News for the Week of 8/25/21

 

Our first day of school for the 21-22 school year will be next Wednesday, 9/1/21.  (Our PK3 program, which meets only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, will have its first day on Thursday, 9/2/21. ) September 1 will be a regular, full day of school with both early drop off and aftercare available.  Click the Student Life tab from the home page of our website  for information about these programs and for annual registration and reservation forms.  

Sir Ted's 3 Important Dates You Need to Know!  

1. PreKindergarten Popsicles on the Playground! Calling all Prekindergarten 3's and 4's to join Mrs. Howard at the SMS playground tomorrow - Thursday, August 26th from 6-7pm for some fun and a sweet treat!

2. Summer Fun for SMS Families: Sunday, August 29th - SMS Playground 5-7pm

Bring a picnic, connect and reconnect with new and current families! 

3. Morning Meet & Greet: Tuesday, August 31st  9am

All students should be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Meet & Greet  will be divided up alphabetically into 3 groups: 

GROUP 1 Families with last names starting with the letters A thru D -

9:00 am to 9:20 am 

GROUP 2  Families with last names starting with the letters F thru O -

9:30 am to 9:50 am 

GROUP 3  Families with last names starting with the letters P thru Z - 

10:00 am to 10:20 am

PARKING:

1.  Please enter and park in the North parking lot (where the playground is located). The North parking lot entrance is located at the lighted intersection at Hopmeadow St. & Seminary Rd. Please park facing the building, pulling into open spaces closest to the 1st and 3rd grade classrooms.

CHECK IN:

There will be a check in table to stop by first to receive name tags, and you may hand in any paperwork/checks (Health forms, Hot lunch/milk payments, iPad insurance, etc.) you might have. 

Once you have checked in, we will direct you to your child(ren)'s classroom(s).

**Uniform exchange will be available for you to take anything you may need or to drop off uniforms you don't need. 

Gym t-shirts and 1/4 zips will be available to purchase as well. 

IMPORTANT MASK INFORMATION: As the state mandate is still in place, masks will be required for both adults and children, vaccinated and unvaccinated, in order to enter the building. 

   

Back to School  Forms - Back to School email packets were sent to all fully enrolled families (i.e., families that have returned a completed Family Enrollment Form AND $250 Family Enrollment Fee) from the SMSOffice email on Thursday, 8/19/21. The packets were sent to the email address we have on file as your "family email address".  If you have not received your email packet, please contact the school office.  Thanks in advance for carefully reviewing this important packet and returning all required forms in a timely way!

Bus Transportation Information - The 21-22 bus routes have now been posted by the Town of Simsbury.  Click here.   A passkey is required to view the bus routes. The passkey was emailed to families eligible for bus transportation on Monday, 8/23/21.  If you need the passkey, please contact the school office.   All concerns regarding bus routes should be reported to the town's transportation coordinator, Laura Shellman.  Please remember that both the school office and the town's transportation coordinator must be notified in writing annually if your child(ren) will be picked up or/add dropped off at an address other than your home address (e.g., a child care facility, a babysitter's house).

Other important reminders - Only Simsbury residents, grades K-8, may ride the bus. A written note to school or email to the school office and teacher is required if a student needs to ride a different bus or exit the bus at a stop other than the usual daily stop (e.g., being dropped off at a friend's house).

Finally, please keep in mind that each year, there are several days that the Simsbury public schools will either be closed or will be closing early when our school is having a regular full day. When this occurs, the buses may bring your child(ren) home significantly earlier than usual - perhaps as much as 15-20 minutes. Please plan to be home in time to greet your child(ren) on these days or be sure you have established a plan for safe arrival if he/she/they get home before you do.


The dates when this may occur this year are:
Wednesday, September 1 - Friday, September 3
Tuesday, September 7
Thursday, September 16
Wednesday, October 20
Tuesday, November 2
Wednesday, November 17 - Friday, November 19
Wednesday, December 8
Tuesday, March 15 -Friday, March 18
Wednesday, April 27
Wednesday, May 18

It's almost mum time!  Again this year, our 8th grade is selling mums for gorgeous fall color!  This fundraising helps defray costs associated with graduation activities.  Click here to download your order form.  Thanks in advance for your support of our 8th grade.

News for the Week of 8/18/21

 

Summer office hours are in effect at this time. The school office is 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.  (Our PK3 program, which meets only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, will have its first day on Thursday, 9/2/21. ) September 1 will be a regular, full day of school with both early drop off and aftercare available.  Click the Student Life tab from the home page of our website  for information about these programs and for annual registration and reservation forms.  Simsbury residents should expect that the town of Simsbury will publish bus routes on their website a week or 2 before school begins.  An email will be sent to families eligible for bus transportation when the routes are available that will include the annual passkey to access the routes.

Sir Ted's 3 Important Dates You Need to Know!  

1. PreKindergarten Popsicles on the Playground! Calling all Prekindergarten 3's and 4's to join Mrs. Howard at the SMS playground on Thursday, August 26th from 6-7pm for some fun and a sweet treat!

2. Summer Fun for SMS Families: Sunday, August 29th - SMS Playground 5-7pm

Bring a picnic, connect and reconnect with new and current families! 

3. Morning Meet & Greet: Tuesday, Aug. 31st  9am

All students should be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Meet & Greet  will be divided up alphabetically into 3 groups: 

GROUP 1 Families with last names starting with the letters A thru D -

9:00 am to 9:20 am 

GROUP 2  Families with last names starting with the letters F thru O -

9:30 am to 9:50 am 

GROUP 3  Families with last names starting with the letters P thru Z - 

10:00 am to 10:20 am

PARKING:

1.  Please enter and park in the North parking lot (where the playground is located). The North parking lot entrance is located at the lighted intersection at Hopmeadow St. & Seminary Rd. Please park facing the building, pulling into open spaces closest to the 1st and 3rd grade classrooms.

CHECK IN:

There will be a check in table to stop by first to receive name tags, and you may hand in any paperwork/checks (Health forms, Hot lunch/milk payments, iPad insurance, etc.) you might have. 

Once you have checked in, we will direct you to your child(ren)'s classroom(s).

**Uniform exchange will be available for you to take anything you may need or to drop off uniforms you don't need. 

Gym t-shirts and 1/4 zips will be available to purchase as well. 

IMPORTANT MASK INFORMATION: As the state mandate is still in place, masks will be required for both adults and children, vaccinated and unvaccinated, in order to enter the building. 

   

Back to School  Forms - Back to School email packets will be sent to all fully enrolled families (i.e., families that have returned a completed Family Enrollment Form AND $250 Family Enrollment Fee) from the SMSOffice email account later this week.  The packets will be sent to the email address we have on file as your "family email address".  If you would prefer we use a different email address or you are unsure what email address you have put on file, please contact the school office.

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

 

Lunch Program Information - Order your September lunches during the Open Order Period for September:  Monday, August 23rd - Thursday, September 2nd.  This is your only opportunity to order lunches for the month of September.  No late orders can be accepted.  All orders are placed via the Educonnect Parent Portal.  Portal credentials will be included in your Back To School email packet.  First day of lunch service is Tuesday, September 7th.  Please click here for more lunch program information and click here for September's menu.  Until the lunch programs begin, all students must bring a lunch from home (nothing that requires heating).

CHOICE Program Information - Ordering Choice Cards has never been easier!  Click here for all the program details.

News for the week of 8/11/2021

 

Summer office hours are in effect at this time. The school office is 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.  (Our PK3 program, which meets only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, will have its first day on Thursday, 9/2/21. ) September 1 will be a regular, full day of school with both early drop off and aftercare available.  Click the Student Life tab from the home page of our website  for information about these programs and for annual registration and reservation forms.  Simsbury residents should expect that the town of Simsbury will publish bus routes on their website a week or 2 before school begins.

Sir Ted's 3 Important Dates You Need to Know!  

1. PreKindergarten Popsicles on the Playground! Calling all Prekindergarten 3's and 4's to join Mrs. Howard at the SMS playground on Thursday, August 26th from 6-7pm for some fun and a sweet treat!

2. Summer Fun for SMS Families: Sunday, August 29th - SMS Playground 5-7pm

Bring a picnic, connect and reconnect with new and current families! 

3. Morning Meet & Greet: Tuesday, Aug. 31st  9am

   Families will be assigned alphabetically to one of 3 time slots with 20 minute increments starting at 9:00 am. Check your inbox for an email coming soon!  This event is for parents and students. It is a great opportunity to drop off school supplies and meet teachers! 

Back to School  Forms - Back to School email packets will be sent to all fully enrolled families (i.e., families that have returned a completed Family Enrollment Form AND $250 Family Enrollment Fee) from the SMSOffice email account during the week of August 16.  The packets will be sent to the email address we have on file as your "family email address".  If you would prefer we use a different email address or you are unsure what email address you have put on file, please contact the school office.

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

Lunch Program News - The lunch program will begin on Tuesday, September 7.  Until the program begins, all students will need to bring a lunch from home each day. There will be one ordering period per month (e.g., all lunches for September will be ordered during one ordering period at the end of August).  All lunches will continue to be ordered via the Educonnect parent portal.  Portal credentials remain the same for returning families.  Newly enrolled families will receive portal credentials in the Back to School email packet. Ordering periods will be announced via the school blog and Remind text.  Late orders cannot be accepted so if you miss an order period, your child(ren) will not be able to get lunches for that month.

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 can be purchased in the school office during summer office hours. Spirit Wear quarter zips are also now in stock!

Gym T shirts:  $18 each

Navy 1/4 zips for PreK-5th are $30

Heathered 1/4 zips for middle school are $45 

Cash or checks are accepted.  Checks should be made payable to St. Mary's School with "Spirit Wear" in the memo section.

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.

News for the Week of 8/4/21

 

Summer office hours are in effect at this time. The school office is 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.  Simsbury residents should expect that the town of Simsbury will publish bus routes on their website a week or 2 before school begins.

Back to School Fun!  Mark your calendars and then look for more information coming soon about a PreK Playground on Thursday, August 26, a Family Picnic and Playground on Sunday, August 29 and a Meet & Greet morning for all students on Tuesday, August 31.

Back to School  Forms - Back to School email packets will be sent to all fully enrolled families (i.e., families that have returned a completed Family Enrollment Form AND $250 Family Enrollment Fee) from the SMSOffice email account during the week of August 16.  The packets will be sent to the email address we have on file as your "family email address".  If you would prefer we use a different email address or you are unsure what email address you have put on file, please contact the school office.

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

Lunch Program News - The lunch program will begin on Tuesday, September 7.  Until the program begins, all students will need to bring a lunch from home each day. There will be one ordering period per month (e.g., all lunches for September will be ordered during one ordering period at the end of August).  All lunches will continue to be ordered via the Educonnect parent portal.  Portal credentials remain the same for returning families.  Newly enrolled families will receive portal credentials in the Back to School email packet. Ordering periods will be announced via the school blog and Remind text.  Late orders cannot be accepted so if you miss an order period, your child(ren) will not be able to get lunches for that month.

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 can be purchased in the school office during summer office hours. Spirit Wear quarter zips are also now in stock!

Gym T shirts:  $18 each

Navy 1/4 zips for PreK-5th are $30

Heathered 1/4 zips for middle school are $45 

Cash or checks are accepted.  Checks should be made payable to St. Mary's School with "Spirit Wear" in the memo section.

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.