St. Stephen Catholic School
October 2, 2025
Important updates in this week's Tidbits
Spirit Night
Retake Pictures/Cap and Gown
Dance Quest
Kiddo Lunches
Volunteer Opportunities
Men's Club Golf Scramble
Angels Outreach
Principal's Points
Good Afternoon St. Stephen Families.
Do you suffer from FOMO? For the longest time I had no idea what it meant or why people were suffering from it. FOMO is the Fear of Missing Out or the anxiety that others are having more fun, exciting, or rewarding experiences than you are. A few weeks ago, I discovered what it felt like and decided to jump in and do what 14 other schools in our Diocese will be doing this year. I am very excited about it and I know the students are going to have a great time. Rather than our usual Walkathon, we are joining with APEX Leadership Co. to provide an experience where students will be engaged in leadership development through classroom lessons while raising funds for the school. There will be challenges, incentives, obstacle courses, and more. When students meet challenges, they get to do some fun things with (and to) teachers and staff that may include buckets of ice, dunk tanks, and something that I may need to wear a plastic tarp for. Watch tidbits in the coming weeks for more information and the fun begins on Monday, Oct. 27.
Please continue to pray 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
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
October 24 - Trunk or Treat @ 6:30pm
October 31 - Marvelous Mustang @8am
October 31 - Halloween Fall Shirt and Jean Day
November 3-10 - SVDP Food Drive
November 4 - End of Trimester I
Guardian Angels
On this day, we give thanks for our Guardian Angels, who watch over us and lead us closer to Christ. May we trust in God’s loving protection always. 🙏🏼
#CourageouslyLiving #DOSP #CalltoConversion #GuardianAngels
Volunteer Opportunity
Please support the semi-annual Parish Attendance Audit in October by helping with Mass counts. A sign-up genius link is below. This is an opportunity to earn school volunteer hours.
Knights of Columbus - Saint Stephen Council 14084
Retake Day is coming soon!
If you decide you would like a retake for your child, please CLICK HERE or go to www.VernonPhoto.com/retakes to access the Student Retake Pass. **If you didn't purchase the original photo and would like a retake, please DO NOT purchase the original photo just to return it.
If you have any questions about your order, please contact Vernon Photography directly through Support@VernonPhoto.com.
In order to have a picture taken your child MUST have a STUDENT RETAKE PASS.
Please CLICK HERE or go to www.VernonPhoto.com/Retakes to obtain your pass.
Retake Day is scheduled on Thursday, October 9, 2025.
Retake Day is for:
- Students that did not have their photo taken on the original picture day (absent or new)
- If you purchased a package but you are not happy with something that we should have caught (example: bad expression, food on face, clothing mishap).
- Please have your child bring their complete package & their retake pass to give to the photographer. We will not reprint new packages without receiving the original package.
RETAKE POLICY:
Packages are replaced at NO CHARGE IF:
- The student has a bad expression
- Something is wrong with the photo that we should have caught and fixed
Pictures are retaken with a "retake fee" IF:
- If you purchased a package and something will be different about the new package that was not under our control (example: change of clothing, haircut, glasses on or off, braces off)
- If you did not purchase a package, don't want to purchase a package but want a different photo in the yearbook.
IMPORTANT: Approximately 1-2 weeks following retakes, parents will receive an email link and a paper proof of the retake photo. Orders can be placed from the online gallery.
If you paid the $4 fee and decide to purchase the retake photo, please Contact Vernon Photography at Support@VernonPhoto.com and we will send you a $4 coupon to apply to your order. Do not purchase the original photo just to return it.
(Please send your child with their retake pass and have them give it to the photographer. New packages will not be printed without them)
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!
Why did the skeleton climb up the tree?
See answer way below.
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
Mustang Sports
Girls Volleyball: The varsity volleyball team has played well, but has lost their past two matches. They lost to Christ the King, and St. Lawrence two games to one. The JV has also been playing well. They lost to Christ the King two games to one, but beat both St. Lawrence, and St Thomas Aquinas, two games to zero. The Mustangs are back on the court today for their last home matches of the season against St. Joseph, here at St. Stephen in the FLC. The varsity match is at 4:00 pm, and the JV at 5:00 pm. The JV tournament is this Saturday at Christ the King, from 9:00-12:00 pm. The Mustangs play local rival Nativity at 9:00 am in the quarterfinals. If they win, they will play 1st seed Villa Madonna in the semifinals at 10:00 am. The championship game is at 11:00 am. The varsity playoffs start next Tuesday. The Mustangs quarterfinal opponent, and game site are still to be determined.
Coed Soccer: The soccer team has lost their past two games. They lost to local rival Nativity, 2-0, and Mother Teresa, 6-0. The Mustangs are back on the field today against Christ the King at Christ the King at 4:15 pm. Next week is the last week of the regular season, and the Mustangs have two games left. They play on Tuesday against Incarnation at Incarnation at 4:15 pm, and host St. Joseph here at St. Stephen on Thursday at 4:15 pm.
Girls JV and varsity basketball and boys JV and varsity track are the next school sports.
Sign ups for girls JV basketball tryouts are next week. Girls in 5th and 6th grade interested in trying out for girls JV basketball should sign up with Coach Green at PE or lunch. The girls basketball season runs from mid October until mid December and is a 4-5 week commitment after school. Practices are until 5:00 pm or 5:30 pm, and the JV games start after the varsity at 5:15 pm.
Girls JV basketball tryouts are Thursday, October 16, from 3:00-5:30 pm
Girls varsity basketball tryouts will be the week of October 20-25.
Boys track runs from mid October until December 13. Boys in 5th-8th grade can participate, and any boys interested should sign up with Coach Green at PE or lunch starting next week. Practice will start the week of October 20-25. Practices are usually Tuesday-Thursday from 3:00-4:30 pm. Parent volunteer, Jenn Daoud, is coaching the team again this season. Coach Daoud does a great job with the track program, and has led the JV team to the league season championship the past two years.
Here are the boys track meet dates for the 2025 season.
Running & Relay Meet Dates
Boys track runs from mid October until December 13. Boys in 5th-8th grade can participate, and any boys interested should sign up with Coach Green at PE or lunch starting next week. Practice will start the week of October 20-25. Practices are usually Tuesday-Thursday from 3:00-4:30 pm. Parent volunteer, Jenn Daoud, is coaching the team again this season. Coach Daoud does a great job with the track program, and has led the JV team to the league season championship the past two years.
Here are the boys track meet dates for the 2025 season.
Running & Relay Meet Dates
Saturday, November 8 at Tampa Catholic from 8:00-11:30 am
Saturday, December 13 at Jesuit from 1:30-5:00 pm
Field Event Meet Dates
Field Event Meet Dates
Tuesday, November 11, and Tuesday, December 9, at Christ the King from 4:00-5:45 pm
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!
Because a dog was after his bones!
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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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.