A Message from Mrs. Perrault, Principal
Dear Families,
The start of our 23-24 school year is just around the corner. This will be the start of my sixth year at St. Stephen the Martyr, and each year I count my blessings that I get to lead such an amazing school community. Our students, families, teachers, priests, and staff are second-to-none and I'm so grateful for your continued support.
Back to School Event Details
Please pay close attention to the August 14th Back to School event details included in this email. Our Home & School Association and teachers work so hard to make the event successful and welcoming for your student and family. We can't wait for the new school year to start!
Rosary for Nick Skar
Many of you are aware that SSM Class of 2023 graduate, Nick Skar, was diagnosed with Leukemia last May. There will be a Rosary next Tuesday, August 8th at 7 PM in the St. Stephen Worship Space and you are all invited to attend. Please join me in praying for Nick, his family, and his healthcare team. We remain United in Christ and our school community will be praying for him along every step of this unexpected journey.
I will see you all very soon!
Blessings,
Mrs. Perrault
Mrs. Perrault
In this issue of Martyr Messenger:
- Admin Updates: Back to School Night, Important First Week Dates & Reminders, 23-24 Family Handbook, Kindergarten & 7th Grade Reminders, Safe Environment Training, Spirit Wear Order Form
- Home & School Updates: First Day Coffee - Hooray!, Final Summer Play Date, Grade Level Coordinators Needed, Dues & Contributions Form
- Sports Club Updates: Cross Country Registration, Micro Soccer Registration, Soccer Pop-up Shop
- Parish Updates: Final Tailgate, Better Together Tuesdays, Altar Servers Needed
Administration Updates
Back to School Event: Monday, August 14th
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 - 1 PM and staffed by volunteers 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. You'll also be able to place orders for Spirit Wear (benefitting the students attending 8th Grade Washington DC trip) or the Soccer Pop-up Shop Gear from Sports Club (credit card only).
- K-8th Grade:
- Kindergarten-8th class lists will be posted in the gym so head there first. Visit from 11 AM - 1 PM or 5- 7 PM. Teachers will be in their classrooms during both sessions to meet their students.
- New Families: Please stop by the welcome table in the school commons (enter through the North or South doors) and we'll have a volunteer available to welcome you and show you around the school!
- Early Childhood:
- Your child's teacher will be sending you a welcome email next week. The below links will be included, so you can reserve a time to visit the classroom and meet your child's teacher!
- Preschool (Mon/Tues/Wed) - Mrs. Gentile: Sign Up to Meet Mrs. Gentile Here!
- PreK (M-F, half-days) - Mrs. Tabaka: Sign Up to Meet Mrs. Tabaka Here!
- TK - Mrs. Foster: Sign Up to Meet Mrs. Foster Here!
- TK - Mrs. Ferrante: Sign Up to Meet Mrs. Ferrante Here!
- Preschool (Mon/Tues/Wed) - Mrs. Gentile: Sign Up to Meet Mrs. Gentile Here!
- Your child's teacher will be sending you a welcome email next week. The below links will be included, so you can reserve a time to visit the classroom and meet your child's teacher!
- 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.
Important First Week Dates & Reminders
- Thursday, August 17:
- First Day of School K-8 and TK (Last Names A-L)
- Noon Dismissal (No hot lunch service)
- Friday, August 18:
- First Day of School for TK (Last Names M-Z)
- Noon Dismissal (No hot lunch service)
- Monday, August 21:
- First Day of Preschool and PreK
- First Full Day of School for TK-8 (first day of lunch service)
Parking & Drop-off/Pick-Up Procedures:
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!
- Drop-off Reminders:
- 1st-8th graders may enter the building starting at 7:50 AM. They may enter through any door.
- Kindergartners are invited to meet their teacher near the flag pole on the North side of the school on the first two days of school.
- Early Childhood students may enter the portables starting at 7:50 AM.
- Staff will be on duty to help guide traffic.
- 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).
- Pick-Up Reminders:
- Parents may wait by the doors but not enter the building.
- There is no staggered dismissal on early dismissal days. All students will dismiss at Noon on Thursday & Friday.
- On Monday, August 21st, our first full day, we will begin staggered dismissals. Students will dismiss as follows:
- 3:15 PM KidZone, TK & Early Childhood Afternoon classes
- 3:20 PM Last names A-M
- 3:25 PM Last names N-Z
- No V Street Safety Patrol for the 23-24 School Year:
After evaluating the usage of our Safety Patrol during the 22-23 school year, we have determined not to staff our safety patrol on V Street this year. Children that walk and/or bike to school via V Street are encouraged to use all designated crosswalks. Families that use V Street for their drop-off and/or pick-up route are reminded to follow speed limits and yield to pedestrians and/or bicyclists.
Family Handbook Acknowledgement Form
All families must complete the Family Handbook Acknowledgement Form by August 23, 2023. The Family Handbook is updated for the 23-24 school year and available on our website, and in our school app, and it is linked below. You can complete the form via the Family Portal in your web browser, or by following the below steps in our SSM School App.
Kindergarten Documents
Incoming Kindergarteners must have the following submitted to the office by Thursday, Aug. 17th.
- Birth certificate
- Baptismal certificate
- Physical Exam/Immunization documentation (which includes a Vision Evaluation)
- Date of most recent dental exam
- Preschool report card
If you have any questions, please contact the school office. Thank you!
7th Grade Physicals:
The Nebraska School Law requires all students entering 7th grade to have a physical examination by a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner within six (6) months before the start of school. A dental examination is recommended at this time. If you have any questions, please contact the school office.
Safe Environment Training: August 5th
Training is free of charge, but registration is required. Interested volunteers can complete the certification anywhere in Omaha, but St. Stephen will host a training on Saturday, August 5th from 10 AM – Noon in the Dining Room.
2023-2024 St. Stephen the Martyr Spirit Wear
A fundraiser for the 8th grade Washington, D.C., trip
SSM spirit wear may be worn by students on Martyr Mondays and on other designated spirit-wear days. Questions? Please contact Frannie Schneider at frannieschneider@gmail.com, Tina Cockerill at tina.cockerill@arc-holdings.com, or Erin McCartney at emccartney5@gmail.com.
Home & School Updates
Before heading straight to work or home after dropping off your child(ren), Kindergarten & new families are invited to grab a quick coffee with other SSM parents! This is a great chance to meet Mrs. Perrault & Mr. Verraneault and get any school questions answered that you still may have for the Welcome Committee.
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!
Final Summer Play Date - Sunday, August 13th
The goal of our summer play dates is to give children a chance to meet future classmates before the big day! Our final play date will be at 11:35 AM, following 10:30 AM Mass, on Sunday, August 13th. We hope you can join us!
All incoming PreK, TK & Kindergarten students are invited. Please RSVP so we can plan treats accordingly.
Grade Level Coordinators Needed!
We are looking for volunteers to fill our grade level coordinator positions.
- The Grade Level Coordinators will work together to plan parties for all classes and teacher/TAs birthdays together per grade level.
- Specials Teacher Coordinators are responsible for helping to celebrate specials teachers and office birthdays and any other needs that arise for the specials/office.
- There will be an all-Grade Level Coordinator Meeting in Parish Center on Wednesday, September 16th at 5 PM.
- All coordinators need to be Safe Environment Trained
Wondering if you already signed up? Click here to see who signed up in the spring.
Dues and Contributions Form
Get a head start on that back to school checklist! The Home & School dues and contributions form is now live! You can complete it online using the button below.
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!
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 pay your bulk paper fee through the form!
Please reach out if you have questions! ssmhomeandschool@gmail.com
Sports Club Updates
Cross Country Registration Deadline: August 13th
Micro Soccer (Ages 3-6) Registration Deadline: August 18th
Fall Soccer Gear Pop-up Shop
Parish Updates
Save the Date: Our Final Tailgate is Saturday, August 19th
Better Together Tuesdays
Middle Schoolers are invited to join us next Tuesday, August 8th for games, dinner and time together. We will end in time for anyone who would like to attend the Rosary for Nick Skar. Click the button below to learn more!
Can Your Child Serve at Weekend Masses?
We are in need of servers to assist us at weekend Masses. All 5th-12th grade students are eligible and we will help get interested students trained! Please fill out the below form (regardless of training status) and our Liturgy Coordinator will follow up with you about upcoming opportunities to serve. Thank you!
Important Upcoming Dates
- August 5: Safe Environment Training
- August 8:
- Better Together Tuesdays for Middle Schoolers, 5:30-7 PM, SSM Field
- Rosary for Nick Skar, 7 PM in the SSM Worship Space
- August 13:
- Final Summer Play Date for incoming PreK, TK & Kinder students
- Cross Country Registration Deadline
- August 14:
- Back to School Event, 11 AM - 1 PM & 5-7 PM
- Soccer Gear Pop-up Shop Closes
- August 17:
- First Day of School K-8 and TK (Last Names A-L)
- Noon Dismissal (No hot lunch service)
- August 18
- First Day of School for TK (Last Names M-Z)
- Noon Dismissal (No hot lunch service)
- August 19: Final Summer Tailgate
- August 21:
- First Day of School for Preschool & PreK
- First Day of Lunch Service