News for the Week of 2/4/15

We are all feeling a little winter worn - but
the snow piles are great fun at recess!

February Calendar Reminders  




School is closed Monday, 2/16 & Tuesday, 2/17 for a long Winter Weekend.  School reopens on Wednesday, 2/18, for a regular full day and the remainder of that week is a regular school week.

Ash Wednesday, 2/18/15 - We will join with our Parish family and begin the Lenten season at the 12:15pm Parish Mass.  All are welcome and encouraged to join us.  Please remember that no physical education uniforms should be worn to Mass.

Snow Day Calendar Changes -  We have now had 3 snow days.  Our schedule for snow day makeups is as follows:

Monday, April 6, 2015 - School will be OPEN for a regular full day of school with PreKindergarten Enrichment and Aftercare available.  This is Easter Monday and was planned as a day off on our original school calendar .

Wednesday, June 10, 2015 & Thursday, June 11, 2015- School will be OPEN FOR A REGULAR FULL DAY of school with PreKindergarten Enrichment and Aftercare available. 

Friday, June 12, 2015 - This is now our TENTATIVE last day of school and will be a 12:45pm EARLY DISMISSAL WITH NO PREKINDERGARTEN ENRICHMENT OR AFTERCARE.

If we should have additional snow days, they will be added to our days in June and only the last day will be a 12:45pm early dismissal.

Hot Lunch Snow Day Makeup - We will serve the hot lunch that had been planned for Monday, 2/2/15 (snow day) tomorrow - Thursday, 2/5/15.  If your child(ren) was(were) signed up for hot lunch on Monday, 2/2, they will be served hot lunch tomorrow.  There will be an additional hot lunch makeup day for the snow day we had on Monday, 1/12. Volunteers are needed in order to serve this makeup lunch. Please email Tammy Budnick ASAP at tbudnick@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net if you can serve hot lunch makeup on either February 10th or 12th.

March Parent/Teacher Conferences will be here before you know it!  This year, our March Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Monday, 3/16 - Thursday, 3/19.  Each of these days will be a 12:45pm Early Dismissal and there will be NO PREKINDERGARTEN ENRICHMENT OR AFTERCARE.  The Sign-Up Genius for conference reservations will be available beginning on Friday, 2/6/15.  A conference is strongly encouraged for all students but unlike the Fall conferences, no appointments will be scheduled for you if you do not sign up on your own.  If you do not sign up for a conference and your child's teacher feels one is necessary, you will be contacted by the teacher.

Yearbook 2015 - Your photos are needed!  The SMS Yearbook is a very special keepsake.  It features photos of every student at SMS and many candid shots from the year's activities, athletic events and clubs.  If you have photos from this year's activities, please upload them now!  Photos may be uploaded at community.lifetouch.com.  The password/access code for our school is - WXBRRX (Please note, this is case sensitive.  Use all capital letters.)  Please note that up to 5 images may be uploaded at a time.  Your photos will be accepted until the end of March.  Please be sure that photos are identified by activity and/or grade and include teacher and or student names.


Home & School Association News

Is a strong bond between our School and the Parish important to you? Do you want to help keep a vibrant community within SMS?  Then consider a position on the Home & School Board.  The HSA Nominating Committee is currently looking for people to fill the positions of President (or Co-President), Vice President (or Co-Vice President), Corresponding Secretary and Recording Secretary.  Together, the team coordinates events that strengthen the relationship between the Parish and the School communities such as the Fall Festival, Senior Luncheon, the SMS Auction, additional fundraising events and activities throughout Catholic Schools Month, to name a few. The Board also conducts monthly meetings with members of the school administration and School Board, along with interested parents from the School. Please consider being part of an organization that does so much for our community. If you are interested, please contact Noreen Kuziak, Nominating Chair, at 860-416-7662 or  nkuziak@comcast.net  OR Deb Poniatowski at 860-916-1335 or  lakewinnie@comcast.net

Ladies Night Out!!!!

Come join us this Friday, February 6th in the parish center for a fun filled ladies night out playing "Bunco".    Come play, chat and have some fun (even if you have never played)!  $10 per person.  Please RSVP using the flyer available for download here.   Payment will also be accepted at the door if unable to respond by Friday.

Thank You

The HSA would like to extend a special thank you to Diana Kalamarides.

Diana did a wonderful job coordinating the festivities for Teacher Appreciation Week!  From themed decor to the many little "sweet" and thoughtful touches she added to show our thanks and gratitude to our incredible faculty and staff!  Thank you also to all who participated!

Career Day - The HSA would also like to thank Steve Rushin, Ray Fagnant and Doreen Mikan.  Steve Rushin, father of Siobhan, Gr. 5, Maeve, Gr. 3 and Thomas, Gr. 1, is a journalist, sportswriter and novelist. He was named the 2005 National Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.  Ray Fagnant, father of Christian, Gr. 8, Matthew, Gr. 5 and James, Gr. 1,  is the Boston Red Sox Northeast Regional Scouting Supervisor.   Doreen Mikan, mother of Andrew and Marisa in Gr. 2 is a Sergeant with the Granby Police Department.  These wonderful parents took time from their busy schedules to talk to our children on 2/4/15 about their very interesting and impressive careers.

St. Mary's Parishioners Needed!

St. Mary's Parish is in the process of creating a new Parish Photo Directory.

This is where they need your assistance.  They are looking for people to assist with the  check in process prior to photos being taken. The following is the date and time span which volunteers are needed:  Wednesday, March 4, 2015 from 4:00PM until 9:00 PM.  Please consider signing up for any available time slot(s).  Click here to sign up.

Box Tops for Education -Collection contest continues until February 20.  The teacher of the winning class will receive $50 for classroom extras.  Please send Box Tops into homeroom teachers.  Please check the expiration date since expired Box Tops are not accepted.  This contest is open to all grades PreKindergarten - Grade 8.  Questions should be directed to Scott Sirianni at scottmary99@aol.com.

Community News

Valentines Night - Kids Night In, Parents Night Out

Fundraiser for Sam Spak’s Eagle Project to benefit Mercy Shelter & Housing in Hartford. Sam is an SMS Alum, Class of '12, and is currently a junior at Northwest Catholic High School and belongs to Troop 175 in Simsbury.

Professional Babysitters, Boy Scouts and Mom Helpers to watch the kids in the St. Mary's Parish Center

Saturday, February 14^th, 5:30 to 10:00pm, Games, Movie, Food and Fun to be Provided. 

                           $20 per child/ $50 per family.

Reserve a Spot – Sam Spak 860-214-7027 or Terry Spak 860-214-7360, Email huntspak@cox.net