News for the Week of 10/29/14





Don't forget!  Turn your clocks back one hour at bedtime on Saturday, 11/1.  You wouldn't want to arrive at school an hour early on Monday!




Students in Mrs. Jehning's First Grade class are learning more about the way Jesus teaches us about love and the Great Commandment. To coincide with this study, the students are creating a daily reflection book on their iPads.  Students are typing and illustrating their entries using an app called Book Creator.

Our next school Mass will be on Friday, 11/7, at 9am in the Church.

Our first marking period closes on Friday, 10/31/14.  Report Cards will be distributed to students in grades 1-8  on Friday, 11/7.  Students in Kindergarten will receive their first report cards in January.

 Please remember that Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held from Monday, 11/10-Thursday, 11/13.  We request that a conference be scheduled for every student in the fall regardless of current academic progress. If you did not sign up for a conference by noon on Friday, 10/24, a conference day and time has been assigned for you by the school office.  Please take a moment to check the appropriate sign-up genius for your assigned day and time.  Click here.  You may make adjustments if needed.   As conference days get closer, please be aware that you will receive a reminder of your assigned conference two dates prior to the event from Sign Up Genius.  Please contact Tammy Budnick at the school office with any questions regarding conference sign up.

Please remember that Monday, 11/10 - Thursday, 11/13 are  12:45pm early dismissal days.  There will be PreKindergarten Enrichment available on these days  but there is NO aftercare available.  Friday, 11/14, will be a regular, full day of school.  


Last Call for Ski & Snowboard Club Registration - The signup deadline for SMS Ski Snowboard Club is Monday, November 3.  To date only 3 students have registered. A minimum of 20 are needed for the program.  Only 2 students have registered for the bus transportation. A minimum of 20 are needed to hold the cost at $75 per student.  Please try to register in time. Late registration will be available but it will have a $25 late fee. If we do not get 20 participants the program may have to be cancelled. 

Formal Uniform Begins on Monday, 11/3, for students in Kindergarten - Grade 7. Students in the 8th grade are given the privilege of wearing the relaxed uniform until December 1st.

Just in time for this uniform transition, beginning  November 3rd through November 11th, take advantage of Lands’ End’s Friends & Family 30% Off on school uniforms. Click here or call 1-800-469-2222. Our school code is 9001-3215-0.  Keep in mind that the CHOICE program has Lands End gift cards available for daily sale with a 16% percentage rate. Paying for your school uniforms using CHOICE cards helps your family complete its CHOICE commitment.
advantage of Lands’ End’s Friends & Family 30% Off on school uniforms. Enter the Promotion Code: FAMILY and PIN:1800




Next Wednesday is St. Mary’s School Fall Open House.  Open House is next week on Wednesday, November 5th at  6:30 PM in the Parish Center.   Our families are our best school ambassadors.  If you know a family interested in St. Mary’s School, please invite them personally to attend the Open House.  It is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about our amazing school.




8th Grade Fundraising With Halloween just around the corner, here's a scary notion...so too is the annual St. Mary's School Annual Poinsettia sale that benefits our 8th grade class!!  Check out the blog next week for more details! Don't be scared off by the sale!  It's not a trick...it's really a treat!




Annual Senior Luncheon Will Be Here Soon!  St. Mary School is hosting our annual Thanksgiving Luncheon for Senior Citizens  on Wednesday, November 19th in the parish center. Again this year, each grade is being asked to contribute specific items to help prepare the meal.  A Sign Up Genius has been setup for each class to make it easy for you to see what is needed and to sign up to help. Click here to access the Sign Up Genius. Non-perishable items should be sent in by Monday, November 17th.  Please be sure that they are clearly labeled for the Senior Luncheon.  Non-perishable items should be sent in by 9AM on Wednesday, 11/19.  Your contributions are  vital to our success.  If you know of an area senior citizen that would like to attend our luncheon, please tell them to sign up by calling the Simsbury Senior Center to make their reservation at 860-658-3273.  Seating is limited, please encourage them to call ASAP!

PLEASE NOTE - NO STUDENT HOT LUNCH IS SERVED ON SENIOR LUNCHEON DAY.  ALL STUDENTS SHOULD BRING A BROWN BAG LUNCH.  Milk is still available.

Home & School Association News


Save the Date - Fundraiser at the Shoppes at Farmington Valley, Canton
Let your Christmas shopping help St. Mary's.  We invite you to come to Barnes and Noble, Dish N Dat and Ben & Jerry's  in Canton on Thursday, December 4th from 4-9pm.  A portion of all sales from each of these establishments will benefit St. Mary's Home and School Association.  Come join the fun and get some Christmas shopping done at the same time!





Mark your Calendars
Thursday December 11th from 4 - 7 pm. is family fun night. Come join us at Blue Fox Rock N Bowl  on the Simsbury/Granby town line for some bowling and laser tag fun. More details to follow in the coming weeks.




Mark your Calendars - Fundraiser
Another opportunity for Christmas shopping! We invite you to come to Neckers Toy Store in Simsbury on December 11th. A portion of all sales will benefit St. Mary's Home and School Association. More details to follow in the coming weeks.






St. Mary's Stars -  Congratulations to the students that performed in the FMI 2014 Eastern Regional Band Concert on Saturday, 10/18/14, at St. James School in Manchester. 


This band is composed of selected students from 21 area Catholic schools including SMS. Students that participate in the Regional Band are also eligible to audition for the FMI All-State bands that will perform in New York City and at a all-state concert at Central Connecticut State University in the spring.

Participation in this band requires an audition and attendance at several Friday night and Saturday morning rehearsals. We commend these students for their dedication to practice and also their parents for the sacrifices they make so that these students can attend the necessary rehearsals. We also want to take an opportunity to thank our FMI Instructor, Mrs. Debbie Morse, for all her help preparing our students for their auditions and then with the required musical selections.  Click here for a list of this year's participants.

Thank you, St. Mary’s School Class of 2013!  On Sunday, 10/26, Father Matera and Father Santiago blessed the new sign for our school and parish center.  This beautiful new sign was made possible through the generous donations of the SMS Class of '13 and their parents and special friends. We believe that the power of the Holy Spirit and the blessings of our patroness, the Blessed Mother, draw families to our community but we are grateful for a beautiful new sign to spotlight our location!


Community News

The Teen Space at Simsbury Public Library has a number of exciting events coming up. Click here to download flyers with more specifics about each event.


Saturday, November 1 - Halloween Movie Marathon

Thursday, November 13 - Teen Advisory Board Meeting

Thursday, November 20 - Hunger Games Double Feature

Wednesday, November 26 - WII Wednesday





Farmington Valley YMCA invites your Family - "Day of Giving" - Spend the day or just part of the day on Saturday, November 1 helping area families with yard clean-up.  Click here for more information.



Annual Turkey Trot Non-Perishable Food Collection - Again this year, our school will be collecting non-perishable food items to benefit the Turkey Trot food drive.  Donations may be sent in beginning on Monday, 11/10 until Tuesday, 11/18.  Please be sure all donations are clearly marked "Turkey Trot" so they do not get confused with Senior Luncheon donations.  Click here for more information about this food drive.



Join Simsbury Girl Scouts - or Support Them by Purchasing Girl Scout Cookies!  Representatives of Simsbury Girl Scouts will be holding an Election Day Booth Sale on Tuesday, November 4th from 10am-noon at Eno Hall, 754 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury (first floor foyer).  There will also be a recruiting night on Tuesday, November 4th from 7-8pm at Eno Hall in the Youth Room on the lower level.  Click here for more information or contact Loretta at LLincoln@gsofct.org.



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