahern & Co.

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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