A Message from Mrs. Perrault, Principal
As we begin our Lenten journey together, I pray for all of our school community. Lent provides us with an opportunity to deepen our faith and our relationship with God. There is no limit and no end to the depth of God’s love for each of us.
Please continue to pray for the health and safety of our school community. Although it seems hard to believe, we have been blessed to be in school for over 100 days. We will continue to work together to ensure that the rest of the school year is a success.
Please remember that registration for the 2021-2022 school year is now open. We look forward to having all of our families back next year. If you have questions about the enrollment process, you can reach out to Mrs. Swanstrom or Dr. Greco who are both happy to help.
Blessing to you and your families,
Mrs. Perrault
Please continue to pray for the health and safety of our school community. Although it seems hard to believe, we have been blessed to be in school for over 100 days. We will continue to work together to ensure that the rest of the school year is a success.
Please remember that registration for the 2021-2022 school year is now open. We look forward to having all of our families back next year. If you have questions about the enrollment process, you can reach out to Mrs. Swanstrom or Dr. Greco who are both happy to help.
Blessing to you and your families,
Mrs. Perrault
In this issue of Martyr Messenger you will find information about:
- Enrollment
- Home and School Update
- Congratulations!
- Liturgical Living
- Fish Frys
- ...and more!
Tuition Assistance
Tuition assistance is available to students at St. Stephen the Martyr School. The first option to apply is the Children’s Scholarship Fund. Complete the application online at https://www.csfomaha.org/parents-family/new-applicants.html
If the income eligibility won’t allow for a Children’s Scholarship Application, the next option to consider is the FAIR program. Complete the application online at Fairapp.com
School code: 117
School password: sstm117
Scholarship Winners!
This year forty-five 8th grade students took the Catholic High School placements exams in early January. We are so pleased to announce that 15 of our students earned scholarships. These are the 2020-2021 SSM Scholarship recipients (not pictured: Ellah Hoge)
From Home and School
- Home and School is planning for next school year. Interested in volunteering for H&S committees? Please email us at ssmhomeandschool@gmail.com. Be on the lookout for more info coming soon!
- The essay for the 8th-grade scholarships from H&S will be administered this Friday, Feb. 19th. Good Luck to all of those 8th graders that have registered!
- Hope every family received the purple construction paper and instructions for our At-Home Lenten project. You can send the strips to school as you complete them! Let us know if you have any questions!
Thank you to our Teacher Grant Committee and to all of our SSM Teachers who submitted grant applications this year! We are happy to announce this year’s teacher grants were awarded for the following:
Arts
- Class set of ukuleles for our middle schoolers to learn, play and enjoy performing instruments. Ukuleles are versatile, affordable, and can be played solo or in ensembles. This will be a great addition to our middle school music curriculum!
Religion
- Intermediate saint books for our third graders to enhance both reading and religion. Nonfiction books are a great way to increase reading comprehension and studying the Saints is imperative to teach how to live holy and virtuous lives.
Scholastic
- New chapter books to replace many worn and torn chapter books for our 5th graders.
- New periodic table posters, student versions, and periodic table puzzles for our 7th and 8th grade Science classes to enhance and support the curriculum.
Technology
- Digital Pencils for our Technology Classroom to be used for drawing, 3D Printing, presentations, school projects, and daily work. All grades and teachers will benefit.
- Tablet stage and HDMI VGA cords for enhanced and consistent learning for our first and third graders
Liturgical Living
February: The Month of the Holy Family
Through the example of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, we can live family life the way it was meant to be lived - in happiness! An important first step is to live in peace with each other. This is hard because little brothers and sisters can be so annoying! This month, in honor of the Holy Family, work on being quick to forgive and even quicker to compliment your family members. Your positivity will be a light!
Covid- Style Stations of the Cross
Whether it's the frigid temperatures or the global pandemic keeping you in, you can still pray Stations of the Cross at home! Here are multiple printable options for kids booklets that will make the devotion easy and memorable: Printable Stations of the Cross for Kids. Be sure to pick up dinner at the St. Stephens Fish Fry after you've prayed!
Register for Track & Field
Is your child in 5-8th grade? SSM Track and Field is open to all registered parishioners in grades 5-8th. We welcome athletes of all abilities, including multi-sport athletes.
Former SSM Students Receiving High School Academic Honors!
We are pleased to share letters and emails from area High Schools with news about academic honor recognition of our former SSM students for the First Semester of the 2020-2021 school year. Congratulations!
A Heartfelt Thank You!
Sharing the Burdens with our Struggling Families
Although pastors are called to care for the needs of people in the parish, this duty is not theirs alone. And it has nothing to do with the size of the pastoral staff---the entire parish is to be involved in caring for each other. The parish is a network of shoulders supporting the collective weight of everyone’s trouble, especially those struggling to eat.
This past week was Catholic Schools Week, our kids from our parish school, their families, and staff provided much-needed food items for our pantry for those families still suffering under this pandemic to eat. Our Parish Food Pantry Ministry Team met the kids last Friday as they transported their donations to the GPC. What an amazing group of young people in our school! Box upon box, cart upon cart of food poured in the door and the Ministry Team went to work to sort, shelve and began sharing with those families in need. Our Knights of Columbus had their monthly first Saturday Curb-Side Food Drive and added to the school donation. Those individuals that are not able to shop brought monetary donations and gift cards as well.
Sometimes we feel our contributions are small and go unnoticed by all, but the individual who is helped, and your heavenly Father sees and will reward you for following His command to “FEED MY PEOPLE”. A wise woman once shared with me: “When you extend the hands of Jesus, people find rest for their weary heart.” THANK YOU to all our St. Stephen’s school families, kids, staff and parishioners for your amazing gifts of mercy.
May I offer a prayer: Each thought, each word, each deed of mine, will be an act of love divine, and everything that I will do, will be, my God, for love of You. Blessings from, Deacon Denny and the Pastoral Care Team.
Have you ever wondered why it seems like social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter seem to “know” what you like?
Come join us for a special 2-part previewing and discussion of the Netflix Film “The Social Dilemma” and learn how social media can form and drive a culture. Join us for a discussion with Parishioner and former Google employee, Joe Toscano on Friday, March 5th from 7 to 8 PM. If you have not yet watched the film, join us for a preview as well on Friday, February 26th from 7 to 8 PM. Adults of all ages and youth invited along with their parents.
SignUpGenius will be used for both nights as there will be limited capacity – live streaming of the March 5th event will be provided.
Sandwich Donation for Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Help is needed to provide sandwiches for the sack lunches for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul! Sandwiches can be made from home, and then dropped off in the Gonderinger Parish Center on Monday, February 22nd between 6-8 PM. This is a GREAT opportunity to volunteer as a family and would count towards "out of parish" hours for our Confirmation candidates.
Important Dates Coming Up
- February 28: Deadline to Register for 2021-2022 School Year
- March 8-12: Spring Break / No School :)
