The Trojan Times
St. Maria Goretti Catholic School April 18, 2021
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.
St. Maria Goretti Catholic School aims to form what is True, Good, and Beautiful in the souls of our young disciples of Christ.
Principal's Message
Dear St. Maria Goretti Catholic School Families,
We have another busy week ahead at SMGCS!
Tomorrow morning 9:30AM-11:30AM, our 8th Grade students along with their teacher, Mrs. Pennell, will participate in a virtual diocesan-wide 8th Grade Vocations Day. Fr. Moon from Nolan Catholic High School will lead students in prayer and the Rosary before students move to their small group (virtual) sessions. We are grateful that students will be able to come together (albeit virtually) for this special day.
Tuesday evening, Love and Logic presenter, Ms. Brenda Bird, will be on campus to share with parents strategies for parenting and disciplining with love, logic, and laughter. Ms. Bird is a long-time educator and parent, and presents the Love and Logic strategies in a fun, engaging, and interactive format. This is a parent/adult only presentation and space is limited. All social distancing and Covid safety protocols will be followed. Please see the flyer and sign-up link below.
Next week, we will officially kick-off our Trojan Trot Fun Run & Color Run that will take place on Friday, May 7th. The event will raise funds for tuition assistance, which helps us to continue to make possible a Catholic education for all who desire one for their children. We actually contracted two years ago with Booster to organize this fun event for our students last spring, but like almost everything else, the event was not able to take place.
Pledging for the Trojan Trot is open NOW and the goal is to get at least 50% of the school logged on by April 30th. There are some fun incentives for students if we reach certain goals - anything from extra Spiritwear days to your favorite principal and assistant principal taking one for the team by being "slimed." Please see the flyer below for more information and the link to log on. Watch for additional details on social media and email communications this week!
Students in 3rd - 8th Grade will take the Summative ACT Aspire Assessments next week, April 26 - 28. The assessments will be administered at the students' current grade level and include five subject areas of assessment: reading, math, science, English, and writing. We will not have results for the summative assessments back until July. We will consider those results as we plan instruction for the fall, and parents will receive copies of the results after the start of the new school year.
Finally, be sure to check the Calendar Notes at the end of this newsletter for the many activities and events that are scheduled through May. Several of the teacher outings & activities that were purchased at the Evening of Light Gala are on the calendar, so don't miss out!
Open Enrollment for the 2021-2022 school year continues! We ask you to please share the good news of St. Maria Goretti Catholic School with any family and friends with school-aged children. Invite them to call to schedule a personal tour to learn more about SMGCS. YOU are our best advertisement and we need your help! Thank you!
I pray you all enjoy this beautiful day and have a wonderful week ahead!
St. Maria Goretti, Pray for Us!
Blessings,
Laura Behee, M.Ed.
Principal
2021-2022 Registration & Enrollment Continues!
Registration and Enrollment for the 2021-2022 school year is OPEN! Information, including tuition rates was emailed to all current school families and can be found at the following links:
https://smgschool.org/documents/2021/1/Tuition%20Letter%202021-2022%2001%20ML.pdf
https://smgschool.org/documents/2021/1/2021-2022%20Reg%20%20Tuition.pdf.
Tuition assistance is available ( https://smgschool.org/financial-aid ) and we are committed to making a Catholic education a reality for any family who wishes one for their child(ren). Please contact Mrs. Behee (lbehee@smgschool), our Registrar, Mrs. de la Pena (jdelapena@smgschool.org), or our Business Manager, Mr. Rogalsky (mrogalsky@smgschool.org), with any questions or concerns.
Love & Logic Parent Night!
Parents, please join us for an evening of education and fun! Love & Logic presenter, Brenda Bird, will be on campus on Tuesday, April 20th, 6:00 - 7:30PM to share strategies for positive parenting and disciplining with love, logic, and laughter!
Space is limited to 50 people and the event is for parents/adults only. All social distancing guidelines and Covid safety protocols will be followed. Please click on the following link to sign-up!
May Crowning Flowers - Cheerleader Fundraiser
Save a trip to the grocery store and order May Crowning flowers. Proceeds benefit the SMGCS Cheerleaders. Orders must be placed no later than Friday, April 23rd. All orders will be delivered to homerooms on Tuesday, May 11th.
The order form can be found at the following link:
https://smgschool.org/documents/2021/4/may%20crowning%20flower%20order%20form.pdf
SMGCS Fun Run & Color Run!
On Wednesday, April 28th, we will officially kick-off our Trojan Trot Fun Run & Color Run that will take place on Friday, May 7th. The event will raise funds for tuition assistance, allowing us to continue to make possible a Catholic education for all who desire one for their children.
There are some fun incentives for students if we reach certain challenges - anything from extra Spiritwear days to your favorite principal and assistant principal taking one for the team by being "slimed." Our first challenge is to get at least 50% of the school logged on to by April 30th! Help us start strong and complete this first challenge! Please log on to http://funrun.com today!
Sign Up for the SMGCS Chess Tournament
The SMGCS CHESS TOURNAMENT, hosted by Mr. Nguyen, will take place Friday, April 23rd, from 3:30-4:30PM. If needed, we will meet again on Monday, April 26th to conclude the tournament. All 4th - 8th Grade students who have experience playing chess may participate. Chess sets will be provided. Use this link to enroll https://bit.ly/2QEuMTi
Yearbook Pictures Needed!
Hey SMGCS Parents and friends, we need your help to make this year's yearbook the best one yet!
Parents can upload photos to the yearbook project via the new Entourage Link app. According to the Entourage team, “Many of our memories nowadays are captured on smartphones. The Entourage Link app for iphone and android has allowed for the uploading of photos directly from one’s device. Never before has it been easier to contribute to the yearbook project." The yearbook staff is excited and grateful for this as it will give us access to more photos to design our yearbook pages.
Download Now!
Entourage Yearbooks is excited to announce our NEW smartphone app! App users can instantly submit photos from their phones to the yearbook staff for consideration in the yearbook.
SPIRIT Hours
Volunteer Hour Policy-
We will be continuing with our SPIRIT Hour policy from last year. In the absence of Kountry Karnival, we will be working to find other ways that families can earn hours. Opportunities will be communicated via emailed SPIRIT Updates, the Trojan Times, and on our website.
All SMG families must complete 40 hours (20 hours by December 18, 2020, and 20 hours by May 14, 2021). Please note that due to having fewer events and volunteer opportunities at which to earn SPIRIT hours right now, we will defer charges for incomplete SPIRIT hours for 1st Semester until the end of the 2nd semester, and will reevaluate at that time.
Current Volunteer/Donation Opportunities:
- Disposable Face Masks & Gloves-Donate boxes of disposable face masks and gloves of all sizes and earn one SPIRIT hour for each box donated. Donations can be brought to the school front office, Monday - Friday between 7:30AM - 3:30PM.
- Items for Christmas Store 2021-Purchase new items for next year's (2021) Christmas store and receive one SPIRIT Hour for every $10 spent. Needed items include small toys, small household items, trinkets, gift bags, and tissue paper. Receipts must be included when donation is dropped off in order to receive SPIRIT hour credit. Donations can be brought to the school front office, Monday - Friday between 7:30AM - 3:30PM.
Summer Solutions Books
How Are We Doing?
https://forms.gle/SJtUW2iBSzT5xeKW9
SMG School Club Opportunities
SMG Clubs - Mark Your Calendars!
Monday
- 3:30-4:30PM 5th-8th Drama Club (Richards)
Tuesday
- 12:09-12:39 Rubik’s Cube Club in Library: 6th-8th (Utendorf)
- 12:29-12:49 Rubik's Cube Club in Library: 4th – 5th
- Rubrik's Cube Google Meets Available for Distance Learners
Wednesday
- 12:08-12:48PM Out of the Box Art and Literary Magazine working lunch Begins Jan. 27
- 3:30-4:30PM 5th-8th Garden Club (Pick)
- 3:30-4:15PM Running Club (weather permitting) (Gutierrez/Salomao)-Mar. 10, 24, April 14, 28, May 12
- 3:30-5:00PM Cheer Club (Paladini)
- 6:00-7:00PM Ballet Folklorico (Zavala) SMG Cafetorium NO Class March 10
Thursday
- 3:30-4:15PM 3rd-8th Cecilian Singers Club (Richards)
- 3:30-4:15PM 4th-8th Coding Club (Nguyen) - Begins Feb. 25
SMGCS Art and Literary Magazine: Out of the Box, Seeking Submissions!!
Our submission period is now OPEN! We can’t wait to see and share your creativity! To share your art or written works, please complete this google form. https://forms.gle/W7oA7WiVVKiuFovD6
If you have already made submissions, thanks! Our student editors have begun processing the entries and will contact you if they need further information or have questions.
Email Mrs. Jamison (ajamison@smgschool.org) or Mrs. Richards (rrichards@smgschool.org) for more information.
4-H Club Now at SMGCS!
We are excited to be announce that SMGCS has joined the Diocese of Fort Worth-Tarrant County 4-H Club! Membership is open to all 3rd - 8th Grade students. For more information or questions, contact Mrs. Pick at apick@smgschool.org. As well, see the information below and at the following link with details on how to register! Parents are welcome (and encouraged) to volunteer!
More info here: https://smgschool.org/documents/2020/11/4H%20Flier%20for%20families.pdf
Joining information:
go to https://v2.4honline.com/#/user/sign-in
(if that link doesn’t work, go to https://agrilife.org/urbantarrant4h/join/, scroll down, and click on 4-H online)
Create new account as a new member
Choose "Diocese of Fort Worth-Tarrant County" for your club
Pay the $30 registration fee
Parents, if you are interested in helping as project leaders, you can register the same way. You should have one account per family, and then click “add family member” to the first account. Parent volunteers must be current on their VIRTUS training, and the membership fee is $10.
You can learn more about the Texas 4-H projects here:
Gardening Club
Running Club - Still Time to Join Us!
The SMGCS Run Club meets approximately twice a month on Wednesdays after school. Please visit the links below for more information and to register!
Info: https://smgschool.org/documents/2020/10/2020%20Running%20Club%20Flyer.pdf
Registration: https://smgschool.org/documents/2020/10/2020%20Running%20Club%20sign-up%20form.pdf
Miscellaneous Information
Student Email Accounts and Google Classroom
All students, whether learning On-Campus or via Distance Learning, have school email accounts that they generally access during computer class, and will also need to access Google Classroom. Parents of students in Grades 4th - 8th who are attending classes On-Campus were sent information and instructions for their student(s) to access their email accounts, log-in to Google Classroom, and create a bookmark on their home devices. Students have also be given this information during computer class, as many 4th-8th Grade teachers provide feedback on assignments, etc. to students via Google Classroom. As well, being familiar with logging in to Google Classroom will be helpful should we ever need to move to distance learning during the school year. If you did not receive your student's log-in information or have questions, please contact Mrs. Daly (jdaly@smgschool.org).
As well, please check out the following tutorial for detailed instructions on signing into Google Classroom.
2020-2021 Academic Calendar
Please click on the following link to view the 2020-2021 Academic Calendar. It can also be found on the school website at smgschool.org.
https://smgschool.org/documents/2020/5/SMG%202020-2021%20Academic%20Calendar%202.pdf
COVID-19: Safety Procedures and Protocols
Please see the SMG Safe Return to School plan that was sent to all school families last week, by clicking the following link.
Box Tops - Earn Money for SMG!
Box Tops makes it easy for families to earn cash for schools and help teachers get the supplies they need. Traditional Box Tops clips are being phased out of production, but may continue to be found on many products throughout the store. Although you may still clip coupons, there is a NEW and EASY method:
- Create a Box Tops for Education account via the Box Tops app or website - View the video: How it Works, Join For Free
- Buy Box Top Products
- Use your app to scan the store receipt within 14 days of purchase -View the video: How to Scan
Nolan Catholic High School: 6th-8th Grade Family Information
Nolan Catholic is excited to announce that the application process for the 2021-2022 school year has already begun. Our goal is to continue to allow for as many admissions opportunities as possible for our prospective families to learn more about Nolan Catholic High School.
As a quick highlight, the admissions department is offering informational sessions, one-on-one meetings, virtual or on-campus tours, and an open house this fall.
For more information, visit http://www.nolancatholic.org/events-and-tours
Nolan Catholic Cheer Clinic and Tryout Information
NCHS April Strength and Conditioning Fundamentals Camp
Last Week at SMGCS.....
SMG Digital Instrumental Recital
We are so proud of our many musically gifted Trojans. We especially want to recognize those who submitted pieces for our first ever Digital Instrumental Recital during Music in Our Schools Month in March. Please see the YouTube link below to view these incredible students share their talent.
Faculty/Staff nservice
Last Friday, SMGCS Faculty took part in the University of Dallas's final professional development workshop of the school year. Topics included a review of Narration, Picture Study, and Socratic Teaching.
Running Club Reach Their Running Goals
2021 Teacher for the Day
Thanks to SMG parents who bid on Teacher for the Day at last week's Evening of Light Virtual Gala. Out student teachers had an eventful day taking on all the responsibilities that go along with a day of teaching: curriculum, lesson plans, filing, faculty meetings and more! Teachers, students and staff look forward to this fun day each year.
Faculty Meeting
Assistant Principal and Secretary
Pre K, Kindergarten, First Grade
Second and Third Grade
Fourth and Fifth Grade
Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Grade
Music, PE, Art, Spanish, Computer
Kindergarten - Telling Time
Mrs. Mitchell's Kindergarten students practiced telling time to the hour with a big clock floor activity. They also played memory match with analog and digital clock cards.
Kindergarten - Plant Parts
Students labeled the parts of a plant, then completed a sentence about their garden.
First Grade - We Filled the Basket!
Thanks so very much for sending non-perishable food to Mass with your student today! With your generous donations, we were able to fill the basket! The kids were so proud! We are now challenging the other grades to do the same.
Third Grade - Virtual Field Trip
COVID may have restricted our off-campus field trips, but teachers are finding innovative ways for our students to experience hands-on activities! Third graders made a simple machine catapult during a virtual field trip to the Arlington Public Library. You may notice students wearing hats in some of the pictures. These are their "thinking caps".
Third Grade Science
Third grade students planted lavender and beans in Greenhouse Milk Jugs for their garden area project.
Third Grade Shout Out
A big shout out to 3rd grade student Colbie! Mrs. Cruz says, "She took collage notes when we were reviewing biblical terms in our Spirit of Truth workbook."
Fourth Grade - Our Student Blessings
Fourth Grade Science - Observing Isopods
Students learned that roly polies (also known as pill bugs) and sow bugs are not insects, but crustaceans. Crustaceans are animals whose bodies are made of segments, a tough outer shell, two pairs of antennae, and limbs that are jointed. They can be very large like the North Atlantic lobster that can weigh over 40 pounds, long like the Japanese spider crab with legs up to t12 feet long, or less than a millimeter in length. Crustacean are covered with armor called an exoskeleton. https://123homeschool4me.com/all-about-crustaceans-mollusks-cephalopods/
Sixth Grade Science - Space Unit
Eighth Grade Performing Arts
Eighth grade students performed "Shakespearean Insult Battles".
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.
Calendar Notes
- Monday, 4/19: 8th Grade Nolan Placement Tests; 8th Grade Vocations Day; Trojan Troupe Volunteers create stage set with Mrs. Richards, 3:30-6:00PM
- Tuesday, 4/20: 1st Grade Virtual Field Trip; Love & Logic Parent Presentation, 6:00-7:30PM, cafetorium
- Wednesday, 4/21: Sweet Slice of Watermelon Canvas Art, 3:30-4:30PM
- Thursday, 4/22: Pizza and Painting With Mrs. Hill, 3:30 - 4:30PM; 4:30-6:00 Kinder/1st Spring Fling Dance
- Friday, 4/23: Deadline to order May Crowning flowers; 4th Quarter Progress Reports emailed
- April 26-28: 3rd-8th Grade Summative ACT Aspire Testing
- Friday, 4/30: Pirate & Princess Tea Party, 3:30-4:30PM
- Saturday, 5/1: 2nd Grade First Holy Communion, 11:00AM
- May 3-7: Spring Book Fair
- Thursday, 5/6: Junior High Fellowship and Dance-Cumbia Style, 3:30-6:00PM; Pysanky Party/Ukrainian Egg Decorating, 4:00-6:00PM
- Friday, 5/7: Boosterthon Trojan Trot and Color Run; 12:10PM Early Dismissal, No Lunch Service, SMEED will be available
- Tuesday, 5/11: May Crowning
- Wednesday, 5/12: Escape Room with Mrs. Utendorf, 3:30-4:30PM
- Thursday, 5/12: Walk for Life; Pep Rally, 2:30PM
- May 17-19: 8th Grade Finals
- May 19, 21, 24: 6th & 7th Grade Finals
- Thursday, 5/20: 8th Grade Graduation
- Wednesday, 5/21: Last Mass of school year followed by Awards Ceremony
- Thursday, 5/27: 4th Quarter Ends, Last Day of School, 12:10PM Early Dismissal, No Lunch Service, No SMEED
- Monday, 6/7: Final report cards mailed
- June 21-24: Summer Camp with Nurse Beth, 8:00AM - 3:00PM
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.
Like Us on Face Book!
We are hoping to update our official Facebook page with some more recent, positive reviews, likes, and shares. Please visit our official Facebook page (Facebook@StMariaGorettiArlington) and help us spread the word about our great Catholic school!
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/