Your weekly update with school news, upcoming events, and important reminders to keep our community connected.
Upcoming Events
Our Holiday Program is December 20th
Join us on Friday, December 20th, at 9:00 AM in the Nave for our special Holiday Performance and Chapel Service, Joy to the World. Students from Orientation through Middle Years will showcase performances celebrating a variety of winter holidays, including Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa, and Christmas. Reverend Ashley and students will share the stories behind these traditions, making this a meaningful and festive occasion.
To ensure our students shine on stage, please have them dressed in formal holiday colors—blue, white, green, red, gold, or black. Jeans, shorts, and tennis shoes should be avoided. Early dismissal will follow the event. No aftercare will be available, so please check out your child with their teacher before leaving.
We look forward to celebrating the season with you and your family!
Happy Holidays!
Wishing you a beautiful and safe Winter Holiday! Thank you for an incredible first semester—we can’t wait to see you back on Tuesday, January 7th, as we continue watching your children grow kinder and smarter in 2025.
We’re thrilled to announce our first-ever Jingle Week—a festive spirit week designed to bring holiday cheer and fun to our community! From Monday, December 16th, to Thursday, December 19th, students and staff are invited to participate in themed dress-up days as we celebrate the season together.
Don’t Forget: Joy to the World Performance on Friday
On Friday, December 20th, we will end the week with our Joy to the World performance, a beloved tradition. Please remember that formal dress is expected for this event.
We can’t wait to see everyone’s holiday spirit shine! Thank you for helping us make this season merry and bright.
Annual Fund Update
Annual Fund Update: Exciting Progress!
We’re excited to share this week’s Annual Fund update, highlighting the incredible momentum we’ve built together! As of today, we’ve reached an impressive $174,401 in total support, with overall parent participation climbing to 58%. Here’s the latest participation breakdown by division:
- Orientation: 63%
- Primary: 56%
- Lower Elementary: 65%
- Upper Elementary: 63%
- Middle Years: 82%
As you consider your tax-deductible gift, remember that while tuition covers essential costs, the Annual Fund provides the enriching experiences that make our school extraordinary. Faculty, staff, and Board member participation remains at a remarkable 100%—we invite you to join them in making a meaningful contribution today!
Already given? Thank you! Please consider an additional year-end gift to further enhance your 2024 tax-deductible support. Together, we can continue providing the opportunities our students deserve!
A Note from the Nurse
We have started to see cold and flu cases increasing at St. Stephen’s. Please be mindful of flu-like symptoms especially and remember to keep your child at home with fever (100.4F or higher) until fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications. We strongly recommend getting your child tested if they are displaying any of the symptoms below specific to flu. We ask that you report positive flu cases to the nurse so that we can keep our community informed should cases escalate. Any absences of 3 consecutive days or more require a doctor’s release to return to school.
| Cold | Flu |
|
Symptoms come on gradually and are usually, mild |
Symptoms come on suddenly and are often severe |
| · cough | · chills |
| · runny or stuffy nose | · cough |
| · sneezing | · fatigue or weakness |
| · sore throat | · fever over 100 degrees |
| · headache | |
| · muscle pain or body aches | |
| · runny or stuffy nose | |
| · sore throat |
Note. From “Know the Symptoms: Viruses Going Around” by Kaiser Permanente.
Additionally, please remember that if your child is vomiting, allow 24 hours from the last episode to pass, without the use of nausea suppressing medications, before returning to school.
Wishing everyone good health through the holidays!
Celebrate Our Faculty and Staff This Holiday Season
Support the SSESH Holiday Giving Fund and show your gratitude to our incredible faculty and staff! Your tax-deductible gift directly benefits teachers, assistants, specialists, staff, and maintenance crew.
💌 Add a holiday message with your online gift: Click here to give.
🎁 Donate by Monday, December 16 at 11:59 pm to ensure your gift is included in end-of-year paychecks. Donations after this date will be shared in January paychecks.
Thank you for your generosity and for supporting this cherished tradition!
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church Invites You…
Looking for a fun family activity after Christmas? Join the St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church community for the Annual Chili Bingo and White Elephant Party in Pecore Hall at 6pm on December 26th.
At-a-Glance
Key Dates
December 2024
- 12/20 – All-School Chapel; Early Dismissal; No Extended Care
- 12/23 – 1/3 – Winter Break
January 2025
- 12/23 – 1/3 – Winter Break
- 1/6 – No School; Teacher In-Service
- 1/20 – No School; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
February 2025
- 2/21 – No School; All School Conferences
March 2025
- 3/10 – 3/14 – Spring Break
April 2025
- 4/18 – 4/21 – No School; Good Friday and Easter Monday
May 2025
- 5/23 – Last Day of School; Early Dismissal; No Extended Care
- 5/26 – Memorial Day
- 5/27 – 5/30 – Teacher In-Service and Conferences; Summer Camp Prep
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!