About St. Joseph School

Learn more about our:

Mission and Philosophy
Parent & Student Handbook
Administration
Grant Committee
BAG Committee
History
Spiritual Growth
Educational Curriculum
Extracurricular Activities
Extended Day Program
Diocesan Evaluation
Facilities
Community Activities
Bullying Policy

Mission and Philosophy

MISSION

The mission of St. Joseph School is to build a Catholic environment that promotes excellence in learning and development of the whole person through the Gospel message. Together with parents, staff, and our parish community, we seek to form leaders by guiding our students to their highest levels of spiritual and academic potential. We offer an environment which encompasses a quality academic curriculum, mutual respect, intellectual curiosity, and service to others.

PHILOSOPHY

As part of the St. Joseph Parish family, we believe that the faith we all share involves a commitment calling for our personal leadership to develop and instill spirit and respect for all. As a Catholic school we are a community of faith in which the Gospel message, our Catholic heritage, worship, and service are integrated into the school experience.

We believe that Jesus, our ever present teacher, is the inspirational model for our parents, students, faculty, and staff. Students learn to recognize God's presence in a caring community. They learn to respond to that presence through prayer and liturgical involvement, through application of the Gospel in everyday events, and through awareness of and concern for social justice. They learn to make His presence real through
respect for one another and through service to St. Joseph Parish, the church, the community, and the world. We provide a peaceful and safe environment that respects religious and cultural diversity.

St. Joseph School is committed to offering its students the opportunity to develop their individual talents and abilities. We provide quality academic instruction designed to challenge each student to self-direction. In the academic sphere, students are guided to develop basic skills and to acquire knowledge that is the foundation for further learning in the academic, practical, and technological world in which we live. They are helped to grow toward learning to think morally, rationally, logically, and critically.

We recognize parents as the prime educators of their children, especially in moral and emotional development. We acknowledge and support our parents as our partners in Catholic education. We seek to create a strong faith community that encourages parental involvement in nurturing Christian values, sharing faith experience, building self esteem, and developing talents. Coupled with parent cooperation, we encourage growth in the level of faith and excellence possible for each student.

Parent & Student Handbook 2007-2008

Handbook

Administration

St. Joseph School is in the Diocese of Joliet and hence under the central administration of the Joliet Diocese. Direct administration consists of the Pastor of the Parish, Father Tom McGivney and the Principal, Miss Lynne Scheffler. St. Joseph School is a Catholic School served by the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart and by dedicated lay teachers.

Various parent led organizations serve our school and act in an advisory capacity to the Pastor and Principal, including:
• School Board
• Athletic Association
• Development Board
• Parents Club

SCHOOL BOARD

The St. Joseph School Board is an advisory board of parents which does long and short term planning and development for the school. School Board aids in preparing the strategic plan, budgets, tuition contracts, fundraising plans, public relations, and advertising. All school organizations must regularly report to the School Board. Members are chosen by discernment. This board meets on the first Tuesday of every month, except June and July. The School Board plans the Cash Raffle and the Casino portion of OctoberFest.

The right of non-members to address the board will be limited to those whose petitions have been presented to the pastor, principal, or School Board President and are approved for the agenda two weeks in advance of the meeting.

For the 2007-2008 school year, school board members will be posted this fall. For more information, please contact Andy Weis at aweis@msn.com

The School Board also oversees two sub-committees; the Building and Grounds Committee (BAG) and the Grant Committee.

BAG Committee

The BAG committee works throughout the year in a variety of projects improving and beautifying our physical plant. The work of many volunteers in conjunction with the BAG committee was instrumental in the following improvements to our school:

• Built a new Kindergarten and Art Room in the school hall
• Remodeled the Brock Technology Center including construction of workstations
• Installed new air conditioning system and ductwork
• Replaced all lighting in the school with modern, energy efficient lighting
• Repainted all class rooms, hallways and common areas
• Assisted with Roof Replacement for two buildings
• Remodeled the Chapel into State of the Art Science Lab, Music Room, and Prayer Space

Volunteers are always needed and welcome. If you would like to assist the BAG committee on an upcoming project, please send an email to the following and they will be sure to contact you:

Andy Weis (adweis@msn.com)

Grant Committee

The Grant Committee is pursuing grants to support our goals in four key improvement focus areas: Teachers and Technology; Links for Literacy; Curriculum Enhancement (science, foreign languages and fine arts), and Bricks and Mortar. Please see the Development section of our website for more details.

If you have an interest in assisting the Grant Committee, please contact the following:

Principal, Lynne Scheffler (Lscheffler@aol.com)

ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

The Athletic Association is responsible for sponsoring, supervising, funding, and coaching sporting events. Its Board meets every second Wednesday of the month. Dates are published in advance, and parents are invited to attend. The Association sponsors volleyball, cheerleading, and basketball. For more information, please visit the Athletics section of our website.

For the 2006-2007 school year, the Athletic Association board members will be posted in the fall. For more information, please contact Brian Phad at phad@sbcglobal.net

DEVELOPMENT BOARD

The St. Joseph School Development Board works in conjunction with St. Joseph School Administration and St. Joseph School Board to build community and financial security for its current, alumni and future students of St. Joseph School. One of Development’s major objectives is to seek out non-traditional sources of revenue that directly impact St. Joseph families. These non-traditional sources assist us in defraying tuitions costs and keeping the tuition rates affordable. Additionally, the funding provided through Development allows us to strategically plan for the future of St. Joseph School, both physically, through capital improvements, and financially, through the investment in our school’s Endowment Account. The other major objective of Development is to bring together our community of past, present and former students through events such as class reunions and our annual Legacy Gala.

Under the guidance of St. Joseph School’s Development Director, the Development Board meets on a regular basis throughout the year. Members consist of both current St. Joseph School parents and alumni.

For more information on Development activities, please visit the Development section of our website.

For the 2006-2007 school year, Development Board members are:

Development Director……Michelle Ray
Member ………..………...Stacy Mackay
Member ………..………...Babs Lind Morris
Member ………..………...Lynne Scheffler
Member ………..………...Cathy Willson

PARENTS CLUB

Parents Club raises funds to help provide essentials and extras for the children. Parents Club also coordinates room parents and parties, updates the Emergency Calling Tree, facilitates and serves at special events, and performs innumerable special functions to benefit our children. Parents Club meets the first Wednesday of every month from September to May. For more information on Parents Club activities, please visit the Parents Club section of our website.

For the 2007-2008 school year, Parents Club officers and members are:

President.............Diane Webster
Vice President......Laura Sandoval
Secretary.............Ann King
Treasurer.............Kim Jagodzinski
Member................Yolanda Jesse
Member................Rosemary Bryniarski

PARISH ORGANIZATIONS

St. Joseph School is an integral part of St. Joseph Parish. Parents are encouraged to participate
actively in the parish, and may serve as lectors, eucharistic ministers, ministers of care, ministers of music, members of the Parish Council, or members of the worship, education, administration, and service commissions.

History

St. Joseph Parish was founded by German immigrants in the late 1860's.  The men who helped form the parish were mostly farmers and those who made their living working in the area's stone quarries.  The name was chosen by these pioneers, each named Joseph:  Joseph Leiser, Joseph Bohle, Joseph Wittenkeller, Joseph Wierschem and Joseph Drymiller. 

Previous to the founding of St. Joseph Parish, St. Dennis of Lockport had been established in 1837 by Irish immigrants.  As Lockport history tells us, St. Joseph was said to be formed by German immigrants and was known as the "German Church" and St. Dennis as the "Irish Church."  Some people in town still refer to the churches in the same way.

The cornerstone of St. Joseph Church was first laid in 1868.  Stone for the church was cut and hauled by wagon from the Boyer and Sanger quarries by John Hills.  The original walls and tower are virtually the same as when erected. In 1918, on the Golden Jubilee of the parish, the sanctuary and sacristy were added to the original structure.  Below this was the basement area, which served as a parish hall for many years.

St. Joseph School was established in the middle or late 1880's when the parish was staffed by Benedictine priests from Chicago.  Benedictine Sisters, also from Chicago, were the first teachers in the new school.  In 1892, the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, headquartered in Joliet and now in Mokena, took over the administration of the school and have remained to this day.

The original school building, located behind the church, was demolished when the first of the present school buildings was built in 1952.  The second addition was completed in 1961.  In 1964, the three-floor structure was built and included a 400 seat chapel, a hall and kitchen.

In 1994, the parish and school community came together to raise funds to build a 10,000 square foot Activity Center to accommodate the many activities of the St. Joseph community. The Activity Center includes a full sized basketball court, bleachers, kitchen/concession area, stage and 2 meeting room. In 1998-2000, parent volunteers rewired the school for modern phone and internet access in every classroom. In 2002, parents and the parish community once again collaborated to build a state of the art Technology Center within the school. The technology center is equipped with 33 desktop PC workstations and overhead projector system.

Spiritual Growth

St. Joseph Parish is an important part of your child's spiritual development and experience. Your family's participation in this community is essential to their spiritual development, their integration into this community, and is a significant part of their education. Parents who are members of St. Joseph Parish are invited to be active members of our faith community by sharing the gifts of time, treasure, and talents. The example of your participation in the life of your parish will form your child's religious and spiritual experience. You are your child's most important role model. We encourage family involvement with the parish as well as the school.

Eucharistic Celebration: Students participate in the celebration of student prepared liturgies weekly. Families are cordially invited to attend these liturgies.

Sacrament Reception: Catholic students in the second grade receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time in early December and First Eucharist in May. Preparation for the sacrament of Confirmation begins in the seventh grade, with reception of the sacrament in eighth grade. Preparation takes place both in the classroom and at home, with families expected to take an active part in that preparation.

Religion classes: All students attending St. Joseph School participate in religion classes each day. Curriculum includes the study of Catholic doctrine, the life of Jesus and the saints, Sacred Scripture, and moral decision making.

Practice of the faith: Weekly attendance at Sunday Mass and frequent reception of the sacraments is necessary for the student to develop his/her own depth of spirituality. We ask Catholic families to sign a spiritual covenant showing cooperation in this aspect of the child's development. In school, we attempt to provide a spiritually nurturing atmosphere, with frequent Mass attendance, regular opportunities for Reconciliation, and daily communal and private prayer.

Christian service: All children are instructed in the value of Christian service to others in classroom discussion and are given opportunities to demonstrate faith in action by fulfilling progressively increasing service hours each year.

Fees: Separate fees are charged for materials and texts used in the sacrament programs. Because sacramental preparation requires strong parental guidance, parents are required to attend several meetings during preparation time. Parents who choose not to attend cause postponement of the sacrament until such time when the parents are able to participate fully with the child.

Educational Curriculum

The educational curriculum consists of religion, language arts (reading, English, spelling/vocabulary, phonics at appropriate levels, handwriting) math, science, social studies, Spanish in grades 6-8, physical education, art, music, and computer education.

Kindergarten through second grade each have a dedicated teachers aide. In preparation for high school, our Junior High classes (grades 5-8) are departmentalized to offer students the experience of different styles of instruction and advanced placement based on abilities. Our dedicated faculty and staff are committed to academic excellence and continually strive to challenge our students to greater academic accomplishment. We are proud that our students continually score in the top third or higher of the nation and diocesan level on standardized tests.

Our technology program offers engaging opportunities for students and teachers to use technology to enhance the learning process through research, communication, and productivity strategies and tools.

• Interactive instruction and engaging opportunities in a state of the art Technology Center with 33 workstations
• Effective use of technology and integration of technology to all areas of the curriculum with internet accessible computers in every classroom
• Instruction in the use of Microsoft software including Word, Excel and Powerpoint
• Establishing the first diocesan elementary school Video Broadcast Center, St. Joseph’s very own, “WJOE”

Our curriculum also includes the use of interactive learning sessions to reinforce a classroom topic or lesson. These sessions are typically held during school hours, are facilitated by a team of teachers that includes our full time Technology coordinator, Mrs. Mary White. These interactive learning sessions enable the integration of technology within the traditional curriculum and engage all types of learners and abilities to internalize and apply instruction from the classroom. 7th and 8th grade students expand the traditional Social Studies Curriculum with a online current events class that meets weekly. The students have the opportunity to extend their learning beyond the four walls of the classroom as they research online, engage in Science lab experiments, design multi media presentations, and refine skills in computation, writing, and comprehension. Students throughout all grade levels engage in technology lessons on the average of three times per week and as much as three times per day depending on the classroom instruction.

Extracurricular Activities

St. Joseph School offers a host of extracurricular activities to enrich the academic experience including:

Altar Servers
Students in grades 5-8 are privileged to be able to serve Mass. Training takes place in the fifth grade.

Cantors/liturgical musicians
Cantors and liturgical musicians enhance our liturgical celebrations. Cantors may begin in grade 4. Liturgical ministers will begin in grade 6.

Chess Club
Under the direction of faculty, students in fourth through eighth grade meet weekly to learn the game, perfect strategies and have fun.

Safety patrol
Students in grades 7 & 8 may participate in the activities of the safety patrol.

St. Joseph Honor Society (SJHS)
This is an academic honor society for students in grades 6-8 who have achieved and maintained a B+ average and honorable behavior, and must be approved by the faculty and principal. It recognizes and promotes commendable achievement in the areas of scholarship, leadership and character. The SJHS is a charitable organization whose activities concentrate on service to others.

St. Joseph Band
The St. Joseph Band is designed to give students the opportunity to learn to play an instrument and to participate in an organized band experience. Students may begin in grade 4. Once a band commitment is made, it is expected that the student will continue that commitment through the year.

St. Joseph Chorus Students in grades 4-8 may participate in the chorus, which participates in contests and concerts, and cantors at school liturgies. (At right is a picture of the SJS chorus, with Bishop Imesch, at the "Breakfast with the Bishop" event, held at the University of St. Francis.)

Athletics
Eligible St. Joseph students in grades 5-8 may participate in cheerleading, basketball and volleyball. Instructional clinics for basketball and volleyball begin in grade 3.

Service
The concept of worshipping God through service to His people is important in the development of the whole child. We provide many opportunities for Christian service and encourage our students to participate in:
• Community services - Thanksgiving Food Drive, Christmas Sharing Project, cards for parish shut-ins, World Hunger Day, Brazilian Missions, etc.
• School services - Safety patrol, SJHS, altar servers, lunch helpers, ministers of hospitality, story readers, peer tutors, technology aides, school wide prayer leaders, etc.

Girl Scouts
Beginning in Kindergarten, girls can participate in the Girl Scouts.

Young Rembrandts After School Art Program
In addition to weekly art instruction, the Young Rembrandts program allows aspiring young artists to further develop their artistic and creative interests and abilities. Young Rembrants is an after school elective program that is offered each semester to find the Rembrant in all of our students.

Extended Day Program

The Extended Day Program at St. Joseph School is available for children enrolled in St. Joseph School. Open each school day, the Extended Day Program provides professional care, supervision, recreation and enrichment activities. It serves families who desire supplementary care either in the morning before 8am or in the afternoon after school has ended, for a nominal fee.

The professionally operated program allows children to experience a diversity of growth activities within a Christian environment to compliment the philosophy and value systems of the school and family. The program aims to provide individual attention, security, consistency and fair treatment for all children. The program also provides a time for homework completion with teacher supervision and resource materials available. The Extended Day Program is staffed by a teacher or teachers aide.

Extended Day is available on school days from 6:30am to 6pm.

Diocesan Evaluation

2003 Diocesan Evaluation

Diocesan Evaluation Report from 2003

Facilities

• Pre-School through 8th grade classrooms equipped with:
  o Internet connected computer
  o Central network phone
• Art room
• Lunch room & kitchen
• Brock Technology Center
  o 33 Desktop PC workstations

• Library
• Religious Education offices
• Chapel which accommodates up to 400; holds weekly student mass and other activities
• School offices
• Activity Center
  o Full court basketball, volleyball
  o Bleacher section
  o 2 meeting rooms
  o Stage
  o Kitchen/Concessions Area

Community Activities

The St. Joseph school community strives to develop opportunities to bring our students and families together throughout the year. A schedule of typical activities is included below:

Bullying Policy

In the Christian environment that SJS represents, we expect all children to model the gospel message and follow a Christian Code of Conduct. Therefore, an Anti-bullying Policy was established by the St. Joseph School Board and will be implemented in the 2007-2008 school year. All students, parents, and staff will be expected to abide by and sign off on the pledges the Anti-bullying Pledges. Please see the Handbook for more information.