News for the Week of 11/28/12

Signs of the Season are all around us at SMS.  Carolyn is ready for the First Sunday of Advent.

December is a busy month!  Please be sure to check the school calendar regularly.  Here is a quick recap of upcoming events:

• Formal Uniform begins for 8th grade students on Monday, December 3rd.
• Our monthly School Mass will be held on Friday, December 7th at 9:30am.  Everyone is welcome to join us at Mass.  Please remember that no physical education uniforms should be worn to Mass.
• Band & Chorus Christmas Concert - Thursday, December 13th.  2pm Dress Rehearsal (Band Only), 7pm Performance in the Parish Center
• Lessons & Carols - Tuesday, December 18th. 10am Dress Rehearsal, 7pm Evening Presentation in the Church
• 12:45 Early Dismissal for Christmas Break - Friday, December 21st.  No PreK Enrichment or Aftercare available.
• School reopens on Wednesday, January 2nd & our celebration of Catholic Schools' Month begins!

Student Directory Update - Please join us in welcoming Elizabeth Heiden to Mr. Cosham's Kindergarten class.  Elizabeth joins her brothers, Jonathan (Gr. 5) and Christian (Gr. 8), here at St. Mary's.

Looking ahead to Kindergarten 2013-2014 - If your child will be joining us for Kindergarten next year and he/she does not attend St. Mary's Prekindergarten, please complete an application for admission at your earliest convenience.  Click here for our application form.  If your child is currently enrolled in our Prekindergarten, it is not necessary to reapply for kindergarten since your child is already attending St. Mary's.

All new SMS athletic apparel is available! Many items may be worn as part of the physical education uniform! What a great idea for Christmas giving. Click here for more information and an order form.

Paul Cryan Photography - Remember to send in your proofs and orders.  If you have not already done so, please return your Paul Cryan photo proofs and orders at your earliest convenience.  Paul Cryan will be coming to school to pickup returns one more time in the coming days.  After that pickup, you will have to return your proofs to Paul Cryan on your own. These are the 8th grade individual student photos and photos taken of other students during after school appointments on October 19th.

Group Class Photos by Lifetouch- are being sent home on Wednesday, 11/28/12.  These are class photos for students in Prekindergarten, Kindergarten - grade 7.  The Grade 8 class photo was taken by Paul Cryan.

Individual Student Photos for students in Prek, K-7 from Lifetouch may still be ordered.  Please see the information from Lifetouch which follows -
Your child was photographed on 09/17/2012 and we don't want you to miss this important milestone in your child's life.
Call 1-866-955-8342 and provide your Picture Day ID CT022165Q0 to order.
Don't miss this opportunity for a professional quality image. Your child's school portrait captures this moment for you to cherish for years to come.

Grade 8 Poinsettia Sale - Pickup Reminder-  Thanks to everyone who supported this fundraiser! Poinsettia pickup will be in the Parish Center on Friday, Dec. 7th, 2-4pm and after all Masses on Saturday, Dec. 8th and Sunday, Dec. 9th. 

Care Packages for Deployed Marines - You can brighten the holidays for a Marine serving overseas this season by contributing items for a care package.  Click here for more information.

Blood Drive - The St. Mary's Confirmation class of 2013 is organizing, and volunteer staffing, a blood drive on Saturday, January 5th, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Parish Center. Volunteers and Sally Flaig from the Red Cross will be be signing people up for appointments to donate blood at the back of the church after all the Masses on the weekends of December 8th and December15th. Blood donations are at a critical low during the holidays.  Please consider donating.

Home & School Association News-

CHOICE Cards make great Christmas gifts!  Click here for a list of cards currently available with special percentage rates. To guarantee that your gift cards arrive in time for Christmas giving, all special orders must be placed NLT 12/3/12. Cards ordered after that date may arrive in time but delivery is not guaranteed.