	St. Stephen the Martyr School

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Martyr Messenger

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Friday, May 2, 2008

Friday, March 14, 2008

Prayers Please:

In the last few weeks we have suffered the loss of two of our school parents: Mr. Matthew Brester (Feb. 19), father of Josh and Abby (kindergarten) and Caleb (pre-kindergarten) and Mr. Jim McCoy (Mar. 7), father of Jimmy (fourth grade). Both of these fathers suffered long battles with cancer. Please keep these families in your prayers.

The Cost of Educating a Child

In this Martyr Messenger you will find the new registration information for this next school year. Our registration process begins about this time every year and ends on April 15^th. You will notice that the registration fee is still $100 per student and the tuition rate is now $2000.00 per student. This shows an increase of $125 over last year’s tuition rate.

The question that I frequently get is this: what is the per-pupil cost to educate a child at St. Stephen the Martyr School? The answer is really in two parts. The first answer is this: about twice the amount of tuition. If you notice the out-of-parish tuition rate on our registration form, you will notice the amount of $4000.00 is listed as the tuition rate. This is very close to the actual cost. This number would include everything it takes in the parish to make the school operate (personnel, instructional materials, maintenance, heat, lights, etc.). The second part of the answer is different. If you are a parishioner, and the rate is $2000 for tuition, what is the per-pupil cost now? That tuition amount covers about 75% of the cost to educate the student. This amount is based on a specific formula where tuition accounts for 75% and the parish subsidy accounts for 25%. (Now, we do off-set a little of the 75% with our Magazine Fund Raiser each year-which makes a little over $20,000-so that number is a little lower 74.1%, but the 75-25 model is what the Parish Finance Board tries to use as a benchmark). This per-pupil cost takes into account the salaries of our school staff, the instructional materials (books and such), office and paper supplies, various expenses for workshops, staff benefits, etc. This number does NOT include the heat, lights, and maintenance costs to run the school. Those costs are absorbed by the parish.

I want you all to realize this: we are a parish school. We get no money outside of what we generate as a parish. While it takes over a 2 million dollar budget to operate the school, it takes about that much from the parish to keep it all going. That money comes does not come from tuition. That money comes from Sunday stewardship. That money comes from parish fundraisers. The support of all of our parishioners helps in making the school run. As a parish we are a community and we are all in this together.

Teacher Appreciation Week Thank You!

We have had a fantastic Teacher Appreciation Week! Thanks to Mrs. Lori Bonnett, Cat Keller and Trish Pickens, who organized the event and all the parent volunteers that made it possible. It was a fantastic week!!!

Kindergarten Experience Day

Next Thursday, March 20^th we will have a special Kindergarten Experience Day for our new, incoming Kindergarten students (2008-2009). There will be NO Kindergarten and NO Tuesday/Thursday Pre-Kindergarten classes that day.

1^st – 8^th Registration for 2008-2009

Enclosed in this MM is the registration form for the 2008-2009 school year. Information has already been sent to our incoming Kindergarten and Pre-Kindergarten families. For your convenience the TEFT form can be found at: http://www.stephen.org/school/forms/TEFTAUTH0809.pdf. Registration deadline is: April 15, 2008. Thank you! Questions to Mary Ann at: m.maier@stephen.org or 896-0754.

Kindergarten Registration for 2008-2009

Complete Kindergarten registration information is now available at the school office. Kindergarten registration deadline is: April 15, 2008.

Pre-Kindergarten Registration for 2008-2009

Pre-Kindergarten registration information is also available at the school office and online. Pre-Kindergarten registration deadline is: Thurday, March 20, 2008.

Children’s Scholarship Fund

In this MM you will find a preliminary application for the Children Scholarship Fund. Please look for it. If your family is eligible and meets the guidelines please send in the form to the CSF address given on the form. These are due by April 21^st! Thank you!

Congratulations to our Bible Bowl Team!

Congratulations to our Bible Bowl Team that took second place this year! Our team: 4^th graders Olivia Behle (4C) and Hannah Kavan (4C), 5^th graders Anna Finger (5C) and Alex Minton (5B), 6^th graders Brittlin Hoge (6C) and Thomas Kalil (6B) Our alternates were Jonathan Vos (4C) and Madison Kenney (6B). And a HUGE congratulations to Anna Finger for taking FIRST place overall!!!

Easter Vacation!!!

We will dismiss next Thursday, Holy Thursday, at noon (1^st through 8^th grades). Classes will resume on Monday, March 31^st at 8:00 a.m. Our quarter will also end on Thursday. Report cards will go home on April 4^th.

Science Fair!

Congratulations to our 7^th grade scientists! The results from our annual Science Fair, held on March 6^th: 1^st place: Ryan Jesperson for his project; “Skyscraper Limits,” 2^nd place: Amanda Olson and Nicole Zurich for their project “Does Age Affect Taste?” and 3^rd place: Chris Biddlecombe and Andrew Whealon for their project “Decomposition.” Thanks to all of the 7^th graders for their hard work and fantastic projects this year. Thanks to our science teacher, Mrs. Kathy Jones, for all of her work with these students.

Willy Wonka!

Thanks to our Home and School Association for, once again, providing our students the opportunity to share their gifts and talents on stage! Tonight at 8 p.m. and tomorrow night, at 6:30 p.m. there will be performances of the play “Willy Wonka.” Each year our students, and parent volunteers work very hard on this production. I want to thank our two parent coordinators: Mrs. Rose Benda and Mrs. Anne Byrne, for all of their time and effort devoted to this project!!!

Looking Into the Future…mark your calendars now!

Here is the plan for next year’s fundraising activities for St. Stephen the Martyr School:

Our 4^th Annual Martyr Marathon, sponsored by the Home and School Association, will be held on Friday, September 5^th!! Please reserve this day now to join in the fun!

Also, our QSP Magazine Fundraiser will begin on Monday, October 6^th. This year we are strongly pushing ‘Internet Sales’ only. After parental feedback, we have pushed this fundraiser back as possible to allow for any renewals to occur.

The next MM will go home on Friday, April 4^th, 2008.

Take care,

David J. Peters, Ed.D.
Principal

Friday, February 22, 2008

Teamwork

Over the years you have probably heard the term ‘teamwork’ more than you could count. It means working with others for a specific goal or purpose. Over the course of the school year we find ourselves, as educators and parents, working together for the outcome of educating our children in a Catholic Christian environment. That is our joint goal. But what does it mean?

At conferences this past month I was able to chat with a few parents. It is amazing to me the subtleties of growth and maturation with children. Parents remember their children from before they were even born. They remember getting ready for them. Their birth days are held as prominent and important impressions in our minds. Sometimes, we ‘arrest’ in our minds our children at certain ages as they grow. However, we cannot stay stuck on these images and experiences. As parents and educators we need to work with our children to get them ready for a variety of expectations and tasks that change as they grow. They are growing and growing quickly. Here is an important point: we do see our children as they are at this very minute; but we need to see them as a continuum since infancy.

This continuum involves looking at our children’s accomplishments, talents, struggles and deeds. Teachers are prepared to deliver curriculum to students. Curriculum, loosely defined, is every single thing we teach and what the children experience. It is our academics as well as our spiritual; it is the physical as well as the affective. It is our words and actions communicated each day. It is tangible and intangible. The subtly of the day-to-day masks the over-arching goal of the school year at a single grade; each grade holds its wonders and set experiences.

Teamwork is above all things, about relationships. The relationship of the student, the parent and the teacher are essential to make it all effective and workable.

Do you remember second grade and First Communion? Did you have a favorite teacher that still stays with you? Do you remember significant experiences when you were in school? Things do stand out, but they also blend and become common. Chances are the person and the relationship held greater impact than the day-to-day routines. The greatest impact is remembering that specific lesson and the person or people that were responsible for it.

The tedious is also where teamwork lies. It is the day-to-day work that lays the bricks for the road that makes the school year.

The work is not done just by the child, but it is the support and the groundwork of the parents and teachers that make it possible. It is this teamwork with three corners to it: parents-students-teachers that make it all purposeful.

We do remember the lessons. We do remember the rules. How to live as Catholic Christians in our secular world is most important. These lessons hold the greatest strength.

We will be celebrating “Teacher Appreciation Week” starting March 3^rd. It is a week set aside to honor our teaching staff for their hard work and dedication. It is a week to say thank you to the teachers.

I want to thank you, our parents, for your contributions to St. Stephen the Martyr School; your dedication and commitment to our Catholic school and supporting your child/ren. I know it takes time, hard work, devotion and dedication. It is not always easy.

Thank you for being part of the team. It could not get done without you.

I think we as adults do not always take the time to thank our own parents for their contributions to our education, schooling, faith formation and life-lessons.

It is all a cycle. If you are still blessed to have your parents I urge you to thank them for all they did while you grew up. They also sacrificed, gave of themselves and were there for you. You might not have thanked them then. You may not have even realized it. The days flew by and you were growing, and growing fast. Thank them if you still can or say a prayer of thanks to them if they are gone.

They were, after all, your teammates.

God bless.

Eighth Grade Scholarships

Every year our eighth grade students take entrance/placement exams at the local area Catholic High Schools. On Wednesday, Feb. 13^th we had representatives from these Catholic High Schools present scholarships to our eighth graders who scored exceptionally well on these exams. This year we had thirteen of our students who earned academic scholarships! They are:

Creighton Prep.: Nathan DeMaria (8B) and Michael Gehring (8C)

Duchesne Academy: Katie Whitaker (8B)

Marian High School: Emily Benak (8A), Emily Fisher (8C), Ally Garrett (8A) and Abby Johnson (8C)

Mount Michael: David Dickey (8A) and John Byrne (8B)

Skutt Catholic High School: Adam Maher (8B), Emily Pachunka (8C), Kelsey Stratman (8B) and Matthew Warren (8A).

We are very proud of them and our entire 8^th grade class! Congratulations!!!

Duke University Talent Identification Program

Over the past several years we have participated in the Duke University Talent Identification Program. This program identifies students who excel academically as noted on our standardized testing program-the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. Students in our 7^th grade that score high enough on the ITBS are asked to take the high school ACT or SAT exams. Students in our 4^th and 5^th grades are also recognized with a ribbon for their achievement and high ITBS scores. In January we received a glass trophy from Duke University stating: St. Stephen the Martyr School, 2007 Nebraska #1 School, 4^th/5^th grade Talent Search Participation, Duke University Talent Identification Program. The letter accompanying the trophy stated: “On behalf of the Duke University Talent Identification Program, I wanted to thank you for your support of the 4^th/5^th grade Talent Search. Last year St. Stephen the Martyr School was the #1 school in total participation in the state of Nebraska! We know that this accomplishment is directly related to your hard work and dedication. Please accept this award as a token of our appreciation. We value the opportunity to partner with you in serving gifted students. Sincerely, Joy Baldwin, Director; Identification and Support Services, Duke University Talent Identification Program.” What a wonderful honor! I am very proud of our students.

Thank You!!!

We want to thank the St. Stephen the Martyr Knights of Columbus Chapter for their generous contribution of $960.00! The money was raised during the Pancake Breakfast held on Sunday, February 3^rd. Thanks to all of our families who supported the breakfast by attending and our staff that assisted the Knights that morning working. We all had a great time!

Progress Reports

We are, already, half-way through the third quarter of school. Progress reports are going home with the students today. PLEASE look for them! Thanks!

Stations of the Cross

During Lent the students will be attending and participating in the Stations of the Cross. They will be walking the path of the Passion of our Lord. This is a good example of ‘prayer’ one of the areas of focus during Lent. Parents are welcome to attend these with our students. These begin at 2:30 p.m. and will be held in the main Worship Space. Our schedule:

Friday, February 29^th: 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th grades
Friday, March 7^th: Kindergarten, 1^st and 2^nd grades
Friday, March 14^th: All School

Rice Bowls

Part of our Lenten Journey involves the area of ‘almsgiving.’ The students should have brought home Rice Bowls for Operation Rice Bowl sponsored by the Catholic Relief Services. The money the students donate will go to relief efforts in areas where people are suffering. Please check out the CRO website: www.catholicrelief.org/orb

Board of Educations Surveys

The annual BOE surveys are attached to this MM. Please look for them. They are to be returned by March 14^th. Please note the instructions on how to fill them out and where to return them. I ask you to please take the time to fill these out, your input is very important. Thank you!

Author Fair, Science Fair, History Fair!!!

Every year we hold a special Fair night for our middle school students. This will be held on Thursday, March 6^th from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in our school gym. The students in the 6^th grade have been working on their Author Study projects. The 7^th graders have been working on their Science Fair projects and the 8^th graders have been working on their History Fair projects. These projects are always very well done and researched by our students. They put in a lot of hard work and hours of effort. The Fair is open for all to attend. Please feel free to stop by that night and see the great work our students have produced!

Kindergarten Registration for 2008-2009:

Registration information will be mailed out to all parishioners who have children eligible for our Kindergarten Program.

This mailing is set to go out during the first week of March 2008.

If you have a child eligible for Kindergarten this fall (five years old by October 15th), now is the time to update your parish records at 896-9675, to guarantee that you receive this information.

**Kindergarten parents may want to mark your calendars now for Thursday, March 13, 2008 at 6 p.m. This night we will host our annual Kindergarten Parent Informational Meeting. This meeting is for parents only. It will be held in our dining room.

Pre-Kindergarten Registration for 2008-2009:

Registration information will be mailed out to all parishioners who have children eligible for our Pre-Kindergarten Programs.

This mailing is set to go out during the first week of March 2008.

If you have a child eligible for Pre-Kindergarten this fall (3 year-old by Oct. 15, 4 year-old by Oct. 15), now is the time to update your parish records at 896-9675, to guarantee that you receive this information.

**Pre-Kinder parents may want to mark your calendars now for our Open House dates. These open house dates are for parents only: Tuesday, March 11th and Wednesday, March 12th. Details will be in your mailing.

Looking Into the Future…mark your calendars now!

Here is the plan for next year’s fundraising activities for St. Stephen the Martyr School:

Our 4^th Annual Martyr Marathon, sponsored by the Home and School Association, will be held on Friday, September 5^th!! Please reserve this day now to join in the fun!

Inclement Weather

It is that time of year again to remind everyone the procedures we use for inclement weather, snow days, as well as for daily recesses. St. Stephen the Martyr School follows the Millard School District when closing the school for any type of inclement weather. The decision to close schools due to inclement weather is normally made by 6:00 a.m. The announcements will occur on: KFAB Radio and Channels 3, 6, and 7.

If inclement weather occurs during the school day and Millard closes early, St. Stephen the Martyr School will dismiss at regular time, we do not close early once we are in session. But parents/guardians are welcome to pick up their child at anytime.

Please contact Mary Ann with any questions at m.maier@stephen.org or 896-0754.

Free and Reduced Lunch Forms

Forms are available in the school kiosk-just outside the office door. If you feel you meet the federal guidelines please stop by and get the proper forms, thank you.

The next MM will go home on Friday, March 14^th, 2008.

Take care,

David J. Peters, Ed.D
Principal

Friday, February 8, 2008

Lenten Settings

If you were to ‘google’ the word ‘setting’ or ‘settings,’ you would easily find over 300 million entries. The word ‘setting’ can mean many things. Initially we probably think of setting as that used in literature, movies or theatre productions; the where and when of a story-the time and place. Next we might think of a setting as a mounting for a ring or jewelry. We might also think of silverware, as in a place setting. But, until very recently, the word setting now has more to do with our ever-changing digital world than any of these other definitions. What are the settings on the computer? What are the settings on that new digital camera? What are the settings on the DVD player? This definition has literally taken over as the premier meaning of the word, setting.

People in the movie/DVD business now place unknown items in the movie DVDs they release…they call these ‘easter eggs.’ Entire variations of movies, various endings and hours of extras have been added to certain DVD movies through the use of these ‘eggs.’ How do you access them? You have to play with the settings on the DVD remote to find them!

You cannot get the extras without the proper setting.

Let us look at our lives and our setting. Taking the current meaning of the word setting; “The manner, position or direction in which something is situated…” If we think of all of the things that make us up: our physical world, our emotional world and our spiritual world, how are we situated? What is our own personal setting?

Are we set to fully engage in living lives as Catholic Christians? Because these three domains; the physical, emotional and spiritual are so intertwined, we need to, during this Lenten season, reflect on all three, so that we have the proper settings for living lives like Christ.

People grow and mature. At certain times in our life we are open to different experiences. At certain times in our life we are more receptive to ideas. People may be more liberal in their thinking while younger, and more conservative as they age. What we find important at one time in our life may hold absolutely no significance for us at a different time. We may take people, events and things for granted when we are younger, and may hold on and treasure those people, events and things as we age. While our perspective may change, the seasons do not.

The earth turns and orbits the sun. Weather happens, we age and grow…time goes on. The seasons, holidays and feast days come and go. Our birthdays come and go.

We have begun the season of Lent. This is our most sacred, solemn and prayerful time in our Church calendar and in our year. It can hold for us insurmountable potential for spiritual growth. We just need to tap into where we are and where we want to be. Because time has a way of seemingly passing so quickly, I feel people generally slow it down for these six weeks. We need to look at the three fundamentals: prayer, fasting and almsgiving and see how we can live them during this Lenten time.

I have heard of many people imposing upon themselves, during this season, things like: I will not eat sweets, or I will drink only diet pop, or I will reduce caffeine, or I will try to commit to exercise or I will not be negative or I will pray every morning or I will attend daily Mass or….the list goes on and on. What happens, as a result is, we form healthy and good habits (for our bodies, minds and souls) during this time! We may enter into prayer, or give alms or impose moderation in our lives…that stays beyond the forty days!

This is significant. But is it enough?

Here is my challenge, and one I offer to you all, since we age and grow and mature, our focus, our internal settings do change. It is gradual, but, like the seasons, it occurs slowly and unnoticeably until we look out the window and see that winter is over and green grass is on the lawn. So, the challenge is this: during this time of Lent we need to reflect. Reflect on your internal settings. Reflect on our families, our interactions, our relationship with God. Maybe the goal of your Lenten season is to find those hidden ‘

‘easter eggs’ that are truly there within us, we just did not have the proper settings until now. You can go through the three elements of this season; prayer, fasting, almsgiving, but where is it leading you? Do you live your life encouraged by a larger good? Do you live upon beliefs that run deep: that convictions mean more than shallow promises? Are you ready, because now you have the strength and assurance that just regular living of life has now given you, to change the paradigm? Are you ready to forgo your previous settings-to change internal landscape that will make you sleep better at night?

The greatest contribution you can give yourself during these forty days is a time to slow up and reflect.

Push away what time has hidden from you.

There is a new season upon you. Dig deep. It is what Christ offered the apostles: drop it all and follow me. The rewards will be immeasurable.

But here is the irony; if you do this, if you truly place all of your cards on the table, the deep needed lessons, the true, honest, wholesome and relevant means to living a good life were taught to you when you were a mere child.

The Lenten season is a time of prayer. It is also a time of rebirth. Return to the simplicity of your childhood. The egg is there within you, you just need to have the right setting.

God bless.

Spelling Bee

Our annual Spelling Bee took place on Tuesday, January 29^th. The following students participated: 5^th grade: Mary Bennett (5C), Ellie Carmody (5B), Bayli Cook (5A), Matt Harris (5C), Anna Little (5B), Jason Stratman (5A), 6^th grade: Jacob Fisher (6A), Ryan Grimes (6B), Jacqueline Koenig (6A), Patrick McDermott (6A), Abby Nelson (6A), Jimmy Nesci (6B), 7^th grade: Christopher Chavez (7C), Adrian Dammerman (7A), Aubrey Fleming (7B), Maddy Kaplan (7C), Lauren Keenan (7B), Mitchell Sullivan (7B), Courtney Van Hoosen (7B), 8^th grade: Zach Franco (8B), Michael Gehring (8C), Taylor Korensky (8B), Tommy McClenahan (8C), Josh Pudlowski (8C), Kelsey Stratman (8B), Brett Wenke (8A). Congratulations to our first place winner Tommy McClenahan and our runner-up Adrian Dammerman. Both will represent St. Stephen the Martyr School in the Archdiocesan Spelling Bee on Feb. 9^th here at St. Stephen the Martyr School.

Thank you for CSW!!!

I want to thank everyone who helped to make our Catholic Schools Week such a success! The week was one of celebration, caring and prayer! Our theme this year was: Catholic Schools Light the Way! The students collected HUNDREDS of items for our parish pantry. I want to that our teachers and specifically our CSW planning committee (Mrs. Cowell, Mrs. Erickson, Mrs. Hoover and Mrs. Kincaid). I HUGE Thank You to Mrs. Lori Bonnett and all the volunteers that put on the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon. I want to thank the Knights of Columbus for sponsoring the Pancake Breakfast this past Sunday. Thank you to Board of Education for supplying special coffee, hot chocolate for the teachers and staff! Thank you to all of you parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends who attended our special All School Mass with our students. I want to thank the Home and school for providing the cookies and a special thank you to Mrs. Katie Backhaus for helping organize the large volume of guests we had that day! It was a beautiful liturgy. Thanks to Fr. Jim, Fr. Mike and Fr. Andy for their support, presence, leadership and inspiration during this week and throughout our year!

Eighth grade Catholic Schools Week Mass

During Catholic Schools Week our eighth graders attended the all-city eighth grade Mass at the Cathedral. Eighth grade students from all over the metro-area Catholic schools attend. Over 1200 students were in attendance this year! Some of our eighth graders had roles in the Mass: our banner carrier this year was Katie Whitaker (8B). The worship aid/program cover was designed by Richie Benda (8A), Katie Gottschalk (8C), Sarah Kavan (8C), Alexis Keenan (8A), Mary Mier (8A), Rachel Persinger (8C), Sam Schlecht (8A). Please see the cover reprinted in this MM!

Parent-Teacher Conferences:

Conferences will be held the evening of Feb. 13^th and 14^th for students in our K through 8^th grades. These are at the request of the teacher or parent. There will be no school on Friday, Feb. 15th and on Monday, February 18th. Pre-Kindergarten will not be held on Wednesday, Feb. 13 or Thursday, Feb. 14. Pre-Kindergarten conferences will be held from 8 a.m. to 8 p .m. on Wednesday and 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Thursday. Thank you!

Second Grade Parent First Communion Meeting

The First Communion parent meeting will be held this Sunday, February 10^th at 7:30 p.m. in the Worship Space. This is for parents of second grade students only. Thank you!

Stations of the Cross

Friday, February 22^nd: 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grades

Friday, February 29^th: 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th grades

Friday, March 7^th: Kindergarten, 1^st and 2^nd grades

Friday, March 14^th: All School

Reconciliation Services

During the school year we have special reconciliation services for our students (in the 2^nd through 8^th grades). These are held during our Advent season and our Lenten season. Our Lenten reconciliation service will be this year on Tuesday, February 19^th at 1 p.m. (5^th-8^th grades) and 2 p.m. (2^nd-4^th grades). Fr. Jim, Fr. Mike and Fr. Andy, will be joined by several visiting priests. The students will have their individual confessions heard at this time. This is an important aspect of our faith: the ability to receive the sacrament of reconciliation. I urge you to take time during this Lenten season to go to confession.

Rice Bowls

Book Fair!

The Book Fair will still be set up today through our parish fish fry tonight. If you have not had a chance to visit, please plan on stopping by the library today, thanks!

Valentine’s Room Parties

Valentine Room Parties will be in the afternoon of Wednesday, February 14^th. These parties are for the students in K through 5^th. Thanks to our Home and School, room parents and volunteers for making these parties possible. The middle school students will be going bowling that day. The middle school students will be out of uniform that day. Regular free dress day rules apply.

Foundations of Faith: Prayer

Our teachers will be attending a deanery in-service on Monday, February 18^th at St. Geralds. “Foundations of Faith” is a program offered by the Archdiocese of Omaha on topics that deal with our faith and practice. The topic this year is “Prayer” Fr. Al Salanitro will be our presenter. There will be no school on February 18th.

Kindergarten Registration for 2008-2009:

Registration information will be mailed out to all parishioners who have children eligible for our Kindergarten Program.

This mailing is set to go out during the first week of March 2008.

If you have a child eligible for Kindergarten this fall (five years old by October 15th), now is the time to update your parish records at 896-9675, to guarantee that you receive this information.

Pre-Kindergarten Registration for 2008-2009:

Registration information will be mailed out to all parishioners who have children eligible for our Pre-Kindergarten Programs.

This mailing is set to go out during the first week of March 2008.

Looking Into the Future…mark your calendars now!

Here is the plan for next year’s fundraising activities for St. Stephen the Martyr School:

Our 4^th Annual Martyr Marathon, sponsored by the Home and School Association, will be held on Friday, September 5^th!! Please reserve this day now to join in the fun!

Inclement Weather

It is that time of year again to remind everyone the procedures we use for inclement weather, snow days, as well as for daily recesses. St. Stephen the Martyr School follows the Millard School District when closing the school for any type of inclement weather. The decision to close schools due to inclement weather is normally made by 6:00 a.m. The announcements will occur on: KFAB Radio and Channels 3, 6, and 7.

Please contact Mary Ann with any questions at m.maier@stephen.org or 896-0754.

Free and Reduced Lunch Forms

Forms are available in the school kiosk-just outside the office door. If you feel you meet the federal guidelines please stop by and get the proper forms, thank you.

The next MM will go home on Friday, February 22^nd, 2008.

Take care,

David J. Peters, Ed.D.
Principal

January 25, 2008

Circle of Grace

The Archdiocese of Omaha has successfully fulfilled the mandates issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB: http://usccb.org/) regarding the Charter for Protection of Children and Young People. Many of our parents and parishioners have participated in the Safe Environment training sessions. Throughout the Archdiocese this is required of all teachers, staff members, coaches, teacher associates, classroom assistants and any others who work directly with children.

Part of the response to the requirements of the Charter included the development of Safe Environment training for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade attending any of the Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Omaha. The Catholic School Office assembled an archdiocesan committee in K – 12 Catholic religion/theology teachers who developed the lessons for this training. The program is entitled “Circle of Grace.” All of the Catholic Schools have received the curriculum and lessons for this program. There is one lesson designed for each grade level. These lessons correspond directly to the Archdiocese Religion Curriculum already in place here at St. Stephen the Martyr School. Teachers have, or will, incorporate the Circle of Grace lessons into their religion/theology classes.

A copy of the Philosophy and Program Content Standards for the Grade K-12 Circle of Grace School Program is found in this MM. Also attached is a copy of the vocabulary that will be taught at the designated grade levels. I do have a copy of the entire curriculum in my office and parents/guardians are welcome to review these at any time-just let me know.

Thank you for your support of this program and in keeping our students safe.

AND, speaking of keeping our children safe, I ask that you, if possible, attend the internet safety presentation put on by Sgt. Scott Christianson on Thursday, February 7^th at 7:30 p.m. in the parish center. I guarantee that what he shares with you will be insightful, alarming and significant. The internet offers so much to all of us, but it needs to be managed appropriately, especially with the innocence of our youth at stake. Please consider attending.

God bless.

Catholic Schools Week!

Please look for the flier in this Martyr Messenger outlining our events planned for all next week! This week is always a lot of fun for our students and staff. The theme this year is: Catholic Schools Light the Way. You will notice the large school banner in our main commons area that has the theme on it. Please feel free to join us for our Kick-Off assembly on Monday, our Spelling Bee on Tuesday, our middle school Talent Show on Thursday or the All School Mass on Friday (Grandparents are our guests that day!).

Congratulations!

Congratulations to our middle school students who won their classroom competitions for our annual National Geographic Geography Bee: 6A: Patrick McDermott, 6B: Caleb Schwartzkopf, 6C: Keegan Young, 7A: Ryan Jespersen, 7B: Aaron Hilgemann, 7C: Christopher Chavez, 8A: Michael Labadie, 8B: Grant Kros and 8C: Tommy McClenahan. Congratulations to our two finalists: Christopher Chavez and Grant Kros. And a huge congratulations to Grant Kros for placing first overall. He will represent St. Stephen the Martyr School at the next level of the competition!

Leggings! Change to the School Uniform Policy

The St. Stephen the Martyr Board of Education decided to make the following change to the family handbook: Leggings will now be allowed as an optional item for the girls to wear. The parameters set forth by the BOE: Leggings: optional attire: Solid color, navy blue, must be Dennis Uniform and they have to be fitted (tight at ankle).

Pancake Breakfast!

The St. Stephen the Martyr parish Knights of Columbus will be hosting a Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, February 3^rd! The Breakfast will be in our dining room following the Sunday morning Masses. All proceeds will go to the school. Please note the flier in this MM. At the 9:00 a.m. Mass our students and faculty will be responsible for being greeters, lectors and gift bearers. After Mass please stop by the dining room for pancakes and have the faculty and staff serve you breakfast! Thanks to the Knights of Columbus for hosting this event and supporting St. Stephen the Martyr School.

Valentine’s Room Parties

Valentine Room Parties will be in the afternoon on Thursday, February 14^th. These parties are for the students in K through 5^th. Thanks to our Home and School, room parents and volunteers for making these parties possible. The middle school students will be going bowling that day. The middle school students only will be out of uniform for that day. Regular free dress day rules apply.

Foundations of Faith: Prayer

Our teachers will be attending a deanery in-service on Monday, February 18^th at St. Gerald’s Church. “Foundations of Faith” is a program offered by the Archdiocese of Omaha on topics that deal with our faith and practice. The topic this year is “Prayer”, Fr. Al Salanitro will be our presenter.

St. Stephen the Martyr School Calendar for the 2008-2009 School Year

Attached to this MM is a copy of the school calendar for next school year. The dates are subject to change. You may want to note the following: our Back-To-School nights are scheduled for August 13 and 14; our first day of school is Monday, August 18^th. Thank you!

End of First Semester/Second Quarter Report Cards

Report cards are going home today, Friday, January 25^th. Please look for them. Parent-teacher conferences will be scheduled for the evenings of Wednesday, Feb. 13 and Thursday, February 14^th. These conferences are at the request of the teacher or parent. Look for these request forms are also going home today.

Internet Safety: Social Networking Presentation

On Thursday, February 7^th we will have a guest speaking coming to present to parents on the topic of Internet Safety. Sergeant Scott Christensen of the Nebraska State Patrol will be here to talk to parents about the hazards of the internet and what we can do to keep our children safe. Please look for the flier in this MM.

Kindergarten Registration for 2008-2009:

Registration information will be mailed out to all parishioners who have children eligible for our Kindergarten Program.

This mailing is set to go out during the first week of March 2008.

If you have a child eligible for Kindergarten this fall (five years old by October 15th), now is the time to update your parish records at 896-9675, to guarantee that you receive this information.

Pre-Kindergarten Registration for 2008-2009:

Registration information will be mailed out to all parishioners who have children eligible for our Pre-Kindergarten Programs.

This mailing is set to go out during the first week of March 2008.

Looking Into the Future…mark your calendars now!

Here is the plan for next year’s fundraising activities for St. Stephen the Martyr School:

Our 4^th Annual Martyr Marathon, sponsored by the Home and School Association, will be held on Friday, September 5^th!! Please reserve this day now to join in the fun!

Inclement Weather

Please contact Mary Ann with any questions at m.maier@stephen.org or 896-0754.

Free and Reduced Lunch Forms

Forms are available in the school kiosk-just outside the office door. If you feel you meet the federal guidelines please stop by and get the proper forms, thank you.

The next MM will go home on Friday, February 8^th, 2008.

Take care,

David J. Peters, Ed.D.
Principal

Friday, January 11, 2008

Conditions

Guilt can manifest itself within us. It is generally laced with shame. Our society has moved farther and farther from embracing these two emotions. It seems like we have a myriad of ways of justifying our actions. Rationalization is a means to a guilt- and shame-free existence. This ultimately takes us farther from God.

Many of us grew up attending Catholic schools where the norms; what is right and wrong, moral or immoral, were very specific. We knew where we stood. Good, positive and right actions resulted in a closer relationship with our Lord. Bad, negative and wrong actions resulted in distancing us from God. Reconciliation; accounting for our sins and embracing forgiveness for our own actions, resulted in reestablishing this healthy relationship with God.

There is a large dichotomy taking place that we need to be very careful of and it is one of conditions. While I think children, and all of us, should feel bad if we have made a choice that results in sin, we also know there is a way for us to ask forgiveness and reestablish this relationship with God.

Love for our children should never be one based upon conditions. It should be unconditional. True relationships should be without conditions. When couples start keeping score, or start placing conditions upon the other, the result can be a stress filled marriage and relationship. But, loving someone unconditionally does not mean we do not have expectations of them, or of ourselves. Unconditional means totally and absolutely, but not disrespectfully or taking someone for granted.

Growing up and attending Catholic School there were pressures to do good and right. But, in defining sin in our lives, we came away with the idea that the love of God for us was conditional. Sometimes the shame and guilt brimmed over and put us in positions that we could not live fully in God’s love because we were burdened and over-shamed by our human choices. We needed to turn it around: knowing God will always love us unconditionally then we could, and may, live healthy lives. We just needed to ask for His forgiveness if we had committed sin. While we may have fought with guilt and shame and asked: how can God love me for my actions; we needed to just embrace the fact He does love us and live good Christian lives as a result.

God needs us to love Him as much He loves us.

We found that many of us were bound by shame to the point we could not even live productive lives.

Things have now gone the other way. Have we embraced all of the good and positive elements in our relationship with God? But, have we done it at the cost of sin?

Have we put conditions on our relationship with God? For example: “God, I will do this thing for you, if you could just do this for me…”

There is a little adage that used to be used quite often and I wonder do we still ask this of ourselves: ‘Do I make decisions in my life that I can live with?’

The fact is many of us make innumerable decisions that we rarely give a second thought to their impact. Why? Because we have not put any conditions upon ourselves. We have learned, by embracing objectivity, independence and detachment that we can live with no shame and guilt. We can live in this life because we do not care.

Frankly, if I have a child in my office that has done something wrong, I like to see them be disappointed with themselves, to be a little upset. I have seen a few tears. I think this is important to them as growing, healthy Catholics. I never berate them, but what I want is for them to berate themselves. They need to get after themselves if they have done something wrong, not me.

That is the beautiful and intrinsic aspect of God’s unconditional love:

We form the conditions He has asked us to, by personally placing them on ourselves to live lives as Catholic Christians. The conditions are our own.

A great analogy: if we run a race we need to compete against those running beside us. But, for it to have the greatest impact, we need to run the race competing against our own past performance and time.

Think of it this way: we need to compete against our own goodness.

We need to make good, healthy choices and even better choices as we grow older.

AND, when we do fall and make a poor choice, we need to examine it and do the good, right and wholesome thing next time. We need to own the conditions and do the healthy examination of our life. This has been called: our conscience, our inner voice, our true sense of right and wrong.

Conditions are not bad things. They just need to be imposed on ourselves from within. By this discipline the question of: “is this a decision I can live with” has a large impact and will bring moral integrity into our lives and spill over to our relationships. It is not easy, but it is right.

As we enter into the New Year of 2008, and with the Lenten season fast approaching, it might be a very personal goal to try and examine and reexamine the healthy conditions asked of us by God. It is a very personal journey and only one you can make, but I grant you this: those who love you unconditionally will see it within you because it will be pure, wholesome, healthy and nourishing.

Guilt and shame can manifest itself within us, and it should to a point, but the point is not to be burdened by it, but to grow from it. Come on, get going, the race has started…

God bless.

Textbook Loan

The forms for the Textbook Loan program have gone home. These need to be returned by Monday, January 14^th. Please send those to school if you have not done so, thank you! I want to thank our parent coordinator, Mrs. Lisa Diederich, for her work on this project.

Catholic Schools Week!

Catholic Schools Week is scheduled for the last week of January, 2008. PLEASE look for the informational flier in this MM. It begins on January 28^th and runs through February 2^nd. Our theme this year is: Catholic Schools Light the Way!

Eighth Grade High School Placements Exams:

The area Catholic High Schools placement/entrance exams take place tomorrow, Saturday, January 12, 2008. Please keep our eighth graders in your prayers as they take these exams!

End of First Semester/Second Quarter

Our first semester ends on Friday, January 18^th. There is no school Monday, January 21^st: it is a teacher work day. Report cards will be going home on Friday, January 25^th. Please look for them at that time. Parent-teacher conferences will be scheduled for the evenings of Wednesday, Feb. 13 and Thursday, February 14^th. These conferences are at the request of the teacher or parent. Look for these request forms on January 25^th.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to 3^rd grader Kelly Straub (3C) who placed second in the Polish Heritage Society of Nebraska annual coloring contest. Kelly won an award certificate, a Polish flag and a cash prize of $15. Way to go Kelly!!!

8th grade Spaghetti Dinner

On Saturday, January 19^th, our 8th grade class will be hosting a Spaghetti Feed from 6 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the dining room. Spaghetti Works will be providing the food. The proceeds from this dinner will help pay for the 8^th graders trip to Washington, D.C. (April 7^th- 10^th) The cost is $7.00 for adults, $4.00 for children and children 3 years of age and younger are free. Take-out orders are also welcome. They will also be hosting a raffle that night! Come, enjoy a great meal, have fun and support our 8th grade class!!!

Middle School Music Program: A Prayer for All the Nations!

Our middle school students, in the 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grade, have been preparing for their annual Music Program. The theme this year is: A Prayer for All the Nations! Thanks to Ms. Michele Kruger, our middle school music teacher, for all of her work in getting these students ready. The program is scheduled for Thursday, January 24^th at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Parents, family, relatives and friends are all welcome to attend!

Internet Safety: Social Networking

Essential Pregnancy Services

Thank You to all who contributed to our Advent Baby Shower for Jesus. Hundreds of dollars of items were donated to Essential Pregnancy Services: thank you for your generosity and kindness.

Kindergarten Registration for 2008-2009:

Registration information will be mailed out to all parishioners who have children eligible for our Kindergarten Program.

This mailing is set to go out during the first week of March 2008.

If you have a child eligible for Kindergarten this fall (five years old by October 15th), now is the time to update your parish records at 896-9675, to guarantee that you receive this information.

Pre-Kindergarten Registration for 2008-2009:

Registration information will be mailed out to all parishioners who have children eligible for our Pre-Kindergarten Programs.

This mailing is set to go out during the first week of March 2008.

Looking Into the Future…mark your calendars now!

Here is the plan for next year’s fundraising activities for St. Stephen the Martyr School:

Our 4^th Annual Martyr Marathon, sponsored by the Home and School Association, will be held on Friday, September 8^th!! Please reserve this day now to join in the fun!

Inclement Weather

Please contact Mary Ann with any questions at m.maier@stephen.org or 896-0754.

Free and Reduced Lunch Forms

Forms are available in the school kiosk-just outside the office door. If you feel you meet the federal guidelines please stop by and get the proper forms, thank you.

The next MM will go home on Friday, January 25^th, 2008.

Take care,

David J. Peters, Ed.D.
Principal

December 14, 2007

Merry Christmas

and Happy New Year

from the Faculty and Staff of

St. Stephen the Martyr School!

I want to wish you the hope and strength found in the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ.

Jesus suffered a violent death. It was shocking to those who loved Him and followed Him. His life began as a small baby, in a manger in Bethlehem. This imagery is one of peace. We picture a clear sky, a bright star and soft light. Our focus is on a young mother, a woman without sin, bringing our savior into this world. We celebrate this event. We reach out to those we love and to those in our community who need our support. There are those that are less fortunate than us. We want to help. This is done through our actions, resources and prayer.

I ask that you keep in your prayers all those that have suffered from the recent tragedy that has hit our community. I ask that you keep in your prayers all who have suffered at the hands of others. Our savior was no different.

Why we have many questions, the one thing that is certain is this: God loves us. He gave us His son to bring hope into this world. His entrance, His birth in Bethlehem, was the beginning of our salvation. His path through life: miracles, parables, and teachings, would all lead to the act that would save us all: His death and resurrection.

And it began in a manger.

Keep those that you love close to you this Christmas season. And, please tell them you love them. Tell them how much they mean to you. This act, while simple, is our plain and straightforward way of bringing peace and security to those around us. And when we have peace in our hearts and souls, when we know we love and are loved, then we are all Christ on earth. By being this, we keep evil away. Merry Christmas.

Christmas break

Our Christmas vacation begins at noon on Friday, December 21^st. We will have an all school Mass at 8:15 a.m. that morning. Parents are always welcome to join us for these liturgies. Classes will resume at 8 a.m. on Monday, January 7^th, 2008.

Textbook Loan

Watch for our Textbook Loan forms. These will be going home right after we get back from our Christmas vacation. These need to be signed and returned. This program saves us hundreds of dollars in text book costs. Thanks to Mrs. Lisa Diederich for coordinating this for us.

Thank you: Teachers and Staff Christmas Gift Certificate Program!

On behalf of the faculty and staff I want to express our gratitude and thanks to all of our parents that participated in the annual Teacher and Staff Gift certificate program that is sponsored by our Home and School Association. The generosity of our parents and families, as always, is very overwhelming! I want to thank Mrs. Lori Bonnett for organizing this program and the many volunteers for making it possible!!! (Mrs. Bonnett has been doing this for the last several years and does a fantastic job coordinating and putting it all together-Thanks Mrs. Bonnett!!!).

Catholic Schools Week!

Catholic Schools Week is scheduled for the last week of January, 2008. It begins on January 28^th and runs through February 2^nd. Watch for more information coming home in our January Martyr Messenger. This week is set aside each year to celebrate our Catholic School heritage and pride. It is always a lot of fun too! J

8^th Grade High School Placements Exams:

The area Catholic High Schools will hold their eighth grade placement exams on Saturday, January 12, 2008. Please keep our eighth graders in your prayers as they take this important step.

KoAm:

In the past few years a handful of our metro Catholic elementary schools have participated a student exchange program with students from Korea. The KoAm Education Alliance has students, in the 3^rd through 7^th grades that spend either a full school year, or a part of a year, living with a host family and the Korean student attends the Catholic elementary school. This program is an opportunity for students to experience and share in a culture other than our own. This program is limited to the Midwest and is found only in private schools. Information can be found at the following website: http://koameduall.org/ We are looking at hosting students in a short program (five weeks) during January or February of this school year. The following letter comes from the Omaha area coordinator for the program. If you are interested in being a host family (and, without a host families we would be unable to have this program) please call Ms. Mison Cowell.

“Dear St. Stephen the Martyr School families,

In order to promote global awareness in our families and classrooms, we would like to participate in a student exchange program. The students will be 3rd through 7th grade and attend school during their stay in the U.S. The length of their stay for the Short Visit Program will be four (4) weeks or five (5) weeks. We’re looking for host families who would like to experience an exciting cultural exchange and broaden perspectives on the world. It's a great education and it’s a lot of fun! The students who are carefully selected come to your home hoping to learn our culture, language and values. Please call the school office or KoAm Education Alliance’s area coordinator, Mison Cowell (991-4616 or 301-5257) for more information. Sincerely, Mison Cowell, Omaha Area Coordinator

Tel:402-991-4616, Cell:402-301-5257, Fax:402-991-4616”

Advent Service Project: Advent Baby Shower!

This year we are collecting baby items for Essential Pregnancy Service of Omaha. Students are asked to bring these specific baby items from December 3^rd through December 19^th. Donated items can be dropped off in the designated collection area in the school commons. WE WOULD LIKE ALL ITEMS TURNED IN BY WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19^th! Thanks for your support of this important ministry.

Primary Music Program: SIMPLE HOLIDAY JOYS!

Our primary students (kindergarten, first and second grade classes) have been very busy getting prepared for their annual school musical. It will be held in the gym on Thursday, December 20^th at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. This is open for all to attend. The 3^rd through 8^th grade students will be attending the 2 p.m. performance that afternoon. Thanks to Mrs. Susan Smith, our primary music teacher, for all of her work getting the students ready for this program!

Pre-Kindergarten Christmas Program!

Our pre-kindergarten students have been preparing for their Christmas programs. These will be held in our main Worship Space at 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 18^th and Wednesday, Dec. 19^th. Thanks to Mrs. Margie Crowe and Mrs. Julie Andresen for all of their work in getting our little ones ready for their programs!

Inclement Weather

It is that time of year again to remind everyone the procedures we use for inclement weather. St. Stephen the Martyr School follows the Millard School District when closing the school for any type of inclement weather. The decision to close schools due to inclement weather is normally made by 6:00 a.m. The announcements will occur on: KFAB Radio and Channels 3, 6, and 7.

Please contact Mary Ann with any questions at m.maier@stephen.org or 896-0754.

Free and Reduced Lunch Forms

Forms are available in the school kiosk-just outside the office door. If you feel you meet the federal guidelines please stop by and get the proper forms, thank you.

The next MM will go home on Friday, January 11^th, 2008.

Take care,

David J. Peters, Ed.D.
Principal

Friday, November 30, 2007

Peace in Our Parish

Please look for my article in this MM: Peace in our Parish. It has been published nationally in the National Catholic Educational Association LINK newsletter. It can also be found at: http://www.ncea.org/UserFiles/File/Elem/LinkAccent/link-112707.doc

Thanks!

Iowa Test of Basic Skills

I would like to give a report on how our students performed on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills given this past September. The ITBS test is a standardized test, which means all conditions in giving the test are the same. The ITBS is given to thousands of students nation-wide, and when it is given, the conditions (instructions, time to complete, etc.) are always the same. This leads to as fair a comparison with like-groups throughout those students tested. However, the caution I have is this: these test scores are considered a ‘snap shot’ of how the student performed on a given day at a given time.

Attached to this MM is a spread sheet showing a breakdown of the composite score in percentile rank (99 is the highest possible score), of the students in the 2^nd through 8^th grades. (The 2^nd grade score is what is referred to as the core total and not a true composite). The core total, in 2^nd grade, is a total score based upon: reading, word analysis, listening, language and mathematics. The composite (in the 3^rd through 8^th grades) is a total score, based upon all testing areas: reading, language, mathematics, social studies, science and sources of information.

Some things of note:

601 students in the 2^nd through 8^th grades took the ITBS the week of Sept. 24-28^th, 2007.

88.4% of the students had composite scores of 50^th percentile and above. This accounts for 531 out of 601 students.

11.6 % scored in the bottom half (49^th percentile and below) with their composite score (2^nd grade core score). This was 70 students out of 601.

305 total students had composite scores of 80^th percentile or higher! This accounts for 51% of the students tested.

28.1% of the students, 169 of them, scored in the 90^th percentile or higher!

In the 3^rd through 8^th grades there were 55 students who had composite scores in the 99^th percentile. This is 10.9 % of those tested. You cannot get a higher score than 99 percentile.

These are impressive results. Each family received a copy of their child’s individual performance profile at parent-teacher conferences. I urge you to look at those results. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me or your child’s teacher. I am very, very proud of our kids.

KoAm:

In the past few years a handful of our metro Catholic elementary schools have participated in a student exchange program with students from Korea. The KoAm Education Alliance has students in the 3^rd through 7^th grades that spend either a full school year, or a part of a year, living with a host family and the Korean student attends the Catholic elementary school. This program is an opportunity for students to experience and share in a culture other than our own. This program is limited to the Midwest and is found only in private schools. Information can be found at the following website: http://koameduall.org/. We are looking at hosting students in a short program (five weeks) during January or February of this school year. The following letter comes from the Omaha area coordinator for the program. If you are interested in being a host family (without host families we would be unable to have this program) please call Ms. Mison Cowell.

“Dear St. Stephen the Martyr School families,

Tel:402-991-4616, Cell:402-301-5257, Fax:402-991-4616”

Safe and Secure Grant

I want to publicly thank Mrs. Mary Ann Maier for her diligence in putting forward the grant idea and grant for utilization of safe and secure funding for our new and revised intercom and public address system in the school. Thanks to this grant we were able to install new external speakers, have new intercom speaker phones installed in the school and religious education office and have rewiring done over this past summer. Thanks to Mary Ann over $5000.00 was procured for this new system which is pivotal to the ability for us to communicate with the students and staff during the school day!

First Reconciliation Services

First Reconciliation is fast approaching! Please keep our second graders in your prayers as they prepare for this important sacrament. These students will receive their First Reconciliation during the week of December 10^th. During that week there will be nightly parish reconciliation services beginning at 7 p.m. each evening. Our second grade classes will be joining Religious Education classes at the following services: Mrs. Figura (2A) on Monday, Dec. 10^th, Mrs. Roduner (2B) on Tuesday, Dec. 11^th, and Mrs. Winkler (2C) on Wednesday, Dec. 12^th. These Reconciliation services will be held in the main Worship space. All families are welcome to attend these services!

Advent Service Project: Advent Baby Shower!

This year we are collecting baby items for Essential Pregnancy Service of Omaha. Students are asked to bring these specific baby items from December 3^rd through December 19^th. Please look for the informational flier in this MM listing the appropriate items. Donated items can be dropped off in the designated collection area in the school commons.

Primary Music Program!

Our primary students (kindergarten, first and second grade classes) are busy getting prepared for their annual school musical. It will be held in the gym on Thursday, December 20^th at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. This is open for all to attend. The 3^rd through 8^th grade students will be attending the 2 p.m. performance that afternoon. Thanks to Mrs. Susan Smith, our primary music teacher, for all of her work on getting the students ready for this program!

Music in Catholic School Christmas Band Concert

The annual Music in Catholic Schools Christmas band concert will be held on Sunday, Dec. 9^th, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Gerald’s School (7857 Lakeview Street). Our band students have been working hard this entire semester preparing for this concert. This is open for all to attend! Please plan on attending, this concert is free to the public. Congratulations to our two honor band members, 8^th grader Emily Pachunka (8C) and 6^th grader Kellie Simerly (6B), who participated this past week in the annual holiday honor band tour. They traveled to several area Catholic schools giving concerts and performed for our students this past Wednesday.

Pre-Kindergarten Christmas Program!

Our pre-kindergarten students have been working hard preparing for their Christmas programs. These will be held in our main Worship Space at 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 19^th and Tuesday, Dec. 20^th. Thanks to Mrs. Margie Crowe and Mrs. Julie Andresen for all of their work in getting our little ones ready for their programs!

Santa Secret Shoppe

Our annual Santa Secret Shoppe will be taking place the on December 10^th, 11^th and 12^th in our new parish center. Students will be able to shop for the loved ones on their list! Thanks to our Home and School Association for making this possible and for our parent coordinators: Mrs. Kellie Broadstone, Mrs. Robbin McCoy and Mrs. Jeanne Swain for all of her work on this project. There is an informational flier in this MM, please look for it J!

Progress Reports

Progress reports will be going home today, Friday, November 30^th. Please look for them. They are to be signed and returned within a week, thank you!

Congratulations!!!

Congratulations to seventh grader Nathan DeMaria (8B) who placed second in the Math Sprint Contest held at the annual Central High Math Contest held on November 15^th. Congratulations to our entire team:

Individual Sprint Test: Nathan DeMaria (8B) and Katie Whitaker (8B)

Individual Target Test: Tommy McClenahan (8C) and Emily Pachunka (8C)

Leapfrog Test: Megan Han (7A) Ryan Steffes (8A)

Thanks to our middle school math teachers: Mrs. Jen Hoover and Mr. Mike Smith for work and guidance with our students.

Congratulations to our 3^rd grade Artists! WOW!

The United States Air Force Heartland of America Band held an art contest for their upcoming performance, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Hundreds of students entered this art contest. Twenty students had their artwork chosen to be displayed during the Heartland of America Band’s 2007 Holiday Concert Series, “I’ll Be Home.” Of those twenty, four of the students whose work was selected, came from our third grade class!!! Congratulations to: Madison Han (3B), Gabby Lamberty (3C), Renee Mergens (3C) and Megan Phillips (3B)!!! Our third graders will be attending this concert on Thursday, December 20^th.

Inclement Weather

Please contact Mary Ann with any questions at m.maier@stephen.org or 896-0754.

Free and Reduced Lunch Forms

Forms are available in the school kiosk-just outside the office door. If you feel you meet the federal guidelines please stop by and get the proper forms, thank you.

The next MM will go home on Friday, December 14^th.

Take care,

David J. Peters, Ed.D.
Principal

Friday, November 9, 2007

Memorials and Meals

When we take our eighth graders to Washington, D.C. probably some of the greatest high lights of the trip are the visits to the memorials. We visit the World War II, the Vietnam War and the Korean War memorials. We also visit the Jefferson, Lincoln, FDR memorials and the Washington Monument. These memorials are to remember and recognize past presidents who did significant things to leave an impression on this country. The war memorials are there for us to remember all of those who have died in keeping the world free from tyranny and to keep our country free.

During the month of November we remember all those that have gone before us. In the Catholic Church we have All Saints Day, on November 1^st, to honor those who have been beatified; they were significant people who lived holy lives and impacted our Church. On November 2^nd we honor all those who have died. We honor all those who have ‘gone before us.’

On Thursday, November 22^nd, we in the United States will celebrate Thanksgiving. This day is a day to give thanks, recalling that first Thanksgiving meal when the people of Plymouth and the Native Americans sat down in peace and shared a meal.

Meals are significant. They are times when we come together as family, as friends and as community to share something that we all have in common: food. When we get together on November 22nd, with our aunts and uncles, parents and grandparents, children and friends, we recall and honor an event of the past. We do it in memory.

Every Sunday, during the liturgy, we share another meal. We share in the Eucharist. This event is a repetition of the Last Supper. Jesus Christ performed one of the most significant events of His life at that Last Supper. This event was not extravagant, flashy, elaborate or rare. It was very real. It was very ordinary and, it was very significant. It was momentous, not because of what it ultimately symbolizes for us, but for how it plays out everyday: the simplicity of the event is what made it important.

Meals are memorials.

When we come together each Sunday we do this ‘in memory of Me:’ We do this as a community and we share it. Meals are about sharing. The sharing of Jesus’ body and blood is intimate. A meal is intimate. It is also ordinary.

When we recall those who have died, we may visit the memorials, the gravesites of our cherished loved ones that have left this Earth. In the not so distant past, families would pack a picnic lunch and head off to spend a Sunday afternoon, right at graveside: with the blanket laid out and the food there. Family members would tell stories of their loved ones. They would spend time with them. It was significant.

Today, in our rushed society, where we try, in so many ways, to control the time of our day and lives: we have events planed and places to be. What about the family meal? Does it hold the significance that it should? Have we lessened the significance of the meal? I think the challenges present to us in our society today are counter to much of what we believe as Catholic Christians. But, I also believe there is a lot of hope and beautiful life out there. I think we are trying.

As we celebrate the feast of Thanksgiving, always one of my favorite holidays because of its simplicity and meaning, we need to reflect on all meals. Because they are common and everyday, we loose sight of their meaning: we need to eat to stay alive.

We need the meal present at Mass to stay truly alive.

We do it as a memorial, but not because we are dead, but because we are alive.

It is all about life and how we live it. That is why His Son came: to give us life. But, we cannot have this life without reflecting on the past. We need to remember what Christ did. We need to remember what the saints did and how they lived their lives. We need to remember those that were in our life, but that are no longer here. We need to be having a lunch by those graves and telling those stories. We need to be honoring the dead. This honoring gives us life. Our lives, then, are the witness to the past. Our lives then are the memory.

Life is the ultimate memorial; we become the living embodiment of those who have gone before us. We remember by living. It is the greatest example and honor that we can give. It is like visiting an important monument in Washington D.C., but we do it within our own hearts and souls. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving and God bless!!!

St. Stephen the Martyr Parish Mission

St. Stephen the Martyr will be hosting their annual parish mission next week. There will be special evening events Nov. 12 through 16^th beginning at 7 p.m. in the main Worship Space. All parishioners and their families are welcome to attend! We would like to see our families in attendance. Please look for the flier in this Martyr Messenger explaining the Mission schedule for the week. Our Home and School will be hosting on Thursday night, November 15^th. There is a music concert planned for that evening. Plan on having the whole family attend. If you have any questions please feel free to call the school or parish office.

Youth Frontiers Presentation

Next Thursday, November 15^th there will be a presentation at St. Wenceslaus by Mr. Joe Cavanaugh. Mr. Cavanaugh is the founder of Youth Frontiers. Youth Frontiers recently gave Courage retreats to our seventh and eighth grade students. These retreats were very well received by our students. Youth Frontiers goal is lofty; to transform every hallway in America. I have met Mr. Cavanaugh this past summer and was very impressed with YF and their programs. I think you would enjoy hearing his presentation on “Our Kids: Why Being Smart is Not Enough.” It begins at 7 p.m. Please look for an informational flier in this Martyr Messenger.

Thanksgiving Mass

Our annual All School Thanksgiving Mass will be on Tuesday, Nov. 21st at 8:15 a.m. Our eighth grade class will be in charge of the Mass. Every year they collect food items for our parish pantry. We are asking all of our students to bring at least one item. Look for a list of food and perishable items that each student is to bring: the list is in this Martyr Messenger. All parents and family members are welcome to join us at this important Mass! Thanks!

Thanksgiving Vacation

We will dismiss at 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 20^th, there is no school on Nov. 21, 22, 23. Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Inclement Weather

Please contact Mary Ann with any questions at m.maier@stephen.org or 896-0754.

Free and Reduced Lunch Forms

Forms are available in the school kiosk-just outside the office door. If you feel you meet the federal guidelines please stop by and get the proper forms, thank you.

The next MM will go home on Friday, November 30^th.

Take care,

David J. Peters, Ed.D.
Principal

Friday, October 26, 2007

The Wizard of Oz

In the classic story of the Wizard of Oz we find four people on the road to Oz. They are traveling to see the Wizard; to ask him for things they feel they are missing. The scarecrow needs a brain, the tin man needs a heart, the lion needs courage and the young girl needs her home. In reality, they have all of these things, all are found within themselves.

They just do not recognize them.

The story vibrates and reverberates through the years. Its message is as meaningful for us now, as when it was written in 1900 by L. Frank Baum and performed for the movie screen in the classic 1939 adaptation with Judy Garland.

I think, at times in our lives, we end up identifying with one or more of those characters. This can