Wednesday, September 6, 2017

News for the Week of 9/6/17




Tonight - Wednesday, 9/6/17, is Back to School Knight for Parents!  

We are looking forward to seeing you and giving you a chance to peek into our school day, hear about our goals for this year, shop in our Spirit Shop and get an update about the Campus Connection building project.

The evening will begin with a meeting for parents with students beginning instrumental music and band lessons for the first time this year.  If you have a student entering grades 4-8 that is interested in beginning instrumental music and band with our Future Musician's instructor, Mrs. Debbie Morse, please plan to meet in the music/art portable at 6pm. NOTE - This meeting is NOT required for parents of students that have previously participated in band.

"Back to School Knight for Parents" will begin at 6:30pm in the Parish Center.  Mrs. Williamson will have opening remarks addressing our goals for the year and news about our newly revitalized Home & School Association and the Campus Connection building project. This will also be your opportunity to visit your child(ren)'s homeroom classrooms, meet teachers and learn more about the school day and this year's expectations for a great school year.

The "Spirit Shop" will be open at "Back to School Knight" with samples of many of the items available and order forms.  The tee shirt that is approved as part of our Physical Education uniform is in stock and may be purchased for $15.  Non-uniform items like pajama pants and baseball hats will also be available for sale.



Monday, 9/11/17 - Individual Student Photos of students in PreK, K-7 will be taken by Lifetouch Photography. Picture Day order forms were sent home today (Wednesday, 9/6/17) with all students in PreK, and grades K-7.   Even if no pictures are being ordered, a photo will be taken of each student for our school yearbook.  Students may wear casual dress appropriate for school for picture day.  Eighth grade individual student photos will be taken on another date.  Eighth grade students should wear the uniform of the day on 9/11/17. 



Cadet & Advanced Band and Instrumental Lessons will begin on Monday, September 11.  





Tuesday, 9/12/17- School Mass at 9am. All are welcome to join us in worship.  Please remember that no PE uniforms should be worn to Mass.  










Our school will celebrate its 60th anniversary at the 5pm Mass on Saturday,  September 23rd.  Our expectation is that all families will want to attend this Mass.  Our Home & School Association will host a reception following Mass. Please see Home & School News below for more information. Students in Kindergarten - grade 8 are requested to wear their relaxed uniforms.






Hot Lunch will begin on Friday, September 8th. Hot Lunch Volunteers are still needed!  At this time, we have only 2 volunteers for Friday, 9/8.  If you are Virtus trained and can help out, even just once in a while, please click here to visit the Sign Up Genius and volunteer.  Training is provided and a lunch room coordinator is always on hand to help with questions.

The hot lunch "open order" period for October will begin on Monday, September 11th.  Orders may be placed using the Educonnect Parent Portal until Friday, September 15th.  Please keep in mind that NO late orders can be accepted.  If you miss the open order period, you will have to wait for the next open order period to order lunches for November. Please send in your payment as soon as your order has been entered in Educonnect.  Your order is not considered final until your payment is received.  Click here to access the Educonnect Parent Portal.  Your user id and password were included in your "Back to School" email packet.




Virtus Training - Anyone who wishes to volunteer here at school does need to complete Virtus training and fill out a form for completion of a background check.  There will be a Virtus training session here at SMS on Tuesday, September 12th at 6:30pm in the 5th grade classroom.  Please RSVP for this session by emailing smsoffice@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.  Please include your name and contact information.  If you need to complete Virtus training and cannot make the 9/12 session here at SMS, click here for a list of other training sessions available in the Archdiocese of Hartford.





P.E. Club starts Wednesday, September 13th! 
Note new start date!
Students in grades 2-8 are invited to join this active, fun club. 
 Click here for a sign up form.





Your response is requested NLT Friday, September 8.

Calling all Ski & Snowboard Enthusiasts!  Before you know it, we will be thinking about winter sports.  The SMS Ski & Snowboard Club has long been a popular activity in January each year.  This club is open to students in grades 3 and up.  Participants travel to Ski Sundown for 5 outings on Wednesdays during January and early February.  Lessons and equipment rental are available at an additional cost. Participants are generally dismissed from school at 3pm.  If there are sufficient participants, bus transportation can be explored, otherwise club participants arrange carpools.  At this time, we would like to get a better idea of how many of our students would like to participate this year so that we can determine if the club is still viable.  We are also in search of a coordinator for the club for this year.  Please send an email to smsoffice@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net indicated the names and grades of students interested in participating and if you are interested in coordinating the club.  


Home & School Association News

 H.S.A. will begin the year with planning for representation at the Parish Picnic on Sunday,September 17th from 3-5pm. The school will have a table with information that will need staffing and we need as many school families as possible to attend the picnic. Show our #uKnighted St. Mary’s School pride!

The next important event needing HSA organization is  the reception following our Anniversary Mass on Saturday, September 23.  Planning has already begun but we are still looking for volunteers to co-chair this event.  Please contact Mrs. Williamson. 






It's time to plant your mums & support Grade 8 Fundraising - Each year, our 8th grade students conduct a number of fund raisers to help defray costs associated with their graduation and field trip. Click here for an order form for beautiful fall mums & mark your calendars for the 8th grade car wash on Saturday, September 16th from 9:30am-1pm in the North (playground) parking lot.  

Thanks in advance for your support of our 8th grade.








Saint Mary's Stars - 
On Friday, September 8th, Rebecca Lobo Rushin, mother of Siobhan, Gr. 8; Maeve, Gr. 6;  Thomas, Gr. 4 and Rose, Gr. 2, will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA.  Our student body celebrated this amazing accomplishment at our Morning Prayer & Assembly on Tuesday, September 5th.







Box Tops for Education -  Have you been clipping this summer?  Our school will continue to participate in the Box Tops for Education program.  Box Tops may be sent into school at any time.  All homeroom classrooms have a collection box.  Our thanks to Doreen Mikan for agreeing to coordinate the Box Tops programs this year.


Stop & Shop A+ Rewards - Our school will again participate in the Stop & Shop A+ Rewards program.  If you participated last year, you do NOT need to re-register your card.  If you are new to the program, you can register your Stop & Shop card beginning 9/11/17. Click here and select Savings & Rewards. Follow the prompts to create your online account. You’ll need your 13-digit Stop & Shop Card number and the School ID # - 06075.  The program will run from October 6, 2017 - March 17, 2018 and you may register for up to 2 schools.


Shoprite for Education -  Our school will also participate in the Shoprite for Education program.  Shoprite does require that shopper cards be registered every year.  To register online, click here and use our school code -18436.



Community News

Parish Family Picnic! Sunday Sept. 17th!
Calling all School and Church Families to come together on Sunday, September 17th, from 3-5PM for a St. Mary's Parish Picnic, in the North Parking Lot (or the fun will move inside the Parish Center in case of rain.) We will provide the Hamburgers, Hot Dogs and Beverages. You bring a Potluck Side Dish or Dessert to share. Enjoy great food, music, games and a photo booth! Reconnect with and meet new friends. Sign-up at the church doors or click here. Please RSVP by September 13th. "Day of" volunteers needed, please call Rhoda 860-651-4027. Come and celebrate our parish family at the best picnic ever! 


Have you always wanted to drive a Corvette? 
 There's still time to purchase tickets in the school office!



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