Important updates in this week's Tidbits

Pre-Angels Silent Auction

Gingerbread Holiday Shop

Spirit Night

Christmas Concert

Polar Express

Volunteer Opportunities

Angel Class Baskets

Good afternoon St. Stephen Families,

Happy New Year! This past Sunday was the start of the new liturgical year. As we enter the Advent season, we prepare our hearts for the coming of the Messiah.

The students began their retreat yesterday with Mass and Adoration. It was beautiful to see our students sitting quietly in the presence of Jesus. The day continued with prayer, reflection, and activities centered around the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and the true meaning of Christmas.

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

Peace,

Linda Umoh

Praying with your children.

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

Examples for Praying with your Children

Class Winners for the Run Walk and Blue Fundraiser!!

Highest Participation - 5A and Prek 4 will get an Ice Cream Party

Reaching their Class Goal and Raised the Most - 2nd Grade wins a pizza party

Congratulations!!!

Administrative/Receptionist

Christmas Concert Front Row Seating

Easter Bunny Party

Happy Birthday Package

King or Queen of Carline

Librarian

Morning Show News Anchor

Mustang Summer Camp

Own The Avenue

Preferred Graduation Seating

Private Basketball Training

Private Lacrosse Training

St. Stephen Gift Basket

The Gingerbread Holiday Shop

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

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

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

The class shopping schedule is as follows:

Monday 12/5 – 2nd, 3rd, & 7th

Tuesday 12/6 - 1st, 4th, & 6th

Wednesday 12/7 - PK3, PK4 & 8th

Thursday 12/8 - K, 5A &5B

Friday 12/9 - makeup shopping day for all grades



Please see the attached letter for more information.

2022 PTCO Gingerbread Holiday Shop Information

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

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

Easy Ways To Give 

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

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

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

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

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

Volunteers Needed



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

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

Concession sign-up genius

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

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

We Need You!!!

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

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

Angel Class Baskets

Classroom Moms and Dads have been reaching out to parents requesting donations for themed basket items for Angels Among Us. It is a 22 year tradition that each class donates a basket for the silent auction. The dollar amount of each item donated is solely at the discretion of the donor. The donated basket is marked with the grade and parents enjoy bidding on their grade's basket.

Please send into the school office your donated item for your student's class basket. Please contact me at ngallagher@sscsfl.org or your room parent if you have any questions.

Remember to Save The Date, February 11 to join school families and friends of our community at the Rock n Roll Party. You will have an opportunity to bid on the silent and live auctions, enjoy an open bar all evening and a chef prepared dinner.



And let's not forget the dancing and there are always some surprises! Is Elvis in the house?

 PTCO Now Offers Scrip

   Help PTCO earn cash back from gift card purchases.

     A simple and easy way to purchase gift cards!

How does it work?

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

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

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

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

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

Raise Right Enrollment

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

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

VIDEO for purchasing scrip from Raise Right

Alumni Updates

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



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

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

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

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

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