October 2, 2019
A Message From The President
Mr. Freund

At St. Joseph Catholic Academy, we know it's important for our students to explore interests and discover skills beyond the lessons taught in the classroom. Today, all of our high school and middle school students participated in our first Club Wednesday of the year. Each SJCA Upper Campus student is required to participate in two clubs that will be meeting the first and third Wednesdays of the month.
 
Last week, students filled out a survey indicating their two first choice clubs and two alternate clubs. Some of the club selections include Chess Club, Running Club, Stock Market Club, Aquaponics Club, 3D Printing Club, Engineering Club, Calligraphy Club, Comics Club, Cribbage Club, and many more.   
 
As we work to develop the whole child, please ask your children about their club selections and encourage them to be engaged, participatory leaders in their clubs.
 
One of the most prestigious leadership opportunities at SJCA is the National Honor Society. Members of the National Honor Society are expected to hold themselves to the highest standards of scholarship, leadership, character and service. In addition, NHS members are required to attend all chapter meetings, to participate in all chapter projects and events, like peer to peer tutoring, to perform over 40 hours of meaningful service and to be role models for the entire school community. I know that our NHS members are outstanding citizens who reflect and represent not only the values of the National Honor Society, but the Lancer Values as well.
 
This year, SJCA’s chapter of the NHS has new moderators and is undergoing some positive changes. Please see the message below from NHS moderators Kristen Peterson and Casey Epping for more information. 

Best Regards,
Bob Freund
Middle School News
Mr. Rizzo
SJCA Middle School Families,

God the Father made you GOOD! You are not good because of what you do, but because God made you good! This message was my take away from Tuesday’s guest speaker, Justin Fatica. We are all amazing and good, for sure!

Justin Fatica gave an inspirational, powerful and extraordinarily spiritual message. “You’re Amazing” is his message, and it is for anyone who has ever questioned the meaning of life. Justin’s honest approach to everyday challenges provided our students a unique understanding that we all have an opportunity each and every day to go out and make a difference! I was so proud of how our 7th and 8th students responded to Justin’s message. They were engaged, smiling, having fun and participating in this great learning experience. It was a wonderful event all around!


Lower Campus News
Mrs. Santarelli
Dear Parents,

It has been brought to my attention that we have created some habits during pick-up that may jeopardize the safety of our students. With as many as 370 students being picked up at the end of the school day, we need your support and cooperation following our pick-up procedures. Thank you for your PATIENCE during this time of the school day.
 
SJCA Pick Up Policy:
Please help our teachers monitor student safety by respecting these expectations:
  • Please follow all traffic and parking laws. Do not block crosswalks or driveways.
  • Students that are not picked up by 2:55 p.m. will be escorted to After Care.
  • Students are not allowed to linger with a teacher or wait to be picked up in another location.
  • Please remind your students that pick up is NOT a time to play tag with friends, throw footballs, dodge through the shrubbery, or run through the parking lots, or across the street.
  • Adults picking up any student including 4th and 5th graders MUST exit their vehicles, walk up to their students and escort their students to their vehicle.
  • Pick-up is NOT a time for a mini-conference with your child's teacher. Please call or email to schedule an appointment to talk with the teacher.

Please share these expectations with anyone who is picking up your students here at school. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and patience with our pick up policies and for helping us keep your children safe.
National Honor Society at SJCA
In an effort to be more equitable and inclusive, St. Joseph Catholic Academy is changing the timeline for the National Honor Society application process. In years past, eligible SJCA students could apply for the National Honor Society after their third, fifth or seventh semester of high school. While this process worked well for many students, it precluded some students from being eligible for the National Honor Society in time for college application season.

After reviewing the NHS policies of several peer schools, SJCA has adjusted our timeline so that eligibility for NHS will be determined after students’ fourth and sixth semesters of high school. SJCA believes that having students complete at least half of their high school careers provides a better vantage point for NHS eligibility not just academically, but developmentally as well. Thus, under this new timeline, the earliest a student is eligible to apply for NHS admission would be the summer before his or her junior year, rather than the spring of sophomore year. The next SJCA National Honor Society selection process will begin in August of 2020 when all eligible juniors and seniors will receive a letter suggesting that they apply for induction into NHS.
 
Though the timeline for NHS has changed, the eligibility criteria remains the same. To be eligible, students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5. Additionally, students should have demonstrated a commitment to service. Eligible students interested in applying to NHS should keep track of all service hours from their 9th and 10th grade years, as they will be asked to list them on the application. 

This revised application process will include an overview of a student’s service hours, a questionnaire that will allow students to demonstrate their character and explain how they will be a positive addition to the National Honor Society, and an in person interview with a representative panel. A student will not be accepted to NHS solely based on academic achievement. Community service, character, leadership, and exemplifying the Lancer Value System are also important considerations in the selection process. Students will be notified of the selection decision by late September, and NHS induction will occur in October of 2020.

We appreciate your understanding in regard to this change in procedure. The new format will allow interested students a bit more time and a better opportunity to demonstrate how they will be a positive addition to the SJCA Chapter of the National Honor Society.

Please contact National Honor Society advisors Cassandra Epping and Kristen Peterson with any questions. 

Congratulations, Coach Furreness

SJCA Athletic Department would like to recognize Jon Furreness on his 25th year as St Joseph Cross Country Head Coach!

In his 25 year history Coach Furreness reaped numerous awards including:
  • 14 Team Conference Championships
  • 14 Individual Conference Champions
  • 6 Team Sectional Championships
  • 9 Individual Sectional Champions
  • 7 WIAA State Top Ten Team Finishes
  • And a WIAA State Title! 

From everyone at SJCA, we offer a huge congratulations to Coach Furreness on all of his accomplishments! 

(L to R: Athletic Director Dave Witthun presenting Coach Furreness)
Lower Campus Grandparents Day
On Friday, October 18th, the Lower Campus will open their doors for SJCA Grandparents/Special Person day. Guests are invited to spend the day with their student from 8 - 11 a.m.

For those who would like to order a Grandparent T-Shirt, please click here . Orders will be taken until October 7th. Shirts will be be delivered to school by October 16th.

Volunteers are also needed for this event. To volunteer, please click here .
Hard As Nails Ministry
On Tuesday, our 7th and 8th grade students welcomed middle school students from St. Patrick, St. Anastasia, Most Blessed Trinity, Our Lady of Humility and All Saints Catholic School for an informative and spiritual morning at SJCA. These 7th and 8th graders met some of our high school students, prayed together at the grotto, and gathered to hear renowned Catholic speaker Justin Fatica and his Hard as Nails Ministry team. Acclaimed by Catholic schools across the nation, Justin and his group shared personal experiences to encourage students to open themselves up to the wonders of Christ's love.

We were excited to share this opportunity with other Catholic school communities in the hopes that our students will grow closer to God and each other.
Annual Auction
Please mark your calendars for the annual All That Glitters is Blue and Gold auction on Saturday, November 9th at 5 p.m. at the Upper Campus.

PURCHASE TICKETS
Click the link below tickets to the event. Early Bird tickets are $85 per person until 10/17. After this date, tickets will be $100 per person. Tickets include cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, open bar all night, and the coffee bar.

MOBILE BIDDING
NEW THIS YEAR IS MOBILE BIDDING! We are excited to bring our guests this fun and easy way to bid. If you don't have a mobile device, no worries! We will have devices for your use at school. We will also have plenty of workers available to answer any questions you may have. Come see for yourself. It's a lot of fun!

CASH RAFFLE TICKETS
Please sell your cash raffle auction tickets! Cash prizes are $10,000, $3,000, and two $1,000 prizes. Tickets can be picked up from and returned to the Main Office at either campus. Tickets are also available at The Flair Styling Studio, Mobile One, McTernan Wireless.

DONATIONS
Please feel free to drop off any donations the Main Office at either campus, or at the Upper Campus Development Office at Door #10. Please remember to fill out a donation form. Click here.

GET A BID NUMBER
No more waiting in line in the office to register your credit card the night of the auction, simply click the link below to register your credit card. No waiting in a long line the night of the auction at "the bank" to register your card. You'll walk in the door ready to bid and enjoy the evening's activities. All bidders must register a credit card; however, at the end of the night, guests can choose to pay with check or cash.

For questions regarding the auction, please call Mrs. McTernan, SJCA Development Director, at (262) 654-8651 ext. 115 or email [email protected].
Lower Campus Storybook Pumpkins