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,

Thank you for the hard work you put into getting the students ready for All Saints Day. It was great to see so many saints! Thank you also to those who donated candy or hosted a table during trunk or treat. We love our SMG families.

Please remember donations for the Christmas Box of Joy program are due on Monday. See the list of items you can donate in this edition of the TT.

Mrs. U's rosary group will be moved to Wednesday afternoons starting on November 6th. We will not longer meet at 7:10 AM on Wednesdays. We will meet in the conference room at 3:30 PM to pray a rosary together. Pick up with be at the front doors of the school at 4:00 PM. I hope that more students will be able to join me for the devotion to our Blessed Mother.

On Thursday, November 7, 2024 we will be having a dine out night at McDonalds. Please find more information in this edition of the TT.

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.

Finally, 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. If you would like to participate in the parade please fill out the attached form https://forms.office.com/r/xqVVjNy1xv

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.

St. Maria Goretti, Pray for Us!

Blessings,

Amy Utendorf, M.Ed.

Principal

Stewardship means returning to God the first fruits of your time, talent and treasure. How fitting as we begin the seasons of Thanksgiving and giving!

For more information on the Virtues in Practice Program, visit https://www.nashvilledominican.org/apostolate/evangelization-and-catechesis/virtues-in-practice/

St. Elizabeth was the daughter of a king and married a prince who became king. She had many treasures. But during her life, she spent her money to feed the poor people in her kingdom. She even had a hospital built near her castle!

Blessed John of Fiesole joined the Order of Preachers (the Dominicans) as a young man. He was a very talented artist and he believed that to paint a true image of Jesus Christ, the painter had to be Christ-like, and so he began all of his paintings with prayer. The beauty and the prayerfulness of his paintings earned him the nickname "Brother Angel", or Fra Angelico.

St. John Moscati was a physician who had a reputation as a dedicated and compassionate doctor. He was a man of deep faith who took a private vow of chastity and attended Mass daily. St. Joseph Moscati saw his chief medical responsibility as contributing to the alleviation of suffering. Many time his ability to heal his patients involved their own faith and reception of the sacraments. Miraculous cures were attributed to Dr. Moscati's treatment of patients while he was still living, and after his death in 1927, prayers asking for his intercessions were granted many times.

The chicken coop is complete. We will be adding chickens very soon. If you and your family would like to help with the upkeep of the coop, please email Mrs. U!

November Lunch Menu

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.

Saint Maria Goretti is participating again this year in the Box of Joy program. A Box of Joy is a Christmas shoebox that is donated and packed with toys, clothing, supplies and other treasured items by U.S. parishes, schools and groups. Each child who receives a Box of Joy also receives a rosary and a booklet titled The Story of Jesus. Box of Joy provides hope to children in need, each gift represents Christ’s love, and may be the only Christmas gift they receive. Gift ideas are provided below.

Junior High students may earn service hours by volunteering to pack the boxes Tuesday, November 5th from 3:30 to 4:00 in the Cafetorium.

National Vocation Awareness Week will be celebrated from November 3-9, 2024. One SMG student from each grade level will wear different religious order costumes and various hierarchies within the Church. After Mass on Wednesday November 6th, Fr. Maul will introduce the students and share insights about each costume and the significance of the different habits.

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.

• To be sure we have adeqaute seating, please RSVP using the following link https://forms.gle/9wceLnzYUUhYAtdZ7
• If you would to honor a veteran in our slideshow, please use the following link https://forms.gle/eGza5YX83G477MhEA

• To help us best prepare, these forms need to be completed by Wednesday, November 6, 2024. Thank you, and we hope to see you there!

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.

The SMG Volleyball team has been undefeated for 2 years. Congraulations to the 8th grade on another championship. Many thanks to coaches Mrs. Abbey Lewis and Mr. Hieu Tran.

Seventh grade students dressed as their selected saint, then "came alive" as classmates visited the Living Saint Museum to listen to stories about each saint.

Eighth grade students reinacted a Saints Game Show similar to the classic To Tell the Truth.

Thanks to all who participated in Thursday's Trunk or Treat. We had a spooky good time.

All SMG students dressed as their favorite saint and processed into church for Mass on All Saints Day.

When the Saints Go Marching In Performed by 7th Grade

Fourth grade earned a pizza lunch for donating the most books to the GorettiFest Book Nook.

SMG students are constantly learning whether at work or play. Their days are full of fun and fellowship: singing a bible song, using math manipulatives, presenting a saints report, building a lego design, reciting a bibile passage, using the iPad.

8th Grade - Kien & Catie Recitation

8th Grade - Maddy Recitation

Saint Research - Christiana, Addie, Rowan, Madeline, Rose

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 - New Members Begin Sept. 16
• 3:30-4:15 PSIA Spelling (Daly) Computer Lab Nov. 4, 11, 18, Dec. 2, 9, Jan. 13, 27, Feb. 3, 10, 24
• 3:30-4:15 PSIA Maps/Graphs/Charts (Utendorf) Rm. 110 Nov. 11, 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) Begins TBD
• 3:30-4:15 Cantoring (Breed) Church

Wednesday

• 7:10 AM Rosary Group (Utendorf) - Cafetorium
• 7:15-7:45 Math Tutoring 2-5 (Sister Mary Monica) Rm. 116
• 7:15-7:45 AM Saint Maria Singers (Richards) Library Begins 10/9
• 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
• Nov. 13 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

• 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. 7, 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 Begins 10/26

Friday

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

Oct. 28 - Nov. 5: Box of Joy Collection

Nov. 4-15: Thanksgiving Food Drive

Nov. 5, Tuesday: Box of Joy Items Due, 3:30-4:00 Jr. High volunteers pack up Boxes of Joy

Nov. 6, Wednesday: Veterans Day RSVP & Pictures Due

Nov. 7, Thursday: 4:00-7:00 McDonalds Dine Out Night

Nov. 8, Friday: 6:00-8:00PM Jr. High 80's Dance

Nov. 11, Monday: 9:00 Veterans Day Program

Nov. 19, Tuesday: 7:00PM SMG K-5th Cub Scout Sign Up

Nov. 21, Thursday: Butter Braid Pick Up

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

Dec. 3, Tuesday: 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/