The Trojan Times

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.

Dear St. Maria Goretti Catholic School Families,

On Monday, we will honor our Veteran's with a Veterans Day performance at 9:00 AM. Please join us if you are able. SMG will be participating in the City of Arlington's First Veteran's Day parade. Families who are going to participate will be allowed to pick up their children on Monday, November 11, 2024 at 2:00 PM to head to the parade. The school will remain in session for the full day. The parade starts are 4:00 PM which will allow for families to make it to the parade route in time for the parade.

I will be off campus for a professional development on Wednesday afternoon, so rosary group is canceled.

As the holidays are getting closer, if you have a gently used Christmas tree you are getting rid of, we are looking for 4 Christmas trees for the school. We welcome your donation.

Mark your calendars for the iGiveCatholic event on Tuesday, December 3, 2024! We will begin the evening with our Advent program in the church at 6:30 PM. Following the program we will have Christmas cookies and hot chocolate in the cafetorium.

St. Maria Goretti, Pray for Us!

Blessings,

Amy Utendorf, M.Ed.

Principal

The chicken coop is complete. There are now four lovely ladies residing in the coop. The students are working on names for them, we will be voting on them next week. I am still looking for people who can help with the care of the chickens over the weekend and during Thanksgiving break. Please email me if you would like to help.

November Lunch Menu

SMG Tamale Order Form

We are calling on our SMG student body to be good stewards of the many gifts that the Lord has given to us by sharing all that we have with those who may be without this season. Our food drive runs from Monday, November 4th through Friday, November 15th.

Please consider donating one or more of the following items which we will provide to the Padre Pio House. Donations may be given to your Homeroom teacher.

You are invited to join us for our Veterans Day Program at Saint Maria Goretti Catholic School on November 11, 2024 at 9 a.m. All guests will need to receive a visitor's badge at the front office before joining us in the Cafetorium. You may begin checking in at 8:30 a.m.

Dear SMG Families,

The Veterans Day parade is on Monday! Thank you to all of the families who responded to the call to participate. Thank you to the Hammerheads, who have been working hard to rebuild the float. We will be joined by the Knights of Columbus and the SMG Cheer Squad. Those riding or walking on the float must be at the staging area by 3:00 PM. Beginning at 2:00 PM, we will dismiss students participating in the parade from the front office. If you are taking a child that is not your own, please be sure that the parents have communicated with the front office that they have permission to leave with you. The parade begins at 4:00 PM. I have attached all of the information I have received from the City to help you plan to attend. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. I look forward to seeing everyone there to support our school, city, and Veterans!

Blessings,

Mrs. Utendorf

TVDP Staging Area Info and Maps

SMG Lineup

5:00-6:00 Fellowship - Beef Taco Dinner Plates $10 (see following for more details)

6:00-7:00 Home & School Meeting

Please schedule an appointment for the November 24th Blood Drive. Patients need blood, platelets and plasma at all hours of the day. They include people involved in accidents and blunt trauma, premature babies, those undergoing cancer and surgical treatments, bone and organ transplant recipients, mothers experiencing complex childbirths, older adults with health issues, and many others. Our community must see at least 1,500 donors a day to help local patients in need of lifesaving blood transfusions.

Additional Information

Your talented 5th and 6th Grade Performing Arts students are working hard on their Epic Ensembles! Once we started working through our material, I noticed a need to add additional skits so that each student had a greater opportunity to shine. We are now working on six short selections full of humor and fun. The additional texts will take more time to rehearse so we are changing our performance date to accomodate. Originally we were slated to perform before Thanksgiving Break at 9 a.m. on November 21st. We will now be performing before Christmas Break on Thursday, December 19 at 2 p.m. You are still invited to attend, and we will record for those who cannot make it. This performance is their final test grade for the first semester. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Use gift cards or shop online through RaiseRight for your everyday purchases and earn money for your organization. It's easy to enroll today!

Our goal is to have 100% of the families enrolled. Be sure to enroll by September 30th so that your child’s class has a chance to win an ice cream party! To enroll email Olivia Bradley at scrip@smgschool.org for the enrollment code.

Please enjoy this audio/visual experience of the goings on of Saint Maria Goretti. Consider that a "Subscription" to the YouTube channel and/or a "Like" on any video will help us grow our exposure and impact. Please do share anything you enjoy with other family members and friends that would similarly delight in the successes and accomplishments of the students.

https://www.youtube.com/@smgbroadcast2001

SMG students receive a Terrific Trojan sticker when they are "caught" being safe, responsible and respectful. After wearing the sticker during the day, the Terrific Trojan places it on the hallway bulletin board. We love seeing how full the bulletin board becomes by the end of the school year.

Mrs. Saladino dug through the trash to recover a student's ring. Thanks for going the extra mile!

Thanks for participating in the Box of Joy program. SMG students and families were very generous again this year. Junior High students packed 41 Boxes of Joy filled with toys, clothing, supplies and other treasured items. You have brought joy to many children across the world this holiday season..

Eighth grade students presented an overview of the election process to the student body Monday. Tuesday, students held mock elections in their respective classrooms. Our goal is for students to gain an appreciation of the power of voting and to learn how to study the candidates and issues relevant to an election.

To celebrate National Vocation Awareness Week, after Mass on Wednesday November 6th, SMG students wore different religious order costumes to represent various hierarchies within the Church. Many thanks to Sister Mary Monico for coordinating this informative presentation.

A Chinese proverb says "Life begins the day you plant a garden". Mr. Gleason is helping our students realize the joy and rewards of gardening. This week, Mrs. Gleason, Mr. Halley, and Mrs. Austin-Nobles helped students plant seeds during recess which they took home with them to enjoy. Many thanks to these devoted volunteers for "planting" the love of gardening in our students.

Eighth grade enjoyed the cool weather during an outdoor history class.

Sister Mary Monica taught math the fun way with "Yummy Division". Students learned how to divide using Skittles! After solving the equations, they ate the Skittles as a rewrd for their hard work.

Junior High had a great turn out for the Back to the 80's dance. Thanks to DJ Mr. Garcia for providing the perfect tunes for dancing. Enjoy a few videos of the evening below.

Footloose, YMCA, Cupid Shuffle, Cupid Shuffle2, Everybody Wants to Rule the World

Please consider volunteering to help during lunch and recess. Service hours will be earned. Click on the signup genius link for a description of duties. All volunteers must be current with their Virtus training.

Sign-Up Genius

Use the QR codes to sign up and help us plan how many teams we will have. Once teams are set, you will be contacted via email with the coach, practice times and payment information. You may contact the SMG Athletic Director, Ms. Bara, with any questions at cbara@smgschool.org

One SMG parent must complete this training so that their child can participate in athletics. This training is for new families, parents who have NOT completed the training, or parents with students who are in 5th grade and want to participate in any sports this year.

• Link to Register: https://playlikeachampion.wufoo.com/forms/mhwglp5036xjyp/
• Cost is free, use code: FortWorthParent
• It’s only necessary for one parent to registered. Parents can enter the code above into the coupon code box and that will take their cost down to $0.

Virtual Workshop Dates

• Tuesday, November 19th at 7:30 pm EST

Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth Sports Calendar

Monday

• 7:00-7:40 Cheer (Saladino/Risinger) Gym
• 12:16-1:01 Open Library Checkout (4th-8th)
• 12:16-1:01 STUCO (Daly) Computer Lab Begins TBD
• 3:30-4:45 Folklorico Current Members (Zavala) Hope Rm
• 3:30-4:15 PSIA Spelling (Daly) Computer Lab Nov. 18, Dec. 2, 9, Jan. 13, 27, Feb. 3, 10, 24
• 3:30-4:15 PSIA Maps/Graphs/Charts (Utendorf) Rm. 110 Dec. 9, Jan. 13, 27, Feb. 10, 24
• 3:30-4:15 Math Tutoring 6th-8th (Tran) Rm. 121
• 3:30-4:15 PSIA Ready Write 4th-8th (Vasquez) Nov. 18, Dec. 3
• 6:00-8:00 Robotics (Morales) 4/5 Sci Lab

• 7:00-7:40 Cheer (Saladino/Risinger) Gym
• 12:16-12:36 Library Leaders (Richards)
• 12:16-1:00 NJHS (Jones)
• 3:30-4:15 Cantoring (Breed) Church

Wednesday

• 7:15-7:45 Math Tutoring 2-5 (Sister Mary Monica) Rm. 116
• 7:15-7:45 AM Saint Maria Singers (Richards) Library
• 12:16-1:01 Open Library Checkout (4th-8th)
• 12:16-12:36 SMG Broadcast (Jones) Rm. 120
• 3:30-4:15 4th-8th Detention Rooms Vary
• 3:45-4:30 Run Club (Gutierrez)
• Nov. 20, Dec. 11, Feb. 12, 26, March 12, 26, April 9, 30, May 7

• 3:30-4:15 PSIA Drawing (Jamison) Art Room
• Dec. 4, Jan. 15, 29 Feb. 12, 26

• 3:30-4:30 Chess Club (Tran) Rm 121
• 3:45-4:15 Science Tutoring (Saladino) Rm. 109
• 3:30-4:00 Rosary Group (Utendorf) - Conference Room

• 7:15-7:45 AM PSIA Math 2nd/3rd (Sr. Mary Monica) Rm 116
• Dec. 5, Jan. 16, Feb. 6, 20

• 7:15-7:45 AM PSIA Math 4th/5th (Sr. Mary Monica) Rm 116 Nov. 14, Dec. 12, Jan. 9, 23, Feb. 13, 27

• 7:00-7:45 AM PSIA Math 6th-8th (Tran) Rm 121
• Nov. 21, Dec. 5, Jan. 16, Feb. 6, 20

• 3:30-4:45 The Trojan Troupe (Richards) Library/Stage
• End time extended to 6PM beginning in March
• 3:45-4:45 Card Club (Saladino) Rm 109

Friday

• 12:16-1:01 Open Library Checkout (4th-8th)

Oct. 28 - Nov. 15: Tamale Fundraiser

Nov. 4 - 15: Thanksgiving Food Drive

Nov. 11, Monday: 9:00 Veterans Day Program and 4:00 City of Arlington Veteran's Day Parade

Nov. 15, Friday: Thanksgiving Food Drive Items Due, Tamale Orders Due

Nov. 19, Tuesday: 5:00 Social Hour - Street Tacos, 6:00 Home & School Meeting, 7:00PM SMG K-5th Cub Scout Sign Up

Nov. 21, Thursday: Butter Braid Pick Up

Nov. 22, Friday: Faith Families; Noon Dismissal, Tamale Pick Up

Nov. 24, Sunday: 8:30-3:00 Blood Drive at SMG Church

Nov. 25-29: Thanksgiving Break

Dec. 3, Tuesday: 6:30 iGiveCatholic events: Tapestry of Light, Christmas cookies and tree contest

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.

St. Maria Goretti Parish Website: https://www.smgparish.org/

Serving the North Texas Catholic community by providing the faithful opportunities to grow in Christian discipleship and strengthen their relationship with Jesus Christ.

https://fwdioc.org/

Email: development@smgschool.org
Website: https://smgschool.org
Location: 1200 South Davis Drive, Arlington, TX, USA
Phone: (817)275-5081

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smgcatholicschool/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StMariaGorettiArlington/