The Trojan Times
Saint Maria Goretti Catholic School September 1, 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,
Happy Sunday!
In this edition of the Trojan Times, please find the following information:
- September Virtue: Hope
- Mills Uniform Company Labor Day Sale
- Good Luck Grams
- Hometown Huddle PSA video and volunteers
- North Texas Giving Day
- Kountry Karnival T-Shirts
- Register for KK Fun Run
- KK Wish List
- SMG Family Handbook **Note Birthday dress policy
- Scrip Program
- Happenings Last Week at SMG
I hope you all enjoy the rest of the long holiday weekend.
St. Maria Goretti, Pray for Us!
Blessings,
Laura Behee, M.Ed.
Principal
SEPTEMBER VIRTUE: HOPE
Hope is the virtue of the month for September. The theological virtue of hope, given to us in baptism and strengthened as we grow in faith, is very different from the way we often use the work “hope”. Usually, we say “hope” when we mean “wish” or “want”. Christian hope does not mean a wish, but a certainty - a trust in God’s promise that He has created us to be with Him in heaven and that He will help us reach our final destination. The virtue of hope enables us to suffer with joy in this life, knowing that even when the things that happen to us are difficult, the Lord will use them for our salvation. There are many saints who exemplified the virtue of hope. Three who we are going to be learning more about this month are:
St. Joseph: Feast Days - March 19 and May 1
Saint Joseph loved Jesus and took care of Him, even when Jesus’ life was in danger. The evil King Herod wanted to kill the baby Jesus. So God told Saint Joseph in a dream to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt, where they would be safe. Saint Joseph trusted what God said and did what God asked. The way was long and hard, but God kept His promise and the Holy Family was safe in Egypt.
Sts. Louis and Zellie Martin: Feast Day - March 12
Louis Martin and Marie-Azelie Guerin (Zelie) both felt called to the religious life. Louis, son of a devout French Army officer, attended Catholic schools and decided as a young man to enter the Great Saint Bernard Hospice as a lay brother. However, unable to master the Latin required for entrance to the community, he gave up his dream and instead concentrated on his business of watchmaking. At the same time, young Zelie Guerin determined to follow her sister’s example and join the Daughter of Charity, but was refused. Saddened by this rejection, Zelie trained herself in the art of making lace, coming to the attention of Louis Martin’s mother, who believed Zelie would be the perfect match for her son! Louis and Zelie trusted in God’s unfolding plan for their lives, were married, and happily welcomed the nine children God gave them, directing all their efforts toward the sanctification of their family. They taught their children to love God first and always, and to give Him a true offering of their lives in the ordinary events of every day. Perhaps the greatest testimony of the unfailing hope of this holy couple is that of one of their own daughters Saint Therese of Lisieux, who considered her parents “more worthy of heaven than of the earth.” Louis and Zelie Martin were the second married couple to be beatified together.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton: Feast Day - January 4
Elizabeth Ann Bayley was born in New York city to a wealthy Episcopalian family. Elizabeth married William Seton and became the happy mother of five children. Her life seemed full and complete when tragedy struck: her husband’s business failed, and he himself died soon after. For many years Elizabeth had felt drawn to the Catholic faith, especially to Jesus’ real presence in the Eucharist. Placing all her hope in God, the poor young widow was received into the Catholic church, at which point her family and friends deserted her. Left with no support for herself or her children, she opened a private school to earn money. She was so good at what she did that the archbishop of Baltimore asked her to open a Catholic girls’ school, which became the first Catholic parish school in America. She was also the first canonized American-born saint.
For more information on the Virtues in Practice Program, visit:
https://www.nashvilledominican.org/apostolate/evangelization-and-catechesis/virtues-in-practice/
Mills Uniform Company Labor Day Special!
Still need to purchase a few new uniform pieces, like the mandatory cardigan sweater by October 1st? Check out the Labor Day Special at Mills Uniform Company!
Please visit the Mills Uniforms website for specific SMG uniform requirements (http://www.millswear.com). Use SMG school code 3424.
Mills' local store is located in the Arlington/Fort Worth area:
Mills Uniform Company
5460 E. Loop 820 S.
Ft. Worth, TX 76119
Phone: (817) 563-7100
Good Luck Grams
Student Council will run a fundraiser in coordination with IOWA testing next week. "Good'-Luck grams will be on sale for 50¢ each. The grams will be a message of your choice and will come with a Dum-Dum lollipop. Order forms went home in Friday folders to the "youngest or only" student. Please return the form with your payment by the Thursday, September 5th deadline. Good-Luck grams will be delivered to students Monday, September 9th.
SMG Trojans Step Up and Volunteer for the Hometown Huddle!
The City of Arlington and Mayor Jeff Williams have invited the Arlington community to participate in the Cowboys Hometown Huddle for 100 which will take place on Saturday, September 7! This event is part of an NFL-wide effort to commemorate the NFL’s 100th season. This nationwide volunteerism effort challenges one million football fans to volunteer at least 100 minutes of their time to a non-profit cause between now and Super Bowl 2020 – all in an effort to make 100 million impacts on the community. All organizations that participate will receive a grant for $1000! SMG students and parent volunteers will be working with the City of Arlington Parks & Recreation Department planting seeds at three different local parks this Saturday morning.
Check out the promo video featuring some of our SMG volunteers:
North Texas Giving Day - September 19th!
North Texas Giving Day (NTXGD) is just a few weeks away--Thursday, September 19th! Funds raised on NTXGD directly support the school. Last year we raised over $43,000 which we used to purchase our Raptor Visitor Management system, curriculum resources such as STEM scopes for our junior high students, plans for the Outdoor Learning Center, and new cafeteria tables, which will be here in the next few weeks. We need 100% participation from our entire SMG school community to make this year's NTXGD an even bigger success. No amount is too small, so please Get Up and Give on September 19th!
Get Your Kountry Karnival T-Shirts and Register for the KK Fun Run!
Get your Kountry Karnival T-Shirts! The KK store opened today and will remain open through September 15th. All purchases will be delivered to the school and will be ready for pickup the week of September 23rd. Purchase your KK t-shirt at:
https://esixsportswear.com/smg_kountry_karnival/shop/home
There are still many opportunities to get involved with Kountry Karnival! Visit SMG website for volunteer opportunities.
Registration for the Kountry Karnival Fun Run is open! Runners (and walkers) can register for a 1-mile and 5K event and the course is certified. Visit the link below to register and for more information. http://thedriven.net/SMG5K2019
Kountry Karnival Volunteers and Wish List Items Needed
Also, the KK Chairs have created a wish list of items and donations needed to make this year's Kountry Karnival a success. Please visit the link below to view the KK Wish List.
https://d2wldr9tsuuj1b.cloudfront.net/12396/documents/2019/8/KKwishlist2019.pdf
SMG Family Handbook
The 2019-2020 Family Handbook has been posted on the school website. Please read the handbook as there have been some changes and updates.
One of the changes is that students are no longer allowed to have a free-dress day on their birthday. Students who are celebrating a birthday will still be recognized with a ribbon (from the front office) on their birthday (or half-birthday). Parents will be called if their child arrives out of uniform, and will be asked to either bring the child's uniform or take the child home to change.
Once you have read the handbook, please print, sign, and return the acknowledgement form at the back of the handbook. A signed acknowledgement form from each family was due back to the school by Friday, August 30th. Please, take some time this weekend to read the handbook and return your signed acknowledgement form on Tuesday!
https://d2wldr9tsuuj1b.cloudfront.net/12396/documents/2019/8/2019-2020%20Family%20Handbook-1.pdf
Scrip Program is New and Improved!!
Order forms and information about the new and improved Scrip program was sent home in the Friday Folders last week. Scrip is a Gift Card Program that gives back! Purchase gift cards to your favorite stores and restaurants, and Scrip gives a portion of the sales back to the school and to you! Currently the school gives 75% of the profits back to our families for tuition credit. The program runs April 2019-April 2020. There are 3 ways to purchase: Online, Paper Order Form, and during SCRIP Office Hours.
Please visit the school website for more information, or contact Mrs. Bradley, our Scrip Coordinator at scrip@smgschool.org.
Mrs. Pick's Hallway Thought
Last Week at SMG.....
Faith Family Assembly
During our first Faith Family gathering, we discussed the virtue of hope. After the large group assembly, students moved into their small, Faith Family groups where their Faith Family leaders (teachers) further discussed prayer. Students brainstormed ideas for prayers of praise, thanks, contrition, intercession, and supplication. Student then worked together and made prayer cubes to remind them to pray in these ways. The goal is to roll the cube at least once a day and take a minute to talk to God.
First Grade Scientists
Students learned about the scientific process by making predictions about how many seeds their watermelon slice contained, then checking them. Mr. Phil Brady and Mr. Rudy Martinez joined in the fun! The best part was eating the watermelon when the scientific process was completed.
Mr. Nguyen's 8th Grade Science Class
PreK 3 and 4 Artists
7th and 8th Grade Graph of ME!
2nd Grade Representation of the Holy Trinity
Music Classes
6th Grade PA Class Working on Group Skits
Kinder Using the Singing Phones
1st Grade Using Shakers to Count Syllables
2nd Grade Singing a Powerful Praise Song
4th Grade Sorting and Playing Percussion Instruments
Pre-K 3 Holding the Animals from the “Sitting on the Farm” Song
Jr. High Analogies
Analogy is the process of comparing two different aspects or things with similar qualities. It is usually used to give a clearer explanation of how two different objects (or subjects) can be linked with common similarities, be it in their characteristics, function, degree, lack, type, or something else. Identifying the analogy between two completely opposite things not only helps one in the language skills, but also hones one's analytical, reasoning, and perceptive skills. (https://eduzenith.com/analogy-examples-for-middle-school)
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!
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, 9/2: Labor Day, No School
- Tuesday, 9/3: Kountry Karnival Planning Meeting - SMG Center 6:00PM
- Friday, 9/6: 7th & 8th grade visit Monet Exhibit at the Kimbell Art Museum
- Saturday, 9/7: Cowboys Hometown Huddle for 100. (See information above)
- Saturday, 9/7 & Sunday, 9/8: SMG Parish Stewardship Weekend
- Monday, 9/9-Friday, 9/13: ITBS & CogAt Standardized Testing
- Thursday, 9/19: North Texas Giving Day-Get Up and Give! NTXGD Watch Party 6-8PM in the cafetorium
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/