A Message from Mrs. Perrault, Principal
Dear Families,
The beauty of Fall has officially arrived! I love this time of year because it reminds me to welcome and recognize that change can be a very positive experience. Our teachers are always open to change and growth in order to better work with all of our students and families. Every month we have scheduled Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). These meetings are guided by certain topics and discussion questions pertaining to alignment, Gradual Release of Responsibility Framework, data analysis, or the MTSS process. Teachers work collaboratively with each other vertically or horizontally.
We also have several committees that gather every six weeks. Last week, our Catholic Identity Team met to discuss upcoming service projects, liturgical events, and begin brainstorming ideas for Catholic Schools week. Mrs. Sarah Dickmeyer joined our meeting as a parent representative. She will continue to meet with the team to offer suggestions and consult with teachers and Sam Jizba (Parish Liturgical Director). It was beautiful to hear Mrs. Dickmeyer speak about her journey of faith.
Next Tuesday, we have a School Advisory Board meeting. We will meet with the board to review the strategic plan, finalize parent and student surveys, and discuss the school year thus far as well as looking at the upcoming agenda items. We are very grateful for the parents who serve on this board. They are a very important part of our governance and leadership.
You might hear your children talking about their STAR assessments. Our teachers will be meeting individually to talk with each student about their STAR results. Students will be working with teachers to set goals that align with the standards and skills. These goals will be shared with parents once the meetings have all been held. We think it is very important for students to be part of their learning and to better understand the assessments.
I look forward to celebrating Halloween next week! Please remember to follow the guidelines. Nov. 1st is the Martyr Marathon earned day off, but don’t forget to attend Mass. It is a Holy Day of Obligation to honor all the Saints who have entered Heaven.
I pray for all of our students, families, and staff everyday! I appreciate your continued support of our school and our mission.
United in Christ,
Mrs. Perrault
In this issue of Martyr Messenger:
- Admin Updates: No School Nov. 1st, Veterans Day Assembly, Scholarship Opportunity, Early Childhood Field Trip, Leaving School Early, Report Cards, Election Day Reminder, Saint of the Month Award Info, Cross Country Team Update, Safe Environment Training, Halloween Celebrations
- Home & School Updates: Martyr Marathon Bogg Bags, Parish Fall Cleanup, Trunk-or-Treat, Spirit Wear, Liturgical Living at Home
- Parish Updates: Annual Report, Election Day Adoration, Now Hiring, Seek25, Voting Info
- Community Updates: Catholic High School Open House Dates and Entrance Exam Dates, Middle School Girls Events at Duchesne, Marian Ghouls Night Out, Mercy Girls Night In, Skutt Catholic Dance Clinic
Administration Updates
No School November 1st
There is no school on Friday, Nov. 1st. Friday is the Solemnity of All Saints. We invite your family to celebrate Mass with our Parish Family! Please note: Parish Offices closed Friday.
All Souls Day Mass: Join us Nov. 2nd to pray for all the souls of our parish who have passed away this past year. All Souls Day Mass will be celebrated at 10 AM.
Veterans Day Assembly
On Friday, November 11th our school will have a Veterans Day Assembly at 9 AM in the Gym. We would like to invite all veterans in our school family to attend. This includes parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles, etc. If you or someone from your family plans to attend, and would like to be honored at the assembly, please complete the below form.
Archbishop Scholars Scholarship Opportunity
The Archbishop Scholars provides a four-year, renewable scholarship to attend an Archdiocese of Omaha Catholic high school. This scholarship is available to current 8th graders who are Children Scholarship Fund recipients. You are invited to complete this short, three-minute survey to help us learn more about you and provide you with next steps on your educational journey.
Early Childhood Visits from Gifford Farm
Gifford Farm will visit our TK, PreK and Preschool Classes on Monday, Nov. 4th. They will go to the Parish Center for a presentation and to interact with farm animals!
Yarn Club
3rd-5th Graders: Learn how to crochet at our newest after-school club! Join us in Mrs. Mancilla's Room (220) on Nov. 14th & 21st from 3:30-4:40. There is a one-time fee of $5 to cover cost of materials. If you would like to support the Yarn Club, we are always looking for adults to help teach skills and for donations of extra materials. Thank you for your support!
Leaving School Early
When you need your child to leave school early for any reason, please email the office at school@stephen.org and your child's teacher so that school staff can have your child ready. Thank you for your cooperation!
Report Cards
Report Cards were sent to your email from Mrs. Courtenay Swanstrom today. Paper copies will be sent home with your student tomorrow. Please sign & return these envelopes. Please contact your student's teacher with any questions.
Election Day Reminder
St. Stephen the Martyr Gonderinger Parish Center is an election polling site. Please plan for increased traffic & less parking availability in our South parking lot on Tuesday, November 5th. Thank you for your patience!
October Saint of the Month
“Never get tired of doing little things for others. Sometimes those little things occupy the biggest parts of their hearts.” - St. Therese of Lisieux
This October, our students have been learning more about St. Therese of Lisieux. St. Therese approached holiness in small ways and was very kind. This month our teachers have been watching for students who live their lives like her, reflecting Jesus in small ways through their actions and showing kindness towards others.
October honorees will be announced next week!
This October, our students have been learning more about St. Therese of Lisieux. St. Therese approached holiness in small ways and was very kind. This month our teachers have been watching for students who live their lives like her, reflecting Jesus in small ways through their actions and showing kindness towards others.
October honorees will be announced next week!
Free & Reduced Lunch
Free & Reduced Lunches are available from the St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic School lunch program. If you think you may qualify, please review the letter and application using the button below.
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.
Congratulations to our Cross Country Team!
A successful Cross Country season for our 6-8th graders has come to an end. The coaching team couldn’t be more proud of the 24 athletes who competed representing St. Stephens with perseverance and dedication! St. Stephen Cross Country competed in seven meets this year. With each race, our athletes gained confidence, competed with class, and many achieved personal records.
Above: Boys Cross Country team
We would like to thank our coaching staff led by Head Coach Frances Anderson with Assistant Coaches Charles Cooper, Jamie & Kate Harr, Brooke Keller, Kelsi Lind, and Lacey Ternus.
Congratulations to all who participated! Please be on the lookout for Track & Field registration in January for all 5-8th graders!
Above: Girls Cross Country team
Safe Environment Training
All volunteers who plan to be in the school must Safe Environment Trained. This training must be renewed every six years. Training is free.
Home & School Updates
Trunk-Or-Treat at St. Stephen the Martyr
Seeking Trunks for More Treats!
Event Details:
- Trunk-or-Treating for the kids!
- $100 Best Trunk Prize
- Free Hot Chocolate
- The Cheese Life Food Truck will be there for Dinner (View Menu)
- DJ and Dancing
RSVP, Please! Please RSVP using the button below so we're able to plan for all of the kids attending and the food truck can plan for the crowd.
Trunks + Adult & Youth Volunteers Needed!
We are still in need to trunks to make this event faBOOlous! Please consider putting together a simple trunk. Trunks can start decorating at 5 PM in the South parking lot. We need many volunteers to help with set up and clean up, to serve hot chocolate, to issue voting tickets, donate candy, and of course, to bring your faBOOlously decorated trunks! Sign up using the button.
Order your Spirit Wear
Deadline: November 8th
Martyr Marathon Bogg Bags are Here!
Our signature Bogg Bags are in! Thank you to those who ordered them in support of St. Stephen the Martyr. To schedule pickup, contact Frances at andersoncatholics@gmail.com. Note: Charms have not yet arrived. They will be sent home with the youngest child of each family at that time.
Join Home & School at the Parish Fall Cleanup!
Nov. 9th | 9 AM - Noon
Liturgical Living at Home
It’s hard to believe that we’re quickly approaching the end of the year. Even sooner will be the end of the current Liturgical Year, with the new year beginning on the first Sunday of Advent (Sunday, December 1). It’s fitting that in the final leg of the liturgical year, we focus on the “last things”. Below are the upcoming feast days and a few ideas for your family to ponder and consider participating in:
November 1, Solemnity of All Saints: On this Holy Day of Obligation, we honor and celebrate all the saints in heaven: both those officially recognized and named by the Church through canonization of beatification, as well as the countless other souls–ordinary individuals, perhaps like ourselves–who now dwell in the presence of God. It’s a day of hope in Christ and hope in the resurrection!
Get inspired and Listen to a Saint’s Alive Podcast, via the Hallow App: https://hallow.com/blog/saints-alive-joins-hallow/
November 2, All Souls Day: We honor all the dead, and throughout the month, we pray for souls in purgatory. Many of us will require a purifying cleansing before we stand in the presence of God and experience the fullness of His light. According to the teachings of the Church, we support each other in this process by praying for one another and through our connection in the communion of saints.
“[A] perennial link of charity exists between the faithful who have already reached their heavenly home, those who are expiating their sins in purgatory and those who are still pilgrims on earth. Between them there is, too, an abundant exchange of all good things.” (CCC 1475, quoting Pope Paul VI, Indulgentiarum Doctrina, 5)
It’s important to remember that we are always here for each other, regardless of where we are–whether it’s on earth in purgatory, or in heaven. We are eternally connected. Praying for the departed is a privilege and we can also hope that others will pray for us when we depart this earth as well.
Visit the cemetery. Record in a journal or post prominently somewhere in your home the names of the departed for whom you want to pray in November.
Parish Updates
2024 Parish Annual Report
Election Day Adoration
Now Hiring: Communications Assistant
The Communications Assistant is a part-time (10-15 hours/week) position that assists the Director of Communications in articulating and advancing the mission of St. Stephen the Martyr. Working closely with the Director, the Communications Assistant will create content and publications associated with St. Stephen the Martyr Church and School. A qualified candidate has strong writing skills with experience in creating publications, maintaining websites, and content creation. Contact Director of Operations Joe Reding at j.reding@stephen.org for more information or to apply.
Join us at Seek25!
Vote for Life Nov. 5th
Community Updates
High School Open House Dates
Catholic High School Placement Exam Dates
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
- Oct. 25th: Report Cards; Trunk or Treat Event at 5:30-7:30 PM
- Oct. 31st: Halloween Parties & Parade, Middle School to Amazing Pizza Machine
- Nov. 1st: All Saints Day; No School
- Nov. 4th: Gifford Farm Visits Early Childhood