News for the Week of 12/23/15

Merry Christmas to all!  School will reopen on Monday, January 4th and we will begin our celebration of Catholic Schools' Month. 

The St. Mary’s Ski and Snowboard Club is waiting for colder temperatures to arrive!  Due to the lack of snow and freezing temperatures, Ski Sundown is pushing back the start dates for all of the school clubs by 1 week.

As a result, our Ski & Snowboard Club will be starting Wednesday, January 13, 2016.

Parents of participants have received an email from group leader Jim Shanley regarding transportation and other preparations. Please be sure to respond to Mr. Shanley regarding the transportation options he has outlined in the email.  Anyone who would like to participate but was not able to register can still do so prior to the start date. Please contact Jim for more information on this (cell 239-989-6206).

Our January School Mass will be celebrated on Friday, 1/8/16, at 9am in the church.  All are welcome to join us.  Please remember that no physical education uniforms should be worn to Mass.

Hot Lunch Volunteers Needed!  The Sign-Up Genius for hot lunch volunteers is now available.  Over the last several weeks, we have had several occasions where only one volunteer has been signed up for lunch duty.  If you are Virtus trained and can find time in your schedule, please consider volunteering for lunch duty. The lunch program relies on volunteers and without them, we really cannot have a hot lunch program.  It's a great way to see your child(ren) and his/her/their friends during the school day. Thanks!  Click here to view the Hot Lunch Duty Sign-Up Genius.

Looking Ahead to 2016   - Save The Date! 

Book your babysitter & plan to join us on Friday, January 29, 2016 for an evening of Art, Food and Wine at the Hillstead Museum in Farmington, CT.  More information coming soon!

Fun in February!   Students in PreKindergarten through Grade 4 will enjoy an assembly with Zak Morgan on Monday, February 8th at 10am in the Parish Center.  Mr. Morgan is a Grammy nominated musician with a signature brand of children's music.  Click here to learn more about Mr. Morgan.

Alumni News

Congratulations to 9 SMS alums that were recently inducted to the Aquinas Chapter of the National Honor Society at Northwest Catholic High School:  From the SMS Class of '12- Lauren Mangine; From the SMS Class of '13 - Brett Baker, Regina Chappano, Christian Heiden, Katharine and Sarah Jessen, Gabriela Doskos, Allyson Voelker and Christopher Poniatowski.

Community News

The Simsbury Public Library has a great line up of programs for middle and high school students during the month of January.  Some programs do require preregistration.

Signs of  the Season

Kindergarten celebrated Christmas a few days early last week.  It was great to see so many parents enjoying the festivities.

Members of the SMS School Board were Santa's helpers this week treating the
faculty and staff to a delicious Christmas breakfast.  Thanks for such a wonderful treat!

O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law:

come to save us, Lord our God!

News for the week of 12/16/15

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.     Philippians 4:4-7

Christmas Band Concert will be held in the Parish Center on Monday, 12/21 (snow date, Tuesday, 12/22) .  There will be a dress rehearsal at 2pm and guests are welcome.  The evening performance will begin at 7pm.  Musicians should follow dress and arrival guidelines provided by Mrs. Morse.  Click here for guidelines. All are welcome to attend this festive concert and enjoy the "sounds of the season".

Second Grade is collecting new and clean, gently used hats, scarves, mittens and gloves for the clients served by the House of Bread.  All sizes welcome.  Let's help keep everyone warm and cozy this winter!  Donations are being accepted until Wednesday, 12/23.

Christmas Break begins with a 12:45pm early dismissal from school on Wednesday, 12/23. There will be NO PreK Enrichment or Aftercare.  

School reopens and we begin our celebration of Catholic Schools' Month on Monday, 1/4/16.

Looking Ahead to 2016   - Save The Date! 

Book your babysitter & plan to join us on Friday, January 29, 2016 for an evening of Art, Food and Wine at the Hillstead Museum in Farmington, CT.  More information coming soon!

Middle School iPads (Grades 6, 7 & 8) will remain at school over our Christmas break.  All middle school iPads will be turned into the school office on Wednesday, 12/23/15. 

Students that may be leaving school early for the break should be sure to turn their iPads into their homeroom teachers before leaving school for the break.

Our January School Mass will be celebrated on Friday, 1/8/16, at 9am in the church.  All are welcome to join us.  Please remember that no physical education uniforms should be worn to Mass.

Hot Lunch Volunteers Needed!  The Sign-Up Genius for hot lunch volunteers is now available.  Over the last several weeks, we have had several occasions where only one volunteer has been signed up for lunch duty.  If you are Virtus trained and can find time in your schedule, please consider volunteering for lunch duty. The lunch program relies on volunteers and without them, we really cannot have a hot lunch program.  It's a great way to see your child(ren) and his/her/their friends during the school day. Thanks!  Click here to view the Hot Lunch Duty Sign-Up Genius.

Community News

Signs of the Season

Students in Miss Bedard's Kindergarten raised their beautiful voices in song at this year's Lessons & Carols prayer service.

Mrs. Hatch popped into first grade to share the Legend of the Christmas Cookie with both Kindergarten and First Grade students. 

First grade students with their Misfit Sock Project.

News for the Week of 12/9/15

Come, Lord Jesus.  Come and visit your people.  

We await your coming.  Come, O Lord.

"Dear brothers and sisters, I have often thought of how the Church may render more clear her mission to be a witness to mercy; and we have to make this journey. It is a journey which begins with spiritual conversion.

Therefore, I have decided to announce an Extraordinary Jubilee which has its center the mercy of God" - Pope Francis

The Year of Mercy officially began yesterday, 12/8/15, on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and will conclude next year on the Feast of Christ the King on 11/20/16.  The Office of Catholic Schools has many resources available on-line in celebration of this important year.  Click here.

Hot Lunch Menus & Order Form for lunches from January through March are available now.  Click here.  All orders and payments will be due NLT THIS Friday, December 11th.

Lessons & Carols, our annual Christmas Prayer Service, will be held in the church on Monday, 12/14 (snow date, Tuesday, 12/15).  There will be a dress rehearsal at 10am that is open to the public and an excellent opportunity for photos.  The evening prayer service begins at 7pm in the Church.  Every student in Kindergarten - Grade 8 participates in this beautiful retelling of the Nativity Story.  Absence from the prayer service is permitted only for illness or with permission from Mrs. Gannatti.  Students in Kindergarten and 8th grade should follow the dress guidelines provided by homeroom teachers.  All other students should wear their full formal uniform - no sweatshirts, please.

Christmas Band Concert will be held in the Parish Center on Monday, 12/21 (snow date, Tuesday, 12/22) .  There will be a dress rehearsal at 2pm and guests are welcome.  The evening performance will begin at 7pm.  Musicians should follow dress and arrival guidelines that will be provided by Mrs. Morse.  All are welcome to attend this festive concert and enjoy the "sounds of the season".

Christmas Break begins with a 12:45pm early dismissal from school on Wednesday, 12/23. There will be NO PreK Enrichment or Aftercare.  

School reopens and we begin our celebration of Catholic Schools' Month on Monday, 1/4/16.

CHOICE Cards for Christmas Giving - Gift cards make wonderful gifts and donations and the CHOICE program has a wide variety of gift cards available. In addition to the cards normally stocked in the office, many other cards are available by special order via GL Script. Click here and at the bottom of the displayed page select "Retailer List" under Quick Links to view a complete list of available vendors. If placing a special order for Christmas giving, please keep in mind that the last date for assured gift giving availability is Wednesday, 12/16/15. Please contact Tammy Budnick with any questions - 860.658.9412 or tbudnick@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.

Grade 8 Fundraising - There are still a few raffle tickets available!  Think of the holiday fun possible with an extra $1,000 available!

  Click here to download a ticket order form.

Athletic News

Click here to share in the excitement of this year's SMS Knights basketball season.  Nice shot, #50, Olivia D., Grade 6!

Congratulations to our JVC Girls team, they won their game last weeked, 22-10. JVC is 2nd and 3rd grade. 

Turkey Trot Results - Thanks to all that contributed a non-perishable food item or made a donation to the annual Jack Bannon Turkey Trot.  Organizers have let us know that SMS contributed 95 pounds of non-perishable food to this drive!

Signs of the Season

Students in Mrs. Jehning's First Grade created manger scenes.







On Friday, 12/4, Kindergarten and First Grade celebrated the Feast of St. Nicholas including the tradition of leaving out their shoes for a special visit.

Kindergarten students with their "misfit sock".

Students in Kindergarten and grades 1-4 are preparing for Christmas this Advent using a "Misfit Sock".  Students have read  The Misfit Sock by Karen Kiefer. The Advent Misfit Sock is intended to ignite imaginations and be a catalyst for prayer during this special season. This story has many "bigger messages" within the text, which helps the story come alive.  Click here to learn more about The Misfit Sock and its message for Advent.

News for the Week of 12/2/15

"Peace is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of Christ."  Sheila Walsh

PreKindergarten students worked with their 8th grade "buddies" this week to create beautiful scenes of the Holy Family in the stable.  If you are at school, you can see these projects on the bulletin board outside the PreKindergarten classroom.









December Calendar Reminders

Poinsettia Sale Pick up is Friday, December 4th from 2-4pm in the Parish Center and after Masses on Saturday, December 5th and Sunday, December 6th.  If you did not get a chance to place an order, there will be extra plants available for sale!  Thanks to everyone who supported our 8th grade by purchasing poinsettias.

In December,  we will celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception with our Parish family at the 12:15pm Mass on Tuesday, December 8th.  All are welcome.  Please remember that no Physical Education uniforms should be worn to Mass.

Hot Lunch Menus & Order Form for lunches from January through March will be emailed to all families later this week.  All orders and payments will be due NLT Friday, December 11th.

Lessons & Carols, our annual Christmas Prayer Service, will be held in the church on Monday, 12/14 (snow date, Tuesday, 12/15).  There will be a dress rehearsal at 10am that is open to the public and an excellent opportunity for photos.  The evening prayer service begins at 7pm in the Church.  Every student in Kindergarten - Grade 8 participates in this beautiful retelling of the Nativity Story.  Absence from the prayer service is permitted only for illness or with permission from Mrs. Gannatti.  Students in Kindergarten and 8th grade should follow the dress guidelines provided by homeroom teachers.  All other students should wear their full formal uniform - no sweatshirts, please.

Christmas Band Concert will be held in the Parish Center on Monday, 12/21 (snow date, Tuesday, 12/22) .  There will be a dress rehearsal at 2pm and guests are welcome.  The evening performance will begin at 7pm.  Musicians should follow dress and arrival guidelines that will be provided by Mrs. Morse.  All are welcome to attend this festive concert and enjoy the "sounds of the season".

Christmas Break begins with a 12:45pm early dismissal from school on Wednesday, 12/23. There will be NO PreK Enrichment or Aftercare.  

School reopens and we begin our celebration of Catholic Schools' Month on Monday, 1/4/16.

CHOICE Cards for Christmas Giving - Gift cards make wonderful gifts and donations and the CHOICE program has a wide variety of gift cards available. In addition to the cards normally stocked in the office, many other cards are available by special order via GL Script. Click here and at the bottom of the displayed page select "Retailer List" under Quick Links to view a complete list of available vendors. If placing a special order for Christmas giving, please keep in mind that the last date for assured gift giving availability is Wednesday, 12/16/15. Please contact Tammy Budnick with any questions - 860.658.9412 or tbudnick@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.

The Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy will begin December 8, 2015, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary and the 50th Anniversary of the Closing of the Second Vatican Council, and conclude on the Solemnity of Christ the King, November 20, 2016. During this holy year, Pope Francis is encouraging the faithful to receive God's mercy - especially in the Sacrament of Reconciliation - and to be witnesses of mercy in our world by practicing the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.

Pope Francis will open the Holy Year door, a "Door of Mercy through which anyone who enters will experience the love of God who consoles, pardons and instills hope" (Pope Francis, The Face of Mercy), and each diocese throughout the world will open a holy door. Archbishop Blair has invited everyone to the opening ceremony for the archdiocesan Jubilee Door of Mercy on December 13, at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford, at 3pm. The liturgy will consist of the blessing and opening of our Holy Door, evening prayer, and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

Archbishop Blair will also celebrate a Jubilee of Mercy Mass for Families on Holy Family Sunday, December 27, at the Cathedral of St. Joseph, at 11am. All families in the Archdiocese of Hartford are invited to attend.  Click here for additional Jubilee of Mercy upcoming events in the Archdiocese of Hartford.

 #Knightly News is here! Follow The Scoop@SMS_Knights for breaking school news and up to the minute basketball schedules,scores and highlights! 

SMS SPIRIT WEAR MAKES A GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT! Be the "Knight Before Christmas".  Orders are now being accepted to be delivered in time for Christmas. 

These NEW spirit wear items are NOT uniform items, they are designed for casual wear outside of school.  The only exception is that Middle School students MAY wear the spirit wear hooded sweatshirt as part of their school uniform.

 GO BLUE KNIGHTS!

 Any questions please call or email Toni Chagnon at 860-658-9412 or tchagnon@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.  Click here for more information and to download an order form.

Community News

Simsbury Public Library has announced December programs for students in grades 7-12.  Some events do require pre-registration.  There will also be 2 "Hours of Code" in December.

Students in Mrs. Jehning's First Grade have trimmed the classroom Christmas tree.

Signs of the Season - All around us, we are reminded of our journey through Advent toward Christmas.  We would like to invite you to share your journey with us.  If you have photos of your family during this festive time that you would like to share with our community- lighting the family Advent wreath, trimming the tree, decorating the cookies.... - please send them along to dhatch@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.