Trojan Times
St. Maria Goretti Catholic School November 4, 2018
Mission Statement
Principal's Message
What a fantastic week we had at SMG last week as we prepared for and celebrated All Saints Day last Thursday! The Pre-K and Kindergarten students were precious dressed as angels, and 1st-4th Grade students went "all out" dressed as their favorite saints. They did a fantastic job processing during the Litany of Saints and again as we began Mass. The 5th-6th Grade students were so creative with their Soda Bottle Saints (yes, there was even a bobble-head saint!); and the 7th-8th Grade students' Living Saint Museum was so impressive! What a beautiful expression and opportunity to come together as a school family to celebrate our Catholic faith. Thank you to all of our wonderful teachers, parents, and students for all of your work to bring the experience alive and for making the celebration so meaningful!
This week, we will celebrate Veterans Day on Friday, November 9th. We will begin the day with Mass at 8:00AM, followed by our Veterans Day Assembly and Flag Retirement Ceremony in the gym. Please feel free to join us for Mass and the Veterans Day program as we celebrate the men and women who have served, or are currently serving our country. (*We will not attend Mass together on Wednesday this week).
Finally, the road construction on Davis Drive continues to make arrival and dismissal each morning and afternoon very difficult. We have been informed by the City of Arlington that beginning Tuesday, they will begin laying asphalt, creating an even more challenging traffic situation. They have suggested that parents park in the Benge Street parking lot and walk across the street to drop-off and pick up their students. We have again requested help, even a flagman, to help with the flow of traffic during the construction, but so far have not been able to secure such help. I wish there was a better solution to the situation, but for now, it is critical that we all work together and exercise patience to insure that students arrive and depart safely each day to and from school. On Monday, we will continue with the same arrival/dismissal procedures we followed last week. However, please remember to walk your student(s) to the back door if you are dropping off in the west lot. Do NOT let students walk unattended across the lot. As well, I will keep you updated via emails or text alerts of any last minute change(s) in arrival and dismissal procedures as the construction continues.
Tomorrow morning is our November First Monday Morning Assembly. We come together as a school to pray and talk about the virtue of the month, which for November is Stewardship. What a appropriate virtue on which to focus as we begin the holiday season and the coming of Advent. A few saints who exemplified the virtue of stewardship are described below and your students will be learning more about them this month. We will also once again this year, be hosting the annual Thanksgiving Food Basket Drive--a perfect way for students to practice the virtue of stewardship this month! Please see details on the event below.
Have a wonderful rest of your weekend and a terrific week ahead!
St. Maria Goretti, Pray for Us!
Blessings,
Laura Behee, M.Ed.
Principal
November Virtue-Stewardship
There were many saints who exemplified the virtue of stewardship. Three that we are going to be learning more about this month are:
- St. Elizabeth of Hungary - Feast Day: November 17th - St. Elizabeth was the daughter of a king and married a prince who became king. She had many treasures. But during her life, she spent her money to feed the poor people in her kingdom. She even had a hospital built near her castle!
- Blessed John of Fiesole - Feast Day: February 18th - Blessed John of Fiesole joined the Order of Preachers as a young man. He was a very talented artist and he believed that to paint a true image of Jesus Christ, the painter had to be Christ-like, and so he began all of his paintings with prayer. The beauty and the prayerfulness of his paintings earned him the nickname "Brother Angel", or Fra Angelico.
- St. Joseph Moscati - Feast Day: November 16th - St. John Moscati was a physician who had a reputation as a dedicated and compassionate doctor. He was a man of deep faith who took a private vow of chastity and attended Mass daily. St. Joseph Moscati saw his chief medical responsibility as contributing to the alleviation of suffering. Many time his ability to heal his patients involved their own faith and reception of the sacraments. Miraculous cures were attributed to Dr. Moscati's treatment of patients while he was still living, and after his death in 1927, prayers asking for his intercessions were granted many times.
For more information on the Virtues in Practice Program, visit https://www.nashvilledominican.org/apostolate/evangelization-and-catechesis/virtues-in-practice/
Celebrating All Saints Day
SMG Facelift!
Annual Thanksgiving Food Basket Drive
Our overall school goal is for each student to bring $1.00 to help defray the cost of buying turkeys. We would like to encourage the students to make the donation from their own pockets if possible, as an offering of Thanksgiving for all that God has blessed them with over the past year.
Along with the $1.00 donation, we are asking that students bring in one specific item for the baskets. Each grade-level is responsible for a different item for the baskets:
- Pre-Kindergarten: 1 Box of Mashed Potatoes
- Kindergarten: 2 Cans or Packages of Gravy Mix
- 1st Grade: Boxed Pie Crust Mix
- 2nd Grade: 2 Cans of Pie Filling
- 3rd Grade: 16 oz. package of Stuffing Mix
- 4th Grade: 2 Cans of Cranberry Sauce
- 5th Grade: 2 Cans of Vegetables (same type)
- 6th Grade: Small Bottle of Cooking Oil
- 7th Grade: 2 Cans of Fruit (same type)
- 8th Grade: 2 Cans of Creamed Soup (same type)
"It's not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving" - Mother Teresa
Veterans Day Celebration 2018
Nolan Catholic High School 8th Grade Parent Information Night
As well, parents of 8th Grade students who would like to meet with Mrs. Rios privately to discuss financials, etc., may schedule an appointment to meet with her earlier that afternoon. Please check an earlier email that was sent to 8th Grade parents with the Sign-Up Genius link to sign up, or contact the front office to check availability of appointments.
Christmas Store 2018
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas (almost)!
We are gearing up for the Christmas Store and are in need of some donations to make sure that our elves have plenty of supplies.
Requested Donation Supplies:
- Scotch tape
- Grocery bags (plastic and paper /all sizes needed)
- Price tags
- Bike bags (to be used for larger items)
- Paper lunch bags (white, brown, or any Christmas colors)
- Gift tags
Please drop off all donations to the front office no later than November 16th. Thank you for your continued support!
If you have any questions about the Christmas Store, please contact chairs Jessica Geisel (817) 691-4623 or Andrea Freeman (817) 721-8771
What is the Christmas Store?
During the first week of December, students will be given the opportunity to purchase Christmas gifts for loved ones at Santa’s Workshop during a scheduled time slot with their class. More information will be sent out in the upcoming weeks. Stay tuned and remember Buddy the Elf says that the best way to spread Christmas cheer is by singing loud for all to hear!
Mills Uniform Sale
Dine Out Night-Spring Creek Barbecue
Catapult Family Math Night
You are Invited to a Title I Workshop:
Family Math Games
When: Thursday, November 29th
Where: St. Maria Catholic School Cafetorium
Time: 6:00PM-7:00PM
This is a FREE WORKSHOP!
Join us to learn more about:
Utilizing Math at Home in Fun Ways
Tips for Incorporating Math at Home
Multiple Math Game Ideas
Make and Take-Dice Games, Card Games, etc.
Dinner, Dance, and Auction 2019!
Save the Date and come Back to the 80's with us at this year's Dinner, Dance, and Auction on Saturday, February 2, 2019. We are now taking donations of $25.00 Restaurant Gift Cards to use for game prizes at the Dinner, Dance, and Auction. Volunteer hours will be earned for each gift card donation. Please see the ad below for details!
Interested in sponsoring a table or donating an item for the auction? To find out how, please visit https://www.smgschool.org/dinner-dance. As well, please watch the Trojan Times and the school website for updates and ways to get involved!
Calendar Notes
- Monday, November 5th: First Monday Morning Assembly @ 7:50AM in Cafetorium
- Thursday, November 8th: Nolan Catholic High School Information Night Presentation to 8th Grade Parents @ 6:00PM in Cafetorium
- Friday, November 9th: Mass @ 8AM - Students in Dress Uniform
- Friday, November 9th: Veterans Day Assembly @ 9:15AM in Gym
- Monday, November 12th: Home & School Association General Meeting @ 7PM in Cafetorium - Cassata Catholic High School Informational Presentation to Parents
- Wednesday, November 14th: Dine-Out Night at Spring Creek Barbecue 5-9PM