St. Stephen Catholic School
January 22, 2026
Important updates in this week's Tidbits
Re-enrollment Documents
Catholic Schools Week
Angels Among Us
Bricks4Kidz
Spirit Nights
Volunteer Opportunities
Principal's Points
Good Afternoon St. Stephen Families.
Catholic Schools - United in Faith and Community. This is the theme for this year's Catholic Schools Week and just below you will see the schedule of activities we have planned.
This is also the time of year to prepare for next year. Below you will also see information regarding re-enrollment. Please read my letter as it has a good deal of information regarding tuition and fees. A separate fee schedule is also attached. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. As I stated at the PTCO meeting this week, our tuition remains one of the lowest in the Diocese. It is also less than the actual cost to educate a student as show on the chart below. We are able to do this because of the support we receive from the Parish, donations, and your support through fundraising and for that we are very grateful.
Recently, I was asked to share a link to a petition for a traffic light at our intersection. This was started by one of the residents on Carr Road. I am not sure what impact this petition may have, but if you would like to sign it, please click on this link Red Light Petition.
Please continue to read Tidbits for more information and have a fantastic rest of your week.
Peace,
Linda Umoh
Re-enrollment Information for the
2026-27 School Year
Upcoming Events
Jan 20- Feb 2 SVDP Food Drive
January 20-23 Winter i-Ready Reading
January 25-30 Catholic Schools Week
January 26-30 Penny Wars
Jan 26-Feb 6 Student Council Valentine Sales
January 30 Jean Day
January 30 Marvelous Mustang
January 30 NOON Dismissal
February 7-8 Holy Card Uniform Weekend
February 9 Holy Card Free Dress
February 13 Valentine's Shirt and Jean Day
February 14 Angels Among Us Gala
February 16 NO SCHOOL/President's Day
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK 2026
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. The theme this year, “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 together with students to make a difference and develop qualities that lead to success. We have planned a variety of events to show how we are celebrating this special week.
Saturday/Sunday, January 24-25 - Celebrate your Parish
- Students are encouraged to wear their uniforms to Mass
- Please enjoy the PowerPoint presentation showcasing our school.
- Thank our priests for all they do.
Monday, January 26 - 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 27 - Celebrate our Faculty and Staff
- PTCO recognition of faculty and staff
- 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 28 - Celebrate our Nation and Culture
- Students to dress in cultural attire and/or the colors of their family’s heritage/country flag.
Thursday, January 29 - Celebrate Vocations
- Speakers to talk about their career or religious vocation
- Students will dress as their heroes (younger students can dress up like superheroes, older
students should be someone or some group of people they look up to, like their mom and
dad, firemen, Abraham Lincoln…).
Friday, January 30 - Celebrate our Students
- Spelling Bee @ 8:30 - 9:30 am.
- Buddy Day and Volleyball Game
- Students wear Spirit shirts and jeans or PE shorts.
SVDP Can Food Drive Jan 20 - Feb 2
Students should drop off donations in their homeroom.
While all donations are appreciated, the SVDP Pantry has expressed a great need for the following items:
Granola Bars Cereal
Toilet Paper Syrup
Snack Food Jelly
Canned Meat
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.
Penny Wars
Save your nickels and dimes, pennies and paper, the annual NJHS penny war is back during Catholic Schools Week (January 26-30). 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!
Because Celebrations Are Better Together
Angels Want You to Bring Someone Special with You to the Gala
Angels is excited to offer your guest or spouse a seat reservation at a special reduced rate.
The seat reservation is $185 for one guest but $330 for you, your spouse, friend or
someone special. A great opportunity for school parents, parishioners and friends in the community to mingle and have a fabulous evening.
When you reserve your seat on line (www.sscsfl.org ), you have the option of selecting one seat at $185 or two seats at $330. You can pay online or if you prefer to pay by cash or by check, please feel free to stop in the school office.
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
School Year 26-27
Mark you calendars for Feb. 1. Step Up for Students applications for renewal and new students will be available on Sunday, February 1.
There are important changes to the documents required for all families applying for a 2026-27 scholarship.
- Proof of Residency must now include TWO different document types and be provided by either the primary or secondary guardian.
For a complete list of documents families may need when applying for their student(s), click here.
EVERYONE MUST REAPPLY!
PK4 NEEDS
Do you have any religious or non religious Valentine and Easter stickers? PK4 is in need of them. Please bring them to the office. Thank you!
Joke of the Week!
How do mountains stay warm?
See answer way below.
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.
Volunteer Sign Up for the Angels Gala
Voyage of the Hearts Angels Among Us Gala 2026
Need Babysitting For Angels?
Many parents have asked Angels to help with watching their children while they attend the Gala on 2/14. 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.
Use BOGO to get Volunteer Hours And Support the Angels Gala
A volunteer hour is valued at $50 and this is the amount you are charged for every hour not earned. Each school family is required to do 20 hours of volunteer time during the school year. BOGO can help you meet the 20-hour requirement. New families must have 4 of the 20 hours volunteering for the gala.
Angels Among Us will trade volunteer hours for your donation of wine (red, white, Prosecco, Champagne, Rioja). For bottle(s) valued at $45, one volunteer hour will be credited. Your out-of-pocket cost does not have to be $45 but the value of the donation must be at least $45. Thus, BOGO or store sales are great ways to spend less than $45 in exchange for one hour volunteer credit. Each bottle should have a value of no less than $15. Donations are accepted now through 2/1. Please plan on attending the gala fundraiser on 2/14 and join in Celebrating 26 years of Angels supporting SSCS.
Mustang Sports
Boys Basketball: The boys JV and varsity basketball teams have been working hard at practice in preparation for games that start next week. The Mustangs open the season Tuesday, against St. Lawrence at St. Lawrence. The varsity plays at 4:15 pm, and the JV at 5:15 pm. They also play on Wednesday against Christ the King at Christ the King, with the varsity game at 4:15 pm, and the JV at 5:15 pm.
Please see the Athletics webpage for the complete 2026 Mustang boys basketball schedule.
Please see the Athletics webpage for the complete 2026 Mustang boys basketball schedule.
GO MUSTANGS!
Coach Green
***Restrictions apply. The offer is valid on all new student enrollments at ALL Dance Quest locations when using Promo Code 2026DEAL. The $35 Registration Fee and $75 Performance Costume Deposit are due at the time of registration. The DQIStore.com Promotional code will be emailed after the promotion period has ended. The promotion code may not be exchanged for cash. Withdrawal from class may result in forfeiture of the promotion.***
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!
They put on their snowcaps.
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.