Dear Parents:

What a wonderful week we are having!  I have walked the hallways of building many times, and saw many new and familiar smiling faces.  Those smiling faces are the BEST part of my job!

Parents, please be mindful of a couple important items:  

St. Stephen's School now starts at 7:30 AM.  Students should be in the classroom, ready to learn at 7:30 AM; doors will open at 7:15 AM.

In the morning at drop-off, please, PLEASE do not let your children run in the parking lot.  They need to stay with you at all times going to and from our building, OR please feel free to drop them off in the back of the school and stay in your car?  Secondly, we need to monitor the security of our school building.  Beginning next week, we are asking that all parents drop off their children at the door and not enter the school building, as this is our normal practice throughout the year.  We pride ourselves on the safety of our students, and we cannot monitor who is in the building when bringing students to the classrooms.  Please understand, and help us keep our students as safe as possible.

Thank you for your understand and patience as we navigate our new levels of security both in the school and church.  We are so proud of our students and community for coming forward to keep our campus as safe as possible.  

Lastly, please mark your calendar for some fun upcoming events with our School Marathon!  Grandparents Day will be October 1, and Marathon weekend is set for October 3-5, watch for details in next week's newsletter.

Blessings to you all -

Mr. Rehder, Principal

Sept 16, 4:30pm

Discover practical ways to spot and reduce anxiety in your classroom. Learn calming routines, low-disruption interventions, and participation strategies that help students feel safe, focused, and ready to learn from day one.

Sept 23, 7:00pm

Learn how to spot the difference between everyday worries and anxiety that interferes with your child’s daily life. Discover Name It to Tame It, Brave Steps Ladder, and Co-Regulation to help your child gradually overcome fears. You’ll leave with a printable Brave Steps Ladder template and “Bravery Journal” guide to track progress.

Looking Ahead: Substitute Teachers Needed!
As we look forward to the upcoming school year, we are hoping to grow our list of substitute teachers here at St. Stephen’s!

We are blessed with a dedicated and amazing staff, but as we all know—life happens! On days when a teacher is absent, we rely on faith-filled, caring, and qualified adults to step in and support our students.

If you’re looking for flexible, part-time work and feel called to serve in our Preschool through 8th grade classrooms, we would love to hear from you. The process to become a substitute is simple and quick, and we’re happy to help guide you through it.

Please reach out to the school office as soon as possible to get started.

We are truly grateful for the wonderful individuals who have already joined our substitute team—and we thank you in advance for considering this important role in our school community.

Exciting News from St. Stephen's!
We are thrilled to share that Mrs. Widmyer is expecting a new baby this fall! As she prepares for maternity leave beginning sometime in November, we are looking for a long-term substitute teacher for our 3rd grade class.

This position would last approximately three months, and we’re hoping to find someone who is enthusiastic about working with our wonderful students during this special time.

If you or someone you know might be interested, please reach out to Mr. Rehder at grehder@ststephenchurch.org.

Mrs. Nelson, the band director at St. Stephen's school, will be teaching band to students in 4th - 8th grade.  Lessons normally occur during the day, outside of core classes, then group band is after school, usually on Wednesdays.  If your child is interested in trying an instrument, or signing up, please email her at amy.nelson@totinograce.org.

Do you enjoy craft fairs—or have experience organizing one? Looking for a fun and meaningful way to support our school community?

We’re looking for a dedicated volunteer to co-chair our Annual St. Stephen’s Craft Fair, one of our biggest fundraisers of the year, bringing in $15,000+ for the school each November. This is a great opportunity to get involved, learn the ropes from our current lead, Sarah Eiden, and eventually take the reins down the road.

If you're interested or want to learn more, please contact the school office. Thank you for helping us keep this amazing tradition going strong!

Both of our preschool classes are getting together every Wednesday for GROUP TIME.  This week they made MAGIC DOUGH; it started white and the more they "worked the dough", the more colorful it became.  It's so much fun to learn!