SMS Summer Blog Post #2 - 8/2/17

Summer Office Hours - The school office is currently on "summer hours". The office will be 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 Wednesdays in the school office between 9am-1pm.

Summer is flying by & it's almost time to think "Back to School".  Please be on the look out for your electronic "Back To School" packet.  These packets will be sent out via email during the week of 8/14/17.  We will be sending the packet to the family email address we have on record for your family.  If you are not sure what email address we have on file or if you want to add or change an email address, please contact the school office.  As in the past, this packet will contain lots of information about our new school year and many forms to download, print, complete and return to school.

Mark your calendars!  The start of the school year is always a really busy time.  Here are some important dates to remember.  We also encourage you to check the school's Google calendar frequently for updates and changes.  A calendar tab appears on the top of the blog.

Monday, 8/21/17 -Hot Lunch Order Period for September Opens.  All orders must be placed via the Educonnect Parent Portal.  Click here to access the Educonnect Parent Portal or use the link at the top of the blog. User names and passwords will be included in your "Back to School" email packet.  Last day to place orders and submit payment to office is Thursday, 8/31/17.  No late orders can be accepted.  Hot Lunch will begin on Friday, September 8.

Tuesday, 8/22/17 from 6:30-7:30pm - PreKindergarten Summer Playground Playdate- Families with students entering our PreKindergarten are invited to a summer playground to get acquainted and to meet our PreK teacher, Miss Kane and her assistants:  Mrs. Rienow, Mrs. Kornacki and Mrs. Hughes.  Please RSVP to Toni Chagnon at tchagnon@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.

Sunday, 8/27/17 at 5pm -Summer Playground for New & Returning Families -  Come and share some summer fun, reconnect with old friends and meet some new friends.  All are invited to bring a picnic dinner to our north (playground) parking lot.

Tuesday, 8/29/17 - "Meet & Greet" for younger students and "Morning in Middle School" for incoming 6th graders and students new to our middle school.  Times are as follows:

PreKindergarten "Meet & Greet" - 9:30-10:30
Kindergarten - Grade 4 - 10:30-11:30
Morning in Middle School for incoming 6th grade students - 10-11:30am
Morning in Middle School for students new to our 7th or 8th grades - 10-11am

Wednesday, 8/30/17 - First Day of School - This will be a regular full day of school with both PreK Enrichment & Aftercare available.

Monday, 9/4/17 - School Closed - Labor Day

Wednesday, 9/6/17 at 6:30pm- Book Your Babysitter for Back to School Night for Parents - All parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to attend "Back to School" night.  This is your opportunity to meet your child(ren)'s new teacher(s) and learn about the daily classroom routine. The evening will begin with a brief meeting in the Parish Center.  At 6pm, there will be a meeting for parents with students in grades 4 and up interested in beginning instrumental music this year.  This meeting will be in the art/music portable classroom.  Parents of students already participating in band DO NOT need to attend this meeting.

Monday, 9/11/17 - Individual Student Photos of students in PreK, K-7 will be taken by Lifetouch Photography.  Information about ordering photo packages will be provided prior to picture day.  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 will begin on Monday, 9/11/17.

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.  There will be a Virtus Training Session at 6:30pm in the Grade 5 classroom.  If you have not been Virtus trained and wish to volunteer here at school in any capacity, this is a great opportunity to get this training done at a convenient location.  Other Virtus training sessions are available throughout the Archdiocese.  Click here for more information.

Staying Up to Date - The best way to stay "up to date" in regard to school events and other important information is to subscribe to the school blog, your child(ren)'s teacher's blog(s) and to join our Remind text group.  Click here for more information.

Shopping for School Uniforms?  Visit our school website for more information about our school uniform code.  Please note that the logo is always optional and is only available on selected items.

To begin your shopping, visit landsend.com and click on "School". Choose "Find Your School" and put in our uniform code - 900132150.  This will limit you to the items our school has approved. It will ask you to put in the gender and age/grade of your student and that will further limit your selections. There is a small tab on the lower right that says "Show Checklist" - if you click this, you will get a drop down that will allow you to see all of the uniform options for your child(ren) by type of garment.  Keep in mind that CHOICE cards are available for Lands End.  By purchasing gift cards via the CHOICE program, Lands End gives our school 17% and you earn profit toward your family's annual CHOICE commitment that is part of your tuition obligation.

On the school website page, there is also information about our used uniform exchange. This is a free service that allows family to donate gently used, clean uniforms that children have outgrown so that other families can get some use out of them. This can be a great way to pick up a couple of "spare items" and we encourage everyone to make use of this service if it works for them.

Shopping for school supplies?  Supply lists for students are available on the blog's "Back to School" page. 

iPad Use - Student iPad use for grades K-8 will begin once the majority of each class has returned the necessary "Big 4" Forms.  Most families have already completed their iPad Coverage Form and submitted the $50 fee. If we have not received this form and fee, it will be included in your Back to School email packet.  The remaining 3 forms will be included in your Back to School email packet and include:
*  Parent/Student Handbook Acknowledgement
*  iPad Acceptable Use Agreement Acknowledgement
*  Use Agreement for Electronic Information Resources

Please note that all students will now be issued a school owned iPad case along with their iPad.  This is the case that must be used to protect the device.  Students are still responsible for providing their own earbuds.  A bluetooth keyboard may be used if desired. Some teachers do request that a stylus be provided.  Please check supply lists on the "Back to School" page of the blog.

Alumni News - Our congratulations to Jennifer Kornacki & Avery Hatch, SMS Class of '13. Jennifer achieved the Dean's List for Spring Semester at Stonehill College and has been accepted to the Honors Program for the upcoming fall semester.  Avery has been named to the Dean's List for the Spring Semester at Elon University and will continue in the College Fellows program in the fall.

We also extend congratulations to the SMS alumni that were named to the Simsbury High School honor roll for the final semester:

Griffin Myslow, SMS Class of '13 - High Honors
Nicole Gomez-Nieto & Allison Mancarella, SMS Class of '13 - General Honors
Domenico Cirielli, SMS Class of '14 - High Honors
Parker Myslow & Robert Tomasello, SMS Class of '14 - General Honors
Mark Bedson & Patrick Sheridan, SMS Class of '15 - High Honors
Kurt Bedson & Justin Donnolly, SMS Class of '15 - General Honors

Sharing Summer's Fun

Mrs. Powell is sharing her summer with a new friend.
Toby is 9 weeks old & super fluffy!

SMS Summer Blog Post #1 - 6/23/17

SMS Comings and Goings

We would like to thank Caitlin and Lauren Henzler for their dedication to the After Care program. Congratulations to both of them as they move on to new chapters in their lives.

Welcome to our new Office Staff member! Michelle Howard has taken over the recently vacated administrative support position and we are delighted to have such a knowledgeable person take over so quickly. Mrs. Howard will handle the daily tasks that Mrs. Budnick oversaw with a few additions. 

Now Hiring! - SMS Aftercare is looking for a few people to supervise the program on most school days from 3:30 to 6 pm.  Are you interested? Do you know someone who would be a good fit? Please share the information or have the person contact Mrs. Williamson.

IOWA Test Results & Middle School Placement Letters - Families with students entering grades 4-8 next year will receive IOWA Test Results via U.S. Mail.  If your child(ren) are entering grades 6-8 in the the fall, this mailing will also contain class placement information.  Please note that if you have not returned your Family Enrollment Agreement and Fee, no placement information will be included in the mailing.  This mailing was sent out on Thursday, 6/22/17.  If you do not receive your mailing or have questions, please contact the school office.

Getting Off to a Good Start - Our "Back to School" page is now available on the school blog.  Just use the tab at the top of the blog's navigation bar or click here.

Home & School Association

A calendar of major events is being finalized so watch for your opportunity to help with a variety of activities that make SMS so great! As you are planning your fall family time, please try to include our 60th Anniversary Mass celebration on Saturday, September 23 at the 5pm Mass. This is the exact date that SMS opened.  HSA will need people to help promote the event and also to plan a reception/supper afterwards. Remember how much fun the pizza supper was last winter? We had over 150 people and it was a great time to connect with people and enjoy a meal with friends. A sign-up genius for organizing this event will be available in August.

Sweet Treat!  Sophie G., rising Gr. 7, shows
off her Cake Gypsy cupcakes.  Cake Gypsy
has offered a free dozen cupcakes to any
student with proof of perfect attendance.

Used Uniform Exchange - Click here for our current inventory of available used uniforms.

This painted turtle stopped by to say hello.
If you are out and about, we hope you'll
stop by to say hello, too!

Are we having fun yet?  Again this year, you are invited to share your summer fun with our school family.  If you have some fun vacation, day trip or family photos to share, please send them along to dhatch@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.

News for the Week of 6/14/17

TOMORROW - 6/15/17 IS OUR LAST DAY OF SCHOOL! This will be a 12:45pm early dismissal with NO PreK Enrichment or Aftercare available.  ALL STUDENTS SHOULD BRING A BROWN BAG LUNCH.  Students that participate in the milk program will receive milk as ususal.

There will be an Award ceremony for students beginning at 9:30am tomorrow in the Parish Center.  Students should wear the relaxed uniform to school.  All are welcome to attend.  Parents of students receiving an award have been notified by home room teachers.

Kindergarten is looking forward to next year!

A reminder from the health office:
Thank you for a wonderful school year! 
Please remember to pick up any medications that have been kept in the health office this year. Our school nurse will be in 8:30-1:30 on the last day of school, please stop in to pick up your student's medications. Medications cannot be sent home with students.

PreKindergarten enjoyed a trip to the fire station last week.

Summer Office Hours - Beginning the week of 6/19/17,  the school office will be on "summer hours".  The office will be 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 Wednesdays in the school office between 9am-1pm.

School will reopen on Wednesday, August 30.  This will be a full day of school with both PreK Enrichment and Aftercare available.  "Meet & Greet" for younger students and "Morning in Middle School" for grade 6 and students new to grades 7 and 8 will be on Tuesday, August 29th.  Additional details will be published as soon as times are finalized.

Final Report Cards for students in Kindergarten - Grade 8 will be available via the Educonnect Parent Portal.  An email will be sent when the report cards are available for viewing.

IOWA test scores for students in grades 3-7 will be sent out via U.S. mail during the week of June 19th.  This same mailing will contain class placement announcements for math and literature for students entering grades 6-8.

Supply lists, summer assignments and suggestions for summer reading will be available on both the teacher blogs and the School Blog "Back to School" page.  Look for this information beginning the week of 6/19.

Getting Ready for a New School Year - Again this summer, the school blog will have a "Back to School" page.  This page should be available the week of 6/19/17.  There will be Summer blog posts as needed but the "Back to School" page  is always available from the top menu bar of the school blog. 

Be sure to be on the look out for your "Back to School Mailing" in August. Again 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).

Home & School News - We are excited to announce that our renewed & re-energized Home & School Association is on it's way for the new school year.  All we need is your talent & energy.  Click here to learn more about the proposed activities Home & School will be working on next year. There will be a meeting on Tuesday, June 20th at 7pm in the Library Portable.  If you are interested in serving as an HSA officer, chairing an event or working on a committee, please join us.  An RSVP to Mrs. Williamson is appreciated.

A reminder from the health office:

Thank you for a wonderful school year!

Please remember to pick up any medications that have been kept in the health office this year. Our school nurse will be in 8:30-1:30 on the last day of school, please stop in to pick up your student's medications. Medications cannot be sent home with students.

Reminder to Smart Tuition Account Holders:  as you begin making payments in June on your 2017-2018 Smart Tuition account, please remember to change the school year in your account number from 16 to 17.  Account numbers are broken down as follows:  02300 is the school code; 17 refers to the school year; and the last six digits reflect your individual family’s account.  If you continue making payments using the 16 school year, they will apply to your 2016-17 account, generating an overpayment status.  Your 2017-18 account will then appear delinquent, causing $50 late fees to accrue each month the payments are missing.  If you have any questions about this, please call Smart Tuition’s Parent help center at 1-888-868-8828.

Yearbooks have been distributed to those that ordered - There are a very limited number of yearbooks available "first come, first served" in the school office. These yearbooks may be purchased for $28. Checks should be made payable to St. Mary's School. The SMS Yearbook is a great momento that features a photo of every student, club photos and candids from all our school year activities.

SMS Stars

Jackson C., Gr. 2,  and his team, the Mariners, are the 2017 Avon Little League Machine Pitch Champions! When receiving his trophy, his coach announced him as Action Jackson, the guy who was always baseball ready and who always had his teammates backs!  Congratulations, Jackson!

Maggie S., Gr. 6, recently played in a basketball game with a "really tough" ref - our own Mr. Stokes!

- 

Northwest Catholic High School's 53rd Commencement Exercises were held on 6/7/17.  We are proud to share that a number of SMS Class of '13 alums graduated with Highest Honors and other accolades.  Our special congratulations to Katharine Jessen, this year's NWC Valedictorian.  In addition to graduating with Highest Honors as Valedictorian, Katharine was also named a Summa Scholar.  Also graduating as Summa Scholars with Highest Honors were Sarah Jessen and Allyson Voelker.  Graduating with Highest Honors were Regina Chappano, Gabriela Doskos, and Christopher Poniatowski. Congratulations to all of those SMS alums that will celebrate high school graduations this spring!

Our congratulations to Tim Nolan, SMS Class of '14.  Tim received a Meritorious Achievement award for Grade 11 English and the St. Michael's College Book Award for Academic Achievement with a Social Conscience.  Tim is completing his junior year at Granby High School.

Community News

Cake Gypsy News!  We are happy to share the following announcement from Cake Gypsy -

  "Attention Students with Perfect Attendance! After reading a Facebook post that students are no longer given any awards or recognition for perfect attendance, we at Cake Gypsy believe it is a MAJOR accomplishment and you should be rewarded. To help you celebrate we are offering every student in the Farmington Valley with perfect attendance this past year a dozen cupcakes to help you celebrate. Kindly bring in proof of perfect attendance and choose 12 cupcakes of your choice! (Feel free to share this post with your friends, it is open to everyone not just our Facebook friends) Congrats again students!"

*Valid at both locations: 35 East Main Street in Avon and 220 Albany Turnpike in Canton.

News for the Week of 6/7/17

Congratulations to the SMS Class of 2017!

"for wisdom will come into your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul" Proverbs 2:10

Calendar Reminders

Kick off Summer with an Annual Tradition - The St. Mary's Carnival!

Carnival Opens TONIGHT!  Wednesday, June 7th!

34 Hopmeadow St
(Same Location as 2016) 

This year the carnival runs from June 7-10th.  Click here for more information and to learn how you can help.  Our school receives substantial financial assistance from carnival proceeds so this is a great community activity to support as a volunteer and as an attendee!

Carnival Hours
Wednesday (June 7)    6-10 pm
Thursday (June 8)       6-10 pm 
Friday (June 9)          6-10 pm
Saturday (June 10)    5-10 pm

Ride all night!
$20/person Wednesday & Thursday
$25/person Friday and Saturday
(Individual ride tickets also available)


Raffle Tickets $20 each
Click here for Raffle information
Must be 18 years or older to purchase raffle tickets. 

Kindergarten invites everyone to an End of Year Prayer Service on Tuesday, 6/13 at 9am in the church.  Students should wear their relaxed uniform to school.  Students in Kindergarten - grade 4 should follow the teacher's directive regarding clothing items to bring for field day activities in the afternoon. Please join us in giving thanks for a wonderful school year and in hopeful anticipation of a restful, enjoyable summer.

Field Day for grades K-4 will be held in the afternoon on Tuesday, 6/13.  

Last Day of School - Thursday, June 15th will be our last day of school.  This will be a 12:45pm early dismissal with NO PreK Enrichment or Aftercare available.

School will reopen on Wednesday, August 30.  This will be a full day of school with both PreK Enrichment and Aftercare available.  "Meet & Greet" for younger students and "Morning in Middle School" for grade 6 and students new to grades 7 and 8 will be on Tuesday, August 29th.  Additional details will be published as soon as times are finalized.

Hot Lunch Help Needed!  We are down to our last few hot lunches for this school year.  One additional volunteer is still needed on Monday, June 12.  If you are Virtus trained and can help, please contact the school office or use the Sign Up Genius to sign up - click here.

Home & School News - We are excited to announce that our renewed & re-energized Home & School Association is on it's way for the new school year.  All we need is your talent & energy.  There will be a meeting on Tuesday, June 20th at 7pm in the Library Portable.  If you are interested in serving as an HSA officer, chairing an event or working on a committee, please join us.  An RSVP to Mrs. Williamson is appreciated.

A reminder from the health office:
Thank you for a wonderful school year!
Please remember to pick up any medications that have been kept in the health office this year. Our school nurse will be in 8:30-1:30 on the last day of school, please stop in to pick up your student's medications. Medications cannot be sent home with students.

Reminder to Smart Tuition Account Holders who make payments via invoice: as you begin making payments in June on your 2017-2018 Smart Tuition account, please remember to change the school year in your account number from 16 to 17. Account numbers are broken down as follows: 02300 is the school code; 17 refers to the school year; and the last six digits reflect your individual family’s account. If you continue making payments using the 16 school year, they will apply to your 2016-17 account, generating an overpayment status. Your 2017-18 account will then appear delinquent, causing $50 late fees to accrue each month the payments are missing. If you have any questions about this, please call Smart Tuition’s Parent help center at 1-888-868-8828.

Please note that this change occurs automatically for families who have Smart Tuition draw their payments from checking, savings, or credit card accounts.

Yearbooks have been distributed to those that ordered - There are a very limited number of yearbooks available "first come, first served" in the school office.  These yearbooks may be purchased for $28.  Checks should be made payable to St. Mary's School.  The SMS Yearbook is a great momento that features a photo of every student, club photos and candids from all our school year activities. 

PreK & 8th grade buddies enjoyed their last project together.  They painted
rocks that will become part of a beautiful community garden project.

iPad News - 

Students in Kindergarten - Gr. 7 will turn in their iPads (and chargers, if applicable) on Tuesday, June 13th.  

All iPads should be turned in "as is" - devices should not be reset.  iPads will be inspected for physical damage.  If there is any visible physical damage, you will be billed $40.  As you know, we are going to be replacing all of our school owned iPads.  Our current inventory of devices is being turned into a "buy back" company.  This company will be paying us $60 for a device in "good" condition and $20 for a device in "busted" condition.  We are requesting the $40 for damaged devices to recoup the loss we will incur on "buyback" rather than requesting the $50 repair fee that would normally be charged.

Next year, all students in grades K-8 will receive a brand new 32GB iPad with a school owned case.  These iPads will be Apple's most currently released version of the standard size iPad.  We are excited about new capabilities that will be available to use using the JAMF Device Management System and to introduce coding as part of our continuing effort to meaningfully integrate technology in our curriculum.

Summer Office Hours - Beginning the week of 6/19/17,  the school office will be on "summer hours".  The office will be 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 Wednesdays in the school office between 9am-1pm.

Getting Ready for a New School Year - Again this summer, the school blog has a "Back to School" Page.  This page should be available the week of 6/19/17.  There will be Summer Blog Posts as needed. 

Finally, be sure to be on the look out for your "Back to School Mailing" in August.  Again 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).

BoxTops for Education - Just a reminder that you may send in any box tops that you may have at home before the end of the school year. Please also keep collecting over the summer so we have a good amount to send in at the fall submission time.

Ahren L., Grade 3,  was Mrs. Williamson's
"Principal Shadow" last week.
"Principal Shadow" was one of the prizes auctioned
at the 60th Anniversary Gala.
One of the activities Ahren helped with was morning arrival.

Alumni News -  It's the time of year that brings lots of wonderful news about alumni accomplishments!  Our congratulations to all.

Claire Keating, SMS Class of '09, was one of 653 graduates to receive a degree during Assumption College's 100th Commencement exercises on Sunday, May 14.

Madeline Mancarella, SMS Class of '11, earned two awards in the Western New England University 15th annual Student Media Festival. Her TV Report, titled Dining Commons, took Third Place in the TV Report category and Verbal Abuse, her PSA/TV Commercial entry, won Second Place in the PSA/TV category. Madeline is a Communication major at the University concentrating on Media Theory and Production.

Community News

The St. Mary's Picnic Planning Committee invites St. Mary School families to join us on Monday, June 12 at 7 PM in the lower church for our next planning meeting for the parish/school picnic being held on Sunday, Sept. 17, 3-5 PM. Your ideas and insights are needed in helping plan the best picnic ever to celebrate our parish community.  Looking forward to seeing you on June 12!

Simsbury Public Library - Click here to learn more about the library's Summer Reading Program and to register.  The library is also offering many programs in June.