St. Joseph High School - A Catholic College Preparatory Community
Dear Friends,
 
Good morning and Happy Monday. I hope that your family enjoyed the stunning autumn weekend. As you know, last week on campus we celebrated Spirit Week which served as a joyous and fitting continuation of the incredible camaraderie and community feeling of Homecoming Weekend. The Walk-A-Thon was a huge success and we met our fundraising goal with gross proceeds exceeding $50,000 – thank you St. Joes. A highly competitive and well-played Powder Puff football game concluded our early dismissal Walk-A-Thon Tuesday. Spirit Week culminated with the exceptionally popular Color Wars Assembly on the upper turf field – a perfect way to wrap up a very unifying week!
 
Yesterday, we welcomed over 200 prospective SJ families and students (Grades 7, 8, and Transfer) to campus for Fall Open House. We proudly shared the “SJ experience” and demonstrated our belief in faith, family, friends, and focus. When one compares our school statistics/analytics on a website or viewbook to other high schools, St. Joseph High School undoubtedly proves to be outstanding, however, Open House is also about the important and intangible qualities of a complete high school experience – the school spirit, the differentiated value and the sense of belonging and being part of a loving community. As you well know, the St. Joes community is unlike any other and when a student enrolls at St. Joes, we enter into a covenant with the entire family to educate, love, and care for their child as if they are our own. The loving SJ culture and strong school-family partnership is a real difference maker and what truly sets us apart from the competition. More specifically, it defines and differentiates the unique experience of being an SJ Cadet.  
 
Please review the content that follows for information regarding Parent Breakfast Club, NCAA Recruitment Workshop, Financial Aid Night, and the Sophomore Retreat. As always, your family will remain in my daily prayers and intentions. Have a wonderful week ahead and thank you for your steadfast support. 
  
In Faith & Fellowship,
David J. Klein
President, St. Joseph High School
A Note On Our Newsletter:
There is never a lack of news and announcements to share with our families. Please keep in mind that some email providers (specifically gmail) will shorten our newsletters and provide a link at the bottom that reads, "[Message clipped] View entire message". Please make sure to click this link so that you don't miss any important items toward the bottom of our newsletter!
FALL OPEN HOUSE A WONDERFUL SUCCESS!
Many, many thanks to everyone who spread the word about our Fall Open House! Yesterday, St Joes hosted over 200 families from 30+ towns for free flow fairs and activities around our campus.

Thanks to SJ's Admissions Team, faculty, staff, and student volunteers for coming together and making Open House a complete success. We couldn't have done it without you!

If you know someone who missed Open House but is interested in learning more about St Joes, there are other upcoming visit opportunities:
  • Cadet for a Day Visits (Nov. 5, 12, Dec. 3)
  • Personal Family Tours (by appointment)
  • All events can be found at sjcadets.org/visit
JOIN US FOR THE MAROON & GOLD GALA ON NOVEMBER 20
The Maroon & Gold Gala is our largest annual event fundraiser, with all proceeds benefitting the St Joseph High School Scholarship and Tuition Assistance Funds. This year’s Honorary Chairs, Stacey ’89 & Christian Wymbs P ’18, ’22, invite you to join us this festive evening of friends, cocktails, dinner, silent & live auction, and live music on Saturday, November 20 at 6:30pm at the Patterson Club in Fairfield.

During the event, we will present our Sister Catherine Fanning Privilege & Responsibility Awards, honoring the contributions of Maureen Anderson P’95,’04, GP’21, ’22,’25 for Dedication, and The Trefz Family for Community.
SEND US YOUR VETERAN'S PHOTOS BY OCT. 29
Each year, St. Joseph High School is proud to honor Veterans. This year, Mrs. Marino & Mr. Blamey are working on a "Wall of Honor" in our school's lobby, dedicated to the Veterans in our community. 
 
Click the button below to fill out a form sharing a bit of information and a photo! All submissions due by Oct. 29.

Photo: Scott White (Marines); brother-in-law of Mrs. Marino
THANK YOU - WE REACHED OUT WALKATHON GOAL
Thank You to everyone who helped us surpass our Walkathon goal! Between our sponsors, tshirt sales, and donations, we grossed over $56k for the SJ Fund! Your support of our students is truly inspiring.

Congrats to our winner of the Class Dress Down Day: the Class of 2025. The freshmen's free dress down day will take place on December 21.

The whole-school Dress Down Day and cookie distribution will take place on November 19.
PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS TO THE FALL PLAY
From November 11-13, 2021, St. Joseph High School's Drama Club is proud to present their fall play, Over the River & Through the Woods!  
 
Synopsis: Over the River and Through the Woods is a warm-hearted, boisterously funny, and touching story about intergenerational relationships, deep familial love, and the inevitable little heartbreaks that occur as time passes and children grow. 


STUDENT ACADEMIC CENTER EVENTS THIS WEEK
For Students:
  • Join us in the SAC on Tuesday, October 26 after school for a workshop titled, "SJ Planner Party"! Mrs. Conetta and the NHS tutors will provide tips on how best to utilize your SJ Planner. Refreshments will be served!

For Parents:
  • Join us for the next Parent Breakfast Club on Wednesday, October 27! This is the second in a series of workshops presented by the SAC specifically for our parents! The workshop, titled, "Seeing Time: Family Calendars & Planning" will take place from 7:00AM-8:00AM and is open to all parents. Click here to register!
AFTER-SCHOOL MUSIC PROGRAM FOR GRADES 5-8
We are thrilled to offer a new after school Music Education program for students in grades 5-8!
These Introductory Level classes will be offered in Choir, Percussion, Brass, and Woodwinds. At the end of the school year, students will perform during St. Joe’s Fine Arts Night in May. 
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NHS INDUCTEES
On October 19, St. Joes was so proud to induct seven members of the Class of 2022 into the National Honor Society. Congratulations to: Joseph Adzima, Michael Goodwin, Trevor Kellogg, Kyra McCarthy, Joseph Nesteriak, Nina Pelletier, and Jacob Sciamanna!
FRESHMEN & SOPHOMORE PARENT SOCIAL - NOV. 3 at 6:30PM
Freshman and Sophomore Parents are invited to a Meet and Greet hosted by the SJ Parent Association on Wednesday, November 3rd at 6:30pm. This will be a wonderful evening of conversation and connection.

The Parent Social is a great opportunity to connect with other parents, meet volunteers from the SJ Parent Association, and get more involved in the SJ community! Additional details to follow.
NCAA RECRUITMENT WORKSHOP - OCT. 28
This workshop is presented by college coaches and administrators to help students understand all the various parts of being a recruited student-athlete. 

This event is for 10th-12th grade students and their parents and takes place on Thursday, Oct. 28 from 5:30pm-6:30pm.
FINANCIAL AID NIGHT -
OCT. 28
Financial Aid Night is an overview of the higher education financial aid process. It will be presented by Corry Unis, Vice President of Enrollment at Fairfield University.

This event is for 11th & 12th grade student and their parents. It will take place on Thursday, Oct. 28 from 6:30pm-7:30pm.
SOPHOMORE RETREAT
The Sophomore Retreat on Friday, October 29 will take place during the school day and students will be bussed to off-campus locations. Mr. Smith's Peer Ministry class, in conjunction with faculty and staff, will facilitate our day of retreat.

The theme of Retreat is “Storms in Our Life”, inspired by Matthew’s account of Peter walking on the water. Students can dress down on the 29th and should pack their own lunch. They will gather for morning Mass before heading off!
NEW CLUB: KICKBOXING
Cadets: Mr. Cook is starting a Kickboxing Club! Be sure to check it out using the Google Classroom code: pmpki7x

Kickboxing Club will meet every Thursday after school. Kickboxing improves the strength and flexibility of all muscle groups in the body. It involves bouncing, ducking, pivoting, punching and kicking, and requires repetitive motions of your entire body. This Club will cover all the beginner components and concepts of striking. 
WINTER SPORTS INFORMATION
With the Winter Sports Season approaching, the Athletics Department wants to remind all families that students interested in winter sports must be signed up on FinalForms.You can register at https://stjoseph-ct.finalforms.com.

If you are already registered on FinalForms, please also make sure that your child is signed up for the Sport that he or she is interested in trying out for and that all forms are up to date and "in the green." Remember students can only tryout for one sport at a time. Tryout information will be updated as received and can be found at sjcadets.org/athletics/sports/tryouts.
“But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother or sister in need and closes his heart against them, how does the love of God abide in that person? Dear children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth." (1 John 3: 17-18).

This year's "Season of Giving” campaign has been structured to help the materially poor in our surrounding communities. In conjunction with the Offices of Campus Ministry and Advancement, the World Language Department, National Honor Society, Student Council, and Athletics, this campaign will engage students and families in the generous spirit of giving that is an essential part of St. Joes.

We ask that you consider taking part in any or all of the following drives (all donations can be dropped off in the school lobby or main office):

  • Mercy Learning Center Drive: October 25 - November 5
  • Needed: Non-perishables, diapers, formula, and toiletries.

  • Adopt-a-Family: October 25 - December 3
  • Many of our athletic teams and clubs will “adopt a family” from St. Charles Borremeo in Bridgeport. Students are asked to bring in their gifts to the school by December 3. SJ will deliver the gifts after the tree lighting on December 5.

  • Brian Bags Project: November 1 - December 5
  • Needed: Soap, travel size shampoo, deodorant, water bottles, granolar bars, protein bars, cereal bars, $5 gift cards to fast food restaurants; and winter hats.

  • Thanksgiving Food Drive: November 8 - November 22
  • Needed: Pasta, rice, beans, cereal, macaroni and cheese, toiletries, bath soap, dish soap. Grocery store gift cards can also be brought to the main office, c/o Mr. Smith. Donations support the Blessed Sacrament Food Pantry.

  • Advent Giving Tree: December 5-December 17
  • Choose an ornament from the Advent Giving Tree and donate a Bedtime or Blessing Bag for people and families in need. Donations will support Blessed Sacrament.
PURCHASE YOUR YEARBOOKS AND SENIOR PARENTS, BE SURE TO BUY AN "AD FOR YOUR GRAD"
  • Senior Parents - the deadline to purchase an Ad for Your Graduate is December 17! Yearbook recognition ads are a great way for families and friends to commemorate student achievements. Any questions can be sent to Ms. Richter at ybook@sjcadets.org.


  • All students may purchase a yearbook by visiting www.jostens.com (seniors do not pay for a yearbook).
October 27
Parent Breakfast Club
October 28
NCAA Recruitment Workshop
October 28
Financial Aid Night
October 29
Sophomore Retreat
October 30
Entrance Exam for the Class of 2026
BE SURE TO FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA! @SJCADETS