News for the Week of 3/22/17

School Calendar Reminder - School is CLOSED on Wednesday, 3/29/17, for a faculty in-service.

TONIGHT! 

We are hosting an Open House for Prospective Families this evening, March 22nd at 6:30pm in the Parish Center.  Last minute guests are always welcome!

Living Stations of the Cross with Soup and Bread Dinner -  Again this year, our 8th grade will present the Living Stations of the Cross for both our student body and our Parish.  Students will attend the Living Station on this Friday, 3/24, at 9:30am in the Church.  All are welcome to join us.  The Living Stations will be presented for the parish on this this Friday, 3/24 at 7pm in the Church.  

Prior to the Living Stations, our 8th grade students will host a simple soup & bread dinner in the Parish Center.  The dinner begins at 5:30pm.  All are welcome. There is no charge but a free will offering may be made.

Student Council Lenten Service Project - Our Student Council is coordinating the collection of new adult socks as a Lenten Service Project.  All socks will be donated to the House of Bread.  Thanks in advance for your support.

Snow Day Makeup Days - So far, we have had 5 snow days.  At this time, we do not plan to use Easter Monday, April 17, as a make up day - it will remain a day off.  This brings our final day of school to Thursday, June 15th.  If we should have another snow day, it will be added on.    Our last day will be a 12:45pm early dismissal with no PreK Enrichment or Aftercare.




HOT LUNCH ORDER PERIOD FOR APRIL 2017 IS NOW OPEN!

April lunch orders will be accepted via the Educonnect Parent Portal until Friday, March 24th.  Payment should be sent into school as soon as order is submitted.  No orders can be accepted after Friday, March 24th.

The Sign Up Genius for Hot Lunch Volunteers from April - June is now available.  Click here.






Hot Lunch Make-Up Days -  On Thursday, March 23, the baked potato lunch scheduled for Wednesday, 3/15 (a snow day) will be made up.

Munson's Chocolate Pick Up -  Munson's chocolate orders from the grade 7 fundraiser will be ready for pickup on Thursday, 3/30/17, in the lower church from 2-4pm.  If you are not able to pick up your order during that time, please contact Angela Gomez-Nieto at nygrown@comcast.net.  Thanks again to all that supported this 7th grade fundraiser.

2017-2018 Family Enrollment  & SMARTAID application for Financial Assistance.

 2017-18 Enrollment packets were emailed to all families on Friday, 3/10/17.  If you did not receive your electronic enrollment packet, please contact the school office.  Please carefully review all of the attachments that accompany this email as there are several forms that must be printed, completed and returned. Additionally, there is important information about next year's tuition, financial assistance and your family's CHOICE obligation for 2017-2018.

This year, we are happy to announce that tuition assistance will again be available via several sources.  All requests for tuition assistance must be made via SMARTAID.   Click here for more information regarding the types of tuition assistance available and the SMARTAID application process. Click here for helpful information from SMARTAID regarding completion of the application.  Click here to access the SMARTAID application.  All SMARTAID applications must be submitted no later than April 28, 2017.

Moving up Night has been Moved!   
Moving Up Night has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 28, beginning at 6:30pm in the Parish Center.  Book your babysitter! 

Moving Up Night is your first chance for a sneak peek into next year's curriculum and classroom for your child(ren). This event is for parents. Students will be enjoying Moving Up activities during the school day on 3/28 The event begins at 6:30pm in the Parish Center. 

If your bring your completed 2017-18 Family Enrollment Form and Fee to Moving Up Night, you may be one of two lucky families awarded with an Enrollment Fee waiver. Note - You must bring your $250 Family Enrollment Fee to be eligible to be awarded with the fee waiver.

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.

- $100 per person, table of ten $1,000. 

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.

Community News -

Tickets are $16 (which includes all fees) and can be reserved here  After each show, you can have your picture taken with Ariel and Prince Eric. What fun!

We are proud to share that several SMS alums are part of the cast of this show including:  Joanna Kuziak, SMS Class of '15, as Ariel; John Sullivan as Prince Eric, James Sullivan as Scuttle, Brendan Wlochowski as Chef Louis, all SMS Class of'15; Ally Voelker, SMS Class of '13 and Lindsey Voelker, SMS Class of '15 as Mersisters.

Northwest Catholic's Annual Jazz Cabaret Night is also coming up this spring on May 6th! 

Donations of wine or money to purchase a bottle of wine for the Wine Wall are being accepted at this time. 

You are also invited to reserve your seats for this very popular evening!

At the event, patrons can purchase a cork for $20 and choose the bottle of their choice from the Wine Wall. Wine donations can be of ANY amount. Proceeds from this fundraiser will go to refurbish the small Steinway piano that can be used by any NWC student, whether part of the music program or not. Mr. Luddy, Director of Instrumental Music, often hears students practice or try to write music on this piano right outside his office. The cost will be approximately $2,500, so our goal is at least 100 bottles of wine for this fundraiser. Please feel free to contact Noreen Kuziak at nkuziak@comcast.net with any questions about the night or donations.

  

To donate a bottle(s) of wine to the wine raffle, click HERE, or to make a cash donation to help with the purchase of wine, refreshments, or supplies, click HERE (let us do the shopping for you!).  Donations are requested no later than April 28th. 

To reserve your seats for Jazz Cabaret Night, click HERE. Please don’t delay – this event often sells out!  This year, several SMS alums will be participating including: Jazz Choir members: Allyson and Lindsey Voelker, SMS Classes of '13 & '15, Brendan Wlochowski, and James and John Sullivan, all SMS Class of '13. Jazz Band: Sarah and Kate Jessen, SMS Class of '13, Aaron Belletsky, SMS Class of '14.

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day 
at SMS

Again this year, students in Mrs. Jehning's first grade created
fabulous leprechaun traps hoping to capture the SMS
leprechaun.  Our leprechaun created plenty of mischief but
he managed to avoid all the traps again this year!

Self-proclaimed "Lord of the Leprechauns",
Kingston P., PreK made us all smile on
St. Patrick's Day!

Kindergarten celebrated St.Patrick's Day with special hats.