A note from Mrs. Gunderson...
Dear Families,
I am writing this to you on this beautiful fall day! Although I miss summer, I am grateful for the fall and for the four seasons that are witness to God’s undeniable sense of creativity! I hope you can take 5 minutes today to stop, look around and say “Thank you” to God for His beautiful creation. I do this everyday after school when I take my dog for a walk. That is my time to talk to God and thank him for everything in my life, and ask him for advice, guidance, and wisdom.
Speaking of my dog, I brought him to school on Monday. His name is “Oso” pronounced “Oh-soh”. Oso means “dog” in Spanish. My husband and I raised our children in a bilingual home, Spanish and English, so it made sense to give our dog a name in Spanish. The students loved meeting and petting Oso. Oso guest starred in a skit to promote the marathon. He also did tricks during the Pep Fest. (Next time I have Oso “roll over” I had better make sure he is not at the edge of the stage. He nearly rolled off the stage and onto the gym floor.) Ask your children if they can remember the other tricks that he performed.
Mardi Gras Auction Item
Last year at St. Stephen’s Mardi Gras, my husband and I donated eight VIP tickets to a backyard concert at our home. The concert took place two weeks ago. It was so much fun to welcome families from our school to our home for appetizers and socializing as well as to enjoy the concert. See pictures below.
Wolf Ridge
Our 6th graders attended Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center for a 3-day adventure! Wolf Ridge is an accredited residential environmental school located on the North Shore of Minnesota. They offered our 6th graders a nationally-recognized curriculum that stimulates a connection with and understanding of natural environments. Instructors involved students in the direct observation, inquiry, and exploration of wild forests, wetlands, lakes, and streams. Their curriculum aligns with state academic standards, Common Core, and Next Generation Science Standards. I want to thank Mrs. Thamert and Mrs. Johnson for organizing and chaperoning this incredible excursion. A huge thank you to all of the parent chaperones as well! From the pictures below, it is obvious that our 6th graders had a fabulous and adventurous time!
Volunteers Needed!
Parents and grandparents, we are in need of your help! Below you will see a link to sign up to volunteer at St. Stephen’s. We rely on three volunteers per day in our lunchroom as well as other opportunities. Thank you to all of the volunteers thus far this year! I urge those of you who have not yet volunteered, to sign up for one or more spots by clicking on the link in the VOLUNTEER section of this newsletter.
Starting Tomorrow! Safer Pick Up Procedures in East Parking Lot
Starting tomorrow, Friday, September 30, you will notice a difference during afternoon pick-up. All students stand behind the cone that marks their grade. Teachers will stand between their grade’s cone and the parking lot to ensure students do not leave their designated area until their parent walks up to get them. PARENTS, PLEASE WALK FROM YOUR CAR TO YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER AND LET YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER KNOW THAT YOU ARE TAKING YOUR CHILD. Older siblings should stand with the youngest sibling’s class. Thank you for helping to ensure our new, safer pick-up procedures run smoothly!
I wish you all many blessings as we reach the end of our first month of school.
Mrs. Gunderson, Principal
Olweus Movie Night, September 30, 6:30 PM
Tomorrow, Friday, September 30, at 6:30 PM, St. Stephen's School will host the Olweus Movie Night in our school parking lot! Please tell your friends and family to join us for this fun community event. Bring some money - we'll have food trucks for your dinner (no need to cook!), wear your Olweus t-shirts, and bring a blanket or lawn chair to watch the movie "Sing 2" with other St. Stephen's friends and families. Olweus is our anti-bullying program to improve peer relations at our school.
St. Stephen's School Marathon
Only 2 more weeks for Marathon! We are about ¼ of the way to our school goal with only two more weeks to raise money for our school. Last week the top class was awarded a free kids meal at Culvers for each student, and our weekly top earning student won a GIANT donut! How fun!
If each student can raise $120-$150 we can easily reach our whole class goal of $2022, and the reward of a McDonald’s lunch for each kid in our class. I know our class would love that!
Did you know that the overall top earning family wins a family fun night at Dave & Busters? It could be you…
Fridays are counting days, please remember to send in your money!
Food, fun, and festivities are happening at St. Stephen's Catholic Community on Saturday, October 22 from 5 pm - 10 pm in the School Parking Lots (506 Jackson St. Anoka, MN 55303). This is a family-friendly event so come join us and bring the kids!
Details of the event include:
- Enjoy Anoka Halloween Light Up the Night Parade with us at 7 pm on 5th and Main St.
- Warm up by the fire pit and make s'mores!
- Bring the kids in costume to Trunk or Treat, a fun and safe way for children to trick-or-treat. Please remember a bag to collect goodies in! Trunk or Treat will take place from 6 pm until 7 pm in the southeast school parking lot.
- If you would like to decorate your vehicle trunk and hand out candy, please email Kristen by Friday, October 14.
- Trunk decorating will open at 4 pm inside the gated parking lot.
- Purchase festive food and drinks for the whole family. Hot dogs, chips, hot chocolate, coffee, apple cider, and beer!
- Participate in The Great Anoka Pumpkin Fest Raffle that supports the many ministries offered at St. Stephen’s. All CASH prizes with SEVEN lucky winners. $5,000 for the grand prize winner!
- Raffle packets for parishioners are available in alphabetical order in the Gathering Space starting September 17. If you do not see an envelope with your name on it, please let a staff member know.
- If you would like to purchase a $10 raffle ticket, please stop in at the Parish Office.
- Raffle tickets must be turned in to St. Stephen's by 11:30 am on Sunday, October 23, 2022. Must be 18 years older to win. Drawing is held at 12:30 pm on October 23 at the St. Stephen's Faith Community Center.
Square Dance at St. Stephen's School
October 11, from 6:30 - 8 PM, St. Stephen's School will host a fun night of Square Dancing! This family-friendly event is open to all kids and adults. They are only asking for a free-will offering. Come and dance the night away with Andy, the square-dancing caller, who will teach us modern square dancing, and other country line dancing. It should be a fun night for all!
Volunteer at St. Stephen's School
Hello SS Volunteer Community! Have you filled out a Volunteer Form yet? Please click HERE to access the Volunteer Commitment Form, fill it out, and submit back to school at your soonest convenience to stay aware of the latest volunteer opportunities!
In advance, thank you for your time and talents given to our students and staff! We SO appreciate you! We have DAILY Lunchroom needs AND Virtual Academy needs. Please consider filling in a spot or two! We cannot do this without your help!
Click below – easy as that!
AND
ART ADVENTURE OPPORTUNITIES!
We are looking for interested Picture People for the Art Adventure Program through Minnesota Institute of Arts (Grades K-4, 1 volunteer for each teacher). This awesome program begins in December (approx. 5 hours TOTAL), which includes training and in-person/virtual classroom discussion with students. Connecting with teachers on what best suits their class needs. Each volunteer would receive a booklet of the art pieces and run with it however it would be appropriate for that age group. Please reach out to our Art Adventure Coordinator, Jackie Mjolhus, jtoulouse@hotmail.com
Please reach out to me if you have any questions!
DID YOU KNOW?
There are many corporations (both small & large), that offer to pay and/or allow their employees to Volunteer within their community! Reach OUT and ask your employer! What a win/win for our school! Please reach out to your place of employment, to see if they have a plan, or will offer!
An evening Volunteer Opportunity!
We are in need of 4 chaperones from 5:45pm to 8:15pm for the Middle School dance. Duties include: set up, monitoring students, pop/popcorn station and clean up. Click on the link below to sign up. Thanks SO much!
B.A.S.E. Updates
Greetings!
It is hard to believe we are going into October! October 19, 20 and 21 are non-school days. We need a minimum of ten children signed up for non-school days to be open. The cutoff date to sign your child up is October 5th. Please email me if you need child care.
Non-school hours: 7:30-5:00
Cost: $52.00
Students must be pre-registered and there is no drop in.
Please email Mary Schaeppi with any questions at mschaeppi@ststephenchurch.org.
Thank you!
Raise Money for more Playground Equipment
with BoxTops for Education
You can help us raise money for new playground equipment by simply downloading the BoxTops App, buying products that have the BoxTop brand logo, and scanning your receipt! Just follow the easy directions indicated on the flyer below. Since the beginning of the year, we have already raised $53.00! Thank you families!
Coats for Kids Drive
Back for another year, the Anoka Knights of Columbus will host their Coats for Kids Drive at St. Stephen's this fall.
Please consider donating a new or gently used winter coat for a child or teen in need. Collection boxes will be placed in the Gathering Space, near FCC 10, and by the Parish Office from October 8-23.
Coats will be distributed first to those in need within the St. Stephen’s Catholic Community, and then out to the greater Anoka area.
There is no need to sign up to receive a coat. Coats will be distributed Sunday, November 6 after the 10:30 am and 12:30 pm Spanish Masses. Distribution will take place in FCC 10.
For questions, please contact Dan at cdknapek@msn.com.
Anoka Halloween Buttons for Sale
September 26 - October 7
It is that time of year again and we are excited to be celebrating our 102nd year! Anoka Halloween™ is a non-profit organization that promotes our many free family friendly events and donations to elementary school media centers, plus high school scholarships. The only way that we can continue to offer these benefits to our community is with the help of you and your student.
Every year, we encourage families and students to support not only Anoka Halloween™, but your child’s school by selling this year’s Anoka Halloween™ button as pictured above. The buttons may be purchased for just $3 per button. Anoka Halloween™ will give back 50% PROFIT to your child’s school. That’s $1.50 per button sold! No other fundraiser offers half of the sale! What a great and simple way to easily earn money for your school! The button also offers many local store discounts and entrance to several of our festival events.
In the past years, the kids have enjoyed participating in the button sales, as well as the “prize” they can earn. The student that sells the most buttons will receive a $25 check to do with what they want, in addition to receiving a plaque with their name and a ride on our Anoka Halloween™ vehicle during the Big Parade of Little People parade, on October 29th . Also, the one classroom that sells the most
buttons will win a pizza party! Super exciting for the kids!
If you would like more information about Anoka Halloween™, a list of the many events offered, fundraising, or merchandise, please visit Anokahalloween.com. Thank you so much for supporting Anoka Halloween™ and your child’s school.
St. Stephen's Lunch Program
The lunch program is doing FABULOUS! Thank you, parents, for being aware of how much money is in your child's lunch account, and adding money when needed.
What is coming up...
September:
30 - Olweus Kick-Off, Movie Night in the Parking Lot!
October:
8 - Middle School Dance
9 - Marathon after 10:30 Mass
11 - Square Dancing in the Gym
12 - Catholic United Financial Informational Meeting
22 - PumpkinFest
COVID and St. Stephen's School
As the school year is just beginning, we want to be transparent about our expectations of COVID and our students. IF your child tests positive for COVID, we will continue to stick with the policy that your child will stay home for 5 days from the symptom start date. After 5 days, if the child is symptom free, and off all medicines, he/she may return to school full-time. If you have any questions regarding COVID and your child, please do not hesitate to call Heidi in the school office at 763-421-3236.