October 27, 2022

Important updates in this week's Tidbits

Afterschool Programs

Trunk or Treat

Christmas Card Contest

Spirit Store

Veterans Day Ceremony

Walk-A-Thon Fundraiser

Principal's Points

Good afternoon St. Stephen Families,

Who's ready to collect candy and have fun with friends?! Whose decorated vehicle will win the prize? Last year's pirate-themed car was pretty amazing! I hope to see everyone one at Trunk or Treat tomorrow evening (Oct. 28) starting at 6 pm for a spooktacular time.

Final call for Christmas card entries (see details further down in Tidbits). Students must turn in their submissions by November 2.

Students in grades K-8 will attend Mass on Tuesday (Nov. 1) next week instead of Wednesday to celebrate All Saints Day. Students in PK-2 will come dressed as saints and procession to the church prior to Mass. We invite all parents to join us on this holy day of obligation.

All school families and Parishioners are invited to join us for our Veteran's Day Ceremony on Nov. 11. School students will be present and participate in the ceremony as we come together to pray, remember, and honor those who served and are currently serving our country. The Knights of Columbus will also present their flag folding ceremony. Students will wear their Make a Difference t-shirt with their PE shorts. They may also add patriotic accessories (red, white, and blue hair accessories, socks, jewelry, hats, shoes, nail polish, etc.) but no face painting or hair dye. We will begin our annual Walkathon right after the ceremony.

The Make a Difference Walkathon will take place during the school day on Nov. 11. All students will walk to help raise funds for the school. Each year, families are required to raise $200 through their participation in the Walkathon and Spirit Raffle. The funds raised through the Walkathon will support the purchase of additional iPads for the students. With the increase in enrollment and the need to replace older iPads, our goal is to purchase a minimum of 30 iPads. Therefore, we need everyone's support in raising $100 per family in order to make this a reality. Also, remember that this year we are donating 10% of our funds raised to My Warriors Place in Ruskin. We strongly encourage families to split the $200 requirement between the two fundraisers. Anyone who does not meet this requirement by the end of the Spirit Raffle will be billed through FACTS for any amount still owed.

Nov. 11 is also our Parent/Teacher Conference day. If you have not heard from your child's teacher yet and you wish to have a conference, please be sure to contact the teacher. Students are expected to attend the conference as it will be a student-led.

There are a great many events happening over the next few weeks. Please take the time to read all of Tidbits to learn more. Tidbits is your best source of information for what is happening at school. It is also your best source to win prizes, so READ EVERYTHING!

Peace,

Linda Umoh

Upcoming Events

October 28 - Marvelous Mustang

October 28 - 12pm Dismissal

October 28 - Trunk or Treat

October 31 - Jean Day and Halloween Shirt

November 1 - All Saints Day

November 2 - Christmas Card Contest Entry Deadline

November 4 - End of Trimester 1

November 10 - Report Card Day

November 11 - Veterans Day Ceremony

November 11 - Walk-a-thon Fundraiser

November 11 - 12pm Dismissal

November 11 - Afternoon Parent-Teacher Conferences

November 12-13 - Holy Card Uniform Weekend

November 14 - Holy Card Free Dress Day

November 18 - Jean Day with Fall Shirt

Calling All Saints

Dress as your favorite Saint on Sunday, October 30, 2022 at the 9:30 am Mass. Please be at the church by 9:15 am for the procession.

The 2022 SSCS Christmas Card Contest is Here!

Calling all student artists:

All students are invited to participate in the annual SSCS Christmas Card Contest. Card designs should reflect the seasons of Advent or Christmas and the birth of our Lord. Students should use a plain white 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper. The winning design will be printed on Christmas cards sent out by the school to individuals and schools throughout the Diocese. The student will also receive a set of 25 cards with their design to send to family and friends. All submissions should be students' original artwork and should include the student’s name and grade written on the back in pencil. Designs must be submitted to the front office by Wednesday, November 2. Drawings sent in after that date/time will not be considered.

VETERANS DAY CEREMONY

Friday, November 11

8 am - 8:30 am

Family Life Center

All school families and Parishioners are invited to join us for our Veterans Day Ceremony. School students will be present and participate in the ceremony. Please join us as we come together to pray, remember, and honor those who served and are currently serving our country.

Family members and parishioners are invited to:

Wear your service uniform

Wave an American Flag

Carry a photo of a hero

Students will wear their Make a Difference t-shirt and PE shorts. They may also accessorize with red, white, and blue.

Get the kids sneakers ready as they are going to be walking to raise money this year in the Make a Difference – Red Walk and Blue Walk- a-thon! Each student will have an opportunity to walk as many laps as they can during their allotted time to participate. We recommend students to set their goal to complete 10 laps at $10 a lap.

The Walk-a-thon will be on November 11th, and it will begin immediately following the Veteran’s Day Ceremony in the school’s field across from the FLC. All Family and Friends are welcome to come watch the students walk.

This year every child will have their own fundraising page where parents can add a photo and share on social media along with friends and family. Families will receive an email with directions, or anyone can use the link below and search for a child’s name or make a general donation.

https://app.99pledges.com/fund/redwalkblue

We will be donating 10% of the proceeds to My Warriors Place in Ruskin, FL. We are witness this is a wonderful organization as our Middle School students have done service projects there for many years. Thank you for helping us support My Warriors Place.

Please continue to watch for more updates over the next few weeks.

How can we Make a Diff

KEEP SCROLLING.... LOOK FOR A SECRET MESSAGE.

ALTAR SERVER TRAINING WEEKEND

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2022 (9:30 - 11:30 AM)

- OR -

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2022 (1:00 - 3:00 PM)

(ONLY ONE SESSION NEEDS TO BE ATTENDED)

Location:

MAIN CHURCH SANCTUARY

THEME:

Focus the Ministry on what has changed/evolved since last training in August,

Welcome & Initiate New Applicants

Click Here for the Altar Service Application Form

Prepare for Advent & Christmas Liturgies, and Conduct Advancement Interviews.

SOME PROCEDURES HAVE CHANGED / EVOLVED SINCE LAST TRAINING / PLEASE REVIEW ALTAR SERVER GUIDE:

Click Here to review the Altar Server Guide

Spirit Wear Store

The link below will take you to the SSCS Spirit Wear Store. The store will be open from October 31 through November 13. All proceeds benefit the PTCO.

The Spirit Wear purchased through this link is for weekend wear and specific school days. The clothing purchased through this link is not part of our school uniform but can be worn to school on days considered Free Dress Pass Days and Jean Days. The weekly school newsletter (Tidbits) sent out on Thursday and the school calendar will note when there is a Jean Day or a Free Dress Pass Day. The school handbook also provides info regarding uniforms and Spirit Wear.

Click on the link below for more information and to order Spirit Wear. If you have any questions, please reach out to Nicki Gallagher at ngallagher@sscsfl.org.

Spirit Store Link

Spirit Night Winner

Congrats to Ken, our maintenance specialist winning a gift certificate at Little Greek. When Ken was visiting Little Greek during a recent Spirit Night, he entered a free raffle and won a gift certificate.

Little Greek on Big Bend is one of our valued supporters of PTCO Spirit Nights. PTCO appreciates all friends and families who make the time and effort to support our school on the various Spirit Nights that occur during the year.

Keep Watching Tidbits For The Upcoming Spirit Night Events!

PAPA JOHNS PIZZA

BELL SHOALS RD

13220 Boyette Road

Riverview, FL 33569

Phone:

(813) 661-7272

A Mustang Thank You to Papa Johns for donating the pizza for our Movie Night last week. Please support the Boyette Rd location next time you want pizza and thank them for supportings SSCS.

IF YOU ARE READING THIS AND WOULD LIKE A $50 GIFT CARD TO RISSE BROTHERS, EMAIL MRS. UMOH AT lumoh@sscsfl.org AND SAY "FOUND IT!" The gift card will be sent home with your child. The first person to email (based on the email timestamp) will win the gift card. Only the winner will receive a reply email. Contest ends Thursday (Oct. 27) evening at 8 pm.

" Monsters" was Noisy but FUN

Thanks to all who attended our first Movie Night of the school year. Our students certainly enjoyed being with their friends. Their merriment may have been louder than the movie soundtrack but it was nice to see children talking and laughing.

PTCO appreciates the support of all who attended and the volunteers who helped make the evening fun.

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

Click here to register Girls with Confidence

Mustang Sports

Girls Basketball- The girls basketball teams started practice this week and both teams are working hard on their skills and learning the offense and defense. The teams will have a couple weeks of practice before games start on Wednesday, November 9 vs St Lawrence here at St Stephen in the FLC. Varsity games start at 4:00 and the JV at 5:00. Please see the school website under Athletics to see the complete 2022 girls basketball game schedule.

Boys Track- The boys track teams started practice this week as well. Parent volunteer coach, Jenn Daoud, will be coaching the boys JV and varsity teams this season. She has the boys working hard at practice which should lead to success at the meets. The Mustangs have 5-6 practices before their first meet on Saturday, November 5 at Tampa Catholic from 8:00-11:30. Please see the school website under Athletics to see the complete list of the track season meet dates.

GO MUSTANGS!

Coach Green

Or you can use the QR code below for the St. Stephen Men's Club Golf Scramble

Please join us for BINGO nights!

COVID 19 Decision Tree

Click here to review COVID 19 Decision Tree

Click here for Risse Brothers uniform store.

Own the Avenue

2022-2023

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 here for information regarding fingerprints. Click here for more information on safe environment.

Check out our

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.

Join Amazon Smile and help

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!

Here's how:

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.