From the desk of Mr. Rehder...
Dear St. Stephen’s Families,
It’s always a joy to witness the vibrant spirit of our school community as we near the close of another blessed school year. While our Minnesota Twins have been struggling a bit lately, and both the Wild and the Timberwolves are officially out of the playoffs after some incredibly tough second-round series, we still have so much to celebrate. Regardless of how our local sports teams are faring, we are looking forward to a truly wonderful summer ahead!
Field FUN Day Tomorrow!
Tomorrow marks one of our most anticipated days of the spring—Field FUN Day at Bonnell Park (1751 7th Ave, Anoka). The weather forecast looks like it will be cool, cloudy, and a little windy, so please make sure your children dress appropriately for the weather and for being outside for a few hours! We are still looking forward to a fantastic day filled with laughter, games, and memories.
Here’s what you need to know for tomorrow:
School Band Performance
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of watching our school band perform following Mass—and what a performance it was! Mrs. Nelson has done a FABULOUS job leading our students, and their dedication and talent truly shone through. If you missed the concert, here are some pictures of the event. If you would like to watch the concert, you can click on the St. Stephen Church Anoka, MN Youtube page, and click on the May 20 Daily Mass link. The concert is immediately following the Mass portion of the video. Congratulations to all our band members for a wonderful year of music-making!
It’s always a joy to witness the vibrant spirit of our school community as we near the close of another blessed school year. While our Minnesota Twins have been struggling a bit lately, and both the Wild and the Timberwolves are officially out of the playoffs after some incredibly tough second-round series, we still have so much to celebrate. Regardless of how our local sports teams are faring, we are looking forward to a truly wonderful summer ahead!
Field FUN Day Tomorrow!
Tomorrow marks one of our most anticipated days of the spring—Field FUN Day at Bonnell Park (1751 7th Ave, Anoka). The weather forecast looks like it will be cool, cloudy, and a little windy, so please make sure your children dress appropriately for the weather and for being outside for a few hours! We are still looking forward to a fantastic day filled with laughter, games, and memories.
Here’s what you need to know for tomorrow:
- K–2nd Grade: Alongside their middle school buddies, K-2 will join the festivities from 8:50–10:50 AM.
- Grades 3–5: Will enjoy their Field Day from 11:20 AM–1:20 PM.
- Lunch Break: All students will break for a bag lunch from 10:50–11:20 AM. (Please remember to pack a bag lunch tomorrow!)
School Band Performance
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of watching our school band perform following Mass—and what a performance it was! Mrs. Nelson has done a FABULOUS job leading our students, and their dedication and talent truly shone through. If you missed the concert, here are some pictures of the event. If you would like to watch the concert, you can click on the St. Stephen Church Anoka, MN Youtube page, and click on the May 20 Daily Mass link. The concert is immediately following the Mass portion of the video. Congratulations to all our band members for a wonderful year of music-making!
7th Grade Canoe Project & Launch!
In other exciting news, our 7th-grade students have officially completed their canoe project! This marks our second year doing the canoe build, with Urban Wilderness leading the way and invaluable financial support from the Catholic Schools Center of Excellence (CSCOE) to make it all happen.
Over the past couple of weeks, our students worked hard building a real, functional canoe that is both lightweight and durable. Just yesterday, we held the official launch of the canoe! We have updated pictures attached showcasing their amazing craftsmanship and the excitement of the launch.
We’re proud to announce that this masterpiece will be auctioned off during next year’s Mardi Gras fundraiser to help sustain this incredible program for future classes.
In other exciting news, our 7th-grade students have officially completed their canoe project! This marks our second year doing the canoe build, with Urban Wilderness leading the way and invaluable financial support from the Catholic Schools Center of Excellence (CSCOE) to make it all happen.
Over the past couple of weeks, our students worked hard building a real, functional canoe that is both lightweight and durable. Just yesterday, we held the official launch of the canoe! We have updated pictures attached showcasing their amazing craftsmanship and the excitement of the launch.
We’re proud to announce that this masterpiece will be auctioned off during next year’s Mardi Gras fundraiser to help sustain this incredible program for future classes.
Looking Ahead: 8th Grade Graduation
Next week is a BIG one for our 8th-grade students as we celebrate their journey with our Candle Passing Ceremony and Graduation Mass and Ceremony. Please join me in keeping these students and their families in your prayers as they complete their “Angel” journey here at St. Stephen’s and prepare to spread their wings.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support, prayers, and partnership. May God bless your families in these final days of the school year!
With gratitude,
Gerald Rehder
Principal, St. Stephen’s Catholic School
Next week is a BIG one for our 8th-grade students as we celebrate their journey with our Candle Passing Ceremony and Graduation Mass and Ceremony. Please join me in keeping these students and their families in your prayers as they complete their “Angel” journey here at St. Stephen’s and prepare to spread their wings.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support, prayers, and partnership. May God bless your families in these final days of the school year!
With gratitude,
Gerald Rehder
Principal, St. Stephen’s Catholic School
HELP WANTED
We are looking to hire for the 2026-2027 school year:
We have the ability to combine some of these jobs into one position if desired! Tuition discount available to candidates with students enrolled in our K-8 school.
Please email Mr. Rehder @Gerald Rehder and Mrs. Staggert @Heidi Staggert if you are interested in joining our team!
Kitchen Assistant – 8am until 1pm
B.A.S.E. Assistant – 1:30pm until 6PM
Preschool Aftercare assistant – 2pm until 5pm
Lunch Supervision – 10:20am until 12:20pm
B.A.S.E. Assistant – 1:30pm until 6PM
Preschool Aftercare assistant – 2pm until 5pm
Lunch Supervision – 10:20am until 12:20pm
We have the ability to combine some of these jobs into one position if desired! Tuition discount available to candidates with students enrolled in our K-8 school.
Please email Mr. Rehder @Gerald Rehder and Mrs. Staggert @Heidi Staggert if you are interested in joining our team!
ENROLL NOW FOR 2026-27 SPANISH
🎉 'Tis the season to learn SPANISH!
Registration for the 2026–2027 school year is now open!
💲 Register by 6/7 and receive $15 off tuition
📆 Celebrate Spanish in every season — join us for a brand-new theme!
📌 Don’t miss this valuable opportunity for your student to build Spanish skills in a fun, interactive bilingual classroom.
Enroll today: https://futuraadventures.com/minnesota-region/
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL & GOD SQUAD
VBS: THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME AWAITS!
Are you ready to discover Holiness: The True Adventure?
This isn’t just another week of summer—it’s a quest to become the saint you are called to be! Join us for VBS 2026 at St. Stephen's Catholic Church for four days of non-stop excitement, faith, and fun.
Dates: July 6 – July 9
Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Family Night: Wednesday, July 8 @ 5:30 PM (Dinner & Fun!)
Who: Preschool (Age 4) through entering 5th Grade in the Fall of 2026
Registration closes on June 4th.
Are you ready to trade the couch for the God Squad? We’re looking for leaders who want to do more than just volunteer—we want you to help us build the ultimate VBS experience for our elementary kids!
Why join God Squad?
- Level Up: Gain real leadership skills that look great on a resume.
- Deepen Your Faith: Grow closer to God through prayer, service & community.
- Make Connections: Find your people and build friendships that actually last.
- The Vibes: From the overnight training to the final family celebration, we’re making memories you'll be talking about all year.
Don't wait—registration closes June 4th! Are you in?
Here are the links to the registration:
God Squad: https://forms.gle/J2QNTAvBRaw8KTQ78
VOLUNTEER CORNER
A SPECIAL THANK YOU
A SPECIAL THANK YOU to CCF for providing us with a grant to update our website and video production. We will be working on this over the summer, and hope to have a launch date of July 1, 2026. Watch for updates on our website!
VOICE LESSONS
Mrs. Douglas will be teaching voice lessons over the summer to anyone in grades 5-8. If you are interested, please contact her at hdouglas@ststephenchurch.org for more details.
SUMMER TUTORING
Looking for academic support for your child over the summer? Look no further!
Ms. Furness is offering tutoring for students in Kindergarten-4th grade (during the 2025-2026 school year) in the areas of Reading and Math. Sessions will last for one hour on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays.
Spots are limited—registration is open now through Friday, May 29th. Secure your child’s place and set them up for success this summer! Click on the link below to sign up:
After registration closes, a schedule will be created and communicated with you.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Furness directly: kfurness@ststephenchurch.org. I look forward to a summer learning adventure!
Ms. Furness is offering tutoring for students in Kindergarten-4th grade (during the 2025-2026 school year) in the areas of Reading and Math. Sessions will last for one hour on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays.
Spots are limited—registration is open now through Friday, May 29th. Secure your child’s place and set them up for success this summer! Click on the link below to sign up:
After registration closes, a schedule will be created and communicated with you.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Furness directly: kfurness@ststephenchurch.org. I look forward to a summer learning adventure!
BASE ETIQUETTE DAY
Etiquette Day was a fun experience for the children at BASE! They enjoyed role-playing, learning proper introductions, reviewing table manners they already know, and discussing “5 Ways To Combat Rudness.” A special thank you to the children who volunteered to stand up and participate, as well as to everyone in the audience for demonstrating such respectful manners. We completed the lesson enjoying a good bye cake for Mrs. Effertz!
ARCHBISHOP'S PASTORAL LETTER TO FAMILIES
Please take a moment to read Archbishop Hebda's pastoral letter to families, Only One Thing is Necessary.
ANGEL AWARD WINNERS
Congratulations to this week's Angel Award Winners Stella N., Abbott M., and Sullivan E. have been rewarded with a Buffalo Wild Wings meal and an Out of Uniform Pass. Thank you, students, for making our school a better place to be!
YEARBOOKS
St. Stephen's School YEARBOOKS were handed out to all students who ordered one. If your child did not receive one, and would like one, please send in $20 to the office to purchase one. We have extra copies available.
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 2025/26 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
MAY
21: Middle School Dance22: Field Day at Carl Bonnell Field in Anoka
25: NO SCHOOL, Memorial Day
28: Candle Passing at 9 AM
28: Last Day for 8th graders
29: 7th grade field trip
30: 8th grade GRADUATION after 5 PM Mass
JUNE
1: Senior Day.
4: Preschool End-of-Year Program
4: Last Day of School!
