St. Stephen Catholic School
March 7, 2024
Important updates in this week's Tidbits
Spring Pictures
March Madness Raffle
Rice Bowls
Lenten Fish Fry
Spirit Night
Yearbook Custom Pages and Recognition Ads Information
Volunteer Opportunities
Principal's Points
Hello St. Stephen Families!
Have you purchased your raffle ticket yet? Tomorrow is the first draw for $300. Don't miss this opportunity and be sure to tune into the morning show for the winner.
Do you want to be more involved in your child's school? Do you have great ideas for the PTCO events we sponsor? Do you want to help the school in its mission to achieve excellence in all we do? Then consider nominating yourself for a position on the PTCO board. Even if you do not want to be on the Board, consider signing up for a committee. We will have a sign-up sheet at the next General PTCO meeting April 25 for committee chairs and other opportunities to be a part of PTCO.
This is the time of year when we begin to think about next year and it is with a sad heart that I have news to share about some of our faculty and staff that will not be returning. Mrs. Santana will be starting a full-time position after Easter Break. One of our substitute teachers, Ms. Bonnema, will be filling in for the rest of the year. She is a music teacher and has subbed here a few times already and I know she will do a good job. Our middle school science teacher Mrs. DiMaio will also not be back next year. Both these teachers will be greatly missed and we wish them well in the future. Two other people we will miss are Mrs. Paula Mendez who has been an instructional assistant at St. Stephen for many years and Mrs. Dorothy Garcia who has been a great addition to our ESE department. We wish them well too as they move to the next chapter of their careers.
Now for some good news! The St. Stephen Boys Varsity and JV Basketball teams were the 2024 recipients of the Hillsborough Catholic Youth Sports League Sportsmanship Award and Trophy. This says so much about the character of our students and I am very proud of them.
For more good news, here are some updates about some of our alumni. Ben T. recently achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and will be graduating from Jesuit High School. He is the alumnus responsible for many of the yellow bollards you see on the property and plans to attend Florida Southern College in the Fall. Dante S. plays soccer at Jesuit and recently scored a goal in the state semifinals. Tabitha V. plays basketball for Bloomingdale and is playing in the state semifinals tonight. Finally, JJ Niekro (who I had the pleasure of teaching in middle school) plays for a minor league in Georgia and he just had his first major league appearance when he pitched for the Atlanta Braves last week at spring training. Way to go Mustangs! (once a Mustang, always a Mustang!)
On a final note, the school calendar for next year is available on our website and in the FACTS Family Portal. We have posted the major breaks for next year for several weeks, however, there has been a change from the Diocese just this week because Easter is so late next year. Instead of a long Easter Break, we will have a Lenten Pause in March and a shorter Easter Break in April.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Peace,
Linda Umoh
Re-enrollment 2024-2025
(Click the links below)
Upcoming Events
March 1-21 - Spirit Raffle
March 3 - Third Sunday of Lent
March 10 - Fourth Sunday of Lent
March 9-10 - Holy Card Uniform Weekend
March 11 - NO SCHOOL
March 12 - Holy Card Free Dress
March 13-15 - Nature's Classroom
March 15 - Green Shirt and Jean Day
March 17 - Fifth Sunday of Lent
March 19 - Spring Picture Day
March 22 - Living Stations at the Church
March 24 - Palm Sunday
March 28 - Holy Thursday
March 28 - Living Stations
March 28 - NOON Dismissal
March 28 - NO AFTERNOON EXTENDED DAY CARE
March 29 - Good Friday
March 29-April 5 - NO SCHOOL/EASTER BREAK
2024-25 School Calendar Dates
First Day of School August 12
Thanksgiving Break November 25 - 29
Christmas Break December 23 - January 3
Lent Pause March 17-21
Easter Break April 18 - 22
Spring Pictures
March Madness Volunteers Needed
SSCS PTCO is looking for parent volunteers for the March Madness events! Click the link below to sign up for events such as the Pep Rally, Fish Fry, Slam Dunk Competition, and the Dad vs Student Basketball Game! Enjoy the fun and earn volunteer hours at the same time!
Items Needed for PreK3
PreK3 needs large cleaned prescription bottles. If you have any please drop them off at the Office.
PTCO NOMINATIONS
It is time once again to be thinking about running for a position on the PTCO Executive Board for the 2024-25 School Year. Please consider what you or someone you know can contribute to the St. Stephen PTCO and nominate yourself or someone else (with their permission) for one of the open positions.
The positions are:
President Social/Hospitality Coordinator
Vice President Fundraising Coordinator
Secretary School Life Coordinator
Treasurer
In order to run for President, you must be a current PTCO Board member. For more information about PTCO, please check the By-Laws on the school website https://www.sscsfl.org/ptco
Click the link below to submit your nominations.
PTCO EXECUTIVE BOARD NOMINATIONS FORM
Rice Bowls
Your child recently brought home a CRS Rice Bowl to practice almsgiving during Lent. These rice bowls raise funds for families in poor and underdeveloped countries. The students have been learning in their classrooms about the countries CRS has chosen to receive the funds this year. The rice bowls are due March 22. May this Lenten season be a time of growth in our faith as we practice more praying, fasting, and almsgiving.
Yearbook Custom pages and Recognition Ads available.
Please see below.
Mustang Sports
MUSTANG SPORTS:
Girls Flag Football: The girls flag football team lost in the semifinals, to the eventual champion, Mother Teresa, 19-13. The Mustang touchdowns were scored on receptions from QB Morgan R. to receiver Anelisse S. and from QB Anelisse S. to receiver Morgan C. The girls should be very proud of their season despite the tough loss. Thank you to parent volunteer Pat McRae and Coach Anthony for your hard work and commitment coaching the team this season.
The St. Stephen Boys Varsity and JV Basketball teams were the 2024 recipients of the Hillsborough Catholic Youth Sports League Sportsmanship Award and Trophy. The award has been given out since 1958, originally by the Knights of Columbus, and now by the officials of the Catholic league. Congratulations Mustangs! (see pic)
Boys flag football tryouts were this week. Practice starts next week with the games starting April 9.
Girls track season starts Tuesday, March 12, from 3:00-4:30 pm. Girls in 5th-8th grade interested in participating should sign up with Coach Green by tomorrow. Girls can sign up at lunch or PE/Health class. Parent volunteer, Jenn Daoud, will be coaching the team again this season. She has coached the girls team for the past few years. Practices each week will be Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 3:00-4:30 pm. Practice next week will be Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 3:00-4:30 pm.
The meet dates are as follows:
Thursday, April 11-Field Event Meet 1 at Christ the King at 4:30 pm
Thursday, April 18-Field Event Meet 2 at To Be Determined at 4:30 pm
Saturday, April 20-Running & Relay Meet 1 at Tampa Catholic at 8:00am
Saturday, April 27-Running & Relay Meet 2 at Tampa Catholic at 8:00am
Field Day 2024 is Thursday, April 18. K-4 will participate in the morning from 9:30-11:00 am and 5-8 will attend in the afternoon from 1:00-2:30 pm. There will be fun activity stations and an obstacle course bounce house 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 needs 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 classes for the 5th-8th group in the afternoon. Please contact Coach Green if you are interested in volunteering at Field Day 2024. Thank you.
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
Information about OWN THE AVENUE CLICK HERE
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.
Please Note: February Bingo has been cancelled due to church activities. March Bingo has been changed to March 12, 2024.
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.