St. Sebastian STEM Academy is a Catholic School community that models Jesus’s love, faith, kindness and compassion toward each other while working together to solve problems in order to make a difference in our community and world.
March 13th, 2026
“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19
Hello everyone!
This week was not only short, but full of all different types of weather! I am hoping that we get to see more springlike weather in the weeks to come, but you know how Wisconsin is! Next week is going to be so exciting, as we get to start the week with St. Patrick's Day and wearing green, and we have the 1st Reconciliation for some of our students on Thursday! The students also get to start Penny Wars the week of March 23rd! There are so many exciting events coming up over the next few weeks, and we are so excited to be blessed enough to celebrate them with our students and with the St. Sebastian community.
We have our dine & donate for the month of March coming up on March 25 & 26 at Marco's Pizza! If you order from Marco's Pizza on those days, be sure to mention the word "STEM" and/or St. Sebastian STEM Academy and they will donate 20 percent of your order to our school! The students will be decorating boxes so that they can then get their pizzas in from Marco's when they order! We appreciate our Home & School for having these Java Drives, dine & donates, and everything else they do for our school!
Just a quick reminder that the time is upon us for you to register your students for the upcoming 26-27 school year. The next open registration date timeline runs from March 2nd - March 20th. If you have any questions, please call Ms. Lori. For the non-choice parents, please remember to still sign your students up! Please reach out to Ms. Lori with your plans for next year's enrollment!
The link for the application for Racine Parent Choice Program is here.
A couple of quick reminders!
-Please remember to utilize the front door for drop off only if you are running late.
-Please remember that students should be packed a snack for each day.
As always, thank you all for being such a huge part of this school and we are eternally grateful for each and every one of you.
Have a great weekend!
Mr. T
March 13th - No School
March 16th - No School
March 17th - St. Patrick's Day - wear green, no pajamas
March 19th - 1st Reconciliation - After Mass
March 23rd - 27th - Penny Wars
March 25th & 26th - Marco's Pizza - Dine and Donate
March 27th - Popcorn Sale
April 2nd - Holy Thursday
April 2nd - Easter Egg Hunt after school.
April 3rd - April 12th - Easter Break
April 13th - Classes resume
April 18th - 9:00 - 12:00 1st Communion retreat - held at St. Lucy's
April 26th - Parish Breakfast
April 24th - Popcorn Sale
May 3rd - 1st Communion - St. Sebastian Parish - 9:30 - Mass
May 25th - Memorial Day - No School
May 29th - Popcorn Sale
June 4th - Popcorn Sale
June 5th - Last Day of School - 1/2 Day- Dismissal at 11:00
Join us on Thursday, March 26 from 5:30 to 6:30pm for a Choice informational session!
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87154292964?pwd=xvCUXyz8WQzby2IEa8bPU8p5P1SmVZ.1
--Attached here is the parish match letter! Please consider donating to help St. Sebastian STEM Academy.
3K - Our class started the week by completing an Eye-Spy PLTW color activity within our classroom. We used our healthy eyes to locate items that were red, blue, yellow, green, orange, and purple, before drawing them inside of our Launch Logs. For 3 and 4 year olds, they did a great job illustrating what they saw! Wednesday morning everyone was given an opportunity to share something they either saw or heard during Tuesday's thunderstorm. Rain, dripping, lightning, and thunder were the top answers. Throughout the week, each student continued to care for the flowers they planted at the beginning of Lent. Each pot now has 2 - 5 plants growing and everyone is getting really good at using a pipette.
4K- Our class really enjoys building with Legos, and some had wondered how Legos are made. So, this week, we not only learned how Legos are made, we also built with them afterwards. We also went outside on Monday and drew pictures of plants, which are one of God's many creations.
5K- This week in Math, we started a new topic on shapes. We learned about flat and solid shapes. We can identify and describe circles, triangles, rectangles, squares, and hexagons. We learned that a square is a special rectangle with all 4 of the sides the same length. We also learned the word - vertice to help us describe the different shapes.
In Science, we have been collecting daily weather data. Tuesday and Wednesday were good for collecting storm information - rain, thunderstorms, hail, wind, and snow - oh my!
1st & 2nd Grade- This week the students are still having conversations about animal habitats and how we can live within these habitats with tree houses. Students will be bringing their own tree house creations home today. Also we had a lesson about wind and weather the day after the big rain storm thanks to Bill Nye the Science Guy.
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The Home and School Association has created a survey regarding the need for an after school program for next year. Please take a moment and fill out this survey. Thank you.
https://forms.gle/AEWpr5cv1nqHwEMW9
Our annual Penny Wars will begin on March 23rd and go through the 27th! We cannot wait to see how the week goes!
We will begin having monthly popcorn sales. The sale will be held the last Friday of every month. We will hold our next sale on Friday March 27th, the cost is $1.00. I will be sending a note and envelope home in March for our last 4 sales of the year. This way you can fill out the form and send the money back to school in the envelope. They will receive their bag of popcorn at the end of the day.
Here is the breakfast menu.
Here is the lunch menu.
Please try and stick to the meals that you signed up for. You will be charged for what you signed up for unless you notify us the day before for breakfast or the morning of for lunch. At the beginning of each month, I will send you 2 copies of the breakfast and lunch menu. One is to return to school, and the other is for you to keep at home. If you need a copy of your child's menu, please let me know and I will get one to you.
New this year is the option for Chocolate milk at lunch only for grades K3 - 2nd grade. The students will get to pick either chocolate or white milk. Thank you.
Our lunches are all served as kid friendly as possible. For example, if the menu says Orange Chicken, everything will be served separately. Basically it will be served as chicken nuggets with the option of dipping it in the orange sauce. We hope this helps.
- Ms. Lori
How do I add money to my child’s lunch account? You can submit payments to your school office secretary or through https://sienacatholic.familyportal.cloud/ .
How do I apply for free and reduced lunch? https://sienacatholic.familyportal.cloud/
Family Portal website: sienacatholic.familyportal.cloud
Family Portal FAQs and instructions: PDF here
Family Portal video instructions link: https://videos.cdn.spotlightr.com/watch/gallery/Mjk4NQ==
I have a friend who is interested in enrolling. Who should I call? Please call 262-812-0155 or email admissions@sienacatholicschools.org. Se habla Español.
Check to see if your address is correct in Meal Magic and PowerSchool!
What are the best ways to communicate with my child’s teachers, principal, etc.? Our elementary school uses Class Dojo, as well as weekly newsletters, emails, and texts. Please make it a habit to check your email!
If I need contact information for my school. We’ve got you!
St. Sebastian STEM Academy, 262-425-0009
Dr. Trudy Giasi, Siena Chief Academic Officer
Jordan Thoennes, Principal
Lori Prideaux, Secretary
If Your Child Is Sick
If you will be checking out your child early on a school day, please call Ms. Lori at the school office or Dojo her to let her know. Thank you.
Please report your sick child to the main office 262-425-0009 before 7:45 a.m. Also, please remember that the school day starts at 7:25 a.m. If you are running late, please bring your child through the main doors and sign them in at the main office. If your child comes to school after 7:45, breakfast will be over. Thank you!
Just a reminder that your child needs to be 24 hrs. fever and/or vomit free before they can return to school.
Emergency School Closure Protocol
Please share this information with anyone who is dropping-off or picking-up your student. Here is a video that explains our drop-off and pick-up procedures. Here is map that shows a visual and here are written directions. Our school hours are from 7:25-2:25. Drop off starts at 7:05. Students who are not picked up by 2:35 will be brought to the office and will need to be picked up from the front of the school.
Home and School will meet Tuesday, March 10th at 6:00PM at the Lanes on Hwy. 20.
Please complete this form for our Home and School Directory if you have not already done so. This will help us keep you informed throughout the year and help make this the best year for our students.
Feel free to reach out with any questions.
Home & School Introduction
Stay Connected
We are in need of volunteers! Our areas of need include lunch, recess, mass, music, art, and physical education. We are also looking for monthly speakers to talk about their STEM-related careers. If you are interested in volunteering please call us at 262-425-0009 or email Lori Prideaux at lprideaux@sienacatholicschools.org.
In order to volunteer in our building or at any school events you need to have a background check and have completed the Safe Environment Training. There are many options available online in our area. If you do not remember if you have had this training in the past please reach out to me and I can look you up in our system. Please share this with anyone you know that is interested in volunteering at the school. I highly recommend doing this if you plan on being involved in any school events.
Here are the directions to sign up:
Create a new account
Choose volunteer
Choose your location as St. Sebastian STEM Academy
Once logged in, complete the curriculum called "Initial Training for Clergy, Volunteers and Employees"
Complete the curriculum and RSVP for an in person training session.
Once class is complete the background check will run and once that is back and clear, you will be certified and can start volunteering.
Upcoming Classes- https://www.archmil.org/offices/safeguarding/Safeguarding-Events.htm
How to make an account-
https://www.archmil.org/ArchMil/Resources/SAFE/CathMutual/Safe_Environment_Program_instructions.pdf
If you are interested in subbing for Siena Catholic Schools, please look at the attached flyer. We would love to see you in our school.
Here's what's new at St. Sebastian Catholic Church!
Mass times at St. Sebastians
Thursday, 8:15 am with students
Saturday, 4:30 pm
Sunday, 9:30 am
There is still time. If you want to be Catholic, if you have not been baptized, received your First Communion, or want to be Confirmed, contact our Faith Formation Minister Eric Antrim at eantrim@stlucychurch.org or text him at 262-498-9028.
Growing your knowledge
Our churches have some great ways to learn more about your faith. If you are looking for something new to grow in your faith life, contact Eric Antrim to learn about the many learning opportunities.
