St. Stephen Catholic School
April 17, 2025
Important updates in this week's Tidbits
Volunteer Opportunities
Spirit Nights
Cereal Drive
Scholarship Renewal Begins February 1st
Spring Concert May 9
Summer Reading Program
Summer Sport Camps
Summer Camps
Principal's Points
Good Afternoon St. Stephen Families!
Blessings to everyone on this Holy Thursday. Our students are participating in a retreat today which will end with the Living Stations presented by the 7th grade. This is a wonderful start to the Triduum for all.
Congratulations to the new PTCO Executive Board. The new board was announced on Thursday at our General Meeting and they are:
President - Mandy Mills
Vice President - Vanessa Hernandez
Secretary - Joanna McLaughlin
Treasurer - Kait Tokarczyk
Fundraising Coordinator - Nikki Boyle
Social/Hospitality Coordinator - Dr. Judy Jean
School Life Coordinator - Lynn Marino
We also announced our theme for the next school year, Disciples of Christ. We are completing the cycle of Lead Me, Lord to Be Kind and be a Disciple of Christ. Thank you to Mrs. Dieringer and Mrs. McDermott for helping to create the design which you can see below.
Please continue to read all of Tidbits. There is still much happening this year and may more volunteer opportunities. Don't miss our Spirit Night Monday, April 21, at Dave and Busters.
I wish you all a very Happy Easter, and may the risen Lord bless you abundantly.
Peace,
Linda Umoh
2025-26 SCHOOL YEAR DATES
First Day of School August 11 Spring Break March 16-20
Thanksgiving Break Nov. 24-28 Easter April 3-6
Christmas Break Dec. 22 - Jan. 2 Last Day of School May 28
Upcoming Events
April 17 - Holy Thursday
April 17 - Living Stations 10:30am
April 17 - Living Stations 10:30am
April 17 - Noon Dismissal
April 17 - NO EXTENDED DAY
April 18 - Good Friday
April 18-22 - Easter Break/NO SCHOOL
April 25 - Jean Day
April 25 - Student Council Primary Election
May 1 - Art Show
May 2 - Student Council Election
May 2 - Middle School Social 6:30pm
May 5-9 - Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week
May 5-6 - Spring IXL Testing(MATH)
May 7 - May Crowning
May 9 - Marvelous Mustang (Apr/May)
May 9 - Spring Concert 6:30pm
Joke of the Week!
Why are trees very forgiving in the Spring?
See answer below in Tidbits.
PLEASE JOIN The Middle School St Francis House Students in Welcoming Mercy Full Project on May 1 after school in the breezeway. The Mercy Full Project organization finds foster homes and families wanting to adopt dogs and cats that need a place to call HOME.
Treats for your furry friends at home are being made by the SSCS Cooking Class to
raise donations for the animals at Mercy Full Project. The treats will be sold on May 1 for $3 a bag, cash only. All proceeds from sales will go to help the efforts of Mercy Full Project.
Treats for your furry friends at home are being made by the SSCS Cooking Class to
raise donations for the animals at Mercy Full Project. The treats will be sold on May 1 for $3 a bag, cash only. All proceeds from sales will go to help the efforts of Mercy Full Project.
Representatives will be available to tell you about their organization and the many pets that need a good home. Stop by and say hello. Help Mercy Full Project by considering fostering or adopting or buying treats for your family pet. Mercy Full Project needs donations of pet food, toys, leashes etc. Donations can be dropped off at the school office at any time on or before 5/1.
Thanks to the St Francis House Students, Mrs. MacLaren and Angels Outreach for
working together to offer school families the opportunity to show kindness to God’s
creations.
Middle School Service Project
Middle school students supported by Angels Outreach and Ms McLaren assembled Easter treat bags for the children at the Missions in Dover. Father Dermot has offered to stand in for the Easter Bunny and deliver the bags to the children.
When Catholics follow the Church's teachings on social justice, their faith matures, needs are met, and God is honored. Our Spring Concert this year will present music that our music teacher, Jeff Daignault, and our classes wrote or developed to express this idea, and we hope that all the families and friends of St. Stephen will come to enjoy and be inspired by the work our children have done to be ready for this evening.
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
School Year 25-26
Step Up for Students applications for renewal and new students will be available on Saturday, February 1. EVERYONE MUST REAPPLY!
Here is some helpful information to be aware of, including a new step that families will need to complete this year:
- Application checklist: For a list of documents that may be needed when a family applies, please click here.
- Priority deadline: To ensure renewing students receive priority for the Private School Scholarship and the Unique Abilities Scholarship, families must submit their application by Wednesday, April 30. After this date, all students will be processed as "new students" due to legislative changes for this year.
- New step for families: Once a student is found eligible, the family will be asked to "Accept" or "Decline" the scholarship. Once accepted, the student's status will be updated to "Awarded." Please monitor your email for future updates about enrollment.
- Once you receive your AWARD ID Number, please send the number(s) to Gail Leung at gleung@sscsfl.org.
Make sure to keep an eye on your email and Step Ups social media for updates. If you haven't followed Step Up, please do so now so you can have the latest news.
BrainTracks Presentation and Wednesday Presentations
In case you missed last weeks Wednesday BrainTracks Presentation, you can access it here, Presentation. Then use this Passcode W%6JfVQf when opening it up.
Or you can join Wednesdays Presentation, below describes the presentation and the link for the Wednesday Presentations.
Contact our office at: 813-935-0232
RSVP to: mpetrofsky@morningstartampa.org
Mustang Sports
MUSTANG SPORTS:
Boys Flag Football: The Mustangs lost to Christ the King, 41-0. They are back on the field next Thursday, against local rival Nativity, at Nativity at 4:00 pm.
Girls Track: The girls track teams had their first meet over the last week with the running and relay events on Saturday at Tampa Catholic, and the field events on Tuesday at Christ the King. All of the Mustangs did a great job. The varsity finished 4th and the JV 10th. Here are the Mustangs that finished in the top 8 of their event and earned points for the team.
Varsity
Alannah M.-1st 400 (1:09), 2nd 100 (13.18), 3rd Long Jump (11'10"), T-7th High Jump (3'10")
Francine A.-4th High Jump (4'2"), 5th Long Jump (11'7")
Bella L.-2nd 800 (2:52), 3rd 400 (1:10)
Apple M.-5th Mile (7:51)
Ronette L.-7th 100 (14.62)
Maddie T.-T-7th High Jump (3'10")
4x100 Relay (1)-2nd (1:00), 4x100 Relay (2)-8th (1:03)
4x200 Relay-6th (2:13)
4x400 Relay (1)-3rd (5:38), 4x400 Relay (2)-5th (5:49)
Please see the info and registration links in Tidbits for the St Stephen Summer Sports Camps. St Stephen will be hosting basketball, volleyball, and two weeks of soccer camp.
GO MUSTANGS!
Coach Green
Francine A.-4th High Jump (4'2"), 5th Long Jump (11'7")
Bella L.-2nd 800 (2:52), 3rd 400 (1:10)
Apple M.-5th Mile (7:51)
Ronette L.-7th 100 (14.62)
Maddie T.-T-7th High Jump (3'10")
4x100 Relay (1)-2nd (1:00), 4x100 Relay (2)-8th (1:03)
4x200 Relay-6th (2:13)
4x400 Relay (1)-3rd (5:38), 4x400 Relay (2)-5th (5:49)
Please see the info and registration links in Tidbits for the St Stephen Summer Sports Camps. St Stephen will be hosting basketball, volleyball, and two weeks of soccer camp.
GO MUSTANGS!
Coach Green
PK3 Needs
PK3 Needs large clean prescription bottles again. Please bring them to the office.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL 14084
Knights of Columbus Council 14084 invite all men of St. Stephen parish to Cor meetings. The name “Cor” is inspired by Saint John Henry Newman’s words, “Consume my heart (“cor”) with that burning fire with which Your Heart is ever inflamed.”
COR offers an opportunity for parish men to increase their heart to heart relationship with Jesus Christ through a brotherhood committed to prayer, formation, fraternity and the mission of evangelization for their families and communities. All meetings include prayer and open discussion while exploring and embracing the rich teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church.
Meetings are held every third Wednesday of the month from 7:15 to 8:30 PM in the Saint Stephens Room inside the Church.
Young Adult Ministry at SSCC
St. Stephen Parish Community welcomes young adults ages, 18-35 to participate in community, worship, and fellowship. This ministry invites young adults in the area to come together to pray, make connections, and grow in their faith with one another.
For more information about all Young Adult Ministry has to offer, please contact the Faith Formation Office at 813-671-4434 or Stephanie Gallegos at the Parish Office, 813-689-4900.
We offer a Young Adults Bible Study on Monday evenings beginning at 7:15 PM at the Faith Formation Office. To Register please contact Rene Bonetti at the Faith Formation Office at rene@ststephencatholic.org.
We are always looking for Adult Core Team members to minister to the youth of our parish! Do you feel called to help bring teens closer to Christ? Join Core Team!
Summer Reading Skills Program
The University of South Florida Office of Corporate Training and Professional Education will be offering a series of summer reading skills programs taught by instructors from the Institute of Reading Development. The programs start for 4-year-olds entering Kindergarten and go up to students entering the 12th grade and College. Families can choose between classes offered in Brandon at St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church or on campus at the University of South Florida in Tampa.
Students entering Middle School, this program will expand vocabulary and learn note-taking, test-taking strategies, leading to better exam scores and higher grades.
For more information,call 1-800-499-8557 or visit https://readingprograms.org/usf. Click HERE for the Flyer or the flyer can also be found outside the school office.
Answer to the Joke!
Because they "turn over a new leaf."
Homeroom Mom Emails
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.