News for the Week of 5/11/16

Grandparents' & Special Person's Day is Tomorrow, May 13th!  

In addition to a continental breakfast, student entertainment & classroom visits, 

the day's events will include our traditional May Crowning by our second grade students.  

2016 Fairway to Heaven Golf Tournament 

Registration Is Now Open! 

Click here to register now.

Get ready for a uKNIGHTed day of swinging, serving and bidding at The Hop Meadow Country Club on Tuesday, May 24, 2016. For more information, please contact Toni Chagnon at 860-658-9412 or tchagnon@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.  

Spring Band Concert - Our annual Spring Band Concert will be held on Monday, May 16th at 7pm in the Parish Center.  There will be a dress rehearsal for the student body at 2pm.  Guest are welcome at both performances.  It is important that all musicians bring their instrument, stand, music and accessories to school on Monday, 5/16.  Please click here for more information about concert dress, arrival time and expectations for musicians. 

Students in Miss Bedard's Kindergarten celebrated
Pajama Day last week!

CHOICE Program News -  

We have been informed that GL Script will no longer be carrying Aeropostale cards once their current inventory of cards is depleted.

Also, just a reminder that the CHOICE year ended on April 30th and any outstanding balances are due to the office at this time. Statements were sent home last week.

All profits from CHOICE cards purchased beginning on May 1, 2016 through April 30, 2017, are applied to your family's 2016-17 CHOICE obligation.  Thank you!

If you have questions about the CHOICE program or your family's CHOICE obligation, please contact Mrs. Budnick in the School Office -tbudnick@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.

School Calendar Changes -  Please make note of the following changes to the school calendar:

Primary Grades Field Day has been moved to Monday, June 6th, from 1:30-3pm.  This event was originally scheduled for Friday, 5/20.  Students in Kindergarten - Grade 4 participate in this event and it will take place in the North (playground) parking lot.

Middle School Field Day (Grs. 5-8) will take place on Friday, May 27th from 9am-1pm. 



The final prayer service for this school year, prepared by our Kindergarten students will take place on Tuesday, June 7th at 1:30pm in the Church.  Please note that this a time change from the original calendar.  The prayer service was originally scheduled for 9am.

Wednesday, June 8th will be a full day of school with both PreK Enrichment and Aftercare available.

Thursday, June 9th will be our last day of school. There will be an Awards Assembly in the Parish Center at 9:30am.  Parents of students receiving an award will receive notification from the teacher.  This will be a 12:45 early dismissal with NO PreK Enrichment or Aftercare available.

Our first day of school for the 16-17 school year will be Wednesday, August 31.  This will be a regular, full day of school with both PreK Enrichment and Aftercare available.

Students in Mrs. Jehning's First Grade have been using an iPad app called Book Creator to write books about "animal homes".

Tuition Assistance for 2016-17  
APPLICATION DEADLINE IS SUNDAY, MAY 15TH.

Again this year, tuition assistance will be available from funds provided by the Archbishop's Annual Appeal (AAA), the Catholic Schools' Support Program (CSSP) and our school's budget.  These funds are distinct from the scholarships that are available from the St. Mary's Trust.  The application period for the Trust Scholarships closed on 4/30/16.

To apply for tuition assistance from the Archbishop's Annual Appeal, CSSP and the school budget this year, your application must be submitted via SMARTAID.  SMARTAID is a confidential service provided by SMART, LLC that helps schools to assess a family's need for financial assistance based on the information provided to SMARTAID by the family.  St. Mary's School, with the guidance and advice of our pastor, Father Matera, will continue to be solely responsible for all tuition assistance decisions and the school will notify all applicants of any tuition assistance awards.

The application deadline for tuition assistance requests is May 15, 2016.  There is a $35 fee to apply via SMARTAID.  If this fee presents a hardship for your family, please contact Mrs. Gannatti.

Click here for a set of helpful guidelines for completing your SMARTAID application.  To access the SMARTAID application, click here.

Community News

Talcott Mountain Science Center Invites You to Go Whale Watching!  Family Whale Watch on Saturday, May 21st. Talcott has chartered a boat through Capt. John Whale Watching out of Plymouth, MA. This is a company that Talcott has worked with for over 30 years. The boat departs at noon for a 4-hour whale watching trip and returns at 4 pm. The cost of the Whale Watch is a very reasonable $25 per person.

A coach bus will be available for those who would prefer not to drive. There are only 55 spots on the bus. If you would like to ride on the bus, please get your order in early.If there is  a big demand for the bus it may be possible to get a second bus. The bus will leave from the Avon Commuter Lot, Rt. 44, in front of Walmart at 8:30 am. On the way home from Plymouth we will be stopping for dinner and arrive back in Avon around 8pm. The cost of the whale watch plus coach bus transportation is $60 per person.

The boat holds up to 144 people and has a galley for lunch, snacks and beverages. You are welcome to bring your own picnic lunch as well. You are advised to bring extra layers of warm clothes; even if it is a warm day, once you round the tip of the Cape it gets very chilly. Jonathan Craig will be our whale watch leader and there is a naturalist on the boat, as well. Don’t forget to bring your camera!

Please click here to register.