A Message from Mrs. Perrault, Principal
Dear Families,
It is really hard to believe that the end of the first quarter is next week. I hope you all have an opportunity to enjoy a few days off. Our teachers will have Friday off, but Monday they will be enjoying time together. We will have Faith Formation in the morning, and in the afternoon teachers will be learning more about the Gradual Release of Responsibility instructional framework as well as reviewing Love and Logic. I love that we have teachers who understand the importance of continuing education and aligning professional development to our strategic plan.
Did you know that every year we review our strategic plan? The strategic plan is a five year plan that outlines our mission and vision. It is a “living document” that aligns with the NCEA Benchmarks for Education: Academic Excellence, Catholic Identity, Operational Vitality, and Governance & Leadership. We have our Academic Excellence and Catholic Identity committees that are made up of teachers and representatives from the School Advisory Board who discuss and evaluate the plan throughout the year. They update goals and action steps in accordance with the school mission and vision. The Finance Council and Father Dave Belt are important contributors to the Operational Vitality and Governance & Leadership pillars. Our School Advisory Board contributes greatly by overseeing the process and fidelity of the document. The 2024-2025 goals will be reviewed by the School Advisory Board at the end of this month. Some goals will remain the same, while others might be updated depending on progress. The updated goals will be shared with our families once reviewed and approved.
Thank you for being an important part of the success of our school. Your partnership and support of the school really make a difference everyday.
United in Christ,
Mrs. Perrault
In this issue of Martyr Messenger:
- Admin Updates: Textbook Loan Form, Library Volunteers Needed, Fall Conferences, 7th & 8th Grade Field Trip, Picture Day, Artist of the Month, Check the Lost & Found, Saint of the Month Honorees,
- Home & School Updates: Martyr Marathon Top Earners, Family Directory, Fall Family Frolic, Trunk-or-Treat, Liturgical Living at Home
- Parish Updates: Capital Projects, Dinner & Auction, Parish Retreat, Rosary Rally for Vocations
- Community Updates: Middle School Girls Events at Duchesne, Marian Ghouls Night Out, Mercy Girls Night In, Skutt Catholic Dance Clinic
Administration Updates
Text Book Loan Form
Sign & return by October 15th
If you have not yet returned a Textbook Loan Form for each of your children, please do so as soon as possible. We value the Textbook Loan Program, and it is essential because it provides resources that contribute significantly to our budget. If you need another form, please print the one below and return it to your child's teacher. It is very important that you sign the form for each child and return it before October 15th. Thank you for your cooperation! 
Fall Conferences
Thank you to all those have have signed up for Fall Conferences. The sign-up for conference slots is now closed. If you would still like to schedule/ reschedule a conference, please email individual teachers. We look forward to meeting with you!
7th & 8th Grade Field Trip
Our 7th and 8th Graders will take a Field Trip on October 16th to see Skutt Catholic High School's musical production of the Sound of Music! More details will be emailed to parents soon.
Save the Date: Picture Day
Boden Reischl Artist of the Month Honorees for September
It is time to announce our first 24-25 honorees for the Boden Reischl Artist of the Month! We've rounded up another great group of talented artists and are excited to share them with you! You may view their art displayed in the gallery outside the music room or online at school.stephen.org/art. Congratulations to our September honorees!
Remember to Check the Lost & Found
Please check the Lost & Found when you are here for conferences. There are many nice items that are missing from their families. All items will be donated after the conclusion of conferences on Thursday.
Contacting the School
At St. Stephen the Martyr, we strive to always maintain transparency through open, honest communication with our families and students. Please feel free to always contact the school office or your student's teacher in order to understand and/or resolve issues.
Corporate Sponsor Parking Spots Reminder
The reserved parking spaces around the parish and school are reserved for the designated family 24 hours a day, every day. Families have generously supported our parish and school for these spaces. There is always plenty of parking available in our lots so that parking in reserved spaces is not necessary. If you are interested in earning a reserved parking space please email ssmhomeandschool@gmail.com and we will assist you!
September Saint of the Month Honorees
Last week we announced our honorees who were selected by their teachers for living like St. Teresa of Calcutta, serving others and following the PRAY Model.
Congratulations to all of our amazing students! In October, our students learn more about St. Therese of Lisieux and our teachers watch for students who reflect Jesus in small ways through their actions and showing kindness towards others.
Early Childhood Honorees
Left to Right: Albie R., Nancy F., Bring B., Anneliese M.
Kindergarten - 8th Grade Honorees
First Row: Kenzie G., JT T., Silas W., Caleb C., Scarlett A., Alli M., Isabel C., Elynn B., Caiden K., Taggart O.
Second Row: Sarah F., Bella O., Amelia W., Findlay S., Archie S., Maddie S., Dasha H.
Third Row: (L to R): Harrison R., Therese M., Isabel C., Mason J., Vincent L., Eleanor J., Olivia D., Millie G., Max C.
Halloween Celebrations
Wednesday, October 30th
- Morning Preschool & PreK (Gentile & Tabaka): Our parties will be together from 10 - 10:45 AM in the Parish Center. Students should come to school in costume (no accessories, please!). All parents are welcome to join our party!
- Afternoon Preschool & PreK (Gentile & Tabaka): Our parties will be together from 2:25-3:10 PM in the Parish Center. Students should come to school in costume (no accessories, please!). All parents are welcome to join our party!
Thursday, October 31st:
- TK: Our party will be from 9-10 AM in the Parish Center. Students should come to school in costume (no accessories, please!). Please have your student wear a Dress Down Day outfit under their costume. All parents are welcome to join our party!
- Kindergarten - 5th Grade: Parties will be from 2:15 - 2:50 PM in classrooms. Parents/guardians should have received details via email from classroom coordinators. Only parents who have signed up via the Classroom Coordinators are allowed to attend. Following the parties, K-5th will participate in the Halloween Parade (see details below).
- Middle School Celebration: 6th, 7th, & 8th-grade students will celebrate Halloween with a field trip to the Amazing Pizza Machine! Middle schoolers may dress down on this day (follow Family Handbook Guidelines).
- Halloween Parade: All parents/families are invited to attend our outdoor costume parade (indoors if inclement weather). Students will parade with their class around the school. The parade will begin at 2:50 PM with Kindergarten followed by 1st-5th grade. They will exit the north doors, head east around the school, and enter back into the school through the south doors. Our afternoon Preschool, PreK & TK classes will watch the parade but will not be walking in the parade. Normal dismissal begins at 3:10 PM.
Halloween Dress Code & Costume Guidelines for ALL Students
- Costumes must align with our school values and should not be offensive, politically charged, gory, or against the teachings of the Catholic Church.
- Costume accessories should be left at home.
- Only Preschool, PreK & TK students (Gentile, Tabaka, Ferrante & Foster) should come to school in costume. TK students should wear a Dress Down Day outfit that follows Family Handbook guidelines under their costume so they can remove their costume after the party.
- Kindergarten-5th Grade students can dress down in the morning, wearing anything that follows the guidelines in the Family Handbook. When it is time to put costumes on, students must put their costumes on over their dress-down outfits. They will not be allowed to change their clothing.
- Middle school students get a Halloween Dress Down Day on Oct. 31st. They can wear Halloween colors or Halloween-themed t-shirts but they may not wear costumes.
Home & School Updates
The Results Are In!
Thank you for making our 2024 Martyr Marathon go down in glory! All our students are winners because of our generous family and friends. Thank you for your participation and support!
And the winners are....(drumroll please)
- Top earning student: Rylan Secora
- Top earning grade: 7th Grade
- Grade with highest percentage of students securing a donation: 2nd Grade (82%)
- Grade with the highest percentage of parent volunteers: Kindergarten (45%)
Students had a great time this afternoon hearing their high scores at the Martyr Marathon Assembly! Be on the lookout for an email with complete results information soon!
Family Directory Now Live in the SSM School App!
Hard copies of the Directory were sent home with the oldest child of each family who paid their Home & School Association Dues. All families now have easy access to the Directory on the School App. The Directory is only visible to other registered school families through FACTS. You still have the option to choose to opt in/out of our online directory by following the instructions in the below PDF.
Fall Family Frolic: Monday, Oct. 14th
Join us at Vala’s Pumpkin Patch on Monday, October 14th from 11 – 4 PM for our annual Fall Family Frolic. Your family is responsible for admission at the door; no advanced ticket purchase is required. We have the Jack O’ Lantern Party Barn reserved for a SSM meet-up space and we’ll provide s’mores from 1 – 3 PM! Wear your SSM spirit or Martyr Marathon shirt, grab your friends and join us for lots of St. Stephen family fun!
Want to lend a hand? We still need s'more volunteers in the Jack O' Lantern Party Barn! Sign up using the button below.
Trunk-Or-Treat at St. Stephen the Martyr
Seeking Trunks for More Treats!
Liturgical Living at Home
This past Monday, October 7, the Church celebrated the Feast of Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary. The feast was established by Pope Saint Pius V on the anniversary of the victory at Lepanto on October 7, 1571. The naval victory was attributed to the Virgin Mary, whose intercession was entreated through the recitation of the Holy Rosary. Then in 1883, the Church dedicated the entire month of October to the Holy Rosary so that individuals, families, and communities would pray the Holy Rosary, if possible, on a daily basis for peace in the world.
“Because Mary is our mother, devotion to her teaches us to be authentic sons: to love truly, without limit; to be simple, without the complications which come from selfishly thinking only about ourselves; to be happy, knowing that nothing can destroy our hope.” - St. Josemaria Escriva
The most powerful spiritual weapon we have as Catholics is the rosary! Incorporating a family rosary into your prayer routine will bear much fruit. When praying a rosary with your family, having images of each mystery or a booklet to follow along with can be very helpful, one such beautiful resource is Bishop Barron’s version. This audio rosary is full of religious artwork to aid in the meditative narration provided by Bishop Barron.
Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary, Pray for Us!
Parish Updates
A Community for All: Capital Projects
Our St. Stephen the Martyr campus has experienced significant enhancements in recent years, featuring numerous upgrades designed to maintain the beauty and functionality of our facilities. Whether through church or school fundraisers or general contributions, these improvements to our parish campus have only been made possible by your generous support. Use the button below to view a timeline of key projects that have been accomplished over the past few years.
Use your shopping skills to benefit Dinner & Auction!
Register for our Parish Retreat
Community Updates
Little Jays Wrestling
Duchesne Academy Events for Middle School Girls
- Dinner and a Show– October 26th, 6:30 PM Be part of history at our "Sleepy Hollow" production - the first high school performance of this show! Enjoy dinner and watch our talented performers bring this classic tale to life.
Register at duchesneacademy.org/admissions. For questions, contact Maggie Vazquez at mvazquez@duchesneacademy.org.
Marian Cheer Ghoul's Night Out
Mercy Events for Middle School Girls
- Shadow Day – Schedule a Shadow Day at Mercy to let your daughter experience a day in the life of a Mercy girl. Schedule Here
- Girls Night In (7th & 8th Grade Event) – Join us on October 26th from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Mercy High School for an evening filled with fun! Enjoy candy, popcorn, Chick-fil-A, self-care stations, friendship bracelets, a bounce house, photo opportunities, and more! Event Details
- Open House – Visit us on Sunday, November 3rd at 1:00 PM for an Open House. This is a great chance to explore our campus and learn more about our programs. Open House Information
- Preview & Popcorn of "Annie" (5th-8th Grade Event) – On November 6th from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM, join us for a special preview of “Annie” along with popcorn and other treats. Learn More
- Dine & Details for Parents & Guardians- Enjoy food, beverages, and conversations with our president and principal to hear why more parents are choosing Mercy for their daughters. Learn More
Skutt Catholic Dance Clinic
Important Upcoming Dates
- October 10: Conferences; No School
- October 11: No School
- October 14: No School/Teacher Inservice; Fall Family Frolic at Vala's
- October 18: End of First Quarter
- October 23: Picture Day
- Oct. 25th: Report Cards
- Oct. 31st: Halloween Parties
- Nov. 1st: No School