A Message from Mrs. Perrault, Principal
Dear Families,
Somehow we have already reached the end of January! Next week, we will invite new families into our school, celebrate our school with Catholics across the country during Catholic Schools Week, and begin to prepare for the coming school year when Enrollment Season begins. It is a busy time of year, but a time that brings us all so much joy! Here are a few important details for the week to come:
Re-Enrollment Begins This Sunday, January 29th: We hope that all of our Preschool-7th grade families will be with us again next year!
- Re-enrollment will be completed through your FACTS Family Portal and you will receive an email from FACTS Management on January 29th with a direct link to each of your student's re-enrollment packets. Be sure to check your SPAM folder if you do not receive the email(s).
- You will also be able to access your Re-Enrollment Packet(s) via the new SSM School App! Details about our new app are included below.
- New families will be able to enroll starting on February 22, 2023. I encourage our current families to re-enroll & pay your enrollment fee before February 22nd to ensure placement for the 23-24 school year. We do have a few grades that are currently at capacity.
- As a reminder, if you have another child that isn't currently enrolled, but you intend to enroll them (i.e. a sibling of a K-8 student that is a first-time enrollee), you must complete a new student application for your new student. 2023/2024 New Student Applications can be submitted beginning January 29th from school.stephen.org/admissions. Current families receive priority admission.
- 2023/2024 Tuition Rates will be included in my Weekly Wrap-Up email tomorrow afternoon.
Sunday, January 29, is also our open house for new families. This will kick off Catholic Schools Week. We would love for our students to show their school pride by wearing spirit wear or their school uniform at this weekend's Masses. You will find additional details about Catholic Schools Week below. I am always so excited about this week. Although we celebrate our faith every day, this is the one week we get to spend every day reflecting on the important role that our Catholic education has on the community, nation, and future of our children.
Blessings,
Mrs. Perrault
In this issue of Martyr Messenger:
- Admin Updates: Our New SSM School App, Tuition Assistance - CSF Application Information, Catholic Schools Week & Superstar Contest, 8th Grade Pasta Feed, Uniform Vendor Info & Lost & Found Reminder
- Home & School Updates: Open House, Teacher Grants, EPS Penny Wars, Valentine's Day Parties, Fasting Wednesdays, Faith At Home
- Sports Club Updates: Soccer & Track Registrations
- Parish Updates: Boys Scouts Mom Prom, Dinner & Auction Raffle Tickets, Society of St. Vincent de Paul Sandwich Donation, Live Lent Together
- Community Updates: Catholic School Golf League for 7th & 8th Graders, Archbishop's Educator of the Year Nomination Form, Music in Catholic Schools Fundraiser, Cross Mountain Movie
Administration Updates
Download Our New SSM School App!
Thank you to Home & School for funding
Our new app is a one-stop shop for our families with any time, anywhere
access to all the tools, content, and communications needed to stay connected and engaged. This app provides easy access to the Lunch Menu, Martyr Messenger, our Family Google Calendar, FACTS Family Portal features including student grades, homework, behavior, enrollment (Beginning Jan. 29th), FACTS Financial, volunteer sign-ups, and so much more! It's available NOW in the AppStore or GooglePlay!
access to all the tools, content, and communications needed to stay connected and engaged. This app provides easy access to the Lunch Menu, Martyr Messenger, our Family Google Calendar, FACTS Family Portal features including student grades, homework, behavior, enrollment (Beginning Jan. 29th), FACTS Financial, volunteer sign-ups, and so much more! It's available NOW in the AppStore or GooglePlay!
Note: To access FACTS Family Portal features you will need to login in using our District Code: SSC-NE and your FACTS User Name & Password. If you've forgotten your User Name, please contact the school office. Passwords can be recovered using the provided link.
To download scan the above QR Code, click the button below, or search 'SSM School' in your app store.
Catholic Schools Week Starts This Sunday, Jan. 29th!
Catholic Schools Week Food Drive!
Donations By Grade:
T-Th & MWF Preschool: Cereal or Instant Oatmeal
3-Day PreK & 5-Day PreK: Package of Cookies, Brownie Mix or Box of Hot Chocolate Packets
TK: Snack Packs of Jello or Pudding
K: Peanut Butter
1st: Ketchup and/or Mustard
2nd: Hamburger Helper (any flavor)
3rd: Canned Ravioli or SpaghettiOs
4th: Pop-Tarts and/or Jelly or Jam
5th: Kleenex or Puff Tissue and/or Paper Towels
6th: Liquid Laundry Soap or Dishwashing Soap
7th: Canned Tuna or Chicken or Veg./Canola Cooking Oil
8th: Saltine Crackers, Ready-to-Serve Canned Soup
Spirit Catholic Radio's 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.
Children's Scholarship Fund (CSF): Tuition Assistance
CSF will open their applications from February 13th - May 5th. Below is information provided on their website:
Am I Eligible?
- CSF awards scholarships for children in grades K-8 to attend any private or parochial school of their family’s choosing.
- CSF scholarships are based on financial need only. We follow income guidelines similar to the National School Lunch Program.
- See the income scale below for our income guidelines for the 2023-2024 school year:
*If your household income exceeds the Maximum Eligible Income for a scholarship, your family is not eligible for a scholarship. If you have questions about your eligibility, visit csfomaha.org/parents-family/how-to-apply.html or call 402-819-4990.
8th Grade Italian Feast Fundraiser: February 11th
Take a night off from cooking and support the 8th-graders that will be traveling to Washington DC this spring!
Uniform Vendors
As a reminder, both DiGiorgio's and Dennis Uniform are approved uniform vendors for St. Stephen the Martyr. We recently received updated information from Dennis Uniforms. Please see PDF below.
Lost & Found
Please claim any lost belongings by end of the day Friday. The remaining items will be donated prior to our Open House on Sunday. Thank you!
Home & School Updates
EPS Penny War!
The Penny War is on and boy are your kids having fun! While this week's totals are still being tallied, we are thrilled with the level of participation so far. Thank you, thank you! Watch for first-week results in tomorrow's Weekly Wrap-up! As a reminder, here is how the Penny War works:
Can you help give tours this Sunday? We need 15 more volunteers!
We are excited to welcome nearly 50 prospective families to tour our school, meet our early childhood and kindergarten staff members and meet fellow parents this weekend!
Can you help give tours? 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.
Valentine's Celebrations
Planning is underway for our upcoming Valentine's Day celebrations. Watch your emails for grade-level party sign-ups for preschool through 5th grade. 6th-8th grade will be celebrating at Amazing Pizza Machine! Here is the celebration schedule:
- Monday, February 13th
- 3-Day Preschool & 5-Day PreK morning classes: 9:45 - 10:30 AM in GPC
- 3-Day PreK & 5-Day PreK afternoon classes: 2:15 - 3 PM in GPC
- Tuesday, February 14th
- Red/Pink/White Dress Down Day for Everyone!
- 2-Day Preschool: 2:15 - 3 PM in the classroom
- TK: 2 - 3 PM in GPC
- K-5th Grade: 2:15 - 3:10 PM in classrooms
- Wednesday, February 15th
- Middle School to Amazing Pizza Machine
- Middle School DDD
Teacher Grants
Thanks to your generous donations, we were able to award the following teacher grants:
- Materials for an Annual 5th Grade Glow Day
- Flexible seating for Mrs. Pestel's Room
- Books for Mrs. Baginski's literature circles
- UFLI Foundations, which enhances group phonics instruction for Mrs. O'Leary
- Literacy intervention materials
- Spinning shelves for the library
"I assembled the spinning library shelf that the H&S
grant purchased for me! The kids are going to love that they can easily get to their
favorite series now! They are so much easier to see and access. Thank you!"
Sports Club Updates
Parish Updates
Save the Date: SSM Cub Scouts Mom Prom is Feb. 25th!
Win Cash to Help Cover Next Year's Tuition!
Our Back to the '90s Dinner & Auction is coming up in March, but you can get the fun started now! Raffle Tickets are now on sale with great cash prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place. Click the button below to purchase tickets and get all the details. Hurry there are only 370 tickets left to claim!
Sandwiches for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Help is needed to provide sandwiches for the sack lunches for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul! Sandwiches can be made from home, and then dropped off at the GPC. The January drop-off day is Monday, Jan. 30th, from 6-9 PM. This is a GREAT opportunity to volunteer as a family and would count towards stewardship hours for our Confirmation candidates.
Small Group Leader Training for "Live Lent Together" Experience
Consider leading a small group and breaking open the Word this Lent. We will hold a training session to equip parishioners to lead small groups as we "Live Lent Together" in conjunction with the entire Archdiocese of Omaha. Those that are new to leading small groups and those who are veterans are encouraged to attend the training. Small groups can be with your own family and friends or with new faces from the parish. Register below!
Community Updates
Catholic School Golf League for 7th & 8th Graders
We would like to welcome you to participate in the first annual Catholic school golf league. This program is being run through St. Patrick’s in Elkhorn and instructors will be safe environment trained. This is a pilot year with the hope that in the future it can join the PAL league.
Who: 7th and 8th Grade Boys and Girls
Where: Pacific Springs Golf course
When: Spring 2023
Format: 4 Person scramble. Boys and Girls Teams. (For example, St. Pats team #1 includes 4 girls, St. Pats team #2, 4 boys…)
Cost: $225 per player for the 5-week program:
- March 25th, 3-4 PM: Instruction at Pacific Springs short game center with GolfTEC PGA instructors
- April 1st, 3-4 PM: Instruction at Pacific Springs short Game Center with GolfTEC instructors
- April 8th, 3:30-4 PM: Tee time start for 9 holes at Pacific Springs. Scramble format. Finish at approximately 6 PM.
- April 15th, 3:30-4 PM: Tee time start for 9 holes at Pacific Springs. Finish at 6 PM.
- April 22nd, 3:30-4 PM: Tee time start for 9 holes at Pacific Springs. Finish at 6 PM.
The goal of this league is to grow the game of golf at a younger age, help improve the level of golf at the high school level, and inspire more girls and boys to get involved with the lifetime sport of golf. Registration is now open and will close on February 15th, 2023. Some golf experience is required and golf clubs are also required. Register using the button below.
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
Cross Mountain: A Movie About the Apparitions of Mary that Took Place in Medjugorje
Important Upcoming Dates
- January 28: Trivia Night
- January 29: Open House & Re-Enrollment Opens
- January 30-Feb 3: Catholic Schools Week
- February 3:
- Special Friends Mass: 10 AM
- 11 AM Dismissal
- February 10: Dress Down Day for Dinner & Auction
- February 11: 8th Grade Pasta Feed
- February 13: Valentine's Day Parties (Mrs. Gentille & Mrs. Tabaka)
- February 14:
- Red/White/Pink Dress Down Day for all students
- Valentine's Day Parties (Mrs. Craig, TK-5)
- February 15:
- Middle School to Amazing Pizza Machine
- Middle School Dress Down Day
- February 16:
- Early Dismissal
- Conferences
- February 17-20: No School
- February 21: School Resumes
- February 22: Re-enrollment Deadline
- February 25: SSM Cub Scouts' Mom Prom