Summer Blog Post #3 - 8/15/18

"Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, we believe in your triumphant assumption into heaven where the angels and saints acclaim you as Queen. We join them in praising you and bless the Lord who raised you above all creatures. With them we offer you our devotion and love. We are confident that you watch over our daily efforts and needs, and we take comfort from the faith in the coming resurrection. We look to you, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. After this earthly life, show us Jesus, the blest fruit of your womb, O kind, O loving, O sweet virgin Mary."  (https://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=117)

Summer Office Hours
The school office is 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 whenever the office is open. 

School will reopen on Wednesday, August 29.  This will be a full day of school with both PreK Enrichment and Aftercare available. 

 "Meet & Greet" for younger students and "Morning in Middle School" for students entering grade 6 will be on Tuesday, August 28th.   PreK Meet & Greet for child and parent/caretaker will be from 9:30-10:30.  Meet & Greet for Grades K -4 for child and parent/caretaker will be from 10:30-11:30.  "Morning in Middle School" will be from 10-11:30 for students entering 6th grade. Students new to 7th & 8th grade are also invited to participate in "Morning in Middle School" from 10-11am.  Students attending "Meet & Greet" or "Morning in Middle School" are encouraged to bring in their classroom supplies.

Getting Ready for a New School Year - Again this summer,
the school blog has a "Back to School" page.  The "Back to School" page  is always available from the top menu bar of the school blog.   This page is your "go to" source for supply lists and summer assignments and summer reading.

Be sure to be on the look out for your "Back to School Mailing"  - Email Delivery Expected NLT Monday, 8/20/18.  Again this year, this "mailing" will be sent to you electronically at the email you have designated as your primary family email address. If you are not sure that the email address we currently have on file for your family is the "best one to use", please send the email you want used to smsoffice@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net. Put "Back to School Mailing email"in your subject line and we will be sure to update our school database(s).  Please note - If you have not returned your Family Enrollment Form & Fee for 18-19, you will not receive a "Back to School" email packet since your enrollment remains incomplete until these are received.  Please contact the school office with any questions. 

iPad Orientation Meetings for Rising 6th Grade Students & Students New to Grs. 7 & 8 -  

All students entering 6th grade and students new to SMS for grades 7 and 8 are required to meet with Mrs. Hatch prior to beginning iPad use. Each student must be accompanied by at least 1 parent/guardian.  During this brief meeting, iPad use guidelines will be reviewed along with basic information regarding good digital citizenship. Students will also receive their school email credentials and if all required forms and the iPad coverage fee have been turned in, students will receive their iPad at this meeting. If required forms and fee have not been turned in, iPad use will begin upon receipt of all required items.  Click here to reserve your meeting time.

Summer Playgrounds - Catch up with your friends & meet some new ones!

There will be a playground play date for incoming PreKindergarten students on Thursday, August 23, from 6-7pm at the SMS playground.

All SMS families - new & returning - are invited to a "Back To School" Playground Playdate on Sunday, August 26, at 5pm at the SMS playground.  Families are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket and supper!

Please note that these playground playdates are not  "drop off" events. These are opportunities for our families to attend together to get acquainted and/or reacquainted as we start a new school year.

Virtus Training - Anyone who wishes to volunteer at school (including chaperoning field trips) or at after school events attended by students must complete Virtus® training and have a background check completed. There will be a Virtus® Training session on Tuesday, September 4th at 6:30pm in the 5th grade classroom. If you are planning to attend, please RSVP to smsoffice@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net. If you need to attend Virtus® Training and cannot come to the session on September 4th, go to www.virtusonline.org/virtus/ and then click on First Time Registrant to find other training sessions in our area.

Hot Lunch Order Period for September will open on Friday, August 24th - Orders will be accepted until Friday, August 31.  This will be your only opportunity to order hot lunch for September.  Please note that the hot lunch program will begin serving on Friday, September 7th.  From August 29 - September 5, no hot lunch will be served and all students will need to bring a brown bag lunch.  Again this year, all orders for hot lunch must be placed via the Educonnect Parent Portal.  Your Back to School email packet will include your parent portal credentials.  Payment may be brought in when stopping in for "Meet & Greet"/Morning in Middle School or sent in on the first day of school.

Hot Lunch Volunteers are needed!  If you are Virtus trained and can help us serve hot lunch, we look forward to you volunteering.  Click here to sign up.  We are able to offer hot lunch only because volunteers step up to serve, so we hope you'll consider helping out, even just occasionally.   It's a great way to share in your child(ren)'s day!  Training is provided on your first day of volunteering.

Uniform Exchange - We are happy to share that the  "SMS Used Uniform Shop" is now open for business during regular summer office hours and by appointment!  There is a great selection of all uniform items available at all grade levels for both the relaxed and formal uniforms as well as PE uniforms. 

Please feel free to stop by during summer office hours (Tues-Thurs, 9am-1pm) or call to make an appointment if you need a different time frame for your shopping and we will try to accommodate your schedule. 

 

"Every Brick Has a Memory to Share"

Sponsor a brick for our new St. Mary Courtyard

Now through mid-September

                                                   

You can create your own personalized brick with an uplifting message, a memorial to a loved one, commemoration of a momentous occasion, or a recognition of your family name.

By sponsoring a brick for our exciting Campus Connection project, your brick will be placed in the circular pathway surrounding our beloved St. Mary statue within the new Courtyard. Please click here to learn more and place your order.

Grade 8 Fundraising - Each year, our 8th grade conducts a number of fund raisers to help defray costs associated with their graduation activities and field trip.  Two of these fund raisers will help us get our school year underway.  Thanks in advance from our 8th grade for your support!

Mark your calendar for Wednesday, September 5th

St. Mary’s School Grade 8 Fundraiser

Click here to download & print Joe Pizza flyer.

Please dine in or take out on September 5th from Joe Pizza and support the 8th grade class. A percentage of profits will be donated by Joe Pizza to support 8th grade activities.

All you need to do is bring in the flyer or just mention St. Mary's School to the server or when you place your order/pick up.

Click here to download and print an order form for beautiful fall mums!  Available in several sizes and colors, these will definitely put you in a "pumpkin spice" frame of mind and help our 8th grade!  All orders & payments must be received in the school office NLT Friday, 9/14.  Checks should be made payable to St. Mary's School with "Gr. 8 mum sale" in the memo line.  Mums will be available for pick up in the Parish Center on Friday, 9/21 from 2-4 pm and after all Masses during the weekend of 9/22-23.  Thanks in advance for your support!  

Summer Fun & Travel

Greetings from St Peter’s Church at Marien Platz (Saint Mary’s Square) Munich
from Clarissa, rising 7th, Sienna, rising K & Hutton, rising 4th.

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