Important Dates
1/30 - 2/3 - Charity Donation - Cereal Box for Pantry.  As part of Catholic Schools Week, the school is asking students to donate Boxes of Cereal for the SMG Food Pantry.  We hope to get enough donations to create a domino line through the school to the pantry.
2/2 - 7am Pastries with Parents - Enter the Parish Hall and enjoy a treat before the school starts.
2/2 - 2:15pm - Winter Sport Pep Rally - Parents may join in gym. 
2/2 - Dine to Donate - Penn Station (please use attached flyer)
2/3 - PTO Pizza Lunch for students.  If your student does not want Pizza, please pack a lunch for them.  This is only option for day.
2/3 - 1:30pm Volleyball 8th Graders vs. Staff.  8th Grade parents are welcome to join in the gym.
2/3 - 3pm K-3 After School Movie Matinee - Cars 3- register using attached flyer.  Prompt pickup at 5pm appreciated.

Planning Ahead:
2/7 - 2/14: Sock Collection for Food Pantry
2/10 - Q3 MidTerm - Parents check PowerSchool for Grades 5-8 // Grades 3 & 4 will be emailed
2/14 - Valentine Day Parties 2:15pm / Valentine Crazy Sock/Tights Day
2/17 - e-Learning Day / NO SCHOOL


Catholic Schools Week is coming up January 29-February 4.

You can order Catholic Schools Weeks Apparel online at our spirit wear provider 1st Place Spirit Wear https://1stplacespiritwear.com/schools/IN/Westfield/St.%20Maria%20Goretti%20Catholic%20School

Special Dress Days to ponder:
Thursday - Class Color Day / 7am - 7:45am Pastries with Parents / 2:15pm Pep Rally 
                  JK- Red, K- Yellow, 1st- Purple, 2nd-Orange, 3rd-Green, 4th- Blue, 5th-Grey,
6th-White, 7th-Black, 8th- Pink
Friday - Special Sock/Shoe Day / PTO Pizza Lunch / Cereal Box Donation /1:30pm 8th Grade vs. Staff Volleyball Game 




  Counselor's Corner

Happy New Year!
I wanted to share a couple of articles that I get questions on a lot. The first being separation anxiety and the second how much screen time should be allowed.
Separation Anxeity
https://www.rileychildrens.org/connections/older-kids-and-separation-anxiety-how-it-happens-and-what-to-do
Tips to Reduce Children's Screen Time
https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/6-tips-to-reduce-childrens-screen-time#:~:text=The%20American%20Academy%20of%20Pediatrics,day%20for%20teens%20and%20adults

Lunch Calendar is available on Website and App.   You can also click the following link and select the month you would like to view:  Monthly Lunch Calendar

School Calendar is available on the Website and App.  You can add the calendar to your own Google Calendars, by clicking the + on bottom right of calendar.  This will give you the most up to date information, and you can view by month, week, day.  You can also print calendar if you would like it in paper form.  The new 2023-2024 School Calendar that was sent out over break is attached below as well.

Click the button to get started:  School Calendar

Thank you to all of our families who are participating regularly in the Four Pillars of our Stewardship Model here at SMG. So grateful for your part in building our SMG community!

• 'Mark your calendars: 
  • Thursday, February 2nd is Pastries with Parents from 7:00-7:45 am in the cafeteria. Come enjoy a sweet treat with your child(ren) before school.
  • 2/2 - Dine to Donate - Penn Station (please use attached flyer)
  • K-3 Movie Matinee is coming up Friday, February 3rd. See Cars3 -  Registration Link: https://forms.gle/6iTzH11bFBrX5Rpt5

Reminder all Volunteers with our School must have current Safe and Sacred Certification:  
https://safeandsacred-dol-in.org/
Please ensure your Safe and Sacred certification is 100% complete prior to signing up for a volunteer spot.  This includes the online training AND back ground check.  Please note:  the background check can take up to 7 business days after your online course is completed. 

Cafeteria News 

Volunteers are needed daily to help out our cafeteria staff.  Please sign up to full fill your lunchroom obligation of 2 days per family at: Lunch Room Sign-Up.
Big thanks to all of the lunchroom volunteers!  If you need to contact the Lunchroom Coordinators, please email:  [email protected]
Lunchroom Coordinators:  Rachel Volis & Corrin Bittner

*If you cancel within 48hrs prior to sign up date, please find someone to switch spots with you*

DADS GO "INTO THE BREACH": Calling all SMG School Dads! Every Tuesday through March 21, from 6-7 a.m., you are invited -- as are all men of our parish -- to the parish office narthex (Door #5) for fellowship and formation through the video series, "Into The Breach." Produced by the Knights of Columbus, "Into The Breach" uses powerful videos and small group discussion to seek to answer what it means to be a Catholic Man in today's world (trailer linked here). Co-hosted by the Holy Family Ministry Dads' Group and the Holy Name Society, there's no registration or cost and coffee is served. For more, reach Nathaniel O'Dell at [email protected].  

FISH FRY VOLUNTEER SPOTS OPEN
Calling all SMG School Dads – Lenten fish fry volunteer jobs and the fun that goes with them are posted online for Feb. 24 and March 3 fish frys, hosted by our Holy Name Society. Help is needed for these exciting parish family events during this holy liturgical season. Students also may volunteer to earn service hours. Positions and shifts for Fish Fry #1 (Feb. 24) reside at smgonline.org/fishfry1 with Fish Fry #2 (March 3) posted at smgonline.org/fishfry2. For more, contact Steve Alic at [email protected]. 

INTERESTED IN BEING A PARISH MENTOR FAMILY??
SMG is looking for families who are interested in being paired with families who are new to our parish.  As a Parish Mentor Family you would help new families "learn the ropes" of SMG.  Some responsibilities of a Parish Mentor Family are:

• Reaching out to new parishioners and being paired with a new SMG family
• Answering any questions your new parish family may have about SMG
• Letting them know about upcoming parish-wide events
• Briefing them on holiday mass times, confession, and other helpful information
• Connecting them with other families you may know with similar interests, ages, etc.

If you are interested or would like to learn more about being a Parish Mentor Family, please email Katie Schemanske at [email protected]

DONUT Ministry
We are still in need of volunteer families especially for the 8am mass time spot.  Thank you to those families who have signed up already.  If you have not signed up, please look at the schedule below and sign up for at least 2 sessions.  If you are able to volunteer for an extra time, we would appreciate the help.

As a reminder, we will have to cancel donuts for that weekend if we do not have a family for both sessions.
Jill Cheney [email protected]

SPRING SPORTS REGISTRATIONS:

Registration and payment can be made at www.orgsonline.com .  If you are new to the system and need
our school code, it is 194SMG-IN. As soon as payment is made registration is complete.

CYO GIRLS KICKBALL (3-8) – Closes: 2/24
- Approximate Season Dates: Early April – Mid May

CYO COED SOCCER (4-8) – Closes: 2/24
- Approximate Season Dates: Early April – Mid May

CYO BOYS BASEBALL (7 & 8) – Closes: 3/1
- Approximate Season Dates: Early April – Late May

CYO COED TRACK (4-8) – Closes: 3/1
- Approximate Season Dates: Early April – Mid May

IH BOYS & GIRLS BASEBALL (PK-2) – Closes: 3/17
- Approximate Season Dates: Late April – Early June

IH GIRLS TENNIS (6-8) – Closes: 3/24
- Approximate Season Dates: Mid April – Late May

IH BOYS & GIRLS SOCCER (PK-3) – Closes: 3/31
- Approximate Season Dates: Mid April – Late May

UPDATED **SMG GIRLS LACROSSE** (3-6) – Closes: 2/24
- Approximate Season Dates: Early March – Late May
SMG WILL have a 3/4 and 5/6 girls lacrosse team this season. If your daughter is interested, please sign up now. If you have already registered with OLMC please email [email protected]
Any 1 st & 2 nd grade girls, 7 th & 8 th grade girls, or boys 1 st -8 th that are interested in playing lacrosse
please email Gary Galvin, [email protected], to get more information about joining OLMC LAX.

Please return all SMG sports jerseys or cheer uniforms to school or practice.
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CHESS CLUB
If anyone is interested in joining our SMG Chess Club they can e-mail Mende Timmerman at [email protected]. We play each Friday at 4:00 that we have school. The tournaments last 30 minutes and are played on Chesskid.com accessed from their home computer or IPad.
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