The Trojan Times
St. Maria Goretti Catholic School December 11, 2022
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.
St. Maria Goretti Catholic School aims to form what is True, Good, and Beautiful in the souls of our young disciples of Christ.
Principal's Message
Dear St. Maria Goretti Catholic School Families,
It's hard to believe that it is almost Christmas break! Thank you to all of our Christmas elves who made the Christmas Store a success. The kids love to shop for their families. Students will have the opportunity to wear some Christmas gear this week. Please see more details in this Trojan Times.
The junior high will be taking midterm exams this week. Please make sure that students are well-rested, hydrated, and eat breakfast before they come to school. (This is good advice for all our Trojans.)
We are hosting an Open House for new families tomorrow, Monday, December 12, 2022. Please invite any family or friends who may be interested in joining the SMGCS family. See the ad in this edition of the Trojan Times.
This week, we have musical performances from our band and music classes. All are invited to attend.
Remember THIS Friday, December 16th, we have a 12:10 PM dismissal. SMEED will not be available that day. Please make arrangements for your child(ren) to be picked up early on Friday. Thank you for your partnership.
If you or someone you know would like to join the School Advisory Council Catholic Mission Committee please use the link below:
https://forms.gle/EkeeVcUmjHhYxvX68
Our last Trojan Times for 2022 will come out on December 18, 2022. The first edition of the Trojan Times for 2023 will be released on January 8, 2023.
Starting in January, we will no longer be using Jason's Deli for myhotlunchbox. We will switch to Pappa John's pizza. Cane's will still be the Thursday option.
Finally, please save the date for the Dinner Dance, Saturday, January 21, 2023!
Please pray for our teachers.
St. Maria Goretti, Pray for Us!
Blessings,
Amy Utendorf, M.Ed.
Principal
Open House for New Families - December 12th
Las Posadas - December 12th
Join Mrs. Zavala in the Las Posadas tradition Monday, December 12th. RSVP at the Sign Up Genius. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0A4BADA92EA0FC1-lasposadas
The roots of Las Posadas stretch deeply into Latin culture. It originated in Spain, but it’s been a yearly celebration throughout Mexico for over 400 years. The tradition commemorates Mary and Joseph’s difficult journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of a warm place to stay the night. (Posadas is Spanish for “lodgings” or “accommodations.”)
The group representing the Holy Family stands outside a series of houses, singing songs, asking for lodging. They are refused time and again until the group reaches the designated house. Finally, the travelers are permitted to enter. Prayer and song continue in the home, and festive foods are shared.
Jr. High Mid Term Schedule: December 12-15
A Not So Silent Night - December 13
Band students in grades 4th-8th will be performing in the SMGCS gym at 6:30 PM. Please join us for a night of music.
Venue change: we have moved the performance to the SMGCS Cafetorium.
**STUDENTS only will be dropped off at the back doors of the school. Cafetorium doors will open for parents at 6:15 PM.**
Glory to God Christmas Program - December 15th
Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World is a wonderful tradition at SMGCS. Friday, December 16, 2022- Students will visit classrooms highlighting traditions of Christmas around the world.
Dinner Dance - January 21, 2023
Volunteer Opportunities - Earn Spirit Hours
Below are some of the volunteer opportunities available right now! Earn your SPIRIT HOURS & hang out with fellow Trojan families, all while helping SMG. Middle School & Nolan students can earn Service Hours at many of these too!
Sports Website
Visit the Catholic Dioses of Ft. Worth website for sports schedules. Please check the site before a game for any last-minute changes. Games start this Saturday!
SMGCS Hosts Weekend Masses
Please mark your calendars to attend and participate in the Masses this year! All students and their families should plan to attend in their Mass uniforms.
2023 SMGCS Weekend Masses
- ALL weekend Masses January 28-29, 2023
- 11:00 AM Sunday, March 5, 2023
- 1:00 PM Sunday, April 23, 2023
Home and School Corner
Thank you to all the families that attended our Christmas Movie Night. It was a huge success because of everyone who attended. It was truly a blessing to see our families, especially our students, enjoy themselves. We would also like to give a big thank you to all our student volunteers. They did an excellent job handing out the snack, preparing the hot chocolate and grinch juice.
The Padre Pio House was grateful for the sock and glove donations, again a heartfelt thank you to our awesome families.
Christmas Store 2022 was a great success. Thank you to all our volunteers, including those that helped set up, take, down, helped our student shoppers, and our wrappers! We are especially thankful for all the donations throughout the year. We had so many items our students were able to choose from. This was a great opportunity for our wonderful students to learn and practice giving and thinking of others.
Have a very Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year.
We're attaching a list of our teacher's favorite gift cards. We hope this will be helpful to those looking for gift ideas.
https://smgschool.org/documents/2022/12/Fave%20Gift%20Cards.pdf
UTA Social Workers
Nolan Catholic High School Announcements
Dec. 16 Concert
You are invited to our Nolan Catholic Fine Arts Christmas Concert featuring our Band, Jazz Band, Orchestra, Theatre, Choir, Dance, and Ballet Folkorico on Friday, December 16th at 7:00 p.m. It is free for everyone!
Parent Tours
Prospective Parent Coffee & Tour
- Friday, February 3
- Friday, March 31
Last Week at SMGCS
SMG Robotics
Advent
We met for prayer Monday to celebrate the 2nd week of Advent and to discuss SMG's Week of Kindness.
Saint Nicholas Visits SMGCS
SMG students and staff placed one shoe outside the classroom and were treated to a visit by St. Nicholas Tuesday morning.
St. Nicholas was a real saint who bestowed gifts onto others to demonstrate his faith. The most common way to celebrate St. Nicholas Day is to leave shoes out for St. Nicholas to place small gifts in. Traditionally, the gifts are simply small candies or coins. The candy cane is also a symbol of St. Nicholas, representing his staff.
SMG Week of Kindness
Trojans celebrated the Advent season with a week of kindness. Many thanks to UTA Social Worker, Ms. Deanna, for creating fun activities to help us practice kindness.
- Monday: Chalk affirmations
- Tuesday: Kindness paper chain
- Wednesday: Say thank you to someone you love
- Thursday: Be kind to yourself
- Friday: Fill a bucket
A special thank you to Father Mike and Mrs. Utendorf for the kind gift to all SMG students and faculty of a Saint Maria Goretti necklace.
SMGCS Christmas Store
One of our favorite annual traditions is the SMGCS Christmas Store. Students are allowed to purchase gifts for their families which are wrapped by volunteer elves. This is an event students look forward to each year and we appreciate the time and effort our volunteers contribute to make this a special holiday shopping opportunity.
Polar Express
The Polar Express returned again this year, much to the delight of PK through 1st grade students!
Students used their golden ticket to climb aboard the train where they watched the story, Polar Express. Each child was presented with A COLD silver bell, straight from the North Pole. After singing Christmas carols accompanied by their new bells, Polar Express passengers enjoyed refreshments of cookies and hot chocolate and took a souvenir picture of their journey.
Immaculate Conception Mass
SMGCS students and faculty attended a special Mass on Thursday, a Holy Day of Obligation when we celebrate the great things God has done for us through Jesus and the Saints. December 8th celebrates the Immaculate Conception of Mary, that is, our Catholic belief that Mary, by God's grace, was conceived free of original sin. Mary's birthday is celebrated on September 8, nine months later.
Father Mike Spreads Christmas Joy in 2nd Grade
2nd Grade
Mrs. Cruz's class read Christmas Cookie in which a young boy named Jack learns that the family who began the Christmas cookie tradition baked the holiday treats for the needy---and told the story of Jesus' birth while handing them out! A sweet book that encourages kids to become cheerful givers and share the true reason for the season with others.
Students enjoyed drinking milk and eating cookies as they made their own cookies with playdough and a mold. This lesson stimulated imagination, small motor skills and spacing.
Knights of Columbus
Grand Knight, Mr. Gomez, of the Knights of Columbus treated 4th grade to a pizza lunch for having the most in attendance at the Halloween movie night.
I Give Catholic
Eighth grade enjoyed lunch from Chick-fil-A. Their class had the highest grade level donation during iGiveCathlic day. Seventh grade had an ice cream treat for the second highest grade level donation.
Gingerbread House Art - 7th Grade
Cullen Baby Shower
Teachers and faculty hosted a baby shower for Band Teacher, Mr. Cullen, to celebrate the upcoming arrival of his son, Wesley Cullen.
Folklorico Christmas Party
SMG Clubs - Mark Your Calendar!
* * * PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR CLUB SPONSOR * * *
MOST AFTER-SCHOOL CLUBS ARE CANCELLED DURING THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 12-16 DUE TO JUNIOR HIGH MID-TERMS.
Monday
- 3:10-4:30 PM 3rd-8th Cecilian Singers Club 3rd - 8th (Richards)
Dec. 12 NO CLUB, 13 During School, 15 Program at 6:30 PM
- 3:30-4:15 Spanish Club (Zavala)
Dec. 12
- 3:30-4:15 PM PSIA Spelling (Bara)
- 3:30-4:15 PSIA 6th-8th Mathematics (Tran) every 1st/3rd Monday
- 4:00-5:30 Boys' Basketball Practice
Tuesday
- 12:10-12:50 NJHS (Jones) bi-weekly, Begins TBD
- 3:30-4:15 PM PSIA Maps/Graphs/Charts (Daly)
- 3:30-5:00 PM Cheer Practice (Richards)
- 5:00-6:30 Girls' Basketball Practice
- 6:00-7:30 PM Folklorico Club (Zavala)
Wednesday
- 12:09-12:49 STUCO (Daly)
- 3:30-4:30 Garden Club (Risinger/Cruz)
- 3:30-4:15 Rubik Cube Club (Tran/Utendorf)
Jan 11, 25, Feb. 8, 22, March 8, 22, April 12, 26, May 3, 17
- 3:30-4:15 PSIA 2-3rd Mathematics (Tran) every 1st/3rd Wednesday
- 3:30-4:15 Run Club (Gutierrez/Schump)
Dec. 14, Feb. 1, 15, Mar. 1, 29, April 19, May 10
Thursday
- 12:09-12:49 Library Leaders (Richards)
- 3:10-4:30 PM 5th-8th Trojan Troupe Drama Club (Richards)
- 3:30-4:15 PSIA 4th-5th Mathematics (Tran) every 1st/3rd Thursday
- 3:30-4:15 PM PSIA Ready Write (Jones)
- 5:00-6:30 Girls' Basketball Practice
- 4:00-5:30 Boys' Basketball Practice
Calendar Notes
December 11, Sunday: 9:00 AM SMGCS Hosts Weekend Mass
December 12, Monday: 9:00 AM-11:00 AM Open House and again from 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
December 12-15: Jr. High Midterms
December 13, Tuesday: 6:30 PM Band Christmas Concert - Cafetorium
December 14, Wednesday: 3:30 PM -4:30 PM Tamale pick up Saint Maria Center
December 15, Thursday: 6:30 PM Christmas Program in the Church
December 16, Friday: Christmas Around the World, 2nd Quarter Ends, 12:10 Dismissal
December 19-Jan. 2: Christmas Break
January 3, Tuesday: School Resumes
January 13, Friday: 12:10 Early Dismissal
January 16, Monday: MLK Holiday - No School
January 21, Saturday: Storybook Gala Dinner Dance & Auction
January 29, Sunday: Open House, Spaghetti Dinner
January 29-February 3: Catholic Schools Week
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/
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/