News for the week of 5/27/20

Thanks to all of you & our outstanding faculty
for making Distance Learning a positive experience.  Look for this
great ad for SMS in the June issue of Valley Life.

#uKnighted & Growing!  Applications for admission for 2020-21 are being accepted now!  If you know someone interested in joining our community.  Encourage them to take a virtual tour.  For convenience, application forms can now be completed and emailed to school and application fees can be paid with a credit card.  If you do share the good news about St. Mary's School, be sure to take advantage of our Family Referral Program.

Distance learning continues through our scheduled last day of school - Thursday, June 11.  We remain committed to making each school day the best it can possibly be and are so grateful for all the time and help you are providing at home.

Please notify our school nurse anytime your child(ren) are unable to participate due to illness or other reason.  Nurse Tyrrell can be reached at hoffice@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net or at (860) 856-6811 from 10am-12noon on scheduled school days. NOTE - This is a temporary contact number established for the distance learning period only.  Nurse Tyrrell will respond within 24 hours to parent concerns and questions.

Please look for information in the next week or two about iPad collection and an opportunity for your family to pick up any items that may have been left at school.  We will be developing a plan that will allow for safe and efficient drop off and pickup.

2020-21 Family Enrollment Forms and Fees Needed Now! Thanks to all that have returned their Family Enrollment Forms and fees. If you have not already sent yours in, please do so at your earliest convenience. If the current world health crisis is impacting your family's ability to complete enrollment at this time, please contact Mrs. Williamson.  Mail is being picked up and processed on a periodic basis. Having this enrollment information helps us finalize our class lists for the upcoming year and allows us to order books, consumables and other supplies so our new school year can get off to a good start! Additionally, if your family uses Smart Tuition for payments, your completed Family Enrollment Form assures that your payments will begin on time in June allowing the maximum number (12) of payment periods.

Sharing the Caring -

Above is a picture of some cards made for our Eno friends by the Darnowski family. They were in full production line, each child painting two colors, and then passing it down the line to the next artist. That is truly the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, working together to bring joy to others. The seniors are so appreciative. They sent the children of St. Marys a thank you note.  See below:)

There's still time for you to share some happiness with area senior citizens.  Mrs. Mortillaro will continue to pick up cards each Wednesday including June 10th.  The bin is located by the entrance in our north (playground) parking lot.

Calling all Caped Crusaders! It's not too late to donate! 

Thank you to all of our Amazing Marvels who made donations, your support is greatly appreciated! 

There's still time for SMS superheroes to rush to the rescue and help our Knights United Family & School Association's major community fundraiser of the year.  The St. Mary's School 2nd Annual Superhero Challenge was slated to raise over $20,000 for our school. 

As COVID 19 continues to impact all of us in so many different ways, we hope that if you are able to make a donation you will consider helping us meet our goal.  Monies raised from this event go directly towards helping fund our academic programs, technology and enrichment for our students.  

Click here to make a donation or send your check along with the sponsor form you received in the mail to school via US mail.  Thanks for your superhero support!

Alumni News

Our congratulations to Annie O'Meara, SMS Class of '12 and Northwest Catholic Class of '16.  Annie has graduated from the Fordham University Gabelli School of Business and will begin a job working in finance in New York City in September.  #16yearsofCatholicSchool




Do you have Alumni News to share?  This is the season of graduations, acceptances and awards and while all these things may be taking place in different ways this year, they are still worth celebrating and sharing!  Send your Alumni News to smsoffice@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.






Community News

St. Mary's Parish is here for you! -  While we are unable to worship in community at this time, our Parish and our Pastor and all our Parish resources remain available to us to help guide us and bring us back to a place of spiritual hope.   Click here to visit the Parish's Coronavirus update page.  This page includes easy links to "Staying Connected to the Word", Parish updates, Parish outreach and very helpful and supportive messages from Father Matera. 





GoodKNIGHT Stories are coming to SCTV in June! Starting in June, you can enjoy our GoodKNIGHT stories on SCTV as well as on our public Facebook page (Facebook stories are at 7pm every Monday - Friday night).  You can check the SCTV schedule here but the June schedule isn't posted yet. So, mark your calendars - 7 pm on channel 95 (Educational channel) and 8:30am and 5:30pm channel 5 public channel.  

Virtual Summer Camp Provides Unique Opportunity for Play! 

With youth sports interrupted across America and many summer camps shut down, Play Like a Champion is offering kids of all ages a chance to get moving and learn new skills. Their new, free Virtual Summer Camp will take place from June 1-19, 2020 providing kids 3 weeks of fun and activity from the comfort of their own home. The camp will feature coaches from Play Like a Champion partners leading kids in both rigorous exercise and sport-specific drills, as well as daily character development and fun!  To learn more, click here. 

News for the Week of 5/20/20

Students in Mrs. Herron's Second grade are preparing to receive Jesus for the first time in June.
They are joyful no matter the circumstances!

May Crowning - Since we were unable to crown Mary in our traditional manner this year,  St. Mary's School second grade students and those from the parish Religious Education program submitted video clips for a virtual May Crowning ceremony.  The video is now available on the St. Mary's Parish website.  Scroll down on the main page to access this beautiful video.





Thank you to our “Fast as the Flash” families for your Superhero donations! Your generosity helped us raise just over $2,000 towards our $20,000 goal. We are so grateful for our SMS Super Donors! 

There's still time for other superheroes to rush to the rescue and help our Knights United Family & School Association's major community fundraiser of the year.  The St. Mary's School 2nd Annual Superhero Challenge was slated to raise over $20,000 for our school. 

As COVID 19 continues to impact all of us in so many different ways, we hope that if you are able to make a donation you will consider helping us meet our goal.  Monies raised from this event go directly towards helping fund our academic programs, technology and enrichment for our students.  

Click here to make a donation or send your check along with the sponsor form you received in the mail to school via US mail.  Thanks for your superhero support!

Distance learning continues through our scheduled last day of school - Thursday, June 11.

Please notify our school nurse anytime your child(ren) are unable to participate due to illness or other reason.  Nurse Tyrrell can be reached at hoffice@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net or at (860) 856-6811 from 10am-12noon on scheduled school days. NOTE - This is a temporary contact number established for the distance learning period only.  Nurse Tyrrell will respond within 24 hours to parent concerns and questions.

Thank you for all you are doing to support distance learning at home!  We are entering the "home stretch" now.  In the weeks that have elapsed since distance learning began in mid-March, we have all had to learn and grow and adjust to many changes but we remain #uKnighted in faith and hope and determination as a community of caring.  We appreciate the many small daily sacrifices that must be made at home to keep distance learning moving along and know that you have worked hard to make sure your children's education remains a priority everyday.  Just like you, our teachers continue to work so hard everyday to remain in touch and responsive to your children's needs and concerns.  Please reach out as needed so that we can continue to work in partnership with you.  Please look for information in the next week or two about iPad collection and an opportunity for your family to pick up any items that may have been left at school.  We will be developing a plan that will allow for safe and efficient drop off and pickup.

2020-21 Family Enrollment Forms and Fees Needed Now! Thanks to all that have returned their Family Enrollment Forms and fees. If you have not already sent yours in, please do so at your earliest convenience. If the current world health crisis is impacting your family's ability to complete enrollment at this time, please contact Mrs. Williamson.  Mail is being picked up and processed on a periodic basis. Having this enrollment information helps us finalize our class lists for the upcoming year and allows us to order books, consumables and other supplies so our new school year can get off to a good start! Additionally, if your family uses Smart Tuition for payments, your completed Family Enrollment Form assures that your payments will begin on time in June allowing the maximum number (12) of payment periods.

#uKnighted & Growing!  Applications for admission for 2020-21 are being accepted now!  If you know someone interested in joining our community.  Encourage them to take a virtual tour.  For convenience, application forms can now be completed and emailed to school and application fees can be paid with a credit card.  If you do share the good news about St. Mary's School, be sure to take advantage of our Family Referral Program.

Sharing the Caring - Our thanks to the Stich family for coordinating a food drive to benefit Gifts of Love in Avon.  Please see details that follow and thank you for helping if you can!

Isabella and Brendan's Food Drive

To Benefit:  Gifts of Love in Avon, CT & their Nutrition | Weekend BackPack Programs

When: Now through Tuesday, May 26th 

Where: Labeled Bins located at Saint Mary's School--the back parking lot

Donated Food Pick up Days: We will pick up donations on:  Friday, May 22 and Tuesday, May 26 in the morning

Suggestions:   Cereal, Peanut Butter, Canned Items, Kid-Friendly Snacks 

Feel free to text us or drop us an email if you have any questions:   Courtney Stich cell: 860-729-7483     Email: cstich8@gmail.com 




Keep those cards coming!  Mrs. Mortillaro is picking up handmade cards every Wednesday for delivery to local senior citizens who may feel especially isolated and alone right now.  Your handmade creation and good wishes can really brighten someone's day, so please continue to support this outreach.  The cards can be dropped off in the bin located at our north (playground) entrance.

CHOICE News - Families with students in grades K-8 are reminded that participation in CHOICE is part of the annual tuition obligation. CHOICE purchases made now are being applied to the 20-21 CHOICE commitment.  While the school office is closed, everyone is encouraged to use GL Scrip's online order system to purchase downloadable "e cards" for vendors, especially restaurants and on-line merchants like Amazon, Chili's, Chipotle, Olive Garden, Lands End, LL Bean, Bath & Body Works, Barnes & Noble, that may have delivery or pick up available for take out orders or who can ship your order to you. When ordering "cards" from GL Scrip be very careful to only order downloadable cards at this time since there is no one in the office to receive any physical cards that GL Scrip might try to send us to deliver to you.   Click here for more information on GL Scrip's Presto Pay or, if you prefer, there is also a credit card option for payment for these "ecards".  You may also opt out of CHOICE by sending in a check for your family's commitment made payable to SMS Choice with opt-out in the memo section.  Please include the school year to which the opt out payment should be applied. 

Staying Connected at SMS - Students in Mrs. Phillips third grade have found a way to keep their teacher close by to share their fun and activities.  Sharing a page from the popular book, Flat Stanley, third graders are taking "Flat Teacher" along on adventures!

Alumni News

Congratulations to Abigail Herron, SMS Class of '16.  Abby has graduated from  Boston College 2020, cum laude, Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Biology Minor.  Abby is also a member of the  Nu Rho Psi Honor Society.

Congratulations to Avery Hatch, SMS Class of '16, who is receiving her Bachelor of Science Degree from Elon University in Biochemistry.  Click here for an Elon Spotlight featuring Avery.








Do you have Alumni News to share?  This is the season of graduations, acceptances and awards and while all these things may be taking place in different ways this year, they are still worth celebrating and sharing!  Send your Alumni News to smsoffice@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.


Community News

St. Mary's Parish is here for you! -  While we are unable to worship in community at this time, our Parish and our Pastor and all our Parish resources remain available to us to help guide us and bring us back to a place of spiritual hope.   Click here to visit the Parish's Coronavirus update page.  This page includes easy links to "Staying Connected to the Word", Parish updates, Parish outreach and very helpful and supportive messages from Father Matera. 

News for the Week of 5/13/20

As our Knights United Family & School Association's major community fundraiser of the year, our St. Mary's School 2nd Annual Superhero Challenge was slated to raise over $20,000 for our school. 

As COVID 19 continues to impact all of us in so many different ways, we hope that if you are able to make a donation you will consider helping us meet our goal.  Monies raised from this event go directly towards helping fund our academic programs, technology and enrichment for our students.  

Click here to make a donation or send your check along with the sponsor form you received in the mail to school via US mail.  Thanks for your superhero support!

Distance learning continues through our scheduled last day of school - Thursday, June 11.

Please notify our school nurse anytime your child(ren) are unable to participate due to illness or other reason.  Nurse Tyrrell can be reached at hoffice@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net or at (860) 856-6811 from 10am-12noon on scheduled school days. NOTE - This is a temporary contact number established for the distance learning period only.  Nurse Tyrrell will respond within 24 hours to parent concerns and questions.

Thank you for all you are doing to support distance learning at home!  While none of us could ever have predicted what learning would look like this spring, we continue to be so impressed with our students' determination to learn and grow and complete their studies to the best of their ability!  We know this would not be possible without all the support you are providing at home.  Your support and encouragement play a key role in the daily distance learning environment.  Our amazing faculty continues to work with determination to provide engaging content, creative assignments and opportunities for our students to demonstrate mastery of material.  Please reach out to teachers as needed.  We are anxious to work in partnership with you to bring our school year to a successful conclusion.

2020-21 Family Enrollment Forms and Fees Needed Now! Thanks to all that have returned their Family Enrollment Forms and fees. If you have not already sent yours in, please do so at your earliest convenience. If the current world health crisis is impacting your family's ability to complete enrollment at this time, please contact Mrs. Williamson.  Mail is being picked up and processed on a periodic basis. Having this enrollment information helps us finalize our class lists for the upcoming year and allows us to order books, consumables and other supplies so our new school year can get off to a good start! Additionally, if your family uses Smart Tuition for payments, your completed Family Enrollment Form assures that your payments will begin on time in June allowing the maximum number (12) of payment periods.

CHOICE Balance Reminder - The 2019-2020 CHOICE program has concluded as of April 30.  Families that have not met their annual CHOICE obligation are requested to send in the balance due as was outlined on your March CHOICE statement.  As noted on your Family Enrollment Agreement, for families with students enrolled in grades K-8, CHOICE is part of your tuition obligation. If you did not choose to opt-out of participation with a lump sum payment or if your CHOICE purchases did not meet your obligation, you are responsible for the unpaid balance. If you made purchases after your March statement but prior to April 30, an updated statement has been sent to you.  If you have lost track of your statement, please contact Michelle Howard at mhoward@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.  CHOICE purchases made after April 30 will be applied to your 2020-21 CHOICE obligation.

Sharing the Caring -

Recently, our 7th grade students have been engaged in some distance ROPE activities including a Scavenger Hunt.  One of their challenges was to submit their best doodle.  We love this one - designed as a thank you to all those helping us through the pandemic.

Cards Still Needed!  Mrs. Mortillaro is still picking up handmade cards for area senior citizens every Wednesday.  The collection box is at the school's north (playground) entrance.  These cards really make a difference to those that are particularly isolated right now.  Thanks to everyone who is keeping this effort alive and yes, more cards are always needed!






#uKnighted & Growing!  Applications for admission for 2020-21 are being accepted now!  If you know someone interested in joining our community.  Encourage them to take a virtual tour.  For convenience, application forms can now be completed and emailed to school and application fees can be paid with a credit card.  If you do share the good news about St. Mary's School, be sure to take advantage of our Family Referral Program.

Alumni News - Our congratulations to Sam Spak, SMS Class of '12.  Sam was part of a UCONN Senior Design team in the Mechanical Engineering Department that won first place and a $1,500 prize in the Department's annual Senior Design Project.  The projects were judged by a panel comprised of faculty members from the Mechanical Engineering Department and industry representatives.  Sam's team designed an automated cell culturing machine.  As observed by Assistant Professor in Residence, Ryan Cooper, the teams this year were faced with "the challenge of engineering in the face of uncertainty" and their great results are indicative of the skills they have attained.  Great job, Sam!

Avery Hatch, SMS Class of '12, has been inducted to Elon University's chapter of the National Chemical Honor Society, Phi Lambda Epsilon.  Congratulations!

We are pleased to share that Taylor Griffith, SMS Class of '16, will be playing division III Tennis at the University of St. Joseph in West Hartford this fall.  Taylor is a 4 year Varsity athlete at Northwest Catholic High School in Field Hockey and Tennis.  Additionally, congratulations to Evan Clark, SMS Class of '16, who will be playing division III Baseball at St. Olaf's College in Northfield, MN in the fall.   Evan is a 4 year Varsity athlete at Northwest Catholic High School who has shown hard work and dedication to the program.  Congratulations to both of these great athletes and all our wishes for success on and off the field/court as your new journey begins!

Do you have Alumni News to share?  This is the season of graduations, acceptances and awards and while all these things may be taking place in different ways this year, they are still worth celebrating and sharing!  Send your Alumni News to smsoffice@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.


Community News

St. Mary's Parish is here for you! -  While we are unable to worship in community at this time, our Parish and our Pastor and all our Parish resources remain available to us to help guide us and bring us back to a place of spiritual hope.   Click here to visit the Parish's Coronavirus update page.  This page includes easy links to "Staying Connected to the Word", Parish updates, Parish outreach and very helpful and supportive messages from Father Matera. 

News for the Week of 5/6/20

Governor Lamont has now directed that schools will remain closed through the end of this school year. At this time, the School Office is closed but emails are being checked regularly.

Distance learning continues and we remind you to please notify our school nurse anytime your child(ren) are unable to participate due to illness or other reason.  Nurse Tyrrell can be reached at hoffice@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net or at (860) 856-6811 from 10am-12noon on scheduled school days. NOTE - This is a temporary contact number established for the distance learning period only.  Nurse Tyrrell will respond within 24 hours to parent concerns and questions.

Thank you for all you are doing to support distance learning at home!  We were all hoping that somehow we would be able to reconvene for the final weeks of school.  While we are all disappointed, it is important to put health and safety first and to keep our focus on the positives!  Despite the distance between us, we remain #uKnighted in faith, love, hope and determination!   As we persevere through these final weeks of school, please know that we are grateful for your support of your children's academic needs and of our school.  Our teachers continue to invest 110% of themselves every single day to help make distance learning engaging, thoughtful and successful.  Please reach out to teachers as needed for support.  We are anxious to work in partnership with you through this challenge.

2020-21 Family Enrollment Forms and Fees Needed Now! Reminder emails have been sent to families and we extend our thanks to those that have now returned their forms or been in touch about them but we are still waiting to hear from some of you. If you have not already sent yours in, please do so at your earliest convenience. If the current world health crisis is impacting your family's ability to complete enrollment at this time, please contact Mrs. Williamson.  Mail is being picked up and processed on a periodic basis. Having this enrollment information helps us finalize our class lists for the upcoming year and allows us to order books, consumables and other supplies so our new school year can get off to a good start! Additionally, if your family uses Smart Tuition for payments, your completed Family Enrollment Form assures that your payments will begin on time in June allowing the maximum number (12) of payment periods.

CHOICE Balances are due now - The 2019-2020 CHOICE program has concluded as of April 30.  Families that have not met their annual CHOICE obligation are requested to send in the balance due as was outlined on your March CHOICE statement.  As noted on your Family Enrollment Agreement, for families with students enrolled in grades K-8, CHOICE is part of your tuition obligation. If you did not choose to opt-out of participation with a lump sum payment or if your CHOICE purchases did not meet your obligation, you are responsible for the unpaid balance. If you made purchases after your March statement but prior to April 30, an updated statement has been sent to you.  If you have lost track of your statement, please contact Michelle Howard at mhoward@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.  CHOICE purchases made after April 30 will be applied to your 2020-21 CHOICE obligation.

Students in Mrs. Janaskie's 4th grade class, and Mrs. Janaskie!, have been enjoying some art enrichment
activities via Zoom with Mrs. Prausa.  It's great to see so much creativity!
Thanks, Mrs. Prausa, for sharing your time & talent!

Sharing the Caring - Some of the scouts in Simsbury troop 175, sponsored by St. Mary’s Church, are constructing face shields.  The face shields are being delivered to 3 area hospitals and are greatly appreciated. The Scouts are making a very important impact and helping to keep hospital staff safe.  Michael C., Gr. 8,  is one of the scouts assisting in this project. To date he has made 138 shields and plans to continue making shields to assist in this effort.

Are you looking for a way to "share the care"? - Mrs. Mortillaro continues to pickup handmade cards for area Senior Citizens every Wednesday.  The bin for drop off is located right outside the North (playground) door.  This has been a very isolating time for many people and a small gesture, like a hand created card, can make a big difference to someone who has been at home alone.

Miss Ciarcia's Kindergarten students are working on
telling time.  Kareem made his clock with moveable hands!
Looks like it is "time to smile"!

#uKnighted & Growing!  Applications for admission for 2020-21 are being accepted now!  If you know someone interested in joining our community.  Encourage them to take a virtual tour.  For convenience, application forms can now be completed and emailed to school and application fees can be paid with a credit card.  If you do share the good news about St. Mary's School, be sure to take advantage of our Family Referral Program.


Community News

St. Mary's Parish is here for you! - Click here to visit the Parish's Coronavirus update page.  This page includes easy links to "Staying Connected to the Word", Parish updates, Parish outreach and very helpful and supportive messages from Father Matera.