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.