St. Joseph eUpdate
Hearts Aflame For the Love of Christ
Moving Along with Mrs. Maddox
Dear Friends in Christ:
On Grandparents Day, January 31, 2020, we welcomed about 400 guests to our school. What a special day our faculty had planned for our visitors. Our special guests were able to visit classrooms and actively participate in our Art, Music, Spanish, and PE classes. Some students took their grandparents on a digital scavenger hunt with their iPads around the school, while other grandparents played Bible Trivia and “Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader.” It was a fun morning filled with lots of joy and positive energy.
At mass I was given the opportunity to welcome our guests. I asked our grandparents if they remembered Sputnik and its launch in 1957. Sputnik was the first ever artificial Earth satellite launched into space. While this was a huge accomplishment for the space race, it was the Russians who were able to take the credit, not the Americans. This may have been the first time in American history that our government really began to pay attention to “what” was being taught in our schools. I guess you could say it was the first STEM (Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) initiative in our country. Today, in our county, we are experiencing a similar predicament. Our government, our educational leaders, the business world, our colleges and universities are all very interested in “what” school districts across the US are teaching the American children. They all know that today’s teachers are being asked to educate a future workforce for jobs that may not even exist yet.
I am asked all the time, what is the difference between public and Catholic schools? There is a simple difference. Just like public schools, Catholic schools care about the education and academic growth of our youth. Just like our counterparts, we work hard to make sure our students are gaining the most current and relevant academic education possible. What is different about Catholic schools is that we don’t stop there. We believe each child is made in the image and likeness of God. We know our classrooms must be a sacred place where students can discern and discover God’s plan for them. We believe what they know matters, but who they are matters most!!!
Education will continue to evolve from year to year. However, in Catholic Schools, our values will remain the same. At St. Joseph, whether it is 1957 or 2020, a child’s heart, mind, and soul has always remained the top priority. We are not just preparing students for the next leg of their education, we believe we are helping to build God’s Kingdom. As a teacher, when you are operating with that philosophy.…..Everything is different!
Thank you for sharing your children with us and thank you to the many Grandparents that spent the morning with us. Enrollment has opened at St. Joseph for the 2020-2021 school year. The St. Joseph legacy of excellent education continues with “Hearts Aflame for the Love of Christ.”
With a Grateful Heart,
Jodie Maddox, Principal
2020-2021 Enrollment
Dear St. Joseph Families,
Enrollment for the 2020-2021 school year is officially open. Attached to this email you will find the 2020-2021 Enrollment and Tuition Contract. The enrollment process starts with filling out the attached form and returning it with your registration fee before February 21, 2020.
Jodie Maddox
Principal
STREAM Academy Registration and Reminders
Our students are loving our new after school STREAM ACADEMY. Registration is open NOW for the next six week session.
Registration form and payment must be sent to school to the attention of Lisa O'Toole. There are only 20 slots available in each session, spots are first come first served when payment and registration is returned together.
Thank you,
Lisa O'Toole
Lizzie Lorang
Upcoming Events
Old Shawnee Pizza Night
Feb. 17th!
Father Daughter Dance-"Boots-N-Bling"
Friday, March 6th!
Click here for more information and flyer
Bishop Miege 7th Grade Preview Day
Friday, Feb, 14th
Nurse's Notes
Influenza and influenza-like illnesses continue to be on the rise nationwide. We currently have diagnosed cases of influenza in grades 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. As a reminder, symptoms of influenza can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, fatigue and occasionally vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children than adults).
Please continue to report diagnosed cases of influenza and Strep to the school nurse. Remind your children to cover their coughs and use good hand washing techniques to help prevent the spread of illness.
Donna Lowther BSN, RN
St. Joseph School Nurse
913-631-7730 ext. 4526
First Friday's Adoration Sign Up
Grandparent's Day
1st Friday All School Mass
Calendar of Events
Feb. 7
First Friday All School Mass (2nd Grade), 8:15am
First Friday Adoration
First Friday Prayer Group
Feb.10
First Lego League
Feb. 11
Symphony trip- 3rd and 4th grade
Chess Club
Awesome Angels
School Advisory Council Meeting, 7pm
Feb. 12
All School Mass (1st grade), 8:15am
Valentines Day Parties, K-5 at 2:30pm, Middle School at 2:40pm
Feb. 13
No School
Parent Teacher Conferences, 1-4pm and 5-8pm
Feb. 14
No School
Teacher In-Service Day
Miege High School 7th Grade Preview Day, 9am-Noon
Feb. 17
No School- Presidents' Day
PTO Old Shawnee Pizza Day
For the full school calendar, please click HERE
Contact Us
Email: school@stjoeshawnee.org
Website: https://stjoeshawnee.eduk12.net
Location: 11505 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, KS, USA
Phone: (913) 631-7730
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stjosephschoolshawnee/