Building Faith, Character, and Excellence
January 10th, 2020
Letter from Principal Kennedy
I hope this note finds you enjoying a happy and healthy new year. I feel rested and renewed after a wonderful Christmas season - including a joyful Mass at the Basilica on Christmas Eve, quality time with my family, and the blessing of delicious meals and treats. My feeling of renewal has been further enhanced by the smiles of our students as they returned to school this past Monday. I have already witnessed their positive spirit in the hallways and their intellectual curiosity and engagement in the classroom. I am confident that 2020 will be a great year for Saint Joseph High School.  

We continue the academic year with our Core Value of Reach Higher and our theme for Student Life of Act with Kindness . In grade-level student meetings this week, we spoke with students about these themes and encouraged them to practice these values daily. We addressed ways that students can take ownership of their learning and responsibility for their actions, and we ask for your partnership at home in supporting these messages. 

Finally, I invite all parents to join us for our monthly all-school Masses. I also invite you to our annual gala, Ignite! , on March 21st. This will be a fun evening and a great way to support our mission. More information about the gala is included below, and a formal invitation will be forthcoming.

May this new year bring many blessings to you and your family!
Reminders about Closures, Delays, and eLearning
As winter approaches, it is important to know the procedures for weather-related school closures and delays.  A decision to close or delay school will be made by 6:00 a.m.  Information will be communicated via local media (WNDU, WSBT, ABC-57), on the SJHS website, through an auto-call, and through a push notification via the SJHS app.

Closures and eLearning
We will continue with eLearning Days this year. Posted school closure information will indicate if a closure will be an eLearning day. On an eLearning day, class assignments will be placed on Canvas for students to access from home. Teachers will be available via email and/or phone for consultation for a four-hour period during the day. An advantage of eLearning is that these days do not need to be made up later in the school year.  Policies and procedures can be found here.   

Delayed Start
Certain weather conditions may result in a 2-hour delayed start.  School will start at 10:15 a.m.  and regular attendance is expected. In the event of a delayed start,  the doors at Saint Joe will not open until 9:00 a.m.  Students will need to make arrangements to arrive accordingly. All classes, including Flex period, will meet for 60 minutes. Lunch will be served and school will  dismiss at the usual time of 3:15 p.m.   

Athletics & Co-Curriculars
On a school closure, all morning practices are cancelled. Depending on conditions later in the day, afternoon practices and games may or may not be held. Information will be communicated to players and parents by coaches via Final Forms or other means. If practice is held, players may be excused if parents determine that conditions make it too difficult to transport their son/daughter to practice. 

Driving Conditions and Safety
Please talk with students who drive themselves to school about safety in challenging weather conditions. Whether a regular start or a 2-hour delay, we ask them to leave early and drive carefully on winter-weather days. Parents are also encouraged to drive them on these days. Ultimately the parent reserves the right to keep their son or daughter home if conditions are deemed ill-suited to drive and they have no other transportation.
Winter Homecoming Week: January 21st-24th

Homecoming Spirit Days:
Tuesday - Best of the Decade
Wednesday - Character Day
Thursday - Class Specific Region Day
(9: Midwest, 10: West Coast Surfers, 11: Southwest Rodeo, 12: East Coast Prep)
Friday - Saint Joe Spirit Wear Day

The Homecoming pep rally will take place at the end of the day Thursday, January 23rd, with the girls' basketball game against Penn tipping off at 7:30 p.m. that night.
The boys' game will be Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
Welcome Ms. Jennifer Van Antwerp!
Ms. Van Antwerp joins the Saint Joe faculty as our French teacher beginning this semester. She graduated from Indiana University-South Bend with a degree in French Studies and is currently finishing her Masters in French and Francophone Studies at the University of Notre Dame. Ms. Van Antwerp also spent a year studying abroad in southern France before undergoing a 130-hour language training course in Prague.
Introducing Ignite! The Annual Saint Joe Gala

All parents are invited to join us for an evening of fun, fellowship, and fundraising! The annual spring gala takes place on Saturday, March 21st at The Armory. This year's theme, Ignite the Vision, inspires us to support Saint Joe's mission and new strategic plan.

If you or someone you know is interested in donating an auction item for the event, or would like to become an event sponsor, please see the forms linked below:


You may also donate gift cards of $25 and up for the gift card tree, or bottles of wine $20 and up for the wine pull. The gift cards and wine will be sold at the event on March 21st, and all proceeds from the event will go towards the area of greatest need. Donations may be delivered to the Main Office, addressed to Emily Hunt, during business hours.

Please direct any questions to Advancement Coordinator Emily Hunt.
(574) 233 6137 ext. 544
Announcements:
Midwinter Dance
The Midwinter Dance takes place Saturday, January 19th at the Hilton Garden Inn Gillespie Conference Center. Guests should enter through the event entrance rather than the regular hotel entrance. If you have not purchased a ticket please contact Mrs. Sue Kostielney directly.

For reminders on dance protocol, please refer to p. 62 of the Student-Parent Handbook .
Counseling Office Newsletter
Keep up with the news from the Saint Joe Counseling Office each month! Check out December's newsletter here .
Catholic Schools Week from January 26th-February 1st
Saint Joseph High School will be participating in Catholic Schools Week during the last week of January. More details will follow in the January 24th edition of Soundings.
Important Dates for 2020-21
Planning your vacations? View the "2020-21 Important Dates" by clicking the attached link. The full academic calendar for next year is coming soon.
There is a new immunization requirement for all students grades 9-12 to receive 2 Hepatitis A vaccines by the first day of school August 12, 2020.  

Please talk to your health care provider to schedule an appointment. You may turn in a copy of the updated immunization record to the Saint Joseph High School Infirmary. 

Please contact Nurse Kanczuzewski if you have any questions, need any assistance, or feel that you have already met this requirement. Please see link below for 2020-2021 immunization requirements.

Phone: (574) 232-1152
Fax: (574) 232-1138
Looking for photos of fall and winter sports!

Send photos to: yearbook@saintjoehigh.com
Previous yearbooks available for purchase (while supplies last):

2015-16 - $25
2016-17 - $25
2017-18 - $50

Questions? Contact Mrs. Andrea Smolinski
UPCOMING DATES
January 14: Late Start (9:15 a.m.)
January 16: All School Mass (10:00 a.m.)
January 19: Midwinter Dance
January 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
(No School/Building Closed)
January 21-24: Winter Homecoming Week
January 22: Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children
January 22: Indiana March for Life
January 23: Homecoming Pep Rally
January 24: Homecoming/Spirit Wear Day
January 29: Late Start (9:15 a.m.)
January 31: Dress Down Day (Juarez-Dominguez Family)
February 5-6: Sophomore Retreat
Sports Report:
Go Indians!
The girls' basketball team welcomed everyone back to school in style this week, earning a 66-63 win over Marian in overtime. Mia Naman drilled the three pointer at the end of regulation to force the extra period, while seniors Keegan Sullivan (19 pts) and Kashlin Biffle (16 pts) proved too much for the Knights to overcome. The Lady Indians also defeated Jimtown 66-29 to finish the week.

The boys' team played three times over the break and were victorious each time, netting wins over Leo, LaPorte, and Twin Lakes. They take the court again tonight at home as they take on Jimtown.

Boys' swimming returned to the pool with a tough loss to a deep Penn team this week, while girls' swimming defeated Penn for the second straight year. The girls took the top spot in 10 events, and placing the top two finishers four times. The girls also defeated Bremen on Thursday, with junior Mary Cate Pruitt securing pool records on both the 200 IM and 100 yard butterfly.
Saint Joe hockey earned a hard-fought 3-2 overtime win against Valpo last weekend.

Over the break they also participated in the annual battle for the Chandler Cup, pitting the current team against alumni from over the years. This year's tilt saw the alumni retain the Chandler Cup in a 4-3 overtime shootout victory. Thanks to all the players, coaches, parents and friends who came to support hockey!
Upcoming Events
Wrestling:
1/16: @ Wawasee
1/18: @ Mishawaka (NIC Tournament)
Boys' Basketball:
1/10: Jimtown
1/14: Marian
1/16: @ Clay
Girls' Basketball:
1/17: @ Clay
1/18: Derril Kipp Hoopfest
1/23: Penn
Boys' Swimming:
1/14: @ Washington
1/15: @ Clay (Diving)
1/21: @ Riley
Girls' Swimming:
1/14: @ Washington
1/16: @ Clay
1/18: NIC Meet
As always, visit www.saintjoeathletics.com for a complete rundown of scores, schedules, and news.