News for the Week of 12/6/17

Click here to read Mrs. Williamson's recent letter to parents and guardians about our exciting new efforts to grow our brand and visibility in the community so that many other families can share the SMS experience.






 If you want to show your #UKnighTED school spirit to be used in some of our external social campaigns, click here for a copy of our sign and take a picture of your family and/or your student(s) sharing your St. Mary's story.  Email your photo to tchagnon@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net . 

Thanks to all who supported the Gr. 8 Poinsettia sale.
Donations to area senior living communities were greatly appreciated.

PreKindergarten students presented the nativity story to parents and friends.
It was an adorable day in Bethlehem!

Our December School Mass will be on Friday, 12/8, for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  We will worship with our Parish family at the 12:15 Mass.  All are welcome.  Please remember that no PE uniforms should be worn to Mass.

Report cards for students in K - 8 will be available via the Educonnect Parent Portal at the end of the school day on Friday, 12/8/17.  Please note that no paper copy of the report card will be sent home.  Please contact the school office if you have questions about logging into Educonnect to access the electronic report card.

Hot Lunch Order Period for January - The open order period for January hot lunch will be open from Monday, 12/11/17 through the close of the school day on Friday, 12/15/17.  This open order period is your only opportunity to order hot lunches for January. Please keep in mind that no late orders can be accepted.

NEW LUNCH SELECTION OPTION - As you complete your lunch order, you will notice that on January 17th, we will be offering grilled cheese and chicken noodle or tomato soup. If you decide to order this lunch, you will be prompted to choose which soup you would like. You will also now be able to choose an extra grilled cheese sandwich for $2.

Hot Lunch Volunteers Are Needed!  Our hot lunch program depends on the time generously donated by volunteers to serve and clean up.  We hope that if you are Virtus trained you will consider volunteering for hot lunch duty.  We are happy to train new volunteers and always happy to welcome back friends that have volunteered in the past.  Serving hot lunch is a great way to share in your child(ren)'s school day.  Click here to access the Sign Up Genius.

December is a busy time and everyone could use a night out!

Not sure if your child can make it?  Drop ins are welcome!  

JOIN US! 8th Grade Class of 2018 invites your students in Kindergarten - Grade 7 to Kid's Night Out in the Saint Mary's Parish Center on December 9th featuring a showing of THE POLAR EXPRESS. 8th graders have holiday crafts and fun games planned. Pizza dinner will be served as well as hot chocolate and popcorn during the movie! Come in PJs, bring a blanket/pillow to watch the movie with. Bring a friend! All children must be Kindergarten (age 5+) and up. $25 per child. Drop off is at 4:30, pick up by 9:30. All proceeds support 8th grade fundraising, which provides the 8th graders with funds for graduation expenses, a class trip, and a gift to the school from their class. They have been working hard this year and appreciate the continued support from the community! RSVP via the form below.

 Click here for a sign up form - last minute drop ins on 12/9 will also be accommodated.

Grade 8 Student & Parents are needed to make Kid's Night Out a success! Please consider sharing some of your time to help with this activity to benefit your class.   Click here to access the sign up genius.

Sounds of the Season - All are invited to our Christmas Band & Chorus Concert on Monday, 12/11/17.  There will be a dress rehearsal of this concert for the whole school at 2pm on 12/11.  The evening performance will begin at 7pm.  Guests are welcome at either performance.  Band students are reminded to bring their instruments, music, stands and all necessary accessories to school on Monday.  Click here for Mrs. Morse's directions regarding arrival time and attire for the concert.


Our annual Christmas prayer service, Lessons & Carols, will take place on Monday, December 18th in the church.  There will be a 10am dress rehearsal.  This is a perfect opportunity to take photos.  The prayer service will begin at 7pm. Church doors will open at 6:30pm.  All students in grades Kindergarten - grade 8 actively participate in this prayer service and attendance is expected.  If your child(ren) will not be able to attend, please contact Mrs. Williamson.  All students except Kindergarten and 8th grade wear their full, formal uniform for Lessons & Carols.  Kindergarten & 8th grade students will receive dress guidelines from their teachers.  The snow date for Lessons & Carols is Tuesday, 12/19.

Stirring the Pot - Pulling out all of your favorite recipes for the holidays? Make an extra copy to submit to our Community Cookbook! 

Recipes can either be typed into a submission form or handwritten on a 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper or click here for the link to the recipe form. All  recipes can be emailed to tchagnon@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net or dropped off in the office.  

*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.

Request for the time and talent of creative volunteers!

Calling all those with the passion and talent to help the Advancement committee with school branding efforts.  If you have experience in photography, videography, social media, and/or content writing, please send an email to tchagnon@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.  All are welcome to volunteer, including recent graduates who would like to build their portfolio.

Again this year, we will be accepting donations for Toys for Tots.  New, unwrapped toys may be brought to school until December 12th.  Thanks in advance for making the Christmas season bright for children in need.

Time is running out to get your Gift Cards from CHOICE for Christmas giving!

SMS Stars -  

Coach Williams (far left) & Gideon W., Max W., Sean O., and Evan P. along
with Mr. Prausa & Mr. O'Meara.

Our congratulations to the members of Running Club that completed this season's race on Sunday, 12/3, in West Hartford at the 5k Mitten Run.  Great job!

Yankee Candle Fundraiser - Orders Accepted until 1/11/18. Your voluntary participation in this Yankee Candle Fundraiser will help us defray the costs associated with a new recorder program for our third grade and the purchase of replacement music stands for our school band. Your order will ship direct to your address!  No school pick up or sorting! How convenient is that?  It's too late for guaranteed holiday delivery but orders may be placed until 1/11/18.  All orders must be placed on-line.  Click here to start shopping!  Please feel free to share this link with friends or family that might like to support our school.  Please note - when checking out, no need to fill out a Seller ID, our group number will be prefilled and that is sufficient. (If, for some reason, you land on a "general" page, please use our group number - 999977285)

Spirit of the Season - Students in first and third grades participated in a Holiday Bear Service Project by sponsoring 2 girls for Christmas.  Many wonderful gifts were donated by families to complete the girls' Christmas lists and were wrapped during a "Wrapping Party" this week.  Lovely to see the spirit of the Christmas season present in our school.
















Alumni News -

Congratulations to the SMS Alums recently named to the Honor Roll at Simsbury High -
Gr. 12 General Honors - Spencer Bernard, Domenico Cirielli,  Parker Myslow and Robert Tomasello - all SMS Class of '14;  Gr. 11 General Honors - Kurt & Mark Bedson, Justin Donnelly,  Grace O'Bryan, Cristina Santillan, and Patrick Sheridan - all SMS Class of '15; Gr. 10 General Honors - Shayna Glazier, SMS Class of '16; Gr. 9 High Honors - Ellie & Mary McElroy and General Honors - Grace Arcouette and Luke Doskos - all SMS Class of '17

 Christine Kornacki, SMS Class of '03, invites you to experience more joy this Christmas by taking #TheSparkleBoxChallenge.  Click here to learn more or visit the Facebook page.  Christine is the illustrator of The Sparkle Box and several other children's books.