A reminder that First Trimester Conferences will be held on Friday, November 8th, and there will be NO school that day. Your child’s teacher will reach out to schedule your conference. Please note that students in Lower Elementary and above are expected to attend with their parents, while Orientation and Primary conferences are for parents and teachers only.

For families already enrolled in Extended Care, we are offering Conference Care. For questions about Conference Care, please email Chris Giles at cgiles@ssesh.org or Celia Hughes at chughes@ssesh.org.

Join us on Thursday, November 14th, from 5:00-6:30 pm for an insightful Parent Education session on Language and Culture in the Montessori Classrooms from Orientation to Middle Years. In Montessori, “culture” includes history, geography, botany, and zoology, offering a holistic learning experience. Discover how language development is woven into cultural studies, as children build vocabulary and explore the natural world. Learn how these subjects nurture curiosity, global awareness, and a deep understanding of the world. Whether you’re new to Montessori or familiar with its methods, this session will provide valuable insights into your child’s educational journey.

Please RSVP to Liz Newchurch at lnewchurch@ssesh.org.

Mark your calendars for Grandparents and Special Friends Day on Friday, November 22nd—which is also an early dismissal day! This beloved tradition gives students the chance to share their school experience with a grandparent or a special friend. More details will be coming soon, but in the meantime, feel free to let your student’s guest know the date so they can plan to join us for this memorable day. Stay tuned for more information!

We hope you all enjoyed your Fall Break! This week’s Annual Fund update shows that giving slowed a bit over the long weekend, but we’re looking forward to it picking back up. As of this week, total Annual Fund support is at $55,212, and overall parent participation stands at 25%. Here’s a breakdown by division: Orientation is up to 25%, Primary is holding steady at 27%, Lower Elementary has jumped to 32%, Upper Elementary is holding at 29%, and Middle Years has jumped to 33%.

Have you seen our Wednesday SSESH Stories? Read about some of our great alums and current students who have benefitted from previous Annual Fund support.

When you consider your tax-deductible gift amount, keep in mind that tuition covers our basic costs, and the Annual Fund helps provide the extras that our students deserve. Faculty/Staff and Board member participation are both at 100% – please match their commitment by giving generously today!

As mentioned in my previous communication, we have made some updates in Magnus. For your child’s health and comfort should he or she become ill or injured at school, we now offer a larger variety of over-the-counter medications. These changes were made to the Over-the Counter Medication Form and will require your attention whether you choose to opt in or opt out. If you opt in, you will be contacted before any oral medication (ex: pain reliever or allergy medication) is administered to ensure that a previous dose has not been given at home. This electronic signature form is quick and easy to complete and should be completed at your earliest convenience.

Over the next several weeks I will be auditing health records. Please check Magnus and ensure that all requirements are complete and up to date. I will be sending out emails and making calls regarding any outstanding requirements. 

If you are having any trouble logging in to Magnus or uploading forms, please contact me and I will assist you in this process.

Christina Heinroth BSN, RN

713-821-9100 x118

nurse@SSESH.org

What an amazing Spirit Week! It was so much fun to see everyone—from students across all levels to faculty and staff—get into the SSESH spirit. From creative outfits to enthusiastic participation in activities, the energy and excitement on campus were contagious. We loved seeing the community come together, showing off school pride and enjoying the fun-filled week. Thank you to everyone who made it such a memorable time! Let’s keep that spirit going all year long!

We are excited to announce that the Juniors of St. Stephen’s Troop 123012 were just awarded the Bronze Award by the San Jacinto Girl Scout Council.  The Junior troop includes Upper El Students Norah Choksi, Nancy Swanson, and Community Member Kyla Rodriguez. The Bronze award is the highest award given to a Junior Girl Scout to commemorate the achievement of a Take Action Project.

The girls came up with their service project after visiting a shelter in October 2023.  The shelter manager noted that dogs consumed tennis balls, which then needed to be surgically removed.  This was painful for the dogs and cost the shelter a lot of money in veterinarian bills.  The girls decided to make dog toys, using old t-shirt scraps, which would not be dangerous for dogs or cats if they accidentally ingested them.  The girls collected old t-shirts from their Upper El classmates and the larger SSESH community, and together with the larger multi-level troop and families made the toys.  They delivered the toys to the Houston Humane Society on September 7, 2024.

In order to make this continue, the girls created an instructional video of how to make the toys, and posted it on youtube.  The containers delivered to the Shelter each have a QR code linking to the videos, so future volunteers can use the video to help restock the toys.

You can help continue their work by creating dog and cat toys and donating them to a local shelter:  https://youtu.be/Equ9AIfB6A4

We’re excited to share that SOCKTOBER is ongoing, and we are so grateful for all the donations that have already come in! The collection basket is located in the front of the church by Ms. Whitney’s desk. You can drop off NEW socks any time this month to help unhoused teens in our neighborhood.

If you’d like to make a monetary donation to support all of the services at Grace Place, you can give HERE. Rest assured that 100% of the gifts received through this fund will be passed along to them at the end of the month. To learn more about Grace Place, click HERE.

Parents can also access the meeting summary from our most recent PTO meeting HERE.

Thank you to all the families who attended our PTO Bingo Night at Betsy’s! It was a wonderful evening of fun and community spirit.

Lastly, mark your calendars for our next PTO meeting on November 7th! We hope to see you there!

Ready to unwind beneath the starry skies and tall pines? Our annual Fall Retreat is happening November 15-17 at Camp Allen in Navasota, and we invite our entire church and school community to join in the fun!

This is a wonderful opportunity for younger students to become familiar with Camp Allen before their Lower Elementary trip in the spring, and a chance for older students to return to their old stomping grounds. Whether you’re staying 1 night, 2 nights, or just visiting for the day on Saturday, there’s something for everyone. Enjoy a range of activities, or simply take the time to relax—sit on a porch, go for a peaceful walk, or indulge in a well-deserved nap. This retreat is designed for you—offering a true escape.

Registration is open now and closes October 30. Don’t miss out!

Register here!

Hurricane Beryl caused significant damage to the trees and buildings at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, resulting in costly repairs. While insurance covered part of the expenses, we are still left with a substantial balance. If you’re able, please consider supporting our Beryl Tree Damage Fund.