The Trojan Times
Saint Maria Goretti Catholic School January 19, 2020
Mission Statement
St. Maria Goretti is a living testament to our Lord's work in His youngest disciples, exemplified by academic excellence, spiritual formation, and compassionate service to others.
Principal's Message
Dear St. Maria Goretti Catholic School Families,
I hope you are all enjoying this long 3-day weekend!
Early Bird Registration & Enrollment for the 2020-2021 school year will open on Tuesday, January 21, 2020. Details including the 2020-2021 tuition rates were communicated last Friday via an email to parents, and a paper copy of the information was sent home in the Friday folders as well. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
We are gearing up for Catholic Schools Week, January 26-February 1, 2020, and will kick off the week with an Open House and the Annual Spaghetti Dinner on Sunday, January 26th. Both events will take place simultaneously from 10AM - 3PM. We are asking that ALL SMG students wear their full-dress (Mass) uniforms to whichever Mass they attend with their families that weekend. We also have several volunteer opportunities and ways to earn service or Spirit hours available. Please see the Catholic Schools Week information and links below for details.
Our Dinner, Dance and Auction committee is busy organizing a fantastic event! Please get your Boots and Bling together and plan to join us for the Dinner, Dance and Auction which will take place on Saturday, February 15, 2020 beginning at 6PM in the Holy Family Life Center. The Dinner Dance is not only one of the school's largest fundraisers of the year, it is a lot of fun!! Tickets can be purchased online (see info below or school website). We look forward to seeing all of you there!
Remember, the school will be closed tomorrow for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Classes will resume on Tuesday. Have a wonderful rest of your Sunday and a great week ahead!
St. Maria Goretti, Pray for Us!
Blessings,
Laura Behee, M.Ed.
Principal
UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Texas Rangers Presentation - Wear Your Ranger T-Shirts!
Representatives from the Texas Rangers Baseball Organization will be on campus Tuesday, January 21 to present the school with a check for the grant we were awarded this fall. The grant will be used to make improvements to the school's baseball/softball field. Students are encouraged to show their team spirit by wearing their favorite Texas Rangers t-shirt or jersey with their uniform pants, shorts, or skirts on Tuesday!
School Open House!
Catholic Schools Week 2020!!
Catholic Schools Week is a time to celebrate our Catholic schools, specifically all that is True, Good, and Beautiful happening at SMG!
Catholic Schools Week at SMG 2020:
- Sunday, January 26th: Catholic Schools Week Begins!
*All SMG Students are asked to wear their Mass Uniforms to any Mass they attend this weekend (Saturday or Sunday);
*Spirit and Service Hour Opportunities: Families and students can earn Spirit or service hours by participating in all Masses as we begin Catholic Schools Week. We are looking for students (grades 4-8) to read and families to bring up the gifts. We are also looking for 6-8th grade student volunteers to hand out invitations to the school Open House after all Masses. Please visit the SignUpGenius on the school website or the following links to sign-up and earn Spirit and/or service hours.
Sign-up for readers and giftbearers: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090448afa82ca7fb6-catholic
Sign-up to hand out Oopen House invites after Masses:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0448ada622a5fe3-6th8th
*Special Collection at Mass to Support Catholic Education in Diocese of FW
*Open House 10AM-3PM: Campus Tours for Prospective Families and Open House for current SMG families.
*Used Uniform & SMG Swag Sale will be open in the cafetorium from 10AM - 3PM. Uniforms and jumpers with the former (Parker) plaid pattern will be on sale at drastically reduced prices! We also still have inventory of brand new SMG fleece jackets, sweaters, and other uniform pieces that will be available at discounted prices as well. Finally, SMG Swag t-shirts, sweat shirts, car magnets, and yard signs will be available for purchase!
*Spaghetti Dinner: See details below.
- Monday, January 27th: Volunteer Appreciation Day. All volunteers are welcome to join us for breakfast and a short performance in the cafetorium beginning at 8AM. Volunteers can RSVP to attend by calling the front office (817) 275-5081 or using the following link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090448AFA82CA7FB6-volunteer
- Tuesday, January 28th: Parent Appreciation Day: Parents, look for a special treat in morning car line today!
- Wednesday, January 29th: Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day: Households Mass at 8:00AM. All are always welcome to join us for mass on Wednedays, but especially encouraged to attend our Household Mass! Thank you to our volunteers who are covering classrooms while faculty/staff enjoys lunch and an entire hour-long lunch break.
- Thursday, January 30th: Community Day: Students will be collecting various items which are needed at Cook Children's Hospital. Specific information regarding items needed will be communicated by homeroom teachers and can also be found further down in this newsletter. Students will also be writing thank you letters to First Responders in our community.
- Friday, January 31st: Student Appreciation Day-Faith Families Assembly beginning at 7:55AM; World Read Aloud Day; the SMG 28-Day Read Aloud Challenge kick off; DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) will be announced twice that morning beginning at 9:15AM. We will announce two lucky winners each hour during DEAR time who will receive $5 Half-Priced Books gift cards. Yo-Yo Presentation at 1:00PM in the cafetorium; Faculty/Staff vs. Students Volleyball Game at 2:00PM in the gym.
The Annual SMG Spaghetti Dinner!
Used Uniform Sale!
The Used Uniform team is also looking for volunteers who will also earn Spirit hours for helping out. Visit the school website or the following link to sign-up!
Community Day: Collecting Items for Cook Children's Hospital
As members of the Body of Christ, we are called to help those in need. We will be hosting a drive to help support Cook Children’s Hospital. Our drive will run from Thursday, January 23, 2020 until ??????.
Our overall school goal is for each student to donate an item to the drive. We would like to encourage the students to make the donation from their own pocket if possible, to acknowledge the gift of health and blessings with which God has blessed them. Each grade level is responsible for a different item for the baskets. The following are items that are needed at Cook Children’s at this time.
Lego sets
Fisher Price Medical Kits
Fisher Price “Little People” toys and dolls
Action figures (Super Heroes, Transformers, etc…)
Playing cards
Infant board books
Infant rattles
Travel size deodorants, toothpastes, shampoo, conditioner and body wash
Fiskar scissors
Ultra Fine Sharpies
School Glue
Stretched Canvas and boards
Playdoh
Adult Coloring Books and Journals
“It’s not how much we give-but how much love we put into giving.”-
Mother Teresa
World Read Aloud Day and the SMG 28-Day Read Aloud Challenge
On Friday, January 31st, we will be celebrating World Read-Aloud Day 2020 which actually takes place this year on February 5th. What is World Read-Aloud Day? Every year on World Read-Aloud Day, children, teens, and adults across the U.S. and in more than 100 countries worldwide celebrate the power of words by reading aloud and sharing stories to promote literacy. At SMG, students will be celebrating by "dropping everything and reading" and listening to stories being read aloud.
We are also using this day to kick-off our second annual St. Maria Goretti Catholic School 28-Day Read-Aloud Challenge! We are challenging students to read aloud for at least 10 minutes each day during the month of February. Students can read to anyone: a sibling, a parent, a grandma, a stuffed animal…..the point is to READ!! All students who complete the challenge will be eligible to win prizes during our Morning Assembly on March 5th.
More information about World Read Aloud Day and how to participate in the 28-Day Read-Aloud Challenge will be communicated as the date draws nearer.
Read Aloud Resources:
Rainy Day Morning Drop Off Procedure--Addendum to the Family Handbook
You talked, we listened! Inclement weather, especially the torrential downpours we experienced last week, make morning drop-off in the back of the school especially difficult and confusing. In an effort to not only clarify, but more importantly for the safety of our students, we have made a change to the morning drop-off procedure during severe, rainy weather. Please follow the link below for specifics and a map outlining the procedure change. This information can also be found on the school website and will be included in next year's Family Handbook.
Rubik's Cube Club
Sign up at the following link https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D45A8AC2FABFD0-rubik
There is Still Time to Join the SMG Running Club
It is not too late to join the SMG Running Club.
These are the official Thursday dates that Running Club will meet:
- Jan. 16, 23
- Feb. 6, 13, 20
- Mar. 5, 19, 26
- April 2, 23, 30
- May 7, 14
Running Club Information Flyer: https://ec-prod-sites.s3.amazonaws.com/12396/documents/2020/1/Running%20Club%20Flyer%202019%202-1.pdf
Running Club Sign-Up Form: https://ec-prod-sites.s3.amazonaws.com/12396/documents/2020/1/Running%20Club%20sign-up%20form%202019%202-1.pdf
Girls of Grace
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Get Your 2020 Dinner, Dance and Auction Tickets Today!
The Annual SMG Dinner, Dance and Auction is Saturday, February 15, 2020! Purchase your tickets today by visiting https://smgschool.org/dinner-dance!
If you have questions about volunteering or just want to learn more about Dinner Dance, please contact Kathy Knowles at this corrected email address:
817-240-2119
REMINDERS
The 2019-2020 Annual Fund
The St. Maria Goretti Catholic School Annual Fund is essential to help fill the gap between tuition and operating expenses. The school’s 2019-2020 Annual Fund helps provide funding for many of the school’s most pressing needs such as academic enhancements, security improvements and updates, professional development for our teachers, and general operating expenses.
Please, prayerfully consider supporting our school through the 2019-2020 Annual Fund. Donations can be made by check (payable to SMG Catholic School), or online by visiting https://smgschool.org/give-now. Every gift counts!
Nolan Catholic High School Happenings
Online Application is Open
New Student Tuition Assistance Application is NOW OPEN
The application for returning students opened December , 2019. Learn More.
Spring Preview
Nolan Catholic High School would like to invite all prospective families, transfer students, and 6th-8th-grade families to our Spring Preview on Friday, March 20, 2020. Families interested in learning more about the admissions process and tuition assistance are encouraged to join us. This two hour event will run from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. beginning in the NCHS Auditorium. Hear from Nolan Catholic Administration, current NCHS families and students, enjoy a campus tour, and leave with a better understanding of why Nolan Catholic is the right educational choice.
Please contact admissions@nchstx.org to schedule a family tour, or for more information.
LAST WEEK AT SMG.....
Spelling Bee
Third through eighth grade students assembled in the cafeteria last Monday to watch the SMG Spelling Bee. Congratulations to winner, Anjali Menezes and runner up, Eliana Moreno. Anjali will represent SMG at the Area Spelling Bee competition on Thursday, February 6th at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School in Keller.
Rounding Up Our Cowpokes for the Boots & Bling Dinner Dance
All students were invited to wear jeans with a western type shirt, boots, and western attire on Friday. The Dinner Dance committee took pictures of students to use as part of a western-themed display at the Dinner Dance on February 15th. Purchase your tickets now! https://smgschool.org/dinner-dance
PK3 - All Things Cold and Wintery
PK4 Practicing Math and Letters
PK 4 students had a busy week building with Duplos, writing letters with shaving cream, and measuring the length of the room with unifix cubes.
1st Grade Science Lesson
First grade students helped Mrs. Girton bury earthworms in the soil as they discussed how these living creatures, created by God, are recyclers. After returning to the classroom, they discussed the similarities and differences between earthworms and gummy worms as they ate the sweet treats. The class enjoyed this creative way of learning the characteristics of living and nonliving things.
1st Grade Author Study
HALLWAY HAPPENINGS
1st Grade Social Studies Lesson: Goods vs. Services
1st Grade Snow Globes
Kindergarten - A Lesson in Love and A Celebration of MLK
PK 4 Practicing Writing Skills
PK4 Learning Patterns
PK3
4th Grade - A New Take on New Year's Resolutions
Music - The Four Seasons
School Website Under Construction
Pardon our reconstruction.....we are in the process of cleaning up and updating the school website. This is a work in progress, and we ask for your patience as we work to improve the site. In the meantime, if you are unable to find information you are looking for on the website, please feel free to call the office.
Calendar Notes
- Monday, 1/20: MLK Holiday - No School
- Tuesday, 1/21: 2020-2021 Early Bird Registration Opens; Texas Rangers Presentation 2:00PM; PSIA 6th/7th Reading Writing 3:30-4:15PM
- Wednesday, 1/22: PSIA 2nd/3rd Math 3:30-4:15PM; PSIA 4th/5th Math 3:30-4:15PM; PSIA 1st/2nd Creative Writing 3:30-4:15PM; PSIA 4th-6th Maps, Graphs & Charts 3:30-4:15PM
- Thursday, 1/23: Running Club (weather permitting); PSIA 6th-8th Math 3:30-4:15PM; PSIA 3rd-5th Ready Writing 3:30-4:15PM; Library Aid Society 3:30-4:15PM
- Sunday, 1/26: Open House and Spaghetti Dinner, 10AM - 3PM; School and HFLC
- Jan. 26-Feb. 1: Catholic Schools Week (see above for details)
- Wednesday, 1/29: Households Mass, 8:00AM
Need Prayers?
We all do!! The St. Maria Goretti Catholic School Community would love to pray for you and your intentions. Please send all prayer requests to: smgprays4u@smgschool.org.
Meet Our Priests!
St. Maria Goretti Parish Website: https://www.smgparish.org/
Fr. Jim Angert, T.O.R.
Fr. Mike Ciski, T.O.R.
Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth
Serving the North Texas Catholic community by providing the faithful opportunities to grow in Christian discipleship and strengthen their relationship with Jesus Christ.
St. Maria Goretti Catholic School
Email: development@smgschool.org
Website: https://smgschool.org
Location: 1200 South Davis Drive, Arlington, TX, USA
Phone: (817)275-5081
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StMariaGorettiArlington/