SMCHS Newsletter
SMCHS NEWSLETTER
December 13, 2023
Upcoming Events
Monday, December 11 - Thursday, December 20: HS/MS Art Show
Thursday, December 14: Reconciliation @10:43am | VEX Tournament @UWO Fox Cities
Monday, December 18 - Band & Choir Concert @6pm
Monday, December 18 - Thursday, December 21: Course Registration Grades 10 & 11 | Christmas Dress Up Days (details below)
Friday, December 22: No School | Staff Professional Development
Monday, December 25 - Tuesday January 2: Christmas Break
Wednesday, December 27: St. Andrew Vocations Dinner
Tuesday, January 2: No School | Staff Professional Development
Thursday, January 4: Big East Honors Band & Choir @Manitowoc
Thursday January 4 - Friday, January 5: Course Registration Grade 9 (see below)
Saturday, January 6: Vex Tournament @SMCHS
Monday, January 8: Math Meet @Kimberly
Tuesday, January 9: Spirit Wear Day
Thursday, January 11: VEX Tournament @UWO Fox Cities
Friday, January 12: First Friday Mass @7:25 | Adoration
Wednesday, January 17 - Friday, January 19: Finals
Friday, January 19: Last Day of Semester 1
Christmas Break Office Hours
The school and business offices will be closed from noon on Friday, December 22 through Monday, January 1, 2023. Both offices will reopen on Tuesday, January 2. School resumes on Wednesday, January 3.
Merry Christmas and may God richly bless you in the new year!
2024-25 Course Registration
Current Juniors - December 18 & 19
Current Sophomores - December 20 & 21
Current Freshmen - January 4 & 5
Arrangements will be made with students who are absent.
Christmas Gifts for our Teachers
We are organizing collection for Christmas gifts for our teachers. This is a great way to recognize our wonderful staff with one easy donation. Contributing is completely optional.
If you would like to contribute, please send the donation in an envelope to the school office addressed TEACHER CHRISTMAS GIFTS by Monday, December 18. Thank you!
Vocations
The Vocation Office is hosting the St. Andrew Dinner on December 27, where individuals interested in priesthood can learn more. For details, contact Fr. Mark or Mr. Picard.
First Semester Finals Information
All students debts must be paid (lunch balance or other) before finals.
- Finals for hours 1, 2, 6 will be on Wednesday, January 17.
- Finals for hours 3, 4, 7 will be on Thursday, January 18.
- Finals for hours 8, 5 will be on Friday, January 19.
- 9/10 grade study halls will be the same as on a normal school day.
- 11th grade study halls are optional
- 11/12 grade students are able to leave for lunch.
- We will have 25 minute breaks between finals.
- Students are required to be present for their final exam period.
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.
Sleep In Heavenly Peace Donation Update
We are excited to report that the high school raised $1500 in our campaign for Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP), a national nonprofit that raises funds for children living in poverty who are in need of a bed. Thank you so much to everyone who donated. The pajama/OODC days for our students and staff were also very appreciated!
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done. Proverbs 19:17
Zephyrs Fine Arts
Christmas Concert
Honors Band & Choir
Congratulations to our students who will be performing in the Big East Honors Band & Choir Performances on Thursday, January 4 at 6:30pm at the Capitol Civic Centre in Manitowoc.
- Band - Gabriel Groom, John Osland, Alex Walsh
- Choir - Nathan Bekkers, Paige Danen, Norah Lee, Ray Pingel, Mary McCurdy, Tessa Rutchik
Visual Art
The HS/MS Winter Art Show is in the FAEC Lobby from now through December 20. High school art was set up "gallery style" by our high school artists and all of the items on display have been created by SMCS middle and high school students.
We are so proud of all of our Zephyrs Fine Artists!
Zephyrs VEX Robotics
Zephyrs Math
Congratulations to Zach Beyer, Bowen Cheng, Ethan Gustafson, Jacob Hall, and Audrey Weber for placing FIRST in the Small School Division. A special congratulations to Bowen Cheng who placed 4th in the sophomore age group!
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
Senior Activities - Save the Dates
Senior Awards - May 8 evening
Baccalaureate Mass - May 23 daytime
Graduation - May 24 evening
FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) will be available on December 31. Additional information can be found here.
Free Help Completing the FAFSA
Find a UW Campus that's Right for You!
Join UW HELP for a live demonstration of the UW Journey app. Learn how to use UW Journey to determine which UW campuses are your best fit based on your interests and preferences. Registration is required.
- Tuesday, January 9 at 4:00 PM - Register Here
- Thursday, January 18 at 4:30 PM - Register Here
Badger State
Each summer SMC selects one boy and one girl from the junior class to attend Badger Girls State and Badger Boys State. Held in the summer, these programs offer students the chance to run for political offices and experience how our government operates. Students who attend Girls State will have the opportunity to apply for 4 scholarships during their senior year of high school. Students who attend Boys State will receive $1,000 off college tuition if they are accepted, and plan to attend, UW-Eau Claire, which is the host sight for BBS. A google form will be sent to juniors in mid-December.
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
This magnificent piece of art and engineering is a Fresnel lens. Developed by French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel (“fruh-NELL”), it was once cutting-edge optical technology. Its genius is that it captures and concentrates a light source, enabling it to be seen across great distances – over 20 miles in one of the first lighthouse installations in 1823. Variations on Fresnel lenses are still used today for headlights, cameras, magnification, and solar energy applications.
A Christian disciple is like that lens. As John the Baptist came “to testify to the light” (John 1:8), so our baptism calls us to reflect and focus the true light of the long-awaited Messiah. Our hurting world needs a beacon of hope and a cause for rejoicing! The Fresnel lens is most effective when its facets are precisely fashioned and placed in relationship to one another. They capture and direct the light with clarity and integrity. But dirty or cracked glass obscures the light. Likewise, if we are soiled or broken by our sin, or try to be our own light source, we dim the Light of Christ.
The clearer we are, the more authentically we show forth His mercy and glory. How will we live more fully and joyfully in this Season? Paul directs us to radiate joy: “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks…” (1 Thes. 5:16-18) Then we, like Mary, will actually “magnify” the greatness of the Lord. Together, let’s make His love visible to all!
Steve Pable, Director of Adult Discipleship Formation
Welcome – Worship – Witness
SMCS News
SMCS Alumni Tennis Open
Join us for the first annual SMCS Alumni Tennis Open on December 27, from 1-4pm at Fox Cities Racquet Club! All tennis team alumni and current players are welcome! Register here by December 8th. The cost is $20 and includes a t-shirt and court fees. Any overage will be donated to the SMCS tennis program. We hope to see you there!
Helpful Links
Follow us on social media!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/smcatholicschools
Instagram: www.instagram.com/smcszephyrs
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Zephyr_Sports