Good afternoon! What a beautiful stretch of fall weather we’ve been blessed with this week—it’s been a joy to see students outside enjoying God’s creation during recess and activities. It truly feels like a gift in the middle of a busy school season.

What an incredible week it’s been for our 6th grade students as they headed north for their annual trip to Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center with Mrs. Thamert and Mr. Maslow. From hiking to canoeing to team-building, they made memories that will last a lifetime. I was especially proud to hear how respectful, responsible, and supportive our students were of one another throughout the trip—truly living out what it means to be leaders in our school community. Be sure to check out some photos from the trip in the newsletter below!

Looking ahead, I am so excited for Grandparents Day next week! It’s always such a special time to celebrate the gift of our grandparents and special friends. We’ll begin with Mass at 8:00 AM, followed by refreshments and fellowship in the FCC. Please remind grandparents and special friends to meet students at the church, not at the school. We want to make sure everyone is in the right place to start the day together in prayer and community.

The countdown is also on for our School Marathon Weekend! Over the past two weeks, students have been working hard to collect Prayers and Pledges—and even though we didn’t quite hit our first goal, I’m confident we can rally together and reach our second goal of $20,000. If we make it, the entire school will celebrate with an all-school non-uniform day! Please continue sending in Prayers and Pledges tomorrow morning to help us keep the momentum going. Remember, in addition to “Prayers and Pledges,” our students are being called to be Superheroes for our School—and superheroes never give up!

Finally, thank you again for your partnership in helping to keep our parking lot safe and orderly. Our teachers will continue walking students to their cone locations, and your cooperation in picking students up directly has made dismissal smoother and safer for everyone.

And before I sign off—what an exciting time for Minnesota sports! The Vikings are 2-1 and heading overseas to face the Steelers in Dublin, Ireland this Sunday morning, while the Lynx are tied 1-1 in the WNBA semifinals. Lots to cheer about as we move into another great week.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support. What a blessing it is to partner with you in this mission of Catholic education.

Blessings,

Mr. Rehder,  Principal

Many families ask, “Where does the money we raise actually go?” The simple answer is: fundraising helps us close the gap between what it costs to educate each child and what we charge for tuition.

At St. Stephen’s, tuition for one student is $6,038, but the actual cost to educate each student is $10,365.54. That leaves a difference of $4,327.54 per child, which the parish covers. Fundraising allows us to support the parish in covering this gap and make a Catholic education affordable for all families.

In addition, fundraising helps us take care of larger expenses that tuition alone doesn’t cover, such as:

Every dollar raised makes a real difference—it helps us keep tuition at a level families can afford while still providing a safe, faith-filled, and excellent education for your children. Thank you for making this possible!

We have quite a few uniform sweatshirts for sale in the office for $30, AND t-shirts for sale for $21.  If your child needs one, please stop by!  We have many sizes, but not all.  We can add fees to your TADS account, or you can pay in the office.

✨ Bring the spirit. Build the strength. Be part of the team! ✨

Why Join Cheer?
 ✔️ Improves strength, flexibility & fitness
 ✔️ Builds teamwork, leadership, discipline & confidence
 ✔️ Helps reduce stress & strengthens mental resilience
 ✔️ Promotes school spirit & a sense of belonging

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.

Oct 23, 7:00pm

Learn how resilience is built through everyday moments, not just in times of crisis. You’ll practice Family Storytelling, the Plan B Game, and Micro-Challenges to help kids become confident problem-solvers. Take home a Family Resilience Journal template to record growth moments.

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.  

26:  2nd Marathon Turn-In Day

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

Archbishop Hebda is encouraging our Catholic school communities to participate in the Archdiocese’s Reclaiming Sundays initiative to take meaningful steps to reorient the Lord’s Day toward peace, rest and leisure.  Here are some ways to help your family reconnect on Sundays: