Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and welcome to the weekend. Yes, I said it—Merry Christmas on January 9th. For Catholics, the Christmas season officially concludes with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, celebrated in the United States on the Sunday after Epiphany (with some traditions extending to Candlemas on February 2nd). We are celebrating Epiphany with a pageant today at 2:00 p.m., followed by an encore performance this Sunday, January 11th, at 2:00 p.m., in the church on the SSP campus. You won’t want to miss it.

Fingers crossed, Quarter 2 report cards will be available for online viewing at 3:00 p.m. today. As many of you are aware, there were numerous nationwide glitches with the FACTS system—miscalculated grades, disappearing teacher comments, and other assorted frustrations. When we rely on the speed and convenience of technology, occasional hiccups are an unfortunate but inevitable byproduct. Thank you for your patience as we worked through these issues.

At my age, I’ve decided I’m done with New Year’s resolutions. My knees are too loud, and life is too short for that kind of pressure. Instead, 2026 is about intentions: being better tomorrow than I am today, choosing decency in a noisy world, and practicing good stewardship of the simple things.

With that in mind, I would like to recognize three of the hardest-working individuals I know—who also happen to work at SSP School—June Tessin, Bridget Judge, and Gloria Openlander. Each day, they challenge me not to settle for the status quo and encourage me to grow as an administrator through their dedication to their ministry. I am truly blessed by their leadership and support.

I have also included a second attachment: Notes and January’s Helpful Information and Links at a Glance. Mrs. Tessin works tirelessly to ensure vital information reaches all stakeholders in the SSP community. It’s easy to become numb to repeated notices, even when the information is important, so I want to help amplify the message. This week’s Notes is full of updates from the Men’s and Women’s Clubs, PTO, Sports Trivia, the AFC/NFC Watch Party, and the Gala committees. Please take a few moments to read through it.

Have a wonderful weekend, and may God’s blessings be upon you and your family,
D. Greg Medellin-Sturgill
Principal
SSP School