\ December 2023/January 2024 Edition
Saint Joseph’s School Prayer Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the Immaculate Virgin and Foster-Father of Jesus Christ; obtain for me and all the members of my family, a pure, humble, and charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the Divine Will. Be my guide and model throughout life that I may merit to die as you did in the arms of Jesus and Mary. Help us, Saint Joseph, in our earthly strife, to fulfill our responsibilities and ever to lead a pure and sinless life. Amen.
Contents From the Head of School ................... 1 Things You Need To Know .................. 3 6th & 7th Grade Class Schedule and 8th Grade Exam Schedule .................. 7 High School Exam Schedule .............. 7 Exam Guidelines .................................. 7 From the Middle School Director ...... 8 From the High School Director .......... 8 From the Academic Support Services & College Counseling Office .......... 11 From the Athletic Department ........ 11 From the Business Office................... 12 From the Development Office ........ 13 From the Fine Arts Department ....... 13 From the Parents Guild ..................... 14 From the School Nurse ...................... 15
From the Head of School “To know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you might be filled with the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:14-15 Advent Greetings from Saint Joseph’s Catholic School! The new liturgical year begins with the season of Advent on Sunday, December 3. The beautiful promise of this season, Pope Francis said at the beginning of Advent last year, is that “Your Lord is coming. This is the foundation of our hope. It is what supports us even in the most difficult and painful moments of our life: God is coming, God is near and is coming. Let us never forget this! The Lord always comes, the Lord visits us, the Lord draws near…” But we often incorrectly think that he comes only in big and spectacular ways. “Let us bear this in mind, God is hidden in our life, he is always there — he is concealed in the most common and most ordinary situations in our life,” insists Francis. “He does not come in extraordinary events, but in everyday things. He manifests himself in everyday things. He is there, in our daily work, in a chance encounter, in the face of someone in need, even when we face days that seem grey and monotonous. It is right there that we find the Lord, who calls to us, speaks to us, and inspires our actions.” As we wrap up a busy first semester and head into Christmas break, I want to encourage every Saint Joseph’s family to reflect on the school year thus far with these words of the Pope in mind and ask: Where have we seen Christ hidden in the ordinary events, the chance encounters, and everyday things of school and family life? My prayer is that asking this question will lead to a greater awareness of Christ’s loving, joy filled, saving presence in our community so that we will be filled with the fullness of God. During the holiday season, I hope you are blessed with ample opportunities to simply be together as a family in order to provide the space for Christ to reveal himself in the midst of your ordinary life together. Take a hike together, go ice skating, challenge another family to a game of touch football, light an Advent Wreath at dinner every night, go to church as a family more often, visit a friend or family member in need, host a family game night, invite another family to go Christmas
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caroling, throw a “make your own pizza party,” make cookies as a family, play cards, board games, or even video games together. (My adult kids love to play Super Smash Brothers against each other when gathered together for the holidays. I suppose they are still trying to virtually settle a few scores from their childhood!) Cheers for Fall Athletes and Thespians Congratulations to all of our Fall athletic teams. It was another banner season for the Saint Joseph’s Knights, highlighted by Boys Swimming and Girls Volleyball teams who brought home state titles once again. Moreover, the Girls Tennis team played in its first-ever state title match since joining the South Carolina High School League, and the Girls Cross Country team finished a strong second in the state meet, led by a gutsy performance by Nina Brown, who was determined not to let her team down despite suffering an injury near the start of the race. The boys varsity football team overcame some significant season-ending injuries themselves with guys picking each other up to post another great season, making it to the Upper State final for the second year in a row. Congratulations also to the cast and the crew of the fall play, Much Ado About Nothing. Our community is blessed with some very talented Shakespearean actors! And the next time you are in the building, please take a moment to check out all of the student artwork displayed throughout the building. The quality is such that it’s worth taking a moment to pause and look closely at it. I’m convinced that our arts program is a hidden gem of our school that we can hopefully find ways to shine more light on in the future. Thank you to all the teachers and coaches who make these activities possible by providing such great experiences for our students. Looking Ahead to January In conjunction with the school’s Strategic Planning process, which began with surveys of our constituent groups this fall and the Board of Trustees retreat planning retreat in November, I will conduct a “Listening Tour” for small groups from all of the school’s constituent groups. Beginning in January, I will begin inviting groups of 15 parents, students, staff, and coaches at a time to join me for coffee, lunch, afternoon tea, and/or cocktails to solicit feedback, suggestions, ideas, and constructive criticism all aimed at learning what your hopes, concerns, and desires are for your children and the school as we strive to provide the best experience possible for all of our students. Every family will have the opportunity to sign up for a session. I hope you’ll give me an hour of your time this winter. Look for an invitation after the new year. In closing, please join us in praying for the following members of the SJCS family: for Jean Crosby on the passing of her mother; for Emmie Paradise on the passing of her grandfather; for Kristen Levato on the passing of her grandfather; for Patrick and Victoria ’22 Kucaba on the passing of their grandmother; for Keys Ellison on the passing of his grandmother; for Jah Richards on the passing of his grandmother. With Love and Prayers, Keith F. Kiser Head of School
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Things You Need To Know Uniform Update Beginning November 27 Effective as of 11/27/2023, students will be allowed to wear any non-hoodie Saint Joseph’s outerwear on casual uniform days. Hoodies, as is the case now, can only be worn on Fridays. There is no change to the dress uniform requirements. Christmas Wreath Sale Ends November 30 Help support the SJCS Fine Arts Programs through the annual Jubilate Guild Online Christmas Wreath Fundraiser. These beautiful fresh wreaths, centerpieces, swags, and live tabletop trees come from Minnesota and are delivered to you and your loved ones (or business associates) starting in mid-November. Click HERE to purchase your wreath and enter the fundraising code, STJOSESC001. Contact Kelly Quesnelle for assistance with your bulk order. Earn points for your House and enter the competition for the highest seller. Don’t delay! Last year we sold out before the end of the sale. Prospective Parent Night, Monday, December 4 Please tell a neighbor, colleague, or relative about our Prospective Parent Night here on Monday, December 4 from 6:00-7:30 PM. This 90-minute session is a wonderful way for parents to find out what sets Saint Joseph’s apart from other schools. The St Joe’s Leadership Team will be on hand to present information/answer questions in a small group setting on a wide range of topics including Curriculum, Athletics, Student Life, Scholarships, and more. Attendees will need to pre-register HERE. Christmas Concert Dates, December 5-7 This year the Fine Arts Department will sponsor the following concerts, which will begin at 7:00 PM in the JPII Center: • Tuesday, December 5 - Band Ensembles • Wednesday, December 6 - Choral Ensembles • Thursday, December 7 - Strings Ensembles Admission is free to all concerts. Jubilate Arts Guild members will receive priority seating based on their membership level. Click HERE to join. Seating will not be assigned, but the doors will open to Jubilate members at 6:30 PM, followed by general admission at 6:45 PM. Be sure to pick up your Jubilate Arts Guild member tag at check-in. Schedule Change, December 6 & 8 December 8 is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and a Holy Day of Obligation. Due to this, Wednesday, December 6 will be a Mon/Tues/Fri schedule with classes ending at 3:00 PM. Friday, December 8 will be a Wednesday schedule with classes ending at 1:15 PM, and there will be an all-school Mass. Dress uniforms should be worn on Friday, December 8. Next T.E.A.M. Meetings, December 7 & January 11 Parents and administrators will continue to gather monthly to pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance with the goal of developing programs and initiatives to support parents in their Christian vocation. All SJCS parents are welcome to prayerfully consider if you might be interested and called to join the TEAM (Totally Engaged in Advancing the Mission) Leadership Committee. Our next two gatherings will be Thursday, December 7 and Thursday, January 11 from 8:00-9:00 AM in the Meeting Room. Questions? Contact Katie Orbon. Inscape Submissions Open Through December 8 Inscape is now accepting submissions through December 8. All grades are encouraged to submit poetry and visual art. You can submit your items HERE. Next Well-Fed Dad Meetings, December 12 & January 23 Men of Saint Joseph’s are invited to join for a monthly prayer breakfast to be fed both physically and spiritually. We will meet at Saint Joseph’s from 6:45-7:45 AM. The next two gatherings are Tuesday, December 12 and Tuesday, January 23. RSVP HERE. Questions? Contact Katie Orbon.
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Next Well-Read Mom Meeting, December 12 Well-Read Mom is a program that accompanies women in the reading of great books and spiritual classics to encourage personal growth, friendship, and meaningful conversations in order to explore the human condition and reorient ourselves to what is good, beautiful, and true. We meet the second Tuesday of each month from 6:30-8:00 PM at Saint Joseph’s. We had our first meeting in September, but you are still welcome to join us! Our next meeting is Tuesday, December 12. For more information, contact Donna Frank. There is also a group that meets the second Tuesday of each month in the morning. If morning is better for you, contact Kristen Armaly who hosts the meeting at her home. Review Day, December 13 Wednesday, December 13 is the last day of the fall semester for High School students. Due to this, Wednesday December 13 will be a review day with all classes meeting and a 1:15 PM dismissal. All School Mass will not be celebrated. Access to Blackbaud Gradebooks Closes December 13 The second quarter marking period ends on Wednesday, December 13. Parent and student access to gradebooks in Blackbaud will close Wednesday at 4:00 PM in order for faculty to update report cards for the marking period. Access to gradebooks will resume once report cards are issued. High School Semester Exams, December 14–19 Please see the exam schedule and guidelines detailed in this edition of News and Notes. Please avoid taking students out for appointments on exam days and remember that exams may not be taken early. Late Stay During Exam Week, December 14-19 There will be Late Stay from 12:30-6:00 PM on Thursday, December 14 through Tuesday, December 19. There will be NO Late Stay on Wednesday, December 20. Coat Drive, December 16 Our 5th annual coat drive is scheduled for Saturday, December 16 from Noon-3:00 PM. Volunteers are needed to distribute winter weather wear to children in surrounding communities. Click HERE to register as a volunteer. NEW coats, hats, gloves, and scarves in children’s sizes are now being collected. All donations can be dropped off in the front office. If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Charlton. Middle School Schedule, December 19 The last day of the first semester for Middle School students will be Monday, December 18. There will be NO SCHOOL for Middle School students on Tuesday, December 19. Advent Retreat, December 19-20 The Advent Retreat is open to any high school student. The retreat will begin the afternoon of Tuesday, December 19 (the last exam day) and end after lunch on Wednesday, December 20. More information will be sent to students and parents by email. Questions? Contact Campus Minister, Gabe Lewis. Christmas Break, December 20-January 3 Wednesday, December 20 will be make-up exams ONLY. The school and school offices will be closed. Classes will resume on Thursday, January 4 with a Monday/Tuesday/Friday schedule. Second Quarter/First Semester Report Cards available January 3, 2024 Quarter 2/Semester I report cards will be accessible in Blackbaud on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, after 4:00 PM. An email will be sent from the Registrar’s Office to parents and students when report cards are finalized. HS Semester II Add/Drop Period January 4-16, 2023 The final day to add or drop a course for the second semester is Tuesday, January 16. Course Add/Drop Request Forms are available in the College Counseling Office. Full-year courses cannot be modified during the second semester. Only semester courses may be changed if space is available.
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Priority Admissions Testing, Saturday January 6 or 27 Parents with children interested in applying for fall 2024 priority admission should submit an online application soon. Priority testing dates are Saturday, January 6, 2024 or Saturday, January 27, 2024. Applicants will sign up for one date when the application is processed. There is no preference given to either of these dates…applicants who test on January 6 are not given priority over those who test on January 27. These are the best dates to test because these applicants will get the first look and be the first to receive their admissions notifications (around March 1). Rising freshman applicants who test in January may also compete for one of our St Joseph’s Scholar (half tuition) Scholarships. January 10 & 16, Jubilate Knight AUDITIONS Auditions for the annual Jubilate Knight for the Arts Talent Competition will be Wednesday, January 10 (1:30-6:00 PM) and Tuesday, January 16 (3:10-6:00 PM). Any member of the SJCS community is welcome to audition and students can earn points for their Household simply by auditioning. Traditional and non-traditional talents are welcome and performances may be up to four minutes in length. Be sure to start preparing your performance act now and work on it over the Christmas Break. Audition information and form can be found HERE and you can sign up for your audition time HERE. There is a new category this year, Performance Technology. Use this form for your submission. Submissions are due by January 16. Questions? Contact Teresa McGrath. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 15 In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the school and school offices will be closed on Monday, January 15. Upcoming Eighth Grade Event, January 17 Eighth Grade Day is Wednesday, January 17. Your eighth grade son or daughter will take our high school scholarship/placement test on Eighth Grade Day on January 17. Eighth graders will not attend their regular classes on this day, and they will dismiss at the normal 1:15 PM dismissal time. There are several reasons for completing this test: 1) All SJCS 8th graders will be eligible to compete for one of two academic scholarships awarded each year to two incoming ninth graders, and 2) This test provides us valuable comparison and placement data on our incoming ninth grade students. Please note that this is not a test to get into our high school, as your child is already a Saint Joseph’s student. As with every SJCS student who wishes to re-enroll each year, the re-enrollment contract and the re-enrollment fee, due in February 2024, will secure their spot in the ninth grade class. March for Life 2024 Trip, January 18-20 High School students in grades 9-12 are invited to join us at the National March for Life in Washington, D.C. from January 18-20, 2024. We will travel as a school group, along with other Upstate groups of the Diocese of Charleston. For more information, contact Dr. Kriegel or Mr. Orbon. To sign up the following forms must be filled out: March for Life 2024 Permission Slip and March for Life Washington 2024 Roomate Request. The deadline to sign up is December 4. Annie, Jr. Performance, January 24 The MS Encore Musical Theatre program will perform Annie, Jr. on Wednesday, January 24. Join us for this production, showcasing the work of the students enrolled in the fall semester Encore class. The performance begins at 7:00 PM with free admission. Jubilate Arts Guild members will receive priority seating based on their membership level. Click HERE to join. Seating will not be assigned, but the doors will open to Jubilate members at 6:30 PM, followed by general admission at 6:45 PM. Be sure to pick up your Jubilate Arts Guild member tag at check-in. Jubilate Knight Visual Art Competition Deadline, January 26 Jubilate Knight for the Arts will continue to include a Visual Art competition in addition to the performance event! Any member of the school community is invited to submit their artwork for this event: students, adults, and alumni! Categories include: drawing, painting, photography, and mixed media. Contact Anne Meyer for submission information. The deadline for submissions is Friday, January 26.
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College Planning Night for Juniors, February 5 We will have Brand R. Stille, Vice President for Enrollment at Wofford College, here on February 5, 2024, at 7:00 PM in the JP II Center to present on some of the following topics : College Admission Calendar, Key Terms (Early Decision, Early Action, Rolling Admission, Wait List, Common Application, etc.), Student/Parent/School Responsibilities, How to Research College Information, College Entrance Exams, and Financial Aid. At least one parent must attend with their student. We will let you know who your college counselor will be and will begin scheduling individual student/family meetings following this meeting. Freshman & Sophomore College Counseling Night, February 8 We will be having our annual meeting for freshmen and sophomores and their parents on February 8, 2024, at 7:00 PM in the JP II Center to discuss general academic and college planning items. All freshman and sophomore families must attend this meeting at least once (either during the student’s freshman or sophomore year). Students are asked to sit with their parents. Upcoming Opportunities for Travel Ready for an adventure of a lifetime? Consider one of the following trips and be immersed in global learning opportunities that will boost independence and fuel curiosity: New York City April 18-21, 2024
This trip will include walking and sight-seeing tours of NY highlights. The trip also includes a Broadway workshop and show. This trip is open to current high school students; parents are also welcome to sign up (there is an additional fee for adult participants). To register for this trip, click HERE. Register by 12/21/23 for the discounted trip price. Deadline to register is January 10. Questions? Contact Teresa McGrath or Christina Harvey.
France & Spain Summer 2024 May 26-June 5, 2024
Explore Paris and Madrid with the Atlantic coast and Basque region in between! Highlights include a hotel in Paris just steps from the Arc de Triomphe, Versailles, a pilgrimage to Lourdes, San Sebastián, the Camino city of Bourgos, and final nights in the heart of Madrid. Hurry, registration is closing soon! View the itinerary and payment plans HERE. Questions? Contact Maria Russell or Jeanne McCoy.
Greece Spring Break 2025
Visit Athens and cruise around the Greek islands (including Ephesus and the island of Patmos/the cave of the Apocalypse) and experience modern Greek culture and cuisine. All the details (including the itinerary, cost, payment plans, insurance options, and travel dates) can be found HERE. Questions? Email Elaine Trakas.
London Spring Break 2025
This trip will include guided walking and sight-seeing tours of London highlights, along with a visit to the Tower of London, Windsor Castle, and visits to Stonehenge, Bath, and Stratford-upon-Avon. The trip also includes a backstage tour of the National Theater, a workshop and performance at the Globe, and a West End production. The exact dates will be posted at the end of this school year (dates listed on the itinerary are used to begin the trip planning). This trip is open to current 8th grade through 11th grade SJCS students; parents are also welcome to sign up (there is an additional fee for adult participants). Interested students and parents can register HERE. Register by 12/21/23 for the discounted trip price and refer to links above for scholarship discount. Questions? Contact Teresa McGrath or Christina Harvey.
South Africa Summer 2025
Interested in going on safari or reaching the Cape of Good Hope, cooking an authentic South African meal, or staying in a Zulu village? Come to South Africa in the summer of 2025. View the itinerary and set up payment plans HERE. Questions? Contact Meby Carr or Leigh Berman.
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6th & 7th Grade Class Schedule and 8th Grade Exam Schedule Time
Thursday December 14
Friday December 15
Monday December 18
8:05 AM 10:00 AM
6th-8th Grade: 1st Period
6th Grade: 7th Period 7th Grade & 8th Grade: 3rd Period
10:20 AM 12:15 PM
6th & 7th Grade: 2nd Period 8th Grade: 7th Period
6th-8th Grade: 4th Period
6th & 8th Grade: 5th Period 7th Grade: 7th Period
6th-8th Grade: 6th Period
High School Exam Schedule Time
Thursday December 14
Friday December 15
Monday December 18
Tuesday December 19
Wednesday December 20
8:05 AM 10:00 AM
1st Period
3rd Period
5th Period
7th Period
Make-Up Exams (If Needed)
10:20 AM 12:15 PM
2nd Period
4th Period
6th Period
Make-Up Exams (If Needed)
Exam Guidelines • • • • • • •
• • • •
Students may NOT test early nor should exams be administered outside of their scheduled date. High school students should report directly to their exam room and must be seated by 8:00 AM. Anyone not in attendance after 8:00 AM will be considered tardy. No students are to be admitted to the exam once the exam has been distributed. Likewise for the second exam, students should be seated and attendance taken by 10:15 AM and no student will be admitted after the exam has been distributed. Students should bring review materials for other exams and study quietly if they finish an exam before the end of the exam period. Silence should be maintained from the moment exams are distributed until all exams are collected at the end of the exam period. Students with questions should raise their hands quietly. Once an exam begins, students are not permitted to leave the room. Restroom trips should be for emergencies only and then only after the student has turned in their exam. Students with only one exam on a given day need be present only for that exam. If they do not have a 10:20 AM exam they may leave at the end of the 8:00 AM exam period. Similarly, if a student does not have an 8:00 AM exam, they do not need to report until the 10:20 AM exam period (by 10:15 AM). All students leaving or arriving between the exam times must go to the library. Students will NOT be dismissed until the end of their exam period. Any student not in uniform, will not be allowed to take their exam. Quiet is to be maintained at all times. Students should remain in their seats until the last exam is turned in. There should be no cell phones or smart watches out for any reason during an exam.
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From the Middle School Director “We must not let any season pass without Thanksgiving.” Saint Athanasius the Great I was reminded today of the importance of giving thanks. There are some days I am just utterly overwhelmed with a feeling of gratitude … the brilliance of the rising sun on my morning bike ride; a perfectly crafted and exceptionally tasty almond milk latte; hearing a student sing one of our morning prayer songs in the hallway; or a video chat with my grandson, Oliver. The posture of gratitude ripens our hearts for discovery of God’s purpose and plan for us. We become more receptive to His hopes and desires for us … and more willing to accept revisions to our course. Our daily experience is full of opportunities to recognize the seemingly regular things that really, upon reflection, are simply stunning. This season of the year is an excellent time to consider what makes our heart overflow with gratefulness. These are a few of the things I am most grateful for: I am grateful for our teachers, staff, and coaches who said, “Yes, I will serve.” They’ve answered God’s subtle tug to work for a greater cause, a noble purpose. And they serve with humility, joy, and gladness, day in and day out. Hours upon hours are spent investing in the lives of our young people. It is not about them. With their “yes”, they’ve answered the question, “If not us, then whom?” Parents would be overwhelmed, too, if they could see what I witness on a daily basis - extraordinary care, attention, instruction and coaching that is provided for their children inside these Saint Joseph walls. I am grateful for our parents who sacrifice tremendous amounts of time and resources to have their children at Saint Joseph’s. From the parents who spend hours in the car just getting their children to and from school, to the parents who spend even more hours picking up from practice and driving to games and performances. All this transpires in the midst of their own work and responsibilities. We can imagine what you all have to juggle, but we can never truly know what and how much you have going on. Yet, you offer words of encouragement, recognition, and support to us, knowing full well that the delivery of our mission is strenuous. I am grateful for our students who bring their genuine, authentic selves to our classrooms and hallways everyday. They provide glimpses into their busy, topsy-turvy, confusing teenage world, and we are humbled at the chance to accompany them as they grapple with these challenges. Each in their own way testifies to the wonders of God’s creation. Finally, I am very grateful that our community is rooted in faith. I really can’t imagine education without it. There will come a day, usually between middle and high school, that our children will ask themselves, “What is my purpose?” “Why am I here?” We don’t want our children turning to Google, or TikTok, or any other social media platform for the answer. It is important that our children are in a community where they can safely question, search, and assess. As a people of faith, we know our purpose … we know our calling. How blessed are we to have that certainty of mission, purpose and calling that only our God can provide.
From the High School Director As I sit down to write this column, we are just at the tail end of a major review as part of our regular accreditation process. This multi-year effort culminated in a unanimous recommendation by an independent, external review team for Saint Joseph’s to be fully accredited by SAIS. While that was never really in doubt, it’s nice to have it in hand! Stakeholder feedback is a major component of the accreditation process; and in the rest of this column, I want to update you, the parents of our high school students, on the results of the survey you took last spring and address
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some of the areas you identified as opportunities for improvement. This is not an exhaustive list, but it’s representative of how we’re trying to live up to your hopes and expectations for your students. Curriculum and Program Academically, parents strongly believe that Saint Joseph’s has high academic standards. However, there is also a desire to offer a wider variety of course offerings, especially in our high school. We’ve been working to expand our curriculum over the last two years, and I’m pleased to report that we’re beginning to see the fruits of that labor. For instance, we’ve differentiated ninth grade biology to offer both CP and honors level opportunities to our students, and we’ve also instituted the AP Diploma program which required us to add two new AP level courses as early as the sophomore year. Over the next two years we want to add more courses in Computer Science at both the AP and, critically, at the CP level as well. This could include more classes in coding, website development, and more standard options in general computer science. Parents and students both identified environmental education as an area where we could improve, and we’re looking at ways to make that a more regular part of our science curriculum. Be on the lookout for the Course Catalog that will detail more of what we’re doing on this important front. Life and Learning Skills Our scores in this field were strong across the board, but that doesn’t mean we can’t improve here as well. We’re leveraging the Household Program to address some of the life skill objectives, for instance, with our high school boys we’re focusing on brotherhood and positive accountability right now. We’ll be using Catholic resources from the Knights of Columbus to initiate conversations about how we can recognize and pull out the best from one another. We’re developing similar programs for our female Households as well. Our entire faculty is working on issues of belonging in the classroom to make sure that all of our students have the best experience possible. There is a lot of evidence out there that suggests that when a student feels like they belong they actually improve their academic performance and make more positive contributions in their individual classrooms, enhancing the experience for everyone. Perceptions of the Administration Again, our scores here were very strong (thank you for that!), but we recognize that being responsive to parental concerns is an area all schools need to continually improve. In Catholic schools, most of which embrace subsidiarity as an operating principal, there can be a degree of tension between the administration being responsive to parental concerns and the desire to promote direct communication and collaboration between parents and faculty members. I can promise you that my door is always open, but that one of the first things I ask parents to do is to take their concerns directly to the person closest to the situation. Student Support Our Academic Support Services and our College Counseling programs were highly rated, as were all the indicators in this field. The open-ended questions do suggest a concern over just how ‘programmed’ our students are. Balancing a rigorous academic load, extracurricular, and other outside activities (jobs, community service, outside sports teams, etc.) can be hard, and many parents are rightly concerned about the overall well-being of their students. As a parent, I share that concern. In talking with my own kids, I know that some of their outside activities, while time consuming, are also life-giving, so I don’t want to cut them out of my kids’ lives. This is something many schools are struggling with these days, and we’re taking a serious look at how we can promote a better quality of life for our students (and their parents!). We have a number of stress-relief initiatives underway (intramurals for some fun in the day, senior dessert day, etc.), but during the spring semester we intend to look at more large-scale issues as well. Extracurricular Activities All were highly reviewed, but here again, there is a desire to see the school balance these with the academic expectations our students face. The student surveys, too, point to a desire to improve here. Importantly, no one asked about lowering our academic standards. Instead, suggestions focused on scheduling issues and making sure that the various divisions in the school are working together when it comes to time expectations and workload management.
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The Bottom Line High school parents are pleased with the school and their student’s experience but would like to see more variety in the course offerings and a greater focus on what we sometimes call “work-life balance” for our students. So that everyone stays informed, I’ll be addressing these issues in my News and Notes column the rest of this year and in occasional emails to our community. Working together, we can do some great things so that ALL our students believe we’re working for their good. Enjoy Advent, and remember that God entered the world in an unexpected way. He does that still today!
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From the Academic Support Services & College Counseling Office Course Selection Process for 2024-2025 The course selection process for the 2024-25 school year will begin mid-February. Families will receive information in January explaining how to request courses for which students are qualified through Blackbaud. Following the one-week request period, all 8th through 11th grade students will meet individually with their counselor to review their requested schedule. Petitions to appeal into a course for which a student does not meet the prerequisites will only be considered at these meetings. A parent or guardian must be present at the meeting if a student is seeking an appeal. No more than two appeals will be considered per student. Meetings with counselors should be completed by mid-March. PSAT Test Results PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 8/9 test results are available to students at their College Board accounts. Students who don’t have one should click HERE for information on opening a College Board account, which is necessary for accessing scores. If you are having problems accessing your account or seeing your scores, you may need to call the College Board helpline at 866-433-7728. Other questions? Contact Melissa Broering. Important Information for Seniors • College Applications: Please continue to share your good news and advise Mrs. Driscoll and Mrs. Albright of college acceptances and scholarship awards. And don’t forget to stop by the college counseling office to ring our Acceptance Bell! To date over 40% of the senior class has been accepted to at least one university. • Transcript Requests: Transcript requests should be made no later than December 8, 2023, for all colleges in which you plan to apply. Many colleges have January 1 deadlines so it is important that these requests are made prior to Christmas Break as it may not be possible for us to send documents to colleges during the break. If you would like to be on the priority list for your Mid-Year Report (first semester grades) to be mailed in January (once the first semester grades are finalized), then you must put in your transcript request before the Christmas Break. • Financial Aid and Scholarships: Make sure that you are visiting the College Financial Aid and Scholarships link on the College Counseling page regularly as we add new scholarship opportunities as we receive them. If you are on Instagram, we also encourage you to follow @sjcs_collegecounseling for important updates, information, and tips regarding the college & scholarship application process! High School Students Please make sure to visit the Upcoming Special Programs and Events link on the College Counseling page on a regular basis as we add new programs as we receive them. College Counseling Seminar Series The College Counseling Office announced its new Seminar Series earlier this year with the goal of making sure that every student & family feels connected and empowered in their college application/enrollment process. To date, the College Counseling Office has held five sessions including a Faculty Panel. Students are encouraged to attend as many of these events as possible. Please note that these sessions are in addition to our traditional College Counseling programming. • Thursday, December 7: Stress Relieving Session (Seniors): You will receive more details via email but in the meantime imagine furry friends and treats!
From the Athletic Department From the Athletic Booster Club • What a successful fall campaign for our Knights Athletics this year! State Championships, runner-ups and so many fine achievements! Without the support of parents JUST LIKE YOU in the Athletic Booster Club our teams wouldn't be able to continue to do what they do at such a high level. And it isn't too late to support the many, many students who will be competing in all of the Winter and Spring sports by joining the Booster Club today (HERE)!
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• Did you know that without volunteers like YOU it would be impossible to effectively run all of the sporting events that our students at Saint Joseph’s compete in? Talk to a Booster Club member at the next sporting event to find out how YOU can help support ALL of our Knights by joining the Booster Club and volunteering! • Check out and support all of the other Middle School, JV, and Varsity sports heading into the Winter Sports Season on the handy Athletics Calendar HERE! • Do you have a student athlete who plays any sport at Saint Joseph’s? Are you grateful for the amazing coaches and growth opportunities that SJCS athletics provides your child? Or are you simply just proud to be a Knight and love our school? If you answered yes to any of those questions, then please make sure you join the Booster Club today (HERE)! Your membership fees are critical to providing the financial support ALL our athletic teams need to enhance program excellence. • Click HERE to join or get more information on the various membership levels and benefits. You will receive one, two, four, or six key tags, depending on membership level, for free admission to all non-playoff home games AND you can present your key tag at any Sully’s Steamers for a free promotional item. A huge "thank you" to those who have already joined! Please note that once a membership form is received, it can take a week or so to process. You will receive an email when your key tags are available for pick up. Thank you for your patience. • Interested in advertising your business or just showing your family’s support for St Joseph’s athletics? We have updated our banner program to create enhanced visibility at our sports venues and more flexible options for where you would like your logo displayed. Click HERE for more information on athletic sponsorships.
From the Business Office Tuition Accounts As a reminder, Saint Joseph’s Business Office will be closed beginning Wednesday, December 20 and will reopen on Thursday, January 4, 2024. In order to avoid late fees, please make sure all your December 529 plan payments are received by the Business Office no later than Tuesday, December 12. If you have any questions regarding your tuition payments, please contact Ann Gushue. Senior Tuition Accounts In order to participate in Baccalaureate Mass and Graduation, all Senior tuition and fees, excluding the June draft, must be paid in full by May 17, 2024. Please contact Ann Gushue if you have questions regarding your senior’s account, or if you need to set up a payment plan for past-due accounts. Tuition Credit Program Thank you to many of our school families for employing our Student Recruitment Tuition Credit Program this past school year. We greatly appreciate you referring families to SJCS! This program is ongoing and we hope that more SJCS parents will choose to take advantage of this for 2024-2025 recruitment. As a reminder, click HERE to read about the program. Parents who successfully referred a family to SJCS for this current school year will find a $500 tuition credit on their November statement. Re-enrollment Families will receive information in January about re-enrollment for the 2024-25 school year. Please note that the window to re-enroll will be January 29, 2024 - February 2, 2024. Contracts will be available through the Blackbaud portal. Please note this change in dates from previous years. Flexible Tuition Flexible Tuition applications will be available starting November 15 through Blackbaud Financial Aid. To be considered for financial assistance, all current families must submit their application by February 15, 2024. All new families must submit their application by April 1, 2024. Failure to apply before the deadline may result in families not receiving funds. Please note this change in dates from previous years. SJCS also offers merit-based scholarships as well as scholarships with both merit and need-based components. For the 2023 school year alone, SJCS awarded $1.9 million in tuition assistance. For a complete list of all scholarship opportunities, as well as deadlines and qualifications, visit our website.
Dec 23/Jan 24
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From the Development Office Annual Auction Gala Mark your calendars for the 2024 Annual Auction Gala on Friday, April 26. Our Gala Committee members are working diligently to prepare for our school’s largest fundraiser that supports our students. Some Gala needs to keep in mind as we enter the holiday season: • Bottles of wine for the wine pull • Baskets that can be used for the silent auction • Theater or concert tickets • Silent and Live auction items • Vacation homes or timeshares for our live auction If you are able to help, contact Katie Saad (Gala Chair), Sheay Noel (Gala Co-Chair), or Katie Orbon in the Development Office. Annual Fund Our goal this fiscal year (July 2023 – June 2024) is to engage the financial support of 100% of our school families, faculty, and staff in giving to the Annual Fund. We will track participation numbers by grade level throughout the year. Currently the 6th grade is leading the way with a participation of 39%! Helping families afford a Saint Joseph’s education is a foundational principle to our identity as a Catholic school. The Annual Fund fulfills this responsibility by providing approximately 5% of the school’s overall budget. These dollars are raised every year through the generosity of our community. Our Annual Fund goal for this year, which includes proceeds from the Gala, is $525,000. Please contact Kevin Meyer with any questions or make an online donation! You Belong Campaign Saint Joseph’s started the You Belong Campaign in the Spring with a goal of $6 million to build the Saint Joseph’s Way Center. This building will contain a large multipurpose room (seating 175-200), four new Theology classrooms and offices for Campus Ministry, Student Support Services and College Counseling. To date, we have raised 85% of the goal, and we need your help to reach the finish line! We plan to break ground on the new building this summer and open it in the Fall of 2025. If you’d like more information on the campaign and the plans, please refer to our campaign webpage. Please contact Kevin Meyer with any questions or if you’d like information on how to make a pledge to the campaign.
From the Fine Arts Department Encore! - Middle School Fine Arts Program Details regarding the spring semester programming for MS Encore will be available in early December. Check the website for details and registration information. Opportunities to Support the Fine Arts Membership: Join the Fine Arts booster club, Jubilate Arts Guild. In addition to supporting the Fine Arts with your membership purchase, there are many benefits to joining JAG, such as discount tickets and priority seating at many Fine Arts events, including the upcoming Christmas Concerts and Jubilate Knight for the Arts Talent Competition. The 2023-2024 membership form can be found HERE. Sponsorships: Attention business owners! Want to reach a larger audience? Try the JAG sponsorship program. We are offering our corporate sponsors a chance for promotion with advertising in the programs of our six main Fine Arts events. The size of the ad depends on the level of sponsorship. In addition to an ad in our programs, our sponsors will get further promotion through social media, the Fine Arts’ website, and special signage in the lobby of our events. For more information, click HERE. Act now to get your business ad in our Christmas concert program in December and the program for Jubilate Knight for the Arts and Talent Competition in February. Questions? Contact Christine Balts.
Dec 23/Jan 24
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Volunteer: Looking to get more involved? All MS students and most HS students are involved in the Arts in some way at SJCS. JAG is in need of parent volunteers to serve on the JAG committee for the 2023-2024 school year. We have various officer positions available and several committee vacancies. Come to a meeting to discover how much fun it can be supporting the Arts. Want more information? Contact the Jubilate Arts Guild president, Cindy Davis. 2023-2024 Jubilate Arts Guild Sponsors! The Jubilate Arts guild would like to thank the following 2023-2024 Fine Arts sponsors: • Virginia Hayes, Realtor - Coldwell Banker Caine • Allstate Insurance – Joel Poinsette • S. Farrar Fine Art, LLC, Preferred Home Services • Williams Wealth Management • School of Medicine Greenville • Eastside Pediatric Dentistry PA • Vitality Medical Center • Closer to the Magic Vacations To find out more about Fine Arts Sponsorships and how your business can benefit from helping the SJCS Fine Arts programs, click HERE, or contact Christine Balts. Jubilate Knight for the Arts Talent Competition, February 10 Mark your calendars for our Fine Arts Department annual talent competition and fundraiser, Jubilate Knight for the Arts, on Saturday, February 10. All members of the school community are invited to participate in this event the sale of voting tokens aids in funding the needs of our dance, choral, instrumental, theatre, and visual arts programs. Preparations for this family-friendly fun evening have begun, so dust off the dancing shoes, exercise the vocal cords, or come up with an act to showcase your own unique talent. Our audition dates will be immediately after Christmas Break and are fast approaching. You can see the video of last year’s event HERE. • Volunteers: If you are interested in joining the planning committee, we are always in need of volunteers to help put together this exciting event for our SJCS family. We will have a planning meeting December 14 at 8:00 AM. We are looking for people to help with the planning and for volunteers the day of the event. Contact Cindy Davis for more information. • Auditions: Auditions will be Wednesday, January 10 and Tuesday, January 16. Any member of the SJCS community is welcome to audition and students can earn points for their Household simply by auditioning. Traditional and non-traditional talents are encouraged and performances may be up to four minutes in length. Be sure to start preparing your performance act now and work on it over the Christmas Break. Audition information and form can be found HERE and you can sign up for your audition time HERE. • New category: Performance Technology submissions. Submissions should use the form found HERE by January 16. • Visual Art Submissions: Jubilate Knight for the Arts will continue to include a Visual Art competition in addition to the performance event! Any member of the school community is invited to submit their artwork for this event: students, adults, and alumni! Categories include: drawing, painting, photography, and mixed media. Contact Anne Meyer for submission information. The deadline for submissions is Friday, January 26. • Tickets: Ticketing information will be available on the school website in early January!
From the Parents Guild The Parents Guild gifted each SJCS faculty and staff member with a pumpkin bread loaf as a token of our appreciation for all they do for our school and families. Many thanks to those volunteers who baked loaves. The Parents Guild will be providing a Christmas luncheon and cookie swap for all faculty and staff on Friday, December 15. Please be on the lookout for a SignUpGenius email for ways you can help. Thank You To… • All of the volunteers for helping to get the school year off to a great start. • The school store volunteers. All sales from the School Store benefit the Parents Guild and make it possible to help serve Saint Joseph’s students and faculty.
Dec 23/Jan 24 • • • •
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Elaine Barnhill for leading and organizing the Open House Reception. It was a great success with lots of new families in attendance! Emily Busby for organizing our First Quarter Breakfast Sully's Steamers Sale. Renee Dunlap for an amazing job with Ladies Knight Out. It was a fabulous evening and a sold out event! Katie Martin and all the awesome volunteers for making Grandparents Day so wonderful!
The Parents Guild wishes all of our families a joyful Christmas season and a happy, healthy, and peaceful New Year!
From the School Nurse Student Illness Students who are not feeling well during the school day must be evaluated in the health room BEFORE contacting a parent. Students may not use cell phones or watches to contact parents regarding illnesses until they have checked in with the nurse. Medication Policy It is against Saint Joseph's policy for a student to carry ANY medication on their person without physician permission, parent permission, and permission from the school nurse to self-administer. Failure to comply with the medication policy may result in disciplinary action.