The Trojan Times
Saint Maria Goretti Catholic School December 15, 2019
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,
A busy week is ahead as we continue to prepare for Christmas during this Advent season and begin the final week of the first semester of the 2019-2020 school year! The 6-8th Grade students will be taking finals Monday through Wednesday this week; on Thursday morning, the 6th-8th Grade Performing Arts students will present, SMG Stars Winter Showcase, at 9:00AM in the Cafetorium. All students will be attending and parents are always welcome!
On Friday morning, students will take a tour around the world getting their "passports" stamped as they visit classroom "countries" during Christmas Around the World. Each grade was assigned a specific country and spent the last several weeks learning about that country's Christmas customs. Students and teachers also decorated the hall outside their classroom to represent that country. A huge thank you to Mrs. Jamison for organizing and putting all of the details (such as the passports) together, and to Mrs. Utendorf for her help as well. Following Christmas Around the World, students will have their classroom Christmas parties, beginning at 11:15AM. Dismissal will be at 12:15PM. There will be no lunch service and no SMEED.
If you are planning to purchase gift cards from your favorite retailers, restaurants, and grocery stores to give for Christmas this year, please consider buying them through our Scrip Gift Card Program. You earn money toward tuition and the school benefits as well. Please see below for details about the three ways to purchase! Tomorrow (Monday) is the last day to purchase cards to be picked up or sent home by Friday, before Christmas break.
Tuesday is the last day to donate a toy for NJHS and Sisters of St. Mary Namur Annual Toy Drive. Please see information in the flyer below.
Save $10 off the price of tickets for the SMG Dinner, Dance and Auction now through December 18, 2019. The annual Dinner, Dance and Auction will take place on Saturday, February 15, 2020. Information and a link to purchase tickets is posted in this newsletter.
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
SMG Annual Toy Drive: Dec. 2-17
Volunteers Needed for Children's Christmas Eve Mass at SMG!
As is our tradition at Saint Maria Goretti, volunteers are needed to participate in this year’s 6pm Children’s Christmas Eve Mass. You will fill the following roles: 4 angels (Grades 1 – 4); 4 shepherds (Grades 1 – 4) Rehearsal will be held on Sunday, December 23rd at 3:00PM in the Church. Participants will be accepted on a first come/first served basis. If you are interested please contact Michelle Hewitt by text at 817-371-9616 or leave a message at the Parish Office (817-274-0643).
Tamales: Orders Due December 16th - Delivered December 20th
Purchase tamales and hot sauce for your holiday festivities. Proceeds from the sale of tamales go to support the SMG Cheerleaders. Cheerleaders will be taking orders, or you may send your order along with payment to school with your child. An order form is available on our school website: https://smgschool.org/documents/2019/12/SMG%20Tamale%20Order%20form.pdf
For questions, contact:
- Ms. Meurer mmeurer@smgschool.org
- Mrs. Paladini spaladini@smgschool.org
Girls of Grace
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REMINDERS
Purchase Holiday Gift Cards Through Scrip at SMG
Scrip is a Gift Card Program that gives back! Purchase gift cards to your favorite stores and restaurants, and they give a portion of the sales back to the school. Currently we give 75% of the profits back to our families for tuition credit. Program runs April 2019-April 2020. There are 3 ways to purchase: Online, Paper Order Form, and during SCRIP Office Hours.
3 WAYS TO ORDER ARE AVAILABLE:
Online: www.ShopWithScrip.com: quick and easy from your computer or personal device. Please note the 3 types of gift cards listed above are available when ordering online. If ordering a physical card, the order must be placed by Monday at 9:00 a.m. for a Friday delivery.
Order Form: All orders must be submitted by 9:00 a.m. on Monday morning to ensure Friday delivery. Only physical cards available.
School: in-stock SCRIP is available for purchase at the school during SCRIP Office Hours. SMG SCRIP Office Hours, Inside Cafetorium doors
- Monday 8:30am-9:00am
- Wednesday 7:45am-8:15am
- Friday 7:45am-8:15am
Order forms must be turned in to the SCRIP coordinator, or the front office, by Monday at 9:00am to receive your order by Friday of that week.
Questions? Contact Olivia Bradley at SCRIP@smgschool.org
The 2019-2020 Annual Fund and End-of-Year Giving
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.
With the end of 2019 just around the corner, this is the opportune time to include the school’s 2019-2020 Annual Fund in your End-of-Year giving. Donations can be made by check (payable to SMG Catholic School), or online by visiting https://smgschool.org/give-now. Every gift counts!
Get Your Discounted 2020 Dinner, Dance and Auction Tickets Today!
The annual SMG Dinner, Dance and Auction is Saturday, February 15, 2020! Purchase your tickets today through December 18, 2019 at the discount price of $40 each--a $10 savings! See below or visit https://smgschool.org/dinner-dance for details!
Nolan Catholic High School Happenings
Online Application is Open
New Student Tuition Assistance Application is NOW OPEN
The application for returning students will open starting December 1. 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.....
SMG Christmas Program 2019
This was a special evening to celebrate Advent and the birth of our Savior. Music teacher, Rachel Richards directed the SMG Christmas Program, “Glory in the Highest”, along with Band director, Chris Cullen. At this special holiday event, we were entertained by 4th-8th grade band students, Pre-K 3 - 5th Grade Music Classes, and our new Cecilian Singers.
Spanish Class: Our Lady of Guadalupe
Under the direction of Spanish Teacher, Mrs. Zavala, 8th grade presented a Readers Theater to the student body in celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, also known as the Virgin of Guadalupe, is celebrated on December 12th. This celebration commemorates the appearance of Mary to the Mexican peasant, Juan Diego, in 1531. For Mexicans and Mexican-Americans as well as other Latinos, Our Lady of Guadalupe is a powerful symbol of devotion, identity, and patriotism. Her image inspires artists, activists, feminists, and the faithful.
4th-5th grade prayer service by Our Lady of Guadalupe's statue
2nd and 3rd had a procession to celebrate the feast day
Kindergarten - 3rd grade made Tilmas just like Juan Diego's
Spanish Class Celebrates Our Lady of Guadalupe with a Procession Through the Halls of SMG
SMG 4th-8th Grade Band Participates in Parade
On Saturday, December 7th, several SMG 4th-8th Grade Band members, along with Band Director, Mr. Cullen, participated in the 47th Annual Richardson Christmas Parade in Richardson, Texas!
Third Grade Elf Traps
Third grade students created, tested, wrote about their elf traps, and finally tested them for quality control!
This elf trap project makes a fun holiday activity for kids and includes all elements of science, ELA, engineering, and math to create a trap that will keep that pesky elf from wrecking your home!
Christmas Shirt and Jeans - Ho! Ho! Ho!
Preparing for Christmas Around the World
Classes are preparing for next Friday's Christmas Around the World by decorating the halls and classrooms and creating decorations for their assigned country. First Grade is getting into the spirit with all things Swedish.
1st Grade Swedish Christmas Troll
The Festival of Lights Celebrated in Sweden
St. Lucia's Day Decoration
6th-8th Grade Christmas Dance
A great time was had by all 6-8th Grade students who attended the Junior High Christmas Dance last Friday evening!
HALLWAY HAPPENINGS
Music Class
Interactive Bulletin Board - What Brings You Joy?
Art Chalk Angels
Junior High History Fair Projects: 1ST, 2ND & 3RD PLACE
8th Grade Math - Coordinated Pairs
4th Grade: Ten Days of Kindness
Make sure to stop by and see what act of kindness you can perform these last ten days of school. Thanks to Mrs. Pfaff for reminding us to practice kindness every day.
A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new tress. ~Amelia Earhart
2nd Grade: Prairie Paper Advertisements
After reading Sarah Plain and Tall, second grade students tried their hand at writing advertisements for the local paper.
1st Grade: The Mitten
First grade is conducting an author study of Jan Brett. An author study is a unit lesson that gives students the opportunity to delve deeply into an author’s life and body of work. After reading The Mitten, students summarized the beginning, middle and end as well as identified the cause and effect aspects of the book.
Kindergarten:
PreK 4: Glory to God in the Highest - SMG Angels
PreK4 : You Can't Catch Me, I'm the Gingerbread Man
PreK3 Reindeers
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, 12/16: Celician Singers 3rd-8th 3:30-4:15PM; PSIA 2nd-8th Spelling CANCELLED; SMG Ballet Folklorico CANCELLED
- Tuesday, 12/17: 6th- 8th Mid Term Exams, PSIA 6th/7th Reading Writing CANCELLED
- Wednesday, 12/18: 6th- 8th Mid Term Exams, PSIA 2nd/3rd Math CANCELLED; PSIA 4th/5th Math CANCELLED; PSIA 1st/2nd Creative Writing CANCELLED; PSIA 4th-6th Maps, Graphs & Charts CANCELLED
- Thursday, 12/19: SMG Stars Performance 9:00AM; Art Club (1st-8th) CANCELLED; PSIA 6th-8th Math CANCELLED; PSIA 3rd-5th Ready Writing CANCELLED; Library Aid Society CANCELLED (lunch meeting instead)
- Friday, 12/20: Christmas Around the World and Homeroom Parties, Tamale orders delivered, 12:15PM Dismissal; No Lunch Service; No SMEED
- Dec. 23 - Jan 6: Christmas Break
- Tuesday, Jan. 7: Classes Resume
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/