It has been exactly three months since I began serving as principal at SMSA. What an amazing (and amazingly quick) three months! During this time, the Ledger Way has become my way. SMSA has become my school. Your teenagers have become my children, and that has been the greatest gift of all. We have great kids at the Springs! I have repeated that proudly and confidently to anyone who asks. Of course, our kids are not perfect…but they are perfectly real, hospitable, funny, curious, and vulnerable. They have accepted me with goodwill and openness and I would not trade them for any student body on the planet!

I have found our Ledgers to be committed to their studies, to growing in faith, and to development as athletes, teammates, mentors, tutors, musicians, singers, leaders and friends. It is simply amazing how busy our students are, and how much spirit and joy they bring to each SMSA activity. I am so very grateful to serve as principal for such consistently committed and interesting students. Together with parents and the talented SMSA faculty and staff, our students will continue to advance the faith, intellectual curiosity, imagination and dignity that defines our life together as a Catholic school community. Our Lady of the Ledge, pray for us!

There is just one week left in the First Quarter of the school year. The conclusion of any grading period is always an extra busy time for both students and their teachers. Students are finishing assignments, studying for Quarter assessments, and completing projects. Some may also be making up past quizzes, tests or assignments from earlier in the year, adding to an already heavy workload. All of this heightened activity can create higher anxiety than usual. Here are some simple suggestions for how parents might help teens to manage anxiety and stress through conscious self-care:

1) Getting enough sleep – at least 8 hours overnight remains a daily standard for healthy brain development (power naps after school can help students transition, reenergize and refocus).

2) Balanced nutrition – eating healthy, well-balanced meals (eliminate fast food, reduce caffeine and sugar intake). Extra attention on breakfast!

3) Exercise/physical activity – boosts energy, attention and brain function

4) Parents who just say “no” – help teens to stay focused by reducing/postponing social commitments and regulating their after school time.

5) Reduce screen time – phones, computers, television.

6) Prayer – making time for meditation and reflection; time alone with the Lord!

The Music Department is kicking off their annual poinsettia sale fundraiser. If you would like to participate or purchase a poinsettia to help the Music Department, please contact Jen Feucht at cjfeucht@gmail.com.

If you were not able to attend conferences last week Wednesday and Thursday, October 16th and 17th, your youngest child in the System will be bringing home your families Big Money Raffle tickets today, Thursday, October 24th. Please check with them or check their backpacks.

Five (5) tickets per SMSA family are included in the letter that is being sent home. We urge each family to sell and/or purchase their tickets, each families participation is vital to the success of Big Money Raffle.

If you have any questions, please contact one of the Big Money Raffle Committee members, Kelly Baker, Colleen Ahern, Jill Stone and Juli Blanck, with any questions.

Thank you for your support and participation.

There will be an informational meeting for all parents interested in sending their high school music students to Disney with the Music Department. The meeting will be on Monday, October 28, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. in the high school cafeteria.

Questions?  Contact Andrea Pannier at apannier@smsacademy.org

Looking ahead to the high school hockey season?!  Mark your calendars for the mandatory player/parent meeting on Wednesday, October 30, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. 

All players (including new freshman) and at least one parent are expected to attend. The meeting will take place in Hutter Gym. Please bring along your “player fees” and a signed copy of the SMSA Hockey Handbook. The handbook was emailed to all the players. 

Contact, Andrea Welsch, at andrea5220@icloud.com or 920-960-6208 if you have any questions or need a copy of the handbook.

Thursday, October 31, 2019 has been declared “Wear Red Day” for all SMSA high school students. Students may be out of dress code if they are wearing at least one item of clothing that is predominantly red. 

Red Ribbon Week is an alcohol, tobacco, and other drug and violence prevention awareness campaign observed annually in October in the United States. It began as a tribute to fallen DEA special agent, Enrique Camerena, in 1985. According to the United States DEA, Red Ribbon Week is the nation’s largest and longest-running drug awareness and prevention program.

An informational meeting for the 2021 summer trip to Perú will be held on Thursday, November 7, 2019 at 6:30 pm in the high school cafeteria.

Questions?  Contact Soledad Theel at stheel@smsacademy.org.

No news at this time.

Agnesian Healthcare Career Events – November 8th

Agnesian Healthcare has upcoming career events on November 8th from noon to 3:00 p.m. in the plaza level conference room at St. Agnes (430 E. Division St). 

Session 1 is on Physical Therapy.

Session 2 is on Psychology, presented by Dr. Matthew Doll.

Session 3 is on Long term care.

There is no cost to this event, but you do need to register. To register for this event, or view the schedule for Career Experience events click here.

Agnesian Healthcare

Agnesian Healthcare has housekeeping, dietary Aides and food service job openings. Must be at least 16 years of age. These are part-time openings with flexible hours and shifts. Starting pay rate is $11.00/hour. Please apply directly by clicking here.

Festival Foods 

Festival Foods has several openings available.

What’s in it for you is a flexible schedule, bank bucks for college, and save on groceries.

If you’re looking for part time work in a fast-paced high energy friendly fun atmosphere, apply at Festival Foods (1125 E Johnson Street).

American Legion Oratorical Scholarship Program

The American Legion Oratorial Scholarship program is open to all high school students. Each participant must be sponsored by a local Legion Post. More information can be found on the Oratorical page by clicking here.

Engineering Scholarships – Deadline December 16th

The Engineers Foundation of Wisconsin is pleased to offer information about their Engineering Scholarships. These are available to graduating high school seniors who plan to study engineering at a four-year ABET accredited program leading to a baccalaureate degree in engineering and intend to enter the profession of engineering upon graduation.

There are 5 different scholarships you will be considered for from your one application. Please click here for information about the scholarship and application or stop in the Counseling Office.

All applications must be emailed no later than Monday, December 16, 2019.

Check back for upcoming visits.

UW-Oshkosh, FdL Campus Preview Day – November 1st

The UW-Oshkosh, FdL Campus will be hosting a campus preview day on Friday, November 1, 2019 from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. Students can register to attend by clicking here.