News for the Week of 6/30/21

 

Changes to Uniform Dress Code - We've made a couple of changes to our uniform dress code for the coming year. 

1.  Polo shirts are no longer part of the physical education uniform at any grade level.  On gym days, all students in grades Kindergarten - Grade 8  should wear the gray tee shirt sold via our Spirit Wear Shop.  These tee shirts are $18 each and are ordered by sending an email to Toni Chagnon at tchagnon@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net. Toni will let you know when your order is ready and payment is at time of pickup.  A very limited number of these shirts is available right now but we will have a large inventory ready prior to the start of school.

2.  Girls in grades 5-8 may now wear the Land's End polo dress in classic navy ONLY (girls in grades PreK-4 may wear either blue or classic navy).  Please keep in mind that the polo dress is ONLY acceptable as part of the Relaxed Uniform that is worn from the start of school until November 1 (December 1 for grade 8 only) and from the day after April vacation ends until the close of school.

Here are the Land's End item numbers for the polo dress:

Toddler Girls - 473151-BP1

Girls 4-6x -393667-BP9

Girls 7-16 - 393668-BP3

When shopping at Land's End, please always be sure to put in our school code:  900132150.  This will assure that you will only see approved items and styles for our school.  Also, please keep in mind that if you use Land's End gift cards from the CHOICE program for your uniform shopping, you will be working toward the completion of your family's annual CHOICE commitment.  Land's End cards carry a 15% profit rate!  Land's End cards are available either by coming into the school office or using the Raise Right app.  Click here if you need more information about CHOICE or contact Tricia Prausa in the school office.

Do you have questions about what uniform items your child(ren) need?  Click here to view our entire school uniform code.

Used Uniform Exchange - The Used Uniform Exchange is now available at school during summer office hours.  Please feel free to come by and see if there are any items available for your child(ren).  This is a free service and all we ask is that if/when you have uniform items that have been outgrown but that are in clean, good condition that you donate them to the Exchange so others may make use of them.

Looking for Summer Assignments or Supply Lists?  Click here to visit our "Back to School" page.  Supply Lists are now available for all grades.  Not all grades have summer assignments, but those that do can find their assignments on this page as well.

Summer Book Club for Rising 4th - 6th Grade Students - Again this year, Mrs. Mortillaro will be hosting a Summer Book Club for students entering 4th - 6th grade.  The group will meet through a zoom meeting once a week probably on Tuesdays at time most amenable for the majority. Depending on the availability of the majority, the meetings may be a morning, right after lunch, or even late afternoon before dinner. Zoom meetings will be about 45 minutes. The first "read" will be a current Nutmeg Nominee, Emmy in the Key of Code by Aimee Lucido. Children will be asked to keep up with the reading each week, so the group can talk about the book on Tuesdays during the Zoom meeting. The group will try to get through books in a few weeks, so probably 100 or so pages a week.

Please email  Mrs. Mortillaro at mmortillaro@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net by Friday, 7/2/21, if your child(ren) is/are interested in participating.She will get back to those interested to find out preferred times. She is hoping to begin next Tuesday, July 6th. This is meant to be a fun thing for us to share time together, and to keep us all reading. Don’t worry if you will be away, children can always catch you up or may participate on a "book to book" basis, participating when available and taking a break from the club as needed.

News for the Week of 6/16/21

 

Summer office hours began 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.

Final Report Cards are now available on the Educonnect Parent Portal.   Please keep in mind that no paper copy of the report card will be sent home.  Please also note that display/download is only available until 6/28/21. 

The "Back to School" page of the blog has been published- Click here.    Please visit this page often to check for updates and also to access supply lists and summer assignments.

Congratulations to our Fruit of the Spirit Award recipients.  

Each year, this award is given to students in recognition of exemplary & consistent demonstration of those “Fruits of the Spirit” described by Saint Paul in Galatians: Chapter 5, Verse 22-  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”

News for the Week of 6/9/21

 

End of Year Prayer Service - Students will attend an end of year prayer service in the church tomorrow, Thursday, 6/10, at 9:30am.  Since it is also Field Day for grades K-4, an exception will be made regarding dress and these students may wear their team color tee shirts and PE shorts even though they will be going to church. This prayer service will be livestreamed and can be watched on the St. Mary Parish website.  The Fruit of the Spirit award will be presented to recipients at this prayer service.  Parents have been advised by homeroom teachers if their child is receiving an award.  These parents are also invited to take a photo of their child with their Fruit of the Spirit yard sign. These signs will be on display in the north (playground) parking lot beginning on Thursday.

Field Day for grades K - 4 was postponed due to Tuesday's weather forecast and is now scheduled for  tomorrow afternoon - Thursday, 6/10.  Please refer to your child(ren)'s teacher's email regarding team color.

IOWA Test Results -  Results of this year's IOWA testing will be sent home with each student in grades 3-7 on Friday, 6/11, in a sealed envelope.  Please be sure to check backpacks.

Congratulations & All God's Blessings to SMS Class of '21. #uKnighted Always!

End of the School Year "Turn in" -  

1.    As we get ready to end our school year, please take a moment to look for any SMS library or classroom books that may still be at home and return them. 

2.   All students in Grades K-8 are required to return their school issued iPad charging cord and charging brick.  It is important that the cord/brick combination is THE ONE issued by the school because we need to assure consistency in our school owned equipment.  Please return these items in a labeled ziploc bag.  Failure to return these items or return of non-school owned items will result in a bill for replacement cost.  Also, please be aware that all iPads and covers are inspected for visual and physical damage upon return.  If a repair or replacement of either the iPad or the cover is necessary, a bill will be generated for the $50 repair for the iPad or the replacement cost of the cover.

Reminder to Smart Tuition Account Holders who make payments via invoice -  As you begin making payments in June on your 2021-2022 Smart Tuition account, please remember to change the school year in your account number from 20 to 21.  Account numbers are broken down as follows:  02300 is the school code; 21 refers to the school year; and the last six digits reflect your individual family’s account.  If you continue making payments using the 20 school year, they will apply to your 2020-21 account, generating an overpayment status.  Your 2021-22 account will then appear delinquent, causing $50 late fees to accrue each month the payments are missing.  If you have any questions about this, please call Smart Tuition’s Parent contact center at 1-888-868-8828.

Note that this change occurs automatically for families who have Smart Tuition draw their payments from checking, savings, or credit card accounts.

Looking Ahead to Summer & Our New School Year!

Our last day of school is this Friday, June 11.  School will be dismissed early at  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.

Final Report Cards will be available on the Educonnect Parent Portal during the week of June 14th.  An email & Remind text will be sent to advise when the report cards are available.  Please keep in mind that no paper copy of the report card will be sent home.  Please also note that display/download is only available until 6/28/21. 

The "Back to School" page of the blog will be published the week of June 14th.  Please visit this page often to check for updates and also to access supply lists and summer assignments.

SMS Stars - Congratulations to Evan P. and Andy G., both Gr. 5,  as Finalists in the Archdiocese of Hartford Virtual Robotics Competition in the “Cooperative Crystal Collection Challenge”. The St. Mary’s entire Robotics Team worked very hard for months on the various challenges that were developed. Many thanks to Mrs. Raymond, Mr. Prausa and Mr. Gaul for their leadership and encouragement of our team members.  And now it is on to the 2022 competition!

Pictured from left, Mrs. Valerie Mara, Interim Superintendent of Schools, 

Andy G.,  Mrs. Margaret Williamson, Evan P., & Mrs. Laura McCaffery, 

Advisor to the Vicar for Finance & Technology.

Community News

Father Matera's Retirement Reception

As many of you know, Father Matera will be retiring on June 30th. In honor of his years here at St. Mary's, the parish will be holding a reception. Date: Sunday, June 27th Time: 12:00 PM (after the 11:00 AM Mass) Location: Front parking lot of the Magowan Center (alternate location is the Parish Center if weather is rainy). Note: Light snacks and beverages will be provided. All  are welcome to come and say goodbye to Father Matera on his last weekend here at St. Mary's. Many people have asked what kind of gift they can give Father. Please read below for more information on how we would like to honor Father Matera for his wonderful years here at St. Mary's.

Father Matera Faith Formation Fund

St. Mary’s has established the Father Matera Faith Formation Fund (the “Fund”). The Fund is in recognition and appreciation of Father Matera for his Christ-centered service and dedication as our pastor and faith leader since 2012. Father Matera has clearly stated that he would greatly prefer not to receive personal gifts. Therefore, the St. Mary’s Parish Council, Finance Council, and staff have established this Fund, in his honor, to be used by St. Mary’s to promote Faith Formation and Evangelization.  Click here for additional information about the "Fund" and how to donate.

News for the Week of 6/2/21

 

Second grade reverently & beautifully continued
our traditional May Crowning of Mary on Friday, 5/28/21.

End of the School Year "Turn in" -  

1.    As we get ready to end our school year, please take a moment to look for any SMS library or classroom books that may still be at home and return them. 

2.   All students in Grades K-8 are required to return their school issued iPad charging cord and charging brick.  It is important that the cord/brick combination is THE ONE issued by the school because we need to assure consistency in our school owned equipment.  Please return these items in a labeled ziploc bag.  Failure to return these items or return of non-school owned items will result in a bill for replacement cost.  Also, please be aware that all iPads and covers are inspected for visual and physical damage upon return.  If a repair or replacement of either the iPad or the cover is necessary, a bill will be generated for the $50 repair for the iPad or the replacement cost of the cover.

Reminder to Smart Tuition Account Holders who make payments via invoice -  As you begin making payments in June on your 2021-2022 Smart Tuition account, please remember to change the school year in your account number from 20 to 21.  Account numbers are broken down as follows:  02300 is the school code; 21 refers to the school year; and the last six digits reflect your individual family’s account.  If you continue making payments using the 20 school year, they will apply to your 2020-21 account, generating an overpayment status.  Your 2021-22 account will then appear delinquent, causing $50 late fees to accrue each month the payments are missing.  If you have any questions about this, please call Smart Tuition’s Parent contact center at 1-888-868-8828.

Note that this change occurs automatically for families who have Smart Tuition draw their payments from checking, savings, or credit card accounts.

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.

Community News

James Fagnant, SMS Class of ‘20 and Matthew Fagnant, SMS Class of  ‘18 are playing for East Granby HS baseball in the state playoffs this week. Their team is doing a fundraiser selling tickets to an New Britain Bees game, where Christian Fagnant, SMS Class of ‘15 is a player this year.