News for the Week of 5/27/15

Keeping it Safe in the Neighborhood - Students in Miss Kane's PreKindergarten visited the fire station that is right down the street to learn more about fire prevention and safety.  It was an informative visit that included a test of the alarm tone while students were on tour!

Mark your calendar for family fun!

36th Annual
St. Mary's Carnival
June 3-6, 2015!

*** Location:  34 Hopmeadow St
Field South of Eversource Energy

 (Formerly Connecticut Light & Power)

Your help is needed as a volunteer.  Click here to volunteer.   Click here for more information about the carnival.

EXCITING NEWS!
St. Catherine's Men's Club is holding a golf tournament on Friday, May 29th at Simsbury Farms.
It includes lunch and a surf and turf dinner. The cost is $135.00 per golfer.
For every foursome from the St. Mary's community that signs up, the St. Catherine's Men's Club will donate $100 to our school! The rest of the proceeds of the tournament goes to Pantry Partners Feeding Simsbury Families in Need. If interested, please contact St. Catherine of Sienna parish at 860-658-1642.  Thank you for your support.

Friday, June 5th we will celebrate the SMS Class of '15 with Graduation after 10AM Mass and Class Day beginning at 1pm in the Parish Center.  All are welcome to join us at Mass and for the graduation ceremony.  Please remember that no physical education uniforms should be worn to Mass.  Eighth grade students should follow the dress guidelines provided by Mrs. Gillen.

Monday, June 8th - Grades PreKindergarten, Kindergarten - 4 will enjoy field day in the north (playground) parking lot.

Wednesday, June10th and Thursday, June 11th are regular, full days of school.  PreKindergarten Enrichment and Aftercare are available on both of these days.

There will be an End of Year Prayer Service on Thursday, June 11th at 9am in the church.  All students should plan to wear their relaxed uniforms on this day.  Everyone is invited to join us at this prayer service to give thanks for another wonderful year of exploration, excitement, learning and growth.

Friday, June 12th is our last day of school.

This will be a 12:45 early closing day. There will be NO PreKindergarten Enrichment or Aftercare. 

There will be an awards assembly at 9:30am in the parish center.  Parents will be notified by teachers if a student is going to receive an award.  A pizza lunch will be provided for all students.

Summer Office Hours begin the week of Monday, June 15th.  The office will be open from 9am-1pm on Tuesday - Thursday or by appointment.  Voice mail and email will be checked daily.  Dates for Summer CHOICE sales will be announced prior to the close of school.  Summer blog posts will be sent on an as needed basis and the Back to School mailing will be sent out early in August.

School will reopen on Wednesday, August 26th.  It will be a regular, full day of school with PreKindergarten Enrichment and Aftercare available.

There will be a "Meet & Greet" for students entering PreKindergarten, Kindergarten - Grade 3 on Tuesday, August 25th.  Incoming 6th grade students and students new to our 7th and 8th grades should plan on attending a "Morning in Middle School" on Tuesday, August 26th.  Timing for these events will be announced via summer blog post.

iPad Summer Collection -  

Grade 8 - All grade 8 iPads and school owned chargers and cords must be turned in to the homeroom teacher on Wednesday, June 3rd.  Any physical damage or device operational issues should be reported when the device is turned in.  There is a $50 repair fee due for any type of repair required.  There is a $40 charge for replacement if the school owned charger and/or cord are not returned with the iPad.  An invoice will be sent via US mail if a repair or replacement fee is due.

Grades 6 & 7 - All grade 6 and 7 iPads and school owned chargers and cords must be turned in to the homeroom teacher on Wednesday, June 10th.  Any physical damage or device operational issues should be reported when the device is turned in.  There is a $50 repair fee due for any type of repair required.  There is a $40 charge for replacement if the school owned charger and/or cord are not returned with the iPad.   An invoice will be sent via US mail if a repair or replacement fee is due.  If a fee is still due at the start of school, the student will not be issued a device until the fee has been paid.

Grades K-5 - These students will have daily use of their iPads until Thursday, June 11th.  Students will bring their iPad cases home for the summer. ( If a replacement case is being purchased, please keep in mind that the case must be for a 3rd generation iPad.  Cases for newer versions will not fit the 3rd generation device appropriately.)  All of these devices will be inspected by the homeroom teachers and Mrs. Hatch for physical damage and/or operational issues.  There is a $50 repair fee due for any type of repair required.   An invoice will be sent via US mail if a repair or replacement fee is due.  If a fee is still due at the start of school, the student will not be issued a device until the fee has been paid.

All questions regarding iPad summer collection or iPads in general should be directed to Mrs. Hatch at dhatch@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.

Room Parents for 2015-16 - Thank you to the parents who have volunteered to be room parents for the 2015-2016 school year.  There are still a few spots available.  If your child is entering the following grades and you would like to serve as a room parent next year, please let Mrs. Gannatti know at mgannatti@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.  Room Parents are still needed for:

*  1st grade - still an opportunity for one other room parent

*  2nd grade

*  3rd grade

*  4th grade

*  7th and 8th grades - still an opportunity for another room parent

Jump Rope Club -  

There will be a Jump Rope Club show today (5/27) at 6:00pm at McLean Home in Simsbury and another next Wednesday (6/3) at 6:45 at River Ridge in Avon.

Home & School Association News

The Scholastic BOGO Bookfair continues in the Parish Center through Sunday, May 31.

Wed.    9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Thurs. 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Fri.      11:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Sun. May 31                        9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Remaining Class visits to the  Book Fair at the following times:

Grade 1   - Thurs., May 28th@10:45AM

Grade 6   - Thurs., May 28th @2:35PM

Special Event for the book fair:

SEND IN THOSE BOX TOPS!!

Box Tops for Education - Final Collection Contest for 2014-15!  Until May 29th, we are collecting box tops for the third and final Box Tops for Education collection contest for this year. The grade level that collects the most Box Tops from the Fall, Winter and Spring, will win the last contest, and their teacher will receive $75 for the classroom.  Click here for more information.

SMS Alumni Mary Elizabeth Budnick (second from left) &
Avery Hatch and Ann O'Meara and Abigail Herron ( right).

Alumni News - Congratulations to Mary Elizabeth Budnick, Avery Hatch, Abigail Herron and Ann O'Meara (all SMS Class of '12) on their induction to the National Latin Honor Society (Associationem ad Promovendum Studium Latinum). The purpose of the Society is to encourage an interest in and an appreciation of the language, literature and culture of ancient Greece and Rome and to impart an understanding of the debt of our own culture to that of Classical antiquity. All of these students are currently completing their Junior year at Northwest Catholic High School.

If you have alumni news to share, please send it to dhatch@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.

News for Friday, 5/22/15

School will be closed on Monday, May25th, in observation of Memorial Day.

Field Day Update - Congratulation to the championship Red team on their victory today!  A grand time was had by all!

Mark your calendar for family fun!

The annual St. Mary's Carnival is coming soon!  Your help is needed as a volunteer.  Sponsorships are available now!  Click here to volunteer.  Click here for sponsorship sign-up.  Deadline for sponsors is Tuesday, May 26th.

EXCITING NEWS!
St. Catherine's Men's Club is holding a golf tournament on Friday, May 29th at Simsbury Farms.
It includes lunch and a surf and turf dinner. The cost is $135.00 per golfer.
For every foursome from the St. Mary's community that signs up, the St. Catherine's Men's Club will donate $100 to our school! The rest of the proceeds of the tournament goes to Pantry Partners Feeding Simsbury Families in Need. If interested, please contact St. Catherine of Sienna parish at 860-658-1642.  Thank you for your support.

Come Explore an Ocean of Books!

At the Book Fair Under the Sea

Get ready for summer reading at our BOGO Scholastic book fair:

Spring Book Fair hours:

Tues. May 26                12:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Wed. & Thurs. May 27 & 28            9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

 Fri. May 29                         9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

 Sun. May 31                        9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Classes will be visiting the Book Fair at the following times:

Kindergarten  - Wed., May 27th @9:15AM

Grade 1   - Thurs., May 28th@10:45AM

Grade 2   - Tues., May 26th@1:15PM

Grade 3    -Wed., May 27th @2:00PM

Grade 4   - Wed., May 27th @10:15AM

Grade 5   - Wed., May 27th @1:15PM

Grade 6   - Thurs., May 28th @2:35PM

Grade 7   - Tues., May 26th @2:35PM

Grade 8   - Tues., May 26th @2:00PM

We still need volunteers, so if you are available please contact Karen McKenna at kdsm1120@comcast.net   or Bridget Shanley  (860-738-8965)  bashanley@charter.net  if you are available to help.

Special Event for the book fair:

News for the Week of 5/20/15

A Delicious Day in the Neighborhood! -- Students in Miss Kane's PreKindergarten took a stroll in the neighborhood this week to visit Little City Pizza.  Students learned all about making pizza in the best way - by making a personal pizza to enjoy!

Golf Tournament chairs Fay Lenz (left) and Sue Zordan (right)
with our Pastor, Father Matera.

Thank you to each and every one of you who came out to support St. Mary's School Golf Tournament fundraiser at Hop Meadow Country Club on Monday, 5/18 - and those of you who worked behind the scenes to bring it together.  Raffle buyers, coffee drinkers, basket builders, donors, sponsors, golfers, dinner attendees, auction shoppers and, of course, tireless volunteers. Thanks to all of you, it was a great success on many levels - great friendship, fun and fundraising. We are blessed and grateful. 


Please check out the newly designed website(smsfairwaytoheaven.com - http://www.smsfairwaytoheaven.com/) to see photos of the event and for links to our wide variety of sponsor businesses - what a vibrant community we live in!

Mr. Gangloff  "on the green".

REMINDER ----  The first two spots in our carpool lot are RESERVED for the families that paid for these spots at the HSA auction last year and at our Golf Tournament this year.  This reserved parking is valid throughout this school year and the 2015-16 school year.  Please DO NOT park in these spots.  Our thanks to the Bradley and Greggains families for their generous support at these events.





The School Board will meet on Wednesday, May 20th at 7pm in the lower church.  All are welcome.

Our Spring Band concert will be held on Thursday, May 21st in the Parish Center at 7pm.  The concert will feature selections by our Cadet (Beginner), Advanced and Jazz Bands as well as some special performances.  Information regarding student arrival time and dress is available here.  There will be a dress rehearsal of the concert for the entire student body on Thursday, 5/21, at 2pm in the Parish Center.  Guests are also welcome at this performance.  All musicians should be sure to bring their instruments, music, stands and necessary supplies to school on Thursday for this dress rehearsal.

All Musicians & Parents of Musicians - Please CLICK HERE for important information from Mrs. Morse regarding the school day dress rehearsal, evening arrival time and concert dress.

The FMI Concert at the Old State House that was scheduled for this Friday, 5/22, has been CANCELLED due to construction on the Old State House lawn.







Athletic News - FIELD DAY FOR GRADES 5-8 THIS FRIDAY, 5/22!

Students in grades 5-8 will enjoy a Field Day soccer tournament on the Iron Horse Boulevard fields on Friday, 5/22 from 9am until noon.  All students should be sure to bring water.  No cleats are allowed.  Shin guards are optional.  Games will be played following co-ed rules which will be reviewed on Friday before the tournament begins.  Parents are welcome to come to the field to watch, cheer on participants and/or referee.

Field Day for Grades PreK, K-4 will be on Monday, June 8th in the school's north (playground) parking lot.  More details as the event draws closer.

Friday, May 22nd is a 12:45 early dismissal to begin the Memorial Day holiday.  There will be NO PreKindergarten Enrichment or Aftercare.  School is CLOSED on Monday, 5/25/15, for Memorial Day.

Thank a Teacher & Target Will Send SMS $25!  Target stores are committed to donating one billion dollars in support of education.  If you participate in their "Thanks a Billion" campaign, our school will receive $25 for every thank you you share with a teacher.  Click here.  Please note that you do need to login via Facebook to complete this "thank you".

Looking Ahead to 2015-16 - Are You Interested in Serving as a Room Parent Next Year?  

Room parents typically help homeroom teachers coordinate classroom volunteers if they are needed for a special event or project.  They also support class activities or communicate important information by sending out emails to parents when requested to do so by the teacher or Mrs. Gannatti.  In an emergency, room parents may be asked to assist with phone notifications.  Room parents for 8th grade have additional responsibilities associated with the many activities associated with graduation and the New York field trip and yearbook.  If you are interested in serving as a room parent next year, please email Mrs. Gannatti at mgannatti@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net NLT Friday, 5/22.  She will meet with each homeroom teacher about room parent needs for the coming year and selections will be made by the end of May.  If you have being serving as a room parent either this year or within the last 3 years, please be sure to let Mrs. Gannatti know that.  We would like to be sure that people who have not yet had the opportunity to serve are given a chance.

Congratulations to our 7th grade students on their successful completion of the R.O.P.E.S. program. 


 The program concluded with a day long "high ropes" course experience at Simsbury Farms followed by a potluck dinner.

8th Grade students enjoyed a day in New York City.
While in the city, students visited the Intrepid, attended a performance
of  "Neverland" and dinner at Ellen's Stardust Diner.

SMS in the News -  Click here & here to read articles that have been posted to the Hartford Courant.

Home & School Association

SEND IN THOSE BOX TOPS!!

Box Tops for Education - Final Collection Contest for 2014-15!  Starting May 18th and ending May 29th, we will begin the third and final Box Tops for Education collection contest for this year. The grade level that collects the most Box Tops from the Fall, Winter and Spring, will win the last contest, and their teacher will receive $75 for the classroom.  Click here for more information.
 

Come Explore an Ocean of Books!

At the Book Fair Under the Sea

Get ready for summer reading at our BOGO Scholastic book fair:

Spring Book Fair hours:

Tues. May 26                12:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Wed. & Thurs. May 27 & 28            9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

 Fri. May 29                         9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

 Sun. May 31                        9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Classes will be visiting the Book Fair at the following times:

Kindergarten  - Wed., May 27th @9:15AM

Grade 1   - Thurs., May 28th@10:45AM

Grade 2   - Tues., May 26th@1:15PM

Grade 3    -Wed., May 27th @2:00PM

Grade 4   - Wed., May 27th @10:15AM

Grade 5   - Wed., May 27th @1:15PM

Grade 6   - Thurs., May 28th @2:35PM

Grade 7   - Tues., May 26th @2:35PM

Grade 8   - Tues., May 26th @2:00PM

We still need volunteers, so if you are available please contact Karen McKenna at kdsm1120@comcast.net   or Bridget Shanley  (860-738-8965)  bashanley@charter.net  if you are available to help.

Special Event for the book fair:

Our thanks to our vocal music teacher, Mrs. Patty Lepak, for a beautiful spring vocal concert last week.  Students looked well turned out in their Sunday best and their performances were wonderful!  We also thank our art teacher, Mrs. Ellen Raposo for beautifully showcasing our students' art work in this year's Art Show.


Pictured left and below, our first grade class looking spectacular in concert attire!
















Community News

Simsbury Public Library Announces Summer Teen Events -  You can download a copy of the flyer below on our website.  Click here.

A few more special memories from this year's Grandparent's & Special Person's Day.