The Trojan Times
St. Maria Goretti Catholic School January 17, 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,
Happy Sunday!
Last week we completed week two of our scheduled distance learning following Christmas break. With the exception of a few scheduling glitches and issues with technology, the two weeks were for the most part, uneventful, but we are excited and ready to welcome our Trojans back to campus on Tuesday, Januray 19th! We are optimistic that the extra time distance learning will help keep our school community safe and healthy in the weeks ahead.
Last Friday, information was sent to all current school families regarding Early Bird Registration & Enrollment, which opens this Thursday, Januray 21st. If you missed that email, which contained a letter and 2021-2022 Tuition information, please see the information further down in this newsletter for links to those documents.
Though there is an increase in the 2021-2022 tuition, please know that we remain committed to working with all families to continue the promise of Catholic education for any family who desires one for their children. Tuition assistance is available and we encourage families to apply by March 1st to be considered in the first round of tuition assistance awarded, which will be announced to those who apply (for tuition assistance) by March 12th. As well, please share the good news of St. Maria Goretti Catholic School with any family and friends with school-aged children. Invite them to attend our Open House on Sunday, January 31st for a personal tour, or any weekday/time that is convenient for them, to learn more about SMGCS! YOU are our best advertisement and we need your help! Thank you!
National Catholic Schools Week kicks off on Sunday, January 31st! In addition to the Open House on Sunday, our Annual Spaghetti Dinner will go on, Take-Out style! Tickets for meals went on sale this weekend after all Masses and will be sold again after all Masses each weekend leading up to and including the weekend of the event. Tickets can also be purchased at the school front office. Though we will not be able to host the wonderful community setting in the Holy Family Life Center (gym) like we usually do, the spirit and great food of the Spaghetti Dinner continues! Please support this nearly 50 year SMG tradition!
We will once again have speakers addressing parishioners at all Masses the weekend of January 30-31 for Catholic Schools Weeks, and are looking for student volunteers to do the readings at each Mass. Please see the following SignUpGenius link to sign up.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D45A8AC2FABFD0-mass
We also ask that all SMGCS students who attend Mass with their families that weekend wear their full-dress, Mass uniform. It is such a wonderful and powerful testimony when students visibly represent our school in this way. Parents are asked to take a picture of their student(s) in their school uniform in front of the baptismal font or the St. Maria Goretti statue in front of the church and send the photo to photos@smgschool.org. Students who do attend live Mass that weekend, wear their uniform, and submit a photo will be awarded a jeans day on Friday, January 12th.
More information about the themes and events we are planning to celebrate Catholic Schools Week will be communicated in next week's Trojan TImes.
I pray you all enjoy the rest of your long weekend! Reminder, there is no school tomorrow in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We look forward to welcoming our students back to campus on Tuesday!
St. Maria Goretti, Pray for Us!
Blessings,
Laura Behee, M.Ed.
Principal
SMGCS Soccer Club: Kindergarten - 4th Grade Students
SMGCS is excited to announce the formation of the SMGCS Soccer Club for interested students in Kindergarten - 4th Grade. The SMGCS Soccer Club will be a 7 week season to include 5 weeks of games with practice every week. Players will be divided into divisions based on skill level and age:
● 8 & Under (8U)
● 10 & Under (10U)
Each division will practice together. Teams within a division will vary each week; players will play on different teams in their division. This will allow players the chance to work with different teammates, allowing players to grow and shine in different areas on the field. The two teams from each division will play each other in weekly games. Teams will practice one day a week and play one game a week beginning the week of January 19th. Games will be played during the club times.
Parent Help Needed!
We need help coaching teams during the club season. Please don’t view this club as a babysitting club; we truly need your help to make this successful! The club leaders, The Bradley’s, will organize practices and club activities, we will need help when it comes to managing and coaching teams for games and assisting with stations/drills during practice. You do not need to be well-versed in soccer or have played before. We just need responsible, encouraging adults to help out! Adult volunteers will have the opportunity to earn spirit hours for their time. All volunteers must wear mask and be Virtus current.
We are looking for help for the following positions:
● 8U
○ 2 Head Coaches
○ 2-4 Assistant Coaches
● 10U
○ 2 Head Coaches
○ 2-4 Assistant Coaches
For more information and to register, click on the following link: https://smgschool.org/documents/2021/1/SMG%20Soccer%20Winter%2020-21.pdf. Please contact Olivia Bradley at 254-289-9696 or Olivia.a.bradley@gmail.com if you are interested in helping. Thank you!!
2021-2022 Early Bird Registration & Enrollment Begins January 21st!
Early Bird Registration & Enrollment for the 2021-2022 school year opens this Thursday, January 21st! Information, including tuition rates was emailed to all current school families last Friday 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
Do not let rising tuition costs discourage you from the promise of a Catholic education at SMGCS for your student(s). Tuition assistance is available 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.
SMGCS Open House!
Our Annual Open House in conjuction with the opening of National Catholic Schools Week and the SMG Annual Spaghetti Dinner will take place on Sunday, January 31, 2021. The format is a little different this year as we need to ask prospective families sign-up ahead of time to adhere to the social distancing and other COVID guidelines. All interested families are asked to reserve a time by calling the front office (817-275-5081), or the school registrar, Mrs. de la Pena (Ext. 305, or at jdelapena@smgschool.org).
Current school families, WE NEED YOUR HELP! We are always hoping to grow our enrollment and the best advertising is YOU, our wonderful students and parents! If you know any family or families who may be interested in a Catholic education for their child(ren), please encourage them to visit us and learn more about all we have to offer at St. Maria Goretti Catholic School!
The Annual SMG Spaghetti Dinner, Take-Out Style!
Be sure to purchase your tickets for the Annual Spaghetti Dinner Take-Out Style! Tickets are on sale after all Masses each weekend leading up to and including the weekend of the event. Tickets can also be purchased at the school front office.
Looking for SPIRIT Hour opportunities? We still need help selling tickets after all Masses next week and the weekend of the Spaghetti Dinner. Please visit the SignUpGenius link below to sign-up!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0448ADA622A5FE3-spaghetti3
Also, be sure to check out the SMG Spaghetti Dinner Facebook Page @St.MariaGorettiSpaghettiDinner for more information, or contact our development coordinator, Laura Perez (development@smgschool.org) for more information.
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.
How Are We Doing? Survey
Your opinion matters! Please take a minute to complete the brief survey by clicking on the link below. Thank you for your input!
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.
- Selling Spaghetti Dinner Tickets-We need help selling "Take-Out" Spaghetti Dinner meal tickets after all Masses the weekend of 1/23-24 and 1/30-31. Please use the following link to sign-up! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0448ADA622A5FE3-spaghetti3
SMG School Club Opportunities
SMG Clubs - Mark Your Calendars!
Monday
- 3:30-4:15PM 3rd-5th PSIA Ready Writing (Cruz) - Jan 11, 25, Feb. 8, 22, March 8, 22, alternating Mondays
- 3:30-4:30PM 5th-8th Drama Club (Richards)
- 3:30-4:15PM 4th-8th PSIA Maps, Graphs and Charts (Daly) - Jan 11, 25, Feb 1, 8
- 3:30-4:15PM 6th-8th PSIA On-Site Drawing (Jamison)
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
- 3:35-5:00PM SMG Soccer Club - Tues. & Thurs., Practice begins January 19th, Games begin Feb. 2nd
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 6th-8th PSIA Ready Writing (Juergens)
- 3:30-4:15PM 4th-5th PSIA Math (Schump)
- 3:30-4:15PM Running Club (weather permitting) (Gutierrez/Salomao)-Feb. 3, 17, Mar. 10, 24, April 14, 28, May 12
- 3:30-5:00PM Cheer Club (Paladini)
- 6:00-7:00PM Ballet Folklorico (Zavala) SMG Cafetorium
- NOTE NEW DAY - Changed from Tuesday to Wednesday
Thursday
- 3:30-4:15PM 3rd-8th Cecilian Singers Club (Richards)
- 3:30-4:15PM 2nd-8th PSIA Spelling (Vasquez) - bi weekly Jan 21, 28, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25, March 4, 11, 25
- 3:30-4:15PM 2nd PSIA Math (Gutierrez) - Jan. 14, 28, Feb. 11 alternating Thursdays
- 3:30-4:15PM 3rd PSIA Math (Gutierrez) - Jan 21, Feb. 4, 11 alternating Thursdays
- 3:30-4:15PM 6th-8th PSIA Math (Utendorf) - Jan. 14, 28, Feb. 11
- 3:35-5:00PM SMG Soccer Club - Tues. & Thurs., Practice begins January 19th, Games begin Feb. 2nd
Art and Literary Magazine: Out of the Box
SMG provides students with multiple avenues for artistic expression. One of the newest outlets is our Art and Literary Magazine: Out of the Box! This will be an annual publication showcasing superior works of art, photography, and writing submitted by students of all ages as well as our faculty and staff.
Our first submission deadline is January 25, 2020. Please check Friday Folders or click here for more information. Additionally, Out of the Box is looking for six to eight, 7th and 8th grade student editors. We will meet Wednesdays over a working lunch from 12:08 -12:48 p.m. Please check Friday Folders or click here for more information.
Please contact Mrs. Jamison (ajamison@smgschool.org) or Mrs. Richards (rrichards@smgschool.org) for more information.
Ballet Folklorico Meets Wednesday Evenings
Mrs. Zavala sponsors the Ballet Folklorico Club which meets each Wednesdays from 6:00 to 7:00 PM in the SMG cafetorium. It is open to students in second through eighth grade. Folklórico refers to many traditional dances from Mexico's different regions and states, rather than one single style. Folklórico is most famous for its promotion of regional dance and incorporation of traditional Mexican dress and Mexican folk music into its routines. The women wear a ranchero designed dress with unmistakable Indian influenced bright colored ribbons. Contact Mrs. Zavala (mzavala@smgschool.org) to join Ballet Folklorico and learn the many regional folk dances of Mexico.
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:
Garden Club: 3rd - 8th Grade
The SMGCS Gardening Club meets on Wednesdays after school. All 3rd - 8th Grade students are welcome to participate, but space is limited. Please complete and return the permission slip (link below) to register, and contact Mrs. Pick (apick@smgschool.org) for with questions or for more information.
https://smgschool.org/documents/2020/10/SMG%20Gardening%20Club%20Acknowledgement.pdf
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
NEW: Lunch Orders Must be Placed Sunday for the Entire Week
Lunch orders must be placed for the entire week (Monday through Friday) by Sunday at 3:00pm. We cannot accept orders placed after the Sunday deadline.
We will continue to text families on Friday morning each week, which will allow parents/students to place lunch orders for the upcoming week. The link is also available on the school website and will continue in the weekly Trojan Times. The form has a link with the menu attached as well.
Click below for the order form:
Healthy Together App
By now, most have downloaded the free Healthy Together app (found in the App Store). Please continue to complete the app before arriving in carline and be ready to show the completed screening to a faculty/staff member on duty in carline each morning. Multiple students can conveniently be added to one app. Please call the front office if you have any questions about how to install the app.
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
2020-2021 Enrollment & Registration
Registration & Enrollment for the 2020-2021 school year can be found on our school website. There are still spots available at most grade-levels. As a reminder, tuition assistance is available 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) or our Registrar, Mrs. de la Pena (jdelapena@smgschool.org) with any questions or concerns.
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
Last Week at SMG.....
SMGCS Virtual Spirit Week
Any Day That You Stay in Your Pajamas All Day is a Win!
Everyone got into the PJ spirit Monday. This cold January morning was a perfect day to stay snuggled up in pajamas while attending class.
Tuesday - Show Us Where You Distance Learn
Seven tips for distance learning shared by Khan Academy:
- Choose a location based on your child’s learning preferences.
- Eliminate distractions.
- Make it comfortable—but not too comfortable.
- Ensure the learning space has good lighting.
- Have all of your child’s supplies—pencils, paper, calculators, for example—easily accessible in their learning space.
- Encourage your child to personalize their learning space by adding decorations, artwork, or anything else that might help them to stay motivated and be inspired.
- If possible, the learning space should only be used for learning; this includes attending classes, doing homework, studying, for example.
Wednesday - Celebrate St. Hilary of Poitiers
Hilary of Poitiers was Bishop of Poitiers and a Doctor of the Church. He was sometimes referred to as the "Hammer of the Arians" and the "Athanasius of the West", His name comes from the Latin word for happy or cheerful.
Third grade student, Sophia S., celebrated the day with a beautiful drawing of St. Hilary.
Virtual Spirit Week: Bring Your Pet to Class Thursday
Lots of animals such as cats, dogs and guinea pigs love human contact and can become a child’s best buddy. Kids can even develop strong human animal bonds with non-responsive animals such as fish or turtles. These relationships help to strengthen a child’s social skills, giving them the potential to do better in a school setting (sesameworkshop.org). https://www.petsintheclassroom.org/benefits-of-classroom-animals/
Spirit Wear Friday: Go Trojans!
Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!
5th Grade Science
While others were outside throwing snowballs, fifth grader Neveah was making her own fake snow in the kitchen. She created adorable snowmen without braving the cold weather!
2nd Grade Science - Mrs. Gutierrez
Second grade students used marshmallows and toothpicks to build a polar bear den. Another fun science activity!
2nd Grade Science - Mrs. Salomao
In addition to reading facts about Arctic Animals, second grade students participated in a STEM activity and had a choice of creating a snowflake, a polar bear den or a penguin float.
Another Fun and Busy Week for PreK
Calendar Notes
- Monday, 1/18: MLK, Jr. Day Holiday-No School
- Tuesday, 1/19: Students, Faculty, and Staff return to campus; On-campus learning resumes; SMGCS Soccer Club practice begins, 3:45-5:00PM
- Thursday, 1/21: Early Bird Registration & Enrollment Begins for the 2021-2022 School Year
- Saturday-Sunday, 1/30 - 1/31: "Take-Out" Spaghetti Dinner
- Sunday, 1/31: 10:00AM-2:30PM School Open House
- Sunday, 1/31 - Saturday, 2/6: Catholic Schools Week
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.
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/