News for the Week of 11/25/20

 

Lunch Program - Tomorrow - Thursday, 11/26/20 - is the last day to order lunches for the week of 11/30/20. All orders must be placed via the Educonnect Parent Portal. Lunch orders for the week of 12/7  may be placed from Monday, 11/30- Thursday, 12/3. Please note that NO LATE ORDERS CAN BE ACCEPTED. If you miss the order period, you will need to wait for the following week. 

Calendar Reminders -

In addition to Thursday, 11/26 and Friday, 11/27, school will also be closed on Monday, 11/30.  Eighth grade students are reminded that they should begin to wear the formal uniform on Tuesday, 12/1.

Looking Ahead to December - 

First Trimester Report Cards will be available on the Educonnect Parent Portal on Friday, 12/4/20.  Please remember that no paper copy of the report card will be sent home.

Our December School Mass will celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on Tuesday, December 8, at 9:15am.  We will continue to have some students attend Mass in the Church while others attend via livestream here at school.  At this time, parents are still requested to refrain from attending the Mass to comply with health and safety guidelines. 

Knights United is safely celebrating Light up the Knight! 

Thank you to everyone who signed up to help with our Drive Thru Light Display. Unfortunately, we were not able to secure enough help to make this event happen. Hopefully next year the circumstances will be different and we will be able to Light up the Knight like never before! 

But Wait! 

Knights United is excited to announce that we will be sponsoring a Gingerbread House Contest, 

a Christmas Costume Contest for your favorite pet,

and an in-school Crazy Christmas Sweater Contest (more details to follow) for the kids! All contests will be judged by an esteemed panel of judges that include faculty, Student Council officers and Light up the Knight Committee members.

Enter Today! 

Free to enter, prizes to win in all contests and categories! Look for more information regarding prizes after Thanksgiving break!

School Board Minutes - Minutes from the 11/18/20 School Board Meeting are available.  Click here.  You can also view the 20-21 SMS State of the School Report that was delivered by Mrs. Williamson at the meeting.  Click here.

Last Friday, 11/20/20, SMS was featured on WFSB! Click here to see this feature.  We are all exceptionally proud of the students who were interviewed and also proud of the commitment our entire community has shown during these last 12 weeks of in-person learning!  Thank you for your continued efforts to abide by all health and safety guidelines and for helping us all to stay healthy and in school!

Do you know someone who would like to know more about our school?  In addition to our Virtual Tour or a scheduled Campus Tour after school hours, prospective families can now schedule a Personal Information Session.  Due to Covid health and safety guidelines, we have only very limited seats available for this school year, but, we are accepting applications for the 21-22 school year.  If you share this information with a prospective family, don't forget our Family Referral Program!

Community News

Celebrate the Season with Simsbury Unite by Light - For All Ages, a local non-profit that promotes intergenerational connectedness to promote health and combat loneliness, is sponsoring Simsbury Unite by Light, a town-wide event in the spirit of friendship, unity, and community, which will include the Simsbury Unity Mile, the lighting of over 1,000 luminaries along Hopmeadow Street on Sunday, Dec. 6 beginning at 5 pm.  There are many ways to be involved with the Unite By Light and the Unity Mile:  as a luminary set-up volunteer, by purchasing a luminary kit for your home, by becoming a family sponsor, or by simply enjoying the event with a drive or walk down Hopmeadow Street on the evening of Sunday, 12/6. Details are available HERE.  Questions?  Please contact Pat Walsh at patricia.l.walsh14@gmail.com or 860-778-8154.  

News for the Week of 11/18/20

 

Lunch Program - Tomorrow - Thursday, 11/19/20 - is the last day to order lunches for the week of 11/23/20. All orders must be placed via the Educonnect Parent Portal. Lunch orders for the week of 11/30 may be placed from Monday, 11/23- Thursday, 11/26. Please note that NO LATE ORDERS CAN BE ACCEPTED. If you miss the order period, you will need to wait for the following week. 

Mrs. Williamson invites you to TONIGHT'S (Weds., 11/18)  Zoom School Board Meeting. Mrs. Williamson will present the annual State of the School report.  Mrs. Williamson has sent out an email with the meeting invitation link and passcode.  The subject line was "School Board and Snow Days!"

Thanksgiving Calendar Reminders -

School will be dismissed early at 12:45pm on Wednesday, 11/25.  There will be no aftercare available.

In addition to Thursday, 11/26 and Friday, 11/27, school will also be closed on Monday, 11/30.  Eighth grade students are reminded that they should begin to wear the formal uniform on Tuesday, 12/1.

Looking Ahead to December - 

First Trimester Report Cards will be available on the Educonnect Parent Portal on Friday, 12/4/20.  Please remember that no paper copy of the report card will be sent home.

Our December School Mass will celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on Tuesday, December 8, at 9:15am.  We will continue to have some students attend Mass in the Church while others attend via livestream here at school.  At this time, parents are still requested to refrain from attending the Mass to comply with health and safety guidelines. 

Knights United is very excited to announce that we have come up with a plan to celebrate our 2nd Annual Sir Ted's Light up the Knight! We love celebrating Christmas and are working hard to find safe and fun ways to not let COVID cancel Christmas festivities! 

 Be on the lookout for a calendar of events that includes an online Gingerbread House contest and a Cutest Christmas Critters Contest! Prizes to be awarded!

The largest and most exciting event that we are planning is a drive thru Christmas light experience on Saturday, Dec. 12th from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm. This light display will take place on St. Mary's School & Church campus and will be open to the greater community as well. 

The only thing we need from you is your help. In order to make this event come to life we need as many volunteers as possible to help set up the light displays. This is a large undertaking and if we are not able to get enough help then we will not be able to make this event happen. Please take a look at the sign up and help us hang some lights! We will need all volunteers signed up by Monday, November 23rd.   Click here to volunteer.

*Middle School students wishing to volunteer as part of service hours are welcome to attend set-up but SHOULD NOT SIGN UP via the Sign Up Genius.  Sign Up Genius is for required number of adult volunteers to run this event.

   

There's Still Time to Order Poinsettias!   All orders and payments are due NLT this Friday, 11/20/20.  Help our 8th grade with their fundraising and make your holiday decorating complete with beautiful poinsettias, or brighten the holidays for those in local care facilities with a donated plant.  This year, there are 2 ways to order - using the paper order form or shop online. *Online orders will carry a small transaction fee to cover credit card processing.  Poinsettias will be available for pickup the afternoon of Friday, 12/4, and after all Masses on 12/5 and 12/6.  Donated poinsettias will be delivered for you.  Questions?  Contact Nicole Heiden.  Thanks in advance for your support!

Click here to download a paper order form.

It's almost time to pick up Lyman Pies & Otis Spunkmeyer Cookie Dough - Pick up is next Tuesday, 11/24, 2-4pm.  Thanks to all who purchased from this fundraiser.  All pies and cookie dough arrive FROZEN AND MUST BE PICKED UP ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24 between 2-4pm. Pick up will be from the Parish Center.  Items will not be sent our to carpool with students or  home with bus students unless we are specifically told to do this. 

**We still need several volunteers to help with sorting and distributing orders.  Please click here to sign up.  **   Questions? Please contact Karen Russo at krusso201@comcast.net.

Jack (Gr.1) and Owen (K) made out their shopping lists

and loaded up their carts with donations for the annual

Jack Bannon Turkey Trot!  Thanks, guys, for being 

 #uKnighted in generous sharing!

Thanks to all who supported the Jack Bannon Turkey Trot by participating in Monday's Spirit Day and donating non-perishables.  We had a sizable collection of food for the truck when it arrived this morning.We are also grateful for the many $5 (and more) donations that have made it possible for us to "host" a 2020 version of our annual Senior Citizen Luncheon.  We missed hosting all our guests today and having so many of you here cooking and serving but your generosity has helped make this Thanksgiving a much nicer holiday for many! 

In keeping with our annual tradition, students

 made handmade cards to accompany the lunches!

St. Mary's Parish Invites You - SAVE THE DATE!

Sheri Dursin will be St. Mary's Advent guest speaker and will share her topic: “Mary-Yes!”. Sheri will share what courage and faith it must have taken to say “yes”—an act of complete surrender to God’s will. We hope you can join us for an evening of reflection for all women of our Parish! Wednesday, December 16 – 7PM. Our talk will be held in the church for those who can attend in person and will be live- streamed for those who cannot. To see the discussion as it is live-streamed, go to the St. Mary’s parish website

CHOICE Chat - ThankScriping Day is November 19 – 20

For the first time ever, we get an extra day to take advantage of ThankScriping Day bonuses. Earn up to 20% towards your Choice obligation on 120+ brands during the holiday shopping season. Shop online or on your RaiseRight app.  Check RaiseRight, today, November 18, for a sneak peek at bonuses!  Email tprausa@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net with any questions.

Please be sure to use our school code when shopping for uniforms - 900132150 - to assure the items you choose are the styles associated with our uniform code.  Also keep in mind that when you pay for your uniforms using CHOICE cards you are supporting our school & working toward completion of your annual CHOICE obligation. 

News for the Week of 11/11/20

 

Lunch Program - Tomorrow - Thursday, 11/12/20 - is the last day to order lunches for the week of 11/16/20. All orders must be placed via the Educonnect Parent Portal. Lunch orders for the week of 11/23 may be placed from Monday, 11/16 - Thursday, 11/19. Please note that NO LATE ORDERS CAN BE ACCEPTED. If you miss the order period, you will need to wait for the following week. 

Mrs. Williamson invites you to next week's Zoom School Board Meeting on Wednesday, 11/18 at 7pm. Mrs. Williamson will present the annual State of the School report at this meeting.  Please look for an email from Mrs. Williamson prior to the meeting time that will include the Zoom link and passcode.

Thanksgiving Calendar Reminders -

School will be dismissed early at 12:45pm on Wednesday, 11/25.  There will be no aftercare available.

In addition to Thursday, 11/26 and Friday, 11/27, school will also be closed on Monday, 11/30.  Eighth grade students are reminded that they should begin to wear the formal uniform on Tuesday, 12/1.

It's Time to Order Poinsettias! Help our 8th grade with their fundraising and make your holiday decorating complete with beautiful poinsettias, or brighten the holidays for those in local care facilities with a donated plant.  This year, there are 2 ways to order - using the paper order form or shop online.  All orders and payments are due NLT Friday, 11/20/20.  *Online orders will carry a small transaction fee to cover credit card processing.  Poinsettias will be available for pickup the afternoon of Friday, 12/4 and after all Masses on 12/5 and 12/6.  Donated poinsettias will be delivered for you.  Questions?  Contact Nicole Heiden.  Thanks in advance for your support!

Click here to download a paper order form.

First and second grade students have created a beautiful

bulletin board for Thanksgiving.  Every turkey feather lists a blessing

from a grateful student. 

 SMS Community Service - a 2020 version of our Senior Citizen Thanksgiving Luncheon & a Spirit Day for the Jack Bannon Turkey Trot.

 For over 30 years, we have hosted a delicious Thanksgiving Dinner for area senior citizens. Hosting this dinner each year is one of our most treasured traditions and usually requires the participation of all school families in many ways including many food donations and much volunteer time.  Since we can't host our traditional lunch this year, we have committed the school to fund a nice lunch on 11/18 for those seniors who get lunch on Wednesdays from the Senior Center. So, instead of asking you for pies and cranberries, potatoes and your time, all we are asking is $5 PER FAMILY to fund this effort. Please send in this donation NLT this Friday, 11/13.  (If you choose to send in a check, please make it payable to St. Mary's School with "senior luncheon" in the memo section.)  We know it will be meaningful to our friends – we miss them and they miss us. Usually our 7^th and 8^th graders go and help out each Wednesday and we have not been able to do this either.

Today, Kindergarten and 8th grade Book Buddies created handmade holiday cards for our senior friends to accompany the donated meals.

 

Another annual tradition that helps our neighbors is the school’s participation in the Jack Bannon Turkey Trot. Each year St. Mary’s participates by collecting non-perishable food items which get picked up on the morning of the Senior Luncheon. This year we are scheduling a Spirit Day on Monday, 11/16.  Students are requested to bring in 3-5 non-perishable items and may wear PE uniforms or SMS Spirit Wear items.  Catholic socks are also acceptable!  Please do not send cash donations for this Spirit Day. The food will be picked up on the morning of 11/18 and our goal is to help "fill the truck".

Here are some suggestions for non-perishables besides items often donated for holidays - 

• Toilet Paper (Individually wrapped or 4 packs)
• Coffee (Regular and decaf/ground and instant)
• Canned Meats/Tuna
• Canned/Bottled Juices
• Spaghetti Sauce
• Canned Fruit (Low sugar and regular)
• Crackers
• Tea (Regular and decaf)
• Maple Syrup
• Pancake Mix
• Cereals/Oatmeal
• Canned Vegetables (No salt and regular)
• Canned Pasta Meals
• Soups (Low salt and regular)

MAKE AN EVEN BIGGER IMPACT WITH YOUR GIFT LIST!

St. Mary’s School earns with every gift card purchased when you use our CHOICE program to do your gift card shopping. Find holiday gifts for everyone on your list while raising money for our school. Whether you buy gift cards as presents or use them to buy gifts, your order immediately raises money for SMS. Share the opportunity with others—the more people that order, the truly merrier.  If  you use the RaiseRight app, you can even get your GL Scrip gift cards delivered right to your home!

Click here for the 2020 GL Scrip Gift Guide!

 Please send any orders to the office, marked "Choice" or email tprausa@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net with any requests or questions.

News for the Week of 11/4/20

 

Lunch Program - Tomorrow - Thursday, 11/5/20 - is the last day to order lunches for the week of 11/09/20. All orders must be placed via the Educonnect Parent Portal. Lunch orders for the week of 11/16 may be placed from Monday, 11/9 - Thursday, 11/12. Please note that NO LATE ORDERS CAN BE ACCEPTED. If you miss the order period, you will need to wait for the following week. 

Makeup Instrumental Music Lessons for Beginner (first year) students will be held on Friday, 11/6/20.  Beginner instrumental music students are reminded to bring instruments, music and accessories. Makeup date for Advanced students will be announced once scheduled.

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.

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!

Pies & Cookie Dough are coming soon!  Volunteers needed!  Thanks to all that supported our Knights United Parent and School Association Lyman Pie & Otis Spunkmeyer cookie dough fundraiser.  The frozen products will be delivered on Tuesday, 11/24.  We need several volunteers to help with sorting and distributing orders.  Please click here to sign up.

It's Time to Order Poinsettias! Help our 8th grade with their fundraising and make your holiday decorating complete with beautiful poinsettias, or brighten the holidays for those in local care facilities with a donated plant.  This year, there are 2 ways to order - using the paper order form or shop online.  All orders and payments are due NLT Friday, 11/20/20.  *Online orders will carry a small transaction fee to cover credit card processing.  Poinsettias will be available for pickup the afternoon of Friday, 12/4 and after all Masses on 12/5 and 12/6.  Donated poinsettias will be delivered for you.  Questions?  Contact Nicole Heiden.  Thanks in advance for your support!

Click here to download a paper order form.

Sir Ted's Spirit Week was a fabulous, fun success - and, we raised over $700 for the Simsbury Food Closet along with non-perishable food donations that will be shared with the annual Jack Bannon Turkey Trot food drive later in the month. 

Thanks to all who worked so hard to make Sir Ted's Halloween Hootenanny a great success!  It was a beautiful day and the Halloween doors were so much fun for our trick or treaters.  Thanks to everyone who donated decorations and time and to our sponsors for the candy and treats.  

Winners of the hand carved Halloween pumpkins were the Canfields, O'Dowds, La Chance, Damian and Devoe families!  

It was a close race for winners of the best decorated doors but, just by a small "boo", grades 2 and 7 are the winners and students will enjoy a special pizza lunch on Friday, November 13.

Students in Mrs. Mortillaro's third grade along with the third grade room parents created a beautiful Halloween/All Saints Day display outside of the classroom. It was particularly beautiful when illuminated at night. In addition to the beautiful "stained glass windows" created by third grade students, there were gravestones with interesting facts about the saints.  Great job, Grade 3!

On Saturday, 10/31, the Archdiocese celebrated the beatification of Fr. Michael McGivney, the first CT native to be beatified.  Fr. McGivney served as a pastor in New Haven and founded the Knights of Columbus as part of his evangelization efforts.  You can learn more about Fr. McGivney and the cause for his sainthood here.  St. Mary’s school played a role in this historic and solemn event by having 4th grader Madeline Z. sing a duet of Dona Nobis Pacem during the Mass.  Congratulations to Madeline and her family on this honor.

CHOICE Chat! 

New App Exclusive! CHOICE Cards from GL Scrip delivered right to your home!

Your gift cards can now be sent right to your door!  There are 250+ brands that offer gift cards that can be delivered right to you.  Using the RaiseRight app to shop, filter your search by gift cards that are "ship to home" eligible.  Or, look for the label on the details page of the brands you shop.  If you have any questions, please email tprausa@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.

As we all continue to make our way through these days that so often feature uncertainty and even anxiety, this prayer from Pope John Paul II seems most appropriate - 

Lord Jesus Christ,
who are called the Prince of Peace,
who are yourself our peace and reconciliation,
who so often said, "Peace to you,"
grant us peace.

Make all men and women
witnesses of truth, justice, and brotherly love.

Banish from their hearts
whatever might endanger peace.

Enlighten our rulers
that they may guarantee and defend
the great gift of peace.

May all peoples on the earth
become as brothers and sisters.

May longed for peace blossom forth
and reign always over us all.

Amen.

Saint John Paul II