The Trojan Times
Saint Maria Goretti Catholic School October 6, 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,
October is shaping up to be a very busy month, beginning with Kountry Karnival this weekend! Please be sure to read the Trojan Times, email communications, the school website, and Facebook page to keep up with all that is happening!
Just a reminder that we will have a regular start time to the school day tomorrow. As well, tomorrow we will celebrate the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary by praying a Living Rosary led by the 7th and 8th grade students. The Living Rosary will begin at 9:30AM in the church. Parents and guests who plan to attend should report directly to the church, not to the school office. We hope to see you there!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
St. Maria Goretti, Pray for Us!
Blessings,
Laura Behee, M.Ed.
Principal
REMEMBER: REGULAR START TIME TOMORROW MORNING!!
Upcoming Events and Activities
SMG Art Club
We are excited to announce the formation of the SMG Art Club, and after school enrichment art club for 1st-5th Grade students, that will begin Thursday, October 10th! This is an 8-week session where peer mentors (6th, 7th, and 8th grade students) will work in pairs to co-lead groups of 4-6 younger students in weekly sessions in which students will be exploring a variety of art medium through exciting hands-on art making experiences.
Please follow the link below for more information, as well as a SignUpGenius link to sign up.
https://d2y1pz2y630308.cloudfront.net/12396/documents/2019/9/SMG%20Art%20Club%202019.pdf
Save the Date: Join Us for A Parent’s Introduction to Classical Education
What is Classical Education? What makes an education “Classical”? How does a Catholic Classical Curriculum form students to identify Truth, Goodness, and Beauty? For answers to these and other questions about Classical Education, Join us as DeAnn Stuart, Ph.D. presents on this topic!
When: Monday, October 14, 2019
Time: 6:30PM
Where: SMG Catholic School Cafetorium
Sponsored by the SMG Catholic School Home & School Association
Note: Parents/Adults only please.
Sign Up to attend at:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0448ADA622A5FE3-introduction
DeAnn Barta Stuart earned her B.A. and M.Hum. from the University of Dallas and her Ph.D. in English Literature from Baylor University. Over the years, she has received various teaching awards at the middle school, high school, and college levels and has spearheaded curriculum-writing teams and mentored new teachers at all levels. She currently works as Associate Director at the Austin Institute for the Study of Family and Culture and as a consultant to Catholic schools transitioning to the classical model within the Austin Diocese. DeAnn loves to host dinners with her husband and to go on long walks with her two-year-old son.
SMG Fall Book Fair: Oct. 18-24
The Book Fair is right around the corner- October 21-25, 2019. If you would like to volunteer, please send Mrs. Cottingham an email at mbcottingham@smgschool.org, and she will find you a spot. Also, Save the Date for Donuts with Dad - Tuesday, October 22nd; doors open at 7:15AM. Mrs. Cottingham will be sending out more information about the book fair soon!
Outdoor Learning Center
Excavation for the Outdoor Learning Center & Garden is scheduled to begin in October, and we need your help! If you are interested in helping to build raised beds, install edging, planning, and helping to maintain the garden, please email Mrs. Behee (lbehee@smgschool.org).
Nolan Catholic High School Happenings
A lot is happening at Nolan Catholic High School this month!
Online Application Opens
Tuesday, October 1st
Please contact admissions@nchstx.org to schedule a family tour, 8th-grade Shadow Day, or for more information.
Theatre Nolan Fall Play | You Can’t Take It With You
October 2nd, 3rd, and 5th at 7:00 p.m.
Nolan Catholic Auditorium
Students: $5.00
Adults: $8.00
Purchase Tickets Online
7th-grade Vikathon
Wednesday, October 16 from 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Homecoming
Friday, October 11 at 7:00 p.m.
Nolan Catholic Vikings vs Liberty Christian Warriors
Doskocil Stadium
On Friday, October 11 there will be carnival games starting at 7:00 p.m. on the baseball field and throughout the football game. These games are free to all students with admission to the game.
Parent Information Night
Wednesday, October 23 at 6:30 p.m.
Nolan Catholic Library
This is an opportunity for prospective families to hear from the administration about the school’s mission, educational goals, and campus improvements. You will also have the opportunity to speak with members of the Admissions Department about the application process and how your student can become a Viking.
Ballet Folklorico - Singing-Dancing-Dinner
Visit the following site for tickets: https://www.facebook.com/NolanCatholicHighSchoolOfficialPage
REMINDERS
Uniform Requirement: Cardigan Sweaters
Students must have the required cardigan sweater as part of the Full Dress/Mass Uniform by Wednesday, October 9th. Those out of uniform will be issued a uniform demerit and parents will be notified. Students in PK-5 wear the red sweaters and 6-8 grade students wear the navy blue sweaters. Please visit Mills Uniforms to purchase at https://www.millswear.com/UPL/3424.upl.html.
Wear your Spirit Wear every Friday!
SMG Spirit Wear (SMG School, Student Council, Honor Society, etc.) may be worn with uniform bottoms on Fridays throughout the school year unless otherwise specified.
Virtus Training
All school volunteers over the age of 18 must complete the required Diocesan Safe Environment training, also referred to as VIRTUS training, prior to volunteering.
This training consists of an in person class and a criminal background check. After completing the training, your certification is good for 2 years. After 2 years, you will need to complete a renewal course. You may not volunteer at school until we receive notification of your completion of the training course, and until your background check clears. This includes all school related activities such as lunch monitor, playground monitor, field trip chaperone, class party helper, library volunteer, Kountry Karnival worker, and many other opportunities.
**You may not volunteer in any capacity without first completing this training. You will not receive SPIRIT hour credit for hours completed without training.
Here is the link to set up a VIRTUS account and to sign up to attend a session.
https://fwdioc.org/training-sessions
You may register and attend a session at any parish in the Fort Worth diocese. Please email smalloy@smgschool.org if you have any questions or need assistance. Thank you!
LAST WEEK AT SMG.....
Priesthood Sunday
Last Sunday, September 29th was Priesthood Sunday 2019, a day set aside to honor the priesthood in the United States. It is a day to reflect upon and affirm the role of the priesthood in the life of the Church as a central one. We are especially thankful for our Pastor, Fr. Jim Angert, T.O.R. and Parochial Vicar, Fr. Mike Ciski, T.O.R. To recognize our Priests, Saint Maria Goretti School presented Father Jim and Father Mike with a book of thanks created by our students, along with a few other goodies. St. Maria Goretti, Pray for Us!
Faith Families
Faculty and students came together for our Faith Families morning assembly on Monday! We discussed the virtue we will be studying during the month of October, Studiousness, and we discussed Saints.
We talked about:
- What is a saint?
- Some saints whose lives were great examples of the virtue of Studiousness
- Seven characteristics of saints
- St. Jerome (whose Feast Day is today)
- Can we all be a saint some day?
After the large group assembly, students moved into their small, Faith Family groups where their Faith Family leaders (teachers) further discussed Saints. Students learned more about the particular saint for which their Faith Family is named, watched a short video about that saint, and worked together to create a poster “shrine” of their Faith Family saint.
Pet Blessings: “All praise to you, Oh Lord, for all these brother and sister creatures.”
2nd Grade Tower Building Challenge
Second grade students were given the following criteria: Build a tower 45 cm tall, which is able to withstand a fan on low. Our budding scientists accepted the challenged and excelled!
SMG Alumni/Boy Scouts Help Fellow Hiker
During the spring break Carlesbad, Guadalupe Peak camp out, the Philmont crew helped a Solo hiker, Jamie Bone, during some of the more challenging weather they encountered when they were camping at the Peak.
After she returned to Kansas, Bone wrote an article to Scouting Magazine. Bryan Wendell, who is a Scout Adult Blogger for the magazine, read the story and decided to post it on his blog. It is now available through this link.
We are proud of our Saint Maria Goretti graduates and the Boy Scout Troop:
- Michael B., 15, Star Scout
- Brian L., 14, Life Scout
- Chad L., 14, Life Scout
- Andy Z., 14, Star Scout
- Tim N., 14, Second Class
- Affan H., 14, Second Class
- Keegan V., 14, Life Scout
PK4 - Hey Diddle Diddle Nursery Rhyme Fun
3rd Grade Serving by Carrying the Gifts at Mass
Hallway Happenings
PK3 - All About Me
Jr. High Subject Verb Agreement
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, 10/7: Art Club Student "Faculty" Mtg (6th-8th only) 3:30, Robotics 6:00-7:30PM
- Wednesday, 10/9: Cardigan Sweater required at mass (Navy Blue: 6th-8th, Red: PK-5th)
- Thursday, 10/10: SMG Art Club (1st-8th) 3:30-4:20PM
- Friday, 10/11: Pep Rally, 2:00PM; End of First Quarter
- Monday, 10/14: Art Club Student Faculty Mtg (6th-8th only),3:30PM Robotics CANCELLED, A Parent's Introduction to Classical Education Presentation-6:30PM in the Cafetorium
- Tuesday, 10/15: 8th Grade Shadow Day at Nolan Catholic High School
- Wednesday, 10/16: 7th Grade Vikathon at Nolan Catholic High School
- Thursday, 10/17: SMG Art Club (1st-8th) 3:30-4:20PM, Nolan Catholic High School Parent Information Night - 6:30-7:30PM in the SMG Cafetorium
- Friday, 10/18: Robotics 3:30-6:30PM; SMG Fall Book Fair Begins
- Friday, 10/18-Thursday, 10/24: SMG Fall Book Fair
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/