A Message from Mrs. Perrault, Principal
Dear Families,
Here we are on the brink of Spring Break, and we had a snow day- UGH! I hope the weather improves for all of us staying in Omaha. Regardless, I do pray that you and your families have the opportunity to enjoy some time together away from the hustle and bustle that regularly consumes your days. We have also entered into the Lenten season, and this reminds us to be grateful to our loving God for the promise of eternal life and happiness. Life on Earth is sometimes hard, and our struggles and sacrifices might weigh us down, but as Catholics, we are forever reminded of the struggles Jesus endured here on Earth for the promise of our salvation.
We have some exciting uniform news for the 2025-2026 school year! Students will have more choices. The biggest changes include offering khaki skirts/skorts, Extending the khaki shorts and pants to all grades, and adding a navy blue polo option to be worn with the khaki bottoms and the SSM plaid uniform. We will continue allowing the navy blue pants, skirts/skorts, and shorts, and the grey and white polo options. We anticipate that the navy blue polo would be worn only with khaki options and uniform plaid and not with navy bottoms (trying to avoid a monochromatic look). We will be partnering again with Digiorgios, but they do not carry the khaki color of bottoms. We will send links to our families from Amazon, Lands End, and other vendors who carry the styles of acceptable khaki options. As always length, style and the material of the uniforms will remain consistent with what we have had in the past.
Curriculum vs. Instructional Materials
I always think it is important to communicate with our families what might be useful information regarding “school” language. I previously sent out a list of acronyms and educational terminology. So here is another “Did you know?”
Did you know that textbooks are not the same as curriculum? Often we ask about school curriculum and the answer is sometimes a list of textbooks or a textbook program. The textbook is really only one of our instructional materials that lends to the teaching of curriculum. A "curriculum" is the overall plan for what students will learn in a course or program, outlining the learning objectives, content sequence, skills and standards. “Instructional materials" are the specific tools and resources used by teachers to deliver that curriculum, such as textbooks, worksheets, digital subscriptions, and presentations; essentially, the curriculum is the "what" to be taught, and instructional materials are the "how" to teach it.
Our teachers work collaboratively throughout the year to ensure that standards and skills are taught and learned at each grade level. When we spend time together as a staff, one of our discussions is always focused on curriculum mapping and standards and skills alignment. Your child’s STAR scores are always an important piece of these discussions as well as formative and summative assessments.
God bless all of you and your families as we embark on 4th quarter and preparing for the 2025-2026 school year,
United In Christ,
Mrs. Perrault
In this issue of Martyr Messenger:
- Admin Updates: Merit March, Annual Calendar Update, Stations of the Cross, SSM News, High School Scholarships Awarded, Lost & Found, Saint of the Month, Rotary Honor Roll, Micro Soccer, Financial Aid Info
- Home & School Updates: Egg Hunt Save the Date, First Communion Celebration, Martyr Marathon Volunteer Needed, Yearbook Photos & Cover Art Contest
- Men's Club Updates: Upcoming Triathlon
- Parish Updates: Dinner & Auction Thank You, VBS Registration Opens March 9th, Fish Fry & Stations of the Cross, Totus Tuus Registration, Children's Holy Hour, Lenten Service Project
- Community Updates: Play It Forward Spring Camp, Junior Skyhawks Tackle Football, Events for Middle Schoolers at Duchesne & Mercy
Administration Updates
Merit March is Here!
As part of our school's continued PBIS integration, we are celebrating Merit March again this year! Throughout the month of March, teachers and staff will celebrate and recognize student behaviors that are meeting and exceeding our school's expectation that students PRAY every day:
P - Practice safety
R - Respect God, self, and others
A - Act with kindness
Y - Yes, say yes to responsibility
We are racing toward 700 merits. If we reach our goal, students will earn a Dress Down Day on Wednesday, April 2nd!
No 2 PM Dismissals on March 19 and April 30th
Change reflected on Annual Calendar
The 2 PM Dismissals previously scheduled for March 19th and April 30th have been canceled as a result of the accumulated snow days. School will dismiss at the usual times those days. The revised version of our annual calendar reflects this change. See Annual Calendar here.
Stations of the Cross
Our students have the opportunity to pray the Stations of the Cross together this Lent. Families are welcome to join us.
SSM News: 4th Grade Edition
A few of our 4th Graders honed their broadcasting skills in the newest edition of SSM News! Thanks to Mrs. Pennings and great job to our students!
Congratulations to our High School Scholarship Winners!
Congratulations to our 8th graders who were awarded scholarships from our area high schools based on their exceptional performances on the High School Entrance Exam. Scholarships were presented from Skutt Catholic, Marian, Duchesne Academy and Mount Michael. We are very proud of our student's accomplishments! Congratulations also to the educators and families who work to support their student's educational advancement every day!
Visit the Lost & Found to claim your items!
Please visit the south foyer of the school to claim your items! Unclaimed items will be donated over Spring Break. There are many clothing items, winter gear, water bottles, lunch boxes and other items filling the shelves. Thank you!
Congratulations to our Saint of the Month Honorees!
This month, we recognized students whose compassion and generosity was evident, much like St. Brigid of Kildare. Congratulations, honorees!
Early Childhood Honorees
(L to R) Theo P., Demi E., Eloise L., Michael M.
K-8 Honorees
(L to R) Top Row: Truman S., Haley M., Chloe T., Holden B., Henry P., Lizzie B., Madeleine C., Evie L., Madeline G., Azariah B.
Middle Row: Julian G., Elysee B., Adam S., Charlotte M., Serenity S., McKinley W.
Bottom Row: Reegan K., Reece R., Royal S., Zachary T., Larson T., Rylee H., Aubrey W., Ella R., Tony K.
Announcing our Rotary Honor Roll Recipients!
Congratulations to Isabella Igbokwe, Jackson Treiber, and Claire Schmitz, our Rotary Honor Roll Recipients!
About the Rotary Honor Roll
For nearly 100 years, the Rotary Club of Omaha has honored Omaha youth by way of the yearly Honor Roll Event. The Rotary Honor Roll, a time-honored tradition, distinguishes 8th-grade students who represent the highest characteristics of leadership, character, scholarship & presence. This criterion has been the litmus test since the inception of the award in the early 1900s. The event has also been a platform to award scholarships to chosen graduating seniors who, just 4 years earlier, were 8th-grade Honor Roll recipients. Students are chosen by their teachers.
Register by March 18th for Micro Soccer
Financial Aid Applications
Families may apply for Financial Aid through FACTS. The deadline to submit financial aid applications is May 1. Before other types of financial aid are considered, families are asked to apply for aid through the Children's Scholarship Fund. Use the button below to learn more. There are also scholarships available through Opportunity Scholarships and Latino Scholarship Fund. Find more information in the PDFs linked below. Applications are open for all of these scholarship opportunities.
Home & School Updates
Save the Date for our Easter Egg Hunt
Upcoming First Communion Celebration
Save the Date: Tuesday, April 1
Second graders and their families are invited to a First Communion Celebration! Second graders will be honored at 8:15 AM School Mass and be allowed to wear their First Communion outfits to school. Mass will be followed by a breakfast for families & younger siblings who aren't in school. Following breakfast, students may change into dress down day clothes for the rest of the day.
We are so excited for our second graders to receive First Holy Communion! Congratulations!
Seeking Martyr Marathon Corporate Sponsorship Volunteer
Martyr Marathon is in need of a dedicated parent to take over the corporate sponsorship role. Interested? Please direct questions to ssmhomeandschool@gmail.com with the title “MM Corporate Sponsorship”.
Yearbook Cover Contest
6-8th graders: your creativity is needed! We do not have any artwork for the cover of our yearbook. Make your submission today! The winner will receive and dress down day! Email jhheien06@gmail.com to submit your artwork.
Submit Your Photos to Yearbook!
Yearbook is seeking picture submissions throughout the school year that capture all the fun memories. Use the button below and make sure to select the grade or activity appropriate album when submitting. Thank you for your help in collecting the '24-'25 school year memories!
Men's Club Updates
Save the Date: Triathlon Fundraiser
Parish Updates
Thank you for your generosity at our Mardi Gras Dinner & Auction!
It was a wild success!
VBS Registration Opens Sunday, March 9th
Stations of the Cross
KOC Fish Fry
Lenten Service Project
Sponsored by the Social Justice Committee
Registration Open for Totus Tuus
Upcoming Children's Holy Hour
Community Updates
Play it Forward Spring Camp
Mercy Events for Middle Schoolers
Important Upcoming Dates
- March 7: End of 3rd Quarter, Stations of the Cross at 2 PM
- Parish Fish Fry: 5-8 PM, Dining Room
- March 10th-14th: Spring Break
- March 21st: Incoming Kindergarten Movie Night
- Stations of the Cross for K-4th grade
- March 24th: Children's Holy Hour at 6 PM in the Worship Space