The Trojan Times
St. Maria Goretti Catholic School October 11, 2020
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,
I hope you all are enjoying this unseasonably warm Sunday.
Last week was the Kountry Karnival Raffle Drawing!! Congratulations to our two lucky winners: 1st Place Prize-Amanda Coello, and 2nd Place Prize-Joseph Coskey! Thank you too, to our development coordinator, Laura Perez, who did a fantastic job of moving the annual Kountry Karnival Raffle to a virtual raffle format and for working tirelessly to make the event such a success. Many thanks to ALL who supported our school by purchasing tickets and participating in the event! With your help, we were able to meet our goal of $20,000!
The First Quarter ended last Friday (10/9), and Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held virtually this year on Thursday, October 15th, 1 - 7PM. Information from your student's homeroom teacher, including a link to sign-up for a conference time, was sent to all parents last week. If you did not receive an email with sign-up information from your student's homeroom teacher, please contact them directly. Because conferences are being held virtually this year, 1st Quarter Report Cards will be emailed to families at about 12:30PM that day, before Parent/Teacher Conferences begin at 1:00PM. Please be sure to check your email for your student's report card prior to your P/T conference. Just a reminder that Thursday is an early dismissal day (at 12:10PM). There will be no lunch service, but SMEED will be available until 6:00PM. There is NO SCHOOL on Friday (10/16), due to a teacher inservice day.
The Book Fair is going on now online and will continue through next Thursday (10/15). On-campus students will have an opportunity this week to shop the book fair in the library. Due to COVID restrictions, shopping time is limited to allow for social distancing and cleaning after each group shops. As well, the selection of books available for live purchasing is limited, with a larger selection being offered online. See the book fair ad below for more information, including a link to shop online, as well as a schedule that on-campus students will be following to shop in the library.
Information regarding the SMGCS Private School Interscholastic Association (PSIA)Academic Team was sent to parents of all 2nd - 8th Grade students last week. Please see the information below in this newsletter or on the school website for information and to register.
Just a reminder that Glamourcraft Photography will be on campus on Wednesday morning taking make-up pictures of any student (on-campus learners or distance learners), faculty, or staff who would like to have their picture retaken or who missed picture day in August. These pictures are for the yearbook and students should wear their full-dress, Mass uniform.
Finally, we look forward to welcoming back to campus this week many of our students who were distance learning from home during the 1st Quarter! I am happy to report that so far, our students and faculty have remained safe and healthy and God-willing, that blessing will continue as we go forward. We look forward to hopefully seeing all of our students back on-campus at some point in the near future!
Have a great week and may God continue to bless you and your families.
St. Maria Goretti, Pray for Us!
Blessings,
Laura Behee, M.Ed.
Principal
Kountry Karnival Raffle Winners
Although we were unable to host the Kountry Karnival this year, we kept the Karnival alive in spirit by continuing the long-standing tradition of the Kountry Karnival Raffle. Congratulations to the winners of the October 4th drawings:
- Mrs. Amanda Coello: Exquisite 2kt Diamond Ring valued at over $10,000 (Donated by SMG Church Parishioner Family)
- Mr. Joseph Coskey: Outdoor Custom Kitchen Island valued at $5000 (Donated by All Star Construction Group, an SMG School Family)
Thanks to all who purchased raffle tickets and supported SMG!
Faith Families Virtual Assembly
Monday we met (virtually via Google Meets) for our first Faith Families assembly of the school year! Our focus this month is the virtue of Friendship – sharing a mutual love that seeks the good of the other.
In our whole group virtual session, we learned what friendship means – sharing a mutual love that seeks the good of the other; other words for friendship, such as brotherhood/sisterhood, companionship, fellowship, and camaraderie; ways we can cultivate friends in our own lives, how to be a good friend to others, and that friends come in all shapes and sizes, from all different walks of life.
We then discussed three saints who especially emulate the virtue of friendship: Sts. Benedict & Scholastica, Sts. Basil & Gregory, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati
We concluded our whole-group discussion with a presentation by Mrs. Richard’s 1st Grade music students as they shared what friendship means to them and sang the song, A Friend to You.
Students continued the lesson and discussion on friendship in their homeroom Faith Family groups, where teachers reviewed the virtue of friendship and discussed ways students can practice this virtue in their own lives. The topic of Veterans as friends was also discussed and students were introduced to Operation Never Forget, collecting letters of appreciation for a special Mail Call through Honor Flight. One of the greatest honors that a veteran receives on their Honor Flight journey is letters of appreciation from friends-known and unknown-from all over the country. Students created letters of appreciation and thanks, which will be sent to Honor Flight for Operation Never Forget as we approach Veteran’s Day next month. Faith Families concluded by praying the Faith Families prayer together.
It is our hope that the children continue to reflect on the virtue of friendship, the friends they have, and the many ways to be a good friend to others.
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). Otherwise, $400 per family will be billed ($200 in January and $200 in May). You are only charged for the hours you did not complete. For example, if you complete 19 hours by December 18, 2020, you will only be charged for the one hour you did not complete.
Volunteer Opportunities-
- Room Coordinators- many homerooms still need volunteers. Room Coordinators work with the SPIRIT Coordinator and homeroom teacher to help make class and school events successful, and communicate with their homeroom families. Guidance will be provided. Parents whose students are distance learning are encouraged to sign up as well! Please let me know if you have any questions.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0448ada622a5fe3-room1
- Water Donations- The school will have an ongoing need for water bottles this year. Having plenty on hand allows us to provide water to students when they run out or forget their own. Please consider donating a case or two whenever you can throughout the year. Drop off can be done at the front desk anytime between 7:30AM and 3:30 PM. One SPIRIT Hour will be provided per 48 water bottles donated. Please fill out the sheet at the front desk to receive credit for your donation.
- Butter-Braid Sales after Mass-
Follett Book Fair Has Arrived at SMGCS!!
Happy Readers are Happy Campers! SMGCS has teamed up with Follett Books to host our fall book fair! Books can be purchased online NOW through October 15th. On-campus students will have an opportunity to shop in the school library October 12 - 16, 2020. Please support the SMGCS Library and Support Reading!
To Order:
https://efairs.follettbookfairs.com/guest/home?classCode=MWPG1
Shopping Schedule for On-Campu Learners only:
https://smgschool.org/pictures/2020/10/Book%20Fair%20Schedule%20for%20TT.jpg
Butter Braid Sale Starts Tuesday, October 13th!
It's that time of year again! Butter Braid bread sale begins Tuesday, October 13th! Be sure to get your supply of these delicious breads before the holidays! Butter Braid breads can be ordered by clicking on the link below, and orders will also be taken following Masses next weekend and the weekend of October 24th & 25th. Easy Pick-Up at the St. Maria Center on Thursday, November 19th, just in time for the holidays! Please contact Laura Perez, Development Coordinator (development@smgschool.org), or SPIRIT Coordinator, Alex Massengale (817-791-3388) with any questions.
https://store.myfundraisingplace.com/2c4e7563-01d5-457b-8226-cdba6adaf40e
Spring Creek Spirit/Dine-Out Night - October 14th!
SMG School Club Opportunities
Private School Interscholastic Association (PSIA)
We are happy to be once again be able to welcome 2nd -8th Grade students to participate on the SMGCS Private Schools Interscholastic Association (PSIA) Academic Team this year. Due to COVID precautions, this year may look different than years past. However, our hope is that, with your help, the students who wish to participate in the program and in the spring competition will have the opportunity to represent our school.
This year, students will have the opportunity to participate in the following academic competitions:
- Maps, Graphs, & Charts (Students in Grades 4 – 8): tests the contestant’s ability to locate and interpret information in an atlas or data provided in the test itself in the form of maps, graphs, charts, tables, etc. Students are expected to be able to use the map’s legend to garner information of importance, including finding distances on the map, locating specific places, structures, and boundaries, and identifying locations of significance.
- Mathematics (Students in Grades 2 – 8): tests the contestant’s ability to solve a variety of mathematical problems studied at and above grade level.
- On-Site Drawing (Students in Grades 6 – 8 ONLY): Observing a still-life display consisting of from 4 to 7 objects, contestants produce a rendering on regular drawing paper using any drawing media.
- Ready Writing (Students in Grades 3 – 8): Ready Writing is usually writing that explains, or expository writing. It can include narration and persuasion. Contestants come to the contest “ready” to write on their choice of one of two prompts given.
- Spelling (Students in Grades 2 – 8): Contestants learn by memory to write or print the spelling words found on the current year’s PSIA Spelling List.
Preparation
Students who are interested and qualify to participate in the program this year will work with an academic coach on the chosen topic/event for approximately 45 minutes after school every other week leading up to the District and State competition. While any 2 – 8 Grade student is welcome to participate in the program, participation does not automatically qualify students to compete in the spring. Only a limited number of students from each grade can be entered to compete at the district level in each event in the spring. Coaching sessions are not tutoring sessions and only students who are serious about preparing or competing will be permitted to participate in the coaching sessions and competition meets. Students who are accepted to participate in the program but who do not demonstrate their dedication to the program during coaching sessions, may be asked to withdraw from the program.
For our Distance Learning students who wish to participate, study materials will be sent electronically allowing for self-study from home.
We have several teachers who have committed to serving as academic coaches, working with students who are selected to participate in the program. We would welcome other parent volunteers who wish to become involved in the PSIA program.
If you are interested in having your student become involved in the PSIA program, please complete the Google Form by clicking the link below. The deadline to register is Wednesday, October 14, 2020. PSIA Registration Form 2020.
For more information about the Private School Interscholastic Association, please visit https://www.psiaacademics.org/info/.
Garden Club - 5th - 8th Grade
The SMG Gardening Club will meet on Wednesdays after school, beginning on October 21st!. All 5th - 8th Grade students welcome to participate, but space will initially be limited to 20 students. 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
SMG Run Club!
The SMG Run Club will meet approximately twice a month on Wednesdays after school beginning Wednesday, November 4th! 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
Youth Choir - 3rd-8th Grade Students
Drama Club - 5th-8th Grade Students
Rubik's Cube Club - Come Join the Fun During Recess
- 4th-5th grade: 12:29-12:49
- 6th-8th grade: 12:09-12:29
Solve the Rubik Cube and work to make a Rubik mosaic.
Email Mrs. Utendorf at autendorf@smgschool.org
Miscellaneous Information
NEW: Lunch Orders Must be Placed Sunday for the Entire Week
A parent text alert was sent Thursday with news of new lunch order procedures. Beginning this 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 Thursday afternoon/evening 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:
The 2019-2020 Yearbooks have Arrived!
If you did not purchase a 2019-2020 Yearbook, there are still some available! Yearbooks are $30.00 each. Please see Mrs. Malloy in the front office for more information.
Back To School Night Video!
In an effort to keep everyone safe and to adhere to the protocols we have put in place related to COVID-19, we were unable to welcome parents to campus this year for the annual Back to School Night. Instead, we have put together a Back to School Night video on YouTube, which includes links from each teacher with information about their classes. Please follow the link below to view the video. Be sure to "Like" and comment on the video if you enjoy it, as well as subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on notifications to see upcoming videos. Welcome Back!
Arrival & Dismissal Procedures
School Day Schedule and Arrival/Dismissal Procedures
Morning Arrival and Afternoon Dismissal moved along fairly well last week, considering all of the protocols and procedures we have put in place related to COVID-19. Please remember: 1.) ALL students (PK - 8th) must be dropped off in the morning using the morning carline in the back (west) parking lot; 2.) Parents/guardians may not enter the building to walk their students to the classroom. We will again have our Junior High Safety Patrol students and plenty of faculty/staff in the back lot during carline to walk little ones to their classrooms. Please understand, this is in an effort to limit the number of people entering and moving through the building for the safety of all our students, faculty, and staff; and 3.) Parents/guardians must download the Healthy Together app on their cell phone. Parents/guardians must show the completed screening to car line personnel each morning before their children will be allowed out of the car to enter the school.
The entire arrival and dismissal procedures can be found on the link below and is also outlined in the SMG Family Handbook, which is now available on the school website. Please Note: There may be changes to the Arrival/Dismissal procedures as we begin the school year and adjust to the safety protocols we must adhere to due to COVID-19. Any necessary changes to the Arrival/Dismissal procedures will of course be communicated to parents.
Arrival/Dismissal Procedures: https://smgschool.org/documents/2020/8/Arrival%20%20Dismissal%20During%20COVID%20%20Addendum.pdf
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.
SMG 2020-2021Family Handbook
The 2020-2021 Family Handbook has been updated and has been posted on the school website (http://smgschool.org). Please note, there was an addendum related to COVID-19 placed at the end of the handbook, before the acknowledgement page. Please be sure to read the handbook then print, sign, and return the acknowledgement form at the back of the handbook indicating that you have read and understand the handbook. A signed acknowledgement form from each family was due back to the school last Friday, August 28th. If you have not yet returned your signed acknowledgement form, please do so as soon as possible.
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.
Virtus Training
VIRTUS Safe Environment training for volunteers will begin to expire in September 2020. Parent volunteers will need to renew their VIRTUS training in order to continue volunteering. The VIRTUS renewal program is called "Keeping the Promise Alive" and must be attended in order to keep Safe Environment status current. Our school Safe Environment coordinator will email parents with information for how to register for a renewal session. Please email smalloy@smgschool.org with any questions.
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.
Last Week at SMG.....
Thank You Home & School Association!
SMG Supporting NCHS Vikings on Homecoming 2020!
SCRIP Kick-Off Winners!
Mrs. Salomao's 2nd Grade class had the most students whose families purchased gift cards from our SCRIP program during the kick-off challenge dates. Each sstudent's family received a $10 gift gard. Thank you to all who purchased and supported our SCRIP program!
Be sure to take advantage of our SCRIP program! It's the easiest way to support our school and earn tuition credit!
Morning Carline Serenade
Safety Patrol students go the extra mile to make mornings fun for our SMG students! Amanda plays a tune for Landon before school.
SMG Soccer Team & Cheer Squad
Our SMG Trojan 5th - 8th Grade Soccer team faced off against St. George and St. Peter on Thursday at home. We are proud to report that SMG won the game! We are also thankful to our cheer squad who came out to help support and cheer on our Trojans!
PreK: Question of the Week and Using Our Artistic Skills
Second Grade: Respect Life Month
October is Respect Life Month! As Catholics, we believe that every life is sacred, from the moment of conception until natural death. Every person is made in the image and likeness of God, and so each and every person has inherent dignity.
Second Grade: Our Lady of the Rosary
Second Grade: Mrs. Solamoa's Class Investigating Liquids
Like gases, liquids can flow and take on the shape of the container in which they are placed—characteristics not found in solids. Like solids, liquids have a fixed volume, whereas gases do not. As with all forms of matter, a liquid is composed of particles—atoms and molecules—that move about in relation to each other.
Fifth Grade Reading
Art Class
Calendar Notes
- Monday, 10/12: 2nd Quarter Begins
- Monday,10/12-Friday, 10/15: Follett In-Person Book Fair in SMG Library
- Wednesday, 10/14: Picture Make-Up Day (individual yearbook pictures)
- Thursday, 10/15: Early Dismissal at 12:15PM - No Lunch Service - Virtual Parent/Teacher Conferences 1:00PM-7:00PM
- Friday, 10/16: No School, No SMEED; Professional Development for Faculty/Staff
- Friday, 11/13: Early Dismissal at 12:10PM - No Lunch Service - Progress Reports Emailed to Parents
- Monday, 11/23-Friday, 11/27: Thanksgiving Holiday - No School
- Friday, 12/18: 2nd Quarter Ends, 12:10 Dismissal, No Lunch Service, No SMEED
- Dec. 21-Jan.4: Christmas Break - No School
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/