News for the Week of 1/4/17

Our January School Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 10, at 9am.  We are pleased to share that our celebrant this month will be Father Michael Whyte from St. Catherine of Siena in West Simsbury. All are welcome to join us at Mass.  Please keep in mind that no physical education uniforms should be worn to Mass.

Moms in Prayer will meet on Wednesday, 1/11/17, at 8:30 am in the Library of the lower church.  All are welcome!

School will be closed on Monday, January 16th, in observance of Martin Luther King Day.








The order period for February hot lunches will be from Sunday, January 15 - Wednesday, January 25.  All lunch orders for February must be entered via the Educonnect Parent Portal during that time period.  Payment should be sent in to the school office as soon as your order is submitted.  A reminder notification that the order period has opened will appear in this blog and also be sent via an all family email prior to January 15.  Please keep in mind that the ONLY way to place a hot lunch order is via the Educonnect Parent Portal during the Open Order Period specified for the coming month.  If you miss the open order period for February, you will be able to order lunches for March during the next open order period.

The Sign Up Genius for Hot Lunch Volunteers for January - June is now available.  Click here to volunteer.  There are still many days that help is needed - if you are Virtus trained, serving hot lunch is a great way to share in your child(ren)'s day.

Celebrating SMS & Catholic Schools Everywhere!  In January, we will join Catholic schools across the country in celebrating Catholic Schools' Week from 1/29 - 2/3.  It will be a busy week here at SMS with lots of events designed to build community and celebrate our special school.

We will begin our celebration at the 5pm St. Mary's Parish Mass on Saturday, 1/28.  This is an opportunity for us to worship together and we anticipate that all school families will attend.  Students should wear their formal uniforms.  The Parish Center has been reserved for a community event after Mass.  If you are interested in coordinating a community building event after Mass (e.g., potluck or pasta dinner?  appetizers?), please contact the school office.

Monday, January 30 - Friday, February 3 is Teacher Appreciation Week at SMS!  As part of the celebration of Catholic Schools during Catholic Schools Week, there is a tradition of expressing appreciation for the faculty and staff for all that they do for the children. This appreciation has consisted of some different forms including doing something nice for the faculty and staff on a a few consecutive days.  If you are interested in helping make this week a special time for our wonderful teachers, please contact Mrs. Williamson.  You are also invited to contribute your ideas for teacher appreciation at planning session on Monday, January 9th, at 2:30pm.  We look forward to your ideas!

Wednesday, January 25, we will host an Open House for Prospective Families at 6:30pm in the Parish Center.  If you know a family wondering if SMS is the right place for them, please invite them to attend this event.  We would also be happy to provide them with a school tour on a day and time convenient for them if they are not able to attend Open House.

Thursday, January 26, is Family Lunch Day at SMS!  

Everyone is invited to bring a brown bag lunch to share with their favorite SMS student(s).  Please note - NO PIZZA will be provided for lunch this year. All students and guests will need a brown bag lunch.  Students that participate in the milk program will receive milk as usual.  Times for lunches will be posted in the blog on 1/18/17 and 1/25/17.

Drama Club begins on January 11!  Click here for more information about this year's Drama Club.  This club is open to students in grades 3-8.  Students in first and second grades may participate with a teacher's recommendation.

A Cold Winter's Night -  Break free of the dreary winter doldrums and join us at the beautiful Hill-Stead Museum on Friday, February 3rd, at 7pm for an evening of adult conversation, delicious hors d'oeuvres and even a complimentary museum tour.  The evening's highlight is a beautiful gallery of our students' professionally framed artwork.  Admission is free.  Student artwork will be available for sale at $35 per piece.


Christmas Memories

Take a moment to enjoy the Northwest Catholic Jazz Choir December performance.  SMS Alums Allyson & Lindsay Voelker, SMS Class of  '13 and Class of '15, James & John Sullivan and Brendan Wlochowski, SMS Class of '14, are all members of the Jazz Choir.

On Friday, 12/23, our whole student body enjoyed lunch in the Parish Center
while watching The Polar Express.

Thanks to all who supported our Christmas Food Collection for the Simsbury Food Pantry.  We collected SO much food to help area friends in need!

Students in Miss Ciarcia's Kindergarten enjoyed a festive afternoon of fun with the help of some of their parents.  Everyone had a great time!

First & Third grade students enjoyed The Polar Express in bathrobes and slippers on Thursday, 12/22.

Students in Sister Mary Kolbe's fourth grade created beautiful nativity scenes and wrote about what it would have been like to be a shepherd in Bethlehem when Jesus was born.

Students in Miss Kane's PreKindergarten received
a lovely thank you note from members of the Simsbury
Senior Center for the holiday placemat and napkin rings they
made for the Seniors' holiday luncheon.