June 2024 News & Notes

From the Head of School

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.

Summer Vacation Greetings from St. Joseph’s Catholic School!

Congratulations to the Class of 2024 on their graduation this past weekend. Their collective and personal futures are bright. Once published, I hope you’ll take a few minutes to listen to the inspiring student speeches by both Johnny Jaraczewski and Christopher Suarez. Listening to them, it's easy to believe that our graduates are destined to change the world, as Founding Board Chair Margaret Ann Moon loved to say. Godspeed, members of the Class of 2024 as you enter the next phase of your educational journey!

A couple of weeks ago, the Board of Trustees held its annual wrap-up meeting during which we reflected on the significant (and challenging) moments we experienced this year, some we anticipated, and others that came by way of surprise. I thought I might list some of the things we worked on and accomplished this year to give you a fuller perspective on some of the school's administrative and strategic accomplishments:

• The You Belong Campaign surpassed $5.8 million in pledges this spring nearing our $6 million goal, allowing us to select Mavin Construction to build The Founders Saint Joseph’s Way Center, which will begin this summer.

• The school received an unqualified accreditation from Cognia, the gold standard for private schools.

• Saint Joseph’s trustees, administration, and representatives from the teaching faculty completed and approved a new 6-year Strategic Plan for the school based on survey feedback from students, parents, and teachers. You’ll be hearing more about those strategic priorities at Meet the Teacher Night in September

• Based on some survey data, I went on a “Listening Tour” this spring, meeting with 65 parents in 5 small groups. What I heard was invaluable and helped to solidify our priorities for the coming school year.

• One of those priorities is to look seriously at alternative bell schedules that might improve the student’s academic and co-curricular experiences while simultaneously creating more balance and less stress from week to week. To this end, we’ve engaged the services of a

scheduling expert who will meet with us in October to explore options based on our priorities and mission.

• The South Carolina High School League adopted a new 3X multiplier for out-of-attendance zone students that goes into effect beginning in the 2024-25 school year. The result for Saint Joseph’s is that we are moving up from 1A to the 3A classification, which means our athletes will be competing against larger schools beginning next year. This move also has ramifications for our athletic facilities, as some of them don’t currently meet minimum standards for hosting playoff games.

• The need for the school’s Belonging initiative to remain a top priority was reinforced by a handful of incidents this year. It became clear that Saint Joseph’s would benefit from the assistance of a professional consultant steeped in Catholic Social Teaching to develop a systemic approach to ensure that the infinite dignity and worth of all students, parents, and teachers is always affirmed in our community. The school has been in contact with Gloria Purvis, who was appointed in January to head the Secretariat for Ethnic Ministries.

• And finally, the unexpected departure of Dr. Steven Jones to become the new Superintendent of Education for the Diocese of Youngstown brought into focus and added some urgency to some discussions we have been having regarding the school’s administrative structure and has led to some changes that I’ll explain as I conclude my letter.

Most significantly, Wanda Jaraczewski has been promoted to Assistant Head of School and will serve as the Principal of grades 6-12. Supporting her will be two new Assistant Principals. Jean Crosby’s administrative role has been expanded to include Assistant Principal of the Middle School, while continuing to serve as Director of the 6th Grade Academy. The search for the Vice Principal of the high school is nearing completion with a selection and appointment made most likely this summer. Gabe Lewis has been elevated to the newly created role of Director of Mission and Ministry. Jean and Gabe, both excellent teachers as well, will continue to teach on a part-time basis as their new administrative duties allow. Rounding out the administrative team that oversees the delivery of the school’s mission to the students, Eric Nash remains the head of the school’s athletic department but will have the benefit of new Assistant Athletic Directors to oversee the day-to-day activities of both Girls and Boys sports, ensuring the unique needs of both groups are seen, prioritized and met. We hope to fill both of these positions in the coming weeks.

An important way to think of this new administrative structure is to think of their roles in terms of formation. As you know, the mission of Saint Joseph’s Catholic School is to form the minds, hearts, and souls of our students in the likeness of Christ. We want an administrative team who primarily thinks of its responsibilities in terms of formation. Keeping this in mind, Mrs. Jaraczewski is primarily responsible for everything related to the academic formation of our students. As Assistant Head of School, she has a more global responsibility with me as ensuring that everything we do is consistent with the Saint Joseph’s Way. Mr. Lewis is responsible for all of the programs aimed at the human and spiritual formation of our students, grades 6 through 12, campus ministry, household, belonging and community service. And finally, Coach Nash is responsible for the formation of student-athletes according to the Saint Joseph’s Way.

Please keep each of us in your prayers as we begin our work together for the good of our students. Pray specifically that we would see the things that we need to see and have the wisdom to know best to meet the needs of today’s students. The challenges to the full flourishing of young people today are immense. I’m confident that God has blessed us with the right people to do that, from the leadership team to their teachers and coaches. I hope everyone has a safe and rejuvenating summer. Let’s come back to school in August more committed than ever to working together (school and parents) for the good of our students.

In closing, please join us in praying for the following members of the SJCS family: for the Frank family – Donna, Patrick’24, Christian’22 and Lucina’21 on the passing of Chris Frank; for Tate Martin on the passing of his grandfather. Thank you for embracing them and all the other St. Joseph’s families who have experienced lifealtering losses this year. Our community’s response is always a powerful sign of Christ’s loving presence. Thank you!

With Love and Prayers, Keith F. Kiser Head of School

School Office Closed, May 27

Things You Need To Know

The school and school offices will be closed on Monday, May 27 for Memorial Day.

Summer Office Hours Begin May 28

Beginning Tuesday, May 28, summer office hours are 8:00 AM-1:00 PM Monday-Thursday. The office will be closed on Fridays, as well as the week of July 1-5. The office re-opens July 8, and summer hours continue until August 5. PLEASE NOTE: During the summer months, the SJCS staff may be working remotely some days during the published office hours or taking vacation time, so it’s important for you to check with the person(s) you need to see first before making a trip to campus.

2024 Annual JAG Ornament Design Contest, Deadline May 31

The SJCS Jubilate Arts Guild is sponsoring their annual art competition to design our new Christmas ornament. This year we are looking for your best Star of Bethlehem with inspiration coming from Matthew 2:9 … And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them … Students, alumni, faculty, staff, parents, etc. are all encouraged to create their interpretation of the Star of Bethlehem to be turned into a 3 1/2" W x 3 1/2" H DIAMOND shape NanoBrite translucent, yet opaque, stained glass-like ornament. Use of Bright and Deep colors for the best light effect on the finished product is recommended. Artwork can be hand sketched, painted, or digitally designed. Digital process: High Res 300-600 dpi jpeg, pdf required (no png, gif accepted). Click HERE for details. Entries should be submitted to Teresa McGrath by Friday, May 31.

Final Report Cards Available June 3

Quarter 4/Final report cards will be accessible in Blackbaud after 4:00 PM on Monday, June 3. An email will be sent from the Registrar’s Office to parents and students when report cards are finalized. Contact the teacher directly if you have any questions regarding your student’s grade. Please print a copy or save as a pdf for your records, car insurance discounts, and DMV.

Theatre Summer Camps, June 3-7

• June 3-6: HS Improvisation (Rising 8th-12th Graders) from 3:00-5:00 PM

• June 3-7: Rising Stars (Rising 3rd-8th Graders) from 9:00 AM-1:00 PM Click HERE for additional details and registration.

Course Schedules

• High School: Students and parents will be notified via email when the course schedules are available in July. Students will have an opportunity to make limited change requests once schedules are made available.

• Middle School: Students will receive their final schedules on Orientation Day. Eighth grade parents will be contacted via email concerning their World Language placement when their schedules are complete in late July.

Rising Senior College Essay Workshop, July 22-26

There are currently just a couple of spots remaining for our “bonus” Summer College Essay Writing Workshop! Students will be brainstorming, outlining, and writing their essays during the week and will complete one to two essays by the end of the week. Participants will receive feedback from college admission counselors during the week and will also receive individual feedback on their completed essays from one college admissions counselor! Due to the format of the workshop, we are limiting it to the first 50 students who register.

Workshop Details:

• When: July 22-25 (final essays will be sent in electronically on July 26)

• Time: July 22-23: Noon-4:00 PM & July 24-25: Noon-3:00 PM

• Where: SJCS Meetinng Room

• Cost: $275. Register HERE

Pep Band Pre-season Camp, July 29-August 1

• All band students, with at least one year of playing experience at SJCS, who are interested in playing for Pep Band are invited to attend pre-season band camp. Openings for all instruments!

• The camp will be held at SJCS from July 29- August 1 from 9:00-11:30 AM. The cost for pre-season is $40 and includes a t-shirt. This is the perfect way to get your “playing chops” back in shape for the start of school and to be prepared to play at the Varsity home Football games in the fall. The "Band of Knights" Pep Band has established a tradition of spirit and school pride as they cheer on the team from the stands on Friday nights.

• When the school year begins, Pep Band will rehearse on Wednesday afternoons from 1:30-3:00 PM to prepare for playing at the five Friday night home Varsity Football games and playoffs. Additionally, Pep Band can be taken for 1/2 HS credit for rising ninth grade and above with permission. Questions? Contact SJCS Band Director, Marjorie Malphrus

Rising Senior Application Boot Camp, August 6 & 7

The College Counseling Office will host a free college application boot camp for rising seniors on August 6 and 7 at SJCS. All rising seniors are encouraged to attend. More details, including the specific times and registration link, will follow in an email later this summer.

Sixth Annual Athletic Department Golf Tournament, August 9

Friday, August 9 is the Sixth Annual Athletic Department Golf Tournament Proceeds from this event directly benefit all teams, and sponsorship opportunities are available. Please contact Kevin Meyer in the Development Office or Golf Fundraising Chair Josh Hoover-Dempsey for more information on sponsorship packages and benefits. And as always, please help us honor those athletic volunteers who go above and beyond in their service and dedication to the Knights.

24 Hour Theatre Extravaganza & Student-Produced Films, August 9 & 10

What better way to end the summer and kick off the school year than with a Theatre Extravaganza? Students, faculty, staff, parents, and alumni have the opportunity to create a show from the ground up, only limited by time and their imagination! Anyone in the SJCS school community (rising 7th grade and older) can be involved in this event, beginning at 6:00 PM on Friday, August 9. The event will culminate with a performance of these plays at 7:00 PM on Saturday, August 10. Note that no one participant is actually committing to an entire 24-hour period of involvement. There will be various areas to fill for this event: writer, director, actor, stage manager, crew member, etc. More specific details and registration information will be available later this summer. Questions? Contact Teresa McGrath.

Middle School Supplies

Middle school supplies lists are being updated and will be available on the school website around mid-July. A link to these will be included in the August News and Notes

Community Service

High school students should plan on getting a jumpstart on their community service this summer. A total of 65 hours are required for graduation and there is a yearly minimum that must be completed. Each reporting year begins on June 1 and ends on May 31. Here are the minimum requirements per grade level: Freshmen (10 hours), Sophomores (15 hours), Juniors (20 hours), and Seniors (20 hours). Hours must be logged in MobileServe to count toward the graduation requirement. Please contact Catherine Showghi or Greshan Charlton with any questions.

Used Textbooks

Please consider donating any unwanted used textbooks to St. Joseph’s. These textbooks are distributed to our scholarship students and/or used in the classroom at the teacher's discretion. Questions? Contact Greshan Charlton or Rod McClendon

BNC Textbook Buyback

Parents who wish to sell books back to BNC may do so online. BNC Services will buy back textbooks that meet their condition requirements and send the money directly to you. You do not need to have purchased your books

through BNC Services to participate. You may also sell your books back to BNC Services through their website. They will cover shipping costs. This short video (found HERE) will provide you with complete instructions.

Important Dates for 2024-2025

Please click HERE for important dates for the 2024-2025 school year.

Back to School Forms for 2024-2025

Back to school forms were emailed to all parents of students for the 2024-2025 school year. The forms include contact information update, emergency contact updates, and grandparent updates. Please complete these forms to keep our records accurate. Contact Mary Cummings with any questions.

Has Your Information Changed?

If you have had a change of address, phone number, or email, please email your updates to Mary Cummings.

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:

Greece Spring Break 2025

London 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.

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. This trip is open to next year's SJCS High School students; parents are also welcome to sign up. More information and registration information can be found HERE. Sign up by May 30 using the code London2025 for a $200 scholarship discount! Questions? Contact Teresa McGrath or Christina Harvey.

America in the World Wars Summer 2025

Due to safety concerns, the South Africa trip has been changed to an exciting new trip and topic: America in the World Wars! Come and visit some of the most exciting places American troops fought in WWI and WWII in Europe. See Churchill's War rooms in London, cross the channel at night to visit the Normandy beaches, the American cemetery at Omaha, the 1917 Museum and Flanders Field, to name a few. We will have high tea in London, visit the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, and travel to Westerbork, where both Anne Frank and Edith Stein (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross) were held before being sent to Auschwitz. To view the itinerary, cost, and payment plans, click HERE. Questions? Contact Meby Carr

From the Middle School Director

The end of a school year is always accompanied by reflection. What went well and what are we proud of? What do we want to look different next year? Are the 8th graders prepared for what awaits them in high school? Basically, did we deliver the experience and meet the expectation of forming young hearts, minds, and souls in Christ’s likeness?

An early mentor and teacher, John St. Peter, introduced me to the writings of Dr. Leo Buscaglia. His work left a lasting impression on me, and I often think of his message … that true, authentic love has the power to transform, and that we need to be loved in order to respond in love.

One of Dr. Buscaglia’s quotes aptly describes the environment that we aspire to offer our students at Saint Joseph’s

“So, for the question, ‘How do I know when I am truly loved?’ … when we are loved, the people who love us want us to be what we are, not what they are. They rejoice in the fact that we are growing with our ideas, our dreams, our uniqueness, our future. They want us to be independent and free, not submissive and afraid. The people who love us want to simplify our existence, not by protecting us from pain, but by being there when we need them. They encourage risk because they understand that by risking, we continue to grow. They help us to find alternatives for behavior, rejoicing in our success and comforting us in our failure”.

Our students are loved. They have been loved, and they will continue to be loved. Whether they move on to our high school, or leave for another, they are being sent out on a mission of love. We are able to love because we have first been loved by the God who created us. Their preparation here - academically, socially, and spiritually - prepared them to tend to the needs of the people around them. They are now tasked with lifting up the broken hearted, discouraging division and hate, and making room for the weary and dejected that they meet. Moving forward, their work is so much more than getting a good SAT score, a high GPA, or being accepted into the first college of their choice. Their work is to love and bring out God’s kingdom with their choices, their words, and their actions.

Please pray for our 8th grade students who are moving on to high school. Pray for all of us in this important work of accompanying young people. And pray for our Saint Joseph’s community, that we will continue to authentically and fully live the mission of forming hearts, minds, and souls in the likeness of Christ.

May God bless you and keep you safe, healthy, and strong this summer!

From the Academic Support Services & College Counseling Office

PSAT,

SAT, & ACT Test Prep

Summer is the perfect time for rising sophomores and juniors to start preparing for upcoming fall PSAT testing and for rising seniors to brush up for the SAT and ACT tests. There are many free online test prep opportunities, including SAT, ACT, and Khan Academy. Both Princeton Review and Kaplan Test Prep have free resources, as well as other online prep courses for a fee. If you are interested in local in-person test prep, contact one of the college counselors for tutors' names and contact information.

Final Senior Transcripts

Senior transcripts with final grades and GPA will be sent out to each college the first and second week of June to the college you indicated in your Graduation Survey. If your college requires a form to be included with the transcript, please make sure the College Counseling Office has this form. Please note that this does not include the Final Report Form for Common App schools as we already have these forms.

Student-Athletes: NCAA Eligibility Center:

Seniors who have committed to play a sport in college or are planning to try out must register with the NCAA (Division I and II) or NAIA and request that their final transcripts be sent to them. Juniors who are going through

the recruitment process and are thinking about playing at the collegiate level must also register with the NCAA and request that their end-of-year transcripts be sent to the NCAA.

Rising Senior Families

If you would like to have a follow up meeting, please contact the College Counseling Office to set up one. All students should try to meet with their college counselor at least one time during the summer.

From the Athletic Department

Summer Sports Training

Please keep in mind that any student participating in a sport for the 2024-2025 school year at SJCS must have a physical dated after April 1, 2024, and complete the required forms ONLINE at Big Teams (found HERE) prior to the first tryout or practice (this includes Off Season Practices and Weights). No paper forms will be accepted, NO EXCEPTIONS! Returning athletes, please use your existing login. All physicals submitted to participate in the 20242025 school year are valid until the last day of school. The required forms that must be filled out online prior to the first practice (including summer practices) are: Pre-Participation History and PreParticipation Sports Physical Exam (please print and take with you to your doctor, and then upload), Parent Consent Form, Concussion Form, a copy of your athlete’s birth certificate, and Bon Secours St. Francis Health System Consent Form. All required athletic forms must be submitted through Student Central at Big Teams.com. Information for new athletes on how to create the parent and student login at Big Teams will be available on the SJCS website HERE. When creating an account be sure to type St. Joseph’s Catholic School in the search line when looking for our school, if you type in different spellings of the school it will not populate as an option. This website is available in any language. To change the language, click on the person icon in the top right corner. Also, there is a new Big Teams feature where you can toggle between the athlete account and parent accounts once linked. To do this, click My Profile and Linked accounts.

From the Business Office

Tuition Accounts

All student’s tuition and fees must be paid in full before receiving their 2024-2025 class schedule or participating in extracurricular activities. If you have questions about your tuition account, contact Nikki Hamby

From the Development Office

Many Thanks To

• The incredible Parent Leaders of the 2023-2024 school year: Jenna Howard, Kelly Gillespie, Cindy Davis, and Katie Saad. We are grateful for the many sacrifices you each make to further the mission at Saint Joseph’s.

• Additionally, we are beyond grateful for the many parents who served on committees and helped fill volunteer roles this year. Your selfless generosity in helping to further the mission of Saint Joseph’s is an incredible blessing to us.

Gala Wrap-Up

Thank you to all who made our 2024 Gala such an incredible success, especially our Co-Chairs Katie Saad and Sheay Noel! You can view the video HERE and the photos HERE. The photo password is case sensitive and is sjcsimages.

Extra Weekends at your Timeshare or Vacation Home?

It's never too soon to be thinking about our 2025 Annual Auction Gala! We are looking for any family willing to donate ‘a stay’ at your vacation home or timeshare to be auctioned off at our 2025 Gala. If you have one or know of someone who would be willing to donate, please contact Kevin Meyer or Katie Orbon in the Development Office. Remember, this donation is tax-deductible!

Annual Fund

Helping families afford a St. 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 fiscal year (July 2023-June 2024), which includes proceeds from the Gala, is $525,000 and our total through mid-May is $475,000. Please consider an Annual Fund donation to help us reach our goal by June 30. Please contact Kevin Meyer with any questions or make an online donation to the Annual Fund.

You Belong Campaign

Saint Joseph’s started the You Belong Campaign in the Spring of 2023 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 97% of the goal. 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

In Case You Missed It: 2024 Spring Concerts

If you missed attending our spring concerts last month, they are available to watch on the SJCS Fine Arts YouTube page found HERE . These videos feature the work of our High School and Middle School students involved with last year's Band, Choral, and Strings programs. Many thanks to Mrs. Harvey, Mrs. Malphrus, and Mr. Martin for their work in directing these ensembles. We hope that you'll enjoy the hard work of our talented students as you enjoy these performances with your family!

We have an exciting new upgrade to our Sponsorship Program!

Attention business owners! Want to reach a larger audience? The Jubilate Arts Guild Sponsorship program is a great value. We are offering our corporate sponsors a chance for promotion with advertising in the printed programs of our six main Fine Arts events over the course of the school year. 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. NEW FOR 2024-2025: If you join at one of our top three Levels, you also get a sponsor banner hung in the gym! Space for those is very limited. Click HERE for more information on sponsorship levels and benefits. Questions? Contact the Jubilate Arts Guild

Jubilate Arts Guild Board Openings for 2024-25

Have you been wondering what the Jubilate Arts Guild is? Have you been wondering how you can get involved in an organization that impacts all the students here at SJCS? JAG is the place for you! We are the Fine Arts booster club and we have a position for you, no matter how much or how little time you have to invest. We meet once a month all year for regular club business, or you can join the committee for our annual talent show (Jubilate Knight for the Arts), which meets several times throughout November through February. All middle school students partake of the fine arts programs and the majority of our high school students participate in band, strings, chorus, dance, theater, and/or visual arts. If you would like to join a fun group of parents who support the Fine Arts here at SJCS, JAG is where you need to be! Contact Cindy Davis for more information.

From the Parents Guild

From Jenna Howard, Parents Guild President

• The 2023-2024 school year has come to an end and summer is here! It was an honor to serve as SJCS Parent’s Guild President this year. I want to thank my Board: Nikki Hamby, Jamie Bach, Stephanie Wilkins, Jessica Clements, Molly Netzler, Jenn Rosenfeld and all of the committee leaders for their time and talent as they unselfishly served the school community. Thank you to Katie Orbon who serves as the liaison between the Parents Guild Board and the school. She is an immense help to us. Our sponsored activities

including the Back-to-School Tailgate and Silent Auction, Grandparents Day, Ladies Knight Out, and the Fish Fry were well attended and enjoyed by all. We continued to show our appreciation to the faculty/staff with pumpkin bread and homemade cookies around the holidays, faculty and staff catered luncheons and breakfasts. Volunteers organized and staffed the School Store, Spirit Wear Sale, Spirit Knights, Tailgate Silent Auction, and Senior vs Parent Dodgeball event. Whew – we accomplished a lot with the help of many!

• Thank you for your support of the Parents Guild throughout the year. I encourage each of you to get involved and stay involved with Saint Joseph’s. We have such a special school and being involved is the best way to meet your child’s teachers and their friends, to learn more about the school, and to fall in love with the community we call Saint Joseph’s. I wish you all a safe and memorable summer!

Special Thanks To…

• Lisa Ireland, Krystal Kennedy, and Jessica Greer for organizing the Senior/Parent Dodgeball tournament. We had a great turnout and lots of fun.

• Marcia Baker for her role as hospitality coordinator. She did a wonderful job recruiting volunteers and donations throughout the school year.

• Danielle Adams for a fabulous job overseeing the School Store.

• Takeoff Mini Golf, The Slice, Moe's on Augusta, and Tipsy Taco on Woodruff Road for all serving as sponsors for our "Spirit Knight" Fundraiser this year. This new incentive raised $1714.36 for our school. "Spirit Knights" are a fundraising opportunity for our school while developing a deeper sense of community and family within SJCS. Please reach out if your family has a restaurant or connections to a restaurant and would be interested in sponsoring a “Spirit Knight” event next year. We donate all funds that exceed program costs back to Saint Joseph’s.

Parents Guild Faculty Grant Program

A special thanks to Nikki Hamby for doing an outstanding job revamping the Parents Guild Faculty Grant Program this year. Our goal for next year is to be able to provide a Fall and a Spring Grant application window. Through PG Grant funds, we were able to award the following grant items this year:

• Loudspeaker System and sound board to use for dances, outdoor events, campus ministry, and Spirit Week/school events.

• Folio Cabinet for the Encore Program and our Middle/High School Chorus to store the student music folders.

• Spanish short stories for beginners and intermediate levels. DVD and Spanish materials for both the Middle and High School.

• Readers for all French 1 and 3 classes.

• Calculator class sets for classrooms.

• Brainpop instructional tool to help ensure student success in making connections to the lessons in fun ways.

• Funds to purchase ebooks, audiobooks, join Junior Library Guild, and to build our school library.

• 85' TV/Display permanently mounted in Academy Commons to use for presentations and guest speakers.

Calling all SJCS Grandparents

This is an opportunity for our grandparents to be involved in activities and events that support our school and their grandchildren. If you have a grandparent interested in getting involved, please contact The Parents Guild.

Help SJCS Earn Money Over the Summer

Did you know that SJCS receives a check every month from Amazon? We also receive funds from Publix, Harris Teeter, and Lowe’s Foods. We need these funds to continue our efforts in improving the school. In just a few minutes, you can set up your account and help us start gaining rewards. To find out more, click HERE.

Get Involved Next Year

The mission of the Parents Guild is to promote and foster parent support for the mission of the school and to coordinate the involvement of parents in the daily life of the school. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact The Parents Guild. We have several open positions and need help in making the 2024-2025 school year a success!

SC Certificate of Immunization

From the School Nurse

All students must have a valid SC Certificate of Immunization on file in Magnus Health prior to the start of classes. Out-of-state vaccination records may be taken to your local physician or the health department for transcription to the correct form. Religious Exemptions are NOT allowed for school entry.

Magnus Health

Student Health Records must be updated in your child's Magnus Health Account. This includes conditional questions, vital health record, SC Certificate of Immunization, consent for treatment, and permission for over the counter medication provided by SJCS.

Allergies

If your child has a life-threatening allergy, please make sure you have an updated care plan in Magnus Health and emergency medication available in the health room prior to the first day of classes.

Inhalers

Students with asthma should have an updated action plan and medication available for them if needed. Please discuss with your child's physician to see if medication needs to be stored in the health room for the 2024-2025 school year.

From the Technology Services Department

Chromebook Pick- Up for the 2024-2025 School Year

Students will be able to pick up their Chromebooks in their Households during student orientation, locker setup, or the first day of school for the 2024-2025 school year (grades 7-12).

Student Email Accounts & Google Drive

Students new to SJCS for the 2024-2025 school year will receive information regarding their email addresses over the summer. All students should periodically check their email over the summer.

eBooks from the Library

St. Joseph’s Library/Media Center can be accessed from home via the school’s website, and eBooks can be checked out over the summer. Some of the required and optional summer reading titles can even be checked out through the MISBO Digital Library, located HERE. MISBO encourages users to use the Sora app. To use MISBO, you’ll need to search for Saint Joseph’s Catholic School from the drop-down menu and have a user ID in order to use the service. If you need to be reminded of your user ID or password, contact Rod McClendon or Mary Cummings.