News for the Week of 10/24/18

Parent/Teacher Conferences are Underway! 
Both Thursday, 10/25 and Friday, 10/26, are 12:45pm early dismissals.

PreK Enrichment is available on both Thursday and Friday but there is no AFTERCARE.

PE Club will meet on Thursday from 12:45-2pm.

There is still time to sign up for a conference if you have not already done so.  For your convenience, tomorrow evening (Thursday, 10/25) conferences are available until 7pm. Click here to visit the Sign Up Geniuses for conferences.

Spirit Wear will be for sale during Thursday and Friday conferences.  Perfect timing with Spirit Day coming up on Monday, 10/29 (see below).  It's chilly out there! Check out clearance items including fleece jackets and novelty fleece for $10 and $15! Checks and cash accepted.

The Used Uniform Exchange will also be available during conferences on Thursday and Friday for any items needed for transition to our formal uniforms next week. 

Mark Your Calendars - There are 2 special events for students next week - 

Below are a couple of photos showing some of the damage to the St. John Catholic School that will benefit from our Spirit Day donations.

"P" is for Penmanship - Students in Mrs. Jehning's first grade
demonstrate focus and determination in "writing position"
(sitting with their feet on the floor or standing straight & tall)
to help assure their letter formation is neat and correct.

Looking Ahead to November -  November is right around the corner and as always, it will be a really busy month.  Here's a few highlights to look forward to and think about.  Look for additional specifics about these events as they get closer.


*  Formal Uniforms begins for students in grades K-7 on next Thursday, November 1.  Grade 8 begins to wear the formal uniform on December 3.

*  We will worship with our parish family at the All Saints Day Mass at 12:15pm on Thursday, November 1.  All are welcome to join us.  Please remember that no PE uniforms should be worn to Mass.

*  The first New England Catholic Schools Week will be held from November 4th -10th.  We will kick off this week with a Family Mass & pizza dinner on Saturday, November 3.  Join us for the 5pm Mass and then come across to the Parish Center to enjoy a casual family pizza dinner and visit the bookfair!  Students are requested to wear their formal uniforms to Mass.  A Sign Up Genius with additional dinner details will be made available soon.  We do need a head count for dinner and we are requesting donation of some items to help with the setup and serving of dinner.  If you can help with the reception, please contact the school office.

*  Fall Bookfair will be open after all Masses on November 3 and 4 and then through Thursday, November 8.  See details below.  Virtus trained volunteers are needed!

*  SMS is OPEN on Election Day on Tuesday, November 6,  for a regular full day of school and we will also host an Open House on that day and in the evening.  See details below.

*  SMS is OPEN on Veterans Day Observed, Monday, November 12th.  Group Class Photos and Individual Student makeup/retake photos will be taken by Lifetouch Photography.  Frozen Pies and cookie dough ordered from the Lyman Pie Fundraiser will be available for pickup. More details soon.

*  The annual Senior Thanksgiving Luncheon will be held on Wednesday, 11/14.  This annual event provides a delicious Thanksgiving meal to over 175 area senior citizens.  Next week, all parents will receive an email containing a link to a Sign Up Genius that will list the donations needed by grade level.  In order for this event to be successful, your donations are really important so please do be sure to sign up to donate a requested item. Please note that NO HOT LUNCH is served on this day since the kitchen is very busy making Thanksgiving dinner!

Fall Bookfair is Almost Here!  Your help is needed!


There will be a wonderful selection of engaging and affordable books for every reading level.

Book Fair dates: Saturday, November 3rd - Thursday, November 8th. The Bookfair will be open after all weekend Masses & during our Family Dinner after the 5pm Mass on Saturday, 11/3.

Virtus Trained volunteers are needed to help during the bookfair - particularly during classroom visits.  Click here for Volunteer Sign Up.

We will also be hosting an Open House for Prospective Families on Tuesday, November 6th.  Interested families are invited to drop in at any time during our school day or to attend our evening event that will begin at 6pm in the Parish Center.  An RSVP to the office is appreciated but not required.

 If you know someone who would like to get to know more about us, please encourage them to drop by that day or attend our evening event and be sure to register for our Family Referral Program!   We appreciate your support of our school.

Athletic News -  This Friday's soccer game with St. Tims has been postponed until next Friday 11/2 at 4pm at St. Tims.

Just in Time for Holiday Celebrations & Giving -- Again this year, Yankee Candle Fundraising is helping us raise money to support our instrumental music program including the FMI Recorder program in grade 3.  Shop now for the best selection of holiday items.  Click here and then enter our group number - 999977285 - where requested under "Start Shopping".  All products will ship directly to your home.

Our congratulations to our four 8th grade students that
participated in the FMI Regional Band Concert on Saturday,
October 20th.  Our thanks to our FMI Instructor, Mrs. Deb
Morse, for all her encouragement and support preparing these musicians
for this concert.  These students are now eligible to audition for FMI's
All-Stand bands that perform in the spring.

CHOICE Corner - Usage statements will be coming home with youngest or only children.  If you have opted out or have not yet begun to participate, your statement will come home in the next few days.  Regular participants will receive their statements after October 31. - Please be sure to check backpacks.  

We Want Your Old Markers! Crayola ColorCycle is a marker recycling program in which schools collect markers of any brand or kind, including traditional markers, dry erase markers, highlighters, and permanent markers. Crayola pays the shipping cost to mail them back to them. This program is a sustainability initiative that recycles markers and eliminates placing hundreds of tons of markers into landfills. The bin is located in Mrs. Gore's fifth grade room.  For more information, contact Anna in Mrs. Gore's class. Click here to learn more about Crayola ColorCycle.

Box Tops for Education - So simple, it's scary!  Just neatly clip your box tops and send them into school.  All classrooms have collection boxes.  

Science is "eggciting" - Students in Mrs. Herron's
second grade conducted a science experiment to
learn more about the enamel on our teeth.

Alumni News

Thanks to all that voted - We are happy to share that Maria Nolan, SMS Class '16, was voted Hartford Courant Athlete of the Week!


















Community News

Clean, Gently Used Clothing, Shoes & Accessories Needed!  Again this year, we are collecting gently used clothing( all seasons), shoes, handbags, accessories, jewelry, jackets and coats (infant/youth/teen clothing especially needed) for the St. Ann's Clothing Sale.

 Items may be brought into school until Friday, 10/26/18, and put into the donation bin that is in the school office.  

The Clothing Sale will be held on November 2 &3 and benefits the St. Ann Scholarship Program which provides partial tuition support for Hartford students attending area Catholic high schools. Begun in 1979, the program has helped over 100 young people get their high school diplomas in a safe, supportive and spiritual environment.

Fifth & Sixth Grade Boys are Invited to Learn More About Boy Scout Troop 174. 

Wondering if it's worth your time to get Virtus trained? 
This picture tells the whole story!
Your gift of time & talent makes a school day super special for your child(ren).

News for the Week of 10/17/18

#uKnighted - The Advancement Committee wants you! Join us tomorrow - Thursday, 10/18 -at 9am or 6:30pm in the lower church for our first official meeting of the school year. The Advancement Committee is a great way to meet other parents and learn more about our community. We have some really fun family oriented events planned this year and we need many hands to make them happen!

Looking Ahead to November -  November is right around the corner and as always, it will be a really busy month.  Here's a few highlights to look forward to and think about.  Look for additional specifics about these events as they get closer.

*  Non-Perishable Food Collection for Jack Bannon Turkey Trot - Again this year, students will be asked to bring in a non-perishable food donation as part of Pumpkin Bingo.  Look for additional details next week.

*  Formal Uniforms begin for students in grades K-7 on Thursday, November 1.  Grade 8 begins to wear the formal uniform on December 3.

*  We will worship with our parish family at the All Saints Day Mass at 12:15pm on Thursday, November 1.  All are welcome to join us.  Please remember that no PE uniforms should be worn to Mass.

*  The first New England Catholic Schools Week will be held from November 4th -10th.  We will kick off this week with a Family Mass & reception on Saturday, November 3.  Join us for the 5pm Mass and then come across to the Parish Center to enjoy a casual family dinner and visit the bookfair!  More details coming soon.  If you can help with the reception, please contact the school office.

*  Fall Bookfair will be open after all Masses on November 3 and 4 and then through Thursday, November 8.  See details below.  Virtus trained volunteers are needed!

*  SMS is OPEN on Election Day on Tuesday, November 6,  for a regular full day of school and we will also host an Open House on that day and in the evening.  See details below.

*  SMS is OPEN on Veterans Day Observed, Monday, November 12th.  Group Class Photos and Individual Student makeup/retake photos will be taken by Lifetouch Photography.  Frozen Pies and cookie dough ordered from the Lyman Pie Fundraiser will be available for pickup. More details soon.

* The annual Senior Thanksgiving Luncheon will be held on Wednesday, 11/14.  This annual event provides a delicious Thanksgiving meal to over 175 area senior citizens.  Look for more information soon about food donations that will be requested from each class and about ways you can volunteer to help.  Please note that NO HOT LUNCH is served on this day since the kitchen is very busy making Thanksgiving dinner!

Walk-In Wednesdays are here! - Families interested in learning more about SMS are invited to drop in Wednesday mornings in October.  If you know someone who would like to get to know more about us, please encourage them to drop by and be sure to register for our Family Referral Program!  Your support of our school is greatly appreciated.

We will also be hosting an Open House for Prospective Families on Tuesday, November 6th.  Interested families are invited to drop in at any time during our school day or to attend our evening event that will begin at 6pm in the Parish Center.  An RSVP to the school office is appreciated but not required.

Please help spread the word about our 2018 Blue Ribbon School! Do you live, or own a business on a busy street that would be good for a lawn sign? Do you know some good public venues that will allow flyers to be hung up? Click here to sign up for a lawn sign and/or flyers advertising our upcoming Open House on Tuesday, November 6th!  

Parent/Teacher Conferences are Next Week.

Our Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on Wednesday, 10/24, Thursday, 10/25 and Friday, 10/26.  Each of these days will be a 12:45pm Early Dismissal.


Click here to access the Sign-Up Geniuses for conferences.


Since PreK will not have conferences at this time, there will be PreK Enrichment available on these days BUT there will be NO AFTERCARE.

PE Club will meet next week from 12:45-2pm.

Both SMS Spirit wear & Choice cards will be available for sale in the school office during conferences.

Mrs. Sirianni's New Art Blog is now available!  Click here to visit Art a la Carte & be sure to subscribe to see receive all of Mrs. Sirianni's posts.

Annual Lyman Pie & Otis Spunkmeyer Cookie Dough Fund Raiser is underway! 

 All orders and payments must be returned to the school office 

no later this Friday, October 19th. 

Just in time for the holidays, our Home & School Association is selling frozen Lyman Pies & Otis Spunkmeyer Cookie Dough.  Order forms were sent home with all students on Friday, October 5th but can also be downloaded.   Checks should be made payable to St. Mary's HSA.  Orders may also be placed online - click here.  Pies & cookie dough will be available for pickup on Monday, 11/12/18, 1-4pm in the Parish Center.  Please note - all products arrive frozen and must be picked up on 11/12.  The school does not have freezer space for products that are not picked up and will not be responsible for products that thaw.

Just in Time for Holiday Celebrations & Giving -- Again this year, Yankee Candle Fundraising is helping us raise money to support our instrumental music program including the FMI Recorder program in grade 3.  Shop now for the best selection of holiday items.  Click here and then enter our group number - 999977285 - where requested under "Start Shopping".  All products will ship directly to your home.

CHOICE Corner -- Formal Uniforms begins on 11/1 for students in grades K-7 (12/3 for Gr. 8).  Land's End is offering 40% off all school uniforms from 10/18-10/23.  Save 40% AND help meet your CHOICE tuition obligation by using Lands End gift cards (15% profit) purchased from CHOICE.  Our school code is 900132150.

We Want Your Old Markers! Crayola ColorCycle is a marker recycling program in which schools collect markers of any brand or kind, including traditional markers, dry erase markers, highlighters, and permanent markers. Crayola pays the shipping cost to mail them back to them. This program is a sustainability initiative that recycles markers and eliminates placing hundreds of tons of markers into landfills. The bin is located in Mrs. Gore's fifth grade room.  For more information, contact Anna in Mrs. Gore's class. Click here to learn more about Crayola ColorCycle.

Athletic News - 

Running Club members participated in the 1st Annual Great Pumpkin Race 5k in Salmon Brook Park in Granby on Sunday, 10/14. What a perfect way to end the season - Congratulations to all who ran!  Our thanks to Coach Laura Williams for another great season of running club!

2018 Altar Server Training for New Servers -New altar servers are needed at Saint Mary’s Church and School. Are you interested in joining this wonderful ministry? Classes will meet on Saturdays, time to TBD, on October 20th, 27th, and November 10th. All children in 4th grade or above are invited to join us. You must RSVP by email to Sheila Garilli, altar server coordinator, via email at ServerLeader@StMarySimsbury.org.

Fall Bookfair is Coming Soon!  Your help is needed!

Did you know? Reading just 20 minutes a day exposes your child to about 1.8 million words per year. Reading helps students develop a stronger vocabulary, and in addition, students who read for pleasure average higher grades in English, mathematics, science, and history!

Encourage your child to read books for fun by attending our upcoming Scholastic Book Fair. Allow your child to choose the books they want to read! It’s a wonderful selection of engaging and affordable books for every reading level.

Book Fair dates: Saturday, November 3rd - Thursday, November 8th

Thank you in advance for signing up to volunteer at our Fall Book Fair!

Click here for Volunteer Sign Up.

Alumni News - Maria Nolan, SMS Class of '16, has been nominated for The Hartford Courant’s athlete of the week.  Please click here to vote for Maria.  Voting is open now!  Maria plays varsity soccer for Granby High and recently scored two goals and had two assists to win over Ellington, marking her 50th high school career goal!

Community News

Clean, Gently Used Clothing, Shoes & Accessories Needed!  Again this year, we will be collecting gently used clothing( all seasons), shoes, handbags, accessories, jewelry, jackets and coats (infant/youth/teen clothing especially needed) for the St. Ann's Clothing Sale.

 Items may be brought into school from Thursday, 10/18 - Friday, 10/26/18, and put into the donation bin that is in the school office.  

The Clothing Sale will be held on November 2 &3 and benefits the St. Ann Scholarship Program which provides partial tuition support for Hartford students attending area Catholic high schools. Begun in 1979, the program has helped over 100 young people get their high school diplomas in a safe, supportive and spiritual environment.

Westminster School Invites Middle School Students -  FUNDAMENTAL BASKETBALL CLINIC

Age Groups: Co-Ed middle & high school athletes

Where: Westminster School Gym

When: Sunday Mornings

Time: 9:30AM to 11:30AM

Price: $25

Coach: David Pringle (Westminster Varsity Head Basketball Coach)

Looking to take your game to the next level?  Sign up for the Sunday morning clinics at Westminster School.  We will work on improving your basketball IQ, conditioning, dribbling, shooting, and your ability to finish around the rim.  The purpose of this clinic is for you to gain confidence in yourself as a basketball player, while learning new skill sets.

*Please bring your own basketball and water bottle.

Contact Information: 

Cell: (203) 606-5917

Email: Dpringle23@yahoo.com

Twitter: @WestyBBALL

After our October fire drill on 10/11, students learned about fire
prevention and safety during a visit with the Simsbury Volunteer Fire Department.