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 creating 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.

Thanks for choosing SSM. We are so happy to have you and your family.

Blessings,
Mrs. Perrault

In this issue of Martyr Messenger:

Admin Updates: Two Thumbs Up from Mr. Verraneault, Take A Family Handbook Quiz & Win FREE Spirit Wear, Facilities Updates, Free & Reduced Lunch Information, Substitutes Needed, Spirit Wear Order Form, CGS Volunteers Needed, 23-24 Sacrament Dates
Home & School Updates: Dues & Contributions Form, Martyr Marathon Kick-off, First Home & School Meeting - Aug. 29th
Parish Updates: Altar Server Training, Parish Census, Better Together Tuesdays
Community Updates: Play It Forward Fall Camps

Administration Updates

How Well Do You Know Our Family Handbook Guidelines?

Review these commonly missed items, then click the button below to take the quiz and enter yourself to win a FREE Spirit Wear T-Shirt!

Commonly Missed Uniform Details

Students may wear gray (must be the color sold for SSM at Dennis or Digiorgio’s) or white knit polos (SSM logo optional). Don't forget to keep them tucked in!
The length of jumpers, skirts and skorts should be knee-length to 3-inches above the knee.
Male students' hair length must be no longer than the top of their shirt collar.

Commonly Missed Drop-off and Pick-up Details

Student supervision on school property begins at 7:50 AM (when doors open), and therefore students should be dropped off as near to that time as possible.
All students should be picked up by 3:30 PM. If no parent arrives before 3:45 PM, the student will be placed in KidZone and the family will be charged a special drop-in rate.
Students are considered tardy after 8 AM. Any student arriving after 8 AM but before 8:05 AM will report to the classroom & the teacher will record the tardy. After 8:05 AM, students will report to the office for a tardy pass. There is no grace period this year unless weather or traffic back-ups cause morning drop-off lines to take longer than usual.
Traffic Reminders
- Drive slowly through lots & use designated crosswalks
- Do NOT park on “S” street in front of the school (west of 166th Circle) because of the dangers this adds for our students who are walking and use the crosswalk at the top of the hill.
- Use the roundabouts as indicated on the campus map found on our website: school.stephen.org/drop-off-parking-procedures

Did You Sign the Family Handbook Acknowledgement Form? It was due yesterday, August 23, 2023.

You can complete the form via the Family Portal under Web Forms in your web browser, or by clicking the "web forms" icon in the school app.

Take the Handbook Quiz & Enter to Win Spirit Wear

Facility Improvements

Please join us in extending our sincere gratitude to Paul Manzitto, Director of Facilities & Maintenance, Custodians Scott Dethlefs & Andy Secora, and Seminarian Thomas Matya (who worked in the Maintenance Department this summer). These four men worked tirelessly over the last year and summer making improvements throughout our building. Their work will continue during the school year as our aging building necessitates ongoing updates! See the photos below as a small sampling of the projects they completed. We are thankful for our generous and supportive parish that underwrites our overhead costs and we are forever grateful to Paul, Scott & Andy for their continued dedication to our students, staff, and school families!

Save the Date: Curriculum Night is Thursday, Sept. 14th

This event informs families of the curriculum covered in our classrooms. We will have tips on how you can support your student’s learning at home. Students do not attend curriculum night - just parents/guardians.

The event will be from 5:30 - 7:30 PM and you will be able to attend sessions with both classroom teachers and specialists.

More details with session times and room locations will be included in Martyr Messenger on September 7th.

Free & Reduced Lunch Available

Our families have the option to apply for Free and Reduced Price School Meals through the National School Lunch Program. The form to apply is linked below and can be returned to the school office when completed.

2023-2024 Lunch Prices

Hot Lunch (per meal) Grades TK-8: $4.00
Extra Entrée: $2.75
Milk (per meal): $0.65

NOTE: School lunch prices are subject to change. Families will be notified in advance.

2324freereducedlunch.pdf

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.

Place Orders Here

CGS Volunteers Needed for Preschool, PreK & TK

All of our Early Childhood Classes attend Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) each week. We have formed catechists who lead the sessions, but we need a few more volunteers to serve as CGS assistants. Volunteers need to be safe environment trained, but no other training or experience is needed. The times we still need helpers are Tuesdays from 1:25-3 PM and Thursdays from 9:05-10:40 AM.

If you are interested in sharing your love and time with our youngest learners, please contact CGS program coordinator, Brooke Keller, at bnkeller@gmail.com.

Attention 2nd & 8th Grade Families

Save the Dates for First Reconciliation, First Communion & Confirmation

Home & School Updates

Martyr Marathon Fundraising Starts Tomorrow!

Martyr Marathon is our school’s largest fundraiser of the year. Students earn money for the school by walking the marathon route on Friday, September 15th. Students are encouraged to collect pledges from family, friends, neighbors or businesses to support their effort. Donors then pledge a flat donation in support of our school. Fundraising starts tomorrow! Students will attend a kick-off assembly at 2:45 PM in the gym and Martyr Marathon Packets will be sent home in tomorrow's Friday Folders. Click the button below for all the details or click the "Martyr Marathon" icon in our school app.

Martyr Marathon Details

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!

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!

Complete your form online using the button below or in the school app by clicking the "Home & School" icon. Questions? Contact us at:

ssmhomeandschool@gmail.com.

Complete Your Dues & Contributions Form

Join Us For Our First Home & School Meeting:

Tuesday, August 29th at 7:30 PM in the Dining Room

Parent involvement is important to our school. Come learn how you can make a difference by learning more about Home and School! We are also always happy to answer any of your beginning-of-the-year questions, too!

Parish Updates

We need your participation in the 2023 Parish Census!

Complete the Parish Census

Better Together Tuesdays

Middle Schoolers are invited to join us in September for games, fun, faith and time together. Click the button below to learn more!

Learn More

Altar Server Training on Saturday, Aug. 26th

We will hold training for any 5th-12th Grader interested in being an Altar Server at St. Stephen the Martyr this Saturday, August 26th, from 9-10 AM in the Worship Space. Current Altar Servers are also welcome to join and receive a refresher course! Questions? Contact Sam Jizba, Liturgy Coordinator, at s.jizba@stephen.org.

Community Updates

Play It Forward - Fall Sports Camp