SMCHS Newsletter
SMCHS NEWSLETTER
January 10, 2024
Upcoming Events
Thursday, January 11: Mass @9:21am
Friday, January 12: First Friday Mass @7:25am | Adoration
Monday, January 15: Mass at 9:21am
Wednesday, January 17 - Friday, January 19: Semester 1 Finals
Friday, January 19: Last Day of Semester 1
Saturday, January 20: VEX Tournament @Fond du Lac
Tuesday, January 22: No School | Staff Professional Development
Tuesday, January 23 - Friday, January 26: J-Term
Thursday, January 25 - Friday, January 26: VEX Tournament @ Lambeau Field
Wednesday, January 31: High School Preview Night
Friday, February 2: All-System Mass | 7th Grade Visit Day
Spirit Stop
If you have any questions pertaining to the Spirit Stop, please call David Diedrick at 920-215-7442, or send an email to both David Diedrick Ddiedrick@smcatholicschools.org and Liz Uhlenbrauck Luhlenbrauck@smcatholicschools.org. Thank you!
SMCS Communications
SMCS will soon be piloting a new communication tool, Bright Arrow. Bright Arrow captures emails from PowerSchool. Please be sure that all parent information is up-to-date in PowerSchool, including mother and father emails, phone numbers, and addresses.
SMCS will send a test email from BrightArrow on Monday, January 15 around 1:00 p.m. The email will come from SMCS Communications and the subject line will read "SMCS Test Email Message." The email should be delivered to all mother and father emails currently in PowerSchool. If this test email is not received, please reach out to Kelly Beisenstein-Weiss (kbweiss@smcatholicschools.org) at your earliest convenience.
2024-25 Course Registration
First Semester Finals Information
All student debts must be paid (lunch balance or other) before finals.
- Students arriving late to finals will not be permitted to enter the exam room.
- The resource center is closed during finals except for printing.
- Students are required to be present for their final exam periods.
- Students must remain in the exam classroom for the entire testing period. They should plan for the possibility that they might finish early by bringing study or reading material with them.
- We will have 25-minute breaks between finals.
- Study halls - students in grades 9 & 10 are expected to be in their regularly scheduled study hall hour and location. Study hall attendance for students in grade 11 is optional.
- Lunch will be served on Wednesday and Thursday. Students in grades 11 & 12 may leave for lunch.
- Relaxed dress code is allowed on exam days.
- Do not plan appointments or trips on exam days.
Sophomore Conferences
On February 1, Mrs. Castagna will begin meeting individually with sophomores and their parents to discuss course planning, information for junior and senior year, and post-secondary opportunities. Parents may schedule an appointment using this link. If you know you will be unable to attend, please let us know and Mrs. Castagna will meet with your child and send materials home for your review.
Senior Yearbook Ads
You may also email the photo and note to Mrs. Sirstins at msirstins@smcatholicschools.org and send payment to school in an envelope addressed to Ms. Sirstins. Please make checks payable to SMCS.
Zephyrs Co-Curriculars
Chinese Club
Our Chinese Club is co-hosting with Northeast Wisconsin Chinese Association to present the 2024 Chinese New Year Celebration and Bazaar! Join us for an exciting event at SMCHS from 2:00 - 8:00pm on February 17. Experience the rich cultural heritage through traditional performances, mouth-watering food, and a lively bazaar featuring unique crafts and souvenirs. Tickets can be purchased here. Students who would like to volunteer should email Mrs. Roth at droth@smcatholicschools.org.
STEM Club
Congratulations to all the SMC High School VEX teams for their performance at our home tournament this past weekend! All the teams did an amazing job getting their robots ready and it showed in the strong performances. Thank you to all the parents, volunteers and mentors for making this event possible and happen so smoothly. Our teams won the following awards:
Excellence Award and Robot Skills Champion:
Team 1200A - Alex Walsh, Charlie Cedergren, Isaiah Plutz, Nate Pable, Daniel DuVernay, Ethan Times and Nicholas DeBraal.
Team 1200A also won the following awards at previous tournaments this season:
UW- Platteville - Tournament Champions
Menasha - Innovate Award and Tournament Finalists,
Neenah - Tournament Champions, Excellence and Robot Skills Champion.
Judges Award:
Team 1200D: C.J. Hasz, J.P. Foord, Miles Treep, Henry Cedergren, Jacob Post, Jake Brigham, Aiden Tines, London Kleinschmit, and Blayke Daczyk.
Build Award:
Team 1200B: Mia Pable, Izzy Strande, Bethany Ruppert, David Young, Kaden Mielke, Jack Clark and Garrett Londre and Anthony Hellmer.
Ski Club - Save the Dates!
Thursday, February 1 - Nordic Mountain in Mt. Morris, WI
Saturday, February 17 - Ski Brule in Iron River, MI
Saturday, March 9 - Marquette Mountain in Marquette, MI
Math Club
Congratulations to Nicholas DeBraal who placed first in the Senior division on Monday at the Kimberly Math Meet.
German Class
German students enjoyed their annual trip to the Chicago Christkindlmarket on Dec.6, 2023. They had many opportunities to practice speaking German and taste authentic German foods!
Vocations
Three SMCHS students attended the St. Andrew Dinner at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral on Wednesday, December 27. The event offered an opportunity for those who want to learn more about the priesthood to come together for prayer, a meal, and formation. Carson Emenecker, Dominic Todd, and Ben Schoeni attended the dinner along with Fr. Matt Rappl, '09 alumnus of SMCHS, and Fr. Mark Mleziva, our Chaplain.
Zephyrs Athletics
Volunteering for Athletic Events
Volunteering at our home high school athletic events is mandatory for families that have students participating in sports. Families are required to help fill five volunteer spots per student-athlete, per co-curricular athletic activity (to a maximum of 20 spots per family annually).
High School Winter Sport Volunteer Sign Up
EVERY high school student is also required to take one shift of volunteer time during the 2023-2024 school year. Students may sign up for more than one shift.
Counseling News
Military Visit
WI Army National Guard on Friday, January 12 @11:35am
Youth Apprenticeships
The Youth Apprenticeship Coordinator will be at SMC on Monday, February 12, during Z- Block to talk with students interested about applying or learning more about the program.
Badger PreCollege Events
For students completing grades 9-12:
Summer Music Clinic June 23-29, 2024 - Daily commuter and residential options.
Summer Arts Clinic June 30 - July 6 - Daily commuter-only program.
Study Abroad Summer 2024
University of Notre Dame offers opportunities to study abroad in Italy, London, Ireland and South Africa. Applications are due January 22, 2024. Details can be found here.
Law Enforcement Career Academy
students who are currently in their junior or senior year and are interested in working in law enforcement or related field may apply for the Wisconsin American Legion Law Enforcement Career Academy (WALLECA). This 5 day camp offers physical fitness training, class room instruction and hands on experiences July 29- August 2, 2024 at the Wisconsin State Patrol Training Academy at Fort McCoy. The academy is free to the cadets and includes lodging, meals and supplies. Students may apply here until March 31.
Tech Savvy for Girls
The American Association of University Women will host a Tech Savvy STEM Conference designed for 6-9th grade girls and their parents on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at the Fox Cities UW Oshkosh Campus. The conference includes hands-on activities led by women in STEM careers, interactive sessions with college recruiters as well as girl empowerment and leadership sessions. The registration window opens on January 12, 2023. Information and registration link https://appleton-wi.aauw.net/. Contact information: apposhtechsavvy@gmail.com
Senior Activities - Save the Dates
Senior Awards - May 8 evening
Senior Retreat - May 22
Baccalaureate Mass - May 23 daytime
Graduation - May 24 evening
FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) information can be found here.
Free Help Completing the FAFSA
Scholarships
Naviance > Colleges > Scholarship Search lists multiple scholarships available to students in grades 9-12. Contact Mrs. Hall at chall@smcatholicschools.org or Mrs. Castagna at jcastagna@smcatholicschools.org with any questions.
The Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region has one of the largest
scholarship programs in northeast Wisconsin. They have 21 scholarships available to SMC seniors here. Deadlines and award amounts vary. The scholarship link is also active in Naviance.
NHS Tutoring
SMC's National Honor Society students offer free tutoring for students in grades 9-12. Use this link to sign up.
University of Wisconsin System Updates
- Applications: Students may apply at apply.wisconsin.edu.
- FAFSA: Will not be available until December or January. More information can be found here.
- Application fees for all UW system schools can be found here.
ACT Test Prep Resources
- Booklets outside School Counseling Office
- Public Library
- Free - study guide, online events, and practice tests can be found here.
- Free Online Practice Tests at Khan Academy Test Prep and Quizlet
- ACT Online Prep™ Interactive program developed by the makers of the ACT Test
- Fox Valley ACT Test Prep Seminar Four day intensive classes (next one December 4-7)
- UW Stevent Point Virtual ACT Prep Course February 3, 2024
- UW Oshkosh ACT Prep - In-Person or Online
- UW Oshkosh SAT/ACT Online Test Prep
- ZAPS ACT Test Prep Seminar
Discipleship Digest
“Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.” We pray these words this Sunday, echoing a young Samuel. What does it mean to be radically available to God? It begins with the core belief that Jesus truly IS calling us – each in a unique way – to a life that fulfills us AND gives God glory.
How do we prepare ourselves to walk our particular path? Just as Jesus entered his mission with the baptism by John in the Jordan River, so we see our own baptism as the entry point to follow in his footsteps. In becoming a child of our heavenly Father, and a “temple of the Holy Spirit”, we become channels to share God’s love.
Following our call certainly this happens in our main vocation – whether as a married person, or priest or religious, etc. But it also may encompass our career, or the way we serve in the community. It includes the small daily ways that we say “Yes” to God. It means living with humility – not thinking less of yourself, as the saying goes, but thinking of yourself less.
Even with humility and trust in God, you won’t see neon signs showing the way forward! We still have to pray – with a listening heart. Look for God’s direction in Scripture, and in the encouragement of those who love you. For starters, build some intentional silence into every day of 2024 so that you can better hear Jesus calling.
Steve Pable, Director of Adult Discipleship Formation
Welcome – Worship – Witness
SMCS News
All Aboard for Turkey Bowling!
Don't wait... Registration closes January 25!
Date: Saturday, January 27, 2024, 1:00 p.m. Get ready for some kid-free fun on the ice at Payne's Point Hook and Spear Club in Neenah! Bundle up and get ready to throw some frozen foul on our turkey bowling ice lanes.
Arrive at the Clubhouse at 1pm, and bowling will start promptly at 1:30. Bowling is optional, cheering is required! Warm up in between matches in the cozy Clubhouse where there will be plenty of appetizers and drinks available. When darkness hits, the fun doesn’t end! Head inside for dinner, games, and live entertainment by Pat Pedersen.
Click here to register.
SMC Alumni Tennis Open
Special thanks to Tess Reddin for her help organizing and Fox Cities Racquet Club for generously hosting. Watch for details for the 2024 Open! We hope more alumni from SMC will join us for this fun, noncompetitive event!
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