Martyr Marathon
Thank you so much to everyone who donated and contributed to the success of the event! Stay tuned for official results from Home and School. Special thanks to MM committee members: Alia Creason, Kelly Frey, Jennifer Heinen, Michaela Jones, Jamie Pieper, Alison Wise, Sara Venner, Stevie Kountze, Libby Bruscino, Lori Havens & Jenny Kovar.
Updates from Home and School
Teacher Wish Lists
New this year! Click on the link to check them out: school.stephen.org/teacher-wish-lists
Volunteer
We are looking for two additional committee heads for Student Scholarships in the Spring. If interested, please email ssmhomeandschool@gmail.com
H&S Dollars in Action
Thank you for your support of Home and School! Check out this summary of first quarter activities!
- Back to School event and Welcome popsicle gift for all students
- Welcome signs & goodie bags for new families
- Boo-Hoo/Woo-Hoo Breakfast for new families
- First Day Welcome Gift for preschool-TK parents
- School Directories for Home & School dues paying families
- Teacher Classroom Supplies Funds for each teacher
- Teacher Breakfast on their first day back
- Martyr Marathon t-shirts & water bottles for all students, staff & volunteers
Extra Yearbooks from 2019-2020 for Sale
We have extra yearbooks from last school-year available for purchase on a first come, first serve. They are $30 each. Checks can be made out to Home and School and can be sent to the school office. Contact Mary Reichmuth at reichmuth@cox.net with questions.
Join us for Family Fun at Skinny Bones
Covid-19 Recent Health Directives
Although some of the health directives have changed, Douglas County has seen a spike in COVID-19 numbers. We ask that if a household member tests positive for COVID-19, all household members quarantine according to the CDC guidelines. We feel very fortunate that our school community has not had many positive cases, but we must continue erring on the side of caution.
Please help us stay in school! We understand that there are a lot of mixed feelings regarding the mask mandate in Douglas County, but we are asking for your help. With the increase of COVID-19 cases in Douglas County along with the rising numbers of students in quarantine at metro area schools, we cannot stress enough the importance of school families wearing masks in our building. Let’s keep our kids safely in school as well as protect the health of families and school staff.
Lastly, just a reminder to make sure that all masks are appropriate for school, which means they should not go against our religious beliefs and should not be politically charged.
Picture Day
As you make plans for what your student will wear to have his/her perfect school picture on Wednesday, October 14, we offer a review of the dressing options for Picture Day. Teachers will advise students to wear nice dress clothes or their ‘Sunday best’ so they will look spiffy for their school photo. We realize that for many students their ‘Sunday best’ may include nice denim “in good condition” as well as dressier options. Therefore, we offer a review of our dressing guidelines from the Family Handbook to help with your planning for picture day.
FREE DRESS DAYS/PICTURE DAY
On occasion, the students are given the opportunity to dispense with uniforms and dress casually. These days will be on specific Mondays throughout the year. Attire for free dress days (and picture day) may consist of blue jeans and pants in good condition (no holes) and shirts appropriate for school. If shorts are worn, they will be the length of the uniform shorts. Stomachs, backs, and shoulders must be covered. Girls wearing jewelry must follow the guidelines of the handbook (no hoop earrings). If girls wear leggings or tights, tops/tunics must be worn over the leggings and must be the length of mid thigh. Open toe shoes can be worn with dressy clothes but students are advised to avoid all shoes with slick or smooth soles that slide on surfaces and can lead to injury.
Pictures will be taken by Pyles Photography. Order forms have already been sent home. Pictures can also be ordered online at pylesphotography.com
Robotics
Have you been wondering about this year’s Robotics program? Regrettably, the robotics events for this year have been curtailed and we will not be building bots this year. However, we are considering holding zoom sessions to teach 6th through 8th graders how to program and control virtual bots on a 3D playing field to accomplish different challenges. These weekly sessions would be held remotely over zoom and we will start by teaching material from the VEX VR program. More info about VEX VR can be found at vexrobotics.com/vexcode-vr.
If you are interested in having your middle-schooler participate in these programming sessions please send an email to jasonbrown@gmail.com.
Liturgical Living at Home
October is the Month of the Rosary
The rosary rose to prominence in the late 1500s. The Turkish Empire was spreading across eastern Europe, and pirates were raiding Christian ships. The Christian nations of Europe rallied for a great battle at sea. Pope St. Pius V urged all Christians to pray the rosary for victory. While vastly outnumbered, the Christian fleet was victorious at the Battle of Lepanto. The pope established October 7th as the feast of the Holy Rosary. Later, all of October would come to be known as the Month of the Rosary.
Saint Denis Feast Day October 9th
Think Catholic saints are boring? St. Denis, who was beheaded for his faith, picked up his head and walked with it for two miles, being led by a choir of angels. How's that for getting the last word?! In the place where he stopped, a chapel was built. Next time you feel like you've been defeated, pray to St. Denis to show you the silver lining and let God lift you up! The Catholic Church celebrates St. Denis on October 9. St. Denis, pray for us!
Saint Luke, Patron Saint of Physicians
October 18 is the feast of St. Luke, patron of physicians! On October 18, choose a physician or health care worker to thank today! Thank them for their dedication to caring for the sick -- one of the seven corporal works of mercy. On this day, think of something thoughtful you can do to take care of someone who is sick to honor healthcare workers everywhere.
From our Parish
Catechists Needed
Of the 81 classes that we have for Religious Education, there are four classes that still need a permanent catechist. Can you help?
Class length is one hour, lessons are already planned, and materials needed will be supplied. Volunteer would need to be a Safe Environment Trained.
Class length is one hour, lessons are already planned, and materials needed will be supplied. Volunteer would need to be a Safe Environment Trained.
- 7th Grade Tues 4:15 - 14 students
- 7th Grade Wed 4:00 - 11 students
- 8th Grade Wed 4:00 - 8 students
- 6th Grade Wed 5:30 - 8 students
Contact Eileen at e.smith@stephen.org or 402-861-4513
Get your Cookie Dough and Raise Money for Religious Education!
St. Stephen the Martyr Religious Education’s annual Cookie Dough Fundraiser has begun and will run through October 28, 2020. Money raised helps pay for new curriculum, catechist appreciation, tuition assistance, and other new resources used by the entire parish. The Cookie Dough sells for $15 per tub. If interested in purchasing cookie dough, please return the order form to the RE Office by October 28th with payment. Your frozen dough will be ready for pick up on Tuesday, November 3rd from 4-7 PM. More info at: stephen.org/cookie-dough.
Important Dates Coming Up
- Monday, October 12: No School (Teacher In-Service) & Fall Family Frolic at Skinny Bones
- Wednesday, October 14: Picture Day
- Friday, October 16: End of 1st Quarter
- Monday, October 19: Martyr Monday (Spirit Wear Top & Uniform Bottoms)
- Wednesday, October 21: Report Cards
- Thursday, October 22: No School / Teacher Conferences
- Friday, October 23: No School (Fall Break)
- Monday, October 24: No School (Teacher In-Service)
