From the desk of Mr. Rehder...
Dear St. Stephen’s Families,
What a way to kick off the week—the Vikings pulled off a thrilling 4th quarter comeback against the Bears to start the NFL season! Just like the energy in that game, we’re feeling the excitement and momentum here at St. Stephen’s.
This second week has been GREAT! Our students have done such a wonderful job coming into school each morning and heading right to their classrooms. THANK YOU, PARENTS, for being so supportive of our drop-off policy—it’s a big part of keeping our students safe.
A quick reminder: if you’re using the back parking lot drop-off, please remember that parents should not get out of their cars to help. Students should exit the car on the sidewalk side and walk into school on their own. We appreciate your cooperation in keeping this process smooth and safe for everyone.
Looking ahead, next week marks the start of our NWEA testing. Please help your child do their best by making sure they’re well rested and fueled with a nutritious breakfast each morning.
We also have some exciting events on the calendar:
- Picture Day – Friday, September 19. Forms will be sent home on Monday.
- Marathon Week Kickoff – Pep Fest on Monday, with Marathon packets sent home with students. This year’s theme is “Prayers and Pledges.” As students ask for support, they may invite family and friends to offer both a prayer for our school and/or a financial donation.
- Grandparents/Special Friend Day – Wednesday, October 1. Please mark your calendars!
- Marathon Bingo Night – Saturday, October 4. School doors open after Mass, with Bingo called from 6:30–8:00pm. Each round will have a $25 gift card prize, and we’ll wrap up with a $100 gift card coverall game!
- School Marathon Mass & Community Gathering – Sunday, October 5, at 10:30am. Immediately following Mass, our school community will gather on the playground for the Marathon Walk and lunch. Students—wear your school uniform this day to receive an out-of-uniform pass!
Finally, a gentle reminder about family vacations: every school day matters. While we know plans sometimes can’t be changed, please do your best to schedule trips outside of school days whenever possible. In-person learning is truly the most valuable experience for our students.
Thank you again for your continued partnership. Just like our Vikings, we’re ready for a great season ahead—full of growth, community, and joy.
Blessings,
Mr. Rehder, Principal
SWEATSHIRTS FOR SALE IN THE OFFICE
We have quite a few uniform sweatshirts for sale in the office for $30. If your child needs one, please stop by! We have many sizes, but not all. We can add $30 to your TADS account, or you can pay in the office.
PUMPKIN FEST & HALLOWEEN PARADE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
On October 18, we will be celebrating Pumpkin Fest again this year! We will need many volunteers for this event to be successful. All volunteer opportunities will be in the Volunteer Portal soon. Please note, there is a BIG NEED for a Beverage Lead for the evening.
We will also be having a float in the Halloween Grand Day Parade on October 25, 2026! This is such a FUN, community event!! Watch for volunteer opportunities to lead, design, decorate and ride on the Halloween float. Volunteer opportunities will be loaded into the Volunteer Portal next week. (Please note, children under 10 years of age MUST ride on the float).
We are also in need of candy for the float! When you purchase your Halloween candy this year, please consider buying an extra bag for our parade float! Thank you!!
SEPTEMBER WEBINARS FOR
EDUCATORS AND PARENTS
September Educator Webinar
Sept 16, 4:30pm
Help students start the year calm and confident with quick, easy-to-use anxiety-reducing routines.
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.
September Parent Webinar
Sept 23, 7:00pm
Help your child face fears with confidence using three simple, research-based tools you can start today.
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.
SUBSTITUTE TEACHING AT ST. STEPHEN'S
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!
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.
INTERESTED IN BAND?
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.
SIGN UP FOR SPANISH
It is not too late to sign up for After School Spanish class! This class is open to all students age Kindergarten - 5th Grade. Your child will learn a variety of travels words and phrases, how to ask for prices, barter at the market, and even order at a restaurant! Simply click on the link below for more information:
IMPORTANT BUS INFORMATION FROM
ANOKA HENNEPIN
Anoka Hennepin is introducing a new VERSATRANS app for you to track your child's bus using a GPS tracking system. The app is UP AND RUNNING!!
You can log into this app by using your child's ID number (lunch number) to search for the bus, as well as the phone number on file with the district. There have been a few glitches with the system, so if you cannot get into your account right away, please be patient. Here are more instructions on downloading the app for your student:
VOLUNTEER NEWS
Good Afternoon SS Community -
We are already to week 2!
We are already to week 2!
We have many volunteer opportunities now loaded in the On Volunteer Portal for you to grab a spot or two! Currently, our daily needs include Breakfast, Lunch and Recess and Virtual Academy! We have added some evening sports opportunities, too!
Watch for Marathon Weekend - October 4th & 5th, along with Pumpkin Fest 10/18! We are in GREAT need of a Beverage Lead for the eve of Pumpkin Fest. Please reach out to Barb Novinska, bnovinska@ststephenchurch.org for information!
Again this year, we are encouraging ALL families to volunteer at least 10 hours at school/and or church this year! We are so happy to continue our amazing partnership with our community!
If you are a new family and/or need to complete the Virtus Training and access your On Volunteer Portal, (NEW FAMILIES, your Password is Parent@SS2025) please click on the attachment for all volunteer info!
Thank you for ALL you do for our school community! Do not hesitate to reach out with any questions!
CRAFT FAIR 2025
Help Lead One of Our Most Beloved Fundraisers!
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!
SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL (S.A.C.)
UPDATED SCHOOL CALENDAR
Anoka Hennepin recently made a date change to our no-busing day on May 8. The new date for NO BUSING service is May 1, 2026. Please see the change on the updated calendar above, or by clicking the link here: UPDATED CALENDAR
LUNCHROOM NEWS
All K-8 students are eating for free this year. Preschool students will need to pay for their lunch. If your K-8 student orders an extra entree, or extra milk, the prices below will apply.
Lunch prices for 2025 are as follows:
Preschool students: $4.25
Adults: $5.00
Extras: $2.00
Milk: $.75
To ensure a consistent and safe environment for all our students, we will no longer permit the use of restaurant carry-out food for lunch, regardless of the reason. However, you are welcome to sign in at the office and join your child in the cafeteria to sit together, or purchase an adult lunch (please call the office in the morning to place your lunch order) to share the experience. Thank you for your understanding and support as we move forward with this change.
Reminder: Per the St. Stephen's Handbook, POP AND ENERGY DRINKS ARE NOT ALLOWED in the cafeteria. If they are brought into the cafeteria, they will be thrown away immediately.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
SEPTEMBER
19: 1st Marathon Turn-In Day
19: Picture Day
22-24: 6th Graders to Wolf Ridge
26: 2nd Marathon Turn-In Day
OCTOBER
1: Grandparents/Special Friends Day 8 AM
3-5: Marathon Weekend (see information above in newsletter)
13-15: Scholastic Book Fair in the library
16-19: No School, MEA
20: No School, Staff Professional Development Day/ Conferences
21: Evening Conferences
