News for the Week of 10/30/19

November School Mass - We will join with our St. Mary's Parish family on Friday, 11/1, to celebrate All Saints Day at the 12:15pm Mass.  Please remember that no PE uniforms should be worn to Mass.  Relaxed uniforms remain acceptable on Friday even though it is November 1.  See below correction.

CORRECTION - Formal Uniforms Begin on MONDAY, 11/4, for students in grades Kindergarten - Grade 7.  Eighth grade students are given the privilege of wearing their relaxed uniforms until Monday, December 2.

Just in Time for Formal Uniforms - 

The Used Uniform Exchange is also a great way to add to your collection of uniform attire.  Click here for more information about this free service.

Only a few more days until our Book Fair begins with sales this weekend! Flyers went home this week. Check those backpacks!

Shop after Masses on Saturday or Sunday, November 2-3 or look for an email from homeroom teachers for scheduled class visits during school hours on Monday - Thursday, November 4-7.  The Book Fair will also be open during our school’s Open House on Tuesday, November 5, 6-8 pm. There’s still time to sign up to volunteer, and don't forget about the 20% off volunteer discount! If you are Virtus trained, click here to sign up! Thanks for supporting our readers!

Fall Back!

Just a reminder, Daylight Saving Time ends this Sunday, 11/3/19.  Enjoy the extra hour of sleep but be sure to adjust clocks as needed.

#uKnighted & Growing!
Our Fall Open House is next Tuesday!  If you know someone interested in learning more about us, invite them to Open House on Tuesday, 11/5/19 at 6pm. An RSVP to the school office is appreciated.  If you extend an invitation,  don't forget our Family Referral Program! Earn money towards your tuition, just click here to learn more about this awesome incentive program.

We are also hosting "Take a Look" Tuesdays!  Prospective families are invited to drop in any Tuesday morning to get to know more about us!

 Group Class Photos for PreK 5AM, and Grades K-7 will be taken by Lifetouch Photography on Monday, 11/4.  All students should wear their full formal uniform.  If your child(ren) was (were) absent on individual photo day in September, an individual photo can also be taken on this day. There are portrait package order forms in the school office or orders for packages may still be placed online at mylifetouch.com using our Picture ID - RI239207Q1 . Additionally, if you would like a retake photo this can be done if the original portrait package is returned.  If an individual photo is being taken, a change of clothes may be brought in for that photo but the student should be in their formal uniform for the school day. 

St. Mary's School will be OPEN for regular, full school days on both Election Day, 11/5, and Veterans Day, 11/11.  Look for details soon about our Veterans Day assembly. 

Jack Bannon Turkey Trot - Again this year we will collect non-perishable food for the Jack Bannon Turkey Trot.  Donations may be sent in through Friday, 11/8, but in order to wear a Halloween costume to school on this Thursday, 10/31, a non-perishable food donation is required - see below.  Please be sure to mark your donations "Turkey Trot" so that they are not confused with items that we will also be collecting for Senior Luncheon.

Lyman Pie & Otis Spunkmeyer Cookie Dough Delivery - The Lyman Pie fundraiser items will be available for pick up on Tuesday, 11/19.  All pies and cookie dough arrive frozen and MUST be picked up on 11/19.  The school does not have freezer space to store orders overnight.  If you want your order sent home with your child(ren) on the bus or via carpool, please call the school office.  Pick up times for the orders will be announced soon.

Senior Luncheon - This year our annual Senior Citizen Thanksgiving Luncheon will take place on Wednesday, 11/20.  This annual luncheon is a wonderful tradition that brings our entire community together since there are many donations of food needed and many Virtus trained volunteers needed to make the luncheon a success.  Please be on the look out for an invitation to donate via Sign Up Genius along with an invitation to volunteer on a separate Sign Up Genius.  Please be sure to make note of when your donations are due since some are needed in advance and some are needed the day of the luncheon.  Please be sure all donations are clearly labeled for the Senior Luncheon.  Finally, please note - there will be NO HOT LUNCH on Tuesday, 11/19 or Wednesday, 11/20 so that Senior Luncheon preparation, setup and event can take place in the Parish Center.

Save The Date for Holiday Family Fun! Saturday, December 7th, is Family Mass at 5pm followed by our 1st Annual Light up the Knight Christmas Festival & Market.   Christmas Trees & Wreaths, Craft Market, Kids Activities, Food & Beverage Trucks, Christmas Caroling, Ugly Christmas Sweater contest & more!   

Why are we "Lighting up the Knight"?  Well, first, to celebrate the season and provide a fun, family friendly evening.  The event will also benefit our Annual Fund.  The money generated at this fundraiser directly benefits every student at school by helping us control tuition costs and making funds available to our operating budget.

Everyone is invited and encouraged to help us make this a "Knight to Remember"!  You may have already seen an email from your room parent(s) asking for your help as we plan for and get ready for this event.  Please consider sending in a monetary donation ($10 suggested) to help us purchase the artificial Christmas trees each class will decorate for the event or send in some Christmas ornaments or tree trimming items that you've purchased. We are requesting these donations by November 4th. We anticipate that our students are going to love decorating a tree with their special theme and appreciate your help making this possible.  Checks should be made payable to St. Mary's School with "Light up the Knight" in the memo section.  If you've already made your donation - Thank You!

Are you crafty? Do you have an item you would like to make for our Christmas Market? Click here for more information and to sign up.  

The holidays are coming! The 8^th grade at St. Mary’s School will be selling lovely poinsettia plants in time for Christmas decorating and gift giving. The sale will be from November 1-15. Click here for your order form.  Order forms are also available in the school office.  Purchase poinsettias for your own holiday decorating, as gifts or as donation to the Residence at Brookside, McClean or Governor's House.  Plants will available for pick up on December 6-8.   Donation plants will be delivered for you!  Please consider participating in this fund raiser and spreading Christmas joy!

Box of Joy -  St. Mary's School is joining with Cross Catholic Outreach to pack "A Box of Joy" for a needy child this holiday season. We are looking for families to volunteer to shop for and pack a shoe box for a less fortunate child in an underdeveloped country. These children will each be given a box to open on Christmas Day.  Click here to have a box sent home with your child(ren).  If your family participates in this program (regardless of number of boxes), your children may wear PE clothes and Spirit Wear along with nail polish, jewelry and/or crazy socks and headbands on Monday, November 11th. 

Choose the sex and age of your gift recipient, shop for small items to fit in a shoe box (toys, school supplies, hard candy, apparel, hygiene, useful items).

For each box, please add $9 in cash or check made out to SMS - please put "Box of Joy" in the memo section, to pay for shipping and immediate living needs in their community (e.g., food, clean water).  This is a great family project that may include a handmade card or letter to your gift recipient.

Once you have signed up, we will send your box home with your child so you can start planning. All boxes must be returned to school on WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6th. Boxes will be packed up and shipped off within the week.

Thank you so much for considering to join us in sending joy to another child this Christmas.

New Mock Trial Club Opportunity for Grades 6-8 

Please make your check payable to St. Mary's School with "mock trial club" in the memo section. The club will meet from 3:45-4:45.  Classroom location to be announced.

Scholarship Opportunity from Lands' End

Community News

Clothing sold benefits St Ann’s Scholarship Program which provides partial scholarships for urban students who wish to attend a local Catholic High School.  Thanks to all who donated clothing and accessories for this sale.  Happy shopping!

Too Much Candy?  Bring your extra to Avon Wellness Center at 100 Simsbury Road & participate in Operation Gratitude's Halloween Candy Give-Back.

News for the Week of 10/23/19

Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences for students in grades K-8 continue on Thursday, 10/24/29 and  Friday, 10/25/19.  Each of these days will be a 12:45pm early dismissal.  PreK Enrichment will be available until 3:20pm but there is NO aftercare available.  If you did not schedule a conference via Sign Up Genius or if  you need to change your scheduled day or time, please call the school office.  Please note that for convenience, the north (playground) entrance will be unlocked for conferences.  If you choose to park behind the Magowan Center, you will need to ring for admission as that door will be locked.

Spreading the Message of Kindness - Click here  to view the WFSB coverage of last week's Kindness in Chalk event at SMS.

Looking Ahead to November






November School Mass - We will join with our St. Mary's Parish family on Friday, 11/1, to celebrate All Saints Day at the 12:15pm Mass.  Please remember that no PE uniforms should be worn to Mass.  Relaxed uniforms remain acceptable on Friday even though it is November 1.  See below correction.

CORRECTION - Formal Uniforms Begin on MONDAY, 11/4, for students in grades Kindergarten - Grade 7.  (Last week, Friday, 11/1, was listed as the day to begin formal uniform). Eighth grade students are given the privilege of wearing their relaxed uniforms until Monday, December 2.


Less than two weeks until our Book Fair begins on Saturday, November 2!  We look forward to seeing you and your family at our book fair!  Shop after Masses on Saturday or Sunday, November 2-3 or check your teacher's blogs for scheduled class visits during school hours on Monday - Thursday, November 4-7.  The book fair will also be open during our school's Open House on Tuesday, November 5 from 6-8pm.  Remember, all purchases benefit our school, students and faculty.  Thank you for supporting our readers!  There are still volunteer shifts available.  If you are Virtus trained, please click here to sign up.

#uKnighted & Growing!
Our Fall Open House is coming soon!  If you know someone interested in learning more about us, invite them to Open House on Tuesday, 11/5/19 at 6pm. An RSVP to the school office is appreciated.  If you extend an invitation,  don't forget our Family Referral Program! Earn money towards your tuition, just click here to learn more about this awesome incentive program.

We are also hosting "Take a Look" Tuesdays!  Prospective families are invited to drop in any Tuesday morning to get to know more about us!

  Group Class Photos for PreK 5AM, and Grades K-7 will be taken by Lifetouch Photography on Monday, 11/4.  All students should wear their full formal uniform.  If your child(ren) was (were) absent on individual photo day in September, an individual photo can also be taken on this day. There are portrait package order forms in the school office or orders for packages may still be placed online at mylifetouch.com using our Picture ID - RI239207Q1 . Additionally, if you would like a retake photo this can be done if the original portrait package is returned.  If an individual photo is being taken, a change of clothes may be brought in for that photo but the student should be in their formal uniform for the school day. 

St. Mary's School will be OPEN for regular, full school days on both Election Day, 11/5, and Veterans Day, 11/11.  Look for details soon about our Veterans Day assembly. 

Jack Bannon Turkey Trot - Again this year we will collect non-perishable food for the Jack Bannon Turkey Trot.  Donations may be sent in from Monday, 10/28 - Friday, 11/8.  Please be sure to mark your donations "Turkey Trot" so that they are not confused with items that we will also be collecting for Senior Luncheon.

Lyman Pie & Otis Spunkmeyer Cookie Dough Delivery - The Lyman Pie fundraiser items will be available for pick up on Tuesday, 11/19.  All pies and cookie dough arrive frozen and MUST be picked up on 11/19.  The school does not have freezer space to store orders overnight.  If you want your order sent home with your child(ren) on the bus or via carpool, please call the school office.  Pick up times for the orders will be announced soon.

Senior Luncheon - This year our annual Senior Citizen Thanksgiving Luncheon will take place on Wednesday, 11/20.  This annual luncheon is a wonderful tradition that brings our entire community together since there are many donations of food needed and many Virtus trained volunteers needed to make the luncheon a success.  Please be on the look out for an invitation to donate via Sign Up Genius along with an invitation to volunteer on a separate Sign Up Genius.  Please be sure to make note of when your donations are due since some are needed in advance and some are needed the day of the luncheon.  Please be sure all donations are clearly labeled for the Senior Luncheon.  Finally, please note - there will be NO HOT LUNCH on Tuesday, 11/19 or Wednesday, 11/20 so that Senior Luncheon preparation, setup and event can take place in the Parish Center.

Save The Date! Saturday, December 7th is Family Mass at 5pm followed by our 1st Annual Light up the Knight Christmas Festival & Market.   This will be a "knight" to remember! Christmas Trees & Wreaths, Craft Market, Kids Activities, Food & Beverage Trucks, Christmas Caroling, Ugly Christmas Sweater contest & more!   Are you crafty? Do you have an item you would like to make for our Christmas Market? Click here for more information and to sign up.

The holidays are coming! The 8^th grade at St. Mary’s School will be selling lovely poinsettia plants in time for Christmas decorating and gift giving. The sale will be from November 1-15 and order forms will be available in church or via download on the blog.  Order forms will also be available in the school office.  You may purchase poinsettias for your own holiday decorating, as gifts or as donation to the Residence at Brookside, McClean or Governor's House.  Plants will available for pick up on December 6-8.   Donation plants will be delivered for you!  Please consider participating in this fund raiser and spreading Christmas joy!

CHOICE Corner - GL Scrip has a great holiday gift guide - Click here. Gift Cards make great Christmas gifts and this is a great way to shop for everyone on your list.

Box of Joy -  St. Mary's School is joining with Cross Catholic Outreach to pack "A Box of Joy" for a needy child this holiday season. We are looking for families to volunteer to shop for and pack a shoe box for a less fortunate child in an underdeveloped country. These children will each be given a box to open on Christmas Day.  Click here to have a box sent home with your child(ren).  If your family participates in this program (regardless of number of boxes), your children may wear PE clothes and Spirit Wear along with nail polish, jewelry and/or crazy socks and headbands on Monday, November 11th. 

Choose the sex and age of your gift recipient, shop for small items to fit in a shoe box (toys, school supplies, hard candy, apparel, hygiene, useful items).

For each box, please add $9 in cash or check made out to SMS - please put "Box of Joy" in the memo section, to pay for shipping and immediate living needs in their community (e.g., food, clean water).  This is a great family project that may include a handmade card or letter to your gift recipient.

Once you have signed up, we will send your box home with your child so you can start planning. All boxes must be returned to school on WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6th. Boxes will be packed up and shipped off within the week.

Thank you so much for considering to join us in sending joy to another child this Christmas.

Remind Text Reminder - If you need to join our Remind Text Community, please be sure to join SMSFamilies19.  All Remind groups are limited to 150 participants.  At this time, our older group, SMSFamilies is full at 150.  If the group is larger than 150, messaging is not available.  Click here to join SMSFamilies19 or follow the instructions here. ** If you are already receiving Remind text notifications, there is NO need to re-enroll.

SMS Stars - Emily K., Gr. 8, did a great job representing our school at last Saturday's FMI Regional Band concert.  Emily is now eligible to audition for the FMI All State Band that will perform in New York City and at CCSU this spring.  Participation in the FMI Regional and All State Bands is a great way for students to expand their musical horizons by playing in larger band groups under the direction of various conductors.  Our thanks to our FMI instructor, Mrs. Deb Morse, for helping Emily prepare to represent our school.

Alumni News

Avery Hatch, SMS Class of '12, represented Elon University's Chemistry Department at SERMACS 2019 (The South Eastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society) along with several other Elon students. Avery completed an oral presentation outlining the current results from her Lumen Scholar research project. In the spring, she will present additional research results at the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society.










Community News

Do You Own a Local Business?  The St. Mary's Parish Bulletin is a Great Way to Reach Out to the Community!    Are you interested in an opportunity to advertise your business or promote your company's special offers in a trusted resource that Parish families utilize every day? If you are, please contact Mary Hoffman from Liturgical Publications.  Your ad will appear in each weekly printed bulletin as well as on the Parish website digital link. Professional ad design is included in all ad pricing.  This is a great opportunity to promote your business each week and support the Parish at the same time. The advertisements also pay for the weekly bulletins the Parish receives so we are always looking for more businesses to sponsor an ad for us.  If you'd like to participate, now is a great time! Contact Mary Hoffman at 860.836.8486 or mhoffman@4LPi.com  We thank you for your consideration and ask that you continue to support our current bulletin business sponsors.

News for the Week of 10/16/19

October is the Month of the Rosary - All are invited to join us tomorrow -Thursday, 10/17/19 - at 9am in the church as we pray the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary.  Students that are scheduled for physical education on Thursdays may wear their PE uniforms to this prayer service.

Kindness in Chalk - Our fingers are crossed for dry weather!  Our Kindness in Chalk event is now scheduled for this Friday, 10/18/19.  All students may wear P.E. uniforms.

Athletic News - There will be NO Basketball Club this Friday, 10/18/19.

Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences for students in grades K-8 will be held from Wednesday, 10/23/19- Friday, 10/25/19.  Each of these days will be a 12:45pm early dismissal.  PreK Enrichment will be available until 3:20pm but there is NO aftercare available.  Click here to access the links to the Conference Scheduling Sign Up Geniuses.  Please keep in mind that if you do not schedule a conference, none will be scheduled for you.

#uKnighted & Growing!

Our Fall Open House is coming soon! Start Spreading the News -  with a custom SMS lawn sign!  We are hosting our first Open House of the school year on Tuesday, 11/5/19 at 6pm. Live on a busy street? Sign up to take a lawn sign and then stop by the office and pick up a lawn sign at your earliest convenience.  We greatly appreciate your help in advertising our Open House. 

With Open House just around the corner, do you know a family or friend that might be interested in enrolling their children? Don't forget our Family Referral Program!  Earn money towards your tuition, just click here to learn more about this awesome incentive program. 

Fall is the time for health screenings!

Vision and Hearing - Grades K, 1, 3, 4, 5*

Hearing ONLY - 2*

Posture girls - Grades 5th and 7th

Posture boys - 8th Grade

* Please note update from last week - First grade will also have vision and hearing screening. Second grade receives hearing screening only.

Tomorrow -Thursday, 10/17/19 - members of the Simsbury Lions Club will conduct vision screening for the grades indicated above.  The school nurse will conduct the hearing and postural screenings. 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.

What was your favorite book growing up? Help our students find a favorite at our upcoming Book Fair! If you are Virtus trained,please consider signing up to volunteer during our Fall Book Fair.  All faculty and volunteers receive a 20% discount! Volunteer shifts are available after Mass on Saturday or Sunday, November 2-3 or during school hours on Monday - Thursday, November 4-7.  Click here to volunteer. Thank you in advance for signing up!

Just in Time for the Holidays!  Orders will be accepted until Monday, October 21, for delicious frozen Lyman Orchards Pies and Otis Spunkmeyer Cookie Dough!   Order forms were sent home with all students on Friday, October 4, 2019. Extra order forms are available in the school office. You can also order online and also invite friends and family to do so - click here. Here is important information regarding online orders - If pies or cookie dough are ordered online, they are delivered to the school for local pickup.   The Simply Shipped Collection of beef jerky, coffee, mini baked cookies, popcorn and tumblers are for out of area/state buyers and those items get shipped directly to the buyer's home. Frozen pies and cookie dough will arrive on November 19, 2019 - pick up times will be announced soon! Please note that all orders must be picked up on November 19, since all items arrive frozen and there is not freezer space here at school to store orders. All sales benefit SMS Knights United Family & School Association.

Community News

Lost & Found - A bracelet was found in St. Mary's Church. If, by chance, you are missing one, please contact the parish offices.

Simsbury Public Library - There are lots of great events for teens and tweens coming up in November and December - Click here to learn more.

St. Ann's Church Clothing Drive - Again this year, we will be accepting donations for St. Ann's annual clothing drive for their Clothing Sale.  The Clothing Sale benefits the St. Ann's Scholarship program that provides tuition assistance to urban students that attend local Catholic High Schools.  Please donate clean, gently worn, current style clothing for men, women, teens and children.  Shoes, handbags and jewelry are also accepted along with hangers.  There is a particular need for infant, children and teen items.  Donations may be brought to the school office until October 21.  The clothing sale will be open on Friday, 11/1/19, from 6-8pm ($5 admission), Saturday, 11/2/19, from 8:30-11:30am.  Bargain Hunters - on 11/2/19, from noon until 2pm, the clothing sale is $20 per bag!  Thanks in advance for your donations and support.

St. Mary's Parish Invites You - On Friday, 10/25/19 at 7PM, Saint Luke Productions will present a live 90 minute production of the story of Father Augustus Tolton at St. Mary’s Church. Admission is free. Augustus Tolton was born in Missouri, the son of enslaved parents. Despite being rejected by every American seminary to which he applied, he was ordained in Rome in 1886, the first African American priest in the United States. Pope Francis has promulgated a Decree of Heroic Virtue, advancing the cause for Fr. Tolton’s sainthood. Tolton is a powerful multi-media live production, filled with music and drama. It brings a message of hope and healing for the wounds that plague our culture. Jim Coleman plays the role of Father Tolton. This event is sponsored by the Fr. Nadolny Good News Fund.  In the event you are unable to attend this performance, there are others in the area.  Please note, however, that all other performances are earlier in October than the one at St. Mary's. 

Northwest Catholic Open House Northwest Catholic High School invites prospective students and parents to attend their annual Open House on Sunday, October 20, 1:00 - 3:00 PM. NWC will offer an Entrance Exam (HSPT) on Saturday, October 26, 8:00 AM. You can register for the exam online at (HERE) Walk-ins are welcome! Please contact Andrew Selig at aselig@nwcath.org with any questions.