JANUARY 2026 NEWSLETTER

Dear Parent,

Merry Christmas! I pray that this beautiful season brings you and your family much peace and joy as you celebrate the birth of Jesus. 

As we celebrate the Christmas season, I pause with gratitude for all that we have shared together the first half of the school year. Your continual support, partnership, and trust means so much to not only me but also our entire school community.  

Thank you to our teachers and staff. Every day they go above and beyond to make sure each child is cared for in a kind and loving manner. I am grateful for their reflection of Jesus’ love as they interact with each student.

I am thankful for the joy the students bring to all of us each day. They have worked hard and demonstrated kindness in countless ways. Watching the students enter the school each morning is one of my greatest pleasures. Looking into their faces reminds me daily of the goodness of God! Thank you to all of our students and for the privilege of being a part of their lives!

As we enter the holiday break, I hope your family finds time for rest, laughter, and meaningful moments together. May this Christmas season bring warmth, peace, and joy to your home, and may the new year be filled with good health, hope, and continued success for your children. I look forward to welcoming our students back in the new year, refreshed and ready for a bright semester ahead.

Be assured that all of you will be remembered as I thank God this Christmas for the blessings in my life!

Dr. Marchese

On behalf of the SVdP school staff, we would like to send out our heartfelt thanks to all who donated to the Advent Baby Shower benefitting EPS. We collected a huge amount of diapers, wipes, baby lotions and washes, as well as clothing that will help those in our community who are struggling to provide for their babies. Thank you for making Christmas a little brighter for those in our community!

Christmas Giving

The school faculty and staff would like to thank all the parents who contributed to the Christmas Giving Program. We appreciate your generosity and support at Christmas time and throughout the year! A special thank you goes to the Hope family for organizing the program.

Christmas Season Schedule

St. Vincent de Paul Parish has many opportunities for families to attend Mass during the Christmas season. Below is a schedule through Thursday, January 1, 2026.  

CHRISTMAS EVE - THE VIGIL OF CHRISTMAS

Wednesday, December 24

4:00 P.M. - Church 

4:05 P.M. - Additional Mass in Kampschneider Hall

6:00 P.M. - Church

8:00 P.M. - Church

10:00 P.M. - Church

CHRISTMAS DAY - THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD

Thursday, December 25

9:00 A.M. - Church

11:00 A.M. - Church

(No 7:30 A.M. or 5:00 P.M. Mass)

(No 3:30 P.M. Confessions)

SOLEMNITY OF MARY, THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD 

Wednesday, December 31

5:30 P.M.

Thursday, January 1

9:00 A.M.

11:00 A.M.

Report Cards

Report cards will be sent home on Thursday, January 15, with your child. As we start the second semester of the school year, this would be a good time to review your child's academic goals. There are not scheduled conferences at this time, but if questions arise, please contact your child's teacher.

New Kindergarten Parent Meeting 2026-2027

There will be an informational meeting for new Kindergarten parents on Thursday, January 15th. This is a parent-only meeting—students do not need to attend. 

School tours will begin at 6:00, and the meeting will begin at 6:30 P.M. in the Media Center. All parents who are new to St. Vincent de Paul School are asked to attend. Current families are always welcome but not required to attend. Kindergarten registration forms will be online starting on January 16th. 

The registration paperwork can be found on our school website www.svdp-school.org. The online registration forms, registration fee, and your child’s original birth and baptismal certificate will be due to the school office by Monday, February 2nd. If your child is currently in our Preschool program, we have your birth and baptismal certificates on file, and you do not need to resubmit them. 

Inservice for Teachers

All SVdP teachers will participate in an inservice on Friday, January 16. School will not be in session on this day.

Inclement Weather

With the cold and snow upon us, we want to remind you about the expectations for winter apparel at recess time. For all students in grades K-8, winter coats, gloves or mittens, and something to cover the head are important.

School closings in the event of severe weather will be announced on local TV stations. A closing of Omaha Catholic Schools includes St. Vincent de Paul.

2-Hour Late Start: If the Omaha Catholic Schools Office calls for a 2-hour late start, St. Vincent de Paul will follow that directive. Morning Preschool will not be held. A standard hot lunch menu of chicken nuggets, corn, fruit, and animal crackers will be served. There will be no alternate sandwich or salad available.  

Get Your Pictures in the Yearbook!

The yearbook staff invites students and parents to submit photos for the yearbook. If you have great photos of school events, we'd like to see them. Help us get as many photos as possible to create a terrific book everyone will want to have.   

If you'd like to share your pictures with our yearbook staff click here to view instructions.  

Thank you in advance for helping make our yearbook the best it can be!

Catholic Schools Week 2026 At-A-Glance

Before CSW: Please sign up HERE by January 22 if your child in grades 4-8 wants to help serve at the pancake breakfast on Sunday, January 25.

The pizza lunch order form will be sent January 5. Please submit (even if not ordering) by Wednesday, January 14. Orders will be accepted through Wednesday, January 14.

Friday, January 23

In anticipation of CSW and to raise money for our sister school in Guatemala, there will be a special “$1.00 dress-down” day today. Students may bring $1.00 (or more) for the students in San Ildefonso.  Clothing should follow the guidelines for dress-down days. Students may wear their school uniform if they choose not to participate.

Saturday, January 24 -  Sunday, January 25: CELEBRATE OUR PARISH

Students are asked to wear their school uniforms to Mass this weekend. Show your school pride and gratitude to all our parishioners. Attend the Knights of Columbus pancake breakfast Sunday morning. The Awesome Angels children’s choir will sing at the 9:00 Mass.

Monday, January 26: CELEBRATE OUR STUDENTS       

Please send a rosary with your child. All teachers, staff, and K-8 students will gather in the church to pray together.

Jersey Day! Wear a jersey or other team attire. Students may dress down on the bottom (following dress-down guidelines).

Grades 4-8 will attend the school spelling bee.

Tuesday, January 27: CELEBRATE OUR NATION 

All-School Mass at 8:15 A.M.

Patriotic ½ Dress-down! Show your patriotism AND wear our school colors of red, white, and blue on top!  A uniform skirt, skort, or slacks should be worn.

Students whose homeroom number ends in “1” will wear red on top, students in homerooms that end in “2” will wear white on top, and students in homerooms that end in “3” will wear blue on top.

All-school Pledge of Allegiance

Buddy Activity: Students will join with their buddies to create cards for local veterans.

Wednesday, January 28: CELEBRATE OUR COMMUNITY

PIZZA LUNCH! All parents are welcome to join us. Orders due Wednesday, Jan. 14.

Crazy hair day and inside-out dress-down day!    

Thursday, January 29: CELEBRATE VOCATIONS 

Grade 8 students will join other eighth graders from the city as Archbishop McGovern celebrates CSW Mass at St. Cecilia’s.

A Special prayer for vocations will be recited during each lunch period.

Crazy sock day. Students may wear uniform shorts, if weather cooperates.

Friday, January 30: CELEBRATE FACULTY, STAFF, AND VOLUNTEERS

12:00 dismissal

Thanks to SPREE and the Patterson family, it's PAJAMA DAY! Students may wear pajamas and bring one favorite stuffie to school.

Students will gather in the gym for a friendly volleyball competition.

Throughout the week: 

Prayer buddies

Classrooms will watch a video about “A day in the life of a priest.”

Our school service project for the week will focus on praying for the students and staff at our sister school, San Ildefonso, in Huehuetenango, Guatemala, and creating cards for local veterans.