News for the Week of 3/25/20

As directed by Governor Lamont, St. Mary's School will be CLOSED from 3/16/20 through at least 4/20/20. At this time, the School Office is closed but emails are being checked regularly.

As noted in Mrs. Williamson's email dated 3/23/20, unless you hear differently, we will plan to conduct distance learning through Wednesday, April 8. April 9 is Holy Thursday and April 10 is Good Friday. At the very least take both of these days as "no school" and use the time for reflection on Easter. Again, unless you hear differently, the following week of April 13-17 will be our April break. Rest, relax catch up on assignments if need be but there will be no planned schooling during the break.

We must understand that the situation is fluid and does change. If we are closed beyond April 20, we will pick up again with distance learning. 

Thanks to all for the efforts you are making at home to help your children, our students, navigate the new world of distance learning.  Many of you are doing this while also working from home or caring for younger siblings or both!  We commend our teachers for their daily heroism - trying new things, communicating in new ways, consistently giving more than 110%!  Distance learning is happening because of them AND because of you and your terrific kids!  All of us are facing new challenges and uncertainties during these very peculiar and sometimes scary days.  How blessed we are to have each other - a community #uKnighted in faith and perseverance and, of course, hope.

Attendance Policy During Distance Learning - If your child(ren) is/are unable to participate in distance learning because of illness (or other cause), please send an email to: HOffice@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net, smsoffice@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net and your child(ren)'s homeroom teacher.  Please make note if the absence is due to illness or another cause.  Since it is our intention that these days can be counted as days of school completed, it is important that we continue to maintain our attendance records.

We encourage all to follow us on Facebook (St. Mary's School) and Instagram (smssimsburyknights). Students (and parents/guardians) are encouraged to join us for Morning Prayer each day and Facebook GoodKNIGHT stories are airing nightly at 7pm! Mrs. Gore is sharing a chapter read aloud at 8pm! Keep an eye out for great ideas from our Create Club moderators, too! There's an idea from them later in this blog, too!

Do you have photos of distance learning in progress? We'd love to see and share some photos of our students hard at work at home. Share on Facebook & Instagram or send emails to smsoffice@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.

2020-21 Family Enrollment Forms and Fees should be mailed to school. Please keep in mind that the Family Enrollment Forms and Fees are due back NLT THIS FRIDAY, March 27th. We appreciate your timely return of these items as it helps us prepare for a successful new school year. Mail is being picked up and processed on a periodic basis.

Second Trimester Report cards are available on the Educonnect Parent Portal.    No paper copy of the report card will be sent home.

Create It at Home!  It's not quite part of the formal uniform, but it's super fun!  Click here for directions on how to create your own SMS paper hat, then snap a pic and share it with us via email to smsoffice@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net or on Facebook or Instagram.







Yearbook Orders - Order Deadline is THIS FRIDAY, March 27!
 Don't miss a minute of memories!  The SMS yearbook contains a photo of every student along with candid photos from all major school events.  Yearbooks are $35 each and may be ordered online - click here.   Our yearbook ID code is 9415320.  Please note that the order deadline is March 27, 2020 and that all yearbooks must be preordered. 

Our faith can be of great consolation during these uncertain days, visit the St. Mary's Church website homepage for Staying Connected Through the Word. Once on the homepage, you may need to scroll down a bit to access the daily service. Each service is approximately 15 minutes and includes the readings for the day, a brief homily, and an opportunity for Spiritual Communion. Our thanks to our Pastor, Monsignor Matera, for making this resource available to us. It may also be helpful for all of us to keep in mind his wise advice - "Make these stressful days your Lenten retreat. Make this retreat with your family and loved ones. Take time to pray and read God’s Word. Let this time be an opportunity to reflect on what is important."

Contact Congress on COVID-19 Relief -  The U.S .Senate is currently considering a coronavirus relief package that includes aid to K-12 schools. Currently, there is language in the legislation allowing non-public schools to receive relief. However, it appears that some are attempting to remove this language.    Please use CAPE's Legislative Action Center to urge senators to make sure that private schools are not excluded from Congress' COVID-19 relief package.