SMS Summer Blog Post #2 - 8/2/17

Summer Office Hours - The school office is currently on "summer hours". The office will be routinely staffed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9am-1pm and by appointment as needed. Both email and phone messages will be checked regularly.

Summer CHOICE Sales - CHOICE cards will be available for sale on Wednesdays in the school office between 9am-1pm.

Summer is flying by & it's almost time to think "Back to School".  Please be on the look out for your electronic "Back To School" packet.  These packets will be sent out via email during the week of 8/14/17.  We will be sending the packet to the family email address we have on record for your family.  If you are not sure what email address we have on file or if you want to add or change an email address, please contact the school office.  As in the past, this packet will contain lots of information about our new school year and many forms to download, print, complete and return to school.

Mark your calendars!  The start of the school year is always a really busy time.  Here are some important dates to remember.  We also encourage you to check the school's Google calendar frequently for updates and changes.  A calendar tab appears on the top of the blog.

Monday, 8/21/17 -Hot Lunch Order Period for September Opens.  All orders must be placed via the Educonnect Parent Portal.  Click here to access the Educonnect Parent Portal or use the link at the top of the blog. User names and passwords will be included in your "Back to School" email packet.  Last day to place orders and submit payment to office is Thursday, 8/31/17.  No late orders can be accepted.  Hot Lunch will begin on Friday, September 8.

Tuesday, 8/22/17 from 6:30-7:30pm - PreKindergarten Summer Playground Playdate- Families with students entering our PreKindergarten are invited to a summer playground to get acquainted and to meet our PreK teacher, Miss Kane and her assistants:  Mrs. Rienow, Mrs. Kornacki and Mrs. Hughes.  Please RSVP to Toni Chagnon at tchagnon@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.

Sunday, 8/27/17 at 5pm -Summer Playground for New & Returning Families -  Come and share some summer fun, reconnect with old friends and meet some new friends.  All are invited to bring a picnic dinner to our north (playground) parking lot.

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

Wednesday, 9/6/17 at 6:30pm- Book Your Babysitter for Back to School Night for Parents - All parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to attend "Back to School" night.  This is your opportunity to meet your child(ren)'s new teacher(s) and learn about the daily classroom routine. The evening will begin with a brief meeting in the Parish Center.  At 6pm, there will be a meeting for parents with students in grades 4 and up interested in beginning instrumental music this year.  This meeting will be in the art/music portable classroom.  Parents of students already participating in band DO NOT need to attend this meeting.

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 will begin on Monday, 9/11/17.

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.

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.

Shopping for School Uniforms?  Visit our school website for more information about our school uniform code.  Please note that the logo is always optional and is only available on selected items.

To begin your shopping, visit landsend.com and click on "School". Choose "Find Your School" and put in our uniform code - 900132150.  This will limit you to the items our school has approved. It will ask you to put in the gender and age/grade of your student and that will further limit your selections. There is a small tab on the lower right that says "Show Checklist" - if you click this, you will get a drop down that will allow you to see all of the uniform options for your child(ren) by type of garment.  Keep in mind that CHOICE cards are available for Lands End.  By purchasing gift cards via the CHOICE program, Lands End gives our school 17% and you earn profit toward your family's annual CHOICE commitment that is part of your tuition obligation.

On the school website page, there is also information about our used uniform exchange. This is a free service that allows family to donate gently used, clean uniforms that children have outgrown so that other families can get some use out of them. This can be a great way to pick up a couple of "spare items" and we encourage everyone to make use of this service if it works for them.

Shopping for school supplies?  Supply lists for students are available on the blog's "Back to School" page. 

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, it will be included in your Back to School email packet.  The remaining 3 forms will be 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.

Alumni News - Our congratulations to Jennifer Kornacki & Avery Hatch, SMS Class of '13. Jennifer achieved the Dean's List for Spring Semester at Stonehill College and has been accepted to the Honors Program for the upcoming fall semester.  Avery has been named to the Dean's List for the Spring Semester at Elon University and will continue in the College Fellows program in the fall.

We also extend congratulations to the SMS alumni that were named to the Simsbury High School honor roll for the final semester:

Griffin Myslow, SMS Class of '13 - High Honors
Nicole Gomez-Nieto & Allison Mancarella, SMS Class of '13 - General Honors
Domenico Cirielli, SMS Class of '14 - High Honors
Parker Myslow & Robert Tomasello, SMS Class of '14 - General Honors
Mark Bedson & Patrick Sheridan, SMS Class of '15 - High Honors
Kurt Bedson & Justin Donnolly, SMS Class of '15 - General Honors

Sharing Summer's Fun

Mrs. Powell is sharing her summer with a new friend.
Toby is 9 weeks old & super fluffy!