St. Stephen Catholic School
January 11, 2024
Important updates in this week's Tidbits
Spring Ice Cream Friday Sign Up
Bricks 4Kidz
PTCO General Board Meeting
Spirit Nights for January
Volunteer Opportunities
Angels Invitation/Volunteer Sign-Up/Babysitting Information/Other Angel News
Principal's Points
Hello St. Stephen Families!
Happy New Year! I am so happy to be back at school this week. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers as I went through my recovery.
Recently, our Angels Among Us committee invited 8th graders to enter an essay contest for a $1500 scholarship to a Catholic high school. The topic of the essay was to write about how God is leading them. Members of our School Advisory Board read the essays and chose the winners. Our first place winner is Meghan and the second place winner (for a $1000 scholarship) is Dominic. Honorable mention went to Hailey. Seven students applied and it was a difficult decision in choosing a winner as all were very well written. It was a joy to read how these students are feeling led by God in their lives. Congratulations to all and thank you to Angels Among Us for sponsoring this contest.
Even though the 2024 year has just begun, it is time to start thinking about the next school year. On Tuesday of next week, you will receive an email with all the information you need regarding tuition, fees, tuition assistance, etc. As you may know, re-enrollment is no longer necessary. Everyone is included in continuous enrollment and there will be instructions should you need to opt-out for next year. Please watch your email on Tuesday for this important information.
Peace,
Linda Umoh
Upcoming Events
January 13-14 - Holy Card Uniform Weekend
January 15 - No School
January 16 - Holy Card Free Dress
January 16-19 - Mustang Writes
January 22-26 - Winter i-Ready
January 25 - PTCO General Meeting
January 26 - Jean Day
January 26 - Middle School Social
January 28-February 2 - Catholic Schools Week
January 29-February 2 - Penny Wars
February 2 - Marvelous Mustang
February 2 - NOON Dismissal
February 5-9 - Smencil Sales
February 10 - Angels Among Us
February 10-11 - Holy Card Uniform Weekend
Last Call for Spring Ice Cream Fridays
I scream, you scream, Ice Cream Fridays!!! If you have not filled out the form that was sent by email then please use the link below if you wish for your student(s) to participate in Spring Ice Cream Fridays. Please sign up on the link no later than Friday, January 12, 2024 . There will be NO additions to the ice cream list after that date except for new students. The cost is $36 for the semester which will be billed through your FACTS account.
Note: For early dismissal Fridays or when there is no school, ice cream is given on Thursday.
Sign Up Link
We would like to celebrate and thank our first responders and front-line health care workers during Catholic Schools Week by providing them with snacks and candy to give them a little boost and pick-me up. We will be collecting snack items to create donation boxes to be delivered to local firehouses, police stations, nursing communities, etc. If you are able to help, please send in the following item from your child's grade level to their homeroom teacher beginning January 15th through the 26th.
"Thank you is the best prayer that anyone could say. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, and understanding.” -Alice Walker
Pre-K – Small, snack size boxes of raisins, trail mix, or peanuts
Kindergarten – Crystal Light, boxes of individual packets
1 st Grade – Protein bars
2 nd Grade – Small packs of crackers
3 rd Grade – Granola bars (no chocolate, please)
4 th Grade – Hard candy (Werthers, butterscotch, cinnamon, fruit flavors)
5 th Grade – Mints (may be the Lifesavers mints, red & white striped peppermints)
6 th Grade – Chewing gum
7 th Grade – Small individual chips/pretzel packs
8 th Grade – Small packs of cookies
"Thank you is the best prayer that anyone could say. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, and understanding.” -Alice Walker
Pre-K – Small, snack size boxes of raisins, trail mix, or peanuts
Kindergarten – Crystal Light, boxes of individual packets
1 st Grade – Protein bars
2 nd Grade – Small packs of crackers
3 rd Grade – Granola bars (no chocolate, please)
4 th Grade – Hard candy (Werthers, butterscotch, cinnamon, fruit flavors)
5 th Grade – Mints (may be the Lifesavers mints, red & white striped peppermints)
6 th Grade – Chewing gum
7 th Grade – Small individual chips/pretzel packs
8 th Grade – Small packs of cookies
We Need You!!!
Items Needed for PreK3
PreK3 needs large cleaned prescription bottles. If you have any please drop them off at the Office.
Mustang Sports
MUSTANG SPORTS:
The girls flag football and boys basketball teams have a few weeks of practice before games start the week of January 29. The girls flag football team has their first game Tuesday, January 30, against Christ the King here at St Stephen at 4:15 pm. The boys basketball teams open their season on Tuesday, January 30, with home games against Villa Madonna here in the FLC. The varsity plays at 4:00 pm and the JV at 5:00 pm.
The complete girls flag football and boys basketball game schedules are posted on the school webpage under the Athletics.
GO MUSTANGS
Coach Green
The complete girls flag football and boys basketball game schedules are posted on the school webpage under the Athletics.
GO MUSTANGS
Coach Green
Angels Among Us Invitation 2024
Need Babysitting for Angels?
Many parents have asked Angels to help with watching their children while they attend the Gala. We recently began offering the service with a nominal charge and it was very well received. We are happy to announce sitting will be available again this year. It will be available to all SSCS students while parents attend the Gala. The children will be watched in our school building.
The nominal charge of $25 for the first child and $10 for each additional child is to compensate the school employees who have agreed to attend to the children. The child can be brought to the school office between 5:15 pm and 5:45 pm on 2/11. The party begins at 5:30 pm. Please feel free to bring water, snacks, a pillow, blanket etc.
Notify ngallagher@sscsfl.org if you plan on using the service and send a check or cash to the front office in an envelope marked for sitting services.
Please come and enjoy the dinner, open bar, auction opportunities, music and dancing knowing your child is close by.
Seat Reservations and Sponsorships are NOW available on the school website.
Angels Among Us News
Coming February 10 to the FLC
Please watch for your invitation or check out all the info you need on the school website. Seat reservations, Sponsorships and Advertising Opportunities are available on the school website. Volunteer opportunities for the Gala weekend will soon be in Tidbits. If you need volunteer hours, you can donate wine(red or white) and you will receive one volunteer hour for wine valued at $40. Each bottle should have a value of no less than $15. There is no limit to how many bottles you can donate. Please drop off the bottles in the school office with your name clearly noted. We are also in need of donations of baskets for our auctions.
Please Click Here for the Angels 2024 Wish List for donated items. All donated items will be acknowledged at the Gala and used in auctions or as prizes to raise funds for our school projects. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact ngallagher@sscsfl.org or vylamli@hotmail.com."Welcome to the Jungle" will be full of surprises this year and you do not want to miss out on the fun!
Please Click Here for the attached answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the Gala.
Surprise Your Mustang with a Message Sign on "Own the Avenue"
Great for Birthdays, Congratulations, Job Well Done, Thank you, Proud of You
Easy to do.... use link below or call the school office with any questions
Own The Avenue is a year-round fundraiser for the PTCO and gives you a great way to give your child a shout out for the school community to see! Birthdays, achievements, any positive vibes and kudos are welcome, and they certainly make your student feel special!!
The sign is located on the corner of our school parking lot and will be viewed and celebrated for the entire week. A PTCO member will be responsible for putting up the sign and after the week is done, the sign will be sent home with your student for yours to keep or to reuse for a future week!
In a nutshell here’s how it works:
If you have an existing sign, the cost is $30 for the week. If we need to order a new sign, the cost is $50 for the week. Please make payments through the school’s front office. To sign up, please use the following link and more details will follow. Please note, new signs take up to 2 weeks to process and receive from our vendor. If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Nicole Rodriguez at nicrodriguez0722@gmail.com. Thank you in advance for your support!
IMPORTANT: Please note, this is a yearly fundraiser that is on a first come, first served basis (via SignUpGenius). For example, if you purchase a sign this year for a specific week 9-17-23 thru 9-23-23, that same week is not guaranteed to you for future years. It is required that you sign up each school year if you
wish to participate.
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 here 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 here regarding fingerprints. Click for the live link here. For the safe environment click here for the live link .
Check out our
Mustang News morning show!
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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.