The holy season of Lent begins on Wednesday, 3/1/17. Students will attend the 12:15pm parish Mass for Ash Wednesday. Please remember that no physical education uniforms should be worn to Mass.
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| Our second grade has been learning about counting money. Students recently shopped at the "Keany Korner Store" for school supplies as part of their practice. No word on whether there is an SMS discount! |
Get ready to celebrate our 60th Anniversary!
Tickets are now available for A Knight at the Gala at Farmington Gardens on Friday, April 21, 2017 at 6:30pm. The evening includes dinner, beer & wine, dancing, entertainment by speed painter Rob Surette (amazing heroart.com), and a silent & live auction.
Take advantage of this special offer during the month of February!
- $90 per person, table of ten $900 if purchased by 2-28-17. Ticket price will go to $100 per person, table of ten $1,000 on March 1st.
- $90 per person, table of ten $900 if purchased by 2-28-17. Ticket price will go to $100 per person, table of ten $1,000 on March 1st.
To purchase your tickets using our preferred method, please send payment to Toni Chagnon in the school office. Checks should be payable to St. Mary's School with "Gala" in the memo section. If you wish to pay by credit card, click here. Please contact Toni Chagnon for more information
860-658-9412/ tchagnon@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net Proceeds raised from this event will support our school technology program.
860-658-9412/ tchagnon@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net Proceeds raised from this event will support our school technology program.
2017 Talent Show is Coming! The SMS Talent Show will take place on Wednesday, April 26th at 6pm in the Parish Center. Please click here for important guidelines for all participants and to download a sign up form. All Talent Show Sign Ups must be turned in to Mr. Gangloff NLT Friday, March 3, 2017.
SMS School Board News - The Saint Mary’s School Board Nominating Committee has started the process to identify potential school board members for next year. Potential candidates may self-nominate or be nominated by someone else. There is no requirement for board members to have children at Saint Mary’s School. We want to ensure we have the best talent serving on the board. The needs we will be looking to address for the upcoming term will include individuals with a financial or CPA background skills or individuals with skills focused on advancement, marketing and strategic planning. Potential candidates must believe and support Catholic education and be willing to serve a three year term. If you are interested in being considered to serve on the School Board, please contact Claude Howard at claudeoh@gmail.com. Please include in your e-mail information about your Parish(Town), occupation, if you have or had students at Saint Mary’s School and your specific talents available to the board.
Ice Cream News! - Due to inventory changes at Fitzgeralds, there will be new ice cream selections available at SMS beginning next week. These selections replace the old varieties. Choices will include:
Edy's Slow Churned Cups (Mint Chip, Chocolate Fudge Chip, Vanilla & Caramel Delight) - $1.25
Edy's Strawberry Fruit Bar - $1
Nestle Cookies 'n Cream Bar - $1
Nestle Ice Cream Sandwich - $1
Vanilla or Chocolate Ice Cream Cup - $1
Roseti Italian Ice (Lemon, Cherry or Blue Raspberry) - 50 cents
Students in Mrs. Jehning's first grade class are exploring a non-fiction type of writing called "How To Writing". To help model a piece of writing, Mrs. Jehnings chose the topic "How To Blow Bubbles". Well, the best way to experience something is by doing it. So first grade spent some time blowing bubbles. Students are now working with a partner to sequence write about the experience.
Ice Cream News! - Due to inventory changes at Fitzgeralds, there will be new ice cream selections available at SMS beginning next week. These selections replace the old varieties. Choices will include:
Edy's Slow Churned Cups (Mint Chip, Chocolate Fudge Chip, Vanilla & Caramel Delight) - $1.25
Edy's Strawberry Fruit Bar - $1
Nestle Cookies 'n Cream Bar - $1
Nestle Ice Cream Sandwich - $1
Vanilla or Chocolate Ice Cream Cup - $1
Roseti Italian Ice (Lemon, Cherry or Blue Raspberry) - 50 cents
2017 Altar Server Training for New Servers
New altar servers are needed at Saint Mary’s Church and School. Are you interested in joining this wonderful ministry? All children in the 4th grade or above are invited to join us.
Classes will meet Saturdays from 1-2pm, February 25, March 4, 11, and 18 (please attend all 4 sessions). Please call the parish office (860-659-7627) or contact the altar server coordinator (ServerLeader@StMarySimsbury.org) with any questions.
Box Tops for Education -
Your Box Tops can be sent into school and turned in to the homeroom or you can send them directly to Richard Kuziak, Kindness of Michael in Grade 6. Any Box Tops that are saved after February 24th may be sent to school at your convenience or sent directly to Mr. Kuziak. Thanks to all for clipping and saving those Box Tops and our special thanks to Mr. Kuziak for coordinating the Box Tops program for us!
Family Fundraiser with the Hartford Yard Goats! It's almost time to think about baseball. We are looking for someone willing to coordinate a family night at the brand new Dunkin' Donuts stadium. There's even an opportunity for our band and/or chorus to perform. Please contact Mrs. Williamson if you would like to work on coordinating this event.
New altar servers are needed at Saint Mary’s Church and School. Are you interested in joining this wonderful ministry? All children in the 4th grade or above are invited to join us.
Classes will meet Saturdays from 1-2pm, February 25, March 4, 11, and 18 (please attend all 4 sessions). Please call the parish office (860-659-7627) or contact the altar server coordinator (ServerLeader@StMarySimsbury.org) with any questions.
Munson's Chocolates Fundraiser! Again this year, our 7th grade class is running a Munson's Chocolates Fundraiser to offset costs associated with their field trip to Boston. Order forms were sent home with all students on Friday, February 10th. Extra order forms are available in the school office. All orders and payments are due NLT Wednesday, March 1. Chocolates will be available for pick up the week of 3/27 or 4/3 in time for Easter giving. Date and time for pick up will be announced soon.
Calling all girls!
Here is a message from Amelie C. in the third grade:
“If you have long hair and are thinking of cutting it, DON’T. I, Amelie, in the third grade am donating my hair to Beautiful Lengths which is a program to help women battling cancer by donating real hair for wigs. I hope you will join me during Lent in this community project. More details will follow.”
On Monday, March 27th, St. Mary’s will sponsor a hair cutting event for girls (and women) to donate 8 inches of hair for this program. So, please consider donating and stay tuned for more information! A permission slip will be available soon.
Looking Ahead to the Month of May - Please make note of an important change to our school calendar. It has been decided to combine our band and vocal concerts this spring. Our Spring Concert will take place on Monday, May 22, at 7pm in the Parish Center. All students in Grades Kindergarten - 8 participate in the vocal portion of this concert and their performance is considered part of their music grade. Please be sure to keep this date in mind as spring extra curricular activities are scheduled since student attendance at the concert is considered mandatory. Details regarding concert attire and arrival time will be announced prior to the concert in May.
Box Tops for Education -
LAST CALL FOR BOX TOPS! YOUR BOX TOPS ARE NEEDED NLT THIS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH!
Your Box Tops can be sent into school and turned in to the homeroom or you can send them directly to Richard Kuziak, Kindness of Michael in Grade 6. Any Box Tops that are saved after February 24th may be sent to school at your convenience or sent directly to Mr. Kuziak. Thanks to all for clipping and saving those Box Tops and our special thanks to Mr. Kuziak for coordinating the Box Tops program for us!
Community News
Women’s Day of Reflection with Amy Ekeh
“Finding your Strength in the Weakness of my Cross” will be the theme of this day of reflection on Saturday, March 4 from 8am (Mass) – 12 noon in the Parish Center. Spend the morning with your sisters in Christ as we explore, discuss and pray while we examine this Lenten Theme. Take the time for yourself and bring a friend- we are sure you will find something special in this morning of reflection. Contact Susan Falkner – 860-651-4655 or falknerr@comcast.net to RSVP.
Parish Evening of Relection "Rediscovering a Felt Presence of God" will be the theme for this evening of reflection on Tuesday, February 28th at 7pm. Bill Walsh, Associate Retreat Director at Holy Family Retreat Center, will lead a discussion on recapturing the wonder of God's presence in our lives.
