News for the Week of October 28, 2015

Fall Back! - Don't forget to turn your clocks back one hour on Saturday night!

Tonight!  Wednesday, October 28th at 6:30pm - We will be hosting the first in a series of Open House Lectures 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. 

Students in Miss Bedard's Kindergarten class are learning all
about the noctural habits of owl.  They also created owl puppets!

Last Call for Personal Care Items - Service Project 

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 this Friday, October 30th.  Thank you for your support of this effort!  

Formal Uniforms begin Monday, November 2nd!  Just a reminder that all students in grades Kindergarten - Grade 7 will transition to formal uniforms beginning Monday, November 2nd.  Eighth grade students are given the privilege of wearing the relaxed uniform until December 1.

Pumpkin Bingo! Pumpkin Bingo will be held on Friday, October 30th during our regular lunch waves. Students will play and eat during the allotted time and there will be 8th graders as well as Student Council Representatives around to help them out! Grades K-5 will go out to recess at their normal times. The Middle School will not go to recess on Friday. 

Costumes may be worn to school on Friday and may be worn all day though costumes should be simple and they may not include weapons, masks or face paint. They should also not be scary. 

Lifetouch Photography will take group class photos for students in grades PreKindergarten, Kindergarten - Grade 7 on Monday, 11/2/15. All students in Kindergarten - Grade 7 must be full formal uniform for the group class picture.

Lifetouch will also take individual student photos on 11/2/15 for the following students -

* If not satisfied with original portrait - Return your complete package to the photographer on retake day.

* If absent on the original day whether you are purchasing a package or not.

* If a package was not purchased on the original day and you would now like to purchase a package. Order forms are available in the school office approximately one week prior to retake day.

If a student is having an individual photo taken for retake or due to absence on picture day, business casual clothing appropriate for school may be brought in. Student may change into this clothing for the individual photo but must wear formal uniform for the rest of the day.

Paul Cryan Photography will be holding a "sibling session" at their studio on Tuesday, November 3rd. The studio is located at 40 Avon Meadow Lane in Avon.  Please call the studio to schedule an appointment - (860)676-1350.  This session is on a first come, first serve basis and open to other schools as well. 

Simsbury Public Schools will be closed on Tuesday, 11/3/15, for Election Day BUT SMS IS OPEN FOR A REGULAR, FULL DAY OF SCHOOL.  Since the public schools are closed, our afternoon buses may run significantly earlier than usual.  Please be sure that you home to greet your child(ren) or have discussed the plan to be used if he/she/they arrive home before you.

Our November School Mass will be held on Friday, 11/6, at 9am in the church.  All are welcome to join us in worship.  Please remember that no physical uniforms should be worn to Mass.

First Quarter Report Cards will be sent home with students in grades 1-8 on Friday, November 6th.  Please be sure to retain your copy of the report card and to sign & return the report card envelope to school so it can be reused.  Kindergarten students will receive their first report cards in January.

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.

It's time to think about the Senior Thanksgiving Luncheon!  Each year, over 200 area senior citizens enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving luncheon served by our 8th grade students and parent volunteers.  This event relies on the participation of our whole school community to make it a success - many food donations are needed and we appreciate the help of many volunteers with food preparation, setup, serving and clean up.  This year, our Senior Luncheon will be held on Wednesday, November 18th. 

Each homeroom class will have a sign up genius for donations needed. Sign Up Genius links will be available on Monday, November 2nd and be emailed to the class and posted on the school website. Next week's blog will also include a quick link to sign ups. 

Please be sure to send in your donations by the due date listed for the item(s). The due dates allow time to purchase supplies if adequate donations are not received. There are three due dates: Friday, November 13th; Monday, November 16th and Wednesday, November 18th NLT  9AM.  Each item has it's due date listed on the sign up genius. 

If you are able to help with setup, serving and/or cleanup, please note that a separate volunteer sign up will also be sent  out to all classes and will be posted on the website.

 Please note -  NO HOT LUNCH IS SERVED ON 11/18 DUE TO THE SENIOR LUNCHEON.

Veteran's Day Prayer Service - On Wednesday, November 11, 2015, we will be having a Veteran's Day prayer service at 9am in the parish center. All veterans are invited to attend. Please email Mrs.Gore atVGore@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net if you would like to attend. 

Our new Twitter feed and the Student Council's Facebook Page are two new ways to stay in touch and up to date with everything going on at SMS!

Mrs. Chagnon says, "Like us on Facebook!
 Follow us on Twitter!"

CHOICE NEWS - Just in time to start thinking about holiday giving!  Low Denomination Gift Cards are Coming Back Soon! Starting Saturday, October 31, G.L. Scrip  will have a limited number of special small denomination gift cards available, perfect for stocking stuffers and holiday gift-giving! These cards will only be available while supplies last, so don't wait to place your orders. The following cards will be available:

• Amazon.com Gift Cards $10
• AMC Theatres^® $10
• Applebee's $10
• Barnes & Noble $5
• CVS/pharmacy $10
• Groupon $10
• IHOP $10
• Outback $10
• Panera Bread^® $5
• Regal Entertainment Group $10
• Starbucks $5
• Target $10
• Walmart $10

Community News

Annual Turkey Trot Non-Perishable Food Collection - Help SMS fill the truck! - Again this year, our school will be collecting non-perishable food items to benefit the Turkey Trot food drive.  Donations may be sent in beginning on Monday, 11/9 until Thursday, 11/12.  Please be sure all donations are clearly marked "Turkey Trot" so they do not get confused with Senior Luncheon donations.  Please see information below if you would also like to contribute a monetary gift or turkey to the Turkey Trot.

Friends of Barb Sieber - A rosary will be said for Barb on Monday, November 2^nd at 7PM at St. Catherine of Siena in West Simsbury.  All are welcome!  Friends will also gather to pray the rosary for Barb on Tuesday, November 10^th, at 6:30PM at St. Mary’s Church .  Please join us! 

Everyone is welcome!  SQL Monster Dash is a 5k Trail Run, Kids 1 Mile Run and a 100m Dash for kids 5 and under hosted by Squadron Line School PTO.

The Monster Dash will take place, rain or shine, on October 31, 2015 at Stratton Brook State Park!  For more information, click here.

Help our school earn free Educational Supplies!  Again this year, our school is participating in the Shoprite for Education program.  Click here for more information and to complete your registration.

Our school also participates in Stop & Shop's A+ School Rewards Program.  Click here for more information and to complete your registration.  NOTE - if you registered your card last year, there is no need to re-register.

Simsbury Public Library has an exciting calendar of events planned for November in the Teen Room.  Events this month include an Apple Pie Workshop (space is limited, registration required), a multi-town Hunger Games Trivia Contest and a presentation by LCF Crepe Catering about how they began their crepe baking business.