News for the week of 2/27/13

Kindergarten celebrated Valentines Day with some wonderful activities! First, they used their iPads to download a graph from their emails to graph candy conversation hearts with a partner! Then, they had a party where they shared their valentines, made a yummy valentines trail mix, and created a stained glass heart!  Click here for even more photos.

Saint Mary's is a "Cool School" & we're excited to share that WFSB will be here at school on Wednesday, 3/6/13, to tape 4 segments to be aired on >>>> as we are featured as a WFSB "Cool School".  To get an idea of what these segments are like, you can watch a few previously featured schools by clicking here.   One of the stories that will be showcased is our current "Diaper Drive".  As this story will showcase our school's commitment to service in the community, we are asking that every family make a special effort to contribute at least one package of diapers to the drive. Diapers will be accepted until Tuesday, 3/5/13.  

IF YOU DO NOT WANT YOUR CHILD(REN) FILMED FOR "COOL SCHOOLS", PLEASE SEND A WRITTEN REQUEST TO YOUR CHILD(REN)'S HOMEROOM TEACHER REQUESTING THAT HE/SHE/THEY BE EXCLUDED FROM ACTIVITIES THAT WILL BE FILMED ON 3/6/13.  

SMS annual Diaper Drive on behalf of the Gifts of Love. Sizes 4,5, and 6 are needed!

Diaper Drive will run from February 25 through March 5. Thanks in advance for your kind attention to this important community service event.

Our March School Mass will take place on Friday, 3/1/13, at 9AM in the church.  Everyone is welcome to join us.  Please remember that no Physical Education Uniforms should be worn to Mass. Our School Mass schedule for the remainder of the school year is as follows:

Friday, April 5
Friday, May 3
Friday, June 7 - Join us at Mass at 10am as we celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2013 and bless them on their way!

All Masses are at 9am unless otherwise noted.

School Calendar Changes for snow day make-up. All of these changes have been applied to our school's Google Master Calendar. Please update your school calendars with these important changes -

Shakesperience Residency for Grades 7 & 8 has been adjusted to makeup for missed sessions. The new performance date is Friday, March 15th at 2:00pm in the Parish Center. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Easter Monday, 4/1/13 - Full day of school for snow day make-up.Prekindergarten Enrichment and Aftercare available.

Thursday, 6/13/13 - Full day of school instead of 12:45 dismissal. Prekindergarten Enrichment and Aftercare available.

Friday, 6/14/13 - Full day of school. Prekindergarten Enrichment and Aftercare available.

Monday, 6/17/13 - Full day of school. Prekindergarten Enrichment and Aftercare available. Field Day for grades K-4 will be held on 6/17 instead of 6/10 at 1pm in the North parking lot.

Tuesday, 6/18/13 - Full day of school instead of 12:45 dismissal. Prekindergarten Enrichment and Aftercare available. Science Day will be held from 9-11am and Physical Education Awards will be presented at 2pm on 6/18 instead of 6/11.

Wednesday, 6/19/13 - Last Day of School. 12:45pm Early Closing - No Prekindergarten Enrichment or Aftercare. The prayer service originally scheduled for 6/13 will be held on 6/19 at 9am. The Academic Awards originally scheduled for 6/12 will be held at 9:45am on 6/19.

March Conference Schedules are now available for viewing on the Parents Only secure page of our school's website. Click here to access the login screen and see what appointments are still available. The file names are 2013marchk5conferenceschedule.pdf for grades K-5 and middleschoolconferenceschedulemarch2013.pdf for grades 6-8. To schedule your conference, please email your requested appointment day/time(s) to SMSOffice@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net or call the school office at 860-658-9412. Please remember that unlike the Parent/Teacher conferences that are held at the end of the first quarter in the Fall, March conferences are not mandatory unless requested by a teacher. No appointment will be scheduled for you unless you request one.

Internet Safety Primer - An Internet Safety Primer designed to provide some basic guidelines and suggestions for internet safety at home has been developed in follow up to our Internet Safety Meeting with Officer Dunne early in February.  The primer is available for download from our school website, click here.

Join us on Friday, March 22, in the Parish center for a "Simple Lenten Soup & Bread Dinner".

Dinner will be followed by the Living Stations of the Cross, enacted by our 8th graders.

Dinner will be served from 5:30pm-6:45pm. Stations will begin promptly at 7:00.

There is no cost for dinner. Donations will be accepted to help defray the cost.

We hope that many families make this a tradition during this Lenten season.

RSVP YES to lessilva98@gmail.com no later than Friday March 8th.  The Living Stations of the Cross will also be presented on Thursday, 3/28/13, at 10am for the whole school community.  Everyone is also most welcome at this presentation.  March 28th is Holy Thursday, this is a 12:45 early dismissal day.  There is no Prekindergarten Enrichment or aftercare.  School is closed on Good Friday, 3/29/13.  Due to snow day makeup - SCHOOL IS OPEN ON MONDAY, 4/1/13.  This is a change to our original school calendar.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available each Monday during Lent from 6-7pm at all parishes in the Archdiocese of Hartford.  Here at St. Mary's, Father Matera and Bishop Rosazza will be available to hear Confessions.  Reception of this Sacrament can be a special and meaningful part of your Lenten journey.

SAVE THE DATE

Please plan to join the St. Mary’s School community at our annual Fairway to Heaven Golf Outing on Monday, May 13, 2013 at the Golf Club of Avon.  The day includes lunch, golf, cocktail hour and dinner as well as a silent and live auction.  Even if you are not a golfer, you are welcome to join us in the evening for the cocktail hour, dinner and auctions.  More information and registration will be available at the beginning of April.  Please invite your fellow golfers to join us at this fun event which benefits the students of St. Mary’s School.

St. Mary's School 2012-2013 Yearbook is available for pre-order sales only! Our children are having an amazing year with wonderful memories being made each day. This is your chance to help keep those memories alive for years to come. The 2012-13 yearbook will include photos of every student from Pre-K through the 8th grade. This is a great way for you and your child to celebrate the happy times & momentous occasions that occurred through out the year, from little shepherds and angels, to Shakespearean drama plus much more! The yearbook must be ordered in advance and costs only $28.00. Orders will be accepted until March 28th. If you place your order by February 28th, your name will be entered into a drawing for an SMS Butter Braid, Cookie dough, and Munson's Chocolate Easter Basket, donated by the class of 2013! You can place a credit card order on line today on Lifetouch's secure website - Click here. Just enter our school code 9415313 and follow the simple instructions. If you prefer cash or check, please click here for an order form.

IOWA Testing begins on Monday, March 11th and continues through Thursday, March 22nd. IOWA tests are administered to students in grades 3-7. A child who arrives at school after 9am wil not have admittance into a testing classroom until the testing session has been completed. It is critical that no interruption should occur to provide the optimal environment for the success of each child. The children have been engaged in practice exercises and learning test taking strategies. The best way for you to prepare your child is to keep their days as routine as possible, ensure a good night's rest and provide a healthy breakfast.

Morning CHOICE Sales will be suspended during IOWA testing.  On 3/11, 3/12, 3/15, and 3/18, there will be no staffing of the CHOICE desk for morning "walk-in" sales.  This will help us keep a quiet atmosphere for testing.  Kid mail orders will still be filled and there will be afternoon sales on Friday, 3/18, from 3-3:30pm.  Thank you for your understanding.

Keeping The Promise To Protect Brochure -The Office of Safe Environment for the Archdiocese of Hartford is asking all parishes and schools to make this brochure available to parents. This brochure was recently published by the United States Council of Catholic Bishops. This brochure summarizes a ten-year progress report to keep the promise to protect children and restore trust. Click here to display a printable copy of the brochure. A copy of the full report: A Ten Year Progress Report can also be viewed and downloaded from www.usccb.org. We encourage everyone to view the brochure.

Home & School Association News

There will be a HSA meeting on Tuesday, 3/5/13, at 7pm in the Grade 4 classroom.  Click here for meeting agenda.

Last Chance for Auction Items!  You can still get a copy of the Kindergarten or Grade 8 photos, a copy of the Lessons & Carols CD with photos by Erin Sullivan or a seat on the bus to the Mohegan Sun Casino on 5/4/13. Click here for an order form.  All orders are due NLT 3/8/13.  Checks should be made payable to St. Mary's HSA.

                                           Training Classes for NEW Altar Servers are beginning this March!
                                          St. Mary's Parish is looking for students to join us
                          in the ministry of serving on the altar.
                                                     If your child is in fourth grade or older they are invited to join us.
                                                There will be four training sessions on the following
                                    Saturdays from 1:30-2:30 PM in the Church:
         March 2, 9, 16, and April 6.
                                                 Candidates must attend all four sessions.

Sixth grade students have really been expanding their knowledge of chemistry with Mr. Noonan.  In the lab this week, students used the periodic table and their iPads to find the mass of hydrochloric acid in moles expressed as grams.  Students also performed an experiment to demonstrate that an acid plus a base yields a salt plus water.  After combining ammonia and hydrochloric acid, students observed the phase change that resulted in a chrystalized precipitate (the salt).  this lab activity provided students with the opportunity to measure using graduated cylinders, observe a chemical reaction accelerated by heat and to review lab safety procedures.