St. Stephen Catholic School
September 18, 2025
Important updates in this week's Tidbits
Book Fair
Grandparents/Grandfriends Day Google Form
Spirit Night
Sacrament Preparations
Dance Quest
Kiddo Lunches
Volunteer Opportunities
Men's Club Golf Scramble
Angels Outreach
Principal's Points
Good Afternoon St. Stephen Families.
Thank you so very much to all the families who came to our PTCO meeting Tuesday night. Please know that you have been heard, and next week Fr. Josh, Lisa Lopez, and I will present your concerns to Fr. Dermot. I hope to have more answers for you in next week's Tidbits. I am very grateful to our parents who have provided resources and recommendations related to security. Thank you to Mr. Shannon for helping us secure walkie talkies for our teachers and key staff members and the other families who helped pay for them. Thank you to Colonel Bosley for helping me secure active shooter training for our teachers through the Hillsborough County Sheriff's office. Thank you to Mr. Gonzalez who also works in law enforcement for taking the time to walk our campus and make recommendations. A special thank you to Officer Hall who took the microphone Tuesday night and helped me to answer some of your questions related to the Sheriff's office. Not only do we have amazing students in our school, we have awesome parents!
Please be sure to read all the details regarding Grandparents/friends Day below. In our attempt to do our best with keeping children safe, we amended the Google Form to be required for any Grandparent/friend who is coming, even if they do not plan to take the child with them when they leave. Grandparents/friends who are not registered via the form, will not be allowed entry into the FLC until we can verify who they are through FACTS or a call to the parent. Please remember, this day is only for Grandparents/friends. We will live stream the students' presentations for parents to watch and parents will have many other opportunities throughout the week to take their child(ren) to the book fair. Friday is about celebrating Grandparents and one final trip to the book fair. If there is a special situation where a grandparent needs assistance, one parent may join them, but please be aware there will be a good deal of walking throughout the morning. We do not expect that every child will have someone here nor could we accommodate that many people in the classroom. Also, from a security perspective, the fewer people we need to manage, the better. Thank you for understanding and I look forward to seeing many of you during the week.
Please join me in praying for peace in our homes, our country, and our world. May we each find small ways to be instruments of God’s peace each day.
Peace,
Linda Umoh
Upcoming Events
September 19 - Marvelous Mustang(Aug/Sept) at 8am
September 22-26 - Book Fair
September 23 & 24 - Donuts w/Grownups @7am
September 25 - Book Fair Family Event @3pm
September 26 - Jean Day
September 26 - NOON Dismissal (12pm)
September 26 - Grandparents/Grandfriends Day 8am
October 6-16 - Boo Gram Sales
October 9 - Picture Retake/Cap and Gown
October 11-12 - Holy Card Uniform Weekend
October 13 - Holy Card Free Dress
October 17 - NO SCHOOL
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.” ✝️📖
On this Catechetical Sunday, we give thanks for all catechists who share the beauty of our Catholic faith with children, youth, and adults. 🙏🏼 Their witness helps us grow closer to Christ and live as His disciples.
May the Holy Spirit guide all who teach and hand on the faith! 💙
#CourageouslyLiving #DOSP #CalltoConversion #CatecheticalSunday
Please join us for
Grandparents & Grandfriends Day
Friday, September 26, 2025
Family Life Center
8:00 a.m.
Grandparents and Grandfriends are welcome to visit with our PK-8th grade students next Friday. We will begin our morning in the Family Life Center with a presentation by each of the classes. These presentations will be live streamed on Facebook and will also be recorded. A link will then be shared with our families to access the video. After the presentations, students will return to class where Grandparents/ friends can join the younger students for a snack and take all their students to the Book Fair. After visiting the book fair, students will continue with their regular school day or they may leave with their grandparent/friend if noted on the Google Form.
When entering the school buildings, all guests should be signed in and have a visitor’s badge. We will have sign-in stations available inside the FLC. All Grandparents/friends who are coming, even if they do not plan to take the child with them when they leave must be registered via the Google Form, or they will not be allowed entry into the FLC until we can verify who they are through FACTS or a call to the parent. Any grandparent/friend who arrives after the presentations in the FLC (approximately 9:00 am) will need to come to the school front office to sign in. While it is a half-day of school, students may be dismissed early. Grandparents and Grandfriends may sign out the student in the classroom, if the Google Form below has been completed stating the child may leave with them. If their name is not on the checkout list, they will need to go to the office without the student to sign out. Once the front office verifies the Grandparent or Grandfriend, then we will call the student down to the office.
Visits to the Book Fair will be as follows:
- Middle School Students without younger siblings.
- PreK-K students will go next. If they have older siblings, they should pick them up and go together.
- Grades 1-2 students will go next. If they have older siblings, they should pick them up and go together.
- Third through fifth grade students will go last. If they have older siblings, they can pick them up and go together.
While we understand that not all students will have grandparents/friends to attend, we ask that this day be for Grandparents/friends only. Parents will have the opportunity to attend the Book Fair with their children on either Tuesday or Wednesday morning donuts with grownups or on Thursday afternoon during the Family Event.
Grandparents/Grandfriends Day
Attendance and Sign Out Form
Please complete the form for Grandparents/Grandfriends who will be attending on September 26, 2025. If your child will be leaving with the Grandparent/friend, please list their full name. If you have multiple students please submit the form below for each student by September 23, 2025. Grandparents/friends who are not registered via the form, will not be allowed entry into the FLC until we can verify who they are through FACTS or a call to the parent.
Grandparents must report directly to the FLC (Family Life Center) and will be signed in beginning at 7:45. We will have multiple staff members available using the RSVP list to check in grandparents. Please make sure you have RSVP'd with the grandparent/grandfriend's name, as grandparents may be denied entry if their name is not on the list.
PK-3 needs cleaned, empty
16 oz Jif Peanut Butter jars.
Bibles
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Atrium is looking for bibles in different languages. If you have one and would like to donate it, please bring it to the office. Thank you!
Kiddos Lunches
Joke of the Week!
How do you mend a broken pumpkin?
See answer way below.
Office of Catholic Schools/Strategic Planning Process
The Office of Catholic Schools is beginning a strategic planning process to look toward the future of Catholic education in the Diocese of Saint Petersburg. We will be conducting listening sessions in each of the nine pastoral regions of the diocese throughout the month of September. These sessions are open to the public.
If you wish to attend, please use this link or the QR code to select your meeting date and location site (Deanery/School). All meetings are 7:00-9:00 pm. Registration closes 3 days in advance of each session date. For more information or questions, please contact the Office of Catholic Schools and Centers at 727-347-5539 or emailocsc@dosp.org.
Are You Creative?
Angels Among Us need a few parents with a creative side to help with projects for the gala. If you have the time and have experience with any type of design or sculpture, please reach out to ngallagher@sscsfl.org
Puppy Wanted
The Angels Gala Fundraiser is looking for a generous donation of a puppy to be featured at our event on February 15th. This adorable addition will be a highlight of our silent auction, helping us reach our 2026 fundraising goal. All breeds and sizes considered.
A puppy can be a strong draw for attendees at a fundraising event, creating excitement and potentially increasing donations. If your family currently has a dog that will be having pups in the next few months, please consider donating a puppy.
Contact info: Vylam at vylamli@hotmail.com
Mustang Sports
Girls Volleyball: The varsity and JV teams both lost their matches on Thursday, to Mother Teresa, two games to zero. They are back on the court today against local rival Nativity, here at St. Stephen, in the FLC. Varsity match at 4:00 pm, and JV at 5:00 pm. The Mustangs also play on Tuesday, against Corpus Christi, at Corpus Christi. Varsity match at 4:00 pm, and JV at 5:00 pm.
Coed Soccer: The game last Thursday vs St. Joseph was postponed, and rescheduled for Thursday, October 9, at St. Stephen at 4:15 pm. The Mustangs lost on Tuesday to Villa Madonna, 1-0. They are back on the field today with a home game against St. Lawrence, here at St. Stephen at 4:30 pm. The Mustangs also play at home on Monday against Corpus Christi here at St. Stephen at 4:15 pm, and Tuesday, on the road against local rival Nativity at Nativity at 4:00 pm.
Please see the Athletics webpage for the complete 2025 girls volleyball and coed soccer schedules.
GO MUSTANGS!
Coach Green
Homeroom Moms
Homeroom moms now have dedicated email addresses. Add them to your contact list and check your junk mailboxes to be sure you do not miss any important classroom information!
Emails for HomeRoom Moms
Answer to the Joke!
With a Pumpkin Patch.
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!
You can join our Mustang News team each morning at 7:50 as we stream live on YouTube to begin the day with prayers, the pledge of allegiance, and news. Subscribe to our channel here.
Like Us on Facebook and
Follow Us on Instagram
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.