St. Stephen Catholic School
January 9, 2025
Important updates in this week's Tidbits
Volunteer Opportunities
Spirit Night
PTCO General Meeting
Penny Wars
Father-Daughter Dance
Angels 25th Gala Volunteer Sign-Up
Afterschool Programs
Homeroom Mom Emails
Principal's Points
Good Afternoon St. Stephen Families!
Happy New Year and welcome back! I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays. Here are some reminders as we enter the new year:
- It is important to be watching Tidbits and your email this month for notifications regarding enrollment and tuition for the next school year.
- Catholic Schools Week will be celebrated at the end of the month along with the Spelling Bee, Spirit Week and the Penny Wars.
- The second round of i-Ready and IXL diagnostic testing begins next week.
- Refer to the handbook for what is allowed on cold days.
This is also the month that Mass attendance is checked to determine your tuition rate for next year. Much is happening and I can't stress enough how important it is to read Tidbits. Thank you and stay warm!
Peace,
Linda Umoh
Upcoming Events
January 11-12 - Holy Card Uniform Weekend
January 13 - Holy Card Free Dress
January 13-14 - IXL Math Testing
January 20 - NO SCHOOL
January 21-22 - i-Ready Testing
(Reading)
January 23 - PTCO General Meeting 6pm
January 26-31 - Catholic Schools Week
January 27-31 - Penny Wars
January 27-February 3 - SVDP Food Drive
January 31 - Jean Day
January 31 - Marvelous Mustang 8am
January 31 - Noon Dismissal
February 3-7 - Smencil Sales
February 6 - 7th Grade Science Fair
February 7 - 6th Grade Science Fair
February 8-9 - Holy Card Uniform Weekend
February 10 - Holy Card Free Dress
Sacristan Participation
We invite more of our school families to participate as Sacristans in the weekend masses. Sacristans prepare the sanctuary for the celebration of the Mass. This includes preparing the wine, water, and bread, cleaning the sacred vessels and linens used during Mass, and ensuring everything is set back in its place in the sacristy before leaving the church. When participating as a family, younger children are allowed to assist. If your family is interested in participating, please contact Mary Gurley at mgurley@sscsfl.org to schedule your training.
Joke of the week
What's the luckiest band on New Year's Day?
See below for the answer.
Penny Wars
Save your nickels and dimes, pennies and paper, the annual NJHS penny war is back during Catholic Schools Week (January 27-31). Students will compete by class to bring in pennies and dollars to add to their class score and silver to subtract from the score of other classes. The class with the highest score at the end of the week will receive a reward and a year's worth of bragging rights. Bring your game face, your spare change, and may the best class win!
Amazing Class Crafts
Thanks to Room Moms, parents, teachers and students, the class crafts for Angels 2025 are amazing. Bidding for the crafts occurs at the gala on 2/15.
The 5th grade craft is a heart shaped puzzle that has a photo of every student in the class. The colors are striking and the happy smiling faces of the students tells its own story. Each week a class craft will be featured in the newsletter so all families can enjoy the uniqueness of the craft donated.
Plan on coming to the gala for the fun, the food, the music and especially to support your school by bidding on over 50 baskets and the amazing class crafts. Seat reservations available on the school website or through the school office. All donations of wine, gift cards. sports memorabilia, new books, new toys,art work, candles, ceramics etc. are appreciated. Wine donations will receive volunteer hours.
Angels is also in need of new or used baskets. Please contact ngallagher@sscsfl.org with any questions.
Angels Seat Reservations Available Now
For Seat Reservations for the 2/15 gala, please go to the school website or use link below
Link for Reservations
Angels 25th Gala
Need Babysitting for Angels?
Many parents have asked Angels to help with watching their children while they attend the Gala on 2/15. 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. Registration and the fun 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.
Please come and enjoy the dinner, open bar, auction opportunities, music and dancing knowing your child is close by.
Mustang Sports
MUSTANG SPORTS:
Girls Varsity Basketball: The girls varsity basketball team played well, but lost to Villa Madonna, 14-10. The Mustangs were led in scoring by Christina F. with 6 points. The girls are back on the court today against St. Joseph here at St. Stephen in the FLC at 4:15 pm, and on Friday against Foundation Christian at St. Stephen at 4:00 pm. The varsity playoffs start Tuesday with the quarterfinals and the opponent and game site are still to be determined.
Boys Basketball:
Boys Basketball tryout dates are as follows;
Boys JV Basketball-Thursday, January 16 from 3:00-5:30 pm
Boys Varsity Basketball -Wednesday, January 23 from 3:00-5:30 pm.
The boys basketball season runs through mid-March and is a 3-4 day commitment after school.
Boys Basketball tryout dates are as follows;
Boys JV Basketball-Thursday, January 16 from 3:00-5:30 pm
Boys Varsity Basketball -Wednesday, January 23 from 3:00-5:30 pm.
The boys basketball season runs through mid-March and is a 3-4 day commitment after school.
Girls Varsity Flag Football:
Girls varsity flag football tryouts are Tuesday, January 21, and January 22, from 3:00-5:00 pm both days.
Girls in 6th-8th are eligible to try out. The season runs through mid-March and is a 3-4 day commitment after school.
We are blessed to have parent volunteer, Pat McRae, coaching the team again this season. He has coached the girls the last 6 years and does a great job.
GO MUSTANGS
Coach Green
Girls in 6th-8th are eligible to try out. The season runs through mid-March and is a 3-4 day commitment after school.
We are blessed to have parent volunteer, Pat McRae, coaching the team again this season. He has coached the girls the last 6 years and does a great job.
GO MUSTANGS
Coach Green
Homeroom Mom Emails
ANSWER to the Joke of the Week:
Black-Eyed Peas.
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.