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

It is a great delight to recognize Senora Soledad Theel as the St. Mary’s Springs Academy St. John de la Baptiste High School Teacher of the Year for 2024-25! The following are my remarks from the COR UNUM celebration at Holy Family Church from September 24th:

In the process of hiring, Catholic school principals and their search committees are always mindful of finding candidates who are a good “mission fit.” What does that mean? The way I would put it: teachers must strive to be “soulful.” What does that mean?

To be soulful is to feel and demonstrate reverence for all human life, seeing it as divinely created, connected and sustained. A soulful teacher can see that students are endowed with both visible and invisible gifts and truths. Soulful teachers go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that students grow and learn holistically, get noticed personally, and feel affirmed regularly. With this in mind, it is telling and fitting that colleagues at SMSA have come to call Senora Soledad Theel “SOL!” Indeed she is a living example of a soulful educator!

Soulful teachers like Senora Theel relish the opportunity to journey along with students as they grow in awareness of their own true abilities. She knows that there is more to teaching than instruction. Soledad Theel sees her students as God’s gifts (well mostly)! She fully understands that her Ledgers are multi-dimensional, complex and lovable humans who are in the exciting (and sometimes painful) act of becoming who they are intended to be. She holds her students to a high standard – always affirming that they are ready and capable of new accomplishments.

During 2024-25, in addition to her normal full-time teaching assignment, Senora went above and beyond the call of duty in several meaningful ways. I want to briefly highlight just three:

1) In the summer of 2024, Senora Theel led a wonderfully successful foreign travel trip to Costa Rica with 30 Ledgers. If you have traveled abroad with students, you will understand the awesome burden of responsibility that it is. It is stressful and exhausting. Soledad accomplishes it with confidence, enthusiasm and grace. She values these important experiential and cultural learning opportunities for her students, and manages to bring everyone home safely…and changed for the better.

2) Senora Theel said yes to the invitation to serve as the new moderator of the National Honor Society. This has not been a popular or easy duty for teachers historically at SMSA. Sol embraced it creatively…and in remarkable short order, improved processes and elevated the expectations and experiences of our NHS students.

3) Senora Theel generously provided countless hours of Spanish translation support for our Enrollment Director – directly helping our ESL families with their admission applications, orientation tasks, school tours, and admission conferences. This support occurred during her prep periods, before school, after school, on weekends, and during summer. She continues to provide recruitment presentations in Spanish to families – sometimes right here at Holy Family Sunday Mass.

Soulful teachers like Soledad Theel are persons of expansion and inclusion – offering a courageous ‘yes’ to support the needs of students – and especially the lost souls sometimes found along the high school journey. Senora Theel skillfully helps young people to stretch their proficient in Spanish, grow as servant leaders, confidently engage new cultures – and while doing so – she demonstrates faith in them, prays and builds community with them, helps her Ledgers to understand the world better, and inspires them to share their God given gifts with the world – near and far.

Though I was not at the Springs when she was originally hired in August of 2017, I can attest today that Senora Soledad Theel is a great “mission fit” with our Springs Catholic school community!

Our Lady of the Ledge, pray for us!

Eamonn O’Keeffe
Principal, High School

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SMSA is blessed and excited to have so many individuals that would like to volunteer with our students on campus. As part of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee Safe Environment requirements, all volunteers must complete their Safe Environment Certification before being able to volunteer within our school. If you are considering volunteering, attending field trips, or participating in class parties, please make sure to complete your Safe Environment certification as soon as possible.

Holy Family will be holding an in person Safe Environment Training Session on the following date:

• Thursday, October 2nd, from 6- 9 p.m.

To sign up for this Safe Environment Session, please click here to follow the instructions for Completing the Initial Safe Environment Certification.

The Ledger community is on the hunt for some gently used chess boards that would be used in the cafeteria during lunchtime. Any donations would be greatly appreciated. Please bring them to the north or south office.

Thank you for your consideration.

If you are interested in getting involved at SMSA, be a part of the SMSA Parent Connectors Group! Our group focuses on building connections with our SMSA families through our events during the school year as well as celebrating our amazing SMSA Staff. If you have a child(ren) in grades preschool through 5th Grade, you received a blue Parent Connectors Volunteer Form at supply drop off day. If you are interested in helping with our group, please fill out the form & return it to your child’s teacher by Friday, September 5th. Only ONE per family is needed to be filled out. If your youngest child(ren) is in 6th Grade or older, please email me, alnuss@charter.net, letting me know you would like to be included in the group emails as they didn’t receive a volunteer form. Once they are all collected and entered, you will receive an email. Each year a NEW email group is created to keep it updated so even if you have been a part of the group email in years past, please let us know you continue to want to be. We greatly appreciate ALL of our volunteers! We couldn’t do what we do without all of your help! It is going to be a great school year! If you have any questions, please email Andrea Nuss, alnuss@charter.net.

Volunteer-Form-2025-2026

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

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September 22-26, 2025 – Homecoming Week

September 27, 2025 – Homecoming Dance

October 2-3, 2025 – No School – Teacher In-service

October 27, 2025 – No School – Teacher In-service

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We are excited to announce that several college representatives will be visiting SMSA to meet with interested students. This is a great opportunity to learn more about each school and connect directly with the admissions counselors who will be reviewing applications.

Upcoming Visits
MPTC: Tuesday, September 30 | 9:00 – 9:45am
Marquette University: Wednesday, October 8 | 11:25am – 12:05pm
Iowa State University: Thursday, October 9 | 12:10 – 12:50pm
University of St. Thomas (MN): Monday, October 13 | 2:35 – 3:15pm
Air Force ROTC (Lunch Room): Friday, October 17 | 1:00 – 1:45pm
Lawrence University: Wednesday, October 22 | 9:10 – 9:50am

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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