A Message from Mrs. Perrault, Principal
Dear Families,
We have had a fantastic start to the school year! Thank you to all of our families who attended Curriculum Night last week. Please remember to always reach out to the teachers if you have questions, concerns, or if you just want to say “thank you”.
We have had a fantastic start to the school year! Thank you to all of our families who attended Curriculum Night last week. Please remember to always reach out to the teachers if you have questions, concerns, or if you just want to say “thank you”.
Last week, our teachers had their first Faith Formation session. Some of you may not know, but we do 24 hours of staff Faith Formation throughout the year. Our theme this year is bringing the joy of God into our lives and the lives of others. Our Catholic Identity team put together small groups that meet over coffee/breakfast to share prayer and conversation. These sessions also help build community amongst our staff.
This Friday, we will be attending the Mental Health Symposium at the CHI Center. Teachers have signed up for different topics that pertain to self-care, social/emotional learning, and learning about identifying and offering the best support for our students and families. The Archdiocese is sponsoring this event for all metro Catholic school teachers.
Faith is always at the forefront of everything we do. Last week our students not only attended weekly Masses, but they participated in First Friday Adoration and Benediction. There is nothing more beautiful than seeing our students and teachers praying together and showing their love for Christ.
Last week, our students participated in STARS testing. Fall testing provides a baseline for a student’s growth throughout the year. Students are tested in both math and reading (Grades 2-8) and Literacy (Grades K-1). We will test again in January and April.
Martyr Marathon is quickly approaching, and we are all so excited! This is our only school fundraiser. Keep bringing in those pledges :) We are so appreciative of our Home and School Association for everything they do to make this an amazing event every year.
I continually feel blessed to be part of this community. Thank you so much for your confidence in my leadership and your support of our mission.
Blessings,
Julie Perrault
In this issue of Martyr Messenger:
- Admin Updates: Uniform Reminders, Sewing Skills Needed, Sacrament Dates, KidZone is Hiring, Saint of the Month Award, Early Dismissal Reminder
- Home & School Updates: Martyr Marathon Fundraising, Martyr Marathon Volunteers, SSM Bogg Bags for Purchase, Martyr Marathon Art Contest, Fall Family Outing, Liturgical Living at Home
- Men's Club Updates: Husker Watch Party
- Parish Updates: Volunteer for the Dinner & Auction, We're Hiring: Director of Communications, Join Our Children's Choir, Parish Retreat, Upcoming Altar Server Training
- Community Updates: St. Stephen the Martyr Girl Scouts, Marian Ghouls Night Out, Mercy Girls Night In, Skutt Catholic Dance Clinic
Administration Updates
Uniform Reminders
We want to take a moment to remind you to check shorts, skirts, jumpers & skorts to ensure they meet the required length. Several students are coming to school with violations. Please help your child follow the policy. We will send a notice via email to parents if there is a uniform violation. Thank you for your cooperation. Per the Family Handbook:
- Male Dress Code - Length of Shorts: Knee length to 2 inches above the knee
- Female Dress Code - Length of Jumpers, Skirts, Skorts & Shorts: Knee length to 3 inches above the knee
If needed, please place new orders from our uniform stores, Dennis Uniform or Digiorgio's, or visit our Used Uniform Closet in the Parish Center, open 8 AM - 3:30 PM, Monday-Friday. Thank you for helping us to ensure that our students wear the uniform correctly.
Sewing Skills Needed
Adjustments are often needed with school uniforms, especially with our plaid skirts and jumpers. If you or anyone you know has sewing skills and would be interested in sharing their information with families needing help with uniform adjustments, please email school@stephen.org.
24-25 Sacrament Dates
For families with a student preparing the receive a Sacrament this year, please note these upcoming dates! We will keep your child in our prayers as they prepare to receive God in this special way!
- Confirmation Parent Info Night: Sept. 16th at 7 PM in the Dining Room
- First Reconciliation Parent Info Night: Sept. 23rd at 7 PM in the Dining Room
We're Hiring: Kidzone Staff Members
Saint of the Month Award Begins this Month!
This month, we will begin our Saint of the Month Award! Each month, we will award students who exhibit the characteristics of the monthly Saint.
Reminder: Early Dismissal on Wednesday, Sept. 25th
We will dismiss early for Staff Professional Development on Sept. 25th. Dismissal times:
- Preschool & PreK
- Morning Classes: 8- 10:15 AM
- Afternoon Classes: 11:30 AM- 1:45 PM
- 1:50 PM for TK & Kidzone
- 2 PM for K – 8th Grade
Home & School Updates
Martyr Marathon: Friday, Sept. 20th
Our school’s largest fundraiser of the year is almost here! We have already raised close to $27,000 but we still have a long way to go to hit our $90,000 goal! Neighbors, extended family and social media posts are a great way to solicit more donations for our school. Use the button below or tap the Martyr Marathon Logo in our school app to learn more!
Volunteer for Martyr Marathon!
Martyr Marathon is just around the corner, and we need your help! We need many volunteers to help make this event successful. There are many ways volunteers can help the day of the event. Not available the day of Martyr Marathon? That's okay! We need volunteers to help us before and after the event to help everything run smoothly. 8th graders can earn service hours by volunteering—grab a friend and don’t miss this chance to get involved!
Volunteer Meeting: Thursday, Sept. 19, 7:30 PM - 8 PM
Join us for a Volunteer Meeting on Thursday, September 19th from 7:30-8:00 PM in the Parish Center. Come by to pick up your t-shirt and get important details. You are also welcome to stay after to stuff popcorn bags for the day of the event!
Liturgical Living at Home
One of the ways of building a domestic church is through prayer. If prayer is not already part of you and your family’s daily routine, let us begin now. You may be wondering how to pray? What am I supposed to say? So often, people think that prayer is something only extremely spiritual people can do or it must be eloquent, but let’s look to St. Faustina and the revelation she received from Jesus about how we should approach prayer:
“My daughter…why do you not tell me about everything that concerns you, even the smallest details? Tell Me about everything and know that this will give Me great joy." I answered, But You know about everything, Lord.” And Jesus replied to me, “Yes I do know; but you should not excuse yourself with the fact that I know, but with childlike simplicity talk to Me about everything, for my ears and heart are inclined towards you, and your words are dear to Me."
There are certain aspects of life that people often shy away from revealing completely to God. They often think, "He already knows that about me, why bother sharing this?". But the truth is, God wants to know ALL of our thoughts, fears, hopes, desires, worries, and petitions. He wants all that is in our hearts!
The Hallow App is a fantastic resource for the whole family! It features many ways to pray depending on your preferences with many names you would recognize. There are so many great features, including daily readings and reflections, prayers and meditations, bible and Saint stories and even reminders to help you build out a new routine. You can even hear Mark Walburg recite a rosary; and just launched this week, a 14-session entitled “How to Pray”.
“Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed." John 1:35
Men's Club Updates
Join us for a Husker Watch Party!
Parish Updates
We're Hiring: Director of Communications
The Director of Communications is a full-time position and is responsible for developing and overseeing a comprehensive, clear, and consistent communication strategy to articulate and advance the mission of Saint Stephen the Martyr. The Director will work closely with the pastor, staff, and lay leadership to support and enhance communication in the areas of ministry, the parish, the school and community. For a complete description and to apply, use the button below.
Seeking Volunteers for Dinner & Auction
Parish Children's Choir
Students in grades K-8 are welcome to join our children's choir led by
Linda Liesner, Paula Bonkiewicz & Kate Pachunka. Please join us for our first practice on Thursday, September 19th from 6-6:45 pm in the Worship Space. Practice and Mass schedule is attached below. Parents will receive an email each Monday with upcoming information along with any changes in the schedule or weather related information. If you are interested in having your child join, please email the information below to liesner_linda@hotmail: Child's Name, Grade, Parents/Guardians names, Contact number, and email address. Please see the choir schedule below for more information.
NEW! Parish Retreat coming soon
Altar Server Training on Saturday, Sept. 14th
Community Updates
St. Stephen the Martyr Girl Scout Troop
Marian Cheer Ghoul's Night Out
Mercy Girls Night In
Skutt Catholic Dance Clinic
Important Upcoming Dates
- September 13: No School - Teacher In-Service
- September 19: Yearbook Club (7th & 8th) Grade; 3:30 PM, Technology Lab
- September 20:
- Martyr Marathon
- Noon Dismissal (no lunch served)
- No School for Preschool, PreK or TK
- September 25: Early Dismissal for Staff Meeting
- Preschool & PreK
- Morning Classes: 8- 10:15 AM
- Afternoon Classes: 11:30 AM- 1:45 PM
- 1:50 PM for TK & Kidzone
- 2 PM for K – 8th Grade
- Preschool & PreK
- September 27: Progress Reports
- October 10: Conferences; No School
- October 11: No School