A note from Mrs. Gunderson...
Dear Families,
Last year I shared our “Go Ask Your Father” program with you. The program brings our parish and school staff community together in a powerful way. It involves our priests spending time in classrooms and answering questions that students ask. Of course Fr. Tim’s responses were uplifting, genuine, and age-appropriate for our students.
Why did you want to be a priest?
Why do we have to pray?
Why do we have to kneel before we leave the pew?
Why do we have to go to Church?
Why is there holy water at Church?
In this picture, Fr. Tim met with Mrs. Dorau’s 3rd-grade class.
On Veteran’s Day, we honored those who have served and those who are currently serving our country. We did this by forming a parade through the hallways of our school. Those with a picture of their loved ones were in the parade, and everyone else lined the hallways in honor. It was a respectful and solemn way to honor our Veterans!
Last weekend our drama club performed “Frozen Jr.” at Totino Grace High School. I went to the Sunday performance and was blown away by the talent of our students. If you attended one of the performances, I am sure you agree. Thank you, Mrs. Douglas, and volunteers, for all of the hours you put in to ensure the performances were phenomenal! Thank you to the parent volunteers who gave your time and helped behind the scenes!
Parents, please make sure that your child has a working headset for use at school at all times. No ear buds, please.
Our Pack the Piggies coin drive led by our Media and Technology Specialist, Kristen Polston, has been an extraordinary success! Thank you, families! She has received more than $1,300 in coins as of today! In addition to US coins, the following came in; a chocolate covered raisin, a plastic quarter, a Japanese yen, a German pfennig, a Canadian penny, and six Chuck E Cheese tokens. The last day for this drive is tomorrow. Please check your dryer, under couch cushions, in pockets and junk drawers for additional coins, and have your child bring them in tomorrow. All coins collected will go towards books and media items for our library.
I hope that you enjoy learning about what is happening within the walls of St. Stephen’s Catholic School! I love sharing with you every week!
P.S. Tomorrow, January 18 is a special out of uniform day for all students and staff. Ask your child why they earned this!
Yours in Christ,
Theresa Gunderson
Principal
Did You Know?
School STARTS at 7:40 AM. If your child arrives later than that, he/she is marked TARDY, and it is reported unexcused on his/her student records. Your child must arrive on time!
If you receive financial aid from our school, you are REQUIRED to volunteer 10 hours minimum of your time per school year.
It takes approximately 6 volunteers per day to support our students and staff.
You can join your child at mass Wednesday mornings at 8 AM?
You can drop off your child in the back parking lot and have them exit onto the sidewalk safely while you remain in your car. And when you drop them off in front you need to walk with them to the sidewalk.
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.
Shine On Talent
A Showcase of School Talent
Join us as we Shine On! We are looking for students to share their talent as dancers, actors, singers and instrumentalists, as well as visual artists. Students in grades four to eight from all Catholic elementary schools in Minnesota are invited to participate as performing and/or visual artists. Learn more and submit your audition!
Angel Award Winners
Congratulations to this week's Angel Award Winners! Thank you Blade, Katherine and Miles 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!
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…
STILL WANTED!!! 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!
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!
Still don’t have your Virtus completed? Click below to cross that off your list!
We SO appreciate each of you!
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...
November:
17 - Give to the Max TODAY!
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.