It is only with the heart that one can see clearly. What is essential is invisible to the eye.

Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupéry

Dear Parents,

Many authors have written about the innocence of childhood and how it is children who see the world as it should be seen. Said so beautifully in Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupéry, the Little Prince helps the reader to understand that what is essential should be seen with the heart and not with the eyes. Anyone who has spent time with young children knows this to be true. When we try to see things with our hearts, the world becomes a better place. Ask any SMS middle school student about their buddies at SMS. They will light up, because they recognize that our youngest friends have so much to offer, and they help us to see the world in a different, and maybe better way. In some ways, summer is the young child of the seasons. People seem to see the world differently, through new eyes. In the summer, moods change, the world seems to feel a bit lighter, and we all seem to take ourselves a bit less seriously. For most of the year, we teach our children and provide structure and routine, logical and step-by-step ways to approach life. Maybe as we approach summer, we can try to see the world through the eyes of our children and learn from them the simple joys that life brings when we slow down a bit and see with our hearts.

God Bless,

Rachel

Monday - SMS Spirit Dress Down Day; Strings; Afterschool - Student Government (ends 3pm)

Tuesday - Grades 6&7 Finals; Band

Wednesday - Grades 6&7 Finals; Grade 5 Wax Museum

Thursday - Conversation with Fr. Lomnitzer; Grades 6&7 Finals; Grade 3 States Fair; Grade 4 Colonial Day; Mrs. Swan PK-3 End of Year Celebration

Friday - Grade 8 Graduation

Monday is an SMS Spirit Dress Down Day! Please note, this is NOT a free dress-down day. Students have the option of wearing:

• SMS spirit wear
• Class color T-shirt or class colors (this is not a competition day, should not wear face paint, tutu's, etc.)
• PE uniform

Please join us on Thursday, 6/15, at 7:30am for our final conversation of the school year with Father Lomnitzer. Meeting will be held in Holy Family Hall. Please rsvp via the link. https://forms.gle/ms5eg2m4zPTF3gue7

Due to the size of the class, only Grades 6 and 7 will attend. Students in Grades 6 and 7 will wear their spring uniforms, NO SNEAKERS! SMS students who are younger siblings of graduates will sit with their families in designated pews. More information will be shared with Grade 8 families on Monday.

The Kona Ice truck will be at SMS on June 15th to help students and staff celebrate the end of the year with a shaved ice party! Kona Ice is known for providing a fun-filled experience with festive music and a variety of flavors! Kona Ice is a nut free, gluten free, and dairy free frozen treat. Additional allergy information can be found at https://www.kona-ice.com/pdf/allergen_ingredients.pdf.

Please join Owen Dunleavy Saturday, June 10 at 3pm for the final event of his Capstone Project, a guided photo scavenger hunt at Woodcock Nature Center. The event is free, but please register to let Owen know you will be coming! For additional details and to register, click here: https://wnc.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/wnc/event.jsp?event=4891&

Congratulations to SMS students Blake Pylypshyn and Juliana Ericson and SMS parent Mike Pylypshyn who were 3 of the 4 winners in the Woodcock Nature Center Spring Photo Contest, recently organized by Owen Dunleavy with Woodcock as part of his Capstone project. Their photos will soon be displayed in the pavilion at Woodcock until next spring. To see their winning photos, click here:

https://www.woodcocknaturecenter.org/photocontest?fbclid=IwAR19WaL2EN3YZNo30wmxqt5AY6S3rTinRl7GryBUtPMiQgSfmWtD4gGbl8c

Registration is open for St. Mary Parish Vacation Bible School, which takes place July 24-28, from 9am-12pm. VBS is available for campers entering K-5th grade AND junior leaders entering 6-12th in the fall.

For information and registration, please visit: https://smcr.org/vbs-vacation-bible-school

To help families spend time together and share common experiences, The Leadership Institute of the Diocese of Bridgeport provides recommendations for Family Movie Night. Each week, a new movie recommendation and explanation are available for your consideration. Click here for recent suggestions, including this week's suggestion, "Harriet the Spy".

11-year-old Harriet is obsessed with spying on her neighbors and writing down everything she learns, aspiring to observe and learn everything she can. When she’s not writing, she’s hanging out with her best friends or her playful nanny Golly. But her world begins changing when her nanny decides it’s time to move on. Harriet the Spy mixes comedy and drama, ultimately encouraging honesty, treating each other with kindness, and apologizing to and forgiving each other when we mess up. It’s family friendly but does include some crude humor and mild language.

• 20% off uniforms from July7-August 11
• 1 cent logos from July 7-July 14

Immaculate High School invites all area students in Grades 6-12 to take advantage of its Summer Enrichment Program June 20-29, 2023. The courses - which include HSPT prep, math, biology, STEM, English and College Essay Writing - offer students an opportunity to learn and grow over the summer while providing extra instructional time. Classes are open to middle school and high school students. See link for information on fees and program: Summer at Immaculate - Immaculate High School (immaculatehs.org)