News for the Week of 3/4/15

It's finally March!  Please take a moment to double check that your calendars are current with upcoming school events.


Walk-In Wednesdays began today and continue each Wednesday in March.  If you know someone who has been wondering if SMS is the right place for their family, please encourage them to drop by for a walk in visit.  Hours are 9:30-11:30, no appointment is required but if they call ahead, we'll be sure to have an information packet all prepared for them to take home after their visit.







Our March School Mass will be held at 9am on Friday, 3/6/15, in the church.  All are most welcome to join us.  Please remember that no physical education uniforms should be worn to Mass.

  Saturday, 3/7/15, we "spring ahead"!  We may still feel very chilly, but we will have a whole extra hour of daylight for shivering ( or shoveling)!

“No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.” Hal Borland

"Moving Up Night" for Parents of Currently Enrolled Students -  On Tuesday, March 10th at 6:30, we will be hosting "Moving Up Night".  This evening is for parents and will give you an opportunity to learn a little bit more about the curriculum and classes your student(s) will enjoy in the coming 2015-16 school year.  Students will have an opportunity to visit their homerooms for next year to enjoy some math related activities on the morning of 3/10 during our school's Pi Day celebrations.

Students in grades 7 and 8 invite you to attend the performance that is the culmination of their Shakesperience residency.  This year's performance will feature scenes from A Midsummer Night's Dream.  The performance will be held on Friday, March 13 from 2-3pm in the Parish Center.

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.  Click here to sign up for conferences.  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.

Living Stations of the Cross - 

Again this year, our 8th grade students will present the Living Stations of the Cross. All are welcome and encouraged to attend this beautiful Lenten prayer service. The Living Stations will be presented on Friday, March 27 at 2 and 7pm in the church.






A simple soup and bread supper will be available from 5:30 to 6:30 pm in the Parish Center prior to the 7pm presentation of the Living Stations.  There is no charge for the dinner but free-will donations will be accepted. There will be at least one gluten-free soup option.


Grade 8 Parents please note - There will be a Sign-Up Genius to coordinate volunteers to provide soup, bowls, cups, napkins, etc. and act as the volunteer clean-up crew (parents-only since the students will be getting dressed for the Living Stations.) You will receive an invitation to this Sign-Up Genius once it is created.

Delving into Dental Health in Kindergarten -  In Miss Cole's Kindergarten, students are learning how they can take care of their teeth and about healthy food and drink choices for their teeth. To get a better understanding of food choices that might be damaging to teeth, students put eggs into solutions of vinegar, soda, coffee, juice, milk, and water. The next day, students observed the results of this experiment and used a toothbrush and toothpaste to try to remove any discoloration.  Students used the results  to rank the liquids from best to worst choices for dental health.

Hot Lunch Volunteers Needed - There are several hot lunch days in March that are short one volunteer.  If you are able to help on any of these days, please click here to sign up or send an email to Mrs. Budnick at tbudnick@stmarysimsbury.eduk.net.
Dates an additional volunteer are needed -

Monday, March 9

Monday, March 16

Wednesday, March 25

Flag of Honor!  Students in Mrs. Jehning's first grade class designed flags this week as part of a Social Studies lesson about character.  Danylo's very clever flag included an acrostic formed with the letters of his name that represented the finest aspects of his character.  Great job, Danylo!

Fairway to Heaven Golf Outing - Monday, May 18th at the Hopmeadow Country Club
Believe it or not, Spring is around the corner!  Keep an eye out for the Golf Tournament Registration and Sponsorship Opportunities in the upcoming CHOICE mailing. And in the meantime, check out our website and Facebook page!  Save May 18 - there will be something for everyone.


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.

Community News

Simsbury Public Library has even more programs available in March.  Click here for an updated flyer listing all the events that will be open to students in grades 5 and up during the month of March.  Events include "arm knitting" on March 5, Intro to Scratch Programming on March 14, a showing of the movie BoxTrolls on March 19 and lots more!

This week,  the children in Kindergarten and First Grade got to meet Judge Jason Lobo. A Connecticut Superior Court Judge, Judge Lobo is also the uncle of Siobhan, Maeve and Thomas Rushin.  He came in to read to kindergarten and first grade. They listened to two favorites by Dr. Seuss - The Sneetches to learn to treat everyone equally and Oh The Places You Will Go to learn that they are on a journey through life.  Students also took the Read Across America's Reader's Oath.  Thanks, Judge Lobo for sharing some time with our students!

Home & School Association News

Minutes from the HSA meetings in October, November and January have been posted.  Click here.

Everyone is invited to the Home & School Association meeting on Thursday, 3/12/15 at 6:30pm in the 8th grade classroom.






Faces of SMS -
One of our everyday heroes is our amazing custodian - Mr. Stokes.  Not only does he keep our facility ship-shape, he even fixes lunch boxes.  Thanks, Mr. Stokes, for everything you do to help make SMS a great place to learn and work!