A note from Mrs. Gunderson...
Dear Families,
On behalf of the staff at St. Stephen’s, we wish you a blessed and happy Thanksgiving season!
This picture was taken on Tuesday of this week. We were at school excited about working on our re-accreditation process and participating in other staff development activities such as discussing how we can emulate great Saints to positively influence the culture of our school for our students, staff, families, and visitors.
In October our media and technology specialist, Kristen Polston rolled out a Storybook Pumpkin Contest in which students could opt to decorate a pumpkin as a storybook character. I was impressed with the number of students who participated and the depth of their creativity. Every student who participated received a certificate. The three top winners were:
Grand Prize Winner:
Nora, Grade: 2
Storybook: Charlotte’s Web
Runner Up from Grades PK-2nd: Nolan, Grade 2
Storybook: Captain Underpants
3rd Place from 3-8th Grades: Anika, Grade 3
Storybook: Sam’s Biscuit’s Birthday
Enjoy some of the pumpkins disguised as storybook characters:
Parents, Mark Your Calendar: Wednesday, November 16, 7:00 pm
Peace of Mind Training for Parents
The use of social media and technology is one of the most popular areas of concern for parents of children and adolescents. How much is too much? How do we keep our kids safe online? What about the constant social comparisons? Parents, you are invited to watch an online webinar sponsored by our Peace of Mind The session will focus on the latest research on the use of social media and technology. It will also help us understand the relationship between brain development and what drives the need to feel connected online and those areas of big concern like pornography and algorithms that target adolescent vulnerabilities. Parenting tips will be offered. Register to attend here the online webinar here: https://calendly.com/drjulesnolan/pom-3-0-technology-and-social-media-for-parents
When Chef Faith is away, there’s no time for play! A week ago, Chef Faith was sick for a day. Fortunately, she is very organized and left a recipe plus all of the ingredients were at our fingertips. Heidi Staggert and I helped cook the hot entree along with regular food service staff, Joanie Finn and Anglea Thiel. We were blessed to receive help from Father Bennet too! It was a whirlwind day, to say the least. Most importantly, all of the students had plenty to eat, and Chef Faith was feeling better and returned to work the next day. We definitely have a new respect and appreciation for Chef Faith! See pictures below of us hard at work, and having some fun too!
Many blessings to you and your family!
Yours in Christ,
Mrs. Gunderson
Principal
Aim Higher Scholarship Applications are OPEN!
What is Aim Higher?
The Aim Higher Scholarship is a $1,000, student-based scholarship awarded to K-8 students from families with demonstrated financial need. Once a student is awarded the scholarship, they will continue to receive an additional $1,000 scholarship each year up to and through 8th grade as long as the yearly financial aid application continues to show need. The scholarship will also follow the student from year to year if he or she transfers to another Catholic school in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
To be eligible for the Aim Higher Scholarship, a student must be in enrolled in or have plans to apply to the grades K-8 in a K-6, K-8, or K-12 Catholic school in the Archdiocese. Returning scholars are also eligible if they are enrolled in, transfer to, or plan to enroll in a 6-12 or 7-12 Catholic school. Eligible students must demonstrate financial need as determined by the TADS financial aid application.
Congratulations Mrs. Douglas!
Congratulations to Mrs. Douglas for being recognized for her Saintly Service. She was recognized by someone for being assertively friendly at our school! We couldn't agree more! Way to go Mrs. Douglas and thank you for making our school a better place to be.
Frozen, Jr. Play Tickets NOW AVAILABLE
Come and join us as our Drama Club, along with Mrs. Douglas presents Frozen, Jr. at Totino Grace this weekend. Please click on the link below for tickets.
UNIFORM STORE IS OPEN!
The St. Stephen's School online uniform-only store is open again! Now is your chance to order more uniforms for your ever-growing child(ren)! The Holiday Spirit wear store will open in the next week or so, we are busy preparing new exciting items for Christmas! Please spread the word! Just click on the link below to get started:
ORDER UNIFORMS HERE
If you have a couple (1-2) items that your child has NOT worn, and you would like to see if we can exchange your item in our small, limited NEW supply at school, you are welcome to come in Friday, November 4, after parent drop off at 7:30 AM, and meet with Sandy Lang to exchange your uniform piece for a BLUE SHORT SLEEVE uniform crewneck t-shirt. Right now, that is all we have for exchanges in the school inventory. Please contact Sandy if you would like to visit the school uniform store at bradandsandy@icloud.com.
Winter Sports Sign Up
Above is a wrestling link for a google form so we can get all contacts in one spot.
Basketball practice for all 3 teams (B, JV,Varsity) will all host their first practice jointly this upcoming Monday 11/7 at 6:30pm-8:00pm. This will serve as a “tryout” of some shape so coaches can properly plaace students where they belong for the season. We still have Varsity VB practicing the week of 11/7 so at this first practice is where more information on practice time for specific teams will come. Games will begin mid-November. If students are not signed up, they are still strongly encouraged to sign show up day 1 and if they like than we can get them registered then!
Warm regards,
Mr. Taylor
Physical Education (K-8) & Athletic Director
St. Stephen’s School, (763)-742-3960, ttaylor@ststephenchurch.org
Technology Fees Applied to TADS
The $150 per student Technology Fee has been added to each TADS account for the 2022-23 school year. If you would like to pay be check or cash, just send it into the school office at your soonest convenience. Thank you! Payments will be due October 25.
Angel Award Winners
Congratulations to this week's Angel Award Winners! Thank you Nelson, Aubrey, and Isaac for making our school a better place to be and showing respect to fellow students and adults. We appreciate you and are so proud of you!
A Bottle Pull at the Craft Fair? WINE NOT?
We need your help! Can you donate a bottle… or two…or three…for the Bottle Pull at the craft fair on Saturday, November 19th?
We ask that bottles be valued $12 and up.
Donations will be accepted the week of November 14th.
Thank you for your support!
Volunteer at St. Stephen's School
No Better Way to Experience St. Stephen’s School
St. Stephen’s volunteers will tell you there is no better way to experience everything this school has to offer than through volunteering with fellow parents. By sharing your gift of time, no matter how big or small, you will have the opportunity to meet new people across all grades and develop lasting relationships. The St. Stephen’s family is built around our parent community, and in volunteering, you get to experience this family to its fullest. Whether you fill a spot at our school or church, you will definitely receive more than you give! November is the PERFECT time to jump onboard! There are many spots to fill – it is a true gift to our staff and students.
Thank you for prayerfully considering! Below are current volunteer opportunities…
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!
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!
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...
November:
11 - Veteran's Day Parade
17 - Give to the Max
19 - Craft Fair
22 - Annual Food Brigade for Christmas Baskets
23-25 - No School, Happy Thanksgiving!
COVID Updates
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 with a mask (recommended, not required). 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.