SMCHS Newsletter
SMCHS NEWSLETTER
November 15, 2023
Upcoming Events
Thursday, November 16: Mass @9:21am
Friday, November 17: Milwaukee Holiday Folk Fair Field Trip
Monday, November 20 - Friday, November 24: Thanksgiving Break
Thursday, November 30: Mass @9:21am
Friday, December 1: First Friday Mass @7:25am | Adoration
Wednesday, December 13: Junior Planning Night
Junior Planning Night - Save the Date!
Juniors and their parents are highly encouraged to attend Junior Planning Night on Wednesday, December 13 at 6:00pm in the Jane Bergstrom Fine Arts Education Center. The evening will begin with course registration information. Parents will be given a packet with information specific to their child including a transcript, PreAct or PSAT test results, service hours, and detailed post-secondary planning information.
Next families may choose to attend up to three of the twenty-minute sessions being offered from the following presenters:
- University of Wisconsin System
- Private Colleges
- Technical Colleges
- Military
- Youth Apprenticeships
- Course Registration Q&A
2024-25 Course Registration
Current Juniors - December 18 & 19
Current Sophomores - December 20 & 21
Current Freshmen - January 4 & 5
Lunch Balances
Please check your child's lunch account in PowerSchool to ensure a positive balance before Thanksgiving break. It is also important to have sufficient funds for them to purchase meals for the week(s) ahead whenever possible. We appreciate your cooperation.
Thanksgiving Holiday Office Hours
The school and business offices will be closed Monday, November 20 through Friday, November 24. School and normal office hours resume on Monday, November 27.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."
1 Chronicles 16:34
Zephyrs Math Team
Congratulations to the Math Team who placed first at the meet on Monday, November 13 with a team score of 131 points! Nicholas DeBraal placed fourth individually in the senior division with a score of 29 points. Team members include Nate Pable, Charlie Cedergren, John Osland, Jacob Hall, Bowen Cheng, Vivian Koski, Olivia Nagel, Nicholas DeBraal, and Breelyn Pauly.
Zephyrs Fine Arts
Calling all talented performers and enthusiasts! Don't miss your chance to audition for Shrek the Musical and be a part of a magical journey filled with humor, heart, and unforgettable characters. Join us in bringing this beloved fairy tale to life on stage. Auditions will be at the high school on November 28 after school. Click here for complete details or email any questions to Mr. Conner at econner@smcatholicschools.org.
Zephyrs Athletics
Congratulations to all of our Fall Sport Athletes - we are so proud of you!
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
College / Military Visits
Wisconsin Air National Guard - Thursday, November 16 @1:30pm
Northern Michigan University - Thursday, December 7 @10:00am
Midwest College Showcase
These virtual events will help students learn more about 27 small Midwest private residential colleges.
Wednesday, November 29 from 5:00pm - 7:00pm or
Thursday, November 30 from 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Free Help Completing the FAFSA
College Goal Wisconsin has announced dates and locations for their free FAFSA workshops. Use this link to register and find our what materials you need to bring with you.
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.
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Fall Preview Events
Friday, November 17 – Titan Preview (All Majors)
Friday, December 1 – Health Science Titan Preview
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.
NACAC College Fairs
National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) hosts in-person and virtual fairs with 175-400 representatives.
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 class
- UW Oshkosh ACT Prep - In-Person or Online
- UW Oshkosh SAT/ACT Online Test Prep
- ZAPS ACT Test Prep Seminar
Discipleship Digest
Every day – many times a day – we decide how to use our gifts. What do we do with our time? Our skills? Our personal interactions? Jesus has some investment advice for us.
“Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them and made another five.” (Mt. 25:16) There is no “sure thing” to grow our financial portfolio. Similarly, we don’t always know how to multiply our other assets – spiritual, relational, etc. But here are some techniques that don’t work!
Drag your feet. Notice how the servant jumps right into trading with the resources from his master. It’s always a good time to build a relationship! Call or text or send a card to let someone know you appreciate them or are thinking of them.
Scroll your phone. Who feels good after five minutes (or a half hour or more!) of thumbing through social media or bad news? Filling empty space with these distractions keeps us from prayer, exercise, personal connection, and countless other priorities.
Project negativity toward others. Everyone loves the naysayer who serves up doom and gloom. NOT. Christians are people of hope! Our brains are more productive and creative when conversations focus on the positive. Begin by loving and lifting up those around you, rather than worrying about things you can’t control.
Investment involves risk… but let’s not bury the treasure entrusted to us!
Steve Pable, Director of Adult Discipleship Formation
Welcome – Worship – Witness
SMCS News
Zephyrs Spirit Stop
Check out the Spirit Stop today for all your Zephyrs gear needs! Order Spirit wear now for Christmas gifts, as there is a two week turnaround time for most products.
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!
Digital Citizenship Resources for Family Engagement
As a parent, you want to do everything you can to help your child succeed. That includes teaching them how to use technology responsibly and safely. In today's digital world, that can be a challenge - that's where Common Sense Education comes in.
Common Sense Education is a non-profit organization that provides resources for parents and educators on how to help children thrive in the digital age. Their website is a treasure trove of information, including:
- Age-based media and tech recommendations
- Tips for talking to kids about technology
- Family Tech Planners
- Digital citizenship lessons
- And more!
Parents should use Common Sense Education because:
- It's evidence-based. Common Sense Education's resources are based on research and best practices.
- It's comprehensive. Common Sense Education covers everything from screen time limits to cyberbullying to social media safety.
- It's engaging. Common Sense Education's resources are easy to read and understand, and they often include videos and other multimedia content.
- It's free. Common Sense Education's resources are available for free to anyone.
Check out the “Family Tips” and “Family Activities” surrounding digital citizenship using this link. Each section has engaging and age appropriate content for you and your children.
Thank you for partnering with us to raise digital citizens who are smart, safe, and successful.
Helpful Links
Follow us on social media!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/smcatholicschools
Instagram: www.instagram.com/smcszephyrs
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Zephyr_Sports