News for the Week of 2/27/19

Looking Ahead to March!

Our March School Mass will be on Ash Wednesday, 3/6/19, at the 12:15pm Parish Mass.  All are welcome and encouraged to join us as we begin the holy season of Lent.  Please remember that no physical education uniforms should be worn to Mass.

Thursday, 3/7/19 will be a 12:45pm Early Dismissal with NO PreK Enrichment or Aftercare to allow for faculty faith formation.

Our second trimester ends on Thursday, 3/7/19.  Report cards for students in Kindergarten - Grade 8 will be available via the Educonnect Parent Portal at the end of the school day on Friday, 3/15/19.  Please keep in mind that no paper copy of the report card is sent home.

Friday, 3/8/19, school will be CLOSED for OEEC Professional Development.

Walk-In Wednesdays will be held on every Wednesday in March!  If you know someone wondering if SMS is the place for their family, please encourage them to stop by on any Wednesday in March between 9 and 11am.  When encouraging friends and neighbors to get to know us, please keep our Family Referral program in mind!





2019 Altar Server Training for New Servers: -New altar servers are needed at Saint Mary’s Church and School.  Are you interested in joining this wonderful ministry?  We will be meeting on Saturdays, March 16^th and 23^rd from 9-10am and on Sunday, March 31^st from 12:15-1:15pm.  All children in 4^th grade or above are invited to join us.  Please RSVP to Sheila Garilli Altar Server Coordinator via email at ServerLeader@StMarySimsbury.org. 

A Second Grade "State" of Mind - Students in Mrs. Herron's second grade class presented their state reports to classmates and special guests last week.  Great job, everyone!

It's Time to Order Your 2019 Yearbooks - The SMS Yearbook is a great way to preserve and enjoy all of this school year's great moments and memories.  The yearbook features photos of every student and of all important school activities, sports and clubs.  You may order online using our school code - 9415319 or complete and order form and return it to the school office NLT March 29, 2019.  Order forms were sent home Friday, 2/1/2019, with each student. Extra order forms are available in the school office. The price per yearbook is $35.  Yearbooks are distributed in June immediately prior to 8th grade graduation and must be pre-ordered.  Please call the school office with any questions. 

Your Action is Needed!  Thanks to all who have already spoken out against the proposed bills that would affect school bus transportation for our students. There is now need for additional action.  Governor’s Bill 7150 Section 1 would require nonpublic schools to reimburse towns for school health services.  This means the state's traditional share of the costs for these services will be passed onto you, our Catholic School parents and supporters.   Click here to send a message opposing this bill.  The Connecticut Catholic Public Affairs Conference is a great resource for keeping up to date regarding pending legislation.

Sir Ted's Kids Only Party was a Huge Success!

From Superhero capes to giant Jenga to corn hole, lots of fun was had by all who attended Sir Ted's Kids Only Party last Friday evening.  Thanks to Mrs. Howard, Mrs. Chagnon, and Mrs. Work for coordinating this happy event!

ALL ORDERS & PAYMENTS ARE DUE THIS FRIDAY, 3/1/19!

Munson's Fundraiser - Again this year, our 7th grade is selling delicious Munson's chocolates to help defray costs associated with their field trip to Boston.  Order forms were sent home with all students on Friday, 2/8/19.  There are extra order forms available in the school office.  Chocolates will be available for Easter gift giving!  Please make your checks payable to St. Mary's School with "Munson's" in the memo section.  Thanks in advance from our 7th grade!

Community “Fun-Raiser”!  - TICKET ORDERS DUE THIS FRIDAY, 3/1/19!

Click here to download & print this sign up form.  This special event is designed to promote community and ticket price covers event cost only.

**Help Us Create Community**

Since this community event is geared to Moms (etc.) and sons, if you are interested in organizing a “Father/Daughter” Event or “Family Inclusive” Event, please contact the school office.  Additional events will be announced once we have someone to plan and run the activity.

You've Got Mail! 

Make sure you check your favorite superhero's backpack today for your St. Mary's School Superhero

Challenge envelope stuffed with exciting information. We are excited to officially invite you to our

biggest family fundraiser of the year! See you there! 

Click here to register for the Corn Hole Tournament!

Black History Month - Our thanks to Mr. Claude Howard for coming to share his perspectives and experiences with our students.  In addition to being the proud dad of three SMS alums: Ava, SMS Class of '17; Thomas, SMS Class of '16 & Sophia, SMS Class of '14; Mr. Howard is also a past president our School Board.  We are so grateful that he chose to share his time and wisdom with us this week.

News for the Week of 2/20/19

                                                                                                                              legendquotes.com

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING OUR SCHOOL DAY SCHEDULE & CONFERENCES ON THURSDAY DUE TO POSSIBLE WINTER WEATHER

IF THERE IS A DELAYED OPENING TOMORROW -THURSDAY, 2/21/19:

*  WE WILL MOVE OUR DISMISSAL BACK TO 3:20PM.  

*  THERE WILL BE NO PREK ENRICHMENT OR AFTERCARE.

*  CONFERENCES SCHEDULED BETWEEN 1:30 & 3:45PM WILL NEED TO BE RESCHEDULED. 

*  CONFERENCES SCHEDULED BETWEEN 3:45 & 6:45PM WILL BE HELD AS PLANNED.

*  IF THERE IS NO DELAY DUE TO WEATHER, WE WILL CLOSE AT 12:45PM AS PLANNED AND CONFERENCES WILL TAKE PLACE AS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED.

Parent/Teacher Conferences are underway through Friday, 2/22.  Weather permitting(see above) Thursday, 2/21 and Friday, 2/22 are 12:45pm early dismissals.  There will be NO PreK Enrichment or Aftercare on these days.  If you have not scheduled a conference or if you need to change your scheduled appointment(s), there is still time  - just call the school office. 

Kid's Only Party!  This Friday - 2/22/19!  

Drop-In's are Welcome!

Sir Ted's KIDS ONLY Party!  Click here to register your child(ren) for this evening of fun.  

Please note that dinner reservations are no longer being accepted - feel free to send a snack.

Looking Ahead to March!

Our March School Mass will be on Ash Wednesday, 3/6/19, at the 12:15pm Parish Mass.  All are welcome and encouraged to join us as we begin the holy season of Lent.  Please remember that no physical education uniforms should be worn to Mass.

Thursday, 3/7/19 will be a 12:45pm Early Dismissal with NO PreK Enrichment or Aftercare to allow for faculty faith formation.

Friday, 3/8/19, school will be CLOSED for OEEC Professional Development.

Walk-In Wednesdays will be held on every Wednesday in March!  If you know someone wondering if SMS is the place for their family, please encourage them to stop by on any Wednesday in March between 9 and 11am.  When encouraging friends and neighbors to get to know us, please keep our Family Referral program in mind!

Munson's Fundraiser - Again this year, our 7th grade is selling delicious Munson's chocolates to help defray costs associated with their field trip to Boston.  Order forms were sent home with all students on Friday, 2/8/19.  There are extra order forms available in the school office.  All orders and payments are due NLT Friday, 3/1/19.  Chocolates will be available for Easter gift giving!  Please make your checks payable to St. Mary's School with "Munson's" in the memo section.  Thanks in advance from our 7th grade!

Click here to download and print flyer.

Community “Fun-Raiser”! 

Click here to download & print this sign up form.  This special event is designed to promote community and ticket price covers event cost only.

**Help Us Create Community**

Since this community event is geared to Moms (etc.) and sons, if you are interested in organizing a “Father/Daughter” Event or “Family Inclusive” Event, please contact the school office.  Additional events will be announced once we have someone to plan and run the activity.

News for the Week of 2/13/19

Snow Day Make-Up Information - As of now, we have had 2 snow days and our tentative last day of school is currently scheduled to be Wednesday, 6/12/19, and will be a 12:45pm early closing with NO PreK Enrichment or Aftercare.  At this time, school is still planned to be closed on Easter Monday, 4/22/19.

Hot Lunch Ordering Period for March - Hot lunches for March may be ordered via the Educonnect Parent Portal until Friday, 2/15/19.  Payment should be sent into the school office as soon as your order has been placed.  Please note that this is your only opportunity to order hot lunches for March.  No late orders can be accepted.

TOMORROW!  Valentine's Day Service Project - All students are invited to wear their PE bottoms with red or pink shirts and accessories (e.g. hair bow, socks, sweater or sweatshirt) on Thursday, 2/14/19, in exchange for bringing in a pair of new adult or child's socks or gloves for charity.

School will be closed on Monday, 2/18 & Tuesday, 2/19, for the long winter weekend.

Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held from Wednesday, 2/20 - Friday, 2/22.  Each of these days will be a 12:45pm early dismissal.  There will be NO PreK Enrichment or Aftercare on these days.   There will be PE Club for grades 1-5 on Wednesday, 2/20 from 12:45-2pm.  Click here to schedule your conferences.  Please note that if your middle school student has Mrs. Gina Raymond for Math, you should select a conference on Thursday or Friday.  Please also note that if you do not schedule a conference, none will be scheduled for you.

Kid's Only Party!  Coming Soon!

Sir Ted's KIDS ONLY Party!  Click here to register your child(ren) for this evening of fun.  
Please note that tomorrow - Thursday, 2/15 - is the final day that dinner reservations can be accepted!

Munson's Fundraiser - Again this year, our 7th grade is selling delicious Munson's chocolates to help defray costs associated with their field trip to Boston.  Order forms were sent home with all students on Friday, 2/8/19.  There are extra order forms available in the school office.  All orders and payments are due NLT Friday, 3/1/19.  Chocolates will be available for Easter gift giving!  Please make your checks payable to St. Mary's School with "Munson's" in the memo section.  Thanks in advance from our 7th grade!

Click here to download and print flyer.

Community “Fun-Raiser”! 

This special event is designed to promote community and ticket price covers event cost only.

**Help Us Create Community**

Since this community event is geared to Moms (etc.) and sons, if you are interested in organizing a “Father/Daughter” Event or “Family Inclusive” Event, please contact the school office.  Additional events will be announced once we have someone to plan and run the activity.

SMS CHOICE - Important Program Information - Each year, all families with students in grades K-8 are required to participate in the CHOICE program as part of the annual tuition obligations. The financial obligation via CHOICE for one child is $325, for two children it is $360 and for three or more, it is $400. Families that meet their obligation prior to April 30th, are encouraged to continue to use the CHOICE program even after the annual commitment has been reached. The continued use of CHOICE generates money that directly benefits our school's income and helps keep tuition affordable for all! 

Community News

Granny's Attic 2019 is Coming!  The Farmington Valley's best tag sale will be accepting donations from Wednesday, April 3 - Sunday, April 7.  Granny's Attic will be open to the public from Monday, April 8- Saturday, April 15 at the old Wagner's Showroom on Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury.  For more information, including items that will be accepted for donation and opportunities to volunteer to help with this event - click here. 

News for the Week of 2/6/19

Thanks to All For a Fabulous Catholic Schools Week!  Last week was a wonderful celebration of our school and all Catholic Schools.  Our students enjoyed extra time in PE clothes, were entertained by and enjoyed workshops with the NWC Jazz Choir and Band, posed for our Blue Ribbon School Portrait, had freeze pops and in middle school, enjoyed pancakes!  We were so happy to see so many of you at our annual Family Lunch last Thursday.  Our faculty and staff are SO thankful for all the thoughtful expressions of appreciation including posters, a delicious breakfast featuring many homemade delights, a wonderful Italian lunch, Cake Gypsy cupcakes, Peachwave frozen yogurt and Little City pizza and coffee gift cards and treat bags!  Thanks to all who donated to make these treats possible.  Our community is truly a wonderful, loving and special place.

Calendar Reminders




PE Club for Grs. 1-5 will take place tomorrow- Thursday, 2/7 - to make up for the missed session today (Wednesday, 2/6).

Hot Lunch Ordering Period for March - Hot lunches for March may be ordered via the Educonnect Parent Portal from Monday, 2/11/19- Friday, 2/15/19.  Payment should be sent into the school office as soon as your order has been placed.  Please note that this is your only opportunity to order hot lunches for March.  No late orders can be accepted.

Valentine's Day Service Project - All students are invited to wear their PE bottoms with red or pink shirts and accessories (e.g. hair bow, socks, sweater or sweatshirt) on Thursday, 2/14/19, in exchange for bringing in a pair of new adult or children's socks or gloves for charity.

School will be closed on Monday, 2/18 & Tuesday, 2/19, for the long winter weekend.

Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held from Wednesday, 2/20 - Friday, 2/22.  Each of these days will be a 12:45pm early dismissal.  There will be NO PreK Enrichment or Aftercare on these days.  Click here to schedule your conferences.  Please note that if your middle school student has Mrs. Gina Raymond for Math, you should select a conference on Thursday or Friday.  Please also note that if you do not schedule a conference, none will be scheduled for you.

KIDS ONLY PARTY - FRIDAY, 2/22/19!

Sir Ted's KIDS ONLY Party!  Click here to register your child(ren) for this evening of fun.

Winners & Runners-up pictured from left - Will O., Ryan G., Anna S.,
Thomas C., Addy O., & Amelia W.

Congratulations to the Winners of Spelling Bee - Will O., Gr. 6; Thomas C., Gr. 5 and Addy O., Gr. 4.   Runners-up included Ryan G., Gr. 6; Anna S, Gr. 5 and Amelia W, Gr.4. Our winning students will now move to the Knights of Columbus regional level competition and may then advance to the State competition.  We are also proud of all our spellers who worked hard to master challenging spelling lists and did their best both in the preliminary rounds and in today's final rounds.  Our thanks to Mrs. Mortillaro for coordinating the spelling bee again this year.  

Munsons Fundraiser - Again this year, our 7th grade is selling delicious Munsons chocolates to help defray costs associated with their field trip to Boston.  Order forms will be sent home with all students on Friday, 2/8/19.  All orders and payments are due NLT Friday, 3/1/19.  Chocolates will be available for Easter gift giving!  Please make your checks payable to St. Mary's School with "Munsons" in the memo section.  Thanks in advance from our 7th grade!

Last Call for the Season's Most Beautiful Leaves!  If you were unable to attend the Art Show on 1/26, or simply overlooked your child(ren)'s leaf/leaves, there's still time to make a donation and "rake in" your foliage!  Just send a check (suggested donation is $25) to the office with your child(ren)'s name and "art show" in the memo section.  Your leaf/leaves will be sent home with your child(ren).

Alumni News - Our congratulations to Griffin Myslow, SMS Class of  '13,on being named to the Fall 2018 Dean's List at Clemson University.  Griffin is majoring in Computer Engineering.

Community News

Avon Soccer Club Spring 2019 Recreational Season  - The Avon Soccer Club offers the following programs to Avon residents:

- Soccer Stars (U5): Develop soccer skills through fun drills and friendly scrimmages led by professional coaches. This group meets on Saturdays, and teams are co-ed. For children born in 2014.
- Kindergarten Clinic (U6): Develop soccer techniques and skills and play small-sided games. Led by professional coaches, this group meets on Saturdays, and teams are co-ed. For children born in 2013.
- Intramural (U8–U14): Develop skills, learn teamwork, and enjoy a fun level of competitive play. Practice is one night per week; games are played on Saturdays, with an occasional Sunday game. For children born in 2005 (or grade 8) through 2012.

Register online at avonsoccerclub.org.  Questions? Contact avonsoccerclub@comcast.net.