A Message from Mrs. Perrault, Principal
Dear Families,
The start of our 24-25 school year is almost here! Our teachers have been back on campus this week getting ready for the arrival of your children. We are all blessed to play such a special role in your children's lives, and we do not take this opportunity for granted. Thank you for entrusting them to St. Stephen the Martyr.
Back to School Event Details & First Week Reminders
Please pay close attention to the information below on tomorrow's Back to School Event. Our Home & School Association and teachers worked so hard to make the event successful and welcoming for your child and family. Additionally, we've also included several important reminders for the first week.
We look forward to seeing you all tomorrow and welcoming you back Monday for another great year, United in Christ!
Blessings,
Mrs. Perrault
In this issue of Martyr Messenger:
- Admin Updates: Back to School Event Details, Important First Week Reminders, Family Handbook Acknowledgement Form,, Kindergarten Documents, 7th Grade Physicals, Uniform Reminders
- Home & School Updates: Back to School Event Volunteers, First Day Coffee - Hooray!, Adult Night Out, Home & School Kickoff Meeting, Dues & Contribution Form, Yearbook Club
- Sports Club Updates: Micro Soccer Registration, Cross Country Registration
- Parish Updates: Holy Day Mass Times, Final Parish Tailgate, Becoming Catholic!, Gather: A Dinner Group for Widows & Widowers
Administration Updates
Back to School Event: Thursday, August 15th
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.
- Bring your cash, cards & checkbook! In the gym, you'll have one last chance to purchase used uniforms before the school year.
- Back to School Packet: Our Back to School packet has a host of information for all families! You can pick up your printed copy at our event tomorrow night or view it digitally here.
- K-8th Grade:
- Kindergarten-8th class lists will be posted in the gym so head there first. Teachers will be in their classrooms 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:
- Reserve a time to visit the classroom and meet your child's teacher!
- Preschool - Mrs. Gentile: Sign Up to Meet Mrs. Gentile Here!
- PreK - Mrs. Tabaka: Sign Up to Meet Mrs. Tabaka Here!
- TK - Mrs. Ferrante: Sign Up to Meet Mrs. Ferrante Here!
- TK - Mrs. Foster: Sign Up to Meet Mrs. Foster Here!
- Reserve a time to visit the classroom and meet your child's teacher!
- Volunteer at Back To School Night: The Back to School Event committee needs volunteers to help make the event a success! Click here to sign up.
Important First Week Dates & Reminders
- Monday, August 19:
- First Day for K-8 (Noon Dismissal)
- First Day for TK A-M (Noon Dismissal – No school for TK N-Z)
- Tuesday, August 20:
- First Day for TK N-Z (Noon Dismissal – No school for TK A-M)
- K-8 (Noon Dismissal)
- Wednesday, August 21:
- First Day of PreK (Mrs. Tabaka's classes)
- First Full Day For TK-8 (first day of lunch service)
- Monday, August 26: First Day of Preschool (Mrs. Gentile's classes)
Parking & Drop-off/Pick-Up Procedures: Please review our drop-off, pick-up, and parking procedures. These are listed in the Family Handbook and on our website at school.stephen.org/drop-off-parking-procedures.
- Drop-off Reminders:
- 1st-8th graders may enter the building starting at 7:50 AM. They may enter through any door.
- On Monday & Tuesday, Kindergartners are invited to meet their teacher near the school's flag pole on the North side. Kindergarten teachers will be outside by 7:45 AM and will lead their class into the building when the first bell rings at 7:50 AM. TAs and support staff will also be available to ensure all Kinders make it to their classroom.
- 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 be dismissed at Noon on Monday & Tuesday.
- We will begin staggered dismissals on Wednesday, August 21st, our first full day. Students will dismiss as follows:
- 3:15 PM KidZone, TK & Early Childhood Afternoon classes
- 3:20 PM Last names A-L
- 3:25 PM Last names M-Z
Family Handbook Acknowledgement Form
All families must complete the Family Handbook Acknowledgement Form by August 27, 2024. The Family Handbook is updated for the 24-25 school year. It is linked below, posted on our website, and linked in our app. 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 Needed
Incoming Kindergarteners must have the following documents on file in the office to start school on Monday:
- Birth certificate – original to photocopy (according to state law, students cannot attend school until this is received)
- Baptismal certificate—if your child was baptized at SSM, no need to submit a certificate
- Physical Exam/Immunization documentation for all Kindergarteners
- Dental information (date of most recent exam, no paperwork required from dentist)
- Vision Evaluation for all Kindergarteners (this is part of the kindergarten physical)
- Preschool report card
Contact the school office with any questions. 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 also recommended at this time. Contact the school office with any questions.
Uniform Reminders
We know children often have summer growth spurts! Please review the Dress Code section on page 42 of our Family Handbook for the length requirements for shorts, skirts, skorts & jumpers to ensure your child's uniform meets our standards!
Reminder: Martyr Mondays do not begin until September 9th, so all TK-8th grade students should be in their uniforms on our first day of school!
Home & School Updates
Volunteers Needed Tomorrow!
The Back to School Event Committee needs volunteers to help make the event a success! There are opportunities for 8th graders and shifts so parents can still get to their child's classroom. Thank you!
A Welcome Event for New Families: First Day Coffee - Hooray!
Join Us Aug. 24th, 6 PM at Heavy Brewery!
Don't forget to book your babysitter for our Adult Night Out! After a full week of school, we'll all be ready to relax and have fun with fellow SSM parents!
Mark Your Calendars! Our Home & School Kickoff Meeting is August 29th!
Dues and Contributions Form
Get a head start on your 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 & contributions 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!
Please reach out if you have questions! ssmhomeandschool@gmail.com
2024-2025 Yearbook & Yearbook Club
Sports Club Updates
Micro Soccer Registration Now Open for Children Ages 3-6! Register by August 30th
Last Chance to Register for Cross Country: Registration Closes 5 PM, Friday, August 16th!
Parish Updates
Join Us for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Join Us for Our Final Tailgate This Saturday!
Becoming Catholic! Order of Christian Initiation for Adults: Sessions Begin in September!
Gather: A Dinner Group for Widows and Widowers in the St. Stephen Community
Important Upcoming Dates
- August 14: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Vigil Mass, 5:30 PM
- August 15:
- Back to School Event, 2-6 PM, Gym & Classrooms
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mass at 6:30 AM, 8:15 AM, 12:05 PM, 5:30 PM
- August 17: Summer Tailgate #3, 6 PM, South Parking Lot
- August 19: K-8 & TK (A-M), First Day of School
- First Day, Hooray! New Parent Welcome Coffee
- Noon Dismissal (no lunch served), TK-8
- August 20: TK (N-Z), First Day of School
- Noon Dismissal (no lunch served), TK-8
- August 21:
- PreK: First Day of School
- TK-8: First Full Day of School
- August 22: Yearbook Club Kickoff Meeting for 7th & 8th Graders, 3:30 PM, Technology Lab
- August 24: Home & School's Adult Night Out
- August 26: Preschool First Day of School
- August 29:
- First Home & School Meeting, 6-8 PM, Parish Center
- Martyr Messenger will be sent
- August 30: Martyr Marathon Kickoff Assembly - students only
- September 2: No School - Labor Day
- September 3: No School - Teacher In-Service
- September 5: Curriculum Night
- September 9: First Martyr Monday - Students may wear Spirit Tops & Uniform Bottoms
- September 13: No School - Teacher In-Service