A Warm Welcome to the New Year
Happy New Year, St. Stephen’s families! We hope your winter break was restful, joyful, and filled with meaningful moments together. As we step into this new year, we are so happy to welcome you back to campus and into the rhythm of school life.
A new year brings fresh energy, continued growth, and exciting moments ahead. We look forward to learning together, strengthening our community, and supporting each child as they continue to grow academically, socially, and emotionally.
Thank you for being such an engaged and supportive part of our St. Stephen’s community. We are grateful for each of you and excited for what this new year will bring.
Here’s to a wonderful start to 2026—together.
Upcoming Events
No School - MLK Day
There will be no school on Monday, January 19th, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This day invites us to pause, reflect, and continue conversations about kindness, fairness, courage, and standing up for what is right.
If you’d like to mark the day at home, here are a few age-appropriate book suggestions to explore together:
Orientation / Primary
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The Story of Martin Luther King Jr. – Johnny Ray Moore
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I Am Enough – Grace Byers
Lower Elementary
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Martin’s Big Words – Doreen Rappaport
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Each Kindness – Jacqueline Woodson
Upper Elementary
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March On! The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World – Christine King Farris
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Freedom on the Menu – Carole Boston Weatherford
Middle Years
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March (graphic novel series) – John Lewis
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Stamped (for Kids) – Jason Reynolds & Ibram X. Kendi
The State of SSESH with Dr. Troy
Join us in the Church Nave on Thursday, January 22nd, at 5:00 pm for The State of SSESH—an important moment for our community to come together.
This gathering is more than an update. It’s a chance to hear directly from Dr. Troy Roddy, to celebrate the growth, accomplishments, and challenges of this year, and to better understand the vision shaping Fall 2026 and beyond. Being in the room allows for shared reflection, collective energy, and a deeper sense of connection that simply can’t be replicated afterward.
We hope you’ll join us as we reflect, connect, and envision what’s next for SSESH—together.
What’s Next for Your Child? Winter Open House | January 22
All moving-up families (Orientation Year Two, Kindergarten, Third Grade, and Sixth Grade) are invited to our Winter Open House to spend time in the classrooms your children will be moving into and connect with our teachers.
We also welcome you to invite friends, family, or neighbors who may be searching for the just right school for their children.
Thursday, January 22 at 6:00 PM
RSVP: https://ssesh.org/open-house-registration/
A Window Into the Next Level
Parents are invited to observe classrooms at the level their child will enter in Fall 2026. These observations offer an opportunity to see the environment, daily routines, and learning in action as students prepare for the next stage of their Montessori journey. Please be on the lookout for an email from the teachers in the next level with an invitation to schedule a classroom observation.
Re-Enrollment | 2026–2027
On January 30, families will receive a re-enrollment email from FACTS Management.
Key Dates:
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Jan 30–Feb 13: Priority re-enrollment with a $300 tuition discount per child
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Feb 14–28: Regular re-enrollment (no discount)
Remaining spots will be offered to new applicants beginning March 1. Due to high demand, we strongly encourage current families to re-enroll during the priority window to secure your child’s spot.
Questions? emoore@ssesh.org
January Monty Meals
Monty Meals Sign-up is open again until Tuesday, January 13th at 9 am.
Get Ready to Boogie: The 2026 SSESH Gala Theme Is Here
We’re excited to announce the winning theme for the 2026 SSESH Gala: A Saturday Night at Studio 54! Thank you to everyone who voted and helped us choose this fun, festive night.
More details will be shared soon, but for now, please save the date: Saturday, April 18, 2026 🪩
We’re also looking for volunteers to help plan this special event. If you’d like to join a committee, click here to sign up!
Help Us Finish Strong
We may be in a new calendar year, but we’re only halfway through the academic year—and the Annual Fund continues.
Thanks to the generosity of our community, we are 81% of the way to our $210,000 goal. That means we’re just 19% away, and we truly cannot get there without you.
The Annual Fund supports the heart of St. Stephen’s—our classrooms, teachers, programs, and daily experiences that make learning here meaningful and strong. Every gift, at every level, directly impacts our students and the community we share.
Thank you for being part of what makes St. Stephen’s such a special place to learn and grow.
2025/2026 At-A-Glance Calendar
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!