A Message from Mrs. Perrault, Principal
What a wonderful first week of school. I am so happy to have the school filled with children learning, laughing, and building lifelong friendships. I have always felt that we really have the best students and families, but it is great to hear from new staff members how much they love working with your children, and how blessed they feel to be part of the school community.
I have heard numerous times already: "These kids really are wonderful!"
I agree with them 100%.
I'd like to take a moment to express gratitude to all of the generosity we are feeling already this school year! Thank you to all of our school parents who have granted wishes from our Teacher Wish Lists. These extra items help make our classrooms and school more fun and more functional!
A special thank you goes out to Kevin Kavan who built cabinets in our portables, donating both materials and labor. Our Early Childhood teachers and I are so grateful for his time, talent and treasure!
Our Home & School Association has continued their unending dedication to our school. Parent volunteers worked all summer and continued their service into the new school year to ensure our families are welcomed, connected and informed. Their faithful support impacts our students, staff, families and school all year long.
Finally, thank you to all of our families and grandparents who have made generous donations to the school, and our parish families who help subsidize school operating costs through Sunday Giving.
Our Communications Team is frequently updating the school website. Please use it as a resource to stay up-to-date between emails. As a reminder, all Martyr Messengers are archived for one year at school.stephen.org/martyr-messenger. We will also use social media to communicate some information and to share happenings here at school. If you haven’t connected, check us out!
Thank you for your continued prayers, support, and patience.
Mrs. Perrault
In this issue of Martyr Messenger you will find information about:
- PBIS: PRAY Behavior Expectations for Students
- Reminders: Handbook Acknowledgement Form, Drop-off & Parking
- Staff Spotlight: Early Childhood Education Team
- Home & School Updates: 1st Meeting, Book Club, Dues & Contributions
- Parish Updates: Children's Choir, Youth Ministry Kickoff Parties, Fall Festival & Final Tailgate
- Important Upcoming Dates (see bottom of this email)
- ...and more!
At SSM, We PRAY Every Day!
This year, as a continuation of our Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) implementation in school, we are focusing on four areas for behavior expectations throughout our building, in Mass and at recess. Students can remember these four expectations using the acronym, PRAY, and likely have seen the yellow poster in their classrooms.
P - Practice Safety
R - Respect God, Self, and Others
A - Act with Kindness
Y - Yes, to Responsibility
Parking and Drop-Off Reminders
Drop-off and pick-up are going pretty smoothly. Thank you! Please remember in the morning on the North side the left lane is for parking parents - this is the best option for those walking their child to the building. All students and parents should use the crosswalks to cross to the school.
The right lane leads to the drop-off lane. Be sure to pull up all the way behind the car ahead of you, and proceed East until cars stop. Student should be let out on the right side of the vehicle.
At pick-up, parents should not park on “S” street in front of the school (West of 166th Circle). It is dangerous for our students to cross in front of the hill as cars are leaving the North parking lot. To help with this rerouting, we have opened the East Parking Lot for pick-up ONLY. Parents can begin parking in the East lot at 3 p.m. We appreciate your cooperation with this. Use the below button to view all Parking, Drop Off & Pick Up Procedures.
Introducing: St. Stephen Staff Spotlight!
Throughout the year we will shine the spotlight on the amazing team that works with your children! After placing your guesses on who said what, be sure to click the below button to view the answers & the staff profiles.
Support the 8th Grade class with your purchases!
Designs can be ordered as a short sleeve t-shirt, long-sleeve t-shirt, or hoodie in red, grey, or navy with white lettering, or white with navy lettering.
These t-shirts and hoodies can be worn on Martyr Mondays (which begin in September). Learn more here.
First Order Deadline: Friday August 27,2021
From Home and School
Join Us Tonight - Thursday, Aug. 26th
Come to the 1st Home and School (H&S) meeting of the year, tonight August 26th at 6:30 p.m. in the Gonderinger Parish Center (GPC - building on south side of the church). ALL parents are members and are welcome. We encourage you to wear a mask. Come learn more about H&S, and how to get involved in our school community!
New Online Dues & Contributions Form
Have you heard about our new Dues & Contribution Form?! Now in addition to paying your dues via the form you can take care of other items with one payment as well such as yearbook, bulk paper, teacher appreciation & hospitality donations. Click on the link below, or fill out the paper form that was sent home with your student. Be sure to complete by Friday September 3rd, and its smooth sailing for the rest of the year!
What Do Home & School Dues and Contributions Fund?
We often get asked what Home & School Dues and Contributions support. This is a valid question, and we want you to ensure you that all of your support via financial contributions or volunteer hours goes directly back to support our students, teachers and staff! You may have already seen some of our parents volunteerism & generous support at work in these first few weeks of school! Here is a taste of what we've been up to:
- Summer Play Dates
- Used Uniform Sale
- Teacher & Staff 'Welcome Back' Breakfast
- New Student Yard Signs
- Securing Corporate Sponsors
- Back To School Night & Rosary
- 'First Day Coffee - Hooray!' Welcome Event
- New Student Yard Signs
- 1st Day Yard Signs at School
- Early Childhood Welcome Gift
- Planning Martyr Marathon, our school's largest fundraiser: Save the Date, Sept. 24th!
The beauty of being a parent at St. Stephen, is that you automatically are a member of the Home & School Association! This means anytime you contribute your time, treasure or talent to the association - you are giving back in ways that directly support your child & your family’s experience. The impact of Home & School is felt in our building and in our students’ & teachers’ days, year-round.
Please prayerfully consider supporting Home & School through volunteering and/or annual dues & contributions.
Join the SSM Flames Book Club
The NEW SSM Flames Book Club is designed to give your child (Grades 3-8) a new reading experience outside of school. Reading & discussion peer groups will be led by parents. Deadline to register is September 10th.
Save the Date: Kickball & Kona (September 10th-12th)
Faith at Home
Saints Make Saints
St. Monica and St. Augustine (August 27 and 28) are the best known mother-son pair in heaven! Although Monica was devoted to God, her son Augustine was not. He seemed to like stealing, cheating, and hurting others. She prayed for her son to fall in love with Jesus and enlisted the help of her friend, Ambrose. Monica’s prayers were answered when Augustine converted to Christianity, became a priest, and dedicated his life to helping others meet Jesus. He never stopped striving to live for others as his mother and his friend Ambrose had done for him. Now, they are all three saints in heaven! This school year, strive to become as close to God as you can. You might just inspire the friends around you!
Start small and God will make it big!
St. Teresa of Calcutta (September 5) is famous for caring for so many people who had no food, water, medicine or anyone to care for them. Her work is all over the world now, through the order she founded, called the Missionaries of Charity. But she wasn’t always so famous. She started with a call from God to care for the poor. She wasn’t sure how she could do this with so much suffering around her, but she said yes and tried her best. On her first day, she simply went to the slums, sat down, and started teaching the kids the alphabet with a stick and the sand as her chalkboard. Such a small act, but she continued to show up every day and do lots of small things. Those small things quickly turned to big things, and now the Missionaries of Charity are able to help thousands of people around the world. But it all started one day with Mother Teresa’s little acts of charity. What little things will you do today?
September 8 is Mother Mary's Birthday
We love our Mother Mary because her “yes” to the angel brought us the greatest gift of all - Jesus! Her birthday is September 8. Here are some ideas to celebrate Mary today:
- Say a Family Rosary (find a recorded version of the rosary to play in the car or during chores if you won’t all be together today!)
- Make/Buy Mary a birthday cake (don’t forget the blue frosting!)
- Visit Mary’s son in Adoration for a few minutes today
- Make a simple rosary with the kids
- Learn more about Mary with this great list of books
Join Us For Our Final Summer Tailgate!
School families are encouraged to attend our last tailgate. Come meet Assistant Principal, Greg Verraneault, and enjoy good food, fun and fellowship!
Important Upcoming Dates
- August 26th – First Home & School Meeting
- August 28th – Last Summer Tailgate
- September 6th & 7th – No School (Labor Day & Teacher In-service)
- September 9th – Curriculum Night
- September 10th-12th – Kickball & Kona
- September 13th – First Martyr Monday
- September 24th – Martyr Marathon (Noon Dismissal)
- September 25th – Fall Festival