Back to School Countdown Blog - 8/23/17

It's almost here!  Our brand new school year!  

If you have not already done so, please take a moment to review the information on the blog's "Back to School" page.  This is your "go to" location for supply lists and summer assignments.

We hope you can join us this Sunday, 8/27/17 for Summer Playground - 

Meet new friends and catch up on all your summer news with old friends!  All new and returning families are invited to join us on Sunday, August 27th at 5pm in our north (playground) parking lot.  Bring a picnic or just bring yourselves and some lawn chairs.

This year, we would like to cordon off an area to park and direct people to the playground, grassy area and the part of the lot near the school to relax and socialize. We hope that this will allow for children to move around more safely and let us all enjoy our time together. 

If a few people would come at 4:30 to help set this up, it would be most appreciated. Just let Mrs. Williamson know.

 The Used Uniform Exchange will be available at the summer playground. Please keep in mind that this is not a "drop off event" but rather an opportunity for families to come together before the start of our new year. 

"Back to School" Packets have been emailed - "Back to School" electronic packets were emailed to all families on Monday, 8/14/17.  The packets were sent to the family email address we have on file for your family.  These packets contain many important "back to school" forms that must be downloaded, printed, completed and returned no later than the first day of school.  The packet also contains an attachment that provides you with your user name and password for the Educonnect Parent Portal.  This information is necessary to access the portal to use our electronic student directory, view progress reports and report cards and order hot lunches.  Please retain this information for use throughout the school year.  If you have not received your "Back to School" email, please contact the school office.

Hot Lunch Order Period for September is open.  All orders must be placed via the Educonnect Parent Portal -Click here. User names and passwords were included in your family's "Back to School" email packet.   Prior to placing your hot lunch order, please carefully review the ordering procedures that are on our school's website - Click here .  Lunches may ONLY be ordered during the "open order" period.  If you miss an "open order" period, you will have to wait until the next order period to participate in hot lunch.  Throughout the school year, "Open order" periods will be announced via an email and via the school blog. Last day to place orders and submit payment to office is Thursday, 8/31/17.  No late orders can be accepted.  Your hot lunch order is not considered complete until your payment is received.  Hot Lunch will begin on Friday, September 8.  Until hot lunch begins, all students should bring a brown bag lunch each day.  

The Sign Up Genius for Hot Lunch Volunteers is available - Click here.  Our hot lunch program is possible because of the dedicated volunteers who come in to serve the lunches and clean up.  Serving hot lunch is a great way to share in your child(ren)'s school day.  The only requirement to serve hot lunch is that you have completed Virtus training - we will even provide you with an apron!  If you need to complete Virtus training, there will be a training session here on September 12.  More information is available further down in this post.

Tuesday, 8/29/17 - "Meet & Greet" for younger students and "Morning in Middle School" for incoming 6th graders and students new to our middle school.  Times are as follows:

PreKindergarten "Meet & Greet" - 9:30-10:30
Kindergarten - Grade 4 - 10:30-11:30
Morning in Middle School for incoming 6th grade students - 10-11:30am
Morning in Middle School for students new to our 7th or 8th grades - 10-11am



Wednesday, 8/30/17 - First Day of School - This will be a regular full day of school with both PreK Enrichment & Aftercare available.

Monday, 9/4/17 - School Closed - Labor Day

Book your babysitter!  Wednesday, September 6th is "Back to School Knight for Parents".  

This adult evening has two events this year.  The evening will begin with a meeting for parents with students beginning instrumental music and band lessons for the first time this year.  If you have a student entering grades 4-8 that is interested in beginning instrumental music and band with our Future Musician's instructor, Mrs. Debbie Morse, please plan to meet in the music/art portable at 6pm. NOTE - This meeting is NOT required for parents of students that have previously participated in band.

"Back to School Knight for Parents" will begin at 6:30pm in the Parish Center.  Mrs. Williamson will have opening remarks and news about our newly revitalized Home & School Association. This will also be your opportunity to visit your child(ren)'s homeroom classrooms, meet teachers and learn more about the school day and this year's expectations for a great school year.

Monday, 9/11/17 - Individual Student Photos of students in PreK, K-7 will be taken by Lifetouch Photography.  Information about ordering photo packages will be provided prior to picture day.  Even if no pictures are being ordered, a photo will be taken of each student for our school yearbook.  Students may wear casual dress appropriate for school for picture day.  Eighth grade individual student photos will be taken on another date.  Eighth grade students should wear the uniform of the day on 9/11/17. 

Cadet & Advanced Band and Instrumental Lessons will begin on Monday, September 11.  

Tuesday, 9/12/17- School Mass at 9am. All are welcome to join us in worship.  Please remember that no PE uniforms should be worn to Mass.  There will be a Virtus Training Session at 6:30pm in the Grade 5 classroom.  If you have not been Virtus trained and wish to volunteer here at school in any capacity, this is a great opportunity to get this training done at a convenient location.  Other Virtus training sessions are available throughout the Archdiocese.  Click here for more information.

Our school will celebrate its 60th anniversary at the 5pm Mass on Saturday,  September 23rd.  Our expectation is that all families will want to attend this Mass.  Our Home & School Association will host a reception following Mass. Please see Home & School News below for more information. Students in Kindergarten - grade 8 are requested to wear their relaxed uniforms.

Simsbury Residents - Bus Transportation Information

Bus routes have been published by the town of Simsbury.  Click here to access information about bus routes.  The routes are passkey protected.  An email was sent out to Simsbury residents on 8/22/17, with this passkey.  Please remember that both the school office and the town's transportation coordinator (Sue Caccamo - scaccamo@simsbury.k12.ct.us) must be notified annually if your child(ren) will be regularly picked up or dropped off at an address other than your home address (e.g., a child care facility, a babysitter's house).  If you are Simsbury residents but do not plan to utilize bus transportation (i.e., you will be a carpool family), please notify both the school office and the town's transportation coordinator.  Other important reminders - Only Simsbury residents, grades K-8, may ride the bus.  A written note to school or email to the school office and teacher is required if a student needs to ride a different bus or exit the bus at a stop other than the usual daily stop (e.g., being dropped off at a friend's house).

Staying Up to Date - The best way to stay "up to date" in regard to school events and other important information is to subscribe to the school blog, your child(ren)'s teacher's blog(s) and to join our Remind text group.  Click here for more information.

Important Uniform Change for Students in Grades 6-8 -  Effective this school year, the plain, navy hooded sweatshirt that is available from Lands End (Item #393708-BQ2 for Boys and Item#393704-BQ4 for Girls) will only be permitted as a uniform item for grades 7 and 8.  While the hooded sweatshirt that was sold via the Spirit Shop last year remains permitted in grades 7 and 8, please note that the preferred item is the marbled, 1/4 zip fleece that is available from the Spirit Shop.

Students in grade 6 may continue to wear the Lands End crew neck sweatshirt or the Spirit Wear crew neck sweatshirt but are strongly encouraged to consider the marbled, 1/4 zip fleece that is available from the Spirit Shop as an alternative to the no longer allowed hooded sweatshirt.

The marbled 1/4 zip fleece, and other spirit wear apparel, will be available for order at "Back to School Knight for Parents" on September 6th.

Spirit Shop News - Uniform approved Gym T-shirts from the Spirit Shop will be available for purchase starting Tuesday, August 28th. T shirts, youth and adult are $15 each. More information about ordering will be available soon.

Used Uniform Exchange - Our used uniform exchange is a free service coordinated by a dedicated volunteer.  The exchange accepts clean, gently used school uniform items that can then be used by another family.  Click here for an updated inventory of used uniform items available.  Click here for more information about how to donate to the exchange or how to coordinate the pickup of desired items.  

When donating to the exchange, please keep in mind that only clean, gently used items that are part of our uniform code should be donated.  We are no longer accepting donations of any hooded sweatshirts.  The Used Uniform Exchange will be available at the Summer Playground on Sunday, 8/27/17.

iPad Use - Student iPad use for grades K-8 will begin once the majority of each class has returned the necessary "Big 4" Forms.  Most families have already completed their iPad Coverage Form and submitted the $50 fee. If we have not received this form and fee, a copy of the form was included in your Back to School email packet.  The remaining 3 forms were included in your Back to School email packet and include:
*  Parent/Student Handbook Acknowledgement
*  iPad Acceptable Use Agreement Acknowledgement
*  Use Agreement for Electronic Information Resources

Please note that all students will now be issued a school owned iPad case along with their iPad.  This is the case that must be used to protect the device.  Students are still responsible for providing their own earbuds.  A bluetooth keyboard may be used if desired. Some teachers do request that a stylus be provided.  Please check supply lists on the "Back to School" page of the blog.

Home & School Association News

 H.S.A. will begin the year with planning for representation at the Parish Picnic on Sunday,September 17th from 3-5pm. The school will have a table with information that will need staffing and we need as many school families as possible to attend the picnic. Show our #uKnighted St. Mary’s School pride!

The next important event needing HSA organization is  the reception following our Anniversary Mass on Saturday, September 23. If you are willing to co-chair the reception, please let Mrs. Williamson know as soon as possible.

Room parents are BACK! Within the next two weeks we will have descriptions of what grades 1-7 need in terms of assistance from room parents. Grades PreK, K and 8 are already well along in the process. So, once that information is available we will seek volunteers for this important service. 

It's time to plant your mums & support Grade 8 Fundraising - Each year, our 8th grade students conduct a number of fund raisers to help defray costs associated with their graduation and field trip.
   Click here for an order form for beautiful fall mums & mark your calendars for the 8th grade car wash on Saturday, September 16th from 9:30am-1pm in the North (playground) parking lot.  

Thanks in advance for your support of our 8th grade.

Box Tops for Education -  Have you been clipping this summer?  Our school will continue to participate in the Box Tops for Education program.  Box Tops may be sent into school at any time.  All homeroom classrooms have a collection box.  Our thanks to Doreen Mikan for agreeing to coordinate the Box Tops programs this year.

Community News

St. Mary's Parish invites all school families to the St. Mary's Parish Picnic on Sunday, September 17th from 3-5pm!  Enjoy great food, music, and games while you reconnect with old friends and make some new ones.  Click here to RSVP for the Parish Picnic.  Please RSVP by September 13th.  Celebrate our parish family at the best picnic ever!








Simsbury Public Library - September Happenings

Have you always wanted to drive a Corvette?  There's still time to purchase tickets in the school office!

Summer Fun

Will O. (Gr. 5) and Addie O. (Gr. 3) had  a great time with
camp counselor Cici C., SMS Class of '17 at the Real Life Ninja Academy in Windsor this August.