A Message from Mrs. Perrault, Principal
Dear Families,
I truly can’t believe we are at the end of our school year. This Friday our 8th graders graduate, and I am so proud of each and every one of them. They are an incredible class who showed time and time again leadership, compassion, faith, friendship, and both academic and spiritual growth. I look forward to celebrating with them throughout the week.
Thank you to all of our families who have supported the school mission throughout the year. We are almost at the end, and we got this far together. This is what it means to be united in Christ to ignite the joy of faith, community, and learning! I will miss the students and families who will be moving from St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic School, but I wish them the best. To all the families who will return next year, I look forward to our continued journey.
I wish you all peace, love, and multiple blessings throughout the summer.
United in Christ,
Mrs. Perrault
In this issue of Martyr Messenger:
- Admin Updates: Joy of Giving, 7/8th Grade Math Teacher Announcement, Upcoming Dress Down Days, Field Day Details, Well Wishes to Families With Their Last SSM Student, Lost & Found, Summer Monthly Updates & Office Hours
- Home & School Updates: Volunteer at 8th Grade Lunch, Summer Play Dates, School Supply Boxes, 2022/2023 Volunteer Opportunities, Faith At Home
- Parish Updates: Martyr Mission Ticket Sales, 2022 Tailgates, Summer Safe Environment Training at SSM, Food Pantry Thank You, Totus Tuus Registration, Blood Drive, CGS Catechist Formation
- Sports Club Updates: Cross Country & Volleyball Clinic Registration Open, Track & Field Shout Out, Turn In Basketball Uniforms & Basketball Coordinator Needed
- Community Updates: Summer Camps at High Schools: Gross, Mercy, Marian & Skutt Catholic
Administration Updates
Joy of Giving - May 18
Please watch this video message from Mrs. Perrault
Welcome, Miss Myah Keenportz to St. Stephen!
We are excited to announce that we hired Myah Keenportz to teach 7th and 8th grade Math. Myah graduated from Doane University with a Bachelor of Arts in Education/Endorsed in Mathematics and a Masters in Advanced Studies. She will be married at St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church the summer of 2023. Outside of teaching, Myah enjoys completing puzzles and hiking. She has also spent most of her life singing in show choirs and church choirs.
We are thrilled to have Myah joining the St. Stephen the Martyr family for the 2022-2023 school year.
Families With Their Last Student Graduating from St. Stephen the Martyr!
We send our best wishes to the below parents whose final student will graduate from St. Stephen this Friday. We thank you for your support and dedication to St. Stephen. Your family will be in our prayers!
Brett & Lisa Adams
Eric & Randy Becker
Jeffrey & Kayleen Brewer
Walter & Melinda Krebs Carter
Matt & Stacy Casson
Marcos & Alexandra Castillo
Dennis & Susan Clark
Jason Comes & Melissa Marasco
Rogelio Dejano & Sara Dejano
Joseph & Mary Dolan
Craig Fabrikant & Jennifer Martens
Kurtis & Traci Gemberling
Steve & Deann Grovijohn
Brian & Maria Holst
Grant & Sara Janke
Joseph & Tammy Korgie
Rebecca Kroll
Gideon & Michelle Linderman
Chris & Angie Lowry
Jason & Stephanie Ollerich
Justin Pestel & Jeanna Pestel
Cliff & Angie Poling
Jamie Robinette
Joel & Kathleen Schafer
Ryan Schilmoeller & Angie Schilmoeller
Michael & Caitlin Shenk McEvoy
John & Holly Smith
Samuel & Kathy Turco
John & Michelle Wade
Mike & Kara Weier
Edwin & Ann Young
Chad & Amy Ziller
Christopher & Melissa Ziola
Summer Monthly Updates & Office Hours
This summer we will send monthly updates to enrolled families for the 2022/2023 school year. These will come out mid-month and will include any important information families may need while we are on summer break. Should you need to get in touch with staff members over the summer, our office summer hours will be Monday - Thursday, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM.
Lost & Found - Going, going gone!
Please stop by the school commons to claim missing items. Any items left after the end of the year will be donated. Uniform items in good condition will be donated to Home & School for the Used Uniform Sale and non-uniform items will be given to Deacon Denny to distribute to our partners who serve those in need.
Home and School Updates
We are looking for volunteers to help with the setup and tear down of the 8th Grade Graduation Lunch. We want to send our 8th Graders off to high school with a nice celebration!
Committee Chairs Needed for 2022/2023 School Year!
View all of our open committee head and member positions using the button below. Don't see something that fits your talents? Email us at ssmhomeandschool@gmail.com and we will find the perfect spot for you!
School Supply Packs ordered through Educational Products, Inc. (EPI) are delivered directly to the school and placed in your child's classroom before Back to School Night. Click the button below to order your student's EPI Supply pack and enter school code STS021. Be sure to order for your child's 2022/2023 grade level. The order deadline is June 12, 2022.
School Supply Lists
If they prefer, families can always purchase school supplies on their own! The 2022/2023 lists will be posted soon on our website at: school.stephen.org/school-supplies.
Faith At Home
Catholic Family Summer Fun
The rest and relaxation of summer are around the corner! Here are a few ideas to incorporate your Catholic faith into some classic summer pastimes.
- Chill. Unwind with some screen time, catholic-style! Download the Little Saints Adventure App or check out the Catholic Sprouts podcast.
- Read. Check out the Chime Travelers Series or The Chronicles of Narnia for some great Catholic summer reads!
- Road trip. Incorporate prayer into your family car time by using a Catholic prayer app like Amen or Hallow.
- Outings. Include destinations like St. Cecelia’s Cathedral or the Holy Family Shrine to broaden your list of things to do this summer!
- Pray. Take a break from the summer heat to stop in the adoration chapel for a few minutes. You can set up a weekly time, or just pop in to say “Hi” to Jesus when you can!
Parish Updates
Join us for this year’s Martyr Mission, Night In White, at St. Stephen the Martyr on June 11 from 6-11 PM! Enjoy fellowship, fundraising, and fun under the moon and stars with an indoor/outdoor reception; catered, plated meal; DJ music and dancing; cocktails; beer; wine; and a silent and live auction. White attire is encouraged. Tickets, $100 per person, are now on sale. Event proceeds benefit St. Stephen the Martyr Church and School.
Save the Dates: Back this summer, by popular request, are the Tailgates!
Enjoy a casual summer evening with friends, family, and fellow parishioners.
- Bring your lawn chairs, blanket, a game for the kids (or adults) to play, and your favorite beverages.
- Let the Knights of Columbus do the cooking, and delight in your choice of a Hamburger, Cheeseburger, or Brat, with Baked Beans, Chips, and a bottle of water (pricing to be announced).
- Enjoy dessert from a selection at the Council of Catholic Women’s famous dessert table!
Kids will especially love the ParadICE Hawaiian Shaved Ice truck on hand to enjoy a refreshing cold treat after dinner.
Upcoming Safe Environment Training
Families Keep Coming to Our Pantry
Dear Families,
These are tough times for so many families in the Omaha community. All of us can attest to the higher food prices and you can only imagine the impact on those families who are financially struggling and are food insecure. But our faith family at St. Stephen the Martyr continues to provide food items daily. Almost every morning when I come to the GPC there is food on our donation cart. Each of those donations is anonymous and provides for families in need. On behalf of the Food Pantry Ministry, thank you for your caring, kindness, and generosity. We have helped to supply Catholic Charities and the SVdP Food Pantry when their shelves are empty also. Jesus said to feed HIS people. We, at St. Stephen the Martyr make that happen. To date, we have turned NO ONE away due to empty shelves. Since July 1st we have fed 108 families. May God continue to bless our parish outreach ministry.
Blessings,
Deacon Denny
Pastoral & Spiritual Care/Outreach
Now Open: Totus Tuus Registration!
We are very excited to be bringing Totus Tuus to St. Stephen again in 2022! Totus Tuus, which means "Totally Yours", is a fun and energetic summer catechetical program, for both grade school-age children and junior and senior high school youth.
Blood Drive At St. Stephen - June 4
The Knights of Columbus are sponsoring a Blood Drive on Sat., June 4 from 7:30 AM - 12:30 PM. To schedule your appointment, call 1-800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org, click "Find a Drive" and enter Sponsor Code: StStephen.
Sports Club Updates
Let's Hear It For Our 5-8th grade Track & Field Team!
Heart and hustle have set these athletes apart! The parent volunteer coaches from St. Stephen of Jen Carda, Charles Cooper, Janet Driml, Jamie Harr, Kris Kimmey and Kevin Rice, along with our own 6th-grade teacher, Megan Jones, Liturgical Coordinator, Logan Hepp, and alumna, Erin Kalamaja, couldn’t be more excited and proud about how our teams performed. Not just the medal winners, but all the athletes that competed the best that they could. There were many individual personal records at each meet and a handful that will get their name on the new Track and Field record board in the gym. These athletes grew in strength and virtue and it is a testament to the HARD WORK they put in throughout the season! We are already looking forward to next season as the future is bright for these kids!
Basketball Coordinator
We have an opening for a Basketball Coordinator. Responsibilities of this volunteer role include coordinating tryouts, team creation, and helping arrange practice times. There is also an important meeting for new coordinators with the PAL director in July. If interested or have questions, please contact Corey Guenther at coreyguenther34@gmail.com or 402-206-6488; or John Carda at johncardaatc@gmail.com or 402-850-7127.
Turn In St. Stephen Basketball Uniforms!
We still have several basketball uniforms that have not been turned in. Please place them in a bag with the student's name on it and turn them into the office before the end of the school year.
From the Community
Mercy High School Summer Camps
Summer Camps at Mercy High School for girls in 3rd - 8th grades will be offered in June and July of this summer. We are offering camps in Athletics, Show Choir, Fine Arts & Creative Writing. Go to https://www.mercyhigh.org/happenings/ for further information about each camp!
Summer Sports Camps at Marian High School
Registration for Marian athletic camps is now open! Explore our camps and register at marianhighschool.net/choosing-marian/camps/.
Skutt Catholic High School Summer Camps
Skutt Catholic is hosting several camps this summer, including cheer, sports, choir and band camps. View and register for all camps at https://www.skyhawkcamps.com/.
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.
Important Upcoming Dates
- May 18: Joy of Giving - Give Online
- May 19: 8th Grade Last Day of School
- 10 AM: 8th Grade Graduation Rehearsal & Pizza Lunch
- 1:30 PM: 8th Grade vs Teachers Volleyball
- 3:05 PM: 8th Grade Final Walkthrough
- May 20: No School
- 8th Grade Graduation - 8th graders report to homerooms at 9:30
- May 23:
- Field Day & K-7 Class Color Dress Down Day (see colors in Admin Updates above)
- 9:15 – 11:15 AM: Grades K-2
- 9:30 – 11:30 AM: Grades 3-5
- 1:30 – 2:30 PM: Grades 6-7
- 3-Day Preschool (Mrs. Gentile) Last Day of School
- Graduation Ceremony at 10:30 AM in the classroom
- Field Day & K-7 Class Color Dress Down Day (see colors in Admin Updates above)
- May 24:
- Cleaning Dress Down Day - Wear clothes that follow Handbook Guidelines, but that you don't mind getting a little dirty!
- TK Field Day: 9-10 AM
- 2-Day Preschool (Mrs. Craig) Last Day of School
- AM Graduation Ceremony at 10:20 AM in the classroom
- PM Graduation Ceremony at 2:50 PM in the classroom
- PreK (Mrs. Tabaka) Last Day of School
- AM Graduation Ceremony at 10:30 AM in the GPC
- PM Graduation Ceremony at 3 PM in the GPC
- May 25: TK-7th Last Day of School
- "Best Dress" DDD - wear your Sunday best for the last day of school Mass & Award Ceremony
- 8:15 AM All School Mass & End-of-Year Award Ceremony
- 9 AM - TK Graduation in the GPC
- 10 AM Early Dismissal: All students will dismiss at 10 AM (no staggered dismissal).
- May 26: Safe Environment Training – 6:30-9 PM in Dining Room
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Campus Clean Up-Spring 2022: Saturday, April 9th
Here’s an opportunity for your whole family to help your faith community! Join us for Spring Clean Up of the parish grounds on April 9th (the rain date will be April 16th). Sweeping, raking and trimming are needed. Bring tools such as a rake, broom, dustpan, digger tool, clippers, brown trash bag; and your own water and snack. Youth can earn service hours at this event!