St. Stephen Catholic School
February 23, 2023
Important updates in this week's Tidbits
CSTAG Application in FACTS
Ash Wednesday - Rice Bowls
Lenten Pizza Fridays
Lenten Fish Fry
Volunteer Opportunities
Personlize Yearbook
Spirit Night
Principal's Points
Good afternoon St. Stephen Families,
Congratulations to Monica, our second 8th grader who received the Pope Francis scholarship to Tampa Catholic! She has been designated a Tampa Catholic Scholar – the highest distinction for exemplary students entering Tampa Catholic High School. We are very proud of Monica and all our 8th graders! Most have heard back from high schools and our students have been accepted to Tampa Catholic, Jesuit, Cristo Rey, Santa Fe, and Foundation Christian.
Parents, if you have not completed the School Culture Survey, please complete it before Monday. Your opinion matters and the information helps us celebrate our successes and understand ways to improve. You may also access the survey from here.
Due to Terra Nova testing next week, we have moved Marvelous Mustang to Friday, March 3.
Tomorrow is Report Card Day. Please watch for an email that tells you how to access your child's report card. All students in grades PK3-8 will receive report cards tomorrow.
Remember to read Tidbits every week to keep up-to-date on happenings at school.
Peace,
Linda Umoh
Key dates for the
2023-24 School Year
Aug. 9
First day of school
Nov. 20-24
Thanksgiving Break
Dec. 25 - Jan. 5
Christmas Break
Mar. 29 - Apr. 5
Easter Break
May 24
Last Day of School
Upcoming Events
February 21-March 10 - Terra Nova Testing
February 22 - Ash Wednesday
February 24 - Report Card Day
February 26 - First Sunday of Lent
March 3 - Marvelous Mustang
March 3 - 12pm Dismissal
March 5 - Second Sunday of Lent
March 6 - Spirit Raffle Fundraiser Begins
March 11-12 - Holy Card Uniform Weekend
March 12 - Third Sunday of Lent
March 13-14 - No School
March 15 - Holy Card Free Dress Day
March 17 - Jean Day/Green Shirt
March 19 - Fourth Sunday of Lent
PikMyKid Update
Parents are not required to check in their child(ren) through the PikMyKid App in the morning. This was something utilized for remote learning during Covid and is no longer necessary.
Also note, if your child is absent, do not use the PikMyKid App to notify us. Instead, Please use this LINK on our School Website.
There is now a Notary onsight now for school related items such as overnight field trips. Please contact gleung@sscsfl.org
FACTS (CSTAG/Heart to Heart) Applications
2023-2024 School Year
The FACTS Application for financial assistance from the school and Diocese is open for the 2023-2024 school year. Applications and documents must be received no later than April 30, 2023, for initial consideration. Please log into your FACTS account to complete the application.
Important note: Diocesan aid is limited. Applications received after the initial consideration deadline of April 30, 2023, for the 23-24 school year maybe be subject to a reduced rate.
For information regarding all financial assistance opportunities, please click below.
REMINDER
Ash Wednesday - Rice Bowls
Students brought home a "rice bowl" Tuesday that they can use to donate a part of their allowance or money earned doing chores to Catholic Relief Services. During Lent, we are all called to give alms, pray, and fast. Perhaps the students can practice alms giving by participating in this school-wide donation drive for CRS. Rice bowls are due Monday, April 3.
Thank you for encouraging them to live our faith.
Click the attachment below to know the information about the inside servers.
What A Night
Angels 2023 was a dance party like no other. Elvis paid a personal visit and several other rock stars made appearances. There were poodle skirts, lots of leather, punk hair and the best rock bands of several decades represented on our very own rock star's shirts.
Enjoy the photos below!
Enjoy the photos below!
Thank You All For The Angel Class Baskets
Thanks to all Room Moms for their hard work and parents for their donations to the class basket. These are the donations received for your class basket. The themes were creative and the donations were very generous. All baskets are used as silent auction items unless otherwise noted. The baskets that were best to be offered as a game prize or be combined with other donations for Live are noted accordingly.
PreK3 - $170
PreK4 – $1100 -Used in Heads and Tails as the game prize
Kindergarten - $2000- Used with other donations in Live Auction
1stGrade - $600
2ndGrade - $3400- Used with other donations in Live Auction
3rdGrade - $330
4thGrade - $500
5A - $350
5B - $160
6thGrade - $410
7thGrade - $460
8thGrade - $250
Kindergarten Basket 2023
3rd Grade Basket 2023
4th Grade Basket 2023
Job Opportunity - Extended Day Staff
We are in need of an additional extended day staff member. The hours are roughly 2 to 6 pm. Please contact Mary Gurley at mgurley@sscsfl.org if you are interested.
SSCS families:
It’s time to personalize your yearbook!
Remember, each student will receive a yearbook.
You DO NOT need to purchase a yearbook through Treering unless you would like an additional copy. See the directions below.
Mustang Sports
MUSTANG SPORTS:Boys Basketball: The boys varsity basketball team lost to St. Lawrence, 41-25, and the Mustangs were led in scoring by John Michael R. with 11 points and Hunter A. with 8 points. The varsity wrapped up the regular season losing to Nativity, 31-17. The boys were led in scoring by John Michael R. with 15 points. The varsity playoffs start Monday against Incarnation at Incarnation at 4:00. If the Mustangs win they will play at St. Lawrence on Wednesday at 4:00. The boys JV basketball team lost to St. Lawrence, 30-12, and the Mustangs were led in scoring by Benjamin B. with 8 points. The JV finished their season with a loss to Nativity, 27-8, and they were led in scoring by Benjamin B. with 4 points and Nathan C. with 3 points. The boys JV basketball season is over.
Girls Flag Football: The girls flag football team has a couple of practices this week to prepare for the playoffs that start next Tuesday. The Mustangs will host a quarterfinal game on Tuesday here at St. Stephen at 4:00. The opponent is still to be determined.
Boys Flag Football: The boys flag Football tryouts are Tuesday, March 7 and Wednesday, March 8 from 3:00-5:00. Students trying out are expected to attend both days. Boys in grades 6-8 are eligible to try out and those interested in trying out should sign up with Coach Green by Monday, March 6. The boys flag football season runs from March 7 through the first week of May and is a 3-4 day per week commitment.
Other News:
Girls JV and varsity track is the next girls school sport. More information coming next week on when practice starts and the seasons meet schedule.
Field Day 2023 is 5 weeks away on Wednesday, April 5. K-4 will participate in the morning from 9:30-11:00 and 5-8 will attend in the afternoon from 1:00-2:30. There will be fun and competitive activity stations for the students. If any parents/families still need service hours or you would like to volunteer at Field Day please contact Coach Green as soon as possible. Parents can earn two volunteer hours per session. Coach Green will need help supervising the classes for the K-4 session. The 8th graders supervise the activity stations for the younger classes. Help is needed running the activity stations and supervising the classes for the 5th-8th group. Please contact Coach Green if you are interested in volunteering at Field Day 2023. Thank you.
Go Mustangs!
Coach Green
PTCO Mustang Book Exchange
The Mustang Book Exchange will be held on Friday, 3/31 from 1 to 3:15 in the East Hall. You are welcome to bring into the school office the books you would like to donate and you will receive a credit that can be used the day of the book exchange. Both students and parents are welcome to visit the exchange on 3/31. If your child does not have a credit, they can purchase a donated book for 25 cents.
Summer Camp
Nature's Classroom Institute.
Summer is right around the corner, and Nature's Classroom is excited to announce that they are officially launching an NCI Summer Camp for ages 10-14.
Campers will splash, explore, and learn through hands-on experiences for a full week, June 12th- June 16th, 2023, at their Brooksville site. Details, prices, etc., can be found at: https://www.discovernci.org/florida-summer-camp
For questions, reach out to:
Britta Wood
Education Director-Florida
Nature’s Classroom Institute
682.804.2483
PTCO Now Offers Scrip
Help PTCO earn cash back from gift card purchases.
A simple and easy way to purchase gift cards!
How does it work?
Use the Raise Right App to buy an electronic or physical gift card for hundreds of stores! The school receives a percentage of the gift card purchase! Click below for more information about the program.
Many of your favorite stores and restaurants are included – Target, Walmart, Publix, Outback, Panera, and more!
Going shopping? Buy an electronic gift card for the approximate amount and use it at the check-out line! Click below for more information about ecards.
To get started today, review the RaiseRight Enrollment using the link below and if you have questions, please contact ngallagher@sscsf.org
Thank you for your continued support of SSCS! We hope you find this to be an easy way to make a difference for our school.
Please watch the video below to see how easy it is to purchase scrip from Raise Right.
Easy way to support the PTCO and get your Holiday Gift Cards.
Alumni Updates
Attention: Current School families who have children that are SSCS Alumni
Please help us follow the success of our former students. Kindly share with us updates on how your SSCS graduate is doing in school, in their profession or in pursuing their dreams. We want to be able to congratulate our alumni when they achieve amazing
things and wish them well when they venture into something new and exciting.
A few lines providing name, year graduated from SSCS and update should be sent to ngallagher@sscsfl.org
Please join us for Bingo Nights!
COVID 19 Decision Tree
Click below to review the COVID 19 Decision Tree
Safe Environment Training and Fingerprints
Everyone needs updated safe environment training and fingerprints in order to volunteer in the school or to chaperone a field trip. Safe environment and fingerprints are good for 5 years. Attached below are the instructions on how to get your safe environment certificate and to have your fingerprints done. If you have any questions please contact Karen Biase at kbiase@sscsfl.org or call the front office at ext. 1100. Click the link for information below regarding fingerprints. Click for the live link here. Click below for more information on safe environment and click here for the link.
Check out our
Mustang News morning show!
You can join our Mustang News team each morning at 7:50 as we stream live on YouTube to begin the day with prayers, the pledge of allegiance, and news. Subscribe to our channel here.
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Mission Statement
St. Stephen Catholic School is devoted to inspiring students to achieve their full academic potential while demonstrating a desire to continue Jesus' mission by applying Catholic morals, beliefs, values, and practices in their everyday lives. We are committed to motivating students to sustain a lifelong love of learning.