September 24, 2020
Important updates in this weeks Tidbits:

Haal Pass
Virtual Book Fair
Spirit Store
Food Drive
Scouting
Amazon Smiles
Own the Avenue
Girls with Confidence
Music Enrichment
Principal's Points
Good Afternoon St. Stephen families,

We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan, it is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation. Tomorrow we will remind everyone of this call to Care for Creation as we proudly wear our school theme shirts. Students may wear jeans, jean shorts (no more than 2 inches above the knee), or PE shorts.

Thank you all for joining us for our 1st Principal Coffee on Facebook Live. If you missed it, you can still watch it on Facebook. During the presentation we discussed the traffic light situation. As I mentioned, while the project is approved, the delay is due to road construction necessary to put in a crosswalk. Nicki Gallagher is following up with the county and we will let you know who you can contact to ask them to expedite this project. I also suggest that you reach out to the local state representative, Rep. Mike Beltran, and ask for his help. His District office is 3618 Erindale Dr., Valrico, FL 33596, 813-653-7097. Hopefully, if we all work together reaching out to everyone, the project will get completed as soon as possible.

Please read all of Tidbits as there is much exciting news being shared. As always, thank you all for your continued support.

Peace and Blessings,

Linda Umoh


Don't forget to wear your Care for Creation T-shirt tomorrow!
Up and Coming
Spirit Shop Online- September 18- October 4
Marvelous Mustangs- September 25
Jean and Care for Creation shirt day- September 25
Virtual book Fair- September 25- October 2
Noon Dismissal- October 2
Move Together to Care for Creation- November 6
Angels Valentine Gala- February 13

For all event details please see SSCS Event Descriptions
Easy Money for SSCS from Box Tops!

BIG NEWS Box Tops for Education is upping the amount of money they are giving schools...$10 for every new account that activates, THIS WEEK ONLY! This is huge and absolutely worth the effort if you are already shopping this week.

The details...
1. Download the new Box Tops app via a referral link (below) and set up your account with Saint Stephen as your school.
2. This week, by September 27th, use your Box Tops app and scan one grocery paper receipt with a Box Top product purchased on it.

3. You'll earn 50 Box Tops (equivalent to $5) for Saint Stephen Catholic School from your app scan and they will give us 50 Box Tops ($5) on our app account for referring you....easy...$10 dollars! 

4. Invite any friends friends. If you refer a friend and they activate their account this week, they will earn $5 for their school and you'll earn another $5 for Saint Stephen Catholic School, again!
They are only offering this for new app downloads, and it must be through a referral link---use ours so the money goes to Saint Stephen Catholic School .

For the visual learners... video on How-To Scan Your Receipt With Your Phone.


Thanks to new mom Jacequeliyn for this wonderful info!
Public Library Haal Pass
Haal Pass allows our students to access public library resources with just their student ID number and Pin. Students will use their student ID number (from FACTS) and their password of 4321 to log into the HCPLC.org site. This allows them to check out physical copies of books as well as digital books, audiobooks, and any other materials available from the public library. Students can also use this account to check out ebooks on Overdrive or Libby, the digital reader programs used by the public library.
SSCS Library Access
Students can now check out books from our school library! Students can sign into our library catalog using Destiny Discover and put books on hold. Books will be delivered to their classrooms after being checked out. Flexible learning students can have their books picked up at the front office.
Virtual Book Fair Starts Tomorrow
How exciting to travel through time!
Read a good book and imagine how it was to live during Medieval Times or see things the way a Charioteer saw them in the 5th century C.E. Books can take your students on all kinds of amazing adventures.
Visit the SSCS Time Machine Virtual Book Fair starting tomorrow, 9/25.

Show Us Your Mustang Spirit!
The online Mustang Spirit Shop is open.
Please use the link above to order.
The store will be open until 10/4.
We look forward to seeing photos of our school families showing off their Mustang Spirit on Facebook. 
Donate to the Can Food Drive- Last Day!
For 175 years, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul has provided person to person services to the most vulnerable in communities throughout the United States. Our school families generously support society's efforts by donating to can food drives during the school year. The drive helps students understand their Christian responsibility to help and care for others. Please be prepared to have your student(s) help with this noteworthy cause by taking to school cans of food to donate.
Each class will be collecting the cans the week of 9/21 for delivery to SVDP on 9/25.
Join the St. Stephen Scouts!
Parents, do you wish your kids would get outside more and have some adventures? Are you looking for a program that will help your kids grow in knowledge, independence, and responsibility while having fun with their friends? Cub Scouts may be a good fit! We invite all K-5th grade boys and girls to join us on Thursday nights at 6:30 pm in the FLC, with an option to meet virtually. For more information, please contact Susan D’Angelo at smdangelo@verizon.net.

Amazon Smile
Amazon Smiles is a great way to support our school! Amazon Smile is a program that donates 0.5% of your eligible purchases on Amazon to a charity of your choice. All you need to do is start your shopping at smile.amazon.com. The donation comes directly from Amazon and does not cost you any extra money. Please set up an Amazon Smiles account and list SSCS as your charity; this is a simple and easy way to donate to your school. We hope you will join the many families who are already helping the school every time they shop on Amazon. 
Own the Avenue
Own The Avenue is a SSCS weekly street sign posting to celebrate birthdays or other important events in your student's life. Signs are posted Monday-Friday during the school year. You select the week you want to display the street sign. Previously ordered street signs can be posted or you may order a new sign. The cost is $30 for an existing sign and $50 for a new sign. If you are interested in reserving a week for this school year, please go to Own the Avenue.
Girls with Confidence
Looking for a virtual after school activity for your daughter? Then please check out what Girls with Confidence has to offer. They are offering Virtual classes this fall.

For more information please see

Music Enrichment virtual program with Paul Effman Music
With Zoom lessons and a content library to support those classes, the quality of the Paul Effman music teachers will be as good, if not better than it has ever been. The teachers that we have been so fortunate to retain are so passionate about what they do and they are ready to give all that they can to your students and your community. They are more dedicated than ever to keep the music alive for your kids!

For more information on the virtual offerings for the 2020/2021 school year please go to https://ed.pemusic.com/join/.

Birthday Free Dress Pass
We are offering for the 2020/2021 school year the birthday free dress pass. The pass is $5, allowing your student to have free dress one day during the month of their birth. For those with Summer birthday, the pass may be used in May. If you would like to take advantage of this, please purchase these passes at the front office.

Great Family Resources
Click Here for: Free Audible books for children and teens.

Click Here for: Wide Open School is a free collection of the best online learning experiences for kids curated by the editors at Common Sense.

Click Here for: The ultimate list of resources for families with children!
Missed a Tidbits? Find it on the school Website the school Facebook page or on our Instragram using #sscsmustangs
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