A Message from Mrs. Perrault, Principal
Dear Families,
As we continue through our Lenten journey, I pray for all of you and your families. I appreciate the sacrifices you make everyday to send your children to a Catholic school, and I love being a part of their faith journey. As many of you know, our teachers participate in Faith Formation throughout the year. As a parish and school staff, we are excited to share in a day of service on Friday. The staff will begin with day spending time at various non-profits to lend a hand and service to others. We will then join together for Mass and lunch. I love that we come together as one community of faith.
Congratulations to our second graders who made their First Communion on Sunday. Thank you to all of those who helped prepare them and to our Home and School for organizing a recognition breakfast for the second graders and their families.
I am also really looking forward to the school musical. Thank you so much to our Home and School who sponsor and organize this spring musical every year. It is always a spectacular event for students, staff, and families.
Next week, on Tuesday, St. Stephen the Martyr School will have its five year accreditation review. I have provided more information in this edition of the messenger so you better understand what will be happening. I absolutely love having the opportunity to showcase our wonderful school and also learn more about the continuous improvement process from other school leaders.
It is a busy spring, so make sure you are able to view the school Google Calendar. We will do our best to always keep you informed!
United In Christ,
Mrs. Perrault
In this issue of Martyr Messenger:
- Admin Updates: Staffing Updates, Accreditation Visit, Mental Health Memo, March Saint of the Month, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Alumni Congratulations, Long-term Subs, SSM News, FACTS Financial Aid Reminder
- Sports Club Updates: Volleyball Registration
- Home & School Updates: Musical, Egg Hunt, Middle School Dance, Yearbook Orders
- Men's Club Updates: Upcoming Triathlon
- Parish Updates: Holy Week & Easter Schedules, Serra Server Awards, VBS Registration, Totus Tuus Registration
- Community Updates: Daddy-Daughter Dance, Skutt Soccer Clinic, Flaming Hoops
Administration Updates
Staffing Updates for the Upcoming School Year
Mrs. Courtenay Swanstrom
I have made the difficult decision to step away from a community and a role that I have cherished for the past twenty years and move on the the next chapter of my life. It has truly been a privilege and a pleasure to have been a part of the St. Stephen the Martyr School family and to have contributed to its success. I am deeply grateful for the opportunities and experiences I have been given during my time here. I started as a TA in 2005 and held that role for 8 years before moving into the office for the past 12 years. I want to express my sincere appreciation for the support and guidance I've received from everyone throughout my tenure. I am especially grateful to the students. I have gotten so much joy and happiness from them over the years.
Ms. Kaycee Perez
My name is Kaycee Perez and I am so incredibly excited to be joining the St. Stephen community! I am currently an Early Childhood Special Education teacher, but I am looking forward to returning to my roots in Kindergarten. More importantly, I feel blessed to be returning to Catholic Education. I earned my Bachelor's Degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney; Elementary Education with an endorsement in Early Childhood. I later went on to earn my Masters Degree in Early Childhood Special Education from
Concordia University. Since graduating in 2003, I have had the privilege of teaching, kindergarten, preschool, second grade, and early childhood special education. I feel a true calling to create a magical first experience in school for young children. I look forward to becoming more involved in this community, and look forward to meeting you all very soon.
Mrs. Julie Gorup
I am beyond thrilled to be returning to the St. Stephen’s community as a First Grade teacher! For the past five years, I have worked as an Early Childhood Special Education teacher in the Elkhorn Public Schools district. Prior to that, I taught 3rd Grade and Preschool at St. Stephen the Martyr School. My educational background includes a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, a Master’s degree in Elementary Education, and a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education. My husband, Mark, and I are both proud to call Omaha home. We have three wonderful children: Markus (15), Maddox (12), and Maisy (11). All three are actively involved in sports, which keeps our family busy. I look forward to reconnecting with my prior students and their families, as well as meeting my future students! I can’t wait to get started and to continue fostering a love of learning and faith in the classroom.
Mr. Joe Connolly
Hi my name is Joe Connolly. Many of your children know me from working with them in Kid Zone over the past 4 years. Most recently, I have also been working with the student services department in the school for the past two years, mostly working with the 5th and 6th grade math classes. While working, I began attending classes to become a certified teacher. I am excited to announce that I have accepted a full-time teaching position at SSM for the 2025-2026 school year. I will be teaching my two favorite subjects: math and social studies to sixth grade students.
Mrs. Joni Coffey
I have enjoyed teaching 6th grade ELA and 5th grade reading, but I was presented with the opportunity to teach 5th grade ELA and reading. After much reflection, I have decided to change my position slightly and look forward to teaching 5th grade and working with my 5th grade team and facilitating the academic growth and development of our students!
Mrs. Susan Roche
I have enjoyed teaching this group of students as 4th and 5th graders, however will be passing them onto new hands and will be teaching 5th grade math and social studies. I will still see some of the 6th graders for 6th grade ISP. I am looking forward to working with the new 5th grade team as SSM.
Mrs. Ashley Hoff
I am happy to share that next year I will be stepping into a new role as a teacher in our Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program. My background as an educator includes several years as a Pre-K teacher, and I am excited to work with this age group again and prepare them for kindergarten! I look forward to joining the outstanding TK program that has been established at our school.
Mrs. Jeanna Pestel
Next year, I will be teaching 5th and 6th Religion. I am excited to be part of the students’ faith journey - as we grow and learn together. I am grateful to be part of the SSM community and am looking forward to my 10th year at St. Stephen’s.
Mrs. Shelisa Mabeus
After two years as a 6th grade homeroom teacher, I will be transitioning back to a 7th grade homeroom next year teaching 7th and 8th grade religion. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a 6th grade homeroom teacher, and I thank the 5/6 team for welcoming me with open arms the past two years. I'm looking forward to another fantastic year of sharing our faith at SSM.
Mrs. Sandy Watson
"For everything there is a season, and a time for every activity under heaven,” such appropriate and beautiful words from Ecclesiastes in Sacred Scripture for me at this time in my career. It has been my honor and joy to teach Social Studies and Religion at St. Stephen the Martyr School; working with the sixth graders and the eighth graders is absolutely amazing and so much fun and I will miss it immensely. However, the time has come for me to serve God in a different capacity and retire from teaching every day. It has been delightful working with the teachers and staff at SSM; they are simply the best!! It has been truly wonderful getting to know students and their families; it is the relationships formed in shared faith that I will miss the most. It is my hope to be at SSM in a different capacity next year that has less hours and more flexibility and allows me to pursue different activities. Thank you for allowing me to do the things I love the best: working with students and talking about Jesus and our faith every day. May God bless this wonderful community.
Accreditation Visit
Next Tuesday, April 8, we are very excited for our 5 year Accreditation visit. We will have a team of principals, and a superintendent here on that day to learn about St. Stephen the Martyr School. They will spend the day visiting classrooms, interviewing students, teachers, parents, and the School Advisory Board. We look forward to showcasing all of the wonderful things happening here and talk with them about our continuous improvement process. To learn more about the Nebraska Department of Education Accreditation, use the button below.
Mental Health Memo
From Catholic Charities
Self-esteem is how we value and perceive ourselves. When kids recognize their worth, they are more likely to try new things, and have the ability to cope with difficult emotions. Positive self-esteem helps youth do better in school, at home, and in their relationships.
There are many things parents can do to help children understand their worth. Find tips on how to help your child improve his/her self-esteem in the flyer from Catholic Charities below.
March Saint of the Month
The Saint of the Month for March was St. Patrick. Students were awarded for bringing Christianity to St. Stephen the Martyr daily through leadership and a strong vision of what they want to achieve. Congratulations to our March Honorees!
(L to R) Emme O., Wyatt H., Eli W., Keller S.
(L to R) Top Row: Anthony J., Clodagh R., Miguel G., Lily C., Henry E., Charlie L., Joy D.,
Middle Row: Jackson H., Landon O., Miles M., Joseph R., Will M., Brady G.
Bottom Row: Oliver R., Teagan O., Jordan P., Jonathon L., Lilli G., Brayden W., Pierce R., Fynlee M., Archer L.
Not Pictured: Charlie W. Marcetta J., Maddox M., Allie R.,
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Catechists Needed!
Formation Course available this summer for new catechists
Alumni Congratulations
Congratulations to our alumnae who achieved academic honors at Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart. We are proud of the great things our students do! The list of alumni who have achieved academic honors over the past six months can be viewed here. Note: this list is limited to the area high schools who share this information.
Introducing our Long-Term Subs
Kayleen Wallace: Long-term substitute teacher for Mrs. Jessica Tucksen, music teacher, who just welcomed a new baby daughter. She will continue to provide musical enrichment for our students. Mrs. Wallace says she is very impressed with how wonderful our students are!
Elizabeth Chu: Long-term substitute teacher for Mrs. Susan Smith, music teacher. Please continue to pray for her health and recovery.
Michael Kennedy: A familiar face around St. Stephen, Mr. Kennedy has subbed throughout the year. He will be the long-term sub when needed for Myah Brown (7th & 8th grade), who will welcome a baby soon.
Jeanne Meyers: Long-term substitute teacher for Mrs. Tessari, Library, while she is on maternity leave. Thank you to Mrs. Meyers for bringing her love of reading to our students!
Sports Club Updates
Register Now for Fall Volleyball
Home & School Updates
Join us this weekend for Matilda Jr. the Musical!
The musical is this weekend! We can't wait to see so many of our students on stage. Here are the details:
- Performances are Friday, April 4th at 7:30 PM and Saturday, April 5th at 6 PM.
- If you haven’t purchased tickets yet, you can do so at the door. Pre-ordered tickets should have already been picked up at dress rehearsal.
- Doors open 30 minutes prior to the performance. Seating is first come, first serve. Please be patient as there is often a long line.
- There will be a limited number of shirts, flowers, and candy bouquets available for sale.
- Elementary students need to report to their assigned classroom no later than 30 minutes prior to each performance. Please see email sent to musical parents for additional information.
Join us for an Egg Hunt
Join us for an Easter Celebration on Sunday, April 27th following 10:30 AM Mass! We’ll start in the Dining Room with donuts, coffee cart, and face painting. Then we’ll head out to the field for an egg hunt and a visit from live bunnies for the kids to pet and hold! We are currently seeking volunteers to help us with the festivities! Use the button below to RSVP & volunteer.
Middle School Dance
- $5/student - cash at the door
- St. Stephen the Martyr Middle School Students only.
- Watch for the required waiver that will be sent home and will have to be turned in upon entry at the door.
- Parent volunteers are needed to facilitate this event including check-in, phone check-in, and photobooth. Sign up using the button below. Thank you!
Yearbook Orders Now Open!
Men's Club Updates
Annual Triathlon
Parish Updates
Holy Week & Easter Mass Times
Serra Server Awards
The Serra Club of Omaha, whose mission is "to foster and promote vocations to the ministerial priesthood and religious of the Catholic Church,” issued awards to area 8th Graders for their dedication and commitment to being a server at a special Mass with Archbishop Lucas at St. Wenceslaus. Congratulations to St. Stephen the Martyr 8th Graders who were honored: Haley Micek, Addison Kolkman. Maggie Johnson, Jackson Treiber, and Rylee Zucchelli. Thank you for being a server!
Totus Tuus Registration
Vacation Bible School
Community Updates
Save the Date: Daddy-Daughter Dance
Skutt Catholic Girls Soccer Clinic Benefitting Kicks for a Cure
Join the Skutt Catholic Girls Soccer Team as they host a Youth Clinic Wednesday, April 9th at Skutt Catholic from 4-5:30 PM. All CYSL Soccer players are invited to attend, and please feel free to bring friends! Cost: $15 donation at the door to benefit Kicks for a Cure.
Important Upcoming Dates
- April 4th: Musical Performance, 7:30 PM
- April 5th: Musical Performance, 6 PM
- April 11th: Stations of the Cross, Grades (K-8)
- April 15th: 1st Grade Field Trip to Omaha Symphony Mission Imagination
- April 17th-21st: Easter Break