A Message from Mrs. Perrault, Principal

As we reflect on the many things for which we are thankful, I want to take this opportunity to share just a few of mine with you: I am thankful for our students who come to school every day ready to learn – they give us all a daily reminder of what is important and why we are here. I am thankful for the support of the parents in creating an outstanding partnership for our students. I am thankful for the teachers, teacher assistants, office staff, parish staff, priests, and all support staff who really care about our students’ achievements and their faith journey. They have the best interests of our students at heart. I am also so very thankful for our volunteers who enthusiastically contribute so much to our school.

In these most difficult and challenging times, we see dedicated and tireless individuals going above and beyond to make sure that great things happen in our school. They do make a difference, and the children, in their own individual ways, benefit from those efforts.

Most importantly, I am thankful for the parents that have kept the faith in us. They continue to share their most valuable possessions, their children, with us and work hard to advocate and be a partner in their children’s education, safety, and well-being. For this, I am ever so thankful.

I would like to wish all of you and your families a happy, healthy, and relaxing Thanksgiving holiday!

Mrs. Perrault

In this issue of Martyr Messenger you will find information about:

Calendar Changes
Updates from Home and School: Thankful Thursdays, St. Nicholas Christmans Exchange, Teacher/Staff Christmas Gift Program, Magazine Sales
Thanksgiving Pantry Collection
Picture Re-Take Day
News from Parish: Finance Council Message, Face Coverings/Masks, Youth Service Opportunities
Congratulations
...and more!

Calendar Changes

Please make note of the following calendar changes for December:

December 7 (previously scheduled as a noon dismissal) is now a full day off from school. Kidzone will be open.
Christmas break will begin on December 16 with a noon dismissal.

Check with Kidzone for hours and availability during Christmas break (we still have some spots remaining.) School resumes on January 5.

Updates from Home and School

Thankful Thursdays!

Each Thursday this month, we encourage our families to share their gratitude with the various individuals that make St. Stephen's the wonderful place that it is. This week we are thanking our classroom and special teachers! We encourage you to send a message of thanks via email, a handwritten note, or comment on our Facebook post. More info at https://school.stephen.org/thankful

St. Nicholas Ornament Exchange

To help spread some love and holiday cheer, Home and School is organizing a new event this year to accommodate Covid: St. Nicholas Ornament Exchange for the students at each grade level! If you choose to participate, your child will be given a “secret student” of the same gender from their grade level. If you would like to participate, please fill sign-up at the button below by November 25th. An email was sent earlier this week with more information.

Sign Up Here

Teacher/Staff Christmas Gift Program

Home and School will again be offering all families the opportunity to participate in the annual Christmas Gift Program. This program has been a huge success in the past and it is our hope that the tradition will continue this year with your support and participation. Each family is asked to make a contribution to a general Christmas fund. The money is then used for gifts for each teacher and staff member who share in the daily education and care of your children. We will be accepting donations through Thursday, December 10th. See flyer for more details.

Christmas Gift Program Flyer 2020

Magazine/Christmas Gift Sales:

Home and School is helping to organize the annual Magazine/Christmas Gift Sales. This is simple and easy! Most of the money raised comes from renewals and goes directly to the school. Sales begin today and the last day to turn is December 4th. Thank you for participating! See flyer for more details.

We are looking for one parent to help track and hand out coops. If you can help, please email us at ssmhomeandschool@gmail.com.

Watch this fun video about the coops with your kids: https://youtu.be/3o8JeQaKqJE

Magazine Sales Flyer.pdf

Thanksgiving Pantry Collection

Thank you to everyone who has responded so far to our Thanksgiving Pantry Collection to stock the shelves in our parish pantry! Items can still be brought to school until November 23rd. Listed below are the food items for your child’s grade. This is a wonderful way for our students to help those in need.

Thank you for your help with this project!

The Catholic Identity Committee and Deacon Denny

Pre- School: cereal
Pre-K: pancake mix or syrup
TK: peanut butter or jelly
K: brownie mix, cake mix, or frosting
Grade 1: hamburger Helper, any flavor
Grade 2: spaghetti or pasta sauce
Grade 3: canned tuna or chicken breast
Grade 4: toilet tissue-4 pack
Grade 5: ready-to-serve soup
Grade 6: boxed potatoes or boxed Rice
Grade 7: toothpaste or brushes, deodorant, body wash
Grade 8: canned chili or baked beans

Picture Re-Take Day

Picture retake day is Friday, November 20, 2020, in the dining room between 8:00-10:00 am.

Students should come to school in their picture clothes, they will not need to change into their uniform.
Retake day is for students who were absent on picture day.
Students who are taking pictures due to an issue with their original ones should bring the pictures to school on Friday.
If you are having pictures retaken for “cosmetic” reasons, the fee for pictures would be the same amount as the original order.

News from our Parish

Finance Council Message

We thank you for all that you do to support the mission of our parish! Hear from Father Dave and members of our Finance Council for a brief financial overview of our recent fiscal year.

Face Coverings / Masks

With the rise in numbers of those who are infected and hospitalized because of Covid-19, effective immediately, we are requiring masks to be worn at all times during daily and weekend Masses. Parishioners, visitors, students, teachers, and staff are also required to wear masks when inside our buildings or gathering outside during pick-up. This requirement applies to all those over the age of five. According to the CDC, masks help protect those who wear them from Coronavirus, in addition to helping shield those around them.

We believe that the Mass is the “source and summit” of our lives as Catholics. What an awesome gift that we experience in gathering as a community to hear the Word of God and to receive the Lord’s precious Body in Holy Communion. The personal sacrifice of wearing a mask during Mass pales in comparison to the privilege of participating in the Mass. It is a selfless and generous act so that those who would like to be physically present for the Mass can do so in the safest manner possible. Thank you for your perseverance, understanding, and cooperation. Let us pray for all in our parish family, along with our loved ones and friends, that we may be beacons of hope and encouragement in a time of uncertainty and anxiety.

Youth Service Opportunities

Be the hands and feet of Christ! Get involved, and put your faith into action with these family-friendly service opportunities.

St Vincent Sack Lunch Meal: Help with sandwich donations and assembling meals for November 24, 2020.
Angel Tree Sorting, Packing, and Delivery: Sunday, November 15th through Sunday, December 6th
Ring the Bell! For Salvation Army: November 28th, December 4th, or December 12th
Angel Tree Donation Delivery to the St. Augustine Indian Mission of Winnebago, NE: Date To Be Announced

Sign Up Here

Liturgical Living

Giving Thanks

2020 has been a doozy. But God is here. Maybe Thanksgiving won't look exactly how you planned, but gratitude is still the reason for the celebration. Try writing down three things that you are grateful for in the morning, and three things at night. Give God the praise for those things. Then pay it forward! Choose one person each day and tell them why you're grateful for them. God will use these small actions to literally transform a negative situation into a situation of opportunity and hope.

Prepare to Prepare! Advent is Coming!

Advent is just around the corner, beginning on Sunday, November 29th. Bring out that Advent Wreath and start thinking of ways to prepare your heart for the coming of Christ Jesus. One suggestion: focus on growing one virtue in your heart each week of Advent. For example, allow the first candle on the Advent Wreath to symbolize the virtue of Hope. Think of several acts of hope to make throughout the week as you ask God to increase this virtue in your heart. The following weeks could be Joy, Peace and Love. Pick your own virtues, but allow Jesus to take root in your heart this Advent!

Check out these At-Home Activities:

Progress Reports to be Posted

Second Quarter Progress Reports will be posted in Sycamore on November 24. Be sure to log in to access your child(s) progress report(s). Follow these steps:

Go to school.stephen.org/sycamore and log in to your Sycamore account.
On the right-hand side, you will see an area labeled “My Students”.
Click on your child and select documents from the pop-up. You should see a list of previous report cards and other reports.
Click on the name of the document to view.

Congratulations!

First Quarter Honor Roll

Congratulations to the following 8th-grade students who were inadvertently omitted from the list shared 2 weeks ago.

Hannah Fernandes
Sadie Snyder

High School Honor Roll

Congratulations to former SSM Students for earning Honor Roll recognition!

From Gross Catholic High School: Gabe Hardisty, Delanie Watson

Other area High Schools give recognition at semester.

Music In Catholic Schools All-State Band

Important Dates Coming Up

Friday, November 20: Picture retakes from 8:00 to 10:00; Halfway through the 2nd quarter
Tuesday, November 24: Progress Reports on Sycamore
Wednesday, November 25 - Friday, November 27: Thanksgiving Break
Monday, December 7: No School
Wednesday, December 16: Noon Dismissal
Thursday, December 17 - Monday, January 4: Christmas Break; return to school on Tuesday, January 5.