December 8, 2022


Important updates in this week's Tidbits


Pre-Angels Silent Auction Winners


Gingerbread Holiday Shop


Spirit Night


Christmas Concert


Polar Express


Volunteer Opportunities



Principal's Points

Good afternoon St. Stephen Families,


Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, and this evening begins a 40 Hour Eucharist Devotion. Our students will be attending Adoration tomorrow during their scheduled Religion class time. Please consider coming to the chapel and spending time with Christ.


This weekend is Holy Card/Uniform Weekend. Please remember to bring your child to Mass in their uniform for free dress on Monday. Next Friday, Dec. 16, is the Christmas Concert. All students in grades PK-6 will be performing and should be at the church by 6 pm. Drama Club students and 7th and 8th graders participating should also be there by 6 pm.


There are many activities planned over the next two weeks. Please be sure to read everything below to stay informed.


Peace,


Linda Umoh

Upcoming Events

December 5-9 - Gingerbread Holiday Shop

December 10-11 - Holy Card Uniform Weekend

December 11 - Third Sunday of Advent

December 12 - Holy Card Free Dress Day

December 15 - 6th Grade Science Fair

December 16 - 12pm Dismissal

December 16 - Christmas Concert

December 16 - Polar Express

December 18 - Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 21 - Jean Day with Christmas Shirt

December 21 - 12pm Dismissal

December 22 - January 3 - Christmas Holiday

January 4 - Students Return to School

Praying with your children.

During this season of advent celebration we all are busy. However, here are some simple ideas for parents praying with their children. The link below gives examples of how parents can pray with their children.

Examples for Praying with your Children

Winners of the Silent Auction


And the WINNERS are…


Thank you to our wonderful St. Stephen families for an exciting silent auction! Our winners are listed below. Please come to the front office to settle payment at your earliest convenience. Contact Nicki Gallagher ngallagher@sscsfl.org to set dates, if you need additional information or have any questions. Support our students and continue the bidding fun at the Angels Among Us Gala on Feb 11th, 2023. Congratulations to the winners and thank you again for your generous support.  


Administration/Receptionist- Pam Beam


Christmas Concert Front Row Seating- Becky Warnken 


Easter Bunny Party- Erin Black


Happy Birthday Package- April Gluck 


King or Queen of Carline- Vanessa Hernandez


Librarian- Joanna Mclaughlin


Morning Show News Anchor- Pam Beam


Mustang Summer Camp- Mary Cloete 


Preferred Graduation Seating- Erin Black


Private Basketball Training- Erin Black 


St. Stephen Gift Basket-  Cindy Basilicato 

We Need You!!!

If you have a career that you love and would like to share your talents with our students, we would appreciate your time on Vocations Day.


This will take place on Thursday, February 2, 2023 from 8:30 am to 10:30 am during Catholic Schools week. This will help inspire our students to learn more about career options to set goals for their future. Please contact Julie at jpollock@sscsfl.org. This will go towards your volunteer hours needed.

LAST DAY TOMORROW to SHOP!!!!

The Gingerbread Holiday Shop

 

The PTCO has been working hard on our tradition of a Christmas gift shopping experience for the students. The Gingerbread Holiday Shop will be open December 5-9 for students to shop for family and friends. 

New this year, students will also have the opportunity to shop for a child in need by donating an item from the shop to the San Jose Mission. We will have a giant stocking on hand for San Jose Mission donations purchased at the Gingerbread Shop. 

 A budget envelope will be sent home with students this week, so parents may help students decide whom to purchase gifts for and how much to spend.  Only students who bring completed budget envelopes and cash or check back to school the week of 12/5/2022 will be allowed to visit the shop.  Items are priced $0.25 up to $20. Most items are $5 and under.  This year, students will pay for their items at the time of shopping (point of sale). We will accept cash or check that you will return with your student’s provided budget envelope on his or her class’s designated shopping day. 


Friday 12/9 - makeup shopping day for all grades



Please see the attached letter for more information.


2022 PTCO Gingerbread Holiday Shop Information

 


Thank you to all the parents who have already signed up to volunteer at the Gingerbread Shop. We are still in need of a few more volunteers, so please click on the signup genius link for more information on volunteer opportunities and to sign up. Thank you for your support of this fun shopping experience for our students.


St. Stephen Catholic School Families: PTCO Gingerbread Holiday Shop(sign-upgenius.com)


Job Opportunity - Extended Day Staff


We are in need of an additional extended day staff member. The hours are roughly 2 to 6 pm. Please contact Mary Gurley at mgurley@sscsfl.org if you are interested.

Easy Ways To Give 


If you have been thinking about helping a family in need or putting a smile on a child's face for Christmas, here are a few easy ways you can make this happen:

Faith Formation is collecting gift cards in any amount for families at San Jose Missions. The last day to donate the gift card is 12/15. You can drop the card off at the school office and we will make sure they are given to Kim in Faith Formation. You can also send the card with your student in an envelope marked for the School Office.

St. Vincent de Paul is collecting Christmas Baskets with items to help make dinner and requesting the Basket include a $15 gift card to a grocery store or Walmart. The baskets can be placed in the SVDP trailer in front of the church.

PTCO will be collecting trinkets (small toys) for a super large stocking that will be given to the children at San Jose Missions. You can drop the small toy, game, book, etc at the school office. Or you can mark the Gingerbread House order form for your student to select an item while shopping at the Gingerbread Shop. The order forms will be going home this week with your child. This is a great way for your child to experience selecting and giving a small item to a needy child for Christmas. The stocking will be prominently displayed in the Gingerbread Shopping area. All donated items for the stocking should be small in size so they fit in the stocking, be suitable for a child, and be placed in the stocking before 12/15. The age or sex of the child does not matter as San Jose will sort the donated items and distribute them to the children.  

Thank you for considering helping those in need during the Christmas season.

Mustang Sports

Girls Basketball:  This is the last week of the regular season for the varsity and the last week of the season for the JV. The varsity lost to Nativity, 20-11, and they were led in scoring by Anelisse S. with 6 points. The JV lost to Nativity, 11-0. The varsity lost to St Lawrence, 25-13. Medina S. and Anelisse S. had 4 points each to lead the Mustangs in scoring. The JV beat St Lawrence, 14-2, and the girls were led in scoring by Amelia B. with 12 points. The basketball teams are back on the court today with a home game against Corpus Christi here at St Stephen. Varsity plays at 4:00 and the JV at 5:00. The varsity playoffs start next Tuesday. The opponent and gym site is still to be determined.   


Boys Track:  The boys track team wrapped up their season this past Saturday with the running and relay meet at Jesuit. All of the Mustang runners did a great job. A few Mustangs finished in the top 8 of their event and earned points for the team. John Michael R.-1st varsity 100 (12.14), 4th varsity 400 (1:01), and 4th varsity long jump (14'10"). Alden S.-8th varsity Mile (6:34) and 8th varsity 800 (2:57). 7th-varsity 4x100 relay. Robert V.-5th JV Mile (6:23). Benjamin B.-5th JV Long Jump (11'2"). Thank you to parent volunteer, Jenn Daoud, for her hard work and commitment, and for doing a great job coaching the boys team this season.    


Boys varsity basketball tryouts are next Thursday, December 15 from 3:00-5:30. Boys JV basketball tryouts are Monday, December 19, from 3:00-5:30. Boys in 5th-8th grade interested in trying out for basketball should sign up with Coach Green. Former St Stephen players Brayden McAnally and Jacob Larson will be back coaching the boys JV team this season. 


Girls flag football tryouts are Monday, December 19 and Tuesday, December 20 from 3:00-5:00. Girls in 6th-8th grade are eligible to try out. See Coach Green to sign up for tryouts. Parent volunteer Pat McRae, is returning to coach the girls team this year. This will be his 6th year coaching the team.  



GO MUSTANGS!


Coach Green

Volunteers Needed



PTCO will be offering concessions (water, Gatorade, snacks, etc) during home games both in the FLC and the playing fields. Both school and visiting families have requested we do this as an accommodation. 

In order to get this new venture off the ground, please consider volunteering to help by clicking the link below to volunteer for upcoming Girls Basketball Games.


Concession sign-up genius


If you have any questions, please contact Becky at becky.vielledent@gmail.com

 

Please watch for future sign-ups for Spring Sports: Boys Basketball, Boys/Girls Flag Football, etc.!

Silent Auction donation information for the Gala on February 11, 2022

Do you have items to donate?


Are you in need of volunteer hours?


Angels are now accepting donations that can be used in our Silent Auction for the Gala on February 11th at the FLC, Rock n Roll Party.

If you have any collectibles, sports memorabilia or new and unused items that you would like to donate, please drop them off at the school office. Volunteer hours will be given for wine donations. Wine donations with a total retail value of $40 equals a one-hour volunteer credit. Volunteer hours not done are charged in May at $50 per hour so this is a $10 savings. Both white and red are accepted. Please be sure all donations given to the front office include the donor’s name and copy of the purchase receipt. Wine donations only receive volunteer credit. If you have any questions, please contact ngallagher@sscsfl.org

 PTCO Now Offers Scrip

 

   Help PTCO earn cash back from gift card purchases.


     A simple and easy way to purchase gift cards!


How does it work?


Use the Raise Right App to buy an electronic or physical gift card for hundreds of stores! The school receives a percentage of the gift card purchase! Click HERE for more information about the program. 


Many of your favorite stores and restaurants are included – Target, Walmart, Publix, Outback, Panera, and more!


Going shopping? Buy an electronic gift card for the approximate amount and use it at the check-out line! Click HERE for more information about ecards. 

 

To get started today, review the RaiseRight Enrollment using the link below and if you have questions, please contact ngallagher@sscsf.org

 

Thank you for your continued support of SSCS! We hope you find this to be an easy way to make a difference for our school.

Raise Right Enrollment


Please watch the video below to see how easy it is to purchase scrip from Raise Right.

Easy way to support the PTCO and get your Holiday Gift Cards


VIDEO for purchasing scrip from Raise Right


Alumni Updates


Attention: Current School families who have children that are SSCS Alumni



Please help us follow the success of our former students. Kindly share with us updates on how your SSCS graduate is doing in school, in their profession or in pursuing their dreams. We want to be able to congratulate our alumni when they achieve amazing 

things and wish them well when they venture into something new and exciting.

      A few lines providing name, year graduated from SSCS and update should be sent to ngallagher@sscsfl.org






Please join us for BINGO nights!
Click here for Risse Brothers uniform store.
Own the Avenue
2022-2023

We still have dates available!

03/05/23, 03/12/23, 04/16/22 and 04/30/23. Please sign-up using link below. 

Own The Avenue is a year-round fundraiser for the PTCO and gives you a great way to give your child a shout out for the school community to see! Birthdays, achievements, any positive vibes and kudos are welcome, and they certainly make your student feel special!


The sign is located on the corner of our school parking lot and will be viewed and celebrated for the entire week. A PTCO member will be responsible for putting up the sign, and after the week is done the sign will be sent home with your student for you to keep or to reuse for another week in the future!

How it works:


If you have an existing sign, the cost is $30 for the week. If we need to order a new sign, the cost is $50 for the week. Please make payments through the school's front office.


To sign up, please use the link below and more details will follow. Please note, new signs take up to 2 weeks to process and receive from our vendor. If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Maria Ayala at own.the.avenue.sscs@gmail.com.

 

Thank you in advance for your support!


IMPORTANT: Please note, this is a yearly fundraiser that is on a first come, first served basis (via

SignUpGenius). For example, if you purchase a sign this year for a specific week 9-4-22 thru 9-10-22, that same week is not guaranteed to you for future years. It is required that you sign up each school year if you wish to participate.



Sign-Up Genius Own the Avenue

Everyone needs updated safe environment training and fingerprints in order to volunteer in the school or to chaperone a field trip. Safe environment and fingerprints are good for 5 years. Attached below are the instructions on how to get your safe environment certificate and to have your fingerprints done. If you have any questions please contact Karen Biase at kbiase@sscsfl.org or call the front office at ext. 1100. Click the link for information here regarding fingerprints. Click for the live link here. Click here for more information on safe environment and click here for the link.

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Mustang News morning show!
You can join our Mustang News team each morning at 7:50 as we stream live on YouTube to begin the day with prayers, the pledge of allegiance, and news. Subscribe to our channel here.
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support SSCS!
It's simple to give money back to SSCS when you shop on Amazon, and now is the perfect time to sign up!
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1. Visit https://smile.amazon.com
2. Sign in with your Amazon.com credentials.
3. Choose a charitable organization to receive donations, or search for the charity of your choice.
4. Select your charity.
5. Start shopping!
6. Add a bookmark https://smile.amazon.com make it even easier to return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile.
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Mission Statement
St. Stephen Catholic School is devoted to inspiring students to achieve their full academic potential while demonstrating a desire to continue Jesus' mission by applying Catholic morals, beliefs, values, and practices in their everyday lives. We are committed to motivating students to sustain a lifelong love of learning.