News for the Week of 12/5/18

***Students that have gym class are requested to wear their formal uniform to school
& bring PE uniform to change into after the ceremony.***

Report cards will be available on the Educonnect Parent Portal on Friday, 12/7, at the close of the school day.  Please remember that no paper copy of the report card will be sent home.

Group Class Photos of students in PreK, K-7, will be sent home with students on Friday, 12/7.  Please be sure to check backpacks.

Click here to download the template for the "Believe Day" letters.

Click here to download & print the Advent Service Projects flyer.

Our Christmas Band & Chorus Concert will be held on Monday, 12/10/18, in the Parish Center.  There will be a dress rehearsal at 2pm and evening performance at 7pm.  Guests are welcome at either performance.  Mrs. Morse will provide concert and dress guidelines to band students.  Mrs. Jalinskas will provide guidelines to chorus members.  Attendance is considered mandatory if a student is a member of instrumental music/band and/or chorus.  If your family has a conflict, please contact Mrs. Williamson.  All are welcome to come and enjoy an evening of festive music.  The snow date for this concert is Monday, 1/7/19.

Lessons & Carols will be held on Monday, 12/17/18, in the church.  This beautiful retelling of the Nativity story is a beloved SMS tradition involving all students in Kindergarten- Grade 8.  Student attendance is considered mandatory.  If your family has a conflict, please contact Mrs. Williamson. There will be a dress rehearsal at 10am and an evening presentation at 7pm.  Guests are welcome at either performance and the morning is especially suitable for preschool age siblings since it is much less crowded and easier to see the Nativity story unfold. Students in Grades 1-7 should wear their formal uniform - no sweatshirts or spirit wear.  Students in Kindergarten and Grade 8 follow dress guidelines provided by Miss Ciarcia and Mrs. Work.  The snow date for Lessons & Carols is Tuesday, 12/18/18.

Poinsettia Pick Up - Those that ordered poinsettias from the grade 8 fundraiser may pickup plants between 2 &4pm on Friday, 12/7, in the Parish Center.  Thanks for your support!

"Every Brick Has A Memory To Share"
Sponsor a brick for our new St. Mary Courtyard

Brick Sponsorship Program ends December 31.
Please join the Darnowksi family in sponsoring a brick for the new St. Mary Courtyard.

"St. Mary's School has been an integral part of our family's life for so many years.  It's a special place for our children to be educated by amazing faculty who care about the growth of each child.  We feel so lucky to be part of this community and purchased a brick as a special memory."

Advancement News

As we look forward to Christmas and the New Year please consider including St. Mary's School in your end of year donations. Your contribution is tax deductible and crucial to the operating budget. Everything from snow plowing, HVAC maintenance and cleaning supplies, to academic, athletic and arts programs (to name just a few!) are made possible through the generosity of our donors. 

Click here or contact Toni Chagnon (tchagnon@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net) for more information on how you can help! 

It's never too late to join Advancement! Please join us for some Christmas cheer at our meeting on Thursday, December 13th after drop off at  9am in the lower church. All are welcome! 

PE Club - There will be PE Club on Wednesday, 12/19 and Thursday, 12/20.

School will be dismissed early at 12:45pm on Friday, 12/21/18.
There will be NO PreK Enrichment or Aftercare.  School is CLOSED from Monday, 12/24/18 through Tuesday, 1/1/19.  School reopens for a regular, full day of school on Wednesday, 1/2/19.

The latest issue of the SMS Times is now available.
Click here to read all the news.

Signs of the Season here at SMS

Looking for a "Special Something" for Christmas?  SMS Class of 2019 has beautiful bracelets and key chains available.   Please send your check payable to St. Mary's School with "bracelet or keychain" in the memo section.

Need a Stocking Stuffer?  CHOICE has lots of great possibilities including $5, $10, or $20 denominations to Peachwave with a 15%  profit rate.  Peachwave is located in the Fitzgeralds shopping plaza and is owned by a SMS family. Here are a few other stocking stuffer ideas:  Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, Barnes & Noble, Panera, and Amazon.  There's also many, many options via GL Scrip special order.

Shopping for Your XBox Fanatic?  CHOICE also has 2, $25 Xbox ecards available at this time. Additional cards can be ordered if there is interest.

"Blue (Ribbon) Christmas"

Alumni News - Our congratulations to our alumni at Simsbury High School that have been named to the first quarter honor roll:  Gr. 9 Honors -Mason Burhoe, Francesca Cirielli, Greyson Keller, and Benjamin Rivera, all SMS Class of '18; Gr. 10 High Honors - Ellie & Mary McElroy, SMS Class of '17; Gr. 11 Honors - Shayna Glazier, SMS Class of '16; Gr. 12 High Honors - Mark Bedson and Patrick Sheridan, SMS Class of '15 and Gr. 12 Honors - Kurt Bedson, Justin Donnelly, Grace O'Bryan & Cristina Santillan, SMS Class of '15.

Community News

St. Mary's Parish Invites You  To Three Special Events-

Nativity Story Puppet Show
Saturday, December 8th from 9:30 – 11am

A Nativity Story Puppet Show will be offered in our Parish Center for our littlest parishioners along with their parents/grandparents. The event is most appropriate for Preschool age to Grade 2 children however older siblings would enjoy this as well and are welcome to attend. This special gathering will include a sing-a-long, craft and snack and is free of charge. We hope you will join us! Please contact Lori Oleasz, Director of Religious Education, at 860-658-7627 for questions and to RSVP so that the appropriate amount of supplies and snack can be provided.


Night in Bethlehem: A Living Nativity
Saturday, December 8th from 6-6:30pm following the 5pm Mass

Please join us as the children and teens from Saint Mary’s Religious Education program and Ignite Youth Ministry bring the Nativity story to life in this holy and beautiful reenactment. A reception with refreshments will follow in the Parish Center. All are welcome. Blessed Advent!