A Message from Mrs. Perrault, Principal
Dear Families,
As our school community continues Holy Week, we are invited into a sacred time of reflection, compassion, and hope. This week reminds us of the profound meaning of love and sacrifice, as well as the quiet strength found in faith and service to others. It is a time to remember the importance of caring for one another and supporting those in need within our community. The Resurrection brings hope and light, reminding us that even in difficult times, joy and new beginnings are always possible.
Last week, I had the honor of serving as the lead for the St. Robert Bellarmine Accreditation Review. It is always a meaningful experience to support our fellow Catholic schools. This opportunity also served as a wonderful reminder of the many things we do so well at SSM. I came away feeling both affirmed in our work and inspired, with new ideas we can implement as we continue to grow.
On Wednesday, our teachers dedicated time to analyzing winter STAR data. They worked collaboratively to develop class instructional goals and took a deep dive into individual student reports. We are intentional about equipping our staff with the skills to understand and use this data effectively, ensuring that instruction is purposeful and that teachers can clearly communicate student progress with our families. I look forward to sharing highlights from our winter data in the next Messenger.
As I have shared previously, the Nebraska Department of Education is requiring all schools to implement English Language Arts instructional practices grounded in the Science of Reading. In addition, all PreK–Grade 3 teachers are required to participate in Literacy Project training- teachers have until June of 2027. This summer, most of our teachers will complete this training through the UNO Literacy Project course or the HEROES conference in Kearney. It is truly exciting to see so many of our educators eager to grow in their practice and continue learning for the benefit of our students. Here is a link that can help you understand what this is all about.
I wish everyone in our school community a blessed and joyful Easter! Thank you for all that you do everyday as we share our mission of “igniting the joy of faith, community, and learning”!
United in Christ,
Last week, I had the honor of serving as the lead for the St. Robert Bellarmine Accreditation Review. It is always a meaningful experience to support our fellow Catholic schools. This opportunity also served as a wonderful reminder of the many things we do so well at SSM. I came away feeling both affirmed in our work and inspired, with new ideas we can implement as we continue to grow.
On Wednesday, our teachers dedicated time to analyzing winter STAR data. They worked collaboratively to develop class instructional goals and took a deep dive into individual student reports. We are intentional about equipping our staff with the skills to understand and use this data effectively, ensuring that instruction is purposeful and that teachers can clearly communicate student progress with our families. I look forward to sharing highlights from our winter data in the next Messenger.
As I have shared previously, the Nebraska Department of Education is requiring all schools to implement English Language Arts instructional practices grounded in the Science of Reading. In addition, all PreK–Grade 3 teachers are required to participate in Literacy Project training- teachers have until June of 2027. This summer, most of our teachers will complete this training through the UNO Literacy Project course or the HEROES conference in Kearney. It is truly exciting to see so many of our educators eager to grow in their practice and continue learning for the benefit of our students. Here is a link that can help you understand what this is all about.
I wish everyone in our school community a blessed and joyful Easter! Thank you for all that you do everyday as we share our mission of “igniting the joy of faith, community, and learning”!
United in Christ,
Mrs. Perrault
In this issue of Martyr Messenger:
- Admin Updates: Annual Calendar, Enrollment Reminder, Career Day, Book Fair, School Advisory Board, STAR Testing, FACTS MFA Starts Today, March Saint of the Month Honorees
- Home & School Updates: School Musical Tickets on Sale, First Communion Celebration, Easter Celebration & Egg Hunt, Upload Yearbook Photos
- Sports Club Updates: Volleyball Registration Now Open
- Men's Club Updates: Triathlon - Proceeds to Benefit Teachers
- Parish Updates: Holy Week & Easter Mass Times, Totus Tuus Registration, Register for Steubenville, Middle School Youth Ministry Kickoff Event
- Community Updates: My Guy & I Dance, Flaming Hoops Basketball Camp, New Cycling Club
Administration Updates
Book Fair Coming Soon: Purchase Gifts Now to Support our School!
You can shop our online Book Fair now to support St. Stephen the Martyr! There are some great books that would be perfect gifts for First Holy Communion and Confirmation.
Use the button below to browse the Sacrament Gift Guide or use the "Shop Now" button to start shopping! Every dollar you spend supports the St. Stephen the Martyr School Library. Thank you!
STAR Testing
STAR Math Testing will be Thursday, April 16th. Please ensure your student gets a good night's sleep and a nutritious breakfast.Merit March: We broke the record!
Congratulations to our incredible students who earned 895 merits during Merit March! What an incredible accomplishment. We are proud of our students every day!
FACTS Rolling out MFA on April 1st: Today!
As part of our ongoing commitment to keeping your school community safe, we are introducing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for access to your Student Information System (SIS). Additionally, we will be enhancing security measures around user accounts.These changes will take effect on Wednesday, April 1st, 2026. They will not impact your current session if you are logged in, but you will notice the updates the next time you log in. While we have communicated this in the SIS, we wanted to send a direct message to ensure you are prepared for the upcoming changes. Here’s what you need to know: Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):
- Staff and parents accessing the SIS will be prompted with MFA.
- Students accessing the SIS will NOT be prompted or required to enable MFA.
- With this update, a single user account can be used across all core FACTS products, simplifying access for families and staff.
- For example, families will now be able to use the same credentials to access the SIS family portal and apply for financial aid.
- Usernames need to be unique across FACTS. The first time you log in after the update, you may be asked to update your username.
- Passwords will be streamlined across all FACTS products and will no longer have an expiration date.
- Schools will no longer create or update passwords for staff or parents; users will manage their own passwords directly.
- Schools will have the ability to send the password reset email on behalf of the parent or staff individual
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!Early Childhood Honorees
L to R: Quinn L., Clara I., Noah G., Theo M.
K- 8 Honorees
(L to R) Top Row: Cali S., Chloe T., Gavin D., Skylar K., Xander R., Cole D., Jackson H., Adeline V., Ben H.
Middle Row: Lilliana S., Adam S., Connor R., Cal G., Julissa Z., Everly M., Oliver R., River W.,
Bottom Row: Kinsley G., Londyn L., Quinn M., Blakely N., Warren H., Jackson C., Damien C., Ethan D.
Not pictured: Maddie S.
Middle Row: Lilliana S., Adam S., Connor R., Cal G., Julissa Z., Everly M., Oliver R., River W.,
Bottom Row: Kinsley G., Londyn L., Quinn M., Blakely N., Warren H., Jackson C., Damien C., Ethan D.
Not pictured: Maddie S.
Sports Club Updates
Register Now for Fall Volleyball
Home & School Updates
Get your tickets to the School Musical Alice in Wonderland, Jr.!
You're late for a very important date! Purchase tickets now for Alice in Wonderland, Jr. Performances will be Fri., April 17th at 7:30 PM and/or Sat., April 18th at 6 PM. Purchase tickets in advance or at the door.
April 21st: First Communion Celebration
Egg Hunt is April 12th!
Join us for an Easter celebration featuring donuts, “Sleepless from Seattle” coffee cart, and face painting followed by an egg hunt and a visit from live bunnies to pet and hold!
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 links below.
- Preschool and Pre-K
- Transitional Kindergarten
- Kindergarten
- 1st Grade
- 2nd Grade
- 3rd Grade
- 4th Grade
- 5th Grade
- 6th Grade
- 7th Grade
- 8th Grade
Note: 8th Grade Yearbook Ads are returning this year! Families can design and purchase these ads directly through our yearbook provider. A link to the online store will be shared when it opens later this spring. Watch for more details in an upcoming Martyr Messenger!
Men's Club Updates
Support the Triathlon to Provide Financial Support for Teachers: Now Seeking Corporate Sponsors
Funds raised will provide financial support for teachers setting up their classrooms and planning their learning at the beginning of the 26-27 school year. We are still seeking sponsorships. Visit mensclubssm.org for sponsorship opportunities!
Parish Updates
Join us for Holy Week & Easter!
Register Now for Totus Tuus
8th Graders: You are invited to Steubenville of Rochester this summer!
Middle School Youth Ministry Volunteers + Kickoff Event
We are looking forward to kicking off Middle School Youth Group this spring. Our Cinco de Mayo Kickoff Event will be Tuesday May 5th 6:30 - 8 PM. Incoming 6th - 8th graders (students currently in grades 5-7) are welcome! Plan to come every Tuesday from 6:30 - 8 PM throughout the summer. 8th graders will be invited to attend High School Youth Ministry Events this summer. Interested in volunteering? Please email bnkeller@stephen.org. Thank you!
Community Updates
My Guy & I Dance
Saturday, April 11th | 7 - 9 PM | $25 per guy — invite the special guy in your life whether your dad, grandpa, uncle, brother (18+) or family friend!
Registration Open for the Flaming Hoops Basketball Camp
NEW: ArchO Mountain Biking Team for High Schoolers
Important Upcoming Dates
- April 2nd - April 6th: Easter Break
- April 8: 4th Grade Field Trip to Lincoln
- April 9: 1st Grade to Mission Imagination
- 2nd Grade to Durham Museum
- April 10: Career Day for Grades 7 & 8
- April 11: My Guy & I Dance
- April 13 - 17: Teacher Appreciation Week
- April 14: 8th Grade to Lincoln