Dear St. Joe’s Parents and Community,
I hope that parents benefitted from the videos our teachers created for Back to School Night. The feedback we received has been very favorable. While the remote classroom visits were not ideal, a number of parents reported that the flexibility that the videos provided helped them to see all of their child’s teachers and not feel rushed when traveling at school from one class to the next. What this night did provide was a reminder of how important communication between the home and the school is. Studies suggest that parental involvement/communication can lead to academic gains for students: higher grades and test scores, improved social skills, better attendance and participation, and decreased behavioral problems in the classroom. Edutopia, July 2021.
Parent and teacher communication is not always easy. Parents want to know what goes on in school each day; teachers want to partner with the home; but access to school, conflicts in schedules, other demands on time often create roadblocks to ongoing communication. Despite the challenges, establishing strong relationships at the start of the year always benefit parents, the teacher, and ultimately the student.
If you haven’t already reached out to your child’s teacher(s), take a minute to do so. Working together from the outset will open that line of communication that will most definitely benefit your child throughout the year.
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Sincerely,
Dr. Joe Barnes
Interim Head of School
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Hammerhead Fun Run 2021
DETAILS
The Hammerhead Fun Run will be held on
October 13 2021, Grades K-5
October 14 2021, Grades 6-8
October 15 2021, Grades Preschool – PK
ALL STUDENTS WILL WEAR THEIR GYM UNIFORM AND SNEAKERS ON THE DAY OF THEIR RUN
Hammerhead Fun Run 2021 t-shirts will be distributed on the day of the run.
Register Your Student(s) Today!
Registration is open! Simply click below or go to FunRun.com
Volunteers Welcome. Please consider volunteering at the event. To volunteer please click below.
Student Incentives
Raise $50 for St. Joe's School and receive a Tag Day (no uniform day) on Wednesday October 20, 2021
Raise $100 or more for St. Joe's School and receive an additional Tag Day
(no uniform day) on Wednesday October 27, 2021
Top Student Incentives
The top student in Pledges for our school will be awarded $100
The second place student in pledges will be awarded $75
The third place student in pledges will be awarded $50
Homeroom Incentives
The top 3 homerooms will get a visit and treat from Kona Ice truck on Wednesday November 3, 2021 at lunch.
The top homeroom will also get a dress down day on November 3rd!
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Fitness Rewards from Booster |
Students will also receive fun fitness rewards from Booster including table top soccer, mini rockets, light up footballs, 3 point frisbee sets, and so much more! |
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Saint Joseph School Mission Statement |
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At Saint Joseph School, faith unites and strengthens us. Students are encouraged to love and serve God and their community with integrity, understanding and respect. Built on the foundation of a traditional Roman Catholic education, students learn through experience, working together in an inclusive and nurturing learning environment. A Saint Joseph student strives to emulate our Patron Saint with faith, virtue and humility, combined with confidence, intelligence and mission. Our school is committed to developing lifelong learners and encouraging personal growth, while celebrating our students’ unique abilities and talents. Students are empowered and prepared to achieve their own academic success at St. Joseph School and beyond. |
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Fall intramurals are here and we are excited to offer field hockey. This is open to grades 1-8 and is a non-competitive opportunity to participate in field hockey. The focus will be on physical activity, teamwork, and developing field hockey skills. Participants are encouraged to bring their own equipment, but there will be some available to borrow. Practices are from 2:45-4:15 Tuesday and Thursday beginning October 19 and running through November 11. |
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Trunk or Treat is less than a month away and tickets are available now! This is our first school wide event in quite some time and we are really looking forward to having our wonderful community come together. Trunk or Treat will be Friday, October 29th from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. There will be music, crafts, and entertainment, as well as food and ice cream trucks. We are still in need of volunteers to help set up, run check in, help during the event, and help with clean up. Middle schoolers are welcome to volunteer as well! Of course the highlight of this event are the trunks! We are still in need of families to volunteer to trick their trunk out for this wonderful event. The kiddos are always so excited to see the different trunks and they will be able to vote on their favorite. I know this kind of project might feel overwhelming to some but there are soo many examples to find on Pinterest etc. that will give you great inspiration! Oriental Trading also offers kits that you can purchase if you are not that crafty but still would like to participate by decorating your trunk! There are so many ways to get involved and we hope to see a great turn out for this fun family event! Please email Emily Cleary cleary.j.emily@gmail.com with any questions.
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For Middle School Families |
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The middle school common field trips day is fast approaching! On Friday, October 15, students in grades 6, 7, and 8 will each head out on a different adventure. This year, 6th grade students will take part in a class retreat at St. Mary’s Life House in Dedham. This is a beautiful day for our students to grow in faith and friendship. 7th graders will head to Plimoth and Patuxet Museums in Plymouth, MA (formally Plimoth Plantation). Here at this living museum, our students will participate in the workshop, “A Civil Body Politic” which dovetails nicely with their Social Studies curriculum. Finally, the 8th grade class will head into Boston to the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate where they will learn more about the history, function, and importance of the Electoral College as Senators for a Day. Permission slips with all the details went home last week. Please reach out to your child’s homeroom teacher with any questions.
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Catholic Memorial - Admission Events |
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CM is hosting multiple admissions events this fall. Pre-Registration is required for all events at CM this fall. They have sent us the following information so that Saint Joe's Families are in the know! |
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The Birthday Book Program is the library's main fundraiser, supplying approximately 50% of our library budget. Families can donate a book to the library as part of a child's birthday celebration! When families make a donation, we record it and have the students pick a new book from the "Birthday Book Cart" close to the date of their birth. We will place a bookplate with the child's name in the front of the book, and the child will be able to check the book out that day and will be returned within two weeks to be circulated in our library as a new title. Books may be also given at holidays, in honor of a teacher, relative, friend, or in memoriam.
For more information, please visit the Library Website!
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2020 Auction
“Principal for a Day”
Lincoln Moran will be the “Principal for a Day” on Tuesday, October 12, 2021.
He has declared a Tag Day for teachers, staff, and students!
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Pantry in a Box - Community Service |
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AHERA Annual Notification |
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Under 40 CFR 763 subpart E The US EPA requires that all school building staff, teachers, students, parents, and legal guardians receive annual notification of the location of the Management Plan, and updates on asbestos related activities at the school building including any response actions, reinspections or surveillances etc.
October 8, 2021
This notice serves to inform all noted individuals of the following activities:
- Availability of the Schools Asbestos Management Plan (AMP)
The AMP is available for review at the Main Office at 90 Pickering St Needham, MA
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Update on Planned Asbestos-Related Activities: The six month periodic surveillance of asbestos containing building materials (ACBM) was performed in May 2021. The surveillance was performed by TRC Environmental Corporation. The most recent three year reinspection was performed in November 2019 by PTRC Environmental Corporation. The next reinspection will be scheduled for Summer 2022
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Response Actions performed the school building during 2019 included those items that were identified in the last three year reinspection and included the removal of and repair floor tiles, ceiling plaster, pipe insulation in classrooms, halls, and the gym. The work was performed by a Massachusetts DLS licensed asbestos contractor, Mill City Environmental ( environmental experts), and TRC. All work areas passed a successful final visual inspection and air clearance testing as required by the EPA AHERA and Massachusetts regulations. A copy of the abatement records and clear air clearance results are on file with the schools asbestos management plan.
Any questions about asbestos related concerns should be addressed to the LEA's designated person, Mr Frank Kent at 781 915 7777 or fkent@stjoes.com.
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- Monday, October 11th - Columbus Day - No School
- Tuesday, October 12th - Principal for the Day - Tag Day
- Wednesday, October 13th - Fun Run, Grades K-5
- Wednesday, October 13th - Field Hockey Game @ Needham
- Thursday, October 14th - Fun Run, Grades 6-8
- Friday, October 15th - 7th and 8th Grade Field Trip
- Friday, October 15th - Fun Run, Preschool and PreK
- Friday, October 15th - Field Hockey Game @ Montrose
- Tuesday, October 19th - Intramural Field Hockey Begins
- Wednesday, October 20th - Half Day
- Wednesday, October 20th - Fun Run Tag Day
- Thursday, October 21st - Prayer and Pick up with 6A
- Monday, October 25th - Field Hockey Game @ Medfield
- Wednesday, October 27th - Fun Run Tag Day
- Thursday, October 28th - Prayer and Pick up with 6B
- Friday, October 29th - Halloween ECB Parades and Parties
- Friday, October 29th - Trunk or Treat Event
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5th grade had a Zoom visit from Cindy Fitzgibbons, meteorologist from Channel 5, this week to add to students’ understanding of weather.
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