News for the Week of 12/2/15

"Peace is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of Christ."  Sheila Walsh

PreKindergarten students worked with their 8th grade "buddies" this week to create beautiful scenes of the Holy Family in the stable.  If you are at school, you can see these projects on the bulletin board outside the PreKindergarten classroom.









December Calendar Reminders

Poinsettia Sale Pick up is Friday, December 4th from 2-4pm in the Parish Center and after Masses on Saturday, December 5th and Sunday, December 6th.  If you did not get a chance to place an order, there will be extra plants available for sale!  Thanks to everyone who supported our 8th grade by purchasing poinsettias.

In December,  we will celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception with our Parish family at the 12:15pm Mass on Tuesday, December 8th.  All are welcome.  Please remember that no Physical Education uniforms should be worn to Mass.

Hot Lunch Menus & Order Form for lunches from January through March will be emailed to all families later this week.  All orders and payments will be due NLT Friday, December 11th.

Lessons & Carols, our annual Christmas Prayer Service, will be held in the church on Monday, 12/14 (snow date, Tuesday, 12/15).  There will be a dress rehearsal at 10am that is open to the public and an excellent opportunity for photos.  The evening prayer service begins at 7pm in the Church.  Every student in Kindergarten - Grade 8 participates in this beautiful retelling of the Nativity Story.  Absence from the prayer service is permitted only for illness or with permission from Mrs. Gannatti.  Students in Kindergarten and 8th grade should follow the dress guidelines provided by homeroom teachers.  All other students should wear their full formal uniform - no sweatshirts, please.

Christmas Band Concert will be held in the Parish Center on Monday, 12/21 (snow date, Tuesday, 12/22) .  There will be a dress rehearsal at 2pm and guests are welcome.  The evening performance will begin at 7pm.  Musicians should follow dress and arrival guidelines that will be provided by Mrs. Morse.  All are welcome to attend this festive concert and enjoy the "sounds of the season".

Christmas Break begins with a 12:45pm early dismissal from school on Wednesday, 12/23. There will be NO PreK Enrichment or Aftercare.  

School reopens and we begin our celebration of Catholic Schools' Month on Monday, 1/4/16.

CHOICE Cards for Christmas Giving - Gift cards make wonderful gifts and donations and the CHOICE program has a wide variety of gift cards available. In addition to the cards normally stocked in the office, many other cards are available by special order via GL Script. Click here and at the bottom of the displayed page select "Retailer List" under Quick Links to view a complete list of available vendors. If placing a special order for Christmas giving, please keep in mind that the last date for assured gift giving availability is Wednesday, 12/16/15. Please contact Tammy Budnick with any questions - 860.658.9412 or tbudnick@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.

The Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy will begin December 8, 2015, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary and the 50th Anniversary of the Closing of the Second Vatican Council, and conclude on the Solemnity of Christ the King, November 20, 2016. During this holy year, Pope Francis is encouraging the faithful to receive God's mercy - especially in the Sacrament of Reconciliation - and to be witnesses of mercy in our world by practicing the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.

Pope Francis will open the Holy Year door, a "Door of Mercy through which anyone who enters will experience the love of God who consoles, pardons and instills hope" (Pope Francis, The Face of Mercy), and each diocese throughout the world will open a holy door. Archbishop Blair has invited everyone to the opening ceremony for the archdiocesan Jubilee Door of Mercy on December 13, at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford, at 3pm. The liturgy will consist of the blessing and opening of our Holy Door, evening prayer, and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

Archbishop Blair will also celebrate a Jubilee of Mercy Mass for Families on Holy Family Sunday, December 27, at the Cathedral of St. Joseph, at 11am. All families in the Archdiocese of Hartford are invited to attend.  Click here for additional Jubilee of Mercy upcoming events in the Archdiocese of Hartford.

 #Knightly News is here! Follow The Scoop@SMS_Knights for breaking school news and up to the minute basketball schedules,scores and highlights! 

SMS SPIRIT WEAR MAKES A GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT! Be the "Knight Before Christmas".  Orders are now being accepted to be delivered in time for Christmas. 

These NEW spirit wear items are NOT uniform items, they are designed for casual wear outside of school.  The only exception is that Middle School students MAY wear the spirit wear hooded sweatshirt as part of their school uniform.

 GO BLUE KNIGHTS!

 Any questions please call or email Toni Chagnon at 860-658-9412 or tchagnon@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.  Click here for more information and to download an order form.

Community News

Simsbury Public Library has announced December programs for students in grades 7-12.  Some events do require pre-registration.  There will also be 2 "Hours of Code" in December.

Students in Mrs. Jehning's First Grade have trimmed the classroom Christmas tree.

Signs of the Season - All around us, we are reminded of our journey through Advent toward Christmas.  We would like to invite you to share your journey with us.  If you have photos of your family during this festive time that you would like to share with our community- lighting the family Advent wreath, trimming the tree, decorating the cookies.... - please send them along to dhatch@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.