Celebrating the Birth of Mary

 Thank you to those who have already turned in their Faith Development Plan.  Please be sure to turn those in to my mailbox by Friday, Sept. 2.  I can see how you were inspired by Fr. Anthony at the retreat in completing your plans.  Many have incorporated the idea of the 3X5 daily prayer and that peace comes from knowing God.  A couple of you have mentioned the book Set the World on Fire.  I would suggest sharing that you are reading the book and possibly meet a few times for a book study/reflection.  I did this one year with a few teachers (until Covid stopped us short), and found it helped me keep on track with my plan.  Many also mentioned having check-ins to stay on track with your plan.  I will incorporate that into my blog a few times throughout the year and also ask the priests to join us at meetings throughout the year to continue to inspire us.  

This year, our first St. Vincent de Paul collection will take place from Sept. 8 - 16.  The organization has struggled to meet the needs of the community and Fr. Dermot has asked Faith Formation and the School to do a collection early in the year.  Sept. 8 is the Feast of the Nativity of Mary.  As we celebrate her birth, we will remember to ask her intercession for those in need.  I would like us to pray the Memorare each morning on the Morning Show Sept. 8-16 and have the students include petitions that the needs of those who are struggling will be met by our generosity.  I will put it in Tidbits this Thursday and I ask that you promote this with your students.  The theme of the Collection will be Help Feed the Children of Mary. Mary was a lowly handmaid but, by the grace of God, her soul magnifies the Lord, and she became the Mother of God and our mother too.  It is our responsibility to honor our Heavenly Father and our spiritual mother.  What better way to honor our mother but to help her children who are struggling at this moment in their lives.  

For those who are new to St. Stephen, the St. Vincent de Paul Society provides food to the community.  People are able to come every Friday to pick up bags of food.  You probably see them in their golf carts on Friday between the FLC and portable.  

Friday is a noon dismissal and teachers will meet in the Media Center at 1:00 pm.  Our Professional Development will be i-Ready and GoGuardian.  More details to follow.

Have a wonderful week!  

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word incarnate, despise not my petitions, but, in your mercy, hear and answer me.  Amen.

Grand Opening!

 This will be an exciting week for our school.  As you saw in Tidbits, we will be having our Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for our reimagined Media Center on Tuesday at 8:00 am with the Riverview Chamber of Commerce in attendance.  We have also invited those who helped make this dream a reality.  Yesenia will video tape it and we can play the actual ribbon cutting and blessing on the morning show on Thursday for everyone to watch.

This is the week the students should be completing their Mustang Writes.  Next Monday's faculty meeting (Aug. 29) will be the time to score their work.  Some teachers will be doing this and some will be in a zoom meeting with me to go over the CIPA self-study process.  This will be attended by committee chairs and the steering committee (Heather, Maria, Galy, Susana, Mary, Lisa and me).  Tomorrow's meeting will be a grade level PLC.  I have already sent an email to the Early Childhood teachers and the Encore teachers regarding tomorrow's faculty meeting.  More information will be shared tomorrow.  

Final reminder that Wednesday is the All Parish Retreat at the Franciscan Center.  I'm looking forward to a peaceful day led by Fr. Anthony.  

Have a wonderful week!

Who's Ready? I - Ready!

 Ok, maybe that was corny.  I hope you all had a great first week and a restful weekend.  I can tell you all this, I heard SO many good things about our first week of school and about our teachers.  THIS was the best first week ever!!  If you haven't seen our Facebook posts (Thank you Yesenia!), check them out and you will see why this was a great week.

Our second week will focus on i-Ready testing for grades 1-8.  I sent out the schedule for this week and Amanda added the small group support to it.  Barbara sent passwords today, Yesenia made sure the technology is good to go, and Mary helped pull it all together.  Way to go Mustangs!  Barbara will follow up with K to schedule their testing and 1st grade to finish the week of Aug. 22.  

For teachers, we will have a regular faculty meeting on Monday and the topics for discussion will be Student Support Plans and Services.  Please bring any questions you still may have on any topic.

Just a reminder that our All Parish Retreat is Wednesday, August 24, at the Franciscan Center in Tampa. This event is mandatory for all employees. The location is 21 miles from the school, therefore, we will not reimburse for mileage and I do recommend carpooling as there is limited parking.  If you are a part time employee, you may put in for 6 hours that day even if it puts you over 29.5 for the week.  Our start time is 9:00 am with a continental breakfast and we will end at 3:00 pm.  Lunch will be included.  Here is the address:  3010 N Perry Ave., Tampa.  

I will be out this Friday at the Bethany Center for an Administrator's Meeting.  Mary will be here and I will be available by text and email.  

Thank you for a great start to this new year!

Welcome Back!

 
Welcome to the day before the first day of school!  Thank you to everyone for making the school look beautiful.  Parents had good things to say (mostly, thank goodness school is starting!) and they are looking forward to this new year.  

I heard from Denet and she is scheduled to fly out of Marrakesh on Aug. 15 but it will take her two days to get back to Tampa.  I'm hoping she will start on Aug. 18.  In the meantime, I will work with Mary to come up with some ideas beyond what we already planned.  

Middle School teachers, please remember to meet me at 9:45 in the breezeway for the House Sorting Ceremony.  Darien or Yesenia, if available, please come take pictures.   I will stay and speak with students interested in being in the choir right after the sorting ceremony.  Our first Mass is Wednesday with 8th grade leading the Mass.

Don't forget lunch in the FLC hosted by PTCO on Monday.  Please refer back to the presentation if you forgot if you have lunch duty that day.  

I plan to visit all the classrooms on Monday.  Please pause whatever you are doing for a few minutes so that I can greet the students and welcome them back.  

Bells are set.  You may be confused when you hear them because it sounds a little like a doorbell.  I will share the bell schedule with everyone which shows the times and where they ring.  I have the bells set to ring at the end of class and also when class should begin.  The bells on the playground indicate the end of your recess time.  

Teachers, we will have a brief faculty meeting after carline (hopefully at 3:30) in the media center.  This is just a "how did today go and what did we forget to tell you" discussion.  It should not be long but it is always good to check in after the first day.  Please remind students this week that the upcoming weekend is Uniform Weekend and that they should wear their uniforms and get their holy card for free dress Monday.  It's also a good time to go over the free dress rules in the handbook.  

Thank you everyone.  This is going to be a great year!!