A Message from Mrs. Perrault, Principal
Dear Families,
Advent is the time in which we patiently and prayerfully prepare for Christmas. Even during the most stressful times, it is important to be aware of God’s presence every day and His promise of eternal life and joy.
During the Christmas season, I am reminded of how fortunate I am to be at St. Stephen the Martyr School. Being a part of this community is really such a gift to me.
We have some really great things going on in the school. I know we have been trying to update our social media platforms so you can see some of the daily happenings. I commend all of our staff for their hard work and dedication to our students.
I also want to send special blessings to our second graders who will be receiving the sacrament of First Reconciliation next Monday and Tuesday. Thank you to all of the teachers, RE staff, and priests who have helped with their preparations.
I pray for all of our students, staff, and families that during this Christmas season you can feel love and kindness from others and share the gift of your faith.
Mrs. Perrault
In this issue of Martyr Messenger:
- Admin Updates: COVID-19 Update, Christmas Break Details, Filming On Campus, First Reconciliation Prayers, Food Pantry Thank You
- Staff Spotlight: 2nd Grade Team
- Home & School Updates: School Musical Registration, Christmas Gift Fund, Santa Shoppe & More!
- Parish Updates: KOC Breakfast, Reconciliation Service, Donation Deadlines & More!
- Important Upcoming Dates
COVID-19 Update
Administration Updates
Christmas Break
Our Christmas Break begins with an 11 a.m. dismissal on Friday, December 17th. There will be no morning or afternoon PreK (Tabaka) classes on this day.
Dismissal will be as follows:
- 10:45 KidZone and TK
- 10:50 Last names R-Z
- 10:55 Last names A-H
- 11:00 Last names I-Q
Classes resume on Tuesday, January 4th.
Filming At School Today & Friday (Dec. 2nd & 3rd)
Your child may have told you that there was a cameraman (and even a drone!) at school today. We are filming a new video for prospective families that will be a part of our Open House in January. Once completed, we'll be sure to share it with our school families first so you can watch and share it with anyone you may know that is considering St. Stephen for the 2022/2023 school year!
Prayers and Congratulations!
Our second graders will receive their First Reconciliation next Monday and Tuesday. Please keep them and their families in your prayers during this special time!
Thank You From St. Stephen Food Pantry
Between our school's Thanksgiving Food Drive donation, the RE student collection, and the Angel Tree Project, 1,689 pounds of food were donated to the St. Stephen the Martyr Food Pantry! We received the following message from Deacon Denny and wanted to share it with all of you:
Dear Mrs. Perrault and Mr. Verraneault:
On behalf of the many struggling families within our community I wanted to thank our school families, the kids, and staff for their generosity. One of the Corporal Works of Mercy (Matthew 25) teaches us to feed the hungry and St. Stephen the Martyr has stepped up to ensure that many families would not go hungry this Thanksgiving. Each of our children today are bearing witness to Christ. For many people, hunger is an ever-present reality of life. By supporting our parish food pantry we are alleviating hunger by both directly supplying food and helping the poor. This Thanksgiving as we come together within our own families, know that we have blessed the tables of many with food. May God continue the great work that He has begun in each of us.
With Our Sincere Thanks,
Deacon Denny and St. Stephen Food Pantry Ministry Team
Deacon Denny Dethlefs, BS, MS
Pastoral Associate and Chaplain, Spiritual Care /Outreach
St. Stephen Staff Spotlight
Throughout the year we will shine the spotlight on the amazing team that works with your children. This week we meet our 2nd Grade Team!
Which staff member...
- Notes Matthew 11:28 as their favorite scripture: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest."?
- Says, "The growth, whether it be academics or life skills, is the most rewarding part of my job and what keeps me going every day. I do my job for the kids because the kids do so much for me."?
- Has 3 sons, 2 dogs, 2 birds, loves running, and has completed several half-marathons?
- Wants students to be themselves and know that it is okay to make mistakes?
- Loves helping children learn to read?
- Recommends parents read to their children every night before bedtime.
Home and School Updates
School Musical 2022
Registration is now open! Use the button below to register.
Reminders:
- 6th-8th grade students that wish to act, must register no later than December 5th and audition. Everyone who auditions will be given a role. Auditions will be on December 6th & 7th from 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. in the music room (Room 116).
- 1st-5th grade students do not audition for their roles. They just need to be registered through the website.
- Students interested in being part of the scenic crew (grades 4-8) or the tech/backstage crew (grades 6-8) also need to be registered.
- Rehearsals begin January 18th!
Visit our webpage for all of the latest musical information!
Volunteers Needed: Give School Tours at Open House
Do you love St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic School and want to share your passion with prospective students and families? We will need tour guides at our upcoming Open House on Sunday, January 30th. Use the below button to learn more and sign up. Thank you for your consideration!
Christmas Gift Program
Donations for our Christmas Gift Program will be collected through Dec. 10th.
We invite families to participate! This program ensures that every staff member that interacts with our students receives some Christmas love! Participation is easy! Here is how to donate*:
- Donate Cash or Checks (made payable to SSM Home & School): Place donations in envelopes labeled "Christmas Gift Program" with your family name, children’s names & grade levels and send them to school with your child or you can drop them off in the box in the school office.
View the below flyer for more details.
Santa Shoppe is Dec. 13th & 14th!
This annual event allows our K-8th grade students the opportunity to shop for their families and friends at school. Gifts are wrapped on-site so they can surprise everyone, even their parents! While early childhood students don't shop, they will still get to partake in some festive fun.
Watch Dec. 10th Friday Folders for more details!
Volunteers are needed to help make this day a success! Click the below button to sign up.
Faith at Home
The Christmas Anticipation Prayer (Novena to St. Andrew)
Advent is a time of getting ready! We are all busy preparing for the celebration of Christmas, but the Church gives us a special way to ready our hearts for the birth of the Messiah. It’s called the Novena to St. Andrew and traditionally, it’s recited 15 times per day from the Feast of St. Andrew (November 30) to Christmas Day for a special intention of your choice.
Why is this special novena to St. Andrew? When the crowd following Jesus had become hungry, Jesus asked his disciples to feed them. Most of them stared in disbelief, but St. Andrew went and found the boy with the loaves and fishes and presented him to Jesus, allowing for the miraculous feeding of the 5,000. Because of this, Catholics pray to St. Andrew whenever they experience a shortage of some sort. This Advent, join in on the Novena to St. Andrew and allow your heart to be filled to the brim this Christmas!
Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born Of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother.
Amen
Parish Updates
Upcoming Donation Deadlines
Thank you to everyone who has supported the Family CHRISTmas & Angel Tree Christmas Giving Projects. Please note the upcoming donation deadlines outlined below:
- Angel Tree Project Donations (place unwrapped donations under the corresponding tree in the Gathering Space)
- Friday, Dec. 3rd: St. Augustine Indian Mission
- Noon, Sunday, Dec. 5th: EPS, Open Door Mission & SSM Food Pantry
- Friday, Dec. 3rd: St. Augustine Indian Mission
- CHRISTmas Project Donations (place unwrapped donations in baskets in the Gathering Space or Parish Center entry)
- Sunday, Dec. 12th: Pajamas and bedding for Project Harmony & The Stephen Center
Upcoming Opportunities to Get Involved
Our Hospitality Ministry is looking for volunteers to help with Sunday Donuts and Coffee through the month of March. The time commitment is minimal and entails serving donuts, coffee, wiping down tables, greeting parishioners and guests. Families are welcome to sign up. More information/instructions will be provided upon signup confirmation.
Trivia Night is Saturday, January 22nd, 2022. Registration opens tomorrow Friday, December 3rd! Use the button below to save your spot.
Be the hands and feet of Christ! Get involved, and put your faith into action! We have a wide variety of family-friendly opportunities coming up. Sign-up is required.
Important Upcoming Dates
- December 6th & 7th – First Reconciliation
- December 13th & 14th – Santa Shoppe
- December 17th
- Mrs. Tabaka's PreK Classes – No School
- TK-8 – Early Dismissal at 11 a.m.
- 10:45 KidZone and TK
- 10:50 Last names R-Z
- 10:55 Last names A-H
- 11:00 Last names I-Q
- December 18th - January 3rd – No School (Christmas Break)
- January 4th – Classes Resume