The Trojan Times
St. Maria Goretti Catholic School August 23, 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.
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,
Happy Sunday! I hope you all are enjoying your weekend and are feeling recharged to begin a new week!
This week begins our second full week of school and is the week we typically welcome our parents to campus for Back to School Night. While we have had the date on the calendar and had hoped to be able to host a live event, in the interest of everyone's safety, we have made the decision to cancel the live event. Alternately, we are working on a Back to School Night video presentation that will include information from all teachers regarding classroom expectations, routines, contact information, and happenings. I will post the video in next week's Trojan TImes, on the school website, and will also email the link to all school parents on Monday, 8/31.
Trojan Spirit Wear is on sale through this Friday, 8/28. There are several exciting new designs and items, including masks, decals, yard signs, and drawstring bags. All orders will be delivered to the school on September 8th. Show your Trojan Pride and place your order using the link in the ad below!
Several of you have asked about ways to earn SPIRIT Hours this year, especially since this year's Kountry Karnival has been canceled. Rest assured, we still need your help! We are working on a few opportunities to earn SPIRIT Hours and will be posting them on the school website in the coming weeks.
The teachers are doing a terrific job delivering instruction to both students learning on-campus in the classrooms and remotely in the virtual classroom. However, though we have worked to make the best of the situation, it is not perfect and is ideal for no one. The pandemic has drastically changed the ways in which we deliver instruction, the ways we interact with each other, and the ways in which we go about our daily lives. It has been and continues to be an adjustment for all of us. It is my hope and prayer that we continue to support each other - students, teachers, staff, and parents - with grace and understanding.
St. Maria Goretti, Pray for Us!
Blessings,
Laura Behee, M.Ed.
Principal
Final Week to Order Trojan Spirit Wear!
Check out the new collection of Trojan Spirit Wear available for purchase on our virtual store! There are exciting new designs on t-shirts, sweatshirts, drawstring bags, and even masks! Click on the link below and place orders before the store closes on August 28th.
Arrival & Dismissal Procedures
School Day Schedule and Arrival/Dismissal Procedures
Morning Arrival and Afternoon Dismissal moved along fairly well last week, considering all of the protocols and procedures we have put in place related to COVID-19. Please remember: 1.) ALL students (PK - 8th) must be dropped off in the morning using the morning carline in the back (west) parking lot; 2.) Parents/guardians may not enter the building to walk their students to the classroom. We will again have our Junior High Safety Patrol students and plenty of faculty/staff in the back lot during carline to walk little ones to their classrooms. Please understand, this is in an effort to limit the number of people entering and moving through the building for the safety of all our students, faculty, and staff; and 3.) Parents/guardians must download the Healthy Together app on their cell phone. Parents/guardians must show the completed screening to car line personnel each morning before their children will be allowed out of the car to enter the school.
The entire arrival and dismissal procedures can be found on the link below and is also outlined in the SMG Family Handbook, which is now available on the school website. Please Note: There may be changes to the Arrival/Dismissal procedures as we begin the school year and adjust to the safety protocols we must adhere to due to COVID-19. Any necessary changes to the Arrival/Dismissal procedures will of course be communicated to parents.
Arrival/Dismissal Procedures: https://smgschool.org/documents/2020/8/Arrival%20%20Dismissal%20During%20COVID%20%20Addendum.pdf
Healthy Together App
By now, most have downloaded the free Healthy Together app (found in the App Store). Please continue to complete the app before arriving in carline and be ready to show the completed screening to a faculty/staff member on duty in carline each morning. Multiple students can conveniently be added to one app. Please call the front office if you have any questions about how to install the app.
New Lunch Order Procedure
Our lunch service, Food for Life, has changed the procedure for placing lunch orders and is now requiring that all lunch orders be placed at least the day before. Therefore, we are no longer able to accept lunch orders for the day each morning. For example, lunch orders for Mondays need to be placed by Friday, etc. As a result, we have created a lunch order form that will be texted on Thursday afternoon/evening each week, which will allow parents/students to place lunch orders for the upcoming week. It will also be on the school website and in the weekly Trojan Times. The form has a link with the menu attached as well.
Click below for the order form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/158sU11aPQjq6Q54DemJLI9pX7774nkODrpVeORnaZGw/edit?usp=sharing
New School Mass Time on Wednesdays: 9:30AM
Until further notice, students will be attending Mass on Wednesday mornings at 9:30AM, instead of 8:00AM. The mandated social distancing requires more pews than are available at the 8:00AM Mass. The Mass will continued to be live-streamed on the school Facebook page (facebook@StMariaGorettiArlington), or can be accessed on the the church website (smgparish.org).
Student Email Accounts and Google Classroom
All students, whether learning On-Campus or via Distance Learning, have school email accounts that they generally access during computer class, and will also need to access Google Classroom. Last Friday, parents of students in Grades 4th - 8th who are attending classes On-Campus were sent information and instructions for their student(s) to access their email accounts, log-in to Google Classroom, and create a bookmark on their home devices. Students will also be given this information during computer class this week, as many 4th-8th Grade teachers provide feedback on assignments, etc. to students via Google Classroom. As well, being familiar with logging in to Google Classroom will be helpful should we ever need to move to distance learning during the school year. If you did not receive your student's log-in information or have questions, please contact Mrs. Daly (jdaly@smgschool.org).
As well, please check out the following tutorial for detailed instructions on signing into Google Classroom.
SMG 2020-2021Family Handbook
The 2020-2021 Family Handbook has been updated and has been posted on the school website (http://smgschool.org). Please note, there was an addendum related to COVID-19 placed at the end of the handbook, before the acknowledgement page. Please be sure to read the handbook then print, sign, and return the acknowledgement form at the back of the handbook indicating that you have read and understand the handbook. A signed acknowledgement form from each family is due back to the school by Friday, August 28th.
2020-2021 Academic Calendar
Please click on the following link to view the 2020-2021 Academic Calendar. It can also be found on the school website at smgschool.org.
https://smgschool.org/documents/2020/5/SMG%202020-2021%20Academic%20Calendar%202.pdf
Kountry Karnival 2020 Raffle Tickets on Sale Tomorrow!
COVID-19: Safety Procedures and Protocols
Please see the SMG Safe Return to School plan that was sent to all school families last week, by clicking the following link.
Virtus Training
VIRTUS Safe Environment training for volunteers will begin to expire in September 2020. Parent volunteers will need to renew their VIRTUS training in order to continue volunteering. The VIRTUS renewal program is called "Keeping the Promise Alive" and must be attended in order to keep Safe Environment status current. Our school Safe Environment coordinator will email parents with information for how to register for a renewal session. Please email smalloy@smgschool.org with any questions.
Mark Your Calendar-Spirit (Dine Out) Night at Danielita's!
Please mark your calendar to join us at Danielita's for our first Spirit (Dine-Out) Night of the school year, Wednesday, September 16th!
Box Tops - Earn Money for SMG!
Box Tops makes it easy for families to earn cash for schools and help teachers get the supplies they need. Traditional Box Tops clips are being phased out of production, but may continue to be found on many products throughout the store. Although you may still clip coupons, there is a NEW and EASY method:
- Create a Box Tops for Education account via the Box Tops app or website - View the video: How it Works, Join For Free
- Buy Box Top Products
- Use your app to scan the store receipt within 14 days of purchase -View the video: How to Scan
2020-2021 Enrollment & Registration
Registration & Enrollment for the 2020-2021 school year can be found on our school website. There are still spots available at most grade-levels. As a reminder, tuition assistance is available and we are committed to making a Catholic education a reality for any family who wishes one for their child(ren). Please contact Mrs. Behee (lbehee@smgschool) or our Registrar, Mrs. de la Pena (jdelapena@smgschool.org) with any questions or concerns.
Last Week at SMG.....
Individual Yearbook Pictures
Glamourcraft was on campus Wednesday for Picture Day! All students were photographed for the school yearbook. Individual photographs will be emailed to parents in approximately 2-3 weeks, allowing you to view and purchase your portrait packages online. All packages will be shipped directly to your home and are 100% guaranteed. If your student missed picture day last week, please mark your calendar for Picture Make-Up Day, Wednesday, October 14, 2020.
Kindergarten
Kindergarten Distance Learners Getting to Know Each Other
Wednesday Mass in Kindergarten Classrooms
The mandated COVID social distancing requires more pews than are available in the church for Wednesday Mass. So for the time being, Kindergarten is participating by watching the live stream of Mass from their classroom.
First Grade
First graders have been listening to Frog and Toad stories by Arnold Lobel. They described and compared the characters, then decided if they were more like Frog or Toad. The headband shows which they chose: green for Frog, brown for Toad.
Third Grade
Third grade students listened to Aaron Copeland and drew pictures of what comes to mind when hearing this famous composer's music. Learn more about Aaron Copeland at this web site: https://www.biography.com/musician/aaron-copland
SMG Hallway Happenings
Alleluia Banners
SMG students made Alleluia Banners before our Mardri Gras celebration last spring, then retired them for Lent. We anticipated returning from Easter Break and celebrating by breaking out our banners. The pandemic and required quarantine made that impossible. Instead, we recently hung our banners in the hallway to celebrate our return to school. Alleluia!
Kindergarten - Check Out the "Cool" Things Kindergarten Did Over the Summer
1st Grade - First Grade Rules!
5th Grade
Fifth grade students have already written their first book report! Some students chose to write journal entries as the book's character, other created a time line of the story. All were beautifully illustrated. Check out their quality work.
Calendar Notes
- Tuesday, 8/25: Back to School Night - CANCELLED
Friday, 8/28: Signed Family Handbook acknowledgement form from each family due back to the school, Last day to order from Trojan Spirit Wear Store
- Monday, 9/7: Labor Day - No School
- Wednesday, 9/16: SMG Spirit (Dine-Out) Night at Danielita's
- Thursday, 9/17: North Texas Giving Day!
- Friday, 9/18: Early Dismissal at 12:10PM - No Lunch Service - Progress Reports Emailed
- Sunday, 10/4: Kountry Karnival 2020 Raffle Drawing
- Friday, 10/9: 1st Quarter Ends
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.
Like Us on Face Book!
We are hoping to update our official Facebook page with some more recent, positive reviews, likes, and shares. Please visit our official Facebook page (Facebook@StMariaGorettiArlington) and help us spread the word about our great Catholic school!
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/