Newsletter Volume 44, Number 14 @ 12-11-25

December 11, 2025 | Volume 44, Issue 14

Table of Contents

Come to the Winterfest! TONIGHT at 7 PM
Calling all Creators, Collectors, & Cosmic Crafters! Help Fuel Our Galactic Gala with a Stellar Silent Auction Donation!
No School Tomorrow, Teacher Workday
Final Reminder: Last Chance to Purchase Early Bird Auction Tickets is next Fri., Dec. 19
Field Trip: UM Museum of Natural History Wed., Dec. 17th
Geology Goodies

Upcoming Events

THURS, Dec 11

NO PM EXTENDED DAY

7:00 pm, Winterfest & Drawing

FRI, Dec 12

NO SCHOOL, TEACHER WORKDAY

FRI, Dec 22 - FRI, Jan 2 (corrected, please note)

NO SCHOOL, WINTER BREAK

COME to the WINTERFEST!

TONIGHT at 7 PM

The big day is finally here! Join us for an enchanting evening filled with music and the joy of community as we celebrate the season together!

When: Tonight at 7 PM

Where: Classroom

✨ What to Expect:

Song Performances: Enjoy lively and heartfelt performances by our talented students.
Individual Talent Acts: Cheer on our budding stars as they showcase their unique skills.
Mandarin/Spanish Demonstrations: Witness how our students are mastering their foreign language abilities.

Student Attire:

Black pants (or a black skirt for young ladies, if preferred).
A solid-color top in a bright shade like red, green, purple, or blue (no pastels, please).
Please opt for polished attire—no T-shirts!

Arrival Time: Plan to arrive by 6:45 PM to grab a seat and settle in before the show begins promptly at 7 PM.

Bring a Treat to Share: Let’s make this a festive and delicious event! Please bring a light snack to share—think fruit, veggies, crackers, cheese, or cookies. No tree nuts!

📣 We’re excited to see you tonight and look forward to making this Winterfest an unforgettable celebration!

🌌 Calling All Creators, Collectors & Cosmic Crafters! 🌟

Help Fuel Our Galactic Gala with a Stellar Silent Auction Donation!

Our annual benefit auction—Galactic Gala—is launching into orbit this spring, and we need your help to make it an astronomical success!

We're now accepting silent auction item donations, and this is your chance to share your passion, creativity, or business with our community. Whether you're a small business owner, an avid hobbyist, or just love a good theme, your contribution can help us reach for the stars!

🚀 Need inspiration? Try these out-of-this-world ideas:

Maker’s Basket – 3D printing projects or tech tools
Crafty Galaxy – Yarn, knitting tools, or DIY kits
Baker’s Constellation – Baking supplies, utensils, or sweet treats
Starlight Spa Night – Candles, bath bombs, robes
Gift Cards & Experiences – From your business or local favorites!

🎁 Ready to donate?

Please fill out our Auction Acquisition Form and contact Jason Roder at jroder@steppingstoneschool.org to arrange a drop-off during school hours.

Thank you for helping us support gifted education and make this year’s Gala a truly stellar celebration!

NO SCHOOL TOMORROW

Teacher Workday

There will be no school tomorrow. All Fridays following a school event will be a teacher workday.

FINAL REMINDER -

Last Day to Purchase Early Bird

Auction Tickets is Next Fri., Dec. 19!

Time is running out! Next Friday is your final chance to grab early bird tickets for our 33rd Annual Benefit Auction: “Galactic Gala” and save. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable night of fun, food, and community spirit—all while supporting a great cause.

Early Bird Pricing (Ends next Friday, December 19, 2025):

Individual Tickets: $75
Table for 10: $750

Starting December 20, ticket prices will increase to $85 per person and $850 for a table of 10. Secure your savings and lock in your spot for an amazing evening!

Here’s what you can look forward to:

🍽️ A delicious dinner

🎶 Sci-Fi costume contest

🎁 Exciting auction items

🎉 A lively night with our wonderful community

Every ticket you purchase helps us continue our mission of providing outstanding education for gifted students. Let’s come together and make this gala an event to remember!

Don’t Delay—Early Bird Pricing Ends Friday the 19th!

Secure Your Tickets Here!

FIELD TRIP

UM Museum of Natural History

Wed., Dec. 17th

ACTIVITIES & HOW THEY ENRICH THE CURRICULUM: Students will participate in the Lab Workshop titled "This Cycle Rocks". This coincides with the Early Elementary science curriculum on Geology. After the lab, we will have time to browse the rest of the museum including the “Under the Microscope” area. This ties in to the current Upper Elementary science curriculum on Microworlds.

This field trip will occur for the morning only. Students will return to school for the remainder of the day for afternoon enrichments. Additional drivers/chaperones are not needed for this trip.

For students who need booster seats, please install or provide them to the school during morning drop-off.

GEOLOGY GOODIES

Last week in Science, the Early Elementary students discussed different ways that rocks are formed. We watched videos about metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary rocks. To illustrate conglomerate rocks, we mixed sand, dirt, and soil with glue.

The best part of the lesson was making our own sedimentary "rock." Our version was quite tasty! We layered crushed vanilla wafers, peanut butter chips, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and topped it all off with a layer of pecan pieces. After baking for 25 minutes, it had to cool to harden. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough time to let it cool completely before it was time to go home, so we had some mushy rock dessert! We were still able to see some of the layers, pictured here.