He Likes It!

Hey Mikey!  If you are as old as dirt like me, you remember Mikey, who hated everything but Life Cereal.  John Gilchrist and his family lived in my neighborhood growing up (all three brothers were in the commercial), and they threw the best New Year's Eve party.  Luckily, we didn't have to eat Life cereal at the party.  When surrounded by so much cereal, this is what I think of - little Mikey.  Thank you, Lisa, for organizing this worthwhile event.  Thank you, Nicki, too, for organizing the SVDP drive.  Cleaning supplies were a great idea.  

Here is the plan for the annual Cereal Box Domino Challenge.  Right after the morning show, students in 8A who have finished their art project will stay behind to collect all the cereal in Angel's Wing and bring it to the main building.  I can meet them with a cart.  They will then help me to set up the cereal boxes.  Second grade has PE first period.  They should leave PE five minutes early so that they can be back in the main building promptly at 8:45, which is when we will do the Challenge.  Third grade will go to PE right after the event.   

Holy Card this weekend is the Holy Spirit.  Please let the students know on Monday that if they collected all the Holy Cards this year, they may come see me on Friday at 8:30 am.  Please first check that they have these cards:

Guardian Angel
Carlo Acutis
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Holy Family
Jesus
St. Anthony of Padua
St. Joseph
Our Lady of Lourdes

Holy Spirit

Next Tuesday is a Grade Level PLC.  I will be visiting the Early Childhood group and possibly Gr. 3-5 if there is time to discuss schedules.  Middle School is done, as well as Encore classes.  I would like the teachers to work with me to fill in the other pieces for self-contained classes.  

Thursday is the Student Council Inauguration and NJHS Induction in the church.  Please make your way over at 2 pm, and we will start promptly at 2:10 pm.  Grades 3-8 will attend the first part, which is Student Council.  Grades 5-8 will remain for the NJHS induction.  I would like 5th graders to see what they can aspire to next year.  

Finally, Friday is concert day and maybe visits to the Talking Pint!  PK 4 students know the best place in town for Friday nights!  Have a great week.  

Happy Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week!

  And what a great parade it was!  The whole celebration was perfect.  My sincere thanks to Nicki, Vylam, and Maria H. for all their hard work putting this together.  We are also grateful to the Knights, the volunteers, Spoto HS Marching Band, Colonel Bosley for the parade lead vehicles, our Flag Brigade, the float creators, staff who helped with food, etc.  I hope I'm not forgetting anyone.  While all this amazing stuff was happening, there was also an amazing art show for everyone to enjoy.  Thank you, Darien.  This year's display was excellent, and the Glow Room gets 5 stars!  For that, we also thank Mrs. Moretuzzo and her helpers.  

This week, we continue our celebration with food and surprises hosted by the PTCO.  I saw the countries, but beyond that, I'm not sure what they are planning.  My assumption is that it will center around lunch, so be sure to stop by the break room each day.  If you didn't see the flyer, check Tidbits. 

Other celebrations include May Crowning, the 2nd-grade First Communion Reception, the Middle School Social, Volunteer coffee, AND.... the first PBL project presentation on Thursday by PK 4!!  I'm so excited about that.  Thank you to the teachers who have shared their units.  I'm actually glad that everyone didn't send me theirs, as it is taking time to review and give feedback.  If you haven't shared, please do so by tomorrow so you can begin working on it.  

Lastly, please remind the students to wear their uniforms to church next weekend.  Have a fabulous week!

Happy 25th!

 It's time to party and celebrate 25 years of making a difference in the lives of many students.  Please be sure you have read the document in the Principal's Points section of Tidbits for instructions about the afternoon.  There will be parent volunteers coming to your classroom between 1:30 and 2 pm to help you with logistics (bringing students to the float, IF you have a permission slip for them, and helping get the class onto the sidewalk).  Please be sure to follow up with any missing permission slips.  Teachers should hold on to those, so you know who to send out that day.  Thank you to everyone who is helping with the event, and thank you to all for doing your part.  Please let students know that they may wear their Disciple of Christ t-shirt and jeans/jean shorts/PE shorts.  That should be the only shirt they wear that day.  I will also send an email home.  Yesenia, please promote on the morning show and FB.  

This week, we begin collecting for SVDP.  Please encourage the students to bring in items.  See Tidbits for more details, as we are not collecting food this time.  

For teachers: Tuesday's faculty meeting is devoted to collecting evidence with your CIPA committees.  Friday, we will be doing the following: Presentation on Authentic Assessment through PBL, CIPA work, time for inventory, etc.  Our day will begin at 8 am in the Media Center.  

Have a wonderful week!

April Showers Bring May Flowers....

 If only.  Let's keep praying for rain, in moderation, of course.    

I'm not sure if everyone has access to the Terra Nova results yet.  The good news is that in most areas in most grades, students are performing better than the national average in meeting proficiency.  This is all due to your hard work.  But as with anything, there is always room for improvement.  When you look at the results, look at them through the lens of what skills do I need to reinforce in the next 5 weeks, while ensuring all the standards have been covered in each subject area?  (Yes, I know that sounds like Superman/woman level expectations, but I believe we can do it!  Take advantage of extra math time and flex time in elementary.)  If you need help with reports, please talk to Mary.  She is looking at reports for 3rd-5th on specific math skills that need reinforcing.  I would like math teachers to focus on any gaps in math that need to be filled before the end of the year.  

This week seems pretty quiet compared to the others.  If you are assigned to Tuesday's PTCO meeting (names are in the minutes from our last faculty meeting), please be in the FLC by 6:30 pm.

Thank you, and have a great week!

Even before this, Chaucer talked about April Showers in the Canterbury Tales.  But that is a story for another day.  

Jesus I Trust in You

Such a simple prayer, but so meaningful.  I wish you all a blessed Divine Mercy Sunday and may the mercy of Jesus fill your heart and bring you peace.

Just a heads up that I will be in and out over the next two weeks.  This week, I will be out on Monday and Wednesday morning and all day Friday.  Next week I will be out in the briefly in the middle of the day on Monday and all day Wednesday and Thursday.  Most of this is related to a very minor surgical procedure that feels like they are performing open heart surgery with all the prep and tests.  Friday, 4/24, is an administrator meeting, and either Mary or I will attend, depending on whether I can drive.  In between all that, I will complete most of the observations (hopefully).  

As far as what's happening this week, please keep up with emails, Tidbits, etc., and regularly check the calendar.  You should have already received the Book Fair and Field Day schedules, and Gr. 2-8 have what they need for ARK testing.  Teachers also received a letter/permission slip from Nicki that you can use to send home with students participating in the parade for your class.  Please reach out to your homeroom parent to get the list of students participating and hold onto the permission slips as they come in.  Only students with a permission slip may participate in the parade.  If you have any questions or need help with this, let me know.  

Have a fabulous week!

Happy Easter

 I hope everyone had a Blessed Easter and enjoyed the mini break.  It seems like it's all downhill from here, but it's a VERY long hill with lots of stops along the way.  Please be sure you are keeping up with emails, reading Tidbits, and checking the calendar.  Both April and May are filled with lots of happenings, and somewhere in between, learning continues.  

The most important event this month takes place on the 30th.  We will be going over all the details at the faculty meeting on Tuesday.  It's going to be great!

The 7th graders will be at Nature's Classroom this week, and our PK/K students will be participating in the St. Jude Trike-a-thon.  We will also be starting the new music schedule tomorrow.  

Have a great week, and remind the students to wear their uniforms to Mass next weekend.  

Happy Palm Sunday

 Good morning and Happy Palm Sunday.

As we enter this sacred time in the life of the Church, we are invited to walk more closely with Christ through Holy Week—a journey that begins with joyful praise and leads us through moments of sacrifice, reflection, and deep love. In our classrooms and throughout our school, this week offers a meaningful opportunity to pause, to pray, and to help our students understand the powerful story of faith, hope, and redemption that unfolds each day.  I look forward to our retreat on Thursday.  Melissa did a great job of providing the materials for a beautiful day of reflection.  I also can't wait for everyone to witness the Living Stations.  This year's group and choir presented an amazing performance on Friday night.  Thank you to everyone who played a part in this. 

As we move toward the celebration of Easter Sunday, may we be reminded of the promise of new life and the light that overcomes all darkness. Thank you for the ways you bring this message to life for our students through your words, your actions, and your example each day.

It's in the mail...

 ...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.  

Have a wonderful week and a great Spring Break!

Here's what you missed....

 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!

Odyssey of the Mind

 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.
• Service & Love: Highlights Stephen’s role as one of the first deacons, serving the vulnerable and caring for the community, connecting to the 2026 call to be "peacemakers" and "Children of God". 

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.