A Message from Mrs. Perrault, Principal
Dear Families,
It is so exciting to prepare for Advent and Christmas. Students and staff love seeing the Christmas tree in the commons. It will once again be adorned with classroom ornaments. I look forward to the Advent prayer service scheduled for next Wednesday, December 6th at 2:30 PM in the Worship Space. It is a great way for our students to begin the Advent season and a wonderful reminder for all of us to refocus our hearts on what this season is really all about. I hope many of you can join us!
Next Monday and Tuesday evening, our second graders will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the very first time. Please keep them in your prayers and join me in thanking our priests, second-grade teachers, and Religious Education staff for their time in helping our children prepare for the special day.
Wishing you all a blessed Advent,
Mrs. Perrault
In this issue of Martyr Messenger:
- Admin Updates: Thanksgiving Food Drive Thank You, First Reconciliation, K-2 Music Program, Winter Book Fair, Christmas Color Dress Down Day, Catholic Schools Week Talent Show, November Saint of the Month Award, Inclement Weather Policy, Cold Weather Recess Reminders, 8th Grade Fundraiser
- Home & School Updates: Breakfast in Bethlehem, Christmas Gift Fund, Santa Shoppe, Musical Registration & Auditions
- Parish Updates: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception Holy Day Mass Times & Reception, Mass Livestreaming Complications, Holy Hour for Children, Christmas at SSM, Angel Tree Project, KOC Free Throw Contest
- Community Updates: Upcoming Events at Marian High School
Administration Updates
Thanksgiving Food Drive: Thank you
Thank you, St. Stephen the Martyr school families, for your generous support of the St. Stephen Food Pantry during the Thanksgiving Food Drive. Your generosity will provide nutritious and delicious holiday meals to our needy neighbors, assist them, and remind them of God’s love for them.
“Blessed is the one who considers the poor.”
May God bless you and your abundantly!
With a grateful heart,
Colleen Eusterwiemann
Pastoral Care Coordinator
St. Stephen the Martyr
Please Pray for our Second Graders!
Our second graders will be receiving their First Reconciliation on December 4th (2A & 2B) & 5th (2C). May our Lord bless them on their First Reconciliation, may His love be upon them and His presence always guide them. May they and their families discover the wonder of God's forgiveness.
K-2nd Grade Music Program: Dec. 14th
SSM Kindergarten-2nd Grade Presents The Merriest of Music
Dear SSM Families,
Our K-2 music program is Thursday, December 14th at 2 PM and 6 PM.
Students are required to be at both performances. If for some reason your child is not able to attend both performances please send a written note or email me at s.smith@stephen.org. You and your guests are welcome to attend either or both performances. The 2 PM performance will have the 3rd-8th grade students in attendance. For the evening performance, your child will need to report to his/her classroom at 5:45 PM. We are asking that you not arrive at school any earlier than 5:45 as that is the time your child's teacher will be in the homeroom classroom. Please have your child wear comfortable clothing: Boys please wear dress pants/khakis and a nice shirt. Girls please wear dresses/skirts or nice pants/shirt. No jeans, please! Remember they get pretty warm standing so close together - please keep this in mind when choosing an outfit. They will be in school uniforms for the 2 PM program.
Thank you,
Mrs. Susan Smith, Pre-K-2 Music
Students are required to be at both performances. If for some reason your child is not able to attend both performances please send a written note or email me at s.smith@stephen.org. You and your guests are welcome to attend either or both performances. The 2 PM performance will have the 3rd-8th grade students in attendance. For the evening performance, your child will need to report to his/her classroom at 5:45 PM. We are asking that you not arrive at school any earlier than 5:45 as that is the time your child's teacher will be in the homeroom classroom. Please have your child wear comfortable clothing: Boys please wear dress pants/khakis and a nice shirt. Girls please wear dresses/skirts or nice pants/shirt. No jeans, please! Remember they get pretty warm standing so close together - please keep this in mind when choosing an outfit. They will be in school uniforms for the 2 PM program.
Thank you,
Mrs. Susan Smith, Pre-K-2 Music
Christmas Colors Dress Down Day: Dec. 7th
Let's get festive, just in time for Santa Shoppe! Students may dress down in Christmas colors on Thursday, December 7th. This Dress Down Day is for all students, regardless of their shopping day. All students should be in uniform on Friday for All School Mass for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception Holy Day.
Winter Book Fair: December 11-15th
Get ready! This winter's Book Fair is going to be epic!
Here's what you need to know about our upcoming fair:
★ Every dollar you spend will benefit our school directly
★ Our Fair is CASHLESS: Credit/Debit cards, ApplePay, and eWallet only
★ You can sign up for Book Fair eWallet, a convenient digital payment account, so your child can shop the Fair cash-free. Use the button below to set up eWallet.
★ Middle schoolers may attend on their own and bring any younger siblings. All students who do not have middle school siblings must attend with a parent/guardian.
★ There is an in-school shopping day for any students who attend Kidzone and cannot attend the fair with a parent or Middle School sibling. This is for Kidzone/Childcare students only. This will be on Wednesday, Dec. 13. Use the button below to sign up. Must use eWallet and have an approved shopping list.
★ You can order online and have books shipped to your home! Online orders are open Dec. 8th-21st.
★ Every dollar you spend will benefit our school directly
★ Our Fair is CASHLESS: Credit/Debit cards, ApplePay, and eWallet only
★ You can sign up for Book Fair eWallet, a convenient digital payment account, so your child can shop the Fair cash-free. Use the button below to set up eWallet.
★ Middle schoolers may attend on their own and bring any younger siblings. All students who do not have middle school siblings must attend with a parent/guardian.
★ There is an in-school shopping day for any students who attend Kidzone and cannot attend the fair with a parent or Middle School sibling. This is for Kidzone/Childcare students only. This will be on Wednesday, Dec. 13. Use the button below to sign up. Must use eWallet and have an approved shopping list.
★ You can order online and have books shipped to your home! Online orders are open Dec. 8th-21st.
Catholic Schools Week Talent Show!
We are excited to announce we will host our first talent show during Catholic Schools Week! Get all the details below.
Audition Information
- Who Can Join?
Any student in 5th - 8th grades. Acts can be solo or in groups of up to six students. - When & Where?
Auditions will be on January 10th and 11th after school, and will be held on the music stage. If your act is selected, the final rehearsal will be on January 24th after school. - Guidelines
All acts should be 2 minutes and 30 seconds or less. Great ideas include singing, playing instruments, dancing, skits, magic acts, acrobatics, and unusual stunts/tricks. All acts should be appropriate in every way, including language and costumes if applicable. No lip-syncing or improvisation.
Use the button below to register!
November Saint of the Month - St. Cecilia
Today our November Saint of the Month honorees were announced. These students were selected by their teachers for showing love to others. St. Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians and her virtues include faith, hope and charity. St. Cecilia always acted out of love. Congratulations to our November honorees!
Preschool, PreK & TK Honorees
Left to Right: Gianluca S. (PreK-Tabaka), Harlow S. (Preschool-Gentile), Edith K. (TK-Ferrante), Elliett M. (TK-Foster)
K-8 Honorees
First Row (L-R): Orion R. (1C-Keller), Iyla C. (1B-Heidrick), Ryann L. (1A-Fitch), Rylee H. (KB-Rezac), PJ W. (KC-Schrage), Austin S. (KA-Hoff)
Second Row (L-R): Mya H. (3C-Niehaus), Sebastian R. (3B-Lowery), Avery J. (3A-Mancilla), Fitz P (2B-O'Leary), Piper V. (2C-Schweers), Lilly C. (2A-Gill)
3rd Row (L-R): Samantha W. (5B-Jonas), Otto J. (5A-Freeman), Jack H. (5C-Keating), Elynn B. (4C-Hermann), Madeline G. (4A-Roche), Gianna L. (4B-Haack)
Fourth Row (L-R): Hunter H. (8C-Berry), Aubrey H. (8B-Harvey), Haley M. (7B-Mullen), Liam M. (8A-Brown), Quinn G. (6B-Bolton), Jake H. (6C-Mabeus), Bo H. (6A-Pestel)
Not Pictured: Leighton B. (7A-Peetz)
Inclement Weather Policy
As we enter December, it is a good time to review our inclement weather policy. St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic School (SSM) observes the school closing policies of the Millard Public Schools (MPS) and/or Omaha Catholic Schools (OCS). When school is canceled, SSM will send families an email (using the “Correspondence” email(s) the family has on file in FACTS). If either district calls off school due to inclement weather, SSM will be closed. SSM does not utilize late starts. If MPS or OCS calls a late start, SSM will be closed. If MPS or OCS announces a remote learning day in lieu of a snow day, SSM will not have remote school unless all allotted snow days are already used. The full policy can be found on page 26 of the Family Handbook.
Cold Weather Recess Reminders
Please ensure your student is appropriately dressed for the weather. We will have outdoor recess as long as the actual or the "feels like" wind chill temperature is 10 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Please send students to school with labeled jackets, hats, gloves/mittens, etc.
When there is snow to play in, students may bring snow pants/bibs and boots, but they must wear shoes while inside. Please make sure these items are labeled. Sending them in a labeled plastic bag can be helpful for keeping their items together and provide easy storage should they get wet at recess.
Show Your Support for Our 8th Grade Students Traveling to Washington D.C. Next Spring!
Tickets may be purchased in advance from 8th graders or at the door.
Home & School Updates
Join St. Nicholas this Sunday at Breakfast in Bethlehem!
Come celebrate the beginning of Advent and the Feast of St. Nicholas with a morning filled with the Knights of Columbus’ famous pancake breakfast and Home & School hosted St. Nicholas festivities including Sleepless from Seattle specialty coffee cart, hot cocoa, fun activities for the kids, and a visit from St. Nicholas himself. Please RSVP so St. Nicholas can be prepared for all of the children attending!
Deadline Extended: Contribute to the Christmas Gift Program Wednesday, Dec. 13th
Ways to Donate:
- Give via Cash or Check & send to the school office (checks can be made out to SSM Home & School)
- Give Online Here
- Not sure if you contributed yet? Click here to see if your name is on the list!
Volunteers Still Needed for Santa Shoppe next week!
Santa Shoppe is scheduled for Thursday, December 7th & Friday, December 8th and we need YOUR help!
Sign up to volunteer using the button below. Please note that if you'd like to volunteer during your student's class, the sign-up includes shopping times. Every slot you sign up for gets you an entry in a drawing to win an Apple iPad!
Reminders:
- To kick off the festivities, students get a Christmas Colors Dress Down Day on Thursday (see note from Admin above).
- Watch this week's Friday folders for shopping/budget envelopes!
Musical Registration Now Open!
Key Dates for 2024 Musical
- December 3rd: Registration Deadline for 6-8th Grade Actors (all must audition - see below)
- December 4th & 7th: Middle School Auditions (Grades 6-8 Only): Auditions are at 3:30 PM on the stage (next to the music room). No preparation is necessary, but students must be registered by December 3rd and present for both audition days!
- January 8th: Rehearsals begin this week
- January 21st: Registration Deadline for 1st-5th Grade Actors & ALL students who wish to be on the Tech Crew and/or Stage Crew (no late registrations accepted after this date)
- March 17th - 20th: Tech Week (Mandatory for all students)
- March 21st: School Performance at 1:15 PM
- March 22nd: General Audience Performance Night 1 at 7:30 PM
March 23rd: General Audience Performance Night 2 at 7 PM
Note: All students in grades 1st-8th who want to participate will be given a role. 6th-8th grade actors MUST be registered by Dec. 3rd and attend auditions, but all will receive a part in the production. 1st-5th graders do not audition.
Parish Updates
Join Us For Mass on December 8th
Mass Livestream Update
We are continuing to experience technical difficulties with our Mass livestreaming. We will continue to attempt to livestream Mass daily, however, if the stream freezes during Mass, we will stop the stream for the day and try again the next morning. We understand this means Mass may not be streamed in its entirety and apologize for the inconvenience. We are working diligently to resolve the issue. We thank you for your continued patience.
Angel Tree Project Ends Dec. 3rd!
Our Angel Tree Project has been a huge success! If you have items you still need to turn in, please do so by this Sunday, December 3rd. If you didn't have a chance to participate, you may still give online to the cause by using the button below. Thank you for your generous support this season!
Children's Holy Hour: December 18th
All ages are invited to attend this special family Holy Hour led by the Marian Sisters. The evening will include music and teaching on Eucharistic Adoration. We will have resources to help guide families, advent coloring books, and candy canes! Come as a family and spend an hour with our Lord this Advent.
Knights of Columbus Free Throw Contest - Jan. 5th
Christmas At St. Stephen the Martyr
Since Christmas falls on a Monday this year, Catholics have two obligations to fulfill on Christmas weekend- one for the 4th Sunday of Advent and one for Christmas. Both obligations can be fulfilled on Sunday, just not at the same Mass. Saturday evening and Sunday morning Masses are liturgically 4th Sunday of Advent Masses. Sunday afternoon and evening Masses will be Christmas Vigil Masses. Mass times for the weekend will be as follows:
- 4th Sunday of Advent Vigil Mass: Saturday, Dec. 23rd: 5 PM
- 4th Sunday of Advent Mass: Sunday, Dec. 24th: 7:30 AM, 9 AM, 10:30 AM
- Christmas Eve Mass: Sunday, Dec. 24th: 4 PM, 4:15 PM (gym), 6 PM, 11 PM
- Christmas Day Mass: Monday, Dec. 25th: 9 AM, 10:30 AM (live-streamed)
Community Updates
Upcoming Events at Marian High School
Discover Marian | Parent Coffee: Friday, Dec. 8 | 8:30-9:30 AM
Discover the opportunities for your daughter at Marian! Parents of junior high students are invited to join us for an information session with our president and principal. Find out how Marian aligns with what you’re looking for in a high school partner:
- All-Girls Advantage at the Optimum Size
- Rigorous College Prep Curriculum
- Leadership Development & Extracurricular Opportunities
- Class A Athletics
- Top of the Line Facilities
- Supportive Community
Sign up here to discover Marian.
8th-Grade Holiday Event: Sunday, Dec. 10 | 2-3 PM
Marian High School | Cost: $15 per student
8th-grade girls who have registered for Marian’s Placement & Scholarship Exam are invited to sport their most festive holiday attire or ugly Christmas sweater, enjoy hot cocoa and cookies, and learn exam tips in advance of the Jan.13th placement exam. Registration for this event is only open to 8th graders who have registered to take the placement exam at Marian. Register here.
8th-Grade Scholarship & Placement Exam: Saturday, Jan. 13 | 7:45 AM-Noon
Secure your spot in the Marian Class of 2028 when you take the placement exam at Marian. The exam is for eighth-grade girls only. Test results are used to award academic scholarships and place each student in appropriate freshman courses. More information here.
7th-Grade Practice Test: Saturday, Jan. 13| 8 AM-Noon
Open to seventh graders, the practice test is not an admissions exam, but rather a helpful way for you, your parents and Marian to measure your educational achievement level. More information here.
6th-Grade Practice Test: Saturday, Jan. 13| 8 AM-Noon
A practice test is for girls enrolled in sixth grade. Students will test in reading and math, and while this is not an admissions exam, it’s a helpful way for you, your parents and Marian to measure your educational achievement level. More information here.
Important Upcoming Dates
- December 3: Breakfast in Bethlehem, After 9 AM & 10:30 AM Mass, Dining Room
- December 4:
- Musical Auditions for 6-8th Graders, 3:30 PM on Stage
- First Reconciliation: 2A & 2B
- December 5: First Reconciliation: 2C
- December 6: Advent Prayer Service, 2:30 PM, Worship Space
- December 7:
- Christmas Colors Dress Down Day - Wear Christmas Colors & Follow Family Handbook
- Santa Shoppe - Day 1
- Musical Auditions for 6-8th Graders, 3:30 PM on Stage
- December 8: Santa Shoppe - Day 2
- December 13: Last Day to Contribute to the Christmas Gift Program
- December 14: K-2 Christmas Program, 2 & 6 PM
- December 18: Children's Holy Hour, 6-7 PM, Worship Space
- December 20:
- K-8: 11 AM Dismissal (no hot lunch)
- Preschool, PreK & TK: No School
- Quarter 2 Ends
- December 21 - January 3: Christmas Break
- January 4: Classes Resume