A Message from Mrs. Perrault, Principal
Dear Families,
Lent is a time that reminds us of God’s goodness and all He sacrificed to ensure our eternal happiness. I am very thankful for a loving and forgiving Lord. I pray we can all learn to love the same way that we are loved by God. I pray that we can open our hearts to share with others who are less fortunate, and I pray for all our staff, students, and families as we remember the Way of the Cross.
With Lent comes spring. I can’t believe we have Spring Break already next week. It will be a great time to step away, relax, and enjoy family. Since I will be staying in Omaha, I hope for some nice weather here.
Enrollment is underway! We are so excited to have the majority of our students returning for the 2022-2023 school year. If you still have questions about enrollment, please contact Courtenay Swanstrom at c.swanstrom@stephen.org. Courtenay is fabulous about getting back to you as soon as possible and answering any questions you may have.
Third-quarter ends this week, so we will begin the final stretch when we return on March 14. Please look at the Google Calendar for many spring events. We are excited for the school musical, Science/History/Author Fair, and upcoming Sacraments. There is so much to look forward to this spring.
Thank you so much for all the support you continue to show for the school. You really make a difference!
Blessings and prayers,
Mrs. Perrault
In this issue of Martyr Messenger:
- Admin Updates: Merit March, Stations of the Cross, Book Fair Results, Lost & Found, Safe Environment Training, Recess Volunteer Opportunity, St. Patrick's DDD
- Celebrating Our Students: 8th Boys Robotics Team, Regional Spelling Bee Results
- Home & School Updates: Family Lent Activities, Musical Pre-Order Tickets, Your Contributions At Work, Home & School Meeting, 8th Grade Scholarship Essay, Party at the Ski Lodge, Faith at Home
- Parish Updates: Lenten Challenges, Altar Server Training, VBS Volunteer Sign Up, Girl Scouts Ties & Tiaras
- Sports Club Updates: SSM Volleyball Clinic, Track and Football Registrations
- Community Updates: Flaming Hoops Basketball Camp, Skutt Catholic Jr Skyhawks Basketball Tryouts, V2 Summer Camp, Mercy Lock-In, Marian Father Daughter Dance, Summer Camps, Jr. Crusaders Basketball Tryouts
Administration Updates
Merit March
As part of our school's continued PBIS integration, we have declared March to be Merit March! Throughout the month, teachers will be celebrating and recognizing student behaviors that are meeting and exceeding our school's expectation that students PRAY every day:
- Practicing safety
- Respecting God, self, and others
- Acting with Kindness
- Yes, to responsibility
Teachers and staff have been challenged to recognize 700 (or more!) students during the month of March by giving out merits on behavior cards (Grades 3-8) or by providing other behavior incentives and recognition within their classroom (Grade K-2). If they reach this goal, students will be rewarded with a Dress Down Day in April! Watch for an update in our next Martyr Messenger and be sure to ask your student about Merit March!
Join Us to Pray the Stations of the Cross
We invite our families to pray the Stations of the Cross this Lent with our students & teachers Fridays at 2:30 PM in the Worship Space or via live stream at stephen.org/live-stream or on the Church Facebook page. Below is the in-person schedule for students:
- March 4: Grades 5-8
- March 11: No 2:30 PM stations (Spring Break - no school)
- March 18: Grades K-4
- March 25: Grades 5-8
- April 1: Grades K-4
- April 8: Grades 5-8
- April 15: No 2:30 PM stations (Good Friday - no school)
Spring Book Fair Results
Thank you to everyone who supported the Spring Book Fair. We sold a total of $5,762.75 in books and were able to purchase all of the books that were in the teacher wish list boxes: $304.19 worth of books! We also were able to purchase $302.67 of books for the library, including some of next year's Golden Sower Nominees.
We have an additional $500 we can use at Scholastic and we took $500 in cash that be used to buy books from other vendors. This money is earmarked to be used to purchase local and national award winners and to update our science section, particularly the space and weather sections that are in serious need of updating.
Happy reading this spring and summer!
Lost & Found
These spring-like temps have us doing some spring cleaning! Lost & Found items will be donated after dismissal on Friday, March 4th. Have your student(s) claim items in the school commons before they move on to a better home! For your convenience, we've photographed and posted photos here (photos as of Noon Tuesday): school.stephen.org/lost-found.
Get Safe Environment Certified: Mon., March 7
We're excited to have volunteers back in our school this year! Most of our volunteer opportunities require adult volunteers (age 19+) to be Safe Environment certified. St. Stephen is hosting a training on Monday, March 7 from 6:30-9 PM in the Dining Room. Once completed, your certification is valid for 6 years. Training is FREE but registration is required.
Volunteer At Recess
"I heard Sally jump roped 300x at recess yesterday and Johnny picked up a snake!" Ever wonder if those tall tales your kiddo tells from recess really happened?! Here's your chance to find out! Click the button below to sign up to volunteer to supervise, and even play if you'd like, during one or all of the after-lunch recess(es).
St. Patrick's Day DDD
Celebrating Our Students
8th Grade Robotics Team Qualifies for State Competition!
Our 8th Grade boys team, the Bandits, qualified and will compete in the Robotics State Competition this Friday & Saturday in Stromsburg, NE. The team includes Jaxson Casson, Kaiden Goss, Drake Smith, and Ian Goltl. The team scored 180 points in the skills category for completing objectives using autonomous and driver control. They are currently ranked 11th in the state!
Congratulations, boys! We will be praying and cheering for you this weekend.
Sarah Fernandes Places 3rd At Regional Spelling Bee!
Last Saturday, 4th-Grader, Sarah Fernandes competed in the Regional Spelling Bee. The competition lasted three hours with a total of 66 students competing from counties across Nebraska and Western Iowa. Sarah finished in 3rd place! We are so proud of her.
Congratulations, Sarah, and thank you for representing St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic School!
Home and School Updates
Creating Space in Our Hearts to Encounter Him!
The Be the Light committee put together the below guide with several reflections and activities for your family this Lent. You can access the document by clicking the below button. It will also be sent home in Friday folders with your youngest student tomorrow.
Your Contributions At Work
Thanks to your generous donations to Home & School, we were able to purchase new collaborative desks for the library and technology lab. Thank you, thank you!
Pre-Order Musical Tickets: March 14-April 1
Come see what’s happening on the stage for the St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic School musical! Join our students as they present the musical, The Lion King Jr!
Two performances will be held in the gym on Friday, April 8 at 7:30 PM and Saturday, April 9 at 7 PM. Please note the time differences. The gym doors will open 30 minutes before showtime and seating is on a first-come basis.
You can pre-order your tickets beginning March 14 - April 1 using the button below. Pre-sale tickets will be processed through OSV and will be sent home with your child the week following your order.
Door sales (cash and check only) on the night of the performance will begin one hour before showtime.
Join Us March 16 at 6:30 PM in the Dining Room
At this Home & School meeting, we will discuss our wins, areas we can improve for next year, and open volunteer opportunities for next year. We would love your feedback, ideas, and to help you find a way to get involved - please join us!
8th Grade Scholarship Essay
Please remember to register your 8th grader on or before March 14th for the annual Home & School Association 8th Grade Scholarship Essay Contest. The scholarship will be administered during school hours on March 17th. Registration forms will be coming from the 8th grade teachers.
Faith at Home
St. Katherine Drexel - March 3
Born the heiress to a wealthy American banking family, Katherine spent her fortune in service to minorities at a time when serving them was incredibly unpopular. But before she was a famous saint in the Catholic church, she was just a little girl whose father taught her to have compassion for the poor. Her father was a wealthy banker who hired private tutors and took his daughters on tours of the United States to widen their experiences. But three times a week, from their family home, they distributed food, clothing and rent assistance to those that needed it. Her education in empathy began during her time with her family. Her father especially taught her that if someone was too proud to come to seek assistance from them, to give it quietly to preserve their dignity. Being careful to preserve the pride of those receiving aid was a major hallmark of her work with minorities. St. Katherine Drexel, help us to teach our children to love the poor!
March is Dedicated to St. Joseph
The entire month of March is dedicated to St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus. He is the patron of refugees (perfect saint to intercede for the families of Ukraine!), workers, and fathers. This month, in honor of St. Joseph, choose a few ways to honor your own father! Offer prayers, send them a card, make them a special dinner, anything to say “I appreciate you.” Here is a beautiful prayer to pray to St. Joseph this month, which is famous for “never failing” to attain your intention.
Parish Updates
Lenten Challenge
As Catholics, we strive to "give up" something during Lent in the categories of almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. As a way to reflect on Lent this year, we invite you to join our Lenten Challenge. When you signup, you will receive 25 "notes" (sent by your choice of text or email) beginning on March 5th. Each message will contain a challenge to help you grow closer to Christ this Lent, in preparation for Easter. Perhaps you’ll choose to take one of these challenges and commit to it every day until Easter! Give it a try! Sign up by clicking one of the buttons below.
Altar Servers Wanted!
Starting on March 19th, we will return our servers to their full capacity of serving the altar at Mass. That means we need more servers to step up to help! We will have a series of training sessions for new and returning servers. These sessions are open to children in 4th grade through high school. No need to register/RSVP, just come for the time that works for you:
• Saturday, March 5, 9:30 – 10:30 AM
• Monday, March 7, 4 – 5 PM
• Thursday, March 10, 4 – 5 PM
• Saturday, March 12, 1 – 2 PM
• Tuesday, March 15, 4 – 5 PM
• Friday, March 18, 4 – 5 PM
Serving at Mass is a great way for your children to learn about giving back to their community. It also provides a deeper engagement in the Mass! If you have any questions, please reach out to Logan Hepp, l.hepp@stephen.org.
Volunteer For Vacation Bible School: June 13-17
We are making plans for VBS at St. Stephen from June 13-17! Will you consider being a Station Leader? Station Leaders are the core of our Monumental VBS and are the people who prepare and teach the material in the stations. Each station leader will receive a manual that is easy to follow with field-tested activities. Adult volunteers may waive the tuition of ONE child participating in VBS and each station will have a few middle/high school volunteers assigned to them. If you are enthusiastic about working with children, patient and kind, Safe Environment Trained, and 19 years or older, we encourage you to volunteer! Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d45a4ac22a3f5c70-vbsstation1. Note: VBS Registration and Youth Volunteer Registration will open later in March.
Upcoming SSM Girl Scouts Event:
Sports Club Updates
From the Community
When: Tuesday, May 31 - Friday, June 3
- 8:30 - 10:30 AM (Grades 1-3)
- 10:45 AM - 12:45 PM (Grades 4-8)
Where: St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic School Gym
Who: Boys and girls Grades 1-8 (2022-23 school year)
Register: Use the button below for more information and to register online.
About Camp Director: Kathy Jones, a former teacher at St. Stephen the Martyr, has been active in basketball for many years. She began her career as a player at Kansas State University, and after graduating, she took a position as the Assistant Women's Basketball Coach at the University of Missouri. She continued her collegiate coaching as an assistant coach at Memphis University, as well as coaching AAU basketball.
Skutt Catholic Junior Skyhawks Basketball Tryouts
Virtus et Veritas (V2) Ministries
V2 Summer Camp registrations are now open. This is for young men grades 6-9 and is full of fun, leadership, and Catholic faith! Join the adventure at 2022 V2 Camp presented by Virtus et Veritas Ministries. Join us for a week: July 17th-23rd OR July 24th-30th. Early bird pricing through April 3rd. Scholarships are available! There are leadership opportunities for young men in grades 10-12 and volunteer opportunities for adults. Visit www.v2ministries.org for more info and register today!
Mercy High School 5th & 6th Grade Lock-In
Mercy High School’s 5th& 6thGrade Lock-In is returning on March 19thfrom 5-9 pm. Play games, meet new friends, create an art project, have dinner, and learn routines from the Mercy Cheerleaders and Dance Team! For more details and to register, please go to: www.mercyhigh.org/happenings.
Marian High School Father-Daughter Dance
Saturday, March 19, 2022
Time: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Cost: $30 per father/daughter duo, $15 per additional daughter
Location: Marian High School
Open to: 1st-5th grade daughters and their fathers, special fathers, uncles, grandfathers, etc.
Time: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Cost: $30 per father/daughter duo, $15 per additional daughter
Location: Marian High School
Open to: 1st-5th grade daughters and their fathers, special fathers, uncles, grandfathers, etc.
About: Marian's show choir is hosting a Princess Ball fundraiser for dads and daughters. There will be music, cookies, a cupcake walk, and an exclusive Marian Momentum Show Choir performance. Registration will also include a tiara and keepsake T-Shirt for your daughter. Registration closes Monday, March 7. Questions? Contact Michelle Delisi at delisi@omahamarian.org.
Summer Sports Camps at Marian High School
Registration for Marian athletic camps is now open! Experience Marian's winning athletic tradition. Fundamentals, sportsmanship, work ethic and technique - you'll get it all this summer at a Marian athletic camp.
Explore our camps and register at marianhighschool.net/choosing-marian/camps/.
Marian Junior Crusader Basketball Tryouts
Marian's Junior Crusaders is a competitive basketball program for girls in third through eighth grade who are interested in attending Marian. The program places a strong emphasis on skill development and preparing girls to compete at the high school level. The teams play in the Conqueror Basketball League and in four to eight local regional tournaments. Players are placed on teams and compete at a level that will provide them with the best opportunities to succeed and develop as a player.
Tryouts for the upcoming 2022-2023 season will be held Sunday, March 20, at the following times:
- 3rd & 4th grade | 3-4 p.m.
- 5th & 6th grade | 4-5 p.m.
- 7th & 8th grade | 5-6 p.m.
- Grade levels are for the 2022-2023 school year
- Parent informational meeting will be held during your daughter's tryout time
All current 2nd grade to 7th-grade girls can register online at go.teamsnap.com/forms/295669. Registration is also available on the day of tryouts. There is no cost to try out. Contact Chris Wagner at cwagner@omahamarian.org with questions.
Important Upcoming Dates
- March 4: End of 3rd Quarter
- March 7-11: No School (Spring Break)
- March 14: Classes Resume & Deadline for Scholarship Essay Registration
- March 16: Home & School Meeting
- March 17: St. Patrick's DDD & 8th Grade Scholarship Essay
- March 18: Report Cards
- March 19: Home & School Event - Party at the Ski Lodge
- March 24: History/Science/Author Fair
- March 26: Ties and Tiaras: Daddy-Daughter Dance
- March 28: No School (Teacher In-service)
Confirmation Dates for 8th Graders:
- Rehearsals
- March 21: 8C (6 PM)
- March 24: 8A (6PM); 8B (7:30 PM)
- Confirmation: 6:30 – 8 PM
- March 28: 8A
- March 30: 8B
- March 31: 8C