Eagle's Eye Summer Edition

St. Joseph Catholic School fosters a diverse community of disciples empowered through a rigorous and inclusive Catholic education rooted in Gospel values and service to others.

Make sure to keep up with important updates by visiting our Facebook page and website www.stjosephwhschool.org!

Due to the replacement of windows and the air conditioner, the school office will be closed. Please call 863-293-3311 or email Mrs. Heisey at sheisey@stjosephwhschool.org or Ms. DeHaven at sdehaven@stjosephwhschool.org for questions and information.

Students entering first through eighth grade have assignments to complete over the summer that will be due the first day of school on Monday, August 11th. Summer homework and student supply lists can be found on the school website under Academics/Summer Resources, or by email if you call the school office. Summer homework is for the grade your child is entering.

Also, the supply lists for next year are posted there as well. Remember that you can order school supplies from School Tool Box and they will be delivered right to your home! Below is the QR code to order. Ordering opens on June 1st.

Click here for a full listing on our website: https://stjosephwhschool.org/summer-resources

New school year packets will tentatively be available for pick up beginning July 24th (due to ongoing construction; more communication about this will be sent out closer to the date). These packets will include: class assignments, supply lists, and car tags. Please make tentative plans to pick these packets 12pm-3pm beginning July 24th. At this time, they will be located in the Parish Center. We will have special hours that day for new families from 9am-12pm as well.

Mark your calendars and make plans to join us for Open House on Friday, August 8th from 10am until 12pm. This is a great opportunity for families to visit classrooms, meet your child's teacher and drop off school supplies. More details will be forthcoming soon.

Middle School students are required to attend Boot Camp the morning of Friday, August 8th from 9am until 12pm. Please make plans to ensure your middle school student attends and watch for more information regarding expectations etc.

While summer is a great time for students to enjoy fun hairstyles, hair colors, and nail polish/artificial nails, we kindly remind families that all students are expected to be in full uniform compliance starting with Boot Camp on August 8th.

Please ensure that students return with natural hair color and are fully aligned with all dress code guidelines. We will be strictly enforcing uniform policies at the start of the school year and throughout the year ahead. Your partnership in upholding these standards is appreciated and helps maintain the respectful, focused learning environment we strive to create.

We have three uniform sales scheduled. We will have one on Tuesday, July 29th, 12pm-5pm and Saturday, August 2nd from 9am-12pm. We will also have a uniform sale after school starts on Saturday, August 16th from 9am-12pm. All sales will include both new and used uniforms. New uniforms can also be purchased anytime from the Sir Walter link https://store.sirwalteruniforms.com/schools/st-josephs-winter-haven.html

Used uniforms are a great opportunity for families to purchase outgrown, gently used uniforms for a reduced cost. Returning families may also use this opportunity as an exchange - families may exchange one uniform item for a larger size, etc.

If you are able to volunteer at one of these sales or help with set up on Monday, July 28th, please complete this Google Form. This is a great way to get service hours. Please note that volunteers may not bring children with them. https://forms.gle/Djq6E8dJdj5jCvAQ9

All shoes must be black and are to be worn with laces matching. The shoes may not have any secondary/accent colors, including the sole and logos.

Middle School students in grades 6-8 will have a new shirt option this year with a navy blue polo. These will be available for purchase at the uniform sales or online at Sir Walter https://store.sirwalteruniforms.com/schools/st-josephs-winter-haven.html

All boys in grades 4–8 are required to wear a necktie as part of their Mass uniform. Ties must be purchased from Sir Walter. *Please ensure that the tip of the tie reaches the student's belly button. Shorter ties will not be permitted for the upcoming school year.

Due to regulations set by the Early Learning Coalition, St. Joseph Catholic School may not require VPK students to wear a school uniform. However, we strongly encourage our VPK students to wear the school’s PE uniform each day. This helps simplify morning routines for families, is cost-effective, and fosters a sense of belonging within our larger school community. The VPK uniform matches the physical education attire worn by all SJCS students and consists of navy blue elastic-waist shorts and a t-shirt featuring the SJCS logo. Uniforms may be purchased through Sir Walter.

Step Up for Students has released Scholarship amounts for the 25-26 school year.

• Students in Kindergarten through Grade 3: $8,209
• Students in Grades 4 through 8: $7,629

In the coming weeks, we will be preparing FACTs accounts for all students/families. The Scholarship Committee will be convening in the next couple of weeks to review FACTs Grant and Aid applications and award scholarships. Families can anticipate notification from the school once the FACTs accounts are set up by school personnel. Monthly payments will begin in August and go through May of 2026, which amounts to ten monthly payments.

The deadline to apply for school based scholarships was June 15th. If you believe you may need additional financial assistance, and haven't completed a Grant and Aid application, you are encouraged to do so as soon as possible. When the scholarship committee meets in a couple of weeks, if there is funding available, we will consider applications received after the 6/15 deadline.

Thank you to those who have already submitted your child's scholarship award ID number for the upcoming school year.

If we have not yet received and submitted your identification number to the school, you can expect an email from us in the coming days. We appreciate your prompt attention to this important step, as it ensures your child receives their scholarship funding without delay.

At this time, Mrs. Richards Phillips is managing all scholarship accounts. If you have not yet provided your child’s award ID number, or if you have any questions, please reach out to her at zrichardsphillips@stjosephwhschool.org.

Please see the information below about the Step Up for Students scholarship. Here is the link for the Application Checklist.

https://go.stepupforstudents.org/hubfs/Scholarship%20Info/Scholarship-Application-Checklist.pdf?utm_campaign=SCHOOL%20PROVIDER%20-%20GENERAL%20Communication&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--GcARUeCd0J0qJWsoArEhr7zZfKOCptd0zf-xM1mZIsmx7ri9EAeTtiGWfaiPsDhxbddjlNUKHyk-5tDm_bVCq8-MydCMmApmqhaMCkVoDmlIgkIs&_hsmi=344541403&utm_content=344541403&utm_source=hs_email

We’d like to introduce Mrs. Richards Phillips as your new point of contact for the following matters:

• Required enrollment paperwork

• Tuition assistance and financial account setup

Mrs. Richards Phillips now serves as our Administrative Assistant for Enrollment and Finances. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to her directly at zrichardsphillips@stjosephwhschool.org.

The first day of the 2025-2026 school year will be Monday, August 11th, 2025.

We want to take a moment to remind you of a very important policy that directly affects your child's scholarship eligibility and enrollment status.

Scholarship organizations have a strict attendance policy stating that students may not miss more than 18 days of school in a single academic year. This includes both excused and unexcused absences. Unfortunately, we are aware of families who have lost their scholarships because their child exceeded this limit.

These organizations have become increasingly strict in enforcing this policy, and exceptions are rarely granted.

In alignment with these guidelines, St. Joseph Catholic School maintains the same attendance standard. Our policy clearly states that students are not permitted to miss 19 or more days of school in a school year. This policy was intentionally designed to mirror that of the scholarship organizations to ensure compliance and protect our families from unintended consequences.

Please make every effort to schedule appointments, travel, and other non-emergency absences outside of school hours whenever possible. Consistent attendance is not only vital for your child's academic success but also for maintaining scholarship eligibility.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s attendance record, we encourage you to reach out to the school office promptly.

Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.

We are beginning to work on the calendar for the coming school year. Here are some key dates for you to put on your calendar:

August 11: First Day of School for all students

November 24-28: Thanksgiving Break

December 22 - January 2: Christmas Break

January 6: School Resumes

March 16 - 20: Spring Break

April 3 - 6: Easter Break

May 29: Last day of school

The full Calendar for the 2025-2026 School Year is nearing completion and will be shared soon. We will send it out electronically, and it will be posted to our school website.

All Kindergarteners and 7th graders for the 2025-2026 school year need an immunization before they will be admitted to class next year. Please make sure you turn in an updated DH 680 ( Florida Immunization Form ) as you get it ( if you haven’t already). If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Heisey at sheisey@stjosephwhschool.org.

Are you interested in becoming a room parent for next year? If so, please call the office at 863-293-3311.

Here are a few of the room parent responsibilities:

• Communicate by email with the teacher and other parents in the class
• Help facilitate teacher requests (help with class parties, field trips, etc.)
• Help coordinate donations for Fall Fest and Gala fundraiser baskets
• Help plan teacher and aid birthday celebrations
• ...and many more things that help make our school GREAT!

You can also reach out to Cindy Martin (863) 207-0749 or Ruth Quintana (267) 231-5366 with any questions.

Machios is our student lunch provider and lunches will cost $5.25 this year. Please see the information below about the Food Allergy Management Program from Machio's for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.

Saturday, August 9th

The SFC Cheerleaders want to share their excitement for the new school year with a Back to School Cheer & Dance Party! Let us feed and entertain your K-8 student(s) with pizza, dancing, games and giveaways. Drop-off in the SFC Gym starting at 5:45pm with pick-up at 8pm. There is a $20 per student charge to support the SFC Cheerleaders as they get ready for the new season ahead!

RSVP Link:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4EABAD2DABFCC07-57533474-cheer

Mass Times at St. Joseph Catholic Church are:

Saturday Masses
English Vigil Mass at 4:30 pm in the Church.

Sunday Masses
7:30 am, 11:00 am, in the Church
Mass in Creole
7:30 pm every Saturday in the Chapel.
Mass in Spanish
1:00 pm every Sunday in the Church.

Please join us for Mass this weekend!

This section of the Eagle's Eye will remain in every edition of our newsletter. It will contain links to information that parents may need from time to time. When parents have questions, we urge you to check this section for possible links that could get you the information that you need.

• School Calendar
• Lunch Menus
• Maschio's Birthday Order Form
• Registering for a lunch account
• PikMyKid User Guide (English)
• PikMyKid User Guide (Spanish)
• Fingerprinting/Safe Environment Certification Instructions
• Fingerprinting/Safe Environment Certification
• Uniform Company
• Technology Responsible Use Policy for Students
• Parent Student Handbook
• Attendance Policy
• Accessing Facts Family Portal
• Family Portal Login
• Logging Service Hours: Parents and students can now enter and view their own service hours. You can use your app to view the hours, however, you have to use the web version to enter new hours. go to FACTS Family Portal. The district code is STJC-FL. Once logged in, click on the Family option in the menu on the left side. At the top of the screen, select the family member who will be adding the service hours. Click on the Add option on the right side of the screen in the Service Hours box. Fill out the information and click Save.

Principal: Mrs. Insua

Assistant Principal: Ms. Lucarelli

Assistant Principal: Mr. Kupka

Parochial Administrator: Fr. Glenn Lopez

Canonical Administrator: Fr. Tim LaBo

Superintendent: Dr. Erika Wikstrom

Email: jinsua@stjosephwhschool.org
Website: stjosephwhschool.org
Location: 535 Avenue M Northwest, Winter Haven, FL, USA
Phone: 863-293-3311