News for the Week of 5/19/21

 

School will be dismissed early at 12:45pm on Friday, 5/28/21.  There will be no aftercare.  School will be closed on Monday, 5/31/21, in observance of Memorial Day.

Looking Ahead to Summer & Our New School Year!

Our last day of school will be Friday, June 11.  School will be dismissed early 12:45pm.  There will be no aftercare.

Summer office hours will begin on Tuesday, June 15.  The school office will be staffed Tuesday - Thursday from 9am-1pm or by appointment.  CHOICE cards will be available during office hours.

Our first day of school for the 21-22 school year will be on Wednesday, 9/1/21.  It will be a regular, full day of school with both early drop off and aftercare available.

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 any requirements regarding masking, social distancing, testing and quarantine that are in place when school opens.  Our goal will continue to be to provide all students and staff with a safe, healthy school environment.

School Board Meeting - The School Board will meet tonight, 5/19/21, via Zoom at 7pm.  Mrs. Williamson has sent out an invitation with the Zoom link via email.

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! 

Follett On-Line Spring Bookfair Begins Monday, 5/24/21 -  You can shop anytime from 5/24 - 5/30.  Click here.  Our school code is Z68KY.  This is a great opportunity to stock up on some new books to encourage summer reading.  You can also visit Teacher Wish Lists if you'd like to help stock classroom libraries.  Forty percent 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! 

CHOICE Chat - 

Thank you to everyone who has already paid their Choice balances.  Choice Obligations for the 2020-2021 school year were due on April 30, 2021.  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.   

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.

SMS Stars

Congratulations to Noelle (Gr. 3) and Kareem (Gr. 1) on attaining their orange belts in karate.

On April 23, Mrs. Williamson was honored by the University of St. Joseph with an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters.  Click here to view the ceremony and her remarks which were based on the SMS Student Pledge that is recited daily as part of our morning prayer assembly.

As a student of St. Mary’s School, I promise to live my life knowing that God surrounds me and all those I meet. I will be kind and respectful to others by treating everyone the way I want to be treated, and I will help those in need. I will study hard and continue to learn all my life.

Alumni News 

Congratulations to Mason Burhoe and Greyson Kellner, both SMS Class of '18 and currently students at Simsbury High School, on their recent success at the FBLA State Leadership Conference.  Mason placed second in the Accounting II competition and Greyson placed second in the Computer Problem Solving competition.

Community News

Monsignor Matera has received information regarding our new pastor. As of July 1, 2021 our new pastor will be Father Stephen Sledesky.  Father Sledesky is currently the pastor of St. George parish in Guilford. Father brings with him experience with Catholic elementary schools including being associated with the East Shoreline Catholic Academy in Branford. St. George parish is one of the parishes included in the school.

Click here to register for St. Mary's Vacation Bible School.