News for the Week of 3/21/18

POSTPONED - The School Board meeting scheduled for tonight Wednesday, 3/21/18, has been postponed.  The School Board Meeting will now be held on Tuesday, April 3rd at 7pm in the lower church.  All are welcome.  Mrs. Williamson will present the annual State of the School report.

School Board News - Do you know someone interested in serving our school as a member of our School Board?  Would you like to be a part of our School Board?  There will be 2 openings on our board for the 18-19 school year.  Please contact Sarah Mutarelli, SMS School Board Chair, if you want to learn more or would like to be considered for nomination.

Lenten Service Project - Help Us Fill Up Easter Baskets -Your Help is Needed by Monday, 3/26/18

One of our service projects for Lent will be to create Easter baskets for the Waste Not Want Not Community Kitchen in Granby. SMS students from all grades will work together to create these baskets from the items sent in from home. We ask that items be sent in by Monday, 3/26.  Please help us help others! Please visit sign up genius to choose what you will donate - click here.

Munsons Chocolates - Ready for Pick Up on Friday!  Thanks to all who ordered from the Gr. 7 Munsons Chocolates Fundraiser.  Chocolates will be ready for pickup on Friday, 3/23, from 3-4pm in the lower church.  Questions about pickup?  Please contact Jen Darnowski.






Palm Sunday Procession - Father Matera is inviting the children of Saint Mary's Parish to process with palms from the Parish Center to the Church, before the 9:30am Mass this Sunday, March 25. Children who wish to participate in this year's Palm Sunday Procession should assemble in the Parish Center at 9:10am.





Athletic News - Congratulations to everyone who made this year's basketball season so terrific!  Our special thanks to Mr. G. and all those that volunteered to coach our teams.  The JVA Boys and Varsity Girls ended their seasons with hard fought games that demonstrated great spirit, teamwork and good sportsmanship. We are proud to share that the JVA Boys are Deanery Champions! #uKnighted!

Boys JVA - Deanery Champions!

Blue Knight Night will be held on Monday, March 26th from 6:30-8pm at the Ethel Walker School.  Blue Knight Night is a celebration of our Junior Varsity Boys and Girls & Boys Varsity Teams' seasons.  Players will have certificates and awards handed out.  Coaches will summarize the season. There will also be a Player vs. Parents scrimmage.  Players should wear their team jerseys.  Parents should wear athletic attire for the scrimmage.

Bon Anniversaire!  Our school community treated our favorite principal to a day in Paris for her birthday on Tuesday. Students greeted Mrs. Williamson at morning arrival with a cheery "Bon Anniversaire" and Mrs. Raymond recited the Hail Mary in French at morning prayer.  Mrs. Williamson was then whisked off to "Bradley Airport" departure in PreK for her quick trip to Paris, landing in Kindergarten to be escorted from the airport by students in "2 straight lines" ala Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans.  Her stops in Paris included the Eiffel Tower (gr.1), The Louvre (gr. 2), the
Champs-Elysees and the Arc De Triomphe (gr. 3), Notre Dame Cathedral - complete with Dot & Dash singing gargoyles (gr. 4) and a river cruise on the Seine ( gr. 5).  Our middle school students provided a beautiful hallway mural and other decorations.

Waiting to board at Bradley

Arriving at the Paris airport

The Eiffel Tower

The Louvre

Champs-Elysees and the Arc De Triomphe

Notre Dame Cathedral

A singing gargoyle at the cathedral

Seine River Cruise

Alumni News - Our congratulations to Tim Nolan, SMS Class of '14, on being recognized by The Valley Press as a Rising Star.  Students are selected for this recognition "by their respective school administrators for their significant contributions to their school and community.  They are being lauded for their potential future success and ability to be a positive force in all their endeavors." Tim is currently a senior at Granby High and is planning to attend the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.  He is planning to major in Broadcast Journalism.

We are proud to share a letter that was received at school this week.  Students wrote letters to recruits completing Navy Basic Training thanking them for their service.  This letter back to our students shows how important this "small act of kindness" was and the impact a "small gesture" may have on someone else. 

Community News

Granny's Attic & Granny's Boutique - It is that time of year!!! We encourage families to donate unwanted treasures they no longer need. Items must be in good to excellent condition and clean. Last year Granny’s Attic made over $20,000 and one-half of those proceeds directly benefited St. Mary’s School! This year we will once again be accepting clean gently used coats and clothing. Antiques or collectibles will be specially priced. If you are donating an item that has a cord or remote please tape it to the item. Items that we will not accept due to state regulations and/or are not of interest for buyers are: automobile tires, computers, monitors, printers, old computer software, paint, chemicals, fertilizers, batteries, full size appliances, magazines, Reader’s Digest, textbooks, encyclopedias, mattresses, TV’s, skis, car seats, heavy exercise equipment, trunks, dorm refrigerators and disposable or personal items such as cosmetics, electric razors, or toothbrushes. Location will be the Wagner Showroom, thanks to the generosity of Rick and Carole Wagner.  If you have questions and/or would like to volunteer to collect, sort and assist in selling, please contact Jane Stevenson 860-651-5017 stevenje@comcast.net; Stephanie McIntyre 860-651-3862 smcintyre190@gmail; or Ann O’Donnell 860-658-2120 annno@snet.net

Collection dates: Wed 4/11 , Thu  4/12 and Fri 4/13 4pm-7pm – Sat 4/14 and Sun 4/14 9am-4pm

Granny’s Attic will be open to the public: Mon 4/16-Sun 4/22: for times, click here.

Volunteers Needed:  We have jobs for everyone, from organizing before the sale, helping customers on sell dates and the “Great Clean Up” after the sale.  Sign up now and plan to spend the day serving our church and school and meeting new friends!  There is a link to the sign up genius on the front page of St. Mary’s Church website or you can click here.  Thanks again!  Remember, many hands make light work!

Special Note for Middle School Students- Helping out at this event would be a great way for grades 6-8 to complete service hours for this year!  Click here to volunteer via Sign Up Genius.  Be sure to sign up in a "Teen Volunteer" slot.