A Message from Mrs. Perrault, Principal
Dear Families,
As we prepare for the Thanksgiving break, I like to reflect on the many reasons I am grateful. What I am most thankful for is the opportunity to lead a school that truly places Christ at the center of all we do. I also deeply appreciate the partnership and support we receive from all of you. I know you make sacrifices to send your children to St. Stephen the Martyr School, and I can honestly say they are loved and cared for every day by an amazing staff. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to love and serve your children.
I wish you and your families a healthy, relaxing, and prayerful Thanksgiving break!
With gratitude,
Mrs. Perrault
In this issue of Martyr Messenger:
- Admin Updates: Thanksgiving Food Drive Starting Soon, Upcoming Dress Down Day, Progress Report, Online Book Fair Open, Advent Prayer Service & Nativity Play, Admissions Video Filming, Inclement Weather Policy, Cold Weather Recess Reminders, Parking Lot Safety, 3rd - 5th Grade Music Performance
- Sports Club Updates: Turkey Trot
- Home & School Updates: Musical Registration Open, Breakfast in Bethlehem, Santa Shoppe Volunteers, Teacher Gift Program, Student Directory, Middle School Dance, Upload Yearbook Photos
- Parish Updates: Celebration of the Dedication of the Worship Space, Angel Tree Service Project, High School Girls Christmas Party, Thanksgiving Mass Times, Dinner & Auction Wine Pull
Administration Updates
Thanksgiving Food Drive
Our Food Pantry has seen an uptick in families requesting assistance due to the suspension of SNAP Benefits. We welcome any and all donations to keep supporting those experiencing food insecurity. If you unable to donate items during the Food Drive, you can donate items anytime at the cart in the entrance of the Parish Center. If you prefer to contribute to the Food Pantry financially, please use the button below. Thank you for your generosity!
October Diaper Drive Update: We met our goal!
Students earned a Dress Down Day on Monday, Nov. 24th
Thank you for a successful Diaper Drive! Our school met our goal to collect 12,000 diapers and even exceeded our goal because of a last-minute donation from the St. Stephen the Martyr Cub Scouts, making our total 14,000 diapers collected! Our Respect Life Group will deliver the diapers to local pregnancy support centers. Thank you for supporting a culture of life.
Auditions for the 2026 Talent Show
Our talented students will have a chance to showcase yet again their amazing gifts! All 3rd-8th graders may audition with up to six students per act. All acts should be 2 min and 30 seconds or less. Selected acts will attend a final rehearsal on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. Great ideas include singing, playing instruments, dancing, skits, magic acts, acrobatics, and unusual stunts/tricks. All acts should be appropriate in every way, including language and costumes if applicable. No lip-syncing or improvisation. Use the button below to register by Friday, Dec. 12th.
Progress Reports
You will receive an email on Friday, Nov. 21st with a link to your student's Progress Report from the School Office. If you have any questions or concerns, please email your student's teacher(s).
Shop our Online Book Fair Now!
Our Fall Book Fair is December 8th-12th and it is the perfect time to kindle young readers' mind to explore some books! Students will be able to shop in the fair before or after school with adult supervision. Middle schoolers (6th-8th grade) can shop on their own. Students 5th grade and under may shop with a middle school sibling. We are looking for VOLUNTEERS for the book fair! We need all the help we can get!
Advent Prayer Service & Nativity Play
The Advent Season is quickly approaching! Our fifth and sixth graders are joyfully preparing an Advent Prayer Service and a Nativity Play, which will take place in the Worship Space on Friday, December 5, at 2 PM. Guests are welcome.
Our sixth graders will lead the Advent Prayer Service, with both fifth and sixth grade students offering beautiful music. Immediately following the service, the fifth graders will present the Nativity Play, accompanied in song by both grades.
Guests are welcome to join us in the Worship Space.
Our sixth graders will lead the Advent Prayer Service, with both fifth and sixth grade students offering beautiful music. Immediately following the service, the fifth graders will present the Nativity Play, accompanied in song by both grades.
Guests are welcome to join us in the Worship Space.
New Admissions Video Being Filmed Tomorrow, Nov. 21st
We are grateful for our generous Home & School Association, who is partnering with a video production team to create a new admissions video for our school! This project will highlight St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic School—United in Christ, to ignite the joy of faith, community, and learning.
For information on our Media Release, please see page 20 of the Family Handbook. Families who opted out have documentation on file in the School Office. Thank you!
Inclement Weather Policy
As we enter December, it is a good time to review our inclement weather policy. St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic School (SSM) observes the school closing policies of the Millard Public Schools (MPS) and/or Omaha Catholic Schools (OCS). When school is canceled, SSM will send families an email (using the “Correspondence” email(s) the family has on file in FACTS). If either district calls off school due to inclement weather, SSM will be closed. In the event that MPS and/or Omaha Catholic Schools issues a late start, SSM will issue our
own weather announcement via email by 6:15 AM based on weather conditions impacting our
school. If MPS or OCS announces a remote learning day in lieu of a snow day, SSM will not have remote school unless all allotted snow days are already used. The full policy can be found on page 26 of the Family Handbook.
Cold Weather Recess Reminders
Please ensure your student is appropriately dressed for the weather. We will have outdoor recess as long as the actual or the "feels like" wind chill temperature is at least 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Please send students to school with labeled jackets, hats, gloves/mittens, etc. Please note: blankets are not allowed. When there is snow to play in, students may bring snow pants/bibs and boots, but they must wear shoes while inside. Please make sure these items are labeled. Sending them in a labeled plastic bag can be helpful for keeping their items together and provide easy storage should they get wet at recess.
Parking Lot Safety
Reminder to proceed slowly and with caution through our parking lots, which are often filled with students, families, and staff! Thank you for helping us keep our parking lots safe for everyone! Find our Drop Off & Parking Procedures.
Sports Club Updates
Ruffle Your Feathers at our SSM Turkey Trot!
Calling all SSM families! Start your Thanksgiving morning with a little feather-ruffling fun and join the Omaha Running Club for a casual run or walk before the big feast. Families are welcome to go any distance between 2–6 miles, and all paces are invited. This is a non-timed, free event! Meet at 9:00 AM at the boat ramp, and don’t forget to wear your SSM gear so we can easily spot one another! The Omaha Running Club will host a festive turkey “hunt” along the route—find a turkey and you’ll win a pie! Snacks and hot chocolate will be available after the run.
Please RSVP your family name to Kate, SSM Cross Country & Track Coordinator, at 402-578-9614.We hope to see many SSM families kicking off Thanksgiving together!
Home & School Updates
Registration Now Open for 2026 Musical: Alice in Wonderland, Jr.!
Don't be late for a very important date! This year’s SSM Middle School Musical is Alice in Wonderland—and you’re invited to tumble down the rabbit hole with us! Participation in the Musical is a wonderful opportunity for our students! From acting to set design, backstage management and lighting, our students shine, learn and grow!
- Participation is open to 1st-8th graders.
- Auditions are for grades 6-8th grades only. All middle school students must register before auditioning. All 1st-5th grade students who would like to be in the musical will be given a role.
- Auditions are on the stage from 3:30-5:30 PM on Tuesday, Dec. 2nd and Thursday, Dec. 4th. No need to prepare—just bring your curiosity and be there BOTH days! Everyone who auditions gets a part.
- We ask that parents volunteer to help supervise a minimum of two rehearsals. A SignUp Genius will be sent in January.
- SAVE THE DATE for a parent meeting on January 8th.
- Rehearsals start the week of Monday, Jan 6th, and the adventure leads to magical performances in April!
- Tech week is MANDATORY for all students (April 13th - 15th, 2026).
- School performance: Thursday, April 16th, 2026.
- General Audience performances are the evenings of Friday, April 17th and Saturday, April 18th, 2026 (presence is mandatory for all).
- Questions? Contact Jenny and Nicole at ssm.musical1@gmail.com
Follow the White Rabbit and join us for an unforgettable journey through Wonderland!
Breakfast in Bethlehem
Ho! Ho! Ho! We need elves for Santa Shoppe
Dec. 15th & 16th
Get ready, Christmas Elves! Santa Shoppe is scheduled for Monday, December 15th & Tuesday, December 16th! Santa Shoppe is open to K-8 grade students. Our preschool, pre-k, and TK students will not be shopping. They will have a special visit from Santa in their classrooms!
Monday Shoppers:
Kinder: Perez (KA) & Schrage (KC)
All of 1st Grade: Fitch (1A), Heidrick (1B), & Gorup (1C)
All of 2nd Grade: Gill (2A), O'Leary (2B), & Michaelsen (2C)
All of 3rd Grade: Mancilla (3A), Lowry (3B), & Niehaus (3C)
All of 5th Grade: Roche (5A), Coffey (5B), & Bolton (5C)
All of 6th Grade: Pestel (6A), Bonar (6B), & Bolton (5C)
7th Grade: Peetz (7A), & Mabeus (7C)
Tuesday Shoppers:
Kindergarten: O'Brien (KB)
All of 4th Grade: Haack (4A), Hermann (4B), & Jensen (4C)
7th Grade: Codina (7B)
All of 8th Grade: Harvey (8A), Koubsky (8B), & Brown (8C)
*Please note: this schedule is subject to change.
Volunteers & Donations Needed
We need YOUR help to make Santa Shoppe festive! Please save the date and consider volunteering to help set up, wrap gifts, help our younger students shop, facilitate activities for non-shoppers, or tear down the event! Note that if you'd like to volunteer during your student's class, the sign-up will include shopping times. Volunteers who sign up for two or more shifts will be entered into a drawing to win a $50 Amazon gift card!
Monday Shoppers:
Kinder: Perez (KA) & Schrage (KC)
All of 1st Grade: Fitch (1A), Heidrick (1B), & Gorup (1C)
All of 2nd Grade: Gill (2A), O'Leary (2B), & Michaelsen (2C)
All of 3rd Grade: Mancilla (3A), Lowry (3B), & Niehaus (3C)
All of 5th Grade: Roche (5A), Coffey (5B), & Bolton (5C)
All of 6th Grade: Pestel (6A), Bonar (6B), & Bolton (5C)
7th Grade: Peetz (7A), & Mabeus (7C)
Tuesday Shoppers:
Kindergarten: O'Brien (KB)
All of 4th Grade: Haack (4A), Hermann (4B), & Jensen (4C)
7th Grade: Codina (7B)
All of 8th Grade: Harvey (8A), Koubsky (8B), & Brown (8C)
*Please note: this schedule is subject to change.
Volunteers & Donations Needed
We need YOUR help to make Santa Shoppe festive! Please save the date and consider volunteering to help set up, wrap gifts, help our younger students shop, facilitate activities for non-shoppers, or tear down the event! Note that if you'd like to volunteer during your student's class, the sign-up will include shopping times. Volunteers who sign up for two or more shifts will be entered into a drawing to win a $50 Amazon gift card!
Christmas Gift Program for Teachers & Staff
We will again offer all SSM school families the opportunity to participate in the annual Teacher/Staff Christmas Gift Program. Consider each of the wonderful teachers and school staff members who interact with your child throughout the year. Then consider the time and number of gifts it would take to individually thank all of those teachers and staff members.
Participation in the Christmas Gift Program saves you time and money during the hectic holiday season! Donations are used to give a gift to each of St. Stephen the Martyr teachers and staff members who share in the daily education and care of your child.
This program is optional, of course. However, we ask you to please give serious consideration to participating. The Christmas Gift Program has been a huge success in the past and we look forward to continuing the tradition this year and showing our teachers and staff members how much they’re appreciated by our school families! Give Online using the button below. Donations will be collected through Wednesday, December 10th.
Student Directory or Koozies Coming Soon!
At the beginning of the school year, parents/guardians were invited to either select a Student Directory or a Koozie as a "thank you" for contributing Home & School dues.
These will be sent home with your oldest/only student very soon. Thank you for supporting the Home & School Association!
Save the Date: Middle School Dance
Upload Photos for the 25-26 Yearbook
Yearbook is collecting photos of school year memories! Please upload your photos of three or more school students to be included in the Yearbook using the respective class links below. Thank you!
Parish Updates
Celebrate the Anniversary of the Dedication & Consecration of the Worship Space
This Saturday | 8:15 AM Mass | Reception to follow
Angel Tree Project
High School Girls: You are Invited to the Sisters in Christ Christmas Party!
Thanksgiving Mass Times
Join us Thanksgiving Day for Mass
Seeking Donations for Dinner & Auction Wine Pull
Community Updates
8th Grade Fun Night at Creighton Prep
Important Upcoming Dates
- Nov. 21st: Progress Reports
- Nov. 24th: Earned Dress Down Day for October Diaper Drive
- Nov. 25th: 2nd Grade Thanksgiving Readers Theatre, 2:30 PM
- Nov. 26 - Dec. 1st: Thanksgiving Break
- Dec. 2nd: Classes Resume
- Dec. 5th: Advent Prayer Service & Nativity Play