Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Summer Blog Post #3 - Wednesday, July 27, 2016





Another Summer Letter from Mrs. Williamson - Please check your email for a letter from Mrs. Williamson.  The email was sent on Wednesday, July 27th and includes an invitation to become an active part of our school's newly invigorated Home & School Association.  Every family enrolled at SMS is automatically a member and now is a great time for you to share your gifts and talents in an active way!   If you have not received this email, please notify the school office.


Summer Office Hours Continue.  The office is routinely staffed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9am-1pm and by appointment as needed.  Both email and phone messages will be checked regularly.

Summer CHOICE Sales - CHOICE cards will be available for sale on Wednesday, August 10. If you have questions about summer CHOICE sales, please contact Tammy Budnick at the school office.




Getting Ready for a New School Year - Again this summer, the school blog has a "Back to School" Page.  Click here to visit the "Back to School" Page or use the navigation tabs at the top of the blog. Be sure to visit this page frequently for easy access to things like Supply Lists and Summer Assignments. 

Incoming 6th grade students and students new to our middle school will also find a link to a Sign Up Genius for their iPad Deployment meeting with Mrs. Hatch.  Click here to visit the Sign Up Genius. At this meeting,  the required iPad "Big 3" forms (i.e., verify that iPad insurance has been paid, return signed acknowledgements for Parent/Student Handbook and iPad AUP and signed Electronic Use Agreement) should be turned in.  During this appointment, Mrs. Hatch will also review key components of the Acceptable Use Policy, use of the Notability App, school GMail and automatic backup to Google Drive and answer any questions. No incoming sixth grade student, student new to our 7th or 8th grades or student that has been notified that an appointment is required will be given an iPad for school use -even once school begins - until this meeting has taken place. Our goal is to maximize student productivity with the iPad and to better assure appropriate educational use of the device. Questions should be referred to Mrs. Hatch at dhatch@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net or 860-658-9412.

Summer blog posts will continue as news warrants.

Finally, be sure to be on the look out for your "Back to School Mailing" in August.  This year, this "mailing" will be sent to you electronically at the email you have designated as your primary family email address.  If you are not sure that the email address we currently have on file for your family is the "best one to use", please send the email you want used to smsoffice@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.  Put "Back to School Mailing email"in your subject line and we will be sure to update our school database(s).


Hot lunch will begin on Friday, September 16th.  Click here for Hot Lunch Order Form & click here for Hot Lunch Volunteer Sign Up Genius.   All hot lunch orders & payments are due NO LATER THAN AUGUST 22, 2016.  



Summer Playground Dates - Meet new friends and catch up on all your summer news with old friends!

We are excited to share that there will be two SMS Summer Playground dates before the start of school.  One is just for families with students coming to our PreKindergarten and the other is for all SMS families - new and returning!  Both will be held at the St. Mary's School playground. We hope you will be able to join us! 

Please keep in mind that these are not "drop off events".  These play dates are designed so parents/caregivers and students can attend together and get better acquainted. 

To RSVP for either or both of these playground dates, please contact Toni Chagnon at tchagnon@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.

PreKindergarten Summer Playground - Thursday, August 18th at 6:30pm

New & Returning Family Summer Playground - Sunday, August 28th at 5pm.  Mrs. Williamson will be on hand to welcome everyone to a new school year and will have a treat for all children attending.  There will be a "sneak peek" at our new Spirit Wear Shop and the Used Uniform exchange will also be available.


School Uniform Update -

1.  Changes to PE Uniform - We have been advised by Lands End that the windpants and athletic shorts that have been part of our uniform code have been discontinued.  These items have been replaced with the following -
Girls Active Zip Bottom Pants - Navy - Style #470328
Boys Active Zip Bottom Pants - Navy - Style #470204
Girls Peformance Gym Shorts - Navy - Style #470343
Boys Performance Gym Shorts - Navy - Style #470216

And Coming soon!!!!!   More great news for gym uniforms! Mrs. Williamson has approved a gym 
t-shirt option and an additional sweatshirt that will be available for purchase at our New Spirit Wear Shop at Back To School "Knight", Wednesday, September7th.  The new t-shirt is strictly optional - the polo shirt may still be worn on gym days.  The new sweatshirt is also an optional, additional style that may be worn as a uniform garment.

There will also be Spirit Wear Sneak Peek at our playground play date on Sunday, August 28th at 5:00 pm.

2. Knight Logo - Logos are always OPTIONAL at SMS.  A logo is optional on sweaters, polo shirts, gym pants, and sweatshirts. We are working with Lands End to have our school logo updated to our new "knight".  Until the update is complete, if you order a logo, the garment will have our old "window" logo.  These will be acceptable for the life of the garment. We will let you know when the new logo is available.  The new logo will be available on all of our new spirit wear items for 2016-17!

Click here to access the Lands' End School Uniform site.  Our school code is 900132150.  Please do order only items that are on our approved school code list.





Is your family planning summer fun?  Again this year, you are invited to share photos of your family's summer fun and activities with our community.  Summer fun photos can be sent to dhatch@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.






 Megan S. at Hatteras National Seashore with 7' sand tiger shark.

Friday, July 22, 2016

SMS Summer News #2




Summer Letter from Mrs. Williamson - Please check your email for a letter from Mrs. Williamson.  The email was sent on Friday, 7/22.   If you have not received this email, please notify the school office.



Summer Office Hours Continue.  The office is routinely staffed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9am-1pm and by appointment as needed.  Both email and phone messages will be checked regularly.

Summer CHOICE Sales - CHOICE cards will be available for sale on Wednesday, August 10. If you have questions about summer CHOICE sales, please contact Tammy Budnick at the school office.




Getting Ready for a New School Year - Again this summer, the school blog has a "Back to School" Page.  Click here to visit the "Back to School" Page or use the navigation tabs at the top of the blog. Be sure to visit this page frequently for easy access to things like Supply Lists and Summer Assignments. 




Incoming 6th grade students and students new to our middle school will also find a link to a Sign Up Genius for their iPad Deployment meeting with Mrs. Hatch.  Click here to visit the Sign Up Genius. At this meeting,  the required iPad "Big 3" forms (i.e., verify that iPad insurance has been paid, return signed acknowledgements for Parent/Student Handbook and iPad AUP and signed Electronic Use Agreement) should be turned in.  During this appointment, Mrs. Hatch will also review key components of the Acceptable Use Policy, use of the Notability App, school GMail and automatic backup to Google Drive and answer any questions. No incoming sixth grade student, student new to our 7th or 8th grades or student that has been notified that an appointment is required will be given an iPad for school use -even once school begins - until this meeting has taken place. Our goal is to maximize student productivity with the iPad and to better assure appropriate educational use of the device. Questions should be referred to Mrs. Hatch at dhatch@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net or 860-658-9412.

Summer blog posts will continue as news warrants.

Finally, be sure to be on the look out for your "Back to School Mailing" in August.  This year, this "mailing" will be sent to you electronically at the email you have designated as your primary family email address.  If you are not sure that the email address we currently have on file for your family is the "best one to use", please send the email you want used to smsoffice@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.  Put "Back to School Mailing email"in your subject line and we will be sure to update our school database(s).


Hot lunch will begin on Friday, September 16th.  Click here for Hot Lunch Order Form & click here for Hot Lunch Volunteer Sign Up Genius.   All hot lunch orders & payments are due NO LATER THAN AUGUST 22, 2016.  





Is your family planning summer fun?  Again this year, you are invited to share photos of your family's summer fun and activities with our community.  Summer fun photos can be sent to dhatch@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.









Alumni News

Our congratulations to Marty Wall, SMS Class of '15. Marty has achieved the distinction of being named to the Principal’s List for his outstanding academic achievement throughout the 2016-17 school year. Marty also earned Honors for the 4th quarter at Xavier High School.

Congratulations to Katheryn Pettibone, SMS Class of '14.  Katheryn has achieved First Honors for the fourth quarter at East Catholic High School.

We also extend our congratulations to the alumni who have achieved honor roll status for the 4th quarter at Simsbury High School.  These students include:

SMS Class of '12 - High Honors:  Maryanne Gunn      Honors: Jennifer Kornacki
SMS Class of '13 - High Honors:  Griffin Myslow       Honors:  Nicole Gomez-Nieto & Joseph Leon
SMS Class of '14 - High Honors:  Domenico Cirielli   Honors:  Spencer Bernard, Parker Myslow & Robert Tomasello
SMS Class of '15 - High Honors:  Mark Bedson







The Pericat family has completed a 2 week trip by RV to Niagara Falls, Football Hall of Fame, Gettysburg, Hershey Park and many places in between. Is your family having summer fun?  If so and you'd like to share with the community, please send email to dhatch@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.