A Message from Mrs. Perrault, Principal
Dear Families,
What a joyful week we had last week as we celebrated our Catholic school! I am always so proud of our students and all their accomplishments. I love how our students have many different individual talents that they share every day with our school community in a variety of ways. We have artists, musicians, athletes, super spellers, future writers and poets, robotics champs, budding comedians, and many students who would win a kindness challenge any day of the week. Most importantly though, we have students who love God and live their faith every day!
This week we celebrated some of the gifts of our 8th graders. On Tuesday, nine students from our 8th grade class were awarded scholarships from the metro Catholic high schools. That is 20% of our 8th graders who took the placement exam. This is a great accomplishment and we are so proud of them.
This week we also celebrated National School Counselor Week. SSM is blessed to have two super counselors who genuinely love and care about all of our students. Thank you to Mr. Daymut and Mrs. Kincaid!
I hope to see many of you at conferences next week and remember, please reach out any time you would like to talk with a staff member. We appreciate your partnership in educating your children.
Enrollment is underway. If you have students who will be entering second or sixth grade for the 2024-25 school year please be aware that space is limited and we have a waitlist for new families for both these grades.
I look forward to the next few months as we journey through Lent together. This time of year is a reminder of how fortunate we are to share our faith and love of Christ every day at school.
United In Christ,
Mrs. Perrault
In this issue of Martyr Messenger:
- Admin Updates: Staffing Update, Enrollment 2024-2025, First Communion Parents Meeting, Food Drive Thank You, KOC - Culture of Life Art Contest, Last Day to Vote for SSM, CSF Tuition Assistance Applications Now Open, Safe Environment Training, Stations of the Cross Schedule
- Home & School Updates: Valentine's Day Celebrations, 2024 Martyr Marathon Planning Underway, 8th Grade Yearbook Ads & Photos, Used Uniform Closet
- Sports Club: Track & Field Registration, Micro Soccer Coordinator
- Parish Updates: Totus Tuus, Vacation Bible School & Steubenville, Ash Wednesday Mass Times, KOC Fish Frys & Youth Volunteer Opportunities, Stewardship Formation Workshop
- Community Updates: Register for Mom Prom, Storm Chasers Kids Days, Gross Catholic 40th Celebration
Administration Updates
Staffing Update for the 2024-2025 School Year
Mrs. Mullen has decided to retire after this year. We will miss her so much but wish her the best in her retirement! We have hired Mrs. Erika Codina as our new 7th and 8th grade science teacher for the 2024-2025 school year. Mrs. Codina spent 15 years teaching science for Westside Community Schools. This year she has been subbing at SSM and most recently finished a long-term sub assignment for Mrs. Berry.
2024-2025 Re-Enrollment
Re-Enrollment is open!
- Re-enrollment will be completed through your FACTS Family Portal (also available via the SSM School App)
- It is important to re-enroll your students by February 23rd to ensure placement for the '24-'25 school year.
- Please contact the school office if you did not receive a packet.
- Please note: Incoming 2nd grade (current 1st grade) and incoming 6th grade (current 5th grade) classes are near or at capacity. It is crucial for these grade levels to re-enroll as soon as possible, as we already have new students on the wait lists.
- If you have questions on how to complete your packet, please review the re-enrollment guide linked below. If you still have questions, please contact the school office.
First Communion Parent Meeting: Feb. 11 at Noon in the Dining Room
Please plan for at least one parent of each child preparing to receive First Communion this April to attend this meeting. Children are not required to attend the parent meeting. First Communion packets, which should be completed at home with your child, will be distributed at that time. Please reach out to s.kimmey@stephen.org with questions!
Food Drive Thank You
The St. Stephen the Martyr Food Pantry is very appreciative to be the recipient of Catholic School’s Week food drive collection! Mrs. Rezac's kindergarten class provided an “unofficial” count of items on January 31st and the Chiefs won with 616 items over the 49ers' 571 items!
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not depart from it.”
It was a great success and our pantry is full of nutritious food, helpful household items, and necessary hygiene products. A special shout out to the 24 6th graders who made numerous hauls to the Parish Center with the collected donations as well as Mrs. Mabeus and Mrs. Gentile for coordinating the food drive.
With a grateful heart,
SSM Food Pantry
Knights of Columbus Culture of Life Art Contest
Reminder: Entries for the KOC Culture of Life Art Contest for 3rd-6th graders are due to their homeroom teachers by tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 9th. View the below PDF for more details.
Last Day to Vote for SSM!
Tomorrow is the last day to vote for St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic School in Spirit Catholic Radio's Superstar Catholic School Contest!
Children’s Scholarship Fund of Omaha (CSF) Applications Now Open for Tuition Assistance
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 2024-2025 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, please call us at 402-819-4990. For more information, please visit their website at www.csfomaha.org/parents-family.
Safe Environment Training: Thursday, February 15th
Join Us to Pray the Stations of the Cross This Lent
Home & School Updates
Martyr Marathon 2024 planning is right around the corner!
We need volunteers! There are still two leadership positions open, as well as 7-10 busy bee positions to be filled. We welcome EVERYONE to volunteer with Martyr Marathon. Bring your talents and your ideas! We love creativity and trying new things. ALL are invited to the first official meeting to learn more on Feb 22nd from 6-7:30 PM in the Parish Center-Board Room. Questions? Text Frances Anderson at 402-304-6612.
Martyr Marathon raised $150,000 for our school last year; let’s match (or even more!) this year!!!
Thank you for praying and considering this ask. God is so good. We have complete faith in Him that these positions will be filled!
Valentine's Parties
Reminder: Our Preschool-5th Grade Valentine's Parties will be held on Tuesday, February 13th due to Ash Wednesday.
- Red/Pink/White Dress Down Day for Everyone!
- Preschool & PreK AM Party: 10 - 10:45 AM in Parish Center
- Preschool & PreK PM Party: 2:30 - 3:15 PM in the Parish Center
- TK Party: Noon - 1 PM in Parish Center
- K-5th Grade Parties: 2:15 - 3 PM in classrooms
8th Grade Yearbook Info
Celebrate your student by creating a personalized message for the yearbook! Dedications are $10 and can be purchased through April on the Yearbook Market. It's also a great time to get those baby pictures submitted! Click the button below or visit the Yearbook section of our SSM School app!
Submit Your 2024 Yearbook Photos
Catholic Schools Week, PAL Basketball, Musical Rehearsals, Italian Feast...we want them all! Share your photos from the first weeks of 2024 using the button below!Used Uniform Closet
Reminder: A Used Uniform Closet is available in the Parish Center storage closet. If you need uniforms, please visit the closet Monday-Friday, 8:15 AM–3:30 PM. Racks and tubs have been set up with clothing prices noted. The closet is online payment only. Scan the QR Code posted on the racks, and you will be directed to an OSV payment form. If you have any questions, please email Kristy at mrskristyengland@gmail.com or Amanda at amanda.r.reese@gmail.com.
Sports Club Updates
5th-8th Graders: Register for Track & Field by February 26th!
Parish Updates
Vacation Bible School: Station Leader Registration Now Open
Station Leaders are the core of VBS. They are our volunteers who present the material in the stations to the children. Each station leader will have a manual that is easy to follow with the day's activities. Station leaders will have a few middle or high school volunteers assigned to assist them. Adult volunteers may waive the tuition of one child participating in VBS.
Station leaders must be:
- Enthusiastic about working with children
- Excited to serve
- Safe Environment Trained
- 19 years old
- Able to attend a meeting on June 1st from 9-11 AM
Totus Tuus for Incoming 1st-12th Graders will be July 7th-12th at St. Stephen the Martyr
Steubenville Registration Now Open for Current 8th - 12th Graders
Ash Wednesday Masses
Fish Frys Start Feb. 16th!
7th-12th Graders: Volunteer in the Dining Room & Earn Service Hours!
Join Us Feb.17th to learn how your prayer, participation, and generosity can help our community proclaim His love
Community Updates
Registration Open for SSM Cub Scouts' Mom Prom!
Storm Chasers Kids Days
Gross Catholic 40th Celebration
Important Upcoming Dates
- February 13:
- Red/Pink/White Dress Down Day (all students)
- Preschool - 5th Grade Valentine's Day Parties
- February 14: Ash Wednesday
- All School Mass at 8:15 AM
- February 15:
- 11 AM Dismissal
- 3rd Grade Wax Museum
- Conferences
- February 16:
- No School
- Fish Frys Begin
- February 19: No School (In-service)
- February 22: Martyr Marathon Planning Meeting, 6 PM, Parish Center
- February 23: Stations of the Cross, K-4
- February 24: Mom Prom
- February 26: 7th Grade Parents Meeting for 2025 Washington DC Trip, 5:30 - 6:30 PM, Parish Center
- February 28: 2 PM Dismissal (Staff Meeting)
- March 1: Stations of the Cross, 5-8 PM
- March 4-8: Spring Break
- March 11: Classes Resume