Teacher/Class Lists are announced the week before school starts – until then, know your students will find classmates and teachers they love! All of our teachers are listed on our contact us webpage.
School supplies list can be found at: school.stephen.org/school-supplies. This page is updated when lists are available.
Your child will have a great first day! We will focus on activities to help them get the feel for our classroom and their classmates.
2025/2026 School Year Important Dates:
Most of the below information is pulled from our Family Handbook. Please refer to the Family Handbook for complete school policies and procedures. The Family Handbook is posted in our school app and on our website at school.stephen.org/parents.
All school uniform, dress code and purchasing information can be found here: school.stephen.org/uniforms.
Morning Drop-off & Afternoon Pick-up information is listed on our Drop-off & Pick-up Procedures webpage.
For absences, tardiness or early departures, parents should call 402-896-9675 or e-mail school@stephen.org and their teacher. The below information is an excerpt from the Family Handbook. Please refer to the Family Handbook for complete policies.
Absences & Tardiness
So that K-8 students are in their classrooms by 8 AM when school begins, the doors unlock at 7:50 AM for students to report to their classrooms. Students are tardy if they arrive after 8:00 AM. For absences and tardiness, parents can email the School Office at school@stephen.org or call the office at 402-896-0754. Any student arriving after 8 AM but before 8:05 AM will report to the classroom. The teacher will record the tardy. After 8:05 AM, students will report to the office for a tardy pass. A tardy student will not be allowed into the classroom without the tardy pass after 8:05 AM. An absence of 2.5 hours or more in length shall be recorded as a half-day absence. We understand weather and/or traffic back-ups can sometimes cause our morning drop-off lines to take longer than usual. Our office staff and teachers take these situations into consideration and offer a 5-minute grace period when necessary.
Dismissal During the School Day
SSM is a closed campus, meaning once a student has arrived on school grounds, he/she may not leave until dismissal except with permission of the Principal. Those who have doctor and dental appointments or who must go home for some reason must have a written note or verbal communication from the parent. If a parent finds it necessary to withdraw a student before dismissal, then the parent or adult identified in advance by the parent must report to the School Office before taking the student. All students must be signed out at the office prior to being allowed to leave. The Safe Environment provision for the care of minors is thus transferred directly to the care of the guardian/parent at that time.
Upon return to school, parents are asked to accompany their students to the school office to sign in and receive an admittance slip to class. This procedure helps maintain accurate attendance and guards for the safekeeping of all students.
2024/2025 Curriculum Night is scheduled for Thursday, September 5th. More details will be announced as we get closer to this date.
This event informs parents of the curriculum that used and covered in our classrooms. We will have tips on how you can support your student’s learning at home. Our teachers are also available to answer any questions you may have. Students do not attend curriculum night – just parents/guardians.
Read more about Archdiocese of Omaha Catholic Schools Curriculum Standards.
Read more about Curriculum at St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic School.
Students in grades TK-8 can choose between bringing their own lunch or paying for our hot lunch program. The menu changes daily and is provided by Westside Public Schools Catering. You can view a sample lunch menu but pressing the “What’s For Lunch” button on our homepage, school.stephen.org.
Our before and after school care program is called Kidzone. Learn more about Kidzone at: school.stephen.org/kidzone.
SSM observes the school closing policies of the Millard Public Schools (MPS) and/or Omaha Catholic Schools. If either district cancels school or issues a “remote learning day” due to inclement weather, St. Stephen the Martyr school will be closed, there will be NO KIDZONE, and all SSM-sponsored activities will be canceled. The announcement to close schools due to inclement weather will be communicated no later than 6:15 AM (unless MPS or Omaha Catholic Schools issues a late cancellation), by email using the “Correspondence” email(s) the family has on file in FACTS. In the case that SSM cancels when MPS and/or Omaha Catholic DO NOT, SSM will email families and also contact the television stations (Channels 3, 6, and 7). Please note: if Kidzone is scheduled to be open on a day SSM is not in session and MPS or Omaha Catholic Schools closes school due to inclement weather, Kidzone will be canceled for the day.
In the event that MPS and/or Omaha Catholic Schools issues a late start, SSM will issue our own weather announcement via email by 6:15 AM based on weather conditions impacting our school. SSM will either close school for the entire day or begin school at 10 AM. When considering a late start as opposed to a “No School” day there are many factors to consider including the following: snow/ice removal on school grounds, whether or not it is a temperature closer, the safety of our students and staff, and how many weather days have been used. If we have a late start Kidzone will be open for the afternoon session only, families must provide lunch from home and all SSM-sponsored afternoon activities will continue. PreK and Preschool morning and afternoon classes will be canceled if we have a late start. TK will begin at 10 AM.
Usually, school will not be dismissed once it is in session. If weather conditions or forecasted weather requires us to dismiss early, an email will be sent to our families. However, parents may come to the school to pick up children if there is threatening weather at any time during the day.
If a Tornado Warning is issued by the National Weather Service of Omaha/Valley, NE, our students and staff will shelter in place until the warning has lifted. Parents will be notified of our shelter-in-place status via email. Once sheltered, school staff will not be able to answer calls to our school line and we will not be able to unlock doors to allow people into the buildings. Once the Tornado Warning is lifted, we will answer doors/phones and students will return to class or be dismissed if the event occurs at/after dismissal time.
If the school has already been dismissed when the Tornado Warning is issued, children may leave with their parent/guardian; however, we encourage parents/guardians and children to shelter in place in our building. Any children who have not yet been picked up, including those in Kidzone, will be sheltered with school staff.
Check student grades, attendance, class schedule, and more. For help accessing your FACTS Family Portal (which you created during enrollment) please contact the school office at (402) 896-0754. Reminder: Our district code is SSC-NE. Click here to login into your FACTS Family Portal.
As an enrichment to our daily school instruction and activities, we offer extracurricular activities for students. Other extracurricular experiences, not sponsored by the school, may be available. Visit: school.stephen.org/sports-activities
Scouting: Many grades start a scouting group. It just takes a few willing parents to get a group started! Parents from previous grades would be willing to help get you started.
Often parents will sign their kids up on the same basketball or t-ball teams through organization like the YMCA. Using your Class Facebook page is a great way to find out what activities your child’s classmates are participating in.
Parent involvement is key to creating and maintaining a strong SSM school and parish community. Our Home and School Association coordinates the many days, events and activities that support SSM. You can learn more about our current volunteer opportunities and sign up at: school.stephen.org/volunteer.
Learn more about our Home and School Association at: school.stephen.org/home-and-school. Contact H&S if you are interested in joining a committee or want more information on how to get involved.
All SSM volunteers are required to be Safe Environment Trained and Certified through the Archdiocese of Omaha. You can find a session that works for you on their website. Register here.
Our 1st-8th grade students attend mass two times/week. Kindergarten students attend weekly, beginning in October. Preschool, PreK & TK students do not attend Mass.
Our Kinder classes sit with 5th-grade classes and each student is assigned a 5th-grade buddy. We do special activities with these buddies throughout the year.
Families are welcome to attend school Masses.
Treats are welcome, however, be sure to discuss with your child’s teacher prior to bringing in any treats as there may be children with specific allergies. Be sure to consult the Family Handbook prior to selecting birthday treats.
The Lost & Found is located in the South entry breezeway. Access to the breezeway is available 24/7. Labeling your child’s items is recommended for easy identification.
Regular recesses are scheduled for TK-5 students. Please make sure your child is appropriately dressed for the weather. When there is a wind chill below 10 degrees Fahrenheit, or other weather concerns, students will have indoor recess.
Students are invited to bring snow bibs/pants & boots to play in the snow when weather permits. Please label all of items & send in separate bag for easy transportation to and from school.
During enrollment you selected a payment plan with FACTS. If you have questions about which payment plan you selected, please contact the school office.
You also were asked to provide a payment form for incidental charges. Incidental expenses are invoiced twice a month on the 15th (or the next closest business day) and the last day of the month. Incidentals include lunches, field trips, sacrament fees, etc. Please contact the school office with any questions.
St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church is a community for all people to encounter Christ, know Christ, and proclaim Christ. We are the largest Catholic parish in Nebraska serving over 700 students in our School (Preschool – 8th Grade), 623 youth in our Religious Education programs and over 3,600 households, plus many more through our Care and Outreach Ministries. Our community is always growing as we welcome new individuals and families. Here you’ll discover a spiritual family eager to help you grow in your relationship with Jesus. We offer many opportunities for you! Learn more at stephen.org.
If you have questions specific to your student and the school day, we recommend starting with your child’s teacher with an email. A full staff directory can be found at: school.stephen.org/contact-us.
The office and administration staff can help too. For general questions call 402-896-0754 or email school@stephen.org. Each of our administrative assistants will receive your email and respond accordingly.
Parents may also contact our administrators at 402-896-0754 or by email Mrs. Julie Perrault, Principal, or Mr. Greg Verraneault, Assistant Principal.
School Office: (402) 896-0754 or school@stephen.org
Home & School Association: ssmhomeandschool@gmail.com
