A Message from Mrs. Perrault, Principal
Dear Families,
Here we are, back into the swing of things! It is really hard to believe that we are halfway through another school year. This month and next will be filled with many calendar events so be sure to frequently check the Google School Family Calendar. Catholic Schools Week begins on January 29th with our Open House! We would love to see as many families and students (in their uniforms) as possible at the 9 AM and 10:30 AM Masses. We are always so proud to have our students represent and showcase our school! Home & School has included a SignUp Genius below for you to sign up to help with the Open House. Thank you in advance for sharing your love of our school with prospective families.
I've included an overview of Catholic Schools Week below. We will provide additional details as we get closer. We are excited to have our Special Friends Mass again this year! It will be Friday, February 3rd at 10 AM and the students will have an early dismissal at 11 AM that day. Your children can begin inviting their “special friends” to join them for Mass. As a reminder, we ask for children of the same family to invite one guest and they will all be allowed to sit together.
It is wonderful to be back in session. Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to work with you and your children. Please continue praying for our families, students, and staff who are in need of physical, emotional, or spiritual healing. May God give us all strength in this new year.
Blessings,
Mrs. Perrault
In this issue of Martyr Messenger:
- Admin Updates: Enrollment, Early Childhood-Kindergarten Intent to Enroll Survey, Catholic Schools Week Overview, Superstar Contest, Library Volunteers, Grief Resource, Thank You from the Cole Family
- Home & School Updates: Open House, Home & School Meeting, Midyear Used Uniform Sale, EPS Peny Wars, Musical Information, Faith At Home
- Parish Updates: Steubenville Registration Due Monday, Jan. 16th, Trivia Night, Soccer & Track Registrations Now Open, Silent Auction Donations
- Community Updates: Archbishop's Educator of the Year Nomination Form, Music in Catholic Schools Fundraiser, Creighton Prep Admissions Info, Mercy High School Dance Clinic
Administration Updates
Enrollment Opens January 29th
Re-enrollment for current students will open on January 29th. You will receive an email notification that your enrollment packet for the 2023/2024 school year is ready to complete. All current families have until February 22nd to complete their student's re-enrollment packet. After the 22nd, we will begin extending offers to new applicants and your student's spot is not guaranteed.
As a reminder, if you have a child that isn't currently enrolled, but you intend to enroll them, you must complete an application (i.e. you have a student in K-8, but your youngest doesn't attend SSM Early Childhood). Current families, however, will receive priority admission.
Early Childhood through Kindergarten Intent to Enroll Survey
We are finalizing our early childhood program for the 2023/2024 school year. To help our planning, we are conducting a brief survey of families that intend to enroll their children in our Early Childhood or Kindergarten program. If you plan to enroll your child in preschool, PreK, TK or Kindergarten, please click the button below to complete the survey.
Parking Lot Reminders
We would like to remind you of our morning drop-off traffic routes. Please remember to be courteous to one another and drive with extreme caution in our lots. Please follow all guidelines outlined in our Family Handbook, which can also be found on our website (see button below). The guidelines were developed with your child's safety and traffic-flow efficiency in mind. We've included the traffic-flow map below and a link to our drop-off/pick-up procedures webpage. Thank you for helping keep everyone safe and the traffic flowing!
Catholic Schools Week: Jan. 29th - Feb. 3rd
Sunday, January 29th
Theme: Celebrate Our Parish - Show your Catholic School Spirit at Mass
Dress: Wear your uniform or spirit wear to Mass!
Activity: Open House
Monday, January 30th
Theme: Celebrating Our Community - Our Team is a Great Match
Dress: Team Jersey/Wear mismatched socks
Activities:
- Food Drive Begins
- Board Games in the afternoon with prayer partners
- STOP, FREEZE, DANCE
- Saint Day: Classrooms pick a Saint and decorate their room
Tuesday, January 31st
Theme: Celebrating Our Students - Rise and Shine
Dress: PJ Day
Activities:
- Men’s Club Breakfast for all students, continue working on prayer boxes
- Spelling Bee (4th-8th grade will compete)
Wednesday, February 1st
Theme: Celebrating Our Nation - We love our Nation and Catholic Schools, too! Let’s celebrate the red, white, and blue!
Dress: Dress in Red, White, & Blue
Activities:
Activities:
- Prayer Boxes
- Eucharistic Procession
Thursday, February 2nd
Theme: Celebrating Vocations - Catholic School students have CLASS!
Dress: Dress in “Class Colors!” Wear as much of the color assigned to your class as you can find!
- All Metro 8th Grade Mass at the Cathedral
- Prayer Partner Meet Up
- EPS Penny Wars & Food Drive End
- STOP, FREEZE, DANCE
Friday, February 2nd
Theme: Celebrating Faculty, Staff, & Volunteers
Dress: Uniforms
Activities:
- Special Friend Mass: 10 AM
- 11 AM Dismissal
Superstar Contest
Who’s ready for Catholic Schools Week? We are! Vote for St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic School in Spirit Catholic Radio’s Superstar Contest! For 11 years, Spirit Catholic Radio has been shining a spotlight on Catholic high schools and elementary schools in their listening area with the Superstar Contest. Let’s get our community talking about the importance of Catholic education by encouraging others in our community to vote! Superstar voting competition begins January 30 and lasts through February 10th. Vote using the button below.
Volunteer in the Library
Mrs. Tessari needs help in the library helping students check out, shelving returned books, and occasionally helping weed out old/damaged books. Sign up using the button below.
Grief Resource
Coping with loss, death, and/or grief is challenging at any age, but especially so for children. We've shared the below resource below, but wanted to share it again.
Always know our counselors, administration and teachers stand ready to assist your children or your family in any way we can.
Thank You From the Cole Family
Thank you so much to our St Stephen the Martyr Church Family for the overwhelming love and support we felt and observed at the Rosary and Pasta Supper and Raffle Fundraiser that was held for our family this past month. We cannot put into words how much all the love, support and prayers have meant to our family during this journey. Thank you to the church for allowing us to hold it at the church and to all the organizers of this event!
- Love, Eli Cole and Family
Home & School Updates
Our Open House is Jan. 29th: We Need Your Help!
We are excited to welcome prospective families to tour our school, meet our early childhood and kindergarten staff members and meet fellow parents! Here's how you can help:
- Invite your family and friends to attend the event: You and your children are our best ambassadors! Please share our social media posts with your friends and please extend a personal invitation to anyone you may know that is considering enrollment in a new school next year. They can use the link in the button below to reserve a tour at our Open House.
- Volunteer at the event: We anticipate giving over 70 tours in just three hours! We cannot do this without your help. We will give you all the information you need to show prospective families our school. The only skills you need are a welcoming demeanor and a love for St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic School! Sign up using the button below.
Join Us At Our First Home & School Meeting of 2023 Next Wednesday!
Join us for our first meeting of 2023 next Wednesday, January 18th in the Dining Room at 6:30 PM! Learn all about what we have planned for the second half of the school year & how you can get involved! We will also give a preview of the NEW official St. Stephen Catholic School app, launching soon. You won't want to miss this meeting!
Used Uniform Midyear Sale: Jan. 22nd
Our Midyear Used Uniform Sale is Sunday, January 22nd from 8:30 - 10:30 AM in the School Commons.
Donations: Donations can be dropped in the South school entry through 1/20/23. Please note: this sale is donations only, there will be no consignment.
Volunteers: We only have a few spots available for volunteers. Sign up now using the button below to secure early shopping!
EPS Penny War
Start saving your change! The EPS Penny War begins on January 23rd. All proceeds will benefit Essential Pregnancy Services.
Musical Rehearsals Start This Weekend!
The musical is open to all 1st through 8th graders! While our lead roles are filled, it's not too late for you to register your student. We will find a place for your child! Register using the link below. All parents/guardians of participants are asked to volunteer a minimum of two hours. Sign up using the link below.
Faith At Home
Celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism in January
We celebrate the Baptism of our Lord in the month of January - the day when Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. This is the perfect time to review the Sacrament of Baptism with your child! Here’s a quick lesson: First read Matthew 3: 13-17 while they color this coloring sheet and then watch this video: https://youtu.be/MYSHdpJ7loU. End the lesson with a quick prayer thanking God for giving us the Sacrament of Baptism.
Pray for Life on January 22
January 22 is the Day of Prayer for the Unborn. To approach this topic with childlike innocence, introduce the concept of caring for all people, no matter their size. Watch the movie Horton Hears a Who and talk about taking care of those who cannot take care of themselves. Then, pray for all families that they love each other as God loves them.
Parish Updates
Last Call for Steubenville: Registration Due Monday, January 16th
Join Us For Trivia Night - Only Five Tables Left!
Spring Sports Club Registrations
Soccer & Track/Field Registrations are now open!
- CYSL Soccer (Grades K-8th): Deadline Feb. 10th
- Micro Soccer (Ages 3-6): Deadline March 6th
- Track (Grades 5-8): Deadline March 10th
Soccer and Track & Field are open to all St. Stephen parishioners and multi-sport athletes are encouraged to participate!
Click the below buttons for more information and to register!
Our Silent Auction Needs Your Help!
Our Annual Dinner & Auction is set for March 25th! Please help us round out our silent auction by donating one of the above items or any items from our wish lists. Multiple price points are available and if shopping from Amazon, items can be sent directly to St. Stephen. Thank you for your consideration and generosity!
Community Updates
Save the Date for the 46th Archbishop's Dinner for Education: September 21, 2023
The Archdiocese of Omaha is now accepting nominations for the 2023 Educator or Administrator of the Year Award. Use the button below to nominate your favorite St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic School Educator or Administrator! Nominations are due by February 28, 2023.
Music in Catholic Schools Fundraiser
Creighton Prep Admissions Dates
The Creighton Prep Admissions office would like to share the below admissions process as a reference for any families applying:
Saturday, January 14: 8th Gr. Scholarship & Entrance Exam
Friday, January 20: Due Date for Income-Based Tuition applications
Friday, January 27: Application Materials due for each student
- Completed Rec Form aka "Blue Form"
- 7th grade transcript, 8th Grade 1st semester transcript
- Standardized testing
- Any applicable disciplinary record
Monday, February 6 (Week of): Decisions emailed, received in mail
Tuesday, February 7: Catholic Grade School Scholarship Day
Dance Clinic & Performance at Mercy High School
Friday, January 27, 5 - 7:30 PM
5th-8th grade girls are invited to learn a neon-themed dance routine from the Mercy Dance Team members! They will perform at halftime of the Varsity Game that night. Dinner & t-shirt included. Register at https://www.mercyhigh.org/happenings/.
Important Upcoming Dates
- January 13 & 16: No School
- January 18: Home & School Meeting
- January 22: Used Uniform Sale
- January 23: EPS Penny Wars Begins
- January 28: Trivia Night
- January 29: Open House
- January 30: Catholic Schools Week Begins
- February 3:
- Special Friends Mass: 10 AM
- 11 AM Dismissal