News for the Week of 4/29/20

As directed by Governor Lamont, St. Mary's School will be CLOSED from 3/16/20 through 5/20/20. At this time, the School Office is closed but emails are being checked regularly.

Distance learning continues and we remind you to please notify our school nurse anytime your child(ren) are unable to participate due to illness or other reason.  Nurse Tyrrell can be reached at hoffice@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net or at (860) 856-6811 from 10am-12noon on scheduled school days. NOTE - This is a temporary contact number established for the distance learning period only.  Nurse Tyrrell will respond within 24 hours to parent concerns and questions.

Thank you for all you are doing to support distance learning at home!  We appreciate the help and guidance you are providing at home everyday.  Our faculty remains hard at work to assure children are learning.  Zoom meetings and the creative use of various apps and online resources are helping augment assignments.  Please reach out to teachers as needed for support.  We are anxious to work in partnership with you through this challenge.

2020-21 Family Enrollment Forms and Fees are overdue! Reminder emails were sent out this week. Please keep in mind that the Family Enrollment Forms and Fees were requested to be returned by March 27th. If you have not already sent yours in, please do so at your earliest convenience. Mail is being picked up and processed on a periodic basis. Having this enrollment information helps us finalize our class lists for the upcoming year and allows us to order books, consumables and other supplies so our new school year can get off to a good start! Additionally, if your family uses Smart Tuition for payments, your completed Family Enrollment Form assures that your payments will begin on time in June allowing the maximum number (12) of payment periods.

Second Grade Readers! Pictured here are some of Mrs. Herron's second graders with
the books they have been reading over the last week.
They are reading up a storm during our Distance Learning!

We encourage all to follow & like us on Facebook (St. Mary's School) and Instagram (smssimsburyknights). DID YOU KNOW? IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO HAVE ACCOUNTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, OUR POSTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE TO YOU ON OUR PUBLIC FACEBOOK PAGE. Simply click here or on the Facebook icon that appears to the right of this blog post. Students (and parents/guardians) are encouraged to join us for Morning Prayer each day and Facebook GoodKNIGHT stories are airing nightly at 7pm! Mrs. Gore is sharing a chapter read aloud at 8pm! Keep an eye out for fun posts from Mr. G. that will keep you moving!

Sharing the Caring - Everyone is invited to make cards for our area Senior Citizen friends.   Mrs. Mortillaro will be picking up cards from the bin at the North (playground) entrance each Wednesday so that the cards can be delivered with lunches.  Last week, Mrs. Mortillaro was surprised and happy to find these beautiful masks made by the Prausa family.  Thanks to the Prausa family for helping keep area Seniors safe!

Thanks for a great reminder, Katarina!

Health Office News - One would think that current social distancing would make head lice less of a concern.  Please be aware, however, that a case of head lice can take one to two months from time of exposure to full present itself.  Parents are the first, middle and last line of defense against head lice.  Routine screening at home is far more effective in terms of prevention and early identification than mass screenings in school can ever be.  St. Mary’s School and Simsbury School system have followed the lead of the American Pediatric Association and continue to encourage frequent screening at home.  For more details, please click here .

Alumni News


This winter, Mason Burhoe, SMS Class of '18, competed in the academic competition at the Future Business Leaders of America’s State Leadership Conference. Mason scored 2nd place in the statewide FBLA testing event and qualifies for the competition at the National Leadership Conference which will take place virtually this summer. Congratulations to Mason and best of luck in the National test!



Community News

St. Mary's Parish Invites You To Stay Connected in Faith - Click here to visit the Parish's Coronavirus update page.  This page includes easy links to "Staying Connected to the Word", Parish updates, Parish outreach and very helpful and supportive messages from Father Matera. 









The Simsbury Public Library is closed right now BUT they have some great "virtual programs" on their calendar!  Click here to see the full list but some examples include:  Stay at Home Storytimes via Zoom and live science demos from the Children's Museum via Zoom!

News for the Week of 4/22/20

Sharing Easter Joy - While we could not celebrate Easter in our traditional ways this year, we did still come together as a joyful community in a beautiful video created by Mrs. Work from the family photos you generously shared with us.  Click here to view.





Sharing the Caring!  Many thanks to those that created cards for health care workers.  We received a wonderful thank you from Mrs. Maseto (mom of Evan, SMS Class of '18 & Sasha, Gr. 8).

 "I wanted to say a heartfelt THANK YOU!!! to all of you for everything you do to raise and educate our kids! I received this card in the mail yesterday and it made me teary eyed. I shared it with my staff today and will post it on our board! Kids thoughtfulness and support has added brightness to our day!

Again, thank you! from the staff of UConn Urgent Care/Emergency Department!"

 Happy Easter!
Nadia Maseto, APRN


There've been some other great actions of loving care going on in our community that we are so happy to share.

Brennan (Gr. 7)  and his family brightened so many days over Easter!  They filled all the Easter eggs they had, and spread them out on neighborhood lawns of those with young children on the night before Easter.  On Easter morning they were able to see the magic come alive in their own neighborhood. How awesome!  They also sat down to to write and color postcards to the senior members of their family who are isolated and at risk out in Ohio. 

Mary Kate (Gr. 3) and her mom took the time to create a beautiful, inspirational message in their neighborhood!

Mary Kate and her mom are so right!  We are all in this together and you can keep the caring coming and make a positive difference!  

Nicolas G. created some beautiful stamped cards. 

One great way to care is to brighten the day of a local senior citizen.  Mrs. Mortillaro will be delivering handmade cards to the Simsbury Senior Center every Wednesday!  Cards, like those created by Nicolas G., can be dropped off in the container that is at the North (playground) entrance to school.

As directed by Governor Lamont, St. Mary's School will be CLOSED from 3/16/20 through 5/20/20. At this time, the School Office is closed but emails are being checked regularly.

Distance learning has resumed and we remind you to please notify our school nurse anytime your child(ren) are unable to participate due to illness or other reason.  Nurse Tyrrell can be reached at hoffice@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net or at (860) 856-6811 from 10am-12noon on scheduled school days. NOTE - This is a temporary contact number established for the distance learning period only.  Nurse Tyrrell will respond within 24 hours to parent concerns and questions.

2020-21 Family Enrollment Forms and Fees are overdue! Please keep in mind that the Family Enrollment Forms and Fees were requested to be returned by March 27th. If you have not already sent yours in, please do so at your earliest convenience. Mail is being picked up and processed on a periodic basis. Having this enrollment information helps us finalize our class lists for the upcoming year and allows us to order books, consumables and other supplies so our new school year can get off to a good start! Additionally, if your family uses Smart Tuition for payments, your completed Family Enrollment Form assures that your payments will begin on time in June allowing the maximum number (12) of payment periods. If your Family Enrollment Packet has gone astray, please send an email to smsoffice@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net to request a new copy be sent to you electronically.

Tuition Assistance Applications are due NLT this Friday, April 24, 2020! - Families applying for any form of tuition assistance - Click here to review types of assistance available and instructions for SMARTAID application. 

#uKnighted & Growing!  Even though the school office is closed, we are still accepting applications for new students for the 2020-21 school year.  Our new full day PreK for older 4's and young 5's is filling up fast!  So, if you know someone who has been thinking about Catholic School for their children or maybe has been impressed with the success of our distance learning program and would like to learn more about our community, please encourage them to contact Toni Chagnon at tchagnon@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net for an information packet or have them download and complete an application form and mail it to school.  If you do encourage someone to apply, be sure to take advantage of the Family Referral Program."

Alumni News - Our congratulations to the following alumni that have been named to the Simsbury High School Honor Roll for the third marking period:  10th Grade High Honors - Jenna Gomez-Nieto, SMS Class of '18; 10th Grade Honors - Mason Burhoe, Francesca Cirielli, Cole Pirrello and Benjamin Rivera, all SMS Class of '18; 9th Grade High Honors - Maggie Sullivan, SMS Class of '19.


Community News & Family Resources

St. Mary's Parish Invites You to Stay Connected in Faith   -"Throughout this Easter Season, despite being unable to gather together, we remain connected in faith and our liturgies continue to proclaim the Good News of Christ's Resurrection."   Visit the St. Mary's Church website homepage for Staying Connected Through the Word. Once on the homepage, you may need to scroll down a bit to access the daily service. Each service is approximately 15 minutes and includes the readings for the day, a brief homily, and an opportunity for Spiritual Communion. Our thanks to our Pastor, Monsignor Matera, for making this resource available to us. The parish's website also has a special section that provides information and spiritual resources during this time. Click here.

OEEC has published some helpful resources for families during this challenging time.  The resources include helpful articles about faith formation at home, suggestions to smooth the transition to distance learning and even some engaging videos for children.  We hope you find these helpful.    Click here.

Pope Francis’ Prayer To Mary During Coronavirus Pandemic 

O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope. We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick. At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain with steadfast faith. You, Salvation of the Roman People, know what we need. We are certain that you will provide, so that, as you did at Cana of Galilee, joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial. Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform ourselves to the Father’s will and to do what Jesus tells us: He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us, through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen. We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Pray for Us.

News for the week of 4/8/20

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.” (Psalm 46:1-3)

Perhaps there has never been a better time to delve deeply into the stories and prayers of Holy Week.  Visit the St. Mary's Church website homepage for Staying Connected Through the Word. Once on the homepage, you may need to scroll down a bit to access the daily service. Each service is approximately 15 minutes and includes the readings for the day, a brief homily, and an opportunity for Spiritual Communion. Our thanks to our Pastor, Monsignor Matera, for making this resource available to us.  The parish's website also has a special section that provides information and spiritual resources during this time.  Click here.

As directed by Governor Lamont, St. Mary's School will be CLOSED from 3/16/20 through at least 4/20/20. At this time, the School Office is closed but emails are being checked regularly.

Today -  Wednesday, April 8 - was our final day of distance learning until after our April break. Tomorrow, April 9, is Holy Thursday and April 10 is Good Friday - there will be NO distance learning on either of these days as we all prepare for Easter.  Next week, April 13-17, will be our April break. Rest, relax catch up on assignments if need be, but there will be no planned schooling during the break.

We must understand that the situation is fluid and does change. If we are closed beyond April 20, distance learning will resume. 

Thanks to all for the efforts you are making at home to help your children, our students, navigate the new world of distance learning.  Many of you are doing this while also working from home or caring for younger siblings or both!  Please note that teachers are committed to being available to our students and responding to questions and concerns promptly.  With that in mind, please keep in mind that emails received after 4pm may not receive a response until the following day and that our teachers will also be using the April break as a time to rest, recharge and focus on their families.  We are confident that working together, with patience and persistence and #uKnighted in our faith, we can all continue to learn and grow despite these uncertain times.

Attendance Policy During Distance Learning - If distance learning extends past April 20 and your child(ren) is/are unable to participate in distance learning because of illness (or other cause), please send an email to: HOffice@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net, smsoffice@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net and your child(ren)'s homeroom teacher.  Please make note if the absence is due to illness or another cause.  Since it is our intention that these days can be counted as days of school completed, it is important that we continue to maintain our attendance records.

Health Office News - During this period of distance learning our school nurse, Kim Tyrrell will be working from home and checking email during regular school hours. Please send email to HOffice@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net. Nurse Tyrrell is also available via telephone on scheduled school days for any questions or concerns involving a current medical condition which may be impacting your child’s ability to attend to distance learning.

Call Kim Tyrrell at (860) 856-6811 from 10am-12noon on scheduled school days. NOTE - This is a temporary contact number established for the distance learning period only.  Nurse Tyrrell will respond within 24 hours to parent concerns and questions.

In the event of a medical emergency contact 911

Immediate medical concerns contact your physician

Questions and concerns related to COVID-19  please call 211

Additional online resources:

• www.CDC.gov

• www.fvhd.org

• www.CDC.gov/coronavirus/2019-NCOV/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html

School nurse follow-up with parents regarding completion of any outstanding State of CT mandated physical exams for 6th grade students has been deferred until further notice. Health forms for next year's enrollment may be mailed to school to the Health Office's attention.

We encourage all to follow us on Facebook (St. Mary's School) and Instagram (smssimsburyknights). DID YOU KNOW? IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO HAVE ACCOUNTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, OUR POSTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE TO YOU ON OUR PUBLIC FACEBOOK PAGE. Simply click here or on the Facebook icon that appears to the right of this blog post. Students (and parents/guardians) are encouraged to join us for Morning Prayer each day and Facebook GoodKNIGHT stories are airing nightly at 7pm! Mrs. Gore is sharing a chapter read aloud at 8pm! Keep an eye out for fun posts from Mr. G. that will keep you moving!

Do you have photos of distance learning in progress? We'd love to see and share some photos of our students hard at work at home. Share on Facebook & Instagram or send emails to smsoffice@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net and kwork@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.

Ashlynn in "Science Class"

Sara showed her school spirit with this great drawing!

Erick is hard at work - making Mrs. Janaskie proud!

2020-21 Family Enrollment Forms and Fees should be mailed to school. Please keep in mind that the Family Enrollment Forms and Fees were requested to be returned by March 27th. If you have not already sent yours in, please do so at your earliest convenience. Mail is being picked up and processed on a periodic basis. Having this enrollment information helps us get the 2020-21 school year off to a good start:)

Tuition Assistance Applications - Families applying for any form of tuition assistance - Click here to review types of assistance available and instructions for SMARTAID application.  Please note that all SMARTAID applications must be completed no later than Friday, April 24, 2020. 

#uKnighted & Growing!  Even though the school office is closed, we are still accepting applications for new students for the 2020-21 school year.  Our new full day PreK for older 4's and young 5's is filling up fast!  So, if you know someone who has been thinking about Catholic School for their children or maybe has been impressed with the success of our distance learning program and would like to learn more about our community, please encourage them to contact Toni Chagnon at tchagnon@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net for an information packet or have them download and complete an application form and mail it to school.  If you do encourage someone to apply, be sure to take advantage of the Family Referral Program.

A Chance to Spread Cheer - Just a reminder that Mrs. Mortillaro is working with the Senior Center and needs help from our students in the form of hand made cards and drawings to spread good wishes for health and happiness to local senior citizens.  Mrs. Mortillaro has placed a Rubbermaid type box at the north parking lot entrance to the school, where we enter school each day, under the overhang (in case of rain). She will pick up any cards from there each Wednesday morning at 9:00, and bring them to the Senior Center, so they can be delivered with their Wednesday lunches to the seniors.  If you are looking for a way to help someone else at this time, this is a great and fun way to do it.  Mrs. Mortillaro will be checking the box every week!  If there are ten cards in the box, or even just one each week, they will find there way into someone’s home and bring joy. You can sign the cards with your first name, or just a friend from St. Mary School. Thanks for being messengers of hope and happiness!

CHOICE News - Families with students in grades K-8 are reminded that participation in CHOICE is part of the annual tuition obligation. CHOICE purchases made through April 30 will be applied to this year's CHOICE commitment.  Purchases made after April 30 will be applied to next year's CHOICE obligation. Our CHOICE program coordinator, Michelle Howard, is currently preparing the final statements for this year.  These will be sent out soon.   While the school office is closed, everyone is encouraged to use GL Scrip's online order system to purchase downloadable "e cards" for vendors, especially restaurants and on-line merchants like Amazon, Chili's, Chipotle, Olive Garden, Lands End, LL Bean, Bath & Body Works, Barnes & Noble, that may have delivery or pick up available for take out orders or who can ship your order to you. When ordering "cards" from GL Scrip be very careful to only order downloadable cards at this time since there is no one in the office to receive any physical cards that GL Scrip might try to send us to deliver to you.   Click here for more information on GL Scrip's Presto Pay or, if you prefer, there is also a credit card option for payment for these "ecards".  You may also opt out of CHOICE by sending in a check for your family's commitment made payable to SMS Choice with opt-out in the memo section.  Please include the school year to which the opt out payment should be applied. 

Memorare with Mrs. Williamson - Even though we are physically apart, our community remains #uKnighted in faith and love and in our devotion to our Blessed Mother. Click here to join Mrs. Williamson in community prayer.

Below is an additional prayer shared by the Connecticut Catholic Public Affairs Conference:

PRAYER FOR INNER PEACE AND STRENGTH

O Lord,

Your life in me brings stillness to my turmoil.
Your life in me brings clarity to my confusion.
Your life in me brings wisdom to my worry.
Your life in me brings contentment to my striving.
Your life in me brings gentleness to my anger.
Your life in me brings patience to my panic.
Your life in me brings hope to my suffering.
Your life in me brings faith to my frustration.
Your life in me brings such heavenly treasure into my heart
And enables me to navigate a peaceful path.
In you I find strength for my journey. 

SCRIPTURE READING FOR INNER PEACE AND STRENGTH

"Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel." - Philippians 4:6-7 (CEV)

Thanks to Lizzie & her family for this "Sharing the Caring" message.

Staycation - This year's April break challenges all of us to find ways to creatively have fun while staying safely at home!  Click here for some great ideas for fun in the yard.  If you choose to create a dinosaur, fairy, truck or other themed garden space, we hope you'll share a picture with us.  Emails can be sent to smsoffice@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net  & kwork@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net

Community News

The Connecticut March for Life is now the Connecticut Login for Life.  Click here for more information and to register for the one hour webinar on 4/15/20 at 12noon.