The Trojan Times
Saint Maria Goretti Catholic School September 15, 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 Catechetical Sunday! Always the third Sunday in September, Catechetical Sunday honors all who teach the Catholic faith and share the Church’s teachings. Catechetical Sunday began in 1935 as an initiative to recognize and celebrate the gift catechists give to their parish communities by volunteering their time for the education of children. All who teach others (children and adults) about Jesus by the way they live are catechizing. Parents and guardians are also honored today because they are the first catechists to their children, sharing the Catholic faith with their families. Teach your children about the role of a catechist and help them to identify the catechists present in your family. For more information about Catechetical Sunday and ways to observe the day, visit http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/catechesis/catechetical-sunday/catechetical-sunday-about.cfm.
The 2019-2020 Annual Fund brochures and pledge cards were mailed to all SMG families, alumni, and friends last week, and North Texas Giving Day kicks off the Annual Fund this Thursday, September 19th! The participation of ALL is vital to the success of our NTXGD campaign. Last year, we raised over $43,000 of our $50,000 goal on NTXGD--an incredible amount raised by about 60% of our school families. This year, our goal is $55,000 and we are hoping for 100% participation from our school families! Please see below for ways you can help us promote and participate in this event and help us reach our goal. Remember, funds earned on NTXGD directly impact our school and benefit our students. Please Get Up and Give to SMG on North Texas Giving Day!
If you haven't purchased your Kountry Karnival T-shirts yet, the store is open until 11:59PM tonight and t-shirts purchased will be ready for pick up from the school the week of September 22nd. The KK t-shirt store will open one last time next Sunday, September 22nd for one week only, so that all orders placed during that time can be delivered in time for KK on October 5th and 6th! Also, don't forget to register for the KK Fun Run, which will kick off the Kountry Karnival on Saturday, October 5th. You do not have to be a runner to participate--walkers are welcome too! See below for more information.
Enjoy your Sunday evening!
St. Maria Goretti, Pray for Us!
Blessings,
Laura Behee, M.Ed.
Principal
UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
North Texas Giving Day - September 19th!
North Texas Giving Day (NTXGD) is this 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.
Afraid the day may get away from you and you'll get too busy or forget to give on
September 19th? We have you covered!
- Schedule your donation! Scheduled giving began on September 9th and runs through Wednesday, September 18th. Go to www.northtexasgivingday.org to schedule your gift today!
- Or, be reminded to give on September 19th by texting GIVE to 70402
We are also encourgaging families to get involved by creating a NTXGD FUNdraising page.
- Thank you to those SMG families who created a FUNdraising page and shared it with families and friends to support SMG on NTXGD! FUNdraising pages can be shared with your family and friends around the globe via social media or email. FUNdraising pages enable you to share your story or testimonial about SMG Catholic School, and invites your families and friends who may not be local or directly connected to our school to support us on NTXGD. FUNdraising pages are super easy to create! The faculty and staff have all created FUNdraising pages that they have already shared with their SMG homeroom families and their own families and friends. Create your personal FUNdraising page today by visiting https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/saint-maria-goretti-catholic-school
Thank you to our anonymous Matching Fund Donor who is matching funds received on NTXGD up to $2500! Matching Funds are a great way to make donations go even further! you or someone you know are interested in providing 1:1 Matching Funds for donations made to SMG on North Texas Giving Day, please contact our Development Coordinator, Cathy Souders at development@smgschool.org, or call (817) 275-508.
NTXGD Watch Party-Join us once again this year for our NTXGD Watch Party, 6-8PM in the Cafetorium. Enjoy refreshments, play some board games, and watch our NTXGD "returns" in real-time on the big screen! There will be several volleyball games happening on campus that evening as well, so this is a perfect opportunity to extend the fun and excitement with our SMG community!
We need 100% participation from our entire SMG 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 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
REMINDERS
Wear you Kountry Karnival Shirt Mondays and Fridays! Spirit Wear every Friday!
KK T-shirts and Spirit Wear Guidelines:
- Sept. 2nd through Sept. 27th: Students may wear their KK T-shirts on Mondays and Fridays with uniform bottoms
- September 30 - October 4: Students may wear their KK T-shirts (w/ uniform bottom) everyday, except Wednesday. SMG school uniform is required for Wednesday Mass.
- Every Friday: SMG spirit wear may be worn with uniform bottoms on Fridays throughout the school year unless otherwise specified.
The KK Store is open through September 15th (midnight tonight). Orders will be delivered on September 23rd. The KK store will open on last time on Sunday, September 22nd for one week only to ensure that orders placed that will be delivered the week of KK.
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.....
Good Luck Grams
September 12th is the Feast Day of The Most Holy Name of Mary
After the most sacred name of Jesus, the name of Mary is so rich in every good thing, that on earth and in heaven there is no other from which devout souls receive so much grace, hope, and sweetness. http://www.traditionalcatholicpriest.com/2015/09/11/the-most-holy-name-of-mary-september-12th/
Mrs. Pennell's religion classes celebrated the Feast Day of the Most Holy Name of Mary by first visiting the SMG prayer garden followed by a feast in the classroom.
Some of the Many Names Associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Immaculate Mary
- Blessed Virgin Mary
- Ever Virgin Mary
- Star of the Sea
- Queen of Peace
- Queen of Heaven
- God Bearer
- Mother of God
- Mother of Mediatrix
- Mother of Mercy
- Mother of Perpetual Help
- Mother of Sorrow (Pieta)
- Madonna
- Advocate of Eve
- Our Lady of Carmel
- Our Lady of Lourds
- Our Lady of Fatima
- Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Our Lady of Loreto
Nolan Catholic High School Students Visit SMG Campus
Nolan cheerleaders and football players visited SMG campus to pass out free passes to the Friday night game versus Celina. In addition to the exciting football game and cheer squad, halftime included the band, color guard, and Royelles. Go Vikings!
Sports Team T-Shirt Day!
Students wore their favorite sports team t-shirts on Friday. Thanks to National Junior Honor Society for helping raise money to purchase SMG sports uniforms.
2nd Grade Working on Creation Timelines
1st Grade Frogs and Toads
PK4 Learning the Letter B and B Sound
Hallway Happenings
1st Grade Writing and Science
sÃ, hablamos español
MUSIC
4th Grade Island of the Blue Dolphin Lesson: Diamante Poems, Adjectives & Cursive Handwriting
Kindergarten: Johnny Appleseed Lesson
SMG Students Respect Their Books
PreK Art: Horizontal, Vertical, Diagonal Lines
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, 9/16: 8th Grade Retreat at Camp Thurman; Robotics Club 6:00-7:30PM
- Thursday, 9/19: North Texas Giving Day-Get Up and Give! NTXGD Watch Party 6-8PM in the cafetorium
- Friday, 10/4: Pet Blessing, Noon Dismissal, No SMEED-Faculty Inservice
- Saturday, 10/5: 1 Mile Fun Run at 7:30AM; 5K Fun Run begins at 8:00AM; Kountry Karnival opens 10:00AM-7:00PM
- Sunday, 10/6: Kountry Karnival, 10:00AM-4:00PM
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/