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 20th, 2026
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
Hello everyone!
We had a fantastic week here at St. Sebastian STEM Academy! We started our week with St. Patrick's Day festivities and the school all dressing in green. Our students got to do some cool arts and crafts that turned out amazing! We also had the wonderful blessing of our 2nd grade students receiving first reconciliation this week. We are so excited for them to receive the sacrament and continue on their faith journey! We are so proud of them for taking this step!
This coming week, 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! We also are hosting our annual Penny Wars! The flyer with the information is on the newsletter! All of the proceeds go to benefit the St. Sebastian STEM Academy Home & School Committee. The class with the highest score will earn an ice cream party. Each child that brings in donations will be entered to be chosen as the person to throw the pie in the face of Ms. Lori, Mr. Schwaiger, Ms. Amaya, or myself! It should be a ton of fun!
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 April 6 - April 24th. 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 be mindful of your student's symptoms, should they have any. With all of the illnesses going around, we encourage parents to err on the side of caution when their children are feeling ill. Students must be 24 hours fever & vomit free before they can return to school, per policy.
-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 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 - As a part of STEM, Art, and Religion, each student created a rainbow using Fruit Loops, marshmallows, and a pipe cleaner. We started by adding them in rainbow order; or Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Violet. Then each student did their best to continue the pattern until they were out of Fruit Loops. Our class discussed how rainbows usually appear after it rains as the sun shines through the water vapor left in the air. On Friday, we celebrated the start of Spring by using our bodies to create the "Sounds of Spring".
4K- This week, in 4K, we had fun with candy. We made predictions about what the colored coating would do on the candy if it was in water and milk on a plate. What students saw is that the colored coating came off the candy in the water and made a neat rainbow in the middle of the plate. We also mixed a red and yellow candy in a cup with water to see if it would make a new color and it did. We also used a bar graph to help us sort some Skittles and see how many of each color were in their candy bag.
5K- We are still collecting weather data.
1st & 2nd Grade- In the following weeks, students are learning about the structure and function of the human body. This week, we focused specifically on the brain, regarding differences between the left side and right side. We explored how the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body and the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body. We will/are conducting an experiment to see our reaction time to stimuli and our peripheral vision vs having both eyes available.
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! The students that give donations will be entered in the competition to have a chance to be the person to throw a pie in the face of Mr. T, Ms. Lori, Mr. Schwaiger, or Ms. Amaya!
Are you looking for more than just a job? At Siena Catholic Schools of Racine, we believe that education is a vocation. We are seeking dedicated, passionate professionals to join our community of faith and academic excellence for the 2026-27 school year.
Our seven schools are vibrant communities where we integrate faith into every aspect of learning, helping students become who God created them to be. Join us!
Visit tinyurl.com/sienacareers
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, April 14th 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.
