News for the Week of October 14, 2015

BEWARE!! MONSTERS IN SHOWCASE!!

It's starting to look like Halloween at SMS!  If you are visiting
be sure to stop and say hello to the PreK Monsters living in the showcase!

Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held from Monday, November 9 - Thursday, November 12.  Each of these days will be a 12:45pm early dismissal for grades K-8.  PreKindergarten Enrichment is available but there will be NO AFTERCARE.  Please use the Sign Up Genius to register for your conference(s).  Click here.

Service Project - Personal Care Items Collection 
Fourth grade has volunteered to help support the House of Bread as one of our community service projects.  We are asking for families to send in small, travel-size soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and body washes (the size you would get from a hotel room).  These supplies will be of great use to those who utilize the House of Bread for their showers.  Please do not send in larger bars or bottles of soap, as they can only be used once.  You can send in supplies anytime between now and the end of October.  Thank you for your support of this effort!  

Do you know someone wondering if SMS is the right place for their family? 

Spread the Word!   
Walk in Wednesdays are back! 

Starting October 7th, and continuing through the month of October, SMS will be welcoming guests interested in learning more about our community from 9-11:30am. If you know someone that may be considering a Catholic education for their children, this is a great opportunity to invite them to come and observe our students and teachers in action and learn more about the school. Please call or email Toni Chagnon for more information -  860-658-9412 or tchagnon@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.  

We will also be hosting the first in a series of Open House Lectures on Wednesday, 10/28, beginning at 6:30pm in the Parish Center.  Author, Educator and Psychologist, Barbara Stacks, will discuss what to expect at each stage of a child's development, how to develop and strengthen values,resilience and confidence in children and how to navigate parenting challenges in our technology driven world. These are all topics addressed in Ms. Stack's recent book - Childhood Roots; Trail Markers for Raising Children From Birth to Eight.  A question and answer session as well as a book signing will follow. Books will be available for purchase. 

For more information or to RSVP, please contact Toni Chagnon at 860-658-9412 or tchagnon@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net

Ski & Snowboard Club-  Preparations are underway for the 2016 season at Ski Sundown in New Hartford. New information and registration forms have been posted to the school website under the Athletics section.  Click here.

These forms can be completed and submitted beginning now. The deadline for submission without a late fee is MONDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2015.

Note that Ski Sundown has changed their policy with regard to parents being counted towards the minimum group size. This will make it more challenging for our school to participate as our group last year was right at the 20-person minimum with 4 parents participating.  For this reason you are encouraged to REGISTER EARLY if possible.

All students who are age 8 or older on 1/6/16 can participate.  First timers are more than welcome.

Transportation to and from Ski Sundown will be available.  Season pass holders can utilize the Club’s bus transportation.  Please see the FAQ for cost information.

Chaperones are also needed and can ski for free.  A Sign-Up Genius site has been established.  Click here.

Please consider this activity for your child(ren).  We have a great time and it would be a shame if we are not able to continue this year.

Students in Miss Kane's PreK enjoyed Pajama Day on October 8th.
Cozy fun was had by all!

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The 8^th Grade Car Wash on October 10th was a great success!  A big thank you to 8th grade homeroom teacher, Mrs. Gillen, to the parents who helped work the car wash & the SMS community for supporting the class by getting their car washed.  A special thank you to Terry Spak, mom of SMS alum, Sam Spak, Class of '12, who not only let the class borrow her “car wash in a box”, but also came down that morning & helped the students organize the wash.

Show Your School Spirit! SMS car magnets are available in the school office for $5 each. Stop by and see Toni Chagnon to purchase your magnets! Please bring exact change or a check made payable to St. Mary's School.

Fall Bookfair was a monstrous success! Thank you to everyone who shopped at the book fair last week.  All profits go towards funding St. Mary’s School activities.  If you didn’t get a chance to shop at the book fair, or if you wanted a book that was out of stock, please shop the online fair. Browse an extended selection of books! The online fair is open until Oct. 19, 2015.  Books are shipped free directly to SMS!  Click here to visit the online fair.

We would like to thank the following people for their help with the Fall Book Fair last week.  Many thanks go to: Jodie Burhoe, Tricia Prausa, Tiffany Mazur, Julia Forneris, Jennifer Pavlonnis, Kristin Potter and Diana Kalamarides.  Special thanks to our bookfair coordinators, Bridget Shanley and Karen McKenna. We really couldn't run the book fair without our dedicated volunteers.

The Spring Book Fair is a BOGO and will run from April 4, 2015 to April 8, 2015!

Community News

Auerfarm invites everyone to a Fall Festival on Saturday, October 17th.