St. Stephen Catholic School
January 23, 2025
Important updates in this week's Tidbits
Volunteer Opportunities
PTCO General Meeting
Spirit Night
Catholic Schools Week Agenda
Penny Wars
Altar Server Training
Youth Choir Sign-up
Angels 25th Gala Information & Volunteer Sign-Up
Afterschool Programs
Homeroom Mom Emails
Principal's Points
Good Afternoon St. Stephen Families!
Catholic Schools Week is almost here! Here are the things to remember:
- Encourage your children to wear their uniform, uniform polo, or a spirit shirt to Mass this weekend and show your school pride as we celebrate Catholic education.
- Gather all your pennies for the Penny War
- Support St. Vincent de Paul by sending in canned or dry food donations
- Check the schedule below so you know how to dress your child for Spirit Week
I hope to see many of you tonight. Mrs. Dieringer has some valuable information to share with parents regarding internet safety. I will also start the discussion by talking about screen time for your children. There is much to share for every age group. We will be raffling off a gift card to Risse Brothers and parents will get a free dress pass for Friday for all their children.
I also hope to see many of you at the Angels Among Us Gala as we celebrate our 25th Anniversary of the Gala. It promises to be amazing. Tables are filling up so be sure to order your tickets soon. Details are below.
Please be sure to read the rest of Tidbits to learn about upcoming volunteer opportunities.
Peace,
Linda Umoh
Upcoming Events
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
February 14 - Valentine Shirt and Jean Day
February 15 - Angels Among Us Gala
Joke of the week
What do you get if you cross a snowman and a shark?
See below for the answer.
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
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
School Year 25-26
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!
Volunteer Opportunity
February Mass count is coming up, a sign-up genius link is below. This is an opportunity to earn school volunteer hours.
Angels Class Craft
Thanks to Room Moms and their helpers for the "Over the Top" Class Crafts. First Grade Offers to the highest bidder a KINDNESS quilt
Angels Class Craft
Sixth Grade donated a Patriotic Corn Hole Game with lights for summer night games. Each student is a star. Great remembrance for our sixth graders.
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.
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:
Boys Basketball tryouts have been held and the varsity and JV teams have been selected. The teams have a couple of weeks of practice before games start on Wednesday, February 12.
Girls flag football tryouts were yesterday and today. The team will be selected and practices will start next week. The girls will have a couple weeks of practice before their first game on Monday, February 10.
Please see the school webpage under Athletics for the complete girls flag football and boys basketball game schedules.
GO MUSTANGS
Coach Green
Girls flag football tryouts were yesterday and today. The team will be selected and practices will start next week. The girls will have a couple weeks of practice before their first game on Monday, February 10.
Please see the school webpage under Athletics for the complete girls flag football and boys basketball game schedules.
GO MUSTANGS
Coach Green
Homeroom Mom Emails
ANSWER to the Joke of the Week:
Frostbite.
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.