St. Stephen Catholic School
January 16, 2025
Important updates in this week's Tidbits
Spirit Night
Volunteer Opportunities
PTCO General Meeting
Catholic Schools Week Agenda
Penny Wars
Angels 25th Gala Volunteer Sign-Up
Father-Daughter Dance
Afterschool Programs
Homeroom Mom Emails
Principal's Points
Good Afternoon St. Stephen Families!
It is that time of year again when we start planning for the following school year. Below you will find everything you need to know about Continuous Enrollment, tuition rates, and scholarships. This information was also emailed to everyone yesterday. Please be sure to read my letter carefully as there is a good deal of important information. Most important to remember is everyone will be re-enrolled for next year on Feb. 3 unless you tell us you plan to withdraw your child. Feb. 3 is also the day you will be charged the registration fee for the new school year. Take the time to read through everything and reach out if you have any questions.
Next Thursday, we will have our PTCO General Meeting. Mrs. Dieringer will be presenting valuable resources for parents to aid in keeping students safe on the internet. She will also talk about tools parents can use to monitor their children's activity. If you have any questions or concerns you would like me to address at the meeting, please complete this Google Form by Tuesday, Jan. 21.
Mark you calendars for Feb. 1. Step Up for Students applications for renewal and new students will be available on Saturday, February 1. To ensure renewing students receive priority, families must submit their application by Wed., April 30. After this date, all students will be processed as "new students" due to legislative changes for this year. EVERYONE MUST REAPPLY!
It is also time for Catholic Schools Week which begins on January 26. Please bring your child to Mass that weekend to show your Catholic School pride as we kick off an exciting week. The schedule of activities can be found below.
As stated last week, 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 have a wonderful long weekend.
Peace,
Linda Umoh
Upcoming Events
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
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK 2025
January 25 - 31
Catholic Schools Week began in 1974 and continues to be a week each year devoted to celebrating the gift of Catholic education for our children. This year's theme, “Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community,” highlights our focus on faith development and dedication to community service. At St. Stephen, teachers and administrators work side by side with students to make a difference and develop qualities that lead to success. We have planned various events to show how we celebrate this special week. Teachers will provide more information about Spirit Week dress.
Saturday/Sunday, January 25-26 - Celebrate your Parish
- Please enjoy the PowerPoint presentation showcasing our school
- Thank our priests for all they do.
Monday, January 27 - Celebrate our Community/Families
- Students will show appreciation to their families for sending them to a Catholic School
- Matching Monday - Students will choose a theme to dress up as a class.
Tuesday, January 28- Celebrate our Faculty and Staff
- PTCO recognition of faculty and staff with lunch provided.
- 8th graders will teach a class during the last period of the day.
- Tacky Tuesday - Students wear clothes and accessories like hats, backwards shirts, different color socks, etc. No dyed hair or face painting will be permitted.
Wednesday, January 29 - Celebrate our Nation
- Students will dress in our nation’s colors with shirts that are either all red, all white, or all blue with jeans or PE shorts.
Thursday, January 30 - Celebrate Vocations
- Speakers to talk about their career or religious vocation
- Students will dress as their heroes.
Friday, January 31 - Celebrate our Students
- Dodgeball game and Buddy Day.
- Students wear Spirit shirts and jeans or PE shorts.
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!
Help Our Kids Help Others
The St. Vincent de Paul Ministry needs our help to care for those in need in our community. Angels Outreach will be collecting canned food donations from each class January 27 through February 3. Please allow your student(s) to select one or two cans of food to donate.
“ Go to the poor: you will find God”
St. Vincent de Paul
Joke of the week
Who helped Cinderella with her New Year’s Resolutions?
See below for the answer.
Class Crafts and Baskets - Angels Gala 2025
Sweet Fish Artistically Colored by Our Amazing PK3 Students.
Kindergarten class craft was a creative fabric display of their hands. The patch quilt will be accompanied by a photo of the students.
The eighth grade class craft is a memorabilia plate displaying an unusual artist's rendition of each student.
Both crafts are unique and beautifully executed. Heartful thanks to the Room Moms, the parents, the teachers and the students for these very special donations.
Join us on 2/15 and have an opportunity to bid on the crafts as well as over 50 baskets in our silent auction. Seat Reservations are available on the school website.
Join us on 2/15 and have an opportunity to bid on the crafts as well as over 50 baskets in our silent auction. Seat Reservations are available on the school website.
Church Ministries Supporting Angels 2025
Angels Among Us appreciates SSCC ministries for their generous donations. The donation will be available for bidding in the silent auctions at the gala.
Angels Seat Reservations Available Now - Gala Information
Thank you to parents who have purchased seat reservations for the Gala. Your support of Angels is most appreciated. There is still time to go to the school website and reserve seats or select a sponsorship. We are excited that our 25th gala will be a sensational party full of surprises.
This year, we are pleased our dinner will include fish paella. Once your seats have been reserved, please notify ngallagher@sscsfl.org if you or your guests are not able to eat fish, and our caterer will gladly serve you or your guest(s) Pasta Primavera. Feel free to call the school office with any questions regarding the gala, donations, sponsorships or child care. Angels is still trying to get airline tickets donated to complete a LIVE auction package. If anyone has points and can help us out, please contact ngallagher@sscsf.org
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 had two games last week to finish the regular season. They beat St. Joseph, 26-13, and were led in scoring by Lillian Mc. and Christina F. with 8 points each. The girls lost to Foundation Christian, 22-10, and Christina F. had 6 points to lead the team. The Mustangs finished with a record of 4 wins and 4 losses, and the 4th seed for the playoffs. The varsity playoffs were this week. They beat Mother Teresa, 18-13, in the quarterfinals, and were led in scoring by Sofia S. with 6 points. The girls lost in the semifinals to 1st seed Christ the King, 32-9. They were led in scoring by Christina F. with 4 points. Good season Mustangs.
Boys Basketball: Boys JV Basketball tryouts are today, from 3:00-5:30 pm in the FLC. Boys Varsity Basketball Tryouts are next Wednesday, January 22, from 3:00-5:30 pm in the FLC. Boys interested in trying out should sign up with Coach Green by Tuesday.
Girls Varsity Flag Football: Girls Varsity Flag Football Tryouts are next Tuesday, January 21, and Wednesday, January 22, from 3:00-5:00 pm. Girls interested in trying out should sign up with Coach Green by tomorrow. Girls trying out should plan to attend both days of tryouts.
GO MUSTANGS
Coach Green
Homeroom Mom Emails
ANSWER to the Joke of the Week:
Her Janufairy Godmother.
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.