SMCHS Newsletter
08.16.2023
SMCHS NEWSLETTER
September 6, 2023
Upcoming Events
Friday, September 8: All System Mass @9am in Gym | Freshman & New Student Dinner
Wednesday, September 13: Blood Drive
Thursday, September 14: Mass @9:21am
Thursday, September 21: Mass @9:21am
Friday, September 22: NO SCHOOL
New Student & Family Dinner - RSVP by 3pm TODAY
Incoming freshmen, new students, and their families are invited to join us for dinner and social time this Friday, September 8, at 5:30pm. It will be a great opportunity to get to know one another and we would love to have you join us that evening for the Varsity football game. Please use this link to RSVP today.
Blood Drive
The Community Blood Center will be on campus Wednesday, September 13, from 8:00 - 10:30am for our annual blood drive. When we give blood with the Community Blood Center, we help ensure that hospitals receive a steady blood supply. Donating blood is easy! To participate you must:
- be at least 17 years old (16 with parent permission)
- weigh at least 110 pounds
- be in good health
Attendance
If your child will be absent for any portion of the day, please let Mrs. Fields know before 8:00am if at all possible. The SMC Attendance email is no longer being used so you can call the office at 920-722-7796 or email Mrs. Fields. Students in grades 9-11 who leave the building must pick up a pass in the office and give that to their teacher in order to be excused from class. When students return, they must sign in at the front desk and pick up another pass allowing them to return to class.
School Photos
Orders
Student photos may be ordered at www.harmann.com/ordering
Password: STMARYNHS2023
Reference Number: Found on the sheet they received on picture day
If you do not know your child’s reference number, you can fill out the reference request form to have it emailed to you within one business day. Please note that orders received more than seven days after picture day may be delayed in processing by up to eight weeks. If you are unable to order online, please call Harman Studios at 1-800-236-8910 or email customercare@harmann.com.
Retakes
If you would like your child's picture retaken, you must complete the retake form by Friday, October 6. Pictures will be retaken on Friday, October 13. Please contact Harman Studios at 1-800-236-8910 or customercare@harmann.com with any questions. Thank you.
School Safety Information
Parent Handout - Safety, English: https://drive.google.com/file/d/192j_V-zes2OAapC82sBULP9C-c8N2hhS/view
Parent Handout - Safety, Spanish: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zu-3o7MxVXzXltux7467lR7u2gDt2ERz/view
School Forms - Please Complete Online ASAP
Please make sure to view and sign all back-to-school documents in PowerSchool as soon as possible. PowerSchool can be accessed online at https://gbdioc.powerschool.com/public/.
and/or by downloading the PowerSchool app. The SMCS district code is MNJQ.
PowerSchool is our primary resource for emergency numbers and mailing addresses for important school documents. Please contact Martha Barraza with any questions.
Zephyrs Sports/Activities Updates
VEX/VEXIQ
The kick off meeting will be Wednesday, September 6 from 6:00-7:00pm in the Fine Arts Center. All registered and interested students/parents are encouraged to attend. This is an informational meeting to start the VEX/VEXIQ season.
Volunteering Requirements
Families of participants in every athletic activity 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 Fall Sport Volunteer Sign Up
Zephyrs Connect Volunteer Sign Up
EVERY high school student is required to take one shift of volunteer time during the 2023-2024 school year. Students were informed during orientation and the hours count towards the 15 hour/ year volunteer requirement for graduation. Here is the student sign up to work concessions: https://signup.com/go/XaxyYVW. Students may sign up for more than one shift.
Thank you all for your help - we couldn't do this without you!
Registration/Athletic Fees
All required paperwork for participation in sports is completed online using this link. Registration and fee payments for all high school athletics will also be done online. Registration fees have increased to $175 for all winter sports. Registration for High School Winter Sports will close on September 15. NO LATE REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Contact Mr. Schoultz, SMCHS Athletic Director, for additional information.
SMC High School Athletics Registration and Fee Payment – Click Here
Counseling News
College Visits
University of Portland - Wednesday, September 6 @8:00am
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh - Thursday, September 21 @8:00am
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay - Tuesday, Septemer 26 @1:00pm
Saint Louis University - Wednesday, September 27 @1:00pm
Lawrence University - Friday, September 29 @10:00am
Marquette University - Wednesday, October 4 @1:00pm
St Olaf College (MN) - Tuesday, October 10, 2023 at 8:00am
Marian University - Fond du Lac - Friday, October 13 @1:00pm
Carroll University - Wednesday, October 18 @ 10:00am
University of Denver - Wednesday, October 25 @10:00am
Northern Michigan University - Tuesday, October 31 @8:00am
Military Visits
WI Army National Guard - Friday, September 15 @11:35am
University of Wisconsin System Updates
- Applications: The online application is now open for the Fall 2024 term. Students may apply at apply.wisconsin.edu.
- FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has typically been available on October 1. Due to changes this year, it will not be available to students until December. More information regarding FAFSA changes and timelines can be found at this link.
- New Application Fees: The following campuses will charge an application fee for every application submitted for Fall 2024 enrollment: UW-Eau Claire ($25), UW-La Crosse ($25), and UW-Madison ($70).
- For the other campuses, students may submit up to three applications for free to either the main campus or branch campus. After that, students will be charged $25 per application.
- UW-Stevens Point and UW-Whitewater allow students to apply to both their main campuses and branch campuses. Doing so will incur the same fee as applying to any single campus within that university.
- More information can be found on the UW HELP FAQ page under the "Application Fees" section: uwhelp.wisconsin.edu/faqs
- UW System Admissions Panels: Hear from UW campus representatives about admission, campus updates, upcoming special campus events and more. Campus representatives will be available to answer any questions students may have regarding admission to these campuses. Students and families are encouraged to attend. Registration is required.
- UW-La Crosse, UW-Madison, UW-Milwaukee and UW-Whitewater - Tuesday, October 17 at 4:30 PM - Register Here
- UW Oshkosh, UW-Platteville, and UW-Stevens Point - Thursday, October 19 at 4:30 PM - Register Here
- UW-Eau Claire, UW-Green Bay, UW-River Falls, and UW-Stout - Tuesday, October 24 at 4:30 PM - Register Here
University of Wisconsin - Madison Scholarship Hub (WiSH)
Once applicants have submitted their application to UW–Madison and activated their NetID and password, they will be eligible for scholarships that are awarded automatically. Applicants can also apply for scholarships that require an application for consideration through the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH), a one-stop shop for finding the scholarships students are eligible for. Applicants should not wait until they have been admitted before applying for scholarships. Scholarships will have varying deadlines, but most will have a deadline of February 1.
Consortium Student Event
Cornell University, Emory University, Pomona College, Rice University and Washington University are offering a virtual presentation for students and their families on Wednesday, September 27 at 7:00pm CT. Hear from admission officers from each of their respective institutions and learn more about what unites them. Register here.
Senior Meetings
Mrs. Castagna met with seniors to review senior year requirements/options, post high school planning, college applications, scholarships, and aid. Materials are available in Naviance.
October 11 High School Testing Day
Students in grades 9-10 will take the PreACT and students in grade 11 will have the option to take the PreACT or the PSAT/NMSQT (an email was sent to parents of juniors with details on September 7). Students in grade 12 will be working on post-secondary planning.
AP Exams
AP exam registration for yearlong courses will take place online in the fall. Test orders will be confirmed with parents in October. Testing fees are $98 per test. Tests for AP classes which begin in the Spring will be ordered in the Spring. Watch for details.
Technical College Open Houses
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) – September 27 from 3-6pm
Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) – October 3 from 3-7pm. Application fees are waived at the event.
College Fairs
Wisconsin Education Fair (WEF) at UW Oshkosh on Thursday, September 28 from 9-11am. Over 100 colleges, universities, military branches, and specialty schools will be represented.
National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) hosts in-person and virtual fairs with 175-400 representatives.
Virtus Training for Volunteers
We are so grateful to all our volunteers who contribute so much to our schools! If you are considering volunteering or chaperoning any school field trips or events, please complete Virtus training, a background check, and the code of conduct through the Diocese Green Bay. Visit our Volunteer Hub to get started.
First Friday Adoration
Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to spend an hour with our Lord. Please keep close in your prayers the students, faculty and staff that they may experience a safe and productive school year. Pray for peace in our school and in our hearts. First Friday Adoration takes place in the SMCHS chapel. Sign up for a slot here.
Discipleship Digest
“Thy will be done…”
We pray these words frequently, but we struggle to know God’s will – for our families, our neighborhoods, our workplaces, our churches, our country. And let’s face it – we get it wrong. A lot. Who among us has not caused Jesus to do a facepalm?
If we are the hands, feet, ears, and voice of Christ, we have a grave responsibility to live up to the name “Christian”. Do our words and behavior radiate the love and joy of the Gospel? Or do we undermine God’s mercy with self-righteousness? As one commentator observed, many people today are not so concerned with whether Christianity is TRUE; they first need to be convinced that Christianity is GOOD. This is not Jesus’ fault, but ours.
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me…”
This may not be the path that we would choose, but it is the way that the Lord walked, even when Peter and the disciples thought it was a terrible plan.
What do I put ahead of Jesus? Does my political allegiance speak more loudly than my love of God and neighbor? Am I more concerned about approval than I am about integrity? Do I conform my mind to that of Christ, laying down my life? Lord, help us to know your will and follow it!
©Steve Pable, Director of Adult Discipleship Formation
Welcome – Worship – Witness
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