News for the Week of 3/4/20

School will be CLOSED this Friday, 3/6/20, for faculty faith formation.

Our March School Mass will be on Tuesday, 3/10/20, at 9am in the Church. All are welcome to join us.  

Hot Lunch Ordering - The hot lunch order period for April will open on Monday, 3/9/20.  Orders will be accepted via the Educonnect Parent Portal through Friday, 3/13/20.  No late orders can be accepted.  Payment should be sent in as soon as your order is submitted.

Second Trimester Grades will close on Friday, 3/13/20.  Report cards will be available on the Educonnect Parent Portal at the close of the school day on 3/20/20.  No paper copy of the report card will be sent home.

Students in Kindergarten - Grade 3 enjoyed listening to stories read to them by Tammy Nguyen, mom of Will, Gr. 7, Addy, Gr. 6 and Rowan, K in celebration of  Read Across America Day.

All are invited to attend the March School Board Meeting on Wednesday, 3/18/20, at 7pm in the Reading Room of the Magowan Center.  Mrs. Williamson will present the annual State of the School Address at this meeting.

St. Mary's School has a tradition of having a well-organized and hard working School Board! We are looking for a few people to fill upcoming vacancies for the 2020-21 school year. Ability to attend Board meetings approximately 6 times per year and participate on Committees is very important. We are also interested in members with financial and/or marketing experience. The term of service is three years with a one time renewal possible.  Please contact Board Chair Sarah Mutarelli at SEMutarelli@comcast.net or Mrs. Williamson at mwilliamson@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.

School will be dismissed early on Friday, 3/20/20, at 12:45pm.  There will be no PreK Enrichment or Aftercare.

2020-21 Family Enrollment Packets were emailed to all families on Friday, 2/28/20.  If you did not receive your packet, please contact the school office.  Don't forget our special incentive for families that choose to return their signed Family Enrollment Form and Family Enrollment Fee at Moving Up Knight (see below).

Up. Up and away to the next grade!! 

Moving Up Knight is next Wednesday, March 11th at 6:30pm! 

This special evening just for parents will be Open House style from 6:30 pm to 8pm. Come any time between 6:30 and 7:30pm to learn more about what to expect in your child(ren)'s upcoming grade(s).  This is a casual, informational, Q&A evening with adult refreshments and snacks. All faculty and staff will be here and we invite you to visit as many classrooms/grades as you would like. 

This year we are pleased to offer an incentive to those who bring their completed Family Enrollment Agreement and Family Enrollment Fee to Moving Up Knight  - Your Family Enrollment Fee will be reduced to $200 and may be paid by credit card if desired (a $6 processing fee will be applied if a credit card is used).   Please note - this incentive is available ONLY at Moving Up Knight.

Mother - Son Bowling!  Moms, grandmoms, aunties and other special women are invited to a night of bowling and fun with their favorite son, grandson, nephew, etc... on March 19, at Blue Fox Rock 'n Bowl in Simsbury starting at 6 pm.  Price is $40 per couple and $15 per extra child. Price includes rental, pizza, soda, and cake. Click here to sign up.   NOTE - Event is limited to 60 participants - Only 8 spots are available at this time, sign up promptly to avoid disappointment!

CALLING ALL JUMPERS!   Open to students in Grades K-8.

The 2020 St. Mary’s School Jump Rope Club will begin March 26th, and will continue on Thursdays ending on May 28th. Club starts at 3:30pm and runs until 4:30pm.  Pick up will be at the main school entrance.  Jump Rope Club is a program that incorporates dance, rhythm, coordination and
jump roping skills. It is a high energy club that gets our heart rates up and burns off that extra energy before going home! Participation fee is $50. (Checks made payable to St. Mary School – Please put
Jump Rope Club in the memo section.) Please email Mr. Gangloff with any questions about the program.  Click here to download and print a permission slip.  Please sign and return with payment NLT 3/13/20.  

Yearbook Orders - Order Deadline is 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.  You may also complete a paper order form.  Order forms were sent home earlier in the month with all students and extra order forms are available in the school office.  Our yearbook ID code is 9415320.  Please note that the order deadline is March 27, 2020 and that all yearbooks must be preordered. 

CHOICE News - CHOICE statements will be sent home in backpacks on Thursday (3/5/20).  Please be sure to check backpacks and review your statement carefully.  Please keep in mind that families with students in K - Gr. 8 have until April 30th to complete their annual CHOICE obligation either via purchase of CHOICE cards or by an opt out payment.  As noted on the Family Enrollment Agreement, your CHOICE obligation is a part of your tuition commitment.  CHOICE cards purchased after April 30th will be credited to your family's 2020-21 CHOICE obligation.  Thanks for your continued support of the CHOICE program!

SMS Stars

SMS Boys JVA - Deanery Champions!

Congratulations to our JVA boys who won the Deanery Championship on Tuesday evening!  They played a hard fought, amazing game and won 38-35. #uKNIGHTedinPride !  Our Girls Varsity will play their Deanery Championship game tonight (Wednesday, 3/4) at 6pm at Corpus Christi! 

Congratulations to our Mock Trial Club on such a great
performance at their first scrimmage with a Kingswood Oxford
team.  Many thanks to Ms. Bernabo for mentoring this club - It's
been a great experience!

Alumni News

Ava Howard, SMS Class of '17, reigning
Miss America Junior Teen, & her dad participated
in the United Way's Read Across America day
in the Hartford Public School System.

Community News

SMS families are encouraged to contact Tricia Henderson for more information and/or
to organize participation in this important event.  Mrs. Henderson's contact information is available
via the Educonnect Parent Portal.

St. Mary's Parish Annual St. Patrick's Dinner Saturday, March 14, at 6PM Parish Center - Come and enjoy Corned Beef and Cabbage, Potatoes, Carrots, Irish Soda Bread, Dessert and Beverage and stay for the Live Entertainment! Tickets will be sold after the weekend Masses at Church on March 7 and 8. Tickets are also available in the Parish Offices. Adults $17; Children 12 and under $7. RSVP no later than March 9.  No tickets will be sold at the door. Hosted by the Knights of Columbus and St Mary’s Women’s Guild. For additional information, call (860) 658-7627 or (860) 651-4027




Granny’s Attic & Boutique: New Location - St. Mary’s Parish Center. Wednesday, April 15, - Saturday, April 18. You can help by donating gently used items or by volunteering. St. Mary's School receives a generous portion of the proceeds from Granny's Attic.  The remainder of the proceeds benefit other community organizations sponsored by the parish.   For specific information about drop off dates, accepted donation items and the volunteer Sign-up Genius, please click here or contact Peg Mancarella, our3pumpkins@gmail.com (860) 593-1512, Stephanie McIntyre, smcintyre@gmail.com (860) 651-3862, Ann O’Donnell, annno@snet.net (860) 658-2120.