News for the Week of 10/25/17

The final day of Parent/Teacher conferences is tomorrow -Thursday, 10/26. It will be a 12:45 early dismissal.

***Friday, 10/27, is also a 12:45pm early dismissal for Faculty Faith Formation.***

There will be NO Aftercare on Thursday, 10/26 or Friday, 10/27.  PreK Enrichment will be available on  on Thursday, 10/26 but NOT on Friday, 10/27.  PE Club will be available to those that are signed up for October on Thursday, 10/26 and will run from 1-2:15pm.

Parents with students in middle school, please make note that Mrs. Gina Raymond not available for conferences on Thursday, 10/26. If your child has Gina Raymond for math,  and you have not yet had your conference, please email her to find a mutually convenient time to discuss math.  Ms. Nikki Raymond will be available on Thursday.

To sign up for your Parent/Teacher Conferences, click here.

Spirit Wear Shop Will Be Open! Stop by the School Office.

Spirit Wear will be available to purchase during Parent/Teacher conferences on Thursday (10/26). Uniform approved sweatshirts, gym t shirts and fleece jackets to name just a few! All styles in both youth and adult sizes. Cash and checks accepted.

SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR! Tomorrow -Thursday 10/26 - is the final day!
Stop by the Parish Center to shop a great selection of Scholastic's best books! The fall bookfair is an HSA fundraiser.

Thursday 9am-1pm

Thanks to all who have already supported the bookfair and to those that have been staffing the fair.  Our special thanks to the chairpersons of this event - Jodie Burhoe and Tricia Prausa!

Halloween is Coming! 

In an effort to have a little fun and build community among our students, we will allow everyone in the building to dress up for Halloween on Friday, October 27.
Here are our parameters:

- no clowns
- no weapons
- no masks or face makeup
- no high heels (especially high heels that come with princess attire)
- each grade or group of grades will determine the time that students will wear the costumes; some might change in school and some wear them to school - please follow your child's teacher's instruction.

Parties are only allowed in PreKindergarten and Kindergarten. These classroom parties may not involve food.

Halloween Pumpkin Bingo will take place on Tuesday, 10/31, during the lunch waves.

"Treat" for a neighbor in need.  Again this year, our school will participate in the Jack Bannon "Turkey Trot" non-perishable food drive.  We would like to encourage all students to bring a non-perishable food donation to school on Halloween, 10/31, as a treat for a neighbor in need.  Collection boxes will be located in the primary unit and the middle school and also outside the school office.  Turkey Trot donations will be accepted until Monday, November 6th.

Students in Mrs. Jehning's first grade class are using National Geographic for Kids on their iPads to research their favorite animals.  Once their research is complete, they will be creating a booklet about their chosen animal.

In November, we will worship with our parish family at the 12:15 Mass on November 1 in observance of All Saints Day.  All are welcome to join us.  Please remember that no Physical Education uniforms should be worn to Mass.

Formal Uniforms are Coming Soon!  Students in grades K-7 will begin to wear the formal uniform on Wednesday, November 1.  Students in grade 8 are extended the privilege of wearing the relaxed uniform until December 1.  Click here to review the uniform code for formal uniforms.  Click here for an easy refresher about ordering your uniforms from Lands End.

Athletic News - A new Remind Text group has been created for Athletics.  This Remind group is only for SMS athletic announcements, especially PE Club, soccer and Basketball.  This is a separate group from our general Reminder texts and you will only receive the Athletic announcements if you sign up for this new group.  Just follow these steps -

On your iPhone or Android phone,open your web browser and go to the following link:
rmd.at/smssport

Follow the instructions to sign up for Remind. You’ll be prompted to download the mobile app. -
rmd.at/smssport .  Follow the directions to join SMSATHLETICS with your:
Full Name
First and Last Name
Phone Number or Email Address
(555) 555-5555
OR
Text the message @smssport to the number 81010.  If you’re having trouble with 81010, try
texting @smssport to (301) 200-4763.

Basketball Season is Almost Here!  
All Registrations must be finalized NLT this Friday, 10/27/17

Here is some information you will need to know for the upcoming season.

Participation permission was granted by the athletics permission form sent in the summer packet. A new permission form will not be sent out. If you need to submit an updated form to give basketball permission, click here.

Please note -To complete basketball registration for your child(ren), please send in your participation fee. Your child will not be added to the roster or receive a Jersey until the fee is received. (Fees Below)

-Coaches will be in touch regarding start dates for practices.

-Practices for grades 2-6 will be held during the week. Each team will have 1-2 practices, M-F. 

-Grades 7-8 (Varsity) practice once during the week from 6-8pm on Mondays and on Saturday mornings at Westminster. Games will be on Thursday or Friday and Sunday. 

Fees for participation are the following:

JVC 2-3rd grades  -  $50

JVB, JVA, Varsity   -  Grades 3-8 $150

There is a maximum $250 cap per family. Checks payable to St Mary School.  Please put "Basketball" in the memo section.  Please contact Scott Gangloff with any questions - adirector@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net .

Coaches are Needed!

We are looking to fill some coaching positions for the upcoming year. All coaches and assistant coaches must be Virtus trained.  Please contact Mr. Gangloff at adirector@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net if interested in coaching any of the following available teams.  Additionally, please contact Mr. Gagloff if you would like to help as an Assistant coach please let me know. The head coaches can always use the extra help.

Varsity Boys grades 7/8 - Vacant

Varsity Girls grades 7/8- Coach Rushin

JVA Boys Grades 5/6 - Coach O'Conor

JVA Girls Grades 5/6 - Vacant

JVB Boys Grades 4/5 - Coach Rushin

JVB Girls Grades 4/5 - Vacant

JVC Boys Grades 2/3 - Coach Davis

JVC Girls  Grades 2/3- Coach Rushin

The Holidays are Coming - Have you started sorting out your recipes?  The new SMS Family Cookbook is coming soon and we want to share your family's favorites!  We have seen first hand the many culinary talents of our families, faculty and staff here at St. Mary's School and are looking forward to creating a cookbook filled with tasty and creative recipes!  We invite you to submit at least two recipes in different categories.  The process is simple and we hope that as you head into the holiday season and are pulling out your favorite family recipes, you will take a few minutes to share some of them with us.  

Recipes can either be typed into a submission form or handwritten on a 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper. Recipes can be emailed to tchagnon@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net or dropped off in the office.  Click here for a submission form.  All recipes need to be submitted no later than January 6th. Our plan and goal is to have the cookbook available for sale late February and feature it at our Annual Art Show on February 23rd.

We are hungry just thinking about it!  Thank you in advance for your participation,

Thanks to all who supported the HSA Lyman Pie & Otis Spunkmeyer Cookie Dough Fundraiser.  Pick up of pies and cookie dough will be on Friday, 11/17/17.  If you can help sort and distribute pies and cookie dough, please use the Sign Up genius to volunteer - click here.

Thanks to everyone who displayed a lawn sign for our Open House last week.
Please return the sign at your earliest convenience.  We do reuse these signs whenever possible.

Early Drop Off is available!  Our Early Drop Off program began on  10/16!  Click here for more information and registration forms and reservation calendars.

Box Tops for Education may be sent in at any time.  All homeroom classrooms have a collection box.  Keep those box tops coming!

CHOICE News - Effective as soon as our supply of 6% Big Y cards is exhausted, the percentage rate for all Big Y cards will be 5% at all times.

Community News

Thanks to all who donated clothing to the St. Ann's Clothing Sale.  Our clothing collection is now closed but everyone is welcome to attend the sale on November 3rd & 4th.

Have you always wanted to drive a Corvette? 

 There's still time to purchase tickets in the school office!

News for the Week 10/18/17

We are proud to share that SMS has begun a formal recycling program as part of
our commitment to care for God's creation.  Students attended an informational presentation
by Paine's, Inc. on Tuesday, 10/17, and then we kicked off our lunchtime efforts making sure that
all milk cartons, yogurt containers, juice boxes, aluminum foil and plastic fruit cup containers
are recycled instead of discarded as trash.  All classrooms and the office have also been provided with recycle bins.

Students in Mrs. Pabich-Phillips third grade show off their "personal" recycling bins.  Paines, Inc. provided a bin for each student as a helpful reminder to recycle.  Our thanks to Paines, Inc. for such a cute reminder!

Tonight is Open House! 

We hope you've encouraged your friends and neighbors

who may be wondering about SMS to stop in.

Last minute drop in guests are absolutely welcome!

Open House will begin at 6:30pm in the Parish Center.

There will also be one more Walk-In Wednesday on October 25th from 9-11am. 

The Hot Lunch order period for NOVEMBER is open now and will be open through Friday, October 20th.  This open order period is your only opportunity to order hot lunches, including pizza on Friday, for November.

HOT LUNCH SOS!  We are in desperate need of hot lunch volunteers on several days coming up soon -

3 volunteers needed on Wednesday, 10/25

3 volunteers needed on Friday, 10/27

3 volunteers needed on Wednesday, 11/1 (Holy Day of Obligation - Lunch begins at 11)

3 volunteers needed on Friday, 11/3

If you are Virtus trained and can help out on any of these days, please click here to visit the Sign Up Genius.  Thanks in advance!

It's Time to Sign Up for Parent/Teacher Conferences -  Our Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held NEXT WEEK on Tuesday, 10/24; Wednesday, 10/25 and Thursday, 10/26. Each of these days will be a 12:45pm early dismissal.  

***Friday, 10/27, is also a 12:45pm early dismissal for Faculty Faith Formation.***

There will be NO Aftercare on Tuesday, 10/24 - Friday, 10/27.  PreK Enrichment will be available on Tuesday, 10/24 - Thursday, 10/26 but NOT on Friday, 10/27.  PE Club will be available to those that are signed up for October on both Wednesday, 10/25 & Thursday, 10/26 and will run from 1-2:15pm.

Parents with students in middle school, please make note that Mrs. Gina Raymond is only available on Tuesday and Wednesdays so if your child has Gina Raymond for math, you should select a conference on Tuesday or Wednesday only. Ms. Nikki Raymond will be available on all conference days.

To sign up for your Parent/Teacher Conferences, click here.

Spirit Wear Shop Will Be Open! Stop by the School Office.

Spirit Wear will be available to purchase during Parent/Teacher conferences on Wednesday and Thursday (10/25 & 10/26). Uniform approved sweatshirts, gym t shirts and fleece jackets to name just a few! All styles in both youth and adult sizes. Cash and checks accepted.

Tuesday - 10/24 - from 1-2:15pm - There will be a makeup session of PE Club for the session that was cancelled on Wednesday, 10/18.  

Hello to All the Children in the World!  Second grade students in Mrs. Keany's
class did a great job with their United Nations projects today.

Early Drop Off is available!  Our Early Drop Off program began on  10/16!  Click here for more information and registration forms and reservation calendars.

Health Office News - Fall is the time for health screenings!

Vision and Hearing  - K, 3, 4, 5

Posture - girls 5^th and 7^th

Posture boys - 8^th

These screenings will be done over the next few weeks by the nursing staff.  If any irregularities are found, a note will be sent home asking you to follow up with your physician.  If you do not want your child to be screened for any of the above, please make a request in writing to St. Mary’s school nurse, Kim Tyrrell, RN.

Social Sharing Survey Update

Parents, thank you for recently completing the social sharing survey. We had a great response rate and a small team is currently analyzing the results. As a reminder, the purpose of the survey was to gauge your interest and support in sharing our St. Mary's School story on social media. Our branding efforts are important to actively engage our community to ensure ongoing retention, attraction, and sponsorship.

If you haven't done so already, please like and follow St. Mary's School on Facebook
​St. Mary's School@SMSSimsbury​

SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR! Tuesday 10/24 -Thursday 10/26 
Stop by the Parish Center to shop a great selection of Scholastic's best books! The fall bookfair is an HSA fundraiser.

Tuesday & Wednesday 9am-3pm
Thursday 9am-1pm

Please check your child(ren)'s teacher(s) blogs for day & time of "class visit" to bookfair.

Would you like to work at the fair? Call/Text Jodie Burhoe 860-967-8842 or email Tricia Prausa at tricia.prausa@gmail.com.


Halloween is Coming! 

In an effort to have a little fun and build community among our students, we will allow everyone in the building to dress up for Halloween on Friday, October 27.
Here are our parameters:

- no clowns
- no weapons
- no masks or face makeup
- no high heels (especially high heels that come with princess attire)
- each grade or group of grades will determine the time that students will wear the costumes; some might change in school and some wear them to school - please follow your child's teacher's instruction.

Parties are only allowed in PreKindergarten and Kindergarten. These classroom parties may not involve food.

Halloween Pumpkin Bingo will take place on Tuesday, 10/31, during the lunch waves.
"Treat" for a neighbor in need. Again this year, our school will participate in the Jack Bannon "Turkey Trot" non-perishable food drive. We would like to encourage all students to bring a non-perishable food donation to school on Halloween, 10/31, as a treat for a neighbor in need. Collection boxes will be located in the primary unit and the middle school and also outside the school office. Turkey Trot donations will be accepted until Friday, November 3rd. 

In November, we will worship with our parish family at the 12:15 Mass on November 1 in observance of All Saints Day.  All are welcome to join us.  Please remember that no Physical Education uniforms should be worn to Mass.

Formal Uniforms are Coming Soon!  Students in grades K-7 will begin to wear the formal uniform on Wednesday, November 1.  Students in grade 8 are extended the privilege of wearing the relaxed uniform until December 1.  Click here to review the uniform code for formal uniforms.  Click here for an easy refresher about ordering your uniforms from Lands End.

The Advancement Committee is delighted to announce the creation of a brand new St. Mary's School Family Cookbook. We have seen first hand the many culinary talents of our families, faculty and staff here at St. Mary's School and are looking forward to creating a cookbook filled with tasty and creative recipes!  We invite you to submit at least two recipes in different categories.  The process is simple and we hope that as you head into the holiday season and are pulling out your favorite family recipes, you will take a few minutes to share some of them with us.  

Recipes can either be typed into a submission form or handwritten on a 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper. Recipes can be emailed to  tchagnon@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net or dropped off in the office.  Click here for a submission form.  All recipes need to be submitted no later than January 6th. Our plan and goal is to have the cookbook available for sale late February and feature it at our Annual Art Show on February 23rd.

We are hungry just thinking about it!  Thank you in advance for your participation,

Thanks to all who supported the HSA Lyman Pie & Otis Spunkmeyer Cookie Dough Fundraiser.  Pick up of pies and cookie dough will be on Friday, 11/17/17.  If you can help sort and distribute pies and cookie dough, please use the Sign Up genius to volunteer - click here.

CHOICE News -  Going forward, CHOICE cards for Attilios and Joe Pizza will be available only by special order.  If you will be needing these cards, please let Michelle Howard know a week in advance to allow time for us to get the cards.  Thanks!

Big Y CHOICE cards are currently available at a 6% profit rate instead of the normal 2%.  Big Y cards are available for daily purchase.



Lost & Found - A Lost and Found bin is now available outside the school office.  Please have your students check there for things that may have gone astray.  You are also welcome to take a look whenever you stop in at school.  Please note that the size of the bin is limited and so items that are not claimed will not be saved forever.  When the bin approaches capacity, we will let you know that you have a week to claim what is in the bin and then the items will all be donated/discarded, depending on condition.  We'd also like to remind you that many, many items that are "lost" are never "found" because there is no name on or in them.  Please label all outerwear, sweaters, sweatshirts and uniform items.  We make every effort to return items that have a name on them.

Vintage "Lost & Found" Clear Out -  We have a substantial number of  "lost and found" items from last year still on hand.  During Parent/Teacher Conferences, these will be in a box outside the school office alongside the new "Lost & Found" bin.  Please take a minute to look through the box and see if any of the items belong to your children.  We are also encouraging you to feel free to take something that you might be able to use since at the end of conferences ALL vintage items will be donated and/or discarded depending on condition.

Community News

St. Mary's Parish - October Count - 

The Archdiocese is requiring all pastors to count the number of people attending Mass this weekend, October 21-22. The Archdiocese uses this "October Count" and other data to determine which parishes will remain open. Given the importance of this "October Count, families are encouraged to make every effort to be at Mass this weekend.

Your donations needed!  Again this year, we are collecting clean, gently used clothing for the St. Ann's Church Clothing Sale.  Donations will be accepted until Friday, 10/27.  Everyone is also encouraged to shop at the sale for some great bargains and to benefit a great cause!

Simsbury Public Library Announces November Calendar of Events for Teens & 'Tweens -

Have you always wanted to drive a Corvette? 

 There's still time to purchase tickets in the school office!