St. Stephen Catholic School
October 23, 2025
Important updates in this week's Tidbits
Spirit Nights
Trunk or Treat and Pumpkin Patch
SVDP Food Drive
Volunteer Opportunities
Angels Among Us
Principal's Points
Good Afternoon St. Stephen Families.
First and foremost, we would like to thank everyone who participated in Mrs. Umoh's E-rate survey. It will help us maintain our current discount rate.
We have some exciting weeks ahead as we kick off our "Level-Up" Apex Fundraiser. Students and teachers will be introduced to this new fundraiser on Monday with a pep rally, followed by brief daily lessons in each class centered around leadership. There are many class and individual prizes to be won based on participation, so be on the lookout for more information next week!
Lastly, thank you to everyone who signed up to host a trunk at our annual Trunk or Treat tomorrow night. The response was fantastic, and we will now have plenty of candy to go around! We look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow night!
Peace,
Mary Gurley
Upcoming Events
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
November 7 - NO SCHOOL
November 7 - Report Card Day
November 8-9 - Holy Card Uniform Weekend
November 10 - Holy Card Free Dress
November 14 - Spirit Shirt and Jeans Day
November 14 - Level Up Apex Fundraiser @8am
November 14 -NOON DISMISSAL
Gulf Coast Catholic is a print and digital evangelizing magazine and news website of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. Click here to learn more and to subscribe.
The 2025 SSCS Christmas Card Contest is Here!
Calling all student artists:
All students are invited to participate in the annual SSCS Christmas Card Contest. Card designs should reflect the seasons of Advent or Christmas and the birth of our Lord. Students should use a plain white 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper. The winning design will be printed on Christmas cards sent out by the school to individuals and schools throughout the Diocese. The student will also receive a set of 25 cards with their design to send to family and friends. All submissions should be students' original artwork and should include the student’s name and grade written on the back in pencil. Designs must be submitted to the front office by Thursday, Nov. 6th. Drawings sent in after that date/time will not be considered.
SVDP Can Food Drive
November 3 - 10
Please help those in need in our community by donating
one or two cans of food. The St Vincent de Paul Pantry
located on our parish campus services many families each week. Your donations make a difference and are another way to teach our children kindness.
Donations will be collected in each classroom.
The FACTS Grant and Aid application setup for the 2026-2027 school year is complete. Applications and documents received after May 1, 2026 are considered late for initial consideration.
All Diocesan High Schools utilize the FACTS Grant & Aid Application in the determination of in-house tuition assistance and the Catholic School Tuition Aid Grant (CSTAG). Additionally, all elementary/middle school families are required to submit their financial documents via the FACTS Grant & Aid Application, unless your school is a "community eligible" school.
Note: Pricing for the 2026-2027 FACTS Grant & Aid Application Fee will remain the same at $38.00.
Resource for Families:
Diocesan aid is limited. Applications received after the initial consideration deadline of May 1, 2026 for the 2026-2027 school year will be subject to a reduced rate, provided that funds are still available. Appeals are to be made directly to the school.
Mustang Christmas Gifts
For a very limited time, Mustang Christmas gifts are available to help Santa suprise every good SSCS boy and girl . Please use the link below to order before 11/11 in order to get delivery before Christmas. Proceeds benefit the PTCO.
Christmas Gift Link
Christmas Gift Link
ANGELS OUTREACH SERVICE PROJECT
First Responders Day- October 28
Thank you 1st thru 5th graders and their teachers for the creative posters honoring our First Responders. School parents who are nurses, police and firemen will deliver the student's posters to their work place to be displayed in time for First Responders Day on October 28. This is a time for us to recognize the dedication and sacrifice First Responders do to keep us safe.
Thank you 1st thru 5th graders and their teachers for the creative posters honoring our First Responders. School parents who are nurses, police and firemen will deliver the student's posters to their work place to be displayed in time for First Responders Day on October 28. This is a time for us to recognize the dedication and sacrifice First Responders do to keep us safe.
We appreciate all our many parents, parishioners and friends in the community who are First Responders.
Angels Gala Cruise for Cause Video
Click the link HERE to see the video.
First Class Craft Is Completed
Thanks to our 6th grade Home Room Mom Toniann, students, parents and the Home Room teacher for contributions to the Angels class craft. It is a unique framed artwork of Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus. The students used crushed glass and pearls to make this unique symbol of faith and hope.The frame includes an engraved plate listing each student.
All class crafts will be on display in the school beginning 1/15 for parents to view and appreciate the originality created by the students. The parent with the highest bid for each craft takes home a very special token of the 2025- 2026 school year. All proceeds benefit the Angels Among Us fundraising goal.
Watch the weekly school newsletter for more info about the gala, seat reservations, class craft and pre Angels auction bidding. For more information about how you can support Angels Among Us, please contact ngallagher@sscsfl.org
All class crafts will be on display in the school beginning 1/15 for parents to view and appreciate the originality created by the students. The parent with the highest bid for each craft takes home a very special token of the 2025- 2026 school year. All proceeds benefit the Angels Among Us fundraising goal.
Watch the weekly school newsletter for more info about the gala, seat reservations, class craft and pre Angels auction bidding. For more information about how you can support Angels Among Us, please contact ngallagher@sscsfl.org
An Angels First
Class Craft Bidding open to All The Families prior to the Gala
Excitement Begins 1/15
Class Crafts are always a highlight of the Angels Gala Fundraiser. In the past, bidding on the crafts was only available to gala guests at the gala. This year, class crafts will be available for viewing on 1/15 in the school and online bidding will begin. The bidding will continue through the weekend and close on Wednesday, 1/21 at 8 AM. Additional pre gala “experiences” will also be offered for bidding. More details will be available the week prior to the bidding. Raffle tickets for a chance to win a seat reservation will be sold during this bidding frenzy.
Special Thank You to Class Room Moms and all who contributed with their time and generous donations.
Special Thank You to Class Room Moms and all who contributed with their time and generous donations.
Joke of the Week!
What do ghosts wear when their eyesight gets blurred?
See answer way below.
Mustang Sports
Boys Track: Boys JV and varsity track practice started this week. Parent volunteer, Jenn Daoud, will be coaching the team again this season. She has coached the boys and girls team the past few years and led the JV team to back-to-back season championships. The team will have a couple of weeks before the first events of the season. The first running and relay meet is Saturday, November 8, at Tampa Catholic, from 8:00-11:30 am. The first field event meet is Tuesday, November 11, at Christ the King from 4:00-5:45 pm. Boys will participate in the discus, varsity shot put, long jump and high jump.
Girls Basketball: Girls varsity basketball tryouts were yesterday, and the JV had their tryouts last week, and have had a few practices. The girls basketball season runs from this week until the Christmas break. Parent volunteer, Alan Daoud, is coaching the JV team and Coach Green is coaching the varsity this season. The teams will have a couple of weeks of practice before games start on Monday, November 10, against Villa Madonna, at Villa Madonna. Varsity at 4:00 pm and the JV at 5:00 pm.
Please see the Athletics webpage for the complete 2025 girls basketball game schedule, and the boys track meet schedule.
GO MUSTANGS!
Coach Green
PK-3 needs cleaned, empty
16 oz Jif Peanut Butter jars.
Kiddos Lunches
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!
Spooktacles
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.