St. Stephen Catholic School
January 18, 2024
Important updates in this week's Tidbits
Bricks 4Kidz
PTCO General Board Meeting
Yearbook Custom Pages and Recognition Ads Information
Spirit Nights for January
Volunteer Opportunities
Angels Invitation/Volunteer Sign-Up/Babysitting Information/Other Angel News
Principal's Points
Hello St. Stephen Families!
I hope everyone is having a great day and looking forward to some warmer weather next week. By now you will have received my email with all the information you need regarding enrollment and tuition for next year. You can also find this information in the links below Principal Points. Please be sure to join us on Jan. 25 at the PTCO General Meeting where I will discuss the changes and answer any questions you may have.
In addition to re-enrollment, some of you may be thinking about next year's calendar. While our calendar is not yet completed and approved, I can share with you the start date and holiday breaks. Please be sure to schedule your family vacations with these dates in mind.
First Day of School August 12
Thanksgiving Break November 25 - 29
Christmas Break December 23 - January 3
Easter Break April 21 - 25
As you know, new families are required to complete four of their twenty volunteer hours helping with our Angels Among Us Gala. There are still volunteer opportunities available but I would also like to offer another way to earn volunteer hours. This year's theme for Catholic Schools Week is United in Faith and Community. Angels Among Us is a great opportunity to meet school parents and community members as we unite to support our students. To encourage families to come out to this exciting event, each new parent in attendance will receive two volunteer hours. Because it's not only our new families we want to encourage to be united in our community, ALL parents in attendance at the event will receive two volunteer hours! If you were not able to donate to Supporting Excellence this year, the Angels Gala is another way you can help. For all families, the Angels Gala is a great opportunity to come together for a fun night united in community while supporting our students. I hope to see many of you there!
Peace,
Linda Umoh
Re-enrollment 2024-2025
(Click the links below)
Upcoming Events
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
February 12 - Holy Card Free Dress
Angels Among Us Invitation 2024
Angels Gala Volunteers Needed - Click the Link
Angels 2024 Volunteer Sign-up
Please Click Here for the attached answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the Gala.
We Need You!!!
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
SSCS Puravida Bracelets
Puravida bracelets will be sold at the PTCO general meeting on 1/25. They are in the school colors with a cross charm and are approved to wear as part of the school uniform.
The bracelets will be sold for $16 each, cash or credit card . All proceeds will help the PTCO continue to do amazing things for our students and teachers.
A Home for Holiday Gifts
If holiday giving left you with gifts that are “just not you”,Angels could find the perfect home for them. Please donate any unwanted gifts, or new and unused items for the Angels auction baskets. Angels can always find a place for donated coffee, pool items, coolers, sports memorabilia, wine glasses, decorative decor, tea pots, glasses, candles, coffee cups, and gift cards. The Angels team can find a place for almost any item donated. Angels is also in need of baskets and always accepts donations of wine for volunteer hours.
If you have any questions regarding items that could be good for our silent and live auctions, please feel to contact ngallagher@sscsfl.org.
Thanks to all our very generous parents for supporting Angels Among Us each year.
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.
Yearbook Custom pages and Recognition Ads available.
Please see below.
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 couple of 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 2024 girls flag football and boys basketball game schedules are posted on the school webpage under the Athletics.
GO MUSTANGS
Coach Green
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 .
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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.