From the Head of School
Saint Joseph’s School Prayer
Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the Immaculate Virgin and Foster-Father of Jesus Christ; obtain for me and all the members of my family, a pure, humble, and charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the Divine Will. Be my guide and model throughout life that I may merit to die as you did in the arms of Jesus and Mary. Help us, Saint Joseph, in our earthly strife, to fulfill our responsibilities and ever to lead a pure and sinless life. Amen.
“A Samaritan, while traveling, came near to him: and when he saw him, he was moved with compassion and approached him… Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:25-37
As I write this letter welcoming you to the new academic year, I am looking out the window watching the planting of the trees and the rolling out of the sod for the new Founders Saint Joseph’s Way Center! Upon returning from the school’s annual July 4 shutdown, I took a peek inside the new building. It looks amazing, and I am very excited for our students to begin using it!
Yet as wonderful as the new building is, and it is, it’s what the Founders Saint Joseph’s Way Center represents and what will take place in that building (and throughout the school) that has the potential to be truly life-changing, day in and day out.
The theme for this year, which will be featured in my monthly articles in News & Notes, is inspired by the familiar story Jesus told about the Good Samaritan. While others rushed by the man stricken by robbers, the Samaritan (a despised outsider by every standard of the day) set aside his plans when he noticed the man. Jesus tells us that the Samaritan saw him, was moved with compassion, and approached him… You know the rest of the story about how the Samaritan lifted him on his own animal (represented so vividly in Van Gogh’s painting, which we’ve chosen as the image of the year), took him to an inn, and cared for him at his own expense, even promising to check on him and pay for any additional costs incurred on his return journey.
The school’s leadership team chose a theme from this story because we desire to be a school community of Good Samaritans who take notice, stop what we are doing, and reach out with compassion and practical help when we encounter those in and outside of our community.
The fourth point of The Saint Joseph’s Way expresses the commitment that our teachers and staff make to personally accompany every student who walks through our doors. This starts by truly getting to know each student academically and personally. It's why we have a
Household Program and why our new schedule sets aside an hour every day for community time. This is a time each day to slow down and take notice of each other while engaging in Household and whole House activities, attending clubs that enrich the student experience and help students connect with others with similar hobbies and interests, and worshipping together each week during Mass and Morning Prayer.
This desire to know the other and take notice of their needs extends beyond the walls of the school, which is why the school has a longstanding tradition of requiring service hours, hosting assemblies where we invite community organizations to tell us about their work, and why we set aside a Saint Joseph’s the Worker Day each spring to do community service with our Households. Did you know that many of our Households have supported the same organizations for years?
So, welcome to the new school year! Let’s make a special effort this year to slow down and notice each other. As parents, please make a point to greet other parents when you see each other in the school and at school events. Take the time to get to know one another. Let’s take the time to be aware of one another’s concerns, needs, hopes, and dreams. We’re going to make a special effort to do this during the school day with the students. This is in part what we are hoping to accomplish with the new daily schedule. We are trying to provide space for more human interaction to foster a greater sense of community and belonging. Please let us know how it’s going for you and your children.
In closing, please join us in praying for the following members of the SJCS family: for Lily and Jack ’23 Velky on the passing of their grandmother. Also, please pray for SJCS employee Andrea Gray and her family. An drea’s cousins were involved in a terrible accident when their car was struck by a drunk driver while traveling on White Horse Road on July 4. One member of Andrea’s family has already passed away from the injuries, and two others are in critical condition. Please keep their healing in your prayers.
With Love and Prayers,
Keith F. Kiser Head of School
Things You Need To Know
Senior College Application Workshop, August 1 & 4
The College Counseling Office will be conducting a free College Application Workshop on August 1 and 4 from Noon-2:00 PM in the Meeting Room. We will be focusing on the Common Application, Scoir, and school-specific applications. Please bring your laptop or electronic device that has internet capability, as we will be accessing and completing the actual college application forms during the workshop. Please sign up for this event using the registration link that was sent to you in July.
Student Parking Permit Application Due August 4
All sophomores, juniors, and seniors planning to drive to school should fill out the Parking Permit Application for Students found HERE . Keep in mind that a student must already have their driver’s license. The student’s license, registration, and insurance must all be uploaded in order to receive a parking pass. To receive a pass on the first day of school, this form must be submitted by 4:00 PM on August 4. Parking permits submitted by August 4 will be available for pickup during Orientation on August 11. Once school starts, passes will be issued on a rolling basis. Questions? Contact Jen Frisch
Faculty/Staff Orientation, August 4 - 8
Faculty/Staff Orientation begins August 4 and continues intermittently through August 8. If you need to communicate with us during this week, please send an email to the person with whom you need to speak. Thank you for your patience during this important time of faculty/staff development.
24-Hour Theatre Extravaganza, August 8 & 9 (Registration Due August 4)
• Don't let the title fool you - this is not a full 24-hour commitment!
• What better way to end the summer and kick off the school year than with a Theatre Extravaganza? Students, faculty, staff, parents, and alumni have the opportunity to create a show from the ground up, only limited by time and their imagination! Anyone in the SJCS school community (rising 7th grade and older) can be involved in this event, beginning at 6:00 PM on Friday, August 8. The event will culminate with a performance of these plays at 7:00 PM on Saturday, August 9.
• Writers of the event will be required to utilize certain elements in their scripts based on your input. Vote HERE by Wednesday, August 6 to determine which elements will be required and then join us at the show on Saturday, August 9 to see how they are woven into the scripts!
• Click HERE to register by August 4 and participate in the event.
• Role descriptions and a timeline of events can be found HERE . Remember, this is not a full 24- hour commitment!
• Parent volunteers will also be needed for various duties throughout the day on Saturday, August 9. Contact Teresa McGrath if available to assist.
24-Hour Theatre Extravaganza Ticket
Info
General Admission tickets can be purchased in advance HERE or at the door for $5 per person. All tickets are General Admission and doors will open at 6:30 PM. Join the Fine Arts Boosters prior to or at the event and receive a free concessions treat. In addition to supporting the Fine Arts with your membership, other benefits include discount tickets and priority seating at other Fine Arts events throughout the school year. You can join FAB, formerly the Jubilate Guild, prior to the event HERE.
New Student Orientation , August 11
• Who: This orientation is for all 6th grade students, all 9th grade students, and any new 7th, 8th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students, accompanied by at least one parent. All House Leadership (House Leaders, Social and Service Chairs, and Household Guides) are expected to be present.
• What: Students will have an opportunity to meet their Household Dean and members of their House, walk through their class schedule, set up lockers, and ask questions before the first day of classes on Tuesday.
• Where: We will begin promptly at 9:00 AM in the JPII Center.
• When: Monday, August 11 from 9:00-11:30 AM.
• Wear: Your casual uniform.
• Why: We hope this orientation will help students and parents feel welcomed, comfortable, organized, and excited as the new school year begins
More details will follow as the date gets closer, but please reach out to Emily Burress with any questions!
Locker Set-Up for Returning Students, August 11
Returning students are welcome to come to school between the hours of 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM to set up their lockers. This is not mandatory. Please enter the building through the front office.
Schedule & Uniform Notes for August 11 - 15
• Monday, August 11 is Orientation Day.
• Tuesday, August 12 will be the first full day of classes. The day will begin at 8:10 AM with a 2:55 PM dismissal. All students should be in casual uniform on Tuesday.
• Wednesday, August 13 will run on a Wednesday schedule with a 9:10 AM start time and a 2:55 PM dismissal. All students should be in casual uniform on Wednesday.
• Thursday, August 14 will begin at 8:10 AM with a 2:55 PM dismissal. All students will attend a House Meeting during Community Time. All students should be in casual uniform on Thursday.
• Friday, August 15 will begin at 8:10 AM with a 2:55 PM dismissal. All students will attend Mass during Community Time at 9:25 AM to celebrate the Assumption, which is a Holy Day of Obligation. Yearbook pictures will also be taken and all students in grades 6-12 must wear their dress uniform for Mass & Yearbook photos.
High School Course Add/Drop Period, August 11-29
Students may request schedule changes during the add/drop period at the start of the school year, August 1129. Students and parents should review the Schedule Change Policies in the 2025-26 High School Course Catalog prior to requesting any scheduling changes. Add/Drop forms will be available in the new College Counseling Office, Room D104.
First Full Day of Classes, August 12
The first full day of classes for all students is Tuesday, August 12. Students should wear their casual uniform.
Yearbook Photos, August 15
Yearbook photos for staff, faculty, and all students in grades 6 through 11 will be taken on Friday, August 15 in the gym. All students in grades 6 through 11 should be in dress uniform that day. Students will be directed by class to their assigned photo times during the school day. Please be sure to have all necessary wrinkle-free dress uniform items on hand, neat haircuts, and boys faces clean shaven. Makeup photos will be taken on Friday, August 22 from 7:30-10:00 AM in the small conference room. Students MUST have their photos taken in order to appear in the yearbook.
Fall
Play Auditions, August 19-21
Auditions for the High School Fall Play are currently scheduled to be held August 19-20, with Callbacks on August 21. These auditions are open to all high school students. More information will be available in early August. Questions? Contact Theatre Director, Teresa McGrath
Red Door Ceremony, August 28
All 9th grade students and new high school students will take part in the Red Door Ceremony prior to Mass on Thursday, August 28 beginning at 9:25 AM. Parents are encouraged to attend the ceremony and stay for Mass. Parents will be allowed to enter the JPII Center at 9:00 AM.
• A Brief History: St Joseph’s opened its doors in August 1993 and the first 13 high school students entered the school through a red door which, at the time, was the entrance to a little house beside St. Michael’s Lutheran Church on Augusta Road. Although the house was subsequently demolished, the red door was donated to SJCS and placed on the school’s current campus at the entrance to our chapel, the center of the school. During the school’s 15th anniversary celebration in March 2008, the door was unveiled and St. Joseph’s began a new tradition. Beginning with the Class of 2008, all graduating seniors now process out through thi s door as a symbol of their farewell to St Joseph’s, marking not only an end but a new beginning. All new high school students are
formally welcomed into the school community each August by processing in through the red door, just as this door welcomed the first 13 high school students in 1993.
Labor Day, September 1
There will be no classes. The school and school offices will be closed.
Senior & Parents College Counseling Meeting, September 4
Our annual meeting for seniors and their parents will be held on Thursday, September 4 at 6:30 PM in the new Saint Joseph’s Way Center. The meeting will last approximately one hour. At least one parent and their senior student must be in attendance for this informative meeting. Melissa Cline, Director of Admissions at Furman University, will be here to present.
Second Annual Middle School Walk-A-Thon, September 5
Join us for our first big fundraiser and social event of the year The Walk-A- Thon for the Fine Arts Department on Friday, September 5 from 3:00–6:00 PM in the high school parking lot. This fun-filled afternoon will feature a live DJ, games like corn hole and hula hoop contests, sidewalk chalk art, prizes, and a surprise or two! Our own Campus Ministry team will be on hand to help create a joyful, community-centered atmosphere, and every participant will enjoy pizza, snacks, candy, and water. Plus, don’t miss Ms. Anne Meyer’s interactive art installation an unforgettable creative experience. Students will walk laps to raise funds that directly support all of our Fine Arts programs, enriching the artistic life of every middle school student at SJCS. Registration and fundraising emails will go out on Monday, August 18. Parents are invited to join us at 5:30 PM for awards celebrating the most laps walked and the most funds raised.
Welcome Back International Tailgate & Auction, September 12
Join us Friday, September 12 from 5:30-7:00 PM for our Welcome Back International Tailgate. SJCS Parent Leader Groups will be providing FREE hot dogs, condiments, plates, flatware, and napkins. There is no cost to attend, though we ask that you bring an international dish to share. If possible, please bring it in a disposable container. Please RSVP HERE by Monday, September 8. The Parents Guild, Fine Arts Booster Club, and the Athletic Booster Club will also have information about their groups and SJCS items for purchase. We hope to see everyone as we kick off a new school year and football season! Please contact Katie Orbon if you have any questions.
College Counseling Meetings for 2025- 2026
Please mark your calendars now and plan to attend these important and informative meetings. In each case, at least one parent and the student must attend their respective class meeting. Meetings will begin promptly at 6:30 PM and will last about one hour. Meetings will be held in the new Saint Joseph’s Way Center. Please note the meeting dates for the year:
• Seniors: September 4, 2025
• Juniors: February 10, 2026
• Freshmen & Sophomores: February 12, 2026
There will also be a special virtual Paying for College Night for Senior Families on September 30, 2025 (more details will be emailed) as well as course scheduling meetings for Freshman and Sophomore families in the spring (specific dates and sign-up links will be emailed to families during the second semester).
School Supplies
The middle school supplies lists can be found on the Resources page in Blackbaud under “Summer Assignments, Textbook Lists & Supply Lists.” Middle school students should arrive the first full day of classes with their book bag, textbooks, and all supplies. There is no published list of high school supplies. High school students should plan to arrive the first day of classes with their book bag, textbooks, paper, a binder or notebook for each class, and a supply of pens and pencils. If particular supplies are needed for their classes, teachers will furnish students with that list after school begins.
Middle School Schedules
Middle school scheduling is still in process. Please disregard any middle school schedule information you may see on the Blackbaud Portal before school begins. Class rotations seen in Blackbaud could possibly change up until the first day of school as we finalize the best schedules for all students. Students will receive their finalized
schedules on the first day of school. Eighth grade parents will be contacted by Mrs. Broering via email confirming their World Language placement. Middle school scheduling questions may be directed to Melissa Broering
Required Community Service Hours
High School students are required to complete and submit their community service hours through MobileServe. The hour requirements vary by grade level: freshmen need to complete 10 hours, sophomores 15 hours, and both juniors and seniors are required to complete 20 hours. For those looking for opportunities to fulfill these requirements, remember to regularly check the SJCS Service Classroom, where service opportunities are frequently shared. Should you have any questions or need further clarification, please contact Mrs. Charlton
Travel to France & Spain in May 2026
Announcement from Señora Russell: Great news! Our Spain & France 2026 (May 25 - June 3, 2026) trip is officially beginning to form. Registrations are coming in, and I wanted to remind you to register as soon as possible to make sure that you don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity, as spots are filling up quickly. The sooner our group is formed, the earlier the travel company is able to start booking our trip ensuring the best quality possible. If you are interested in providing this opportunity for your child, please email Señora Russell or visit the trip website HERE.
Travel to Greece Summer of 2027
This is a great opportunity to see some of the ancient sites that students have learned about in history and religion. This trip is open to all current 8th graders to juniors. Parents are welcome as well. Our trip will take place June 5-13, 2027. Some of the highlights include: visiting various ancient sites in Athens and a cruise around the Greek Islands (including Ephesus, Turkey, and the island of Patmos/the Cave of the Apocalypse) as well as experiencing the modern Greek culture. All the details (including the itinerary, cost, payment plans, insurance options, and travel dates) can be found HERE . There will be an information meeting in September. The day and time will be announced soon. By registering early, you lock in the lowest fare and can set up a monthly payment plan. Questions? Contact Elaine Trakas
From the Assistant Head of School
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” ~ Romans 12:12
My New Year’s resolution was to listen to Father Mike Schmitz’s Bible In a Year podcast. As I’m writing this, I should be on Day 187. Somehow, I’m on Day 192 … not sure what happened there, but I’d rather be ahead than behind! Last week, we were in the heart of the Second Book of Kings, and the stories of strife and poor judgement continued … king after king. I was particularly intrigued with the story of King Hezekiah, who was plagued with a deadly illness. The prophet Isaiah warned Hezekiah to be prepared for his death because he wouldn’t recover from the devastating sickness. But Hezekiah prayed to God to free him from the illness, and God heard his plea. King Hezekiah was cured and lived another 15 years.
While the story in the book of 2 Kings is noteworthy and miraculous, it was Father Mike’s commentary that really caught my attention. Hezekiah, generally considered a good king, experienced a diminishing spiritual life after his cure, according to scripture scholars. Most notable was his boasting and prideful interactions with the Babylonions, for which he and his kingdom paid a dear price. Through answered prayer and miraculous healing, Hezekiah received an incredible gift - time. It appears the gift was squandered and left uninvested. The correlation for me was pretty profound In all the ways God provides for us, cares for us, blesses us - how do we make a return to Him?
We are set to begin a new school year, ripe with hope and possibilities. And, if we’re honest, anxieties, too. I’ve been thinking a lot about the story of Hezekiah and how he misused the favor of time. What does this mean for a new school year, one that is certain to have its share of countless celebrations alongside countless challenges? In personal matters, my predisposition is to schedule, arrange, sort through and solve … often at the expense of not being fully present to who and what needs my attention the most. Professionally, my work does need to be about scheduling and arranging and sorting through and solving. For everything there is a time. However, the opportunity we do have, no matter our work, family, occupation or stage in life, is to think more purposefully about how we are living within the time. The “what” should not inform and direct the “why”. Do our words, our actions, our plans, and our priorities honor the ultimate purpose of our lives, which is to give glory and honor to God?
My hope for all of us is that we commit to another New Year’s resolution, which is the start of a new school year. Let’s commit to knowing our ultimate “why” and working to ensure that in our imperfect humanness we live out this year in a way that honors our Creator in how we study, work, play, and celebrate together as the family of Saint Joseph’s Catholic School. I will be praying for all of you, and please pray for all of us!
St. Joseph, pray for us!
With Prayer and Thanksgiving, Wanda Jaraczewski
Assistant Head of School