A Message from Mrs. Perrault, Principal
Dear Families,
I can’t believe school starts a week from today! I am so excited to see our returning students and meet all of our new students and families. This year we have 34 new students coming into grades 1-8. We also have 83 students who will begin kindergarten, and many returning and new students in preschool and transitional kindergarten. We welcome all of our students and families, and I am certain they will feel the joy and love I feel for our community. We also welcome back all of our staff members and are excited for the new staff members who will be joining our team. I am truly so blessed to be part of this amazing community.
The beginning of a new school year brings much excitement, but this time can also bring about nervousness and anxiety as transitions often do. Be assured of my prayers for all of you and your children. We will do our absolute best to partner with you to ensure your children have the best start to the school year. I pray they will come to know and feel Christ's love for them. I ask for your prayers for me and our staff as we begin the new year and I especially ask that you hold The Tupper Family close in your heart and prayers.
I'll see you all very soon.
United in Christ,
Mrs. Perrault
In this issue of Martyr Messenger:
- Admin Updates: Back to School Night, Reminders: First Day Drop-off & Pick-Up, Hot Lunch, Family Handbook Signatures & Required Kinder Documentation, Kidzone Staff Needs & Eli Cole Prayer Request
- Home & School Updates: First Day Coffee - Hooray!, Class Coordinators Needed, Teacher Wish Lists, Fasting Wednesdays
- Sports Club: Cross Country & Micro Registration Deadlines
- Parish Updates: Archbishop Visit to SSM & Final Tailgate
- Community Updates: PlayItForward Fall Sports
Administration Updates
What you Need to Know:
- All Students:
- Bring your school supplies! If you order through EPI, your school supply pack will already be in your classroom.
- Visit the booths in the gym! A host of groups, committees, and clubs will be in the gym to welcome your family back to school. The booths in the gym will be information only from 11 AM - 2 PM. and staffed from 5-7 PM.
- Bring your cash, cards & checkbook! In the gym, you'll have one last chance to purchase used uniforms before the school year (cash or check only). You'll also be able to place orders for Spirit Wear and purchase your Meal Tickets for our Final Tailgate!
- K-8th Grade:
- Kindergarten-8th class lists will be posted in the gym so head there first. Visit from 11 AM - 2 PM or 5- 7 PM. Teachers will be in their classrooms during both sessions to meet their students.
- Early Childhood:
- 2-Day Preschool - Mrs. Craig: Students and their families are invited to Meet Mrs. Craig between 3:30 and 3:45 PM. We have a very small 2-Day class this year, so everyone is invited to visit at the same time!
- 3-Day Preschool (for 3-year-olds) - Mrs. Gentile: Please sign up to meet Mrs. Gentile: Sign Up Here!
- 3-Day PreK (for 4-year-olds) - Mrs. Gentile: Students and their families are invited to Meet Mrs. Gentile between 11:30 AM and Noon. We have a very small 3-Day PreK class this year, so everyone is invited to visit at the same time!
- 5-Day PreK - Mrs. Tabaka: Please sign up to meet Mrs. Tabaka: Sign Up Here!
- TK - Mrs. Foster: Please sign up to meet Mrs. Foster: Sign Up Here!
- TK - Mrs. Ferrante: Please sign up to meet Mrs. Ferrante: Sign Up Here!
- NOTE: For those families reserving slots through SignUp Genius, please be sure your child's teacher's name is selected when choosing your slot. To change teachers, use the Drop Down Selection tool (if viewing on Mobile Device) or click the top tabs (if viewing on a desktop/laptop).
- Volunteer at Back To School Night: The Back to School Night Committee needs volunteers to help make the event a success! Click here to sign up.
First Day Drop-Off & Pick-Up Reminders
- Please take time to review our drop-off and pick-up and parking procedures. These are listed both in the Family Handbook and on our website at school.stephen.org/drop-off-parking-procedures.
- Please review the map below to help for a smooth first morning!
- Please follow the door entrance locations by grade. These are outlined on the map below and further explained on the website and in the Family Handbook. Note: Students should dismiss in the afternoon through the same doors that they enter in the morning.
- At drop-off: Parents/guardians may walk their children to the door but may not enter the building (staff will be in the doorways to assist and welcome students).
- At pick-up: Parents may wait by the doors but not enter the building.
- We have Noon dismissals on the first two days of school. There is no staggered dismissal on these days, except for Kidzone & TK.
- 11:50 AM KidZone and TK
- 12:00 PM K-8
- On Monday, August 22nd, our first full day, we will begin our staggered dismissals. Students will dismiss as follows:
- 3:10 PM KidZone, TK & Early Childhood Afternoon classes
- 3:15 PM Last names I-Q
- 3:20 PM Last names R-Z
- 3:25 PM Last names A-H
Hot Lunch Reminders
Lunch will not be served on Thursday, Aug. 18, or Friday, Aug. 19. Our first day for hot lunch service will be Monday, August 22nd. As a reminder, lunch rates have returned to their pre-pandemic rates.
- $3.95: Hot Lunch (per meal) TK-8
- $4.00: Staff & Guest Lunch
- $2.50: Extra Entrée
- $0.55: Milk (per meal)
Families can apply for assistance through the National School Lunch Program. Applications can be obtained confidentially in the kiosk outside of the school office and returned to the school office when completed.
2022-2023 Family Handbook
Please remember to review the Family Handbook using the button below or on our website: school.stephen.org/parents. Once you've read it in its entirety, complete the Signature Page via your FACTS Family Portal under the "Web Forms" Tab by August 18, 2022.
Reminder: Documentation Needed for Kindergarten Students Before First Day of School:
Kindergarten students are required to submit the following to the school office prior to their first day of school:
- Original birth certificate (to be copied and immediately returned)
- Baptismal certificate (to be copied and returned)
- Kindergarten physical and updated immunizations
- Date of most recent dental appointment, no paperwork required
As a reminder, 7th grade students must provide a 7th-grade physical and updated immunization record.
Kidzone Staff Needed ASAP
In order to serve our families and meet staffing ratios for our after-school program, we need to hire 4 more staff members! Who do you know that would be a good fit? Hours are Mon-Fri from 3:30-6 PM, ages 16+. Hours are flexible and we can work around teen sports/school schedules. If interested, contact Cheryl Connolly, Kidzone Director, at: c.connolly@stephen.org.
Prayer Request For Eli Cole, Former SSM Student
Please keep Eli Cole, former St. Stephen student and son of Tiffany & Jim, The Cole Family, and Eli's healthcare team in your prayers this month. Eli will be undergoing a bone marrow transplant in August. We all know the power of our prayers and Eli needs them during this time.
Home and School Updates
Before heading straight to work or home after dropping off your child(ren), please come grab a quick coffee with other SSM parents! We know how tough & exciting that first day of school can be for parents, too. We will have tissues & high-fives on hand! Hope to see you there!
This is a great chance to meet Principal Perrault & Mr. Verraneault and get any school questions answered that you still may have for the Welcome Committee.
Class Coordinators & Committee Chairs Still Needed!
We love having our school parents involved at St. Stephen! We still have a few spots to fill to complete our committee lists for the year. We would love to have your help. Sign up using the button below! The following are open spots:
- 8th Grade Graduation Lunch Committee: Manage Graduation Luncheon on May 19 for 8th grade families (planning takes place in the spring).
- Class Coordinator Committee: Coordinate teacher/TA birthday party and Halloween and Valentine’s Day parties for assigned grade. These spots are still open:
- 2-Day Preschool PM - Mrs. Craig (2 needed)
- 3-Day Preschool AM - Mrs. Gentile (1 needed)
- 3-Day PreK PM - Mrs. Gentile (1 needed)
- 5-Day PreK AM - Mrs. Tabaka (1 needed)
- 5-Day PreK PM - Mrs. Tabaka (2 needed)
- Transitional Kindergarten (1 needed)
- Specials Teachers/Office Staff (1 needed)
- 1st Grade (1 needed)
- 4th Grade (4 needed)
- 5th Grade (2 needed)
- 6th Grade (3 needed)
- 7th Grade (3 needed)
Teacher Wish Lists: Support Your Student's Teachers!
Click your button below to view our teachers' Wish Lists. These lists help teachers stock their classroom and ensure your student has a wonderful year. Don't forget to support our specials and resource teachers, who provide enrichment to all of our students: preschool - 8th grade!
Fasting Wednesdays
Throughout the school year, a group of parents and family members commit to fasting and praying for our school on Wednesdays. Individuals are encouraged to fast in the form that works best for them. For example, Food fasting (2 smaller meals, 1 regular meal), no eating between meals, fasting from social media, music, etc. If you are interested, you can join the Flocknote Fasting group by clicking the button below. You'll receive a weekly text on Wednesday mornings as a reminder. Questions? Contact Jamie Harr at jamieharr@hotmail.com.
Sports Club Update
Cross Country Registration Deadline: Sunday, Aug. 14th!
St. Stephen Cross Country is open to boys and girls in grades 6th-8th, including multi-sport athletes. Join us for lots of fun in a supportive environment! Practices start Aug. 22 Sign up now using the button below!
Micro Soccer Registration
While CYSL (K-8) soccer registration is closed, there is still time to register your 3-6 year-old for Fall Micro Soccer! The registration deadline is August 19th.
Parish Updates
Archbishop Lucas Visits St. Stephen This Weekend!
Archbishop Lucas will be the celebrant of weekend Mass on:
- Saturday, August 13 at 5 PM Mass
- Sunday, August 14 at 7:30, 9:00, and 10:30 AM Masses
On Sunday morning, parishioners are invited to join him for donuts & coffee in the Dining Room following 7:30 & 9 AM Mass. Following 10:30 AM Mass, parishioners are invited to join us as he blesses our new statues!
Meet Archbishop Lucas and discuss his vision for the Archdiocese of Omaha! Need a refresher on his Big Goal? Click the button below to review.
Purchase Your Meal Ticket for Our Final Tailgate!
The tailgate begins at 6 PM following Mass. In lieu of a festival this year, this final tailgate will serve as our fall Parish gathering. Pre-Ordering of Meal Tickets is encouraged and ends on August 16th using the button below. We hope you can join us!
From the Community
Important Upcoming Dates
- August 13 & 14: Archbishop Lucas Visits St. Stephen the Martyr
- August 16: Back to School Night
- August 18: First Day of School - (Noon Dismissal for All—No lunch Served)
- First Day for K-8
- First Day for TK A-L only (No school for TK M-Z)
- August 19 (Noon Dismissal for All—No lunch Served)
- TK M-Z First Day (No school for TK A-L)
- August 20: Final Tailgate - Join us to kick off our school's 30th year!
- August 22:
- Hot lunch program begins for TK-8
- First Day of 3-Day Preschool, 3-Day PreK & 5-Day PreK
- August 23: First Day of 2-Day Preschool
- August 24: Home & School Meeting
Update Your Contact Information
To ensure you receive these emails, please keep your FACTS Family Portal updated with your correct email. If you have questions, please contact the school office at: school@stephen.org or (402) 896-0754. Martyr Messenger newsletters are archived for one school year at school.stephen.org/martyr-messenger. Enrolled families are required to have one adult designated to receive correspondence emails. To remove yourself from the emails, please click 'unsubscribe' below. Thank you!
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!