...or it will be tomorrow. Terra Nova is completed, boxed, and ready for shipping. Thank you to Kate and her team of worker bees who caught up with absent students, erased stray marks, darkened the circles of those with a light touch, and filled out all that paperwork. Another year done and now we wait. Based on our students' performance on i-Ready, I expect great things.
We are also waiting for the 3 pm bell on Friday, which marks the start of Spring Break. I hope you all have amazing plans, even if it is to just sit and relax. This week, I will be at Nativity on Wednesday morning for yet another Principal's meeting, and then I will be out on Thursday and Friday.
Since this will be my last blog for a couple of weeks, as I will be out of the country the next two Sundays, here's a look ahead. The week after break has two events: spring pictures and the presentation of the Stations of the Cross by our 7th graders, on Friday evening. I will be back on March 24, assuming I don't get lost in the desert with King Tut.
If you were not at one of the events happening on Friday and Saturday, here's what you missed.
Fish Fry - You missed Calvin, who made his first appearance at St. Stephen. He's adorable, and Mom is doing great and loving every minute of being a new mom. You also missed A LOT of alumni working at the fish fry. It was great seeing them all and what they are up to. Most impressive was Jaxon Hester, who is working on creating a line of fragrances for men and women as part of a project for his business class.
Once Upon a Brick Library Sleepover - Thank you, Yesenia and Officer Diaz, for spending the night at school, providing a spectacular night for the kindergarten boys and keeping them safe. I was not so brave and left by 7. The energy was real! Plus I had to get up the next morning for....
Turkish mosaic crafting - Thank you, Lisa, for putting this together. We had a fun (and sometimes frustrating - you try teeny tiny gluing beads) time. We were all very proud of our almost finished product. The final step of grouting happened at home after it dried.
Compared to all that, this week is pretty quiet as we head toward our much-anticipated Spring Break. While it may be quiet at school, there is much happening in the world. I ask that during this time of Lent, as we may be increasing our prayers and time with our Lord, let us add everyone affected by events in Iran and the Middle East to our prayers. As a community with extensive ties to the military, we especially want to remember them in our prayers that the Lord and their Guardian Angels be by their side.
I will be out on Thursday (6th-grade field trip) and Friday (principal meeting at the Bethany Center). Have a wonderful week!
Congratulations to our Odyssey of the Mind elective students for competing in the regional competition on Saturday, and thank you to Mrs. Bikus and Mr. Bonetti for heading up the group. Their task included creating a structure (a large birthday cake made out of balsa wood) that could withstand pressure. As part of the task, there was a story, and the students were dressed as visitors from various made-up planets. Please ask the students to tell you more, as they can explain it better. The picture below shows the costumes they wore. While they are not moving on in the competition, I am very proud of them for stepping out of their comfort zone and performing in front of an audience and judges.
Week two of Terra Nova, and it will mostly be make-up testing. I will send out more information about Tuesday's faculty meeting tomorrow. The focus will be on ESE as mentioned last week. Only Core teachers K-8 need to attend. On Wednesday, I will be on a field trip with the 8th grade to the Ringling. I will also send out final details about the kick-off on Friday for the Spirit Raffle. Friday afternoon is set aside for parent/teacher conferences. All teachers who normally work on a Friday afternoon are expected to be here, even if conferences are done.
Guess what time of year it is?!! Not report cards, not TerraNova, not who's getting left back, it's name that new school theme time! I have asked someone to head up a committee to work on this, but as I was having a conversation with AI about it, I came up with something that I think is a great start, AND it would last us 3 years! Since we have to figure out what our Charism is in our mission statement for accreditation (especially next year for our third year review), I thought a theme along those lines would be good. So what is charism (funny you should ask, because I Googled that too)? We know what a charismatic person is, but in this sense it means:
A charism is a specific, freely given spiritual gift from the Holy Spirit, designed to build up the Church, serve others, and advance the Gospel. Originating from the Greek charis (grace), these supernatural gifts—such as teaching, healing, prophecy, or leadership—are bestowed upon individuals to empower them to act as channels of God's love in the world.
Key aspects of charisms include:
Purpose: They are given for the common good of the Church and the needs of the world, rather than solely for personal holiness.
Distinction from Talent: While natural talents are developed, charisms are supernatural empowerments often recognized by their fruitfulness and the joy they bring when used in service
.
Types: Examples include wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, administration, and service.
Religious Life: In the context of religious orders, a charism refers to the distinct spirit and mission (e.g., teaching, caring for the poor) founded by a specific individual.
Application: Every baptized person is believed to receive these gifts, making it important to discern and use them for community building.
Notice I highlighted the word "service." Look what happens when I ask AI, "What is a good catholic theme for the 2026-27 school year that ties to the charism of St. Stephen?"
A strong Catholic theme for the 2026-27 school year, tying into St. Stephen’s charism as the first martyr, deacon, and witness to truth, is "Witnesses of Truth: Bold in Faith, Service, and Love." This theme emphasizes courageous faith, service to the community, and sacrificial love, aligning perfectly with St. Stephen's life and the 2026 Catholic Schools Week theme "United in Faith and Community".
Theme Breakdown & St. Stephen's Charism: (Take note!! One theme that can be broken down into three parts over three years.)
Witnesses of Truth (Acts 6-7): Focuses on Stephen as the Protomartyr (first witness), teaching students to stand up for their faith and act with integrity, even when it is difficult.
Bold in Faith: Encourages students to be fearless in sharing the Gospel, mirroring Stephen’s powerful testimony before the Sanhedrin.
Monthly/Quarterly Sub-themes: (This was extra and not needed, but I left it in because it's good info)
Q1: Called to Serve (Stephen the Deacon): Focusing on ministry, helping classmates, and community outreach.
Q2: Heart on Fire (Stephen’s Faith): Emphasizing prayer, studying Scripture, and deepening faith.
Q3: Voices of Truth (Stephen’s Speech): Encouraging courageous, respectful dialogue and standing up against bullying or injustice.
Q4: Forgiving Love (Stephen’s Martyrdom): Teaching forgiveness, empathy, and sacrificial love (imitating Christ and Stephen's last words).
This theme pairs well with the 2026 Catholic Schools Week focus on uniting in community and acting with faith in daily life
And there are songs....
1. Specific "Witness" & "Mission" Hymns
"Be My Witness" (RENEW International/OCP): This collection features songs explicitly designed for this theme, including "Go Out and Tell" and "Send Us Your Spirit," which focus on sharing the faith with courage.
"Go Make a Difference" (Steve Angrisano): A popular modern Catholic hymn focusing on service and acting as Christ's hands and feet in the world.
"Witness of Love" (based on Acts 1:8): A contemporary song emphasizing being witnesses for Christ with the power of the Spirit,, standing united in faith, truth, and love.
"Faithful Witness" (Stephanie S. Taylor): A choral anthem that calls the church to mission, using strong, regal music to build confidence in witnessing.
2. Themes of Boldness in Faith
"Lift High the Cross": A classic hymn of witness, encouraging believers to proclaim Christ publicly.
"Be Not Afraid" (Bob Dufford, SJ): Emphasizes having courage (boldness) in faith, trusting that God is with you as you witness.
"The Church's One Foundation" (AURELIA): A hymn of unity and enduring faith.
3. Themes of Service and Love
"Ubi Caritas" (Various settings, including Richard Proulx): Translates to "Where Charity and Love Are," emphasizing that true witness is rooted in love.
"Servant Song" (Donna McGargill, OSM): Focuses on service to one another, highlighting the "love" aspect of your theme.
"As I Have Done for You" (Dan Schutte): A Eucharistic-themed hymn about serving others in love.
"Testify to Love" (Avalon - frequently used in contemporary Catholic worship): A song about witnessing in daily life and offering "simple acts of mercy".
4. "Cloud of Witnesses" (Faith Tradition)
"We Are Surrounded (By a Great Cloud of Witnesses)" (Joseph Martin): Draws on Hebrews 12:1-3, inspiring faith and perseverance by remembering the saints.
And so it begins. Be sure you all get a good night's rest and eat a good breakfast. It's TerraNova time. Please encourage your students to do their best, so we have the most accurate information to meet their needs.
A big shout-out and thank you to Nicki and her team of volunteers for another great night. The FLC was transformed into a beautiful setting for a night of fun and raising money for the students. Three of our Wow items were purchased - the hydroponic garden, cameras, and 3-D printers! Great night all around.
Now for the bad news. I received an email just a while ago from the FCC regarding our accreditation work. There was a problem with the website, and we were unable to submit the work last week. Everyone received an extension to Feb. 20. They have just discovered the problem. They were cyber-attacked, and all our files were deleted (along with everyone else's). We are very lucky this was not a 7-year review, so we do not have too much to replace. I will provide more information tomorrow once Mary and I look at everything. They still want everything submitted by Friday, so we will come up with a plan tomorrow. Stay tuned.
That is what the next five days feel like, the calm before the storm, and I'm glad we have a long weekend to prepare. While some of us are gearing up for the Gala event, others may be thinking about the following week... Terra Nova, End of Trimester, Ash Wednesday, oh my! Here is something very important to keep in mind. Teachers should be finishing up summatives this week, with very few during the first week of Terra Nova. Middle School teachers should speak with each other to have a game plan. During Terra Nova week, students may have homework and may have summatives. However, consider just how many tests a student can complete effectively in one day.
If any of you were at the 7:30 Mass this morning, you heard a great homily from Fr. Josh. It was funny (mishap with a glow stick), and it hit home with me when I think about the complaints I hear. My take from his words was stop complaining and wallowing in your own self-pity and look around and shine the light of Jesus within you on someone else who is suffering. In helping someone, your own sadness will disappear. I know that sounds very simplistic, but it makes sense. When I think about the things people complain about, myself included, then I see someone in a dire situation, I realize we should be helping instead of complaining about inconsequential things.
The Holy Card to look for tomorrow is St. Anthony, and I challenge you all to take a moment and let the light of Jesus shine bright from within you.
Gracias, Merci, Danke, Grazie, Arigato, Xièxie, and Spasibo. What more can I say? Thank you to all for a great Catholic Schools Week. The biggest thank you goes to our CIPA committee members for being so prepared that Friday was a breeze, and we got an early start to the weekend. It's not just about being prepared with the evidence, but that the evidence we have shows how great we really are. Even if I have to go digging through my blogs to prove it! :)
Final reminder that all students will eat in their classrooms on Monday. Grades 4-8 should be seated in the FLC by 1 pm to watch the musical that may or may not be aligned to our health standards (Thank you, Jeff for that one!).
Next weekend is Holy Card weekend. Please remind the students to wear their uniforms to Mass. Have a great week!
Let the fun begin! Thank you to our CSW team for putting this week together. Please be sure to reinforce rules, as days like these can create excitement. Please refer to the committee's schedule to keep up with all the happenings. Also, remind students to bring in food for SVDP. There were some specific items (which I listed in Tidbits) that they are asking for. All donations are welcome, but it is worth mentioning their specific asks.
Finally, for everyone working on the Year 2 CIPA, our meeting on Friday is to finalize everything. Each committee chair should be prepared to present their ratings and evidence. Everything should be uploaded to the website by then for the benchmarks. For the action plans, those should be completed but not uploaded. Mary will load those once approved. This will give Mary and me a week to complete the ARCA form based on everything you present and get it all uploaded before the due date. Mary may have more details to share.
