News for the Week of 1-17-13

Our Celebration of Catholic Schools' Month Continues!

 

Today was our annual Family Pizza Lunch.  It was great to see so many of you sharing lunch with your favorite SMS student(s)!  Click here for more photos.

On Friday, 1-18-13, students in grades Kindergarten - 4 will visit with author, Janice Hechter. Ms. Hechter lives in Farmington and has illustrated at least four children's books. She holds a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA. Her book Hooray for Heroes was a National Best Book Award Winner in 2010. Ms. Hechter will be chatting with students about what an illustrator does and other topics related to this and read from her book The Great Elephant Escape. She will discuss the actual true story upon which her book is based.

Monday, 1-21-13, school is closed for Martin Luther King Day.

Wednesday, 1-23-13, we are hosting an Open House for Prospective Families at 6:30pm in the Parish Center.  If you know someone who has wondered if SMS is the right place for their family, please encourage them to attend.  They may call Donna Hatch or Tammy Budnick to RSVP or with any questions - 860.658.9412.

Report Cards will be distributed on Friday, 1-25-12.

Parent Meeting regarding Internet Safety - We have arranged for Officer Dunne from the Simsbury Police Department to join us on Monday, February 4, 2013 at 7pm in the Parish Center to discuss internet safety.  Due to the importance of this topic and its direct impact on our children, we are asking that you consider attendance at this meeting a mandatory commitment for at least one parent/guardian from each family.  Middle school students are encouraged to attend as well.

Due to this week's snow day on 1-16-13, Ski & Snowboard Club will be extended one more week and will meet on 2-6-13.

The Home & School Association Auction will be held on Saturday, 2-9-13, at 6pm at the beautiful Riverview in Simsbury.  Ladies, do you have your Derby hat?! Gentleman, is your bow tie picked out?!

Last call for auction items!! We would love to include your item in our program. In order to make sure it is, we need to have it ASAP. Kindly bring them to the school office or contact Michelle or Kimberly to pick them up.

We have some great items! Here is just a preview:

Horse Drawn Sleigh Ride-Be the ultimate valentine!! Whisk her away on a romantic 'Rose & Champagne' sleigh ride for 2 at Wood Acres Farm in Terryville. Call right away and let them know if you want to ride on February 14 or 15, 2013. Then come home and snuggle up under a handmade Irish knit blanket while you enjoy some gourmet cocoa & truffles or indulge in a nice bottle of champagne. To top it all off the basket includes a little blue box (sterling silver open heart pendant from Tiffany & Co.) to give your valentine.
Vera Bradley
Pandora
Alex & Ani
Saige 2013 American Girl doll
NY Giants tickets
Red Sox Tickets
Week stay in Newport, RI
Handmade rosary
Overnight stay and dinner at Mohegan Sun
Polish Stoneware
Weekend in Newburyport, MA
Framed poster of NY Jets #24 Darelle Revis
Golf Foursome

And much, much more.  Click here to order your tickets.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 13th.  We will attend the 12:15pm Parish Mass.  Please remember that no Physical Education uniforms should be worn to Mass.

Box Tops For Education – Have you sent in any Box Tops lately?  Don’t forget to keep clipping.  The next contest deadline is Friday, February 15^th.  The class with the most Box Tops will win the privilege of enjoying extra recess time with their classmates. Additionally, the winning class's teacher will receive a gift certificate to purchase something for their classroom. Please mark your envelope "Box Tops Grade ____." Contact Amy Lillis at amylillis73@gmail.com with any questions.

In just the blink of an eye, it will be time for our February vacation from Monday, 2-18-13 through Friday, 2-22-13!

The Office of Catholic Schools has announced that they are searching for a full time Director of the Connecticut Federation of Catholic School Parents.  Click here for more information. 

Grade 8 Fundraising - Again this year, 8th grade is recycling used ink and toner cartridges.  Cartridges may be dropped off at the school office.

Discovery 3M has announced that it is accepting entries for this year's Young Scientist Challenge.  This Challenge is open to students in grades 5-8.  Ten national finalists will have the opportunity to work directly with a 3M scientist in an exclusive summer mentorship program and bring their innovative ideas to life. One lucky student has the chance to win: $25,000, a once-in-a-lifetime trip with Discovery Student Adventures, and many more exciting prizes. Jeff Shook, one of our Middle School Science teachers, is happy to assist any interested students. To learn more, click here.

ROPE (Right of Passage Experience) 2013 has begun for our seventh grade students with a parent meeting on 1-17-13 from 7-8pm.  The next meeting will be for Opening Prayers on 1-21-13 from 6-8pm. A full schedule for this program appears on Mr. Walsh's Teacher Page.  Click here.

Grade 6 literature circles are doing a great job integrating iPad technology.  While reading Diary of Anne Frank, iPads were used to locate Anne's hiding place.