News for the Week of 5/12/21

 

The 4th grade offering of a spiritual bouquet to 2nd grade in honor of their First Communion!  Congratulations and all God's blessings to all the St. Mary's School and Parish First Communicants.

Farmington Valley Health Department Covid Vaccine Clinics for Students 12+ - The Farmington Valley Health District has announced that they will hold COVID Vaccination clinics for 12 and older.  The first clinic will be held on Tuesday, May 18^th with second dose clinic on June 8^th and Saturday, May 22^nd with second dose clinic on June 12^th.  See below for additional details.  Click here to register for the Tuesday clinics and here for the Saturday clinics.

Our May School Mass will celebrate the Feast of the Ascension tomorrow -  Thursday, 5/13/21. 

Some students will attend Mass in the church with the rest participating via livestream.  At this time, attendance is restricted to students and faculty.

Important Policy Change for 2021-22 Regarding Remote Learning - We have been advised by the OEEC that for schools in the Archdiocese of Hartford, optional remote learning will not be available for the next school year. This means parents/guardians may not elect to access remote learning for students on a daily basis.  There are two exceptions to this policy:  1. If an unvaccinated student tests positive for COVID and is required to quarantine, 2. a serious illness prohibits a student from attending school due to hospitalization or similar circumstance.

Additionally, please note that SMS will continue to comply with all health and safety guidelines issued by Federal and State government, the Farmington Valley Health Department, and the OEEC.  This includes the mask requirement and any requirements regarding social distancing, testing and quarantine.  Our goal will continue to be to provide all students and staff with a safe, healthy school environment.

A Super Thank You to our Superhero Challenge sponsors for helping "Save the Day" and making our Superhero Scavenger Hunt a huge success! 

St. Catherine's Church - Fitzgerald's Foods - Laurel Automotive - LAZ Parking - Tyler Equipment & Northwest Community Bank 

A big shout out to our Hometown Heroes - Holloways - McKenna Orthodontics -  St. Therese - Northwest Catholic - Greenpest Control & Anthology 

 

Final Knights United Meeting!  Friday, May 21st at 2pm 

This meeting will be in person in the art & music room. Masks are required.  We will be wrapping up the year and start planning our calendar of events for the 2021-22 school year.  Your help is needed, please join us! 

Choice Chat! 

Choice Obligations for the 2020-2021 school year were due on April 30, 2021.  Thank you to everyone who has already paid their balances.  If you have not yet paid your remaining obligation, please submit your checks made to St. Mary’s Choice to the school office as soon as possible.   

Choice purchases made beginning May 1, 2021 will be applied to your 2021-2022 school year obligation.  Keep shopping!  There are several retailers, now including Whole Foods, who offer eCards on the RaiseRight app, and we continue to have many physical gift cards available for purchase in the school office. Are there other physical gift cards you wished were available in the office?  Please click here to take a quick survey to let us know.

If you have any questions regarding your Choice balance or contributions, please email tprausa@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.

Are you a Whole Foods Shopper?  You can now obtain ecards for Whole Foods via GLScrip or by using the Raise Right app.  The ecards carry a 3% profit rate!

Bookfair is Online Again this Spring! We're excited to be able to offer another Follett Bookfair this spring! Did you know that  40% of all sales come back to SMS as credit towards future purchases.  This credit is then used to purchase books for teachers' classrooms and our school library!  Our online bookfair will be open the week of 5/24/21.  Look for a link in next week's blog and when you are shopping you are invited to view Teacher Wishlists if you'd like to purchase a book or two for your children's classroom libraries!

Community News

Vacation Bible School will return to St. Mary's Parish this summer!  Program is open to students entering Kindergarten through grade 7.  Click here for more information and to register.  Volunteers are also needed!

Simsbury Public Library Wants Your Input!  

2022-2026 Strategic Plan Survey

Every five years the Library Board of Trustees works to develop a vision for the future of the Library. The resulting five-year Strategic Plan is used to prioritize ongoing decisions about library services, resources, and programs to better serve our constituents. As we prepare for a post-pandemic future, the Strategic Planning Committee is conducting a survey to gather feedback about people's aspirations for the future of our community and the Simsbury Public Library. Click here to participate. Thank you for sharing your thoughts! All responses are anonymous.

Summer Fun & Skills - 

Avon Old Farms School is offering a summer basketball camp for boys and girls ages 7 -  17. Click here for more information and to register.

Westminster School is hosting 2 summer baseball camps.  One for boys and girls from 8-12 and one for boys and girls 13 &14.  Please see below for more information.