Trojan Times
St. Maria Goretti Catholic School October 28, 2018
Mission Statement
Principal's Message
It is hard to believe that it is almost November. The first couple months of the school year were very busy and I appreciate your support of the many activities and events we had going on at SMG!
Last week, we had our Book Fair in the library. A huge thank you to our librarian, Mrs. Jamison and her many volunteers for all of their hard work. The Book Fair was a huge success! A few pictures from Favorite Story Character Dress Up Day and the very well-attended Donuts with Dad events are posted below. It was great seeing so many dads, grandfathers, uncles, and others enjoying a donut and special time with their children. A big thank you as well to Cathy Souders for baking and bringing in Butter Braid pastries to add to the donuts for all to enjoy during the event.
It was a pleasure seeing so many of you in the building during Parent/Teacher Conferences last week. During conferences, you should have received a copy of your student(s) report card, IOWA and CogAt test results (1st-8th grade only), and an informational packet explaining how to read the tests. Please let me know if for some reason you did not receive the above information or if you have any questions about any of it. If you did not schedule a conference, please email your student's homeroom teacher directly to set up a time to conference, or make arrangements to collect the report card and test results if you do not want it sent home with your student.
October is the Month of the Holy Rosary. The Rosary is a powerful instrument of conversion and a wonderful way to honor our Blessed Mother, Mary. We began the month coming together to pray the World Mission Rosary, praying for all children around the world. Last week, our 7th and 8th Grade Student Council and National Junior Honor Society members led us as we prayed the Holy Rosary together in the church. We will end the month with 6th, 7th, and 8th grade student volunteers leading us as we come together again on Tuesday morning to pray the Rosary.
Last Thursday began the Novena to the Holy Spirit, the oldest of all novenas since it was first made at the direction of Our Lord when He sent His apostles back to Jerusalem to await the coming of the Holy Spirit on the first Pentacost. Addressed to the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, it is a prayer for light, strength, and love (www.ewtn.com). The 8th and concluding day of the novena falls on All Saints Day, November 1st and we will be praying the novena together at the conclusion of Mass on Thursday.
Speaking of All Saints Day, please feel free to join us Thursday morning for our Litany of Saints beginning at 9:15AM in the Gym. PreK and Kindergarten students will be dressed as angels and 1st-4th Grade students as saints. We will attend Mass at 10AM on Thursday following the Litany and parents are of course welcome to attend Mass with us as well. Our 5th and 6th Grade students created Soda Bottle Saints, which will be on display in the cafetorium next weekend for parents and parishioners to view after all masses. As well, the 7th and 8th Grade students will host a Living Saints Museum for parents and guests on Thursday from 3:10-4:00PM in the St. Maria Center. We hope you will stop by to see their saint projects and their presentations. Please note, we will not be attending Mass on Wednesday this week.
Finally, we are busy planning our Veterans Day Assembly and Flag Retiring Ceremony which will take place on Friday, November 9th. We are still collecting pictures of SMG family members who are veterans. Please see the note below for details.
Have a wonderful rest of your Sunday and a fabulous week ahead!
St. Maria Goretti, Pray for Us!
Blessings,
Laura Behee, M.Ed.
Principal
Butter Braid Pastry Sale Ends Monday!
Butter Braid pastries are made from sweet, yeasted pastry dough, layered with 100% real butter and contain zero grams trans-fat. This gives Butter Braid® pastries a flaky outside and a tender, light, airy inside as each layer raises up while baking. The pastries have seven different fillings to choose from and will come frozen allowing the customer decide when to serve them. These are ideal to serve at upcoming holiday celebrations.
Purpose of Fundraiser: Raise money for our Home & School Association to help our students and teachers have the necessary tools to assist them with their success in the classroom.
Our goal is to raise $5,000.
Cost of product and earnings from product sold: Fruit filled pastries will be sold for $14.00 and we will earn a $5.50 profit for each pastry sold. The 4 Cheese & Herbs will sell for $14, and will also earn us a $5.00 profit.
Fundraiser Schedule: Monday, October 15 through Monday,
October 29
All order forms and checks, made payable to St. Maria Catholic School, must be turned in by Wednesday, November 1. You may drop off your order form and checks/cash at the front office or send with your student.
Butter Braids will be delivered on Thursday, November 15 and more details on Butter Braid pick up will be sent a few days prior to delivery. The class with the most sales will earn a Chick-fil-a luncheon!
Thank you for your continued support of your SMG students, teachers, and staff!
SMG Home & School Association
Please contact Cathy Souders should you have any concerns or questions about our fundraiser at souders614@gmail.com.
All Saints Day Celebration
November 1st is All Saints Day, a day instituted to honor all the saints, known and unknown. Historically, Christians were accustomed to celebrating the anniversary of a martyr's death for Christ at the place of martyrdom. In the fourth century, these celebrations came to be joined in a common feast, since frequently groups of martyrs suffered on the same day. As well, the number of martyrs became so great that a separate day could not be assigned to each. The Church, however, felt that every martyr should be venerated and so, a common day was appointed for all. Around 731, Gregory III consecrated a chapel in the Basilica of St. Peter to all the saints and assigned the anniversary as November 1st. Around 830, Gregory IV extended the celebration to November 1st for the entire Church (The Catholic Encyclopedia).
This year, SMG students will be celebrating All Saints Day in the following ways:
· Litany of Saints (in the Gym) @ 9:15AM
· Mass at 10AM - 5th-8th Grade Students in Dress Uniform
· PK-Kindergarten students: Dress up Angels
· 1st-4th Grade students: Dress up as Saints; Saint reports
· 5th-6th Grade students: Soda-bottle Saints; Saint reports
· 7th-8th Grade students: Living Saint Museum
We invite parents/guardians to attend the Litany of Saints and always welcome you to join us for Mass.
For some ideas for creating simple, inexpensive Saint costumes, click on https://www.smgschool.org/documents/2018/10/All%20Saints%20Costume%20Ideas.pdf
Veterans Day 2018
Mills Uniform Sale
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!
Junior High Fall Dance
Dinner, Dance, and Auction 2019!
Calendar Notes
- Monday, October 29th: Last Day of Butter Braid Pastry Sales
- Tuesday, October 30th: Rosary @ 10:15AM
- Wednesday, October 31st: No student Mass today
- Thursday, November 1st: All Saints Day-Mass @ 10AM *see above for other details
- Friday, November 2nd: Veterans Day Photos Due to Mrs. Fishman by 3PM
- 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