Where Spirit & Mind Grow
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St. Stephen's Catholic School March 30, 2017
In This Issue:
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From the Desk of Ms. Morri


Next week is our Accreditation visit.  We will have a team of educators in our building on Monday April 3rd through Wednesday, April 5th.  We are looking forward to showing the team the great things we are doing at St. Stephen's  and we look forward to making our school even better! Thank you for your continued support and prayers for our school.

God bless,

Diane Morri
Invitation to Pray
As we begin the Triduum, we wanted to take some time to pray as a school.   The 8th Grade would like to invite parents to come
and pray the Stations of the Cross with us on Holy Thursday, April 13th  at 1:15 PM in the school gym.   


Middle School Students Use IXL
The middle school students have been using their Chromebooks to practice math and language arts standards on the IXL practice program. During WIN time students are practicing skills that have been assigned to them based on their NWEA Map Assessment scores. IXL is an online based program that allows students to move at their own pace and helps students self correct their mistakes. Using IXL has allowed students the opportunity to work on mastering standards while conquering challenges and uncovering prizes.

Birthday Bags for the ACBC Foodshelf

Grades 2-3 Performance Lunch
We would like to invite you to the 2-3 Arts Performance Lunch!

Schedule:   9:00 Mass.  You are welcome to come and sit with your child.
10:00 Grades 2-3 Concert in church- students will stay after church to perform their songs!

Extra time between the concert and lunch/Art show will be spent in the classroom doing  a fun activity. Parents are invited!

10:40 2-3 Art show in the Cafeteria and lunch. Parents are invited to eat with their children and view the children's artwork.

11:05 Recess

Who is invited? Parents, Grandparents, Friends!
When? Wednesday, April 12th

If you haven't already signed up for lunch, please take a minute to let us know that you are coming by clicking on the link below:

Reading/Math Classes Offered
Summer 2017 Reading and Math Classes

It's important to schedule reading and math practice in the summer to prevent summer loss.  Research shows that most young people experience this learning loss when they do not engage in educational activities during the summer months.  To keep your child refreshed in academic basics, enroll them in summer reading and math classes at St. Stephen's School with Mrs. Tyminski and Mrs. Lysdahl.  We will offer one hour classes each in reading and math, grouped according to grades:  Kindergarten; 1st-2nd Grades; and 3rd - 5th grade.  The classes will be held on Tuesdays in June and July.  For further information please contact either:

Mrs. Lysdahl at    slysdahl@ststephenchurch.org
Mrs. Tyminski at  mtyminski@ststephenchurch.org
Stations of the Cross
4th -8th Grade Student Lead
Parish Stations of the Cross
7 PM - March 24
 
Our school will be leading the parish Stations of the Cross on Friday, March 24.  Mrs. Toenjes, our fourth grade teacher,  is looking for students interested in reading the Stations of the Cross, musicians, cross and candle bearers for this special opportunity.  Please let Mrs. Toenjes know by email or note if your child could help out.  Mrs. Toenjes will be practicing with students before the stations on March 24.  Students will need to wear their uniform as they will be representing our school. 
 

Registration for 2017/2018
Registration for the 2017/2018 School Year is underway!   We have already filled quite a few classrooms.  If you haven't returned your paperwork, please make sure to do so!  Click here for a re-enrollment form:




Lent in First Grade
The St. Stephen's first graders are learning about the three pillars of Lent. We call them GIVE IT UP, GIVE IT AWAY and PRAY.

PRAY- We know that we need to pray more during Lent. We have put together a prayer board where we write down our prayerful intentions and display them for our classmates to see. Every morning we are praying for someone or something that we think needs our prayers.

Here are some examples:
Piper- I want to pray for my cousin Lindsay and Steven. They got married two weeks ago and I pray for them to have a good life.

Elaina-  For my friend Abby who has diabetes and all the people in the world who has diabetes.

Wyatt-  My mom and dad and my neighbor Eric who has cancer.

Brian-  For my mom who had surgery and for everyone who is in our class.

Jackson-  For my grandma and grandpa so they have a safe trip. They are traveling from Michigan to visit us. 

Rice Bowl
Through CRS Rice Bowl, we hear stories from our brothers and sisters in need worldwide, and devote our Lenten prayers, fasting and gifts to change the lives of the poor. Each day of Lent, individuals are invited to use the Lenten Calendar-included with every CRS Rice Bowl-to guide their Lenten almsgiving. These daily almsgiving activities-for example, give 25 cents for every faucet found in your home-help families reflect on the realities of our brothers and sisters around the world and how they can be in solidarity during the Lenten season.
How will you contribute to the culture of encounter this Lent?
Please continue filling your Rice Bowl this Lenten season. 
St. Stephen's Church Fish Fry
The ever-popular Lenten Fish Dinners are held at St. Stephen's on Fridays during Lent.  Dinner is served from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. This event, hosted by the Anoka Knights of Columbus, will be held in the Faith Community Center. The menu consists of generous servings of baked and deep fried fish, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, dinner rolls and apple crisp. Beverages include coffee, milk and lemonade. This event is open to everyone and all are welcome. "To-Go" boxes are available.  Adults are $8.00, children ages 4 to 12 are $4.00 and children age 3 and under are free.
 
If you would like to volunteer for the fish dinners, please contact  Carole Santer at 763-421-1971.


Anoka KC Council Ham Bingo - April 1


Lenten Corner
This month we turn our attention to those in our world who face discrimination, exile and violence because they are Christian. During the season of Lent, when we recall Jesus' way of the Cross, we can pray and offer support to those who face the cross today because of their faith in Jesus.
Upcoming Events

Friday, March 31 End of Quarter 3

Monday, April 3 - Wednesday, April 5 - Accreditation Visit

Friday, April 7 - 8th Grade Variety Show at 8 AM in the Gym

Monday, April 10 - Middle School SPIRIT DAY - Come and celebrate our Middle School 3rd Quarter Achievements

Thursday, April 13 - Holy Thursday

Friday, April 14 - Good Friday - NO SCHOOL

Sunday, April 16 - EASTER SUNDAY

Monday, April 17 - Easter Monday - NO SCHOOL

April 20th - Preschool information night-6pm-7pm.  Students can play in the gym while parents meet with the teachers to learn about our Preschool program and ways to be involved in the school.

April 24th - Kindergarten information night- 6pm-7pm.  Students can play in the gym while parents meet with the teachers to learn about our Kindergarten program and ways to be involved in the school.

Mardi Gras Thank You


It is with utmost gratitude and excitement that I can share some more specific Mardi Gras figures with you! Our theme was "Let the Good Times Roll". And we did! We had an amazing year and I hope that everyone who attended felt the energy in the room that night and had a fun evening. It's been a long standing goal of the Mardi Gras Committee to have more school and parent involvement in the event. Thank you to the staff, everyone who donated, volunteered on the committee, or worked on set-up and take-down, and to those who attended the event. Mardi Gras raised over $88,000 net profit, the most we have ever raised! This total includes our two need items for the school and church.

Every year we ask the teachers to donate to the silent or live auction items that highlight them or their talents. The teachers came through in a huge way this year and their 10 items sold for over $4,100. (This included the cross the whole school worked on creating.) There are still a few spots available for a sip, snack and paint night led by Mrs. Kocher on Friday, April 21st from 7-9 pm. Spots are $55 and worth every penny! Please see Heidi in the office if you are interested. Mrs. Kocher also had each grade work on an art project. You all have some talented kiddos! These projects raised $635.

As you all know we had a contest to for raising money for the school baskets we sell at Mardi Gras. This year's winner was Kindergarten! They enjoyed a popcorn and movie party complete with masks and beads. Thank you to all the families who donated. As a school we brought in over $1500. That allowed us to make 10 amazing baskets that sold for $1,975. These baskets are always favorites of attendees.

All of these exciting school items in this year's auctions raised a total over $6,700!

If you have not heard ... thanks to many generous parishioners and school parents, we raised over $30,000 for the sport court upgrade to the playground! ($25,000 was our goal.) We are in the planning stages and will be touring local courts installed to make sure this is an investment the kids will love. The extra funds will be used to replace some the playground equipment like balls and sticks. Look for this fun improvement to come over the summer months.

And thank you to everyone involved in making this our best Mardi Gras yet!

Laura Hudson and Mary Jane Beberg
April Lunch Menu
The April Lunch Menu is now available

click here to download.
Mission Statement
St. Stephen's Catholic School is a caring Christian community that nourishes spiritual development and academic excellence.