News for the Week of 7/29/20

Getting Ready for a New School Year - 

IMPORTANT CALENDAR CHANGES!

The first day of school is now set for Monday, August 31 and that whole week will be full days of school complete with Early Drop off and After Care. The last day of school with the required planning for 5 snow days is June 15. If we have zero snow days then it is June 8.

Meet and Greet for students entering PK3, PreK, K-5 along with Morning in Middle School for rising 6th graders and students new to our 7th and 8th grades will be held on Friday, August 28.  Look for specific details regarding these events coming soon.

All families are strongly encouraged to regularly check the school's Google calendar for updates!

*  Be sure to check in on our school's Back to School Page on a regular basis for all the news you need about our new school year. 

*  Our school website now includes a COVID-19 Page.  Head over to this page to read our school's latest updates about COVID-19 planning.

*  Back to School email packets will be on their way to all families that have completed enrollment.  We anticipate that these email packets will be sent out mid-August and will contain all the usual "Back to School" forms along with your credentials for the Educonnect Parent Portal.  If you have not yet returned your Family Enrollment Form & Fee, please do so at your earliest convenience to assure receipt of this email packet.  If COVID-19 is impacting your family's ability to complete enrollment, please contact Mrs. Williamson.

School Supply Lists are available on the "Back to School" Page, including newly posted lists for Grades 6, 7, & 8 and PreK and PK3's.   Click here to visit the "Back to School" Page. 

PreKindergarten Uniforms Now Available!  We are excited to announce that this year, our 5 day PreK program will join the rest of our students and look sharp and smart in a Lands End uniform.  Click here for the uniform guidelines.  Please note that students enrolled in our Tuesday/Thursday PreK3 program do not have to purchase uniforms.  PreK3 students should wear comfortable, easy to manage play clothes that are appropriate for school. 

New Relaxed Uniform Option for Girls in K- 4!  Girls in Kindergarten through grade 4 may now wear the Lands End School Short Sleeve Mesh Polo Dress in Blue or Classic Navy. This is Lands End ITEM #473151BP1 is available in sizes 2T or 3T & Youth 4-6X. Please note this is an "option" not a required uniform item. Girls in these grades may also still choose the navy walking shorts or skort with white polo.

Lands End Uniform Sale! Through August 28th, Lands End is offering a 20% discount on all uniforms, with backpacks 50% (Use CODE:  BACKPACK and PIN:  7420).  Please be sure to use our school code when shopping for uniforms to assure the proper styles are selected.  Our school code is 900132150.  Don't forget to get your CHOICE cards before you shop to help reach your family's CHOICE commitment.

Please take a few minutes to complete our survey.  Click here.

2019-20 Yearbooks are Available for Pick Up!  

This year's yearbooks were delayed at Lifetouch due to the pandemic but have now arrived at school.  You may pick up yearbooks during summer office hours:  Tues-Thurs from 9am-1pm.  Please come to the school's main entrance, ring the bell and identify yourself.  We will bring your yearbook(s) to you.  Forget to order a yearbook?  A limited number of extra yearbooks are available first come/first serve.  Please contact the school office to reserve a yearbook.  The price is $35 and checks should be made payable to St. Mary's School with Yearbook in the memo section.

News for the Week of 7/1/20

Congratulations & All God's Blessings to the SMS Class of '20!

Congratulations to our students and the children of St. Mary's Parish who have received their First Holy Communion.

Summer Office Hours - We are happy to share that the school office is open for summer office hours. The office is staffed Tuesday - Thursday each week from 9am - 1pm (or by appointment).  Please plan to come to the main school office door behind the Magowan Center and ring the bell. We will meet you at the door if you are coming to drop something off or to pick up something.  Other visitors will be admitted to the office.  If possible, please call the office or send an email prior to your visit so we are expecting you and can minimize the need for contact. All visitors do need to wear a mask.

CHOICE cards will be available during school office hours.  When possible, please call ahead or send an email to smsoffice@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net so that we can prepare your order in advance and hand it to you at the door.

Looking ahead to a new school year!  At this time, our plan is for school to resume on Wednesday, August 26th.  We are hopeful that it will be a regular full day of school with both early drop off and aftercare available.  Obviously, our plans will be adjusted if we need to comply with health and safety instructions from the state or federal government, Simsbury town officials or the Office of Education, Evangelization & Catechesis.  We encourage you to regularly read the school blog and also to check the blog's Back to School page.  The Back to School page includes links to supply lists and any summer assignments as well as calendar updates and other important information regarding our new school year.

Final report cards are available on the Educonnect Parent Portal.  Please keep in mind that no paper report card is mailed home and that the report cards will only be available through Friday, July 3.  After that date, Educonnect will be "promoted" for the coming school year and this year's report cards will not be available for you to display.

#uKnighted & Growing!  We are accepting applications for admission for the 2020-21 school year.  If you know a family that is searching for a warm, safe, faith based community that will provide an excellent education, please tell them about us and then, take advantage of our Family Referral Program. Prospective families can call to make an appointment for a campus tour or take a virtual tour.  If a family is ready to apply, our application form is ready for them on-line! 

Community News

This weekend, July 4-5, St. Mary's will begin to celebrate Sunday Masses following the regular schedule: Saturday at 5pm; Sunday at 8am, 9:30am and 11am.   For initial Sunday Masses, please use the sign up genius as attendance is limited to 90. The purpose of signing up is to let you see how many people are attending Mass and to assure adequate seating with recommended social distancing. 

As of 6/29/20, regular morning Mass at 8am has resumed.  There is no need to sign up for daily Mass, and you may attend as often as you wish. Please enter the church by the Magowan Center. There will be no further evening Masses.

 For more information, including required safety precautions and how to sign up to attend Mass, click here.

For additional Parish resources related to Covid-19, click here.