A Message from Kevin Little, Annual Fund Co-Chair

Why do I give? I give, among many other reasons, due to the remarkable inclusivity of the St. Stephen’s environment.

While our family may constitute a small sample size, our three children nonetheless demonstrate what makes St. Stephen’s such a special place. Our kids range in age from primary to middle years, and they are not, to put it mildly, carbon copies of each other. Rather, they each come to school each morning with wildly different interests, skills, and personalities. And yet each feels at home at St. Stephen’s, and each thrives in this community.

The Annual Fund allows St. Stephen’s to continue to create an environment where each child is able to reach their true potential, and to be accepted and embraced for who they are.

A Message from Aya Aoshima-Kilroy, Annual Fund Co-Chair

It was such a joy for me to serve as co-chair for the 2022 Annual Fund and I am just as excited to be returning this year!

The Annual Fund provides dollars to a multitude of programs and services at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, Houston (SSESH). It goes without saying that children thrive when they can be themselves and learn in ways that work best for their individual preferences. Just as important is the environment, both indoors and outdoors, where children learn, play, and make friends. Last year, the Annual Fund supported the CoHo backyard project which promoted outdoor learning.

Contributing to the Annual Fund is our family’s way of giving back to a school that has supported our children 100% in their academic endeavors. I’ve also seen our children grow in other ways and attribute that growth to our wonderful teachers and staff. They are amazing humans and outstanding role models of compassion, curiosity, and mindfulness. So, we donate to support their ongoing professional development.

St Stephen’s is more than just a “place of learning” for us. We found a diverse and inclusive community of families, friends, teachers and staff when we joined over 6 years ago. Community relationships extend beyond the school grounds in the form of playdates, celebrations, and opportunities for service. So, we donate to help our community grow even stronger and larger.

Join us either again or for the first time to support our amazing school by donating to the Annual Fund.

Upcoming Events

See Seesaw for more information!

 

10/27/23

Halloween @ SSESH

Students may wear Halloween costumes to school! No weapons of any kind are allowed.

10/27/23

Early Dismissal; Teacher In-Service

11/2/2023

For Primary Families: Lower El ZOOM-ing Up Night – 7 PM

Thursday, November 2, 2023
7:00 – 7:30 pm

11/2/2023

For Lower El Families: Upper El ZOOM-ing Up Night – 7 PM

Thursday, November 2, 2023
7:00 – 7:30 pm

11/2/2023

For Upper El Families: Middle Years ZOOM-ing Up Night – 7 PM

Thursday, November 2, 2023
7:00 – 7:30 pm

11/3/2023

For Orientation Families: Primary Class Visits – 3:15 PM

Friday, November 3, 2023
3:15 – 3:45 pm

Childcare will be provided for no additional cost during this event and may be arranged as a continuation of the school day or as drop-in care. Please email [email protected] to arrange care for your child. 

11/4/2023

Campus Beautification Day – 8 – 11 AM

11/7/2023

Campus Tour – 9 AM

11/8/2023

All School Chapel: All Saints

11/9/2023

Admissions Open House – 6:00 – 8 PM

11/10/2023

No School; All School Conferences

11/14/2023

Campus Tour – 9 AM

11/16/2023

Thanksgiving Pies and Flowers

11/17/2023

Early Dismissal; No Extended Care

11/17/2023

Grandparents and Special Friends Day

11/20/2023 – 11/24/2023

Thanksgiving Break

11/28/2023

Giving Tuesday

12/1/2023

Positive Discipline: Orientation and Primary 

12/5/2023

Campus Tour – 9 AM

12/8/2023

Positive Discipline: Elementary and Middle Years

12/12/2023

Campus Tour – 9 AM

12/15/2023

PTO Holiday Wrap Up

12/22/2023

Early Dismissal; No Extended Care

12/22/2023

Las Posadas

12/25/2023 – 1/8/2024

Winter Break

Campus Beautification Day

Campus Beautification Day is a community favorite!

This is an opportunity for the St. Stephen’s school and church community to gather together to clean up and beautify our common areas, helping these spaces look their best so can be better enjoyed by all. Where can you share your gifts and talents this year?
 
Please bring whatever supplies you may have to help out. We will need all the buckets, scrub brushes, power washers, and gardening supplies, etc.  you can spare to get the work done. Make sure to label your gear, like jackets on the playground, many rakes tend to look alike!
 
NOTE: Please note that children must be supervised by their caregivers at all times during Campus Beautification Day.  Please join us for a safety briefing and breakfast on November 4, 2023, at 8 a.m. in Pecore Hall.

Houston Grand Opera Comes to St. Stephen’s

Dear St. Stephen’s Families,

On Wednesday, November 1, the Houston Grand Opera will perform a 45-minute-long opera in the Nave. The opera is called “Katie, the Strongest of the Strong” and is based on the true story of Katie Sandwina.

Katie was a real-life suffragette, record breaker, and world traveler. Austrian by birth, she moved to the United States where she claimed the title of the world’s strongest person and toured with Barnum and Bailey Circus, gracing stages across the nation for nearly 60 years and dazzling crowds by showy feats of strength such as lifting 300 lbs. over her head, bending metal bars, and resisting the pull of four horses. In 1912, she became the vice president of a Suffrage society within the Barnum and Bailey Circus and helped give voice to the movement that forever changed the course of women’s rights in the United States.

During my music classes with each grade level, we will discuss the content of this opera. We are looking forward to this educational and fun performance for our K-8th students.

With gratitude,

Ms. Grace, Music Teacher

Bulldog Compliments

At St. Stephen’s, we have an easy way for anyone in the St. Stephen’s community to show their appreciation for a faculty, staff, or leadership team member. We call it sending a “Bulldog Compliment.”

Here is how it works. Click the Send A Bulldog Compliment image and follow the prompts. It only takes a few clicks, and you are done.

All compliments are anonymous and will be sent to the person (or persons) you choose to recognize. There is no limit to how many you can send, so be as generous as you wish!