A note from Mrs. Gunderson...
Dear Families,
I am beyond grateful to our wonderful marathon committee for all their work to organize the marathon and bring it to fruition last Sunday, October 9. It was a HUGE success! Thank you to:
Thank You Parent Committee Volunteers:
Angie Bizal
Trish Haro
Cherie Kustermann
Thank You Staff Committee Volunteers:
Courtney Wilberg
Kim Taggart
Heather Douglas
I do not have the words to thank all of you, family and friends, for your generous donations to the 2022-2023 marathon. We made…drum roll please… our goal of $30,000! This is so exciting!!! Several families who wish to remain anonymous offered matches and we received company matches again this year!
Thank you to all of the families and staff who participated in our school marathon this year. God certainly blessed us with beautiful weather. Thank you to Father Tim who led us in prayer and a religious cheer, thank you to parent, Jeff Gernbacher for running the green screen video project that students loved, and last but certainly not least, thank you, Knights of Columbus, for providing food and beverages for the event. See the pictures below.
Happy Birthday today to our incredibly talented art teacher, Mrs. Kocher. I visited her classroom this morning and her students and I sang Happy Birthday to her. Check out the fantastic artwork that her students are working on.
For morning drop-off, if you use the east parking lot, please walk your child to the side walk. Students are not allowed to walk from their car to the sidewalk on their own for safety reasons. If you use the west parking lot for morning drop off, children must exit from the passenger (curb) side of the car. Thank you for your cooperation to ensure the safety of your children.
Parents, I am sure you are looking forward to attending your child’s conference next Monday or Tuesday after school! It is important that you learn about your child’s progress from their teacher(s). Be sure to ask how you can help your child read more at home. We are stressing the importance of reading and reading skills at St. Stephen’s this year and into the future.
Next week is a short, two-day week of school on Monday and Tuesday only. On Wednesday, October 19, our entire staff will join thousands of other Catholic school staff and teachers at the Catholic Schools Summit of Excellence where we, as a staff, will receive professional development, so there will be no school for students. It is an opportunity for us to grow spiritually and in fellowship with others who are in our faith and professional community. Next Thursday and Friday, October 20 and 21, be sure to keep your kids home :-) It is MEA weekend and there is no school on those days.
I wish you all many blessings today and into the weekend.
Mrs. Gunderson, Principal
Sign Up for Fall Conferences
Now is the time to sign up for Fall Conferences at St. Stephen's School. Just click on the link below, choose your teacher, and sign up with your child's name. If you have any questions, please contact your teacher directly. Thank you.
Uniform Update
Friday, October 14 is the LAST day to wear shorts, skorts and capris. Please make sure you are following the uniform policy guidelines, as described in detail on page 9 of the handbook: UNIFORM POLICY.
Winter Sports Sign Up
Hello families!
I hope this email finds you well and that the school year has gotten off to a great start for both you and your child. I am reaching out this afternoon in regards to our winter sports that are quickly approaching us. St. Stephen's will offer wrestling and boys and girls basketball. In order to help plan and organize these winter sports, I’m asking parents to fill out one of the questionnaires below in regards to boys and girls basketball. Filling out this questionnaire will allow us an athletic department to know how many teams we can field for the sport (ex: B, JV, and Varsity). Our basketball teams are offered to students in grades 5-8. If you are interested in coaching please send me a direct email. After the questionnaire has been completed, you or your child should pick up a sign up sheet from for me. I will have plenty available during conferences next week if that works best for families.
If you and your child are interested in wrestling please send me an email and we can discuss those logistics then.
Have a wonderful rest of the week and stay warm! Go Angels!
Warm regards,
Mr. Taylor
Physical Education (K-8) & Athletic Director
St. Stephen’s School, (763)-742-3960, ttaylor@ststephenchurch.org
Thank you for ordering with School Toolbox!
Thank you for ordering your school supplies with School Tool Box! We raised $316.17, which we will put towards playground equipment for the students! AND, along with this program, we were able to feed 544 kids through the 'One Box. One Meal. Two Kids.' Program and Feed My Starving Children. THANK YOU!
Trunk or Treat - A FUN FAMILY ACTIVITY!!
Pumpkin Fest - Can YOU Help?
Hello Amazing St. Stephen’s School Families,
Hopefully, by now you have heard of The Great Anoka Pumpkin Fest St. Stephen’s Catholic Community is planning from 5 pm until 10 pm on Saturday, October 22 in the school parking lots. For all the details of the evening, please see below.
In order to host this family-friendly event, we need volunteers! We are seeking helpers to assist with setup 2-5 pm, cleanup 7:30-10:30, food and beverage preparation and distribution 5:30- 8:30, and SO MUCH MORE! Volunteer opportunities are available for both youth and adults. Please call (763.712.7485) or email Alyssa Brunell (abrunell@ststephenchurch.org) with your availability, and for more details.
Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something. Share your gifts of time and talent with St. Stephen's Catholic Community!
For more information on the fun evening, please click on the link below:
Square Dance at St. Stephen's School
DATE CHANGE
October 25, 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
We have been truly blessed with many volunteers offering their gift of time – THANK YOU!
But, don’t stop now!
Every day we are looking for volunteers to help our with our students and staff! An hour or two a week or more! You can make a difference!! Do you have a family member, friend or neighbor that would like to give some time tour school? We would LOVE to have them. Just need to have their Virtus training completed!
Thanks so much!
Lunchroom: Help out during lunch times with student needs i.e. open milk cartons, assist with silverware, etc. The lunchroom is in need of 3 volunteers EACH DAY. The link below gets you a 2 hour spot (10:30 - 12:30) on any day or days that work for you. You do not need to sign up for consecutive days or weeks.
Virtual Academy Support: Assist small groups of students with signing into computers, passwords, etc. Once students are logged in and tutoring, you may work on your laptop, read, knit, etc. There are several time slots available throughout the day.
*** NEW Recess/Playground Supervision: We have a GREAT new volunteer spot we would LOVE to fill each day! Hello! Do you love fresh air? A nice brisk hour outside a day or two a week? We have a spot for YOU! We would love to give our teachers a bit of extra time each day! 2 shifts each day! We hope you will prayerfully consider!
31st Annual St. Stephen's Craft Fair: There are many volunteer opportunities at this big fundraising event for both adults and middle school students for their service hours. There are also spots available for Bake sale and Bottle pull donation items on this sign up.
Still don’t have your Virtus completed? Click below to cross that off your list!
We SO appreciate each of you!
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!
Please reach out to me if you have any questions!
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.
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.
St. Stephen's Craft Fair BAKE SALE
Craft Fair Bake Sale Donations Needed!
Mark your calendars! Our Annual Bake Sale will be held Saturday, November 19th in conjunction with the Craft Fair. We need lots of baked goods to make this a successful event!
Please label your items and have them packaged to sell. We will price items at school. Package in zip-loc bags, sturdy paper plates inside a freezer bag, or place in disposable clear containers. Packages of 6-12 are recommended.
Please drop off your items in the school entryway on Friday, November 18 before 5 PM or drop them off the day of the bake sale from 8-10 AM.
What is coming up...
October:
19 - 21 - No School, Staff Development and MEA
22 - Pumpkin Fest
25 - Square Dancing in the Gym
28 - Big Parade of the Little People
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.