About

Our Core Values guide our daily mission to educate students within the context of Christian joy:

• Every student matters.
• Faith, knowledge, and virtues are demonstrated and practiced daily.
• An environment exists where students can grow in their relationship with God.
• Staff encourage students to develop their unique gifts and talents.
• Instruction is based on educational research.
• Instruction and interactions encourage the development of critical thinking skills and create life-long learners.
• Relationships and interactions focus on honesty, compassion, and responsibility.
• The school culture demonstrates a support that nurtures self esteem and social emotional health.
• The partnership between staff and parents creates a positive and supportive atmosphere that benefits the students and the overall school community.

Once a week, our teachers gather in the school commons for a staff-wide morning prayer. They recite their pledge:

As an educator at St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic school, I pledge:

• To acknowledge each student as uniquely created in the image and likeness of God.
• To maintain consistent, positive communication with parents, peers, and administration.
• To always come to school prepared to teach.
• To create a safe, positive learning environment, and to encourage students to become independent, lifelong learners.
• To share the mission of St. Stephen the Martyr school, by being united in Christ to ignite the joy of faith, community, and learning.

St. Stephen the Martyr School offers preschool through 8th grade. We are a National Blue Ribbon School and are accredited by the Nebraska Department of Education. 

• We offer a rigorous curriculum with the benefit of a 18:1 ratio to ensure adequate individual help is offered.
• Through smart use of technology, music/art education, Spanish instruction, extracurricular activities and a plethora of leadership/service opportunities, we inspire students to reach their greatest potential!
• Our full-time teachers average 15 years in the classroom. 

St. Stephen the Martyr school’s curriculum is developed based on the Omaha Archdiocese content standards and skills. It aligns with both state and national standards and grade level skills.

• Teachers have been trained to use the Gradual Release of Responsibility as their instructional framework.
• Instructional materials are carefully selected based on grade level standards, skills, and student learning styles and individualized needs.
• Teachers have created curriculum maps for content areas, and these maps are reviewed quarterly. Throughout the past five years, teacher training and professional development also focused on the MTSS (multi-tiered system of support) process.
• Our student services team includes a student services director, two full-time resource teachers, two interventionists, two counselors, and two special education paraprofessionals. The student services team works with staff and students to target instructional and social-emotional needs of our students.
• Our positive behavior approach includes Restorative Practices and Love and Logic.

St Stephen the Martyr is proud of its unique identity as a faith-based Catholic school. Our education provides the competencies necessary for knowledgeable and excelling Christian servant leaders who impact the world.

• We invoke God’s name in prayer first thing in the morning, throughout our day, and it’s the last thing we do at the end of the day.
• Each class attends Mass twice weekly and participates in Catholic devotions such as Adoration, Benediction, and The Stations of the Cross. Students also have the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation throughout the year.
• Students learn their faith in the classrooms and are taught by our priests, who regularly visit the classrooms.
• Preschool students began participating in “Catechesis of the Good Shepherd” (a Montessori approach to Religious Education). This program began with funding through the Omaha Archdiocese Ignite the Faith Grant.
• Our Catholic Identity Committee meets quarterly to review Catholic Identity goals. The committee also focuses on creating opportunities for students to participate in service projects.
• All classes will include a service-related field trip or a service project as part of the curriculum.
• We implement “Theology of the Body” as an addition to the religion curriculum. 
• Our teachers participate in 24 hours of faith formation every year.
• Our Catholic Identity team and our Director of Mission collaborate to create curriculum plans that will align with the parish vision and mission as well as the school’s. 

St. Stephen the Martyr School recognizes the importance of using technology to enhance the curriculum. Grades 6-8 are able to enjoy a 1-1 technology program through our “rent-to-own” Chromebook program. The Academic Excellence Team regularly reviews technology needs and makes recommendations accordingly.

In the classroom, teachers utilize:

• Google Classroom
• Chromebook Carts & MacBook Carts
• Over 200 iPads
• Digital Subscriptions including Guided Readers, Mystery Science, Freckle Math, Freckle ELA, Brainpop, and IXL
• Smartboards & Projectors
• AppleTV

Our STEM Lab includes:

• 3-D Printers
• Maker-space
• Green screen for producing tv segments

St. Stephen the Martyr School uses FACTS as the school information system (SIS) for:

• Enrollment and admissions process,
• Teacher lesson planning and grading,
• Front office operations (attendance, etc)
• Documentation for both positive and negative behaviors and concerns.
• Financial operations

• Admissions
• Tour our School