A Message from Mrs. Perrault, Principal
Dear Families,
We are off to a fantastic start! Each year brings positive change, and I am very enthusiastic about all of our new staff members joining our incredible team. I am also excited to have so many new families and students who will surely experience our joyous and caring community.
I am honored to be your principal, and I truly believe it is a privilege and a blessing to be part of St. Stephen the Martyr School. My goal is to continue building positive relationships with all of you and create a faith-filled caring environment where our students can grow spiritually, emotionally, and academically.
Please always feel free to contact me and/or Mr. Verraneault when you have questions or concerns, I encourage you to always first reach out to the teacher if your question or concern pertains to your child’s classroom teacher. Our teachers are always ready and willing to talk with our parents.
There are several very important messages included below in our Admin Updates. Please make time to read this email in its entirety.
Thanks for a great start!
United in Christ,
Mrs. Perrault
In this issue of Martyr Messenger:
- Admin Updates: Upcoming Drills, Uniform & Dress Code violations, 22-23 COVID-19 Protocols, Water Bottle Reminder, Drop-off & Pick-Up Reminder + Revised door open times, Hot Lunch Billing Info + New Lunch Times, Family Handbook Signature Reminder (this was due last Thursday),
Absences/Tardiness/Early Departures & Visitor Policy (Door Buzzer) - Home & School Updates: First Meeting is Tonight, Save the Date for the Fall Family Frolic at Vala's, Dues & Contributions Form, Teacher Wish Lists
- Extracurriculars Update: Band & Robotics
- Parish Updates: Get Involved This Fall: Welcome., RCIA, Beloved - A Women's Group, Bible & Book Studies
Administration Updates
Upcoming Drills
As part of our commitment to emergency preparedness, the below drills will take place in the coming weeks. Teachers will begin discussing these drills with students on Friday. We wanted parents/guardians to be aware of the upcoming drills and you are welcome to discuss them with your students. All students, preschool-8th grade, will participate if they are on campus during the designated time. As always, if you have questions or concerns, please contact Mrs. Perrault or Mr. Verraneault.
- Fire Drill - Monday, August 29th at 9 AM
- We will practice going to our designated locations outdoors. Fire alarms are loud and can upset some children.
- Lockdown Drill - Tuesday, August 30th at 2 PM
- Students are trained to move away from sight and maintain silence.
- Teachers are trained to lock classroom doors, turn lights off, move out of sight, maintain silence, not to unlock/open doors except to first responders, and take rollcall of students.
- Beginning on Friday, August 26, teachers will inform students that the drill will be done on Monday. They will discuss with children that this drill is for very rare situations in which we need an added layer of protection for the safety of our students and staff within our own building.
- During the drill, K-8 students can expect that administration will be walking halls and verifying that doors are locked and teachers do not open the door when someone approaches.
- Evacuation Drill - Monday, September, 12th at 9 AM
- Evacuation drills are practiced for an emergency situation (i.e. a gas leak) when students and staff need to leave the St. Stephen campus.
- Our evacuation location is YMCA - Armbrust.
- Our evacuation route is down the south drive, west on 'V' street to the crosswalk to cross 168th street; north on 168th street sidewalk to the YMCA.
- For the drill, we will practice our evacuation route but will stop prior to crossing 168th street.
Uniform & Dress Code:
It is crucial that families partner with the school to enforce our uniform and dress code policies. By signing the Family Handbook, you agree to do so. Please take time this weekend to review the policy found on page 43 of the Family Handbook. This information can also be found on our website at school.stephen.org/uniforms. We are already seeing violations, especially in skirt/skort/jumper/short lengths, and students not following the hair, make-up, and jewelry guidelines. We thank you in advance for your partnership on this. Please note: Our first Martyr Monday will be Monday, September 12th.
2022-2023 School Year COVID-19 Protocols
COVID-19 protocols for students and staff were updated in August and are posted on our website at school.stephen.org/covid. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the office. Thank you for your partnership in keeping our students and staff healthy this school year!
Water Bottle Reminder:
TK-8 students should bring a refillable water bottle (labeled with their name) to school daily. Several of our fountains are only re-fill stations and not drinking fountains so bottles are necessary. Preschool and PreK students do not bring water bottles. Thank you!
Drop-Off & Pick-Up Reminders:
- Effective Monday, August 29th
- Doors Open: 7:50 AM
- Note: Students dropped off prior to 7:50 AM will not be able to enter the building and there will not be supervision prior to 7:50 AM
- School Begins: 8 AM (Tardy after 8:05 AM)
- Note: an extra five-minute grace period has been added for students arriving after 8 AM
- Note: an extra five-minute grace period has been added for students arriving after 8 AM
- This does not impact our early childhood education or morning Kidzone students.
- Doors Open: 7:50 AM
- To help with the influx of traffic on 168th street, effective immediately, students can use the North, South or East entrances; regardless of their previously assigned entry door. We hope this will help alleviate the wait time for the North entrance.
- Students & parents MUST use the designated crosswalks. Crossing in front of traffic is dangerous and slows down our drop-off lanes. Crosswalks are labeled on the below map.
- 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.
- 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. Students 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.
- The East Parking Lot is 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.
Hot Lunch Reminders
The cost of student lunches will be billed as incidentals through FACTS and charged on either the 15th or last day of the month*, whichever date the family selected at enrollment. NOTE: school lunch prices are subject to change. Families will be notified in advance.
Lunch Prices
- Hot Lunch (per meal) TK-8th: $3.95
- Extra Entrée: $2.50
- Milk (per meal): $0.55
Lunch Times (effective Friday, Aug. 26th)
- TK: 10:45-11:15 AM
- Kinder & 1st: 10:50-11:15 AM
- 2nd & 3rd: 11:20-11:45 AM
- 6th: 11:35 AM-Noon
- 4th & 5th: 11:50 AM-12:15 PM
- 7th & 8th: 12:20-12:45 PM
*If the lunch charges are returned by the family's bank, the family must bring a check or cash to the office within 5 days of the rejected charges. Failure to do so will result in the school asking the family to have their children bring cold lunches until the balance is paid. The family also has the option to apply for Free and Reduced Price School Meals through the National School Lunch Program. These forms 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. This was due August 18, 2022.
REMINDER: Our FACTS District Code is: SSC-NE
Absences, Tardiness or Early Departures:
For absences, tardiness or early departures, parents should call 402-896-9675 or e-mail school@stephen.org and their teacher.
- Absences: If your child will miss school, please contact the school office and your child's teacher. If the absence is due to illness, please provide a brief explanation of your child’s sickness (helps with watching trends) including where the make-up work may be picked up (either home with a sibling or sent to the office for pick-up).
- Tardiness: Students are tardy if they arrive after 8:05 a.m. Please contact us to inform staff if your child will need a hot lunch and which meal choice they are selecting. When your child arrives at school, they must report to the office for a tardy pass.
- Early Departures: If your child needs to leave school early or for a period of time for an appointment, you should contact the school office by phone or email ahead of time. When you arrive at school, please report to the school office to sign out your child; all students must be signed-out prior to being allowed to leave. Upon return to school, please accompany your student to the school office to sign in your child and receive an admittance slip to class. This procedure helps maintain accurate attendance and guards the safe keeping of all students.
Visitors In School
As part of our Safety Plan, all visitors to the school, including parents, are required to press the buzzer in the school entryway, state their name and their reason for the visit. This allows our staff to screen who is entering our building, keeping our building secure for the safety of our students. Our office staff is very busy and sometimes there is a delay to answer the buzzer. We appreciate your patience in waiting for them to respond and request you do not enter the building (even if someone offers to open the door for you) prior to speaking with an office staff member. Thank you for your cooperation.
Home and School Updates
Join Us Tonight for Our 1st Home & School Meeting!
6:30 - 8 PM outside by the SSM Playground - Bring A Chair - Kids Welcome!
Drinks & Popsicles Provided!
All Attendees Will Be Entered to Win a $40 Vala's Gift Card!
All are invited to attend! Moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, guardians - everyone! If you love a St. Stephen student - Home & School is for you!
- Are you interested in how your kids are educated and want to supplement their experience?
- Do you like being connected with your school community?
- Would you enjoy meeting other families?
Then come to the Back-to-Home & School Night tonight, Aug. 25th from 6:30-8 PM! Come for the whole meeting, or just pop in when you can! Mr. Verraneault will be there and we will have lots of parents available to answer any first-week questions that you may have! We hope you can join us!
Can't make it? Have questions? Emails us at ssmhomeandschool@gmail.com.
Fall Family Frolic: Save the Date - October 10th
Dues and Contributions Form
All parents are members of the H&S Association! Your dues help us to continue to support our teachers and your students in so many different ways throughout the year! When you submit your dues & contribution form we will send you a school directory as a thank you!
Back by popular demand, in addition to paying your dues, you can contribute to several other giving opportunities including the Teacher Christmas Gift Fund, Teacher Appreciation, Teacher Hospitality, and much more! You can even purchase yearbooks and pay your bulk paper fee through the form!
Paper forms were sent home in the Friday folders last week or you can complete the form online using the button below. Please reach out if you have questions! ssmhomeandschool@gmail.com
Teacher Wish Lists: Support Your Student's Teachers!
Click your button below to view our teachers' Wish Lists. These lists help our 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!
Extracurriculars Update
Music In Catholic Schools Informational Meeting for 5th & 6th Graders
Tomorrow, August 24th, from 2:30 - 3 PM, Mr. Chris Frisbe from the Archdiocese of Omaha's Music In Catholic Schools program, will visit with 5th and 6th graders about joining the band! Band is open to 5th-8th grade students, is operated under the direction of Music in Catholic Schools, and is funded through parent tuition. Classes take place during the school day or before school. For more info visit archomaha.org/music-in-catholic-schools.
Have you been wondering about this year’s Robotics program?
The SSM Robotics program is open to middle-school students who are interested in designing and building a wirelessly controlled robot that can pick up foam discs and fling them at a target. We meet at school weekly on Sundays from 4-6 PM, September through February. Teams participate in local competitions against other schools. For more info or to sign up email Jason Brown at ssmrobotics@gmail.com.
Parish Updates
Welcome. Retreats:
Registration Open!
Are you ready to open the door?
Introducing...
Beginning September 1st, this new group will join together women of St. Stephen the Martyr to grow closer to Jesus. Women of all ages are encouraged to join us!
We will meet monthly in the GPC from 6-7 AM on the following dates:
- Sept. 1, Oct. 6, Nov. 3
- Dec. 1, Jan. 12, Feb. 2
- Mar. 2, Apr. 6, May 4
Please grab some friends and join us for fellowship, prayer, and growing together as women of the parish.
For more information, contact a.ybarra@stephen.org.
Upcoming Bible & Book Studies
There are several Bible & Book Studies happening at St. Stephen the Martyr this fall! Explore all the opportunities to grow closer to Christ on our website at stephen.org/bible-and-book-studies.
Important Upcoming Dates
- August 25: Home & School Meeting; 6:30 - 8 PM, Outside by playground
- August 29: Fire Drill, 9 AM
- August 30: Lockdown Drill, 2 PM
- September 1: Martyr Marathon Kickoff
- September 2-6: No School (Labor Day & Teacher Professional Development)
- September 7: Classes Resume
- September 12: Evacuation Drill, 9 AM
- September 15: Curriculum Night (more details in next Martyr Messenger!)
- September 21: 2 PM Dismissal (Staff Meeting)
- September 23: Martyr Marathon & Noon Dismissal