News for the Week of 10/28/20

 

There's some cute little pumpkins in second grade at SMS!

(And last week, they used paint to make some fabulously decorated pumpkins!)

Lunch Program - Tomorrow - Thursday, 10/29/20 - is the last day to order lunches for the week of 11/2/20. All orders must be placed via the Educonnect Parent Portal. Lunch orders for the week of 11/9 may be placed from Monday, 11/2 - Thursday,11/5. Please note that NO LATE ORDERS CAN BE ACCEPTED. If you miss the order period, you will need to wait for the following week. 

SIR TED'S SPIRIT WEEK  CONTINUES THROUGH FRIDAY!  

Thursday - 10/29 is Neon/Tie Dye Day!

Wear a neon or tie dye shirt, headband or socks!  Pants may be neon or tie dye or wear your PE shorts/pants.

Friday - 10/30 is Costume Day with Pumpkin Bingo during recess.

Costumes must be appropriate for school.  This means nothing scary and no weaponry or other dangerous accessories.  Additionally, no vinyl masks,  makeup, clowns, face paint or high heels.  Shoes should be school appropriate and comfortable. 

Can't wait for Sir Ted's Halloween Hootenanny this Saturday, October 31st! 

Trick or Treating at every door! Still time to sign up- Click here.

Get your most important vote in before the election, no age limit!  Vote for your favorite decorated doors - The 2 classes with the most votes win a Friday pizza lunch, trophy and bragging rights!

Bring your cash or checkbook! Take a chance, buy a raffle ticket and win a master carved pumpkin to keep forever! $10 for 20 tickets! 5 different designs from which to choose.

Nothing like some hot Kettle Corn in the fall - The Kranky Kettle will be popping up fantastically flavored Kettle Corn!  Small $3, Medium $5 and Large $7. Buy some for the family or just for you!

Important Change re. Instrumental Music - There will NOT be a make up session for the lessons missed on Monday, 10/19, this Thursday, 10/29.  NO NEED to bring instruments and music on Thursday.  New date for this make up is Friday, November 6.

Looking Ahead to November!

Formal Uniforms begin on Monday, 11/2/20, for students in grades K -7.  Eighth grade students are given the privilege of wearing the relaxed uniform until Tuesday, 12/1/20.  If you need to do some shopping, Lands End is offering 20% off through 11/27.  PROMO CODE is CLASS, PIN# is 5391.  Don't forget your CHOICE cards and to shop using our school uniform code - 90013250

NO student "makeup/retake"photos or group class photos on Monday, 11/9 - Lifetouch Photos has had to change our scheduled date for makeups & retakes of individual student photos.     If your child was absent on our original picture day in September or you would like a retake, please stay tuned for a new date to be announced.  Please also note that to accommodate social distancing and safety concerns, Lifetouch has also announced  a new format for "group class" photos this year.  Rather than a traditional "group class photo", you may expect to receive a "composite" photo featuring pictures of all students in your child's class once all makeups and retakes have been accomplished.

Our November School Mass will be on Tuesday, 11/10/20.  We will continue to have a limited number of students attend Mass in the church while others attend via livestreaming in the Parish Center.    At this time, parents are requested not to attend these Masses so we can comply with current restrictions on attendance.

Let the Shopping Begin!  Fall Bookfair is Open 24 hours a day!!  It's an Online Bookfair this year. - Shopping  continues through Sunday, November 8 -  click here.    Click here to view an informational video about how the online fair works and how easy it is to browse and shop for a fabulous selection of books!

As the colder weather settles in, there's no better time to encourage reading!  Books also make great holiday gifts!

Bookfair preview flyers were sent home with students on Friday, 10/23.  You can also view teacher wish lists if you click here.   Purchased books will be shipped to the school and we will send them home with students.  Your orders help our school and classroom libraries! We receive 40% of all purchases to put toward books for SMS!

There's a new resident in the Kingdom of PreK!  Squire Finn has joined all the knights and princesses in this happy land of learning and growing.

Thanks in advance for supporting our eighth grade!

Thanks to all who participated in our Lyman Pie & Otis Spunkmeyer Cookie Dough Fundraiser.  We raised over $2,500 for our Knights United Home & School Association!  Be sure to mark your calendars for pickup on Tuesday, November 24.  All items must be picked up on 11/24 as they arrive frozen and the school does not have freezer storage available for items not picked up.  Pick up times will be announced prior to 11/24.  Our thanks to Karen Russo for coordinating this fundraiser!

Virtus Online training and certification is now available online!  Virtus training is required for all volunteers at St. Mary's School.  If you have not yet completed this training, great news!  An online training program is now available!  Go to www.virtusonline.org and create an account as a First-Time Registrant.  Our Archdiocese/Diocese/Religious Organization is listed as Hartford, CT.  After registering, there is a series of 10 videos and questions after each video.  The program takes about 1 ½ hours.  You will be able to print a certificate upon completion, just send a copy to the office for our records, and then you may sign up for any future school volunteer opportunities.  Please email tprausa@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net with any questions.

Spirit Week Fun!

News for the Week of 10/21/20

 

Parent/Teacher Conferences began today, Wednesday, 10/21 and continue through Friday, 10/23.  Each of these days is a 12:45pm early dismissal with NO aftercare available.  If you have not signed up for a conference, there is still time but you will need to contact the school office to do so.  If you need to change an appointment that you scheduled via the Sign Up Genius, you must also contact the office.  Please be sure to keep in the various formats being used for conferences this fall:

*  PK3's, PreK, Kindergarten and grades 1 & 2 are conducting "in person" conferences at school.  Conferences will take place in a private outdoor area in the North (playground) parking lot, weather permitting.

*  Grades 3-5 will conduct conferences via Zoom.  Your child(ren)'s teacher will provide you with a meeting link.

*  Grades 6-8 published detailed progress reports including comments on Educonnect last Friday.  These may be viewed by logging into Educonnect and selecting the "report card" (not progress report) option. If, after reviewing the detailed progress report, you need to schedule a conference, please contact Kerri Work.

Lunch Program - Tomorrow - Thursday, 10/22/20 - is the last day to order lunches for the week of 10/26/20. All orders must be placed via the Educonnect Parent Portal. Lunch orders for the week of 11/2 may be placed from Monday, 10/26 - Thursday,10/29. Please note that NO LATE ORDERS CAN BE ACCEPTED. If you miss the order period, you will need to wait for the following week. 

NEXT WEEK IS SIR TED'S SPIRIT WEEK!  

It's going to be so much fun!

PLEASE READ THROUGH THE GUIDELINES CAREFULLY.

Please join us in congratulating our fifth grade teacher, Virginia Gore.  Mrs. Gore has received the Light of Christ Teacher Recognition Award, generously funded by the Hartford Bishops’ Foundation. This award recognizes teachers employed by parochial elementary schools in the Archdiocese or Archdiocesan secondary schools. Mrs. Gore is one of ten teachers selected to be honored and celebrated for their excellence as educators, their contributions to the vitality of their schools, and their dedication to the achievement of their students. Each of the ten honorees receive an individual monetary award and one for their school. Mrs. Gore's recognition is so well deserved.  Like many that choose to teach in a Catholic school, teaching so much more than a job to Mrs. Gore.  It is truly her vocation.  She has been an outstanding teacher here at SMS for 11 years and has served in the Diocese both as a teacher and as an administrator for 21 years!

SMS Student Council 20-21 - We are pleased to share the results of this year's Student Council elections:  President - Elizabeth H., Vice-President - Cayden D., Secretary - Marisa M., Treasurer - Jameson K., Executive Service Officer - Brennan S. and Public Relations - Nicholas P.  Congratulations to these new Student Council officers.  Additionally, we'd like to recognize those students who also participated in the election process.  The candidates' speeches were all very well done and we are proud of all of them for their efforts and desire to serve as school leaders.

There's still time!  LAST CALL for Orders for Lyman Pies & Otis Spunkmeyer Cookie Dough!  Orders now accepted through TOMORROW - Thursday, 10/22!  Click here to order online or use a paper order form sent home with students - extras are available in the school office. If sending in a check for payment - Please make your check payable to St. Mary's School with "pie fundraiser" in the memo section. When ordering, don't forget the "donate a pie" option! Your donation will be delivered to an area food pantry. Orders will be delivered to school on Tuesday, November 24.  All pies and cookie dough arrive FROZEN AND MUST BE PICKED UP ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24 between 2-4pm.  Questions?  Please contact Karen Russo at krusso201@comcast.net.  Thanks for supporting our Knights United Home & School Association.

Fall Bookfair is Online This Year - Shopping begins this Sunday, October 25! We're excited to share that we will be able to have a bookfair this fall!  Follett Bookfairs has an online option.  Bookfair preview flyers will be coming home with students this Friday, 10/23.   Our bookfair will be available online only from Sunday, October 25 - Sunday, November 8.  You can begin to browse & shop our bookfair on Sunday, 10/25 - click here.  You can also view teacher wish lists as they are created if you click here.   Purchased books will be shipped to the school and we will send them home with students.

Sir Ted can't wait to see you at his Halloween Hootenanny!   There is still time to sign up!  Click here.

We have a great need for Virtus trained volunteers for ALL aspects of this event - setup, supervision, treat distribution and clean up.  Contact the school office if you can help.

Kettle Corn and Raffle Tickets for Master Carved Craft pumpkins will be available for purchase. Cash or checks accepted. 

Sir Ted says "Thank You"  to our family owned businesses for sponsoring ALL of the candy. We appreciate your sweet support! 

Instrumental Music Make-Up Day - Mrs. Morse will meet with instrumental music students twice next week to make up the lessons missed on Monday, 10/19.  Instrumental music students should plan to bring instruments, music and necessary accessories on Monday, 10/26 and Thursday, 10/29.

Looking Ahead to November!

Our November School Mass will be on Tuesday, 11/10/20.  We will continue to have a limited number of students attend Mass in the church while others attend via livestreaming in the Parish Center.    At this time, parents are requested not to attend these Masses so we can comply with current restrictions on attendance.

Formal Uniforms begin on Monday, 11/2/20, for students in grades K -7.  Eighth grade students are given the privilege of wearing the relaxed uniform until Tuesday, 12/1/20. 

NO student "makeup/retake"photos or group class photos on Monday, 11/9 - Lifetouch Photos has had to change our scheduled date for makeups & retakes of individual student photos.  To accommodate social distancing and safety concerns, they are also using a new format for "group class" photos this year.   If your child was absent on our original picture day in September or you would like a retake, please stay tuned for a new date to be announced.  Additionally, rather than a traditional "group class photo", you may expect to receive a "composite" photo featuring pictures of all students in your child's class once all makeups and retakes have been accomplished.

Choice Chat! 

$5 & $10 Gift Cards now available for a limited time!

These lower denomination gift cards - perfect for gifts & yes, stocking stuffers! - are available from select retailers, including Amazon, Starbucks, Target, Panera and many more, through December 28, only while supplies last.  Shop the RaiseRight mobile app or click here to get your gift cards.   Please note - these smaller denomination cards are only available via GLScrip and will NOT be stocked in the school office.

New Participating Brands!

Auntie Anne’s, Carvel, Cinnabon, and Moe’s Southwest Grill are now available on the RaiseRight mobile app or online at ShopWithScrip.com.  Please email tprausa@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net with any questions.

Virtus Online training and certification is now available online!  Virtus training is required for all volunteers at St. Mary's School.  If you have not yet completed this training, great news!  An online training program is now available!

Go to www.virtusonline.org and create an account as a First-Time Registrant.  Our Archdiocese/Diocese/Religious Organization is listed as Hartford, CT.  After registering, there is a series of 10 videos and questions after each video.  The program takes about 1 ½ hours.  You will be able to print a certificate upon completion, just send a copy to the office for our records, and then you may sign up for any future school volunteer opportunities.  Please email tprausa@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net with any questions.

News for the Week of 10/14/20

 

Lunch Program - Tomorrow - Thursday, 10/15/20 - is the last day to order lunches for the week of 10/19/20. All orders must be placed via the Educonnect Parent Portal. Lunch orders for the week of 10/26 may be placed from Monday, 10/19 - Thursday,10/22. Please note that NO LATE ORDERS CAN BE ACCEPTED. If you miss the order period, you will need to wait for the following week. 

Important Lunch Program Update!

You can now pay your lunch order balance online on the Educonnect website. Simply log into your Educonnect account, click the link “Make Online Lunch Payment” and enter the amount you would like to pay (a small processing fee will be added automatically to each transaction). After you click “Pay Now”, you will be presented with the options of paying with your Pay Pal account, debit or credit card. You may also continue to send in lunch payment checks to the office.  If sending a check, please send promptly after order completion.

If you have any questions regarding our lunch program, please email tprausa@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net. 

Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held next week from Wednesday, 10/21 - Friday, 10/23.  Each of these days will be a 12:45 early dismissal.  There will be no aftercare on conference days.   Please read the information that appears below carefully since conferences will use multiple formats this fall.

Conferences for PK3's, PreK, Kindergarten - Grade 2 will be held at school.  Weather permitting, you will meet outside with your child(ren)'s teacher in a private area on the north (playground) side of the building. Teachers will advise you if an alternate location needs to be used due to weather, etc. 

Conferences for Grades 3-5 will be held via Zoom sessions with teachers providing you with a meeting invitation for your requested day and time. 

Sign Up Genius links for PK3, PreK, Kindergarten - Grade 5 are available until 12 until midnight on Sunday, 10/18.  After that, you will need to call the School Office to schedule a conference or make a change to a conference day/time.  Please note that if you do not schedule a conference, none will be scheduled for you.  Click here to access the Sign Up Genius links you need.

Middle School (Grades 6, 7 & 8) will publish Progress Reports with comments via the Educonnect Parent Portal on Friday, 10/16.   In order to see a more detailed progress report than what is usually available, please select the "report card" option.  With this option, you will be able to view teacher comments along with grades.  If, after reviewing the detailed Progress Report, you would like to schedule a conference, please send an email to Mrs. Work.  She will respond to you with scheduling information.  

Sir Ted says Sign Up Today for his Halloween Hootenanny! 

Click here for more details & to sign up!

Virtus Online training and certification is now available online!  Virtus training is required for all volunteers at St. Mary's School.  If you have not yet completed this training, great news!  An online training program is now available!

Go to www.virtusonline.org and create an account as a First-Time Registrant.  Our Archdiocese/Diocese/Religious Organization is listed as Hartford, CT.  After registering, there is a series of 10 videos and questions after each video.  The program takes about 1 ½ hours.  You will be able to print a certificate upon completion, just send a copy to the office for our records, and then you may sign up for any future school volunteer opportunities.  Please email tprausa@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net with any questions.

Time for Pies & Cookie Dough!  Again this year, our Knights United Family & School Association is sponsoring a Lyman Pies & Otis Spunkmeyer Cookie Dough fundraiser.  With the Donate-A-Pie feature, you can support this fundraiser even if you do not want a pie or cookie dough for yourself.  You may purchase a pie and it will be delivered to an area food pantry for you!

Orders may be placed online - click here. You may also use the paper order form that was sent home with students on Friday, 10/9/20. If paying by check, please make checks payable to St. Mary's School with "Pie Fundraiser" in the memo section.   Extra order forms are available in the school office.  All orders and payments must be submitted NLT Wednesday, October 21.  Orders will be delivered to school on Tuesday, November 24.  All pies and cookie dough arrive FROZEN AND MUST BE PICKED UP ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24 between 2-4pm.  Questions?  Please contact Karen Russo at krusso201@comcast.net.  Thank you for your support! 

Fall Bookfair is Online This Year! 

 We're excited to share that we will be able to have a bookfair this fall! Follett Bookfairs has an online option. Our bookfair will be available online only from Sunday, October 25 - Sunday, November 8. Look for a link for online shopping and teacher wishlists in the blog the week of 10/21.

Choice Chat!  Earn up to 20% during Bonus Fest

Log into your ShopWithScrip.com account or your Raise Right app and celebrate the rest of October with 2-day bonuses every Friday and Saturday. Whether you’re updating your home, shopping for fall clothes, or stocking up on holiday gifts, earn up to 20% on your shopping list. All card types are included.  Brands and bonuses change every weekend.   Please email tprausa@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net with any questions.

Supporting SMS - Looking for ways to support SMS that cost you nothing?

Thanks to all who have registered their Stop & Shop shopper cards with the A+ School Rewards program.  There are currently 65 families that have designated SMS as one of their 2 chosen schools and in August & September, SMS earned $161.08 from their purchases.  If you haven't registered your card yet, it's easy to do.  Click here to get started.   Our school code is 06075.

You can also help our school earn free equipment and supplies if you place your Fitzgerald's grocery register receipt in the SMS container on your way out of the store.  Fitzgerald's will tally all of the receipts at the conclusion of the collection period and we can use the "points" earned to order free equipment and supplies.

News for the Week of 10/7/20

 

October is the month of the Holy Rosary.

Early Dismissal - School will be dismissed at 12:45pm this Friday, 10/9.  There will be no aftercare on 10/9.

School will be closed on Monday, 10/12, in observation of Columbus Day.

Lunch Program - Tomorrow - Thursday, 10/8/20 - is the last day to order lunches for the week of 10/13/20. All orders must be placed via the Educonnect Parent Portal. Lunch orders for the week of 10/19 may be placed from Monday, 10/12 - Thursday,10/15. Please note that NO LATE ORDERS CAN BE ACCEPTED. If you miss the order period, you will need to wait for the following week. 

Important Lunch Program Update!

You can now pay your lunch order balance online on the Educonnect website. Simply log into your Educonnect account, click the link “Make Online Lunch Payment” and enter the amount you would like to pay (a small processing fee will be added automatically to each transaction). After you click “Pay Now”, you will be presented with the options of paying with your Pay Pal account, debit or credit card. You may also continue to send in lunch payment checks to the office.  If sending a check, please send promptly after order completion.

If you have any questions regarding our lunch program, please email tprausa@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net. 

Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held from Wednesday, 10/21 - Friday, 10/23.  Each of these days will be a 12:45 early dismissal.  There will be no aftercare on conference days.   Please read the information that appears below carefully since conferences will use multiple formats this fall.

Conferences for PK3's, PreK, Kindergarten - Grade 2 will be held at school.  Weather permitting, you will meet outside with your child(ren)'s teacher in a private area on the north (playground) side of the building. Teachers will advise you if an alternate location needs to be used due to weather, etc. 

Conferences for Grades 3-5 will be held via Zoom sessions with teachers providing you with a meeting invitation for your requested day and time. 

Sign Up Genius links for PK3, PreK, Kindergarten - Grade 5 will be active beginning on Monday, 10/12. Conference scheduling will be open via Sign Up Genius from Monday, 10/12 until midnight on Sunday, 10/18.  After that, you will need to call the School Office to schedule a conference or make a change to a conference day/time.  Please note that if you do not schedule a conference, none will be scheduled for you.

Middle School (Grades 6, 7 & 8) will publish Progress Reports with comments via the Educonnect Parent Portal on Friday, 10/16.  If, after reviewing the Progress Report, you would like to schedule a conference, please send an email to Mrs. Work.  She will respond to you with scheduling information.  

Grade 8 Fundraising - Popover Bistro & Bakery in Simsbury - This Friday, 10/9!   Stop by for some lunch, buy a gift card for a favorite person or take some treats home for the long weekend...and support the eighth grade class at SMS. 

Popover has outdoor seating, online ordering and take out, just make sure you mention you are supporting SMS when you place your order!  Thanks in advance for your support!

Time for Pies & Cookie Dough!  Again this year, our Knights United Family & School Association is sponsoring a Lyman Pies & Otis Spunkmeyer Cookie Dough fundraiser.  With the Donate-A-Pie feature, you can support this fundraiser even if you do not want a pie or cookie dough for yourself.  You may purchase a pie and it will be delivered to an area food pantry for you!

Orders may be placed online beginning today (Wednesday, 10/7) - click here. You may also use a paper order form that will be sent home with youngest and only students on Friday, 10/9/20. If paying by check, please make checks payable to St. Mary's School with "Pie Fundraiser" in the memo section.   Extra order forms are available in the school office.  All orders and payments must be submitted NLT Wednesday, October 21.  Orders will be delivered to school on Tuesday, November 24.  All pies and cookie dough arrive FROZEN AND MUST BE PICKED UP ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24 between 2-4pm.  Questions?  Please contact Karen Russo at krusso201@comcast.net.  Thank you for your support! 

Knights United Family & School Association is excited to be hosting our first  Sir Ted's Halloween Hootenanny!   Trick or Treating & Halloween fun will be had by all on Saturday, Oct. 31st  from 12:30pm to 3:30pm in 3 separate hourly sessions. All activities will be outside, children will be trick or treating at the exterior doors of the building. 

To help assure the health & safety of all and to abide by current guidelines for gatherings - no outside (non-SMS) guests may participate in this event.  Siblings of SMS students attending other schools, grades 8 and below, or those not yet of school age may participate.  This is not a drop off event, all children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.   

Costumes must follow school guidelines: no scary and/or bloody costumes, no fake weaponry. 

We will be following CDC and state guidelines. 

Please click here to sign your family up for 1 of 3 (1 hr.) sessions. Please note - each family member that will be attending should be signed up in a separate slot so we have an accurate attendance count. For example, Susie and her parents are coming to session one - On the Sign Up Genius, 3 "reservations" are entered:  Susie, Susie Parent1 and Susie Parent 2.  Family groups are limited to participation in only 1 session.

 

Best Halloween Decorations Contest: The winning grades in PreK through 4th grade and 5th thru 8th grade voted to have the best decorations will enjoy a Friday pizza lunch and a trophy for their classroom!  Look for more details coming soon from your room parents! 

REMINDER - If you are planning to volunteer to help at this event, you must be Virtus trained.  

Fall Bookfair is Online This Year!  We're excited to share that we will be able to have a bookfair this fall! Follett Bookfairs has an online option. Our bookfair will be available online only from Sunday, October 25 - Sunday, November 8. Look for a link for online shopping and teacher wishlists in the blog the week of 10/21.