Eagle's Eye

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.

We are welcoming family members of students at SJCS to school Mass. We have worked closely with the Polk County Sheriff's Office to identify appropriate protocols to allow those with ties to SJCS to join us for school Mass. We need everyone's full compliance in these protocols as we strive to maintain a high level of safety for our students and staff.

• All persons choosing to attend school Mass must first be cleared through our Raptor system, such is the requirement for all volunteers and visitors coming to SJCS.
• All persons choosing to attend school Mass must preregister by 12pm the previous school day using the Google Form provided by SJCS.
• For those individuals who have not been cleared through Raptor (using their driver's license), a photo of the driver's license must be provided to the school office via email no later than 12pm the previous school day. Please note that in this case, the individual must ALSO complete the Google Form.
• All persons choosing to attend school Mass must arrive between 7:55 am and 8:05 am and be checked in through the back church doors in courtyard by the Parish Center. The church doors on the Avenue M side will be locked and no admittance will be given to anyone attempting to enter on that side. Guests will sit in designated areas and must exit the church when directed by administration. Further, upon exiting the church, it is understood that guests will proceed directly to their cars and not congregate outside of the church/school.

• Once Mass begins, we will not open doors to visitors for the safety of our students.

This is the Google Form sign up link for Wednesday's 8:15 am Mass.

https://forms.gle/b9Kzy8RZ9FrWLrJ47

Spring Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled for next Wednesday, April 17th, and Thursday, April 18th. All parents of students in kindergarten through grade 8 will be invited to schedule a 10 minute appointment to meet with their child's teacher. Save the date and watch for a Sign Up Genius from your child's homeroom teacher for you to schedule an in-person conference. Both these days are 2:00 Dismissal Days.

Please ensure that your student has a water bottle when he/she stays for aftercare. It can be one that is refillable. With the hot weather, students need to stay hydrated.

Mrs. Insua and Mrs. Haas recently attended the National Catholic Education Association conference in Pittsburgh with around 3,000 other Catholic educators. They attended professional development sessions and presented a session on Student Study Teams. It was a blessing to collaborate with Catholic educators around the world.

Next Friday, teachers and administrators from St. Patrick Catholic School in Largo will be visiting SJCS. We would love to have breakfast items available for them when they arrive. If you would like to help with this, please click the Sign Up Genius link. Remember that every $10 is equal to 1 hour of the required 20 service hours.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0F4AA4AF2EABFC1-49016088-visitor

Our 6th graders recently went to Focus 11 at Holy Family Catholic School in Orlando. This year the theme was Jesus' Last 2 Gifts: Eucharist and Our Lady. The students learned how the gifts of Jesus and His Mother Mary strengthen us and teach us – give our lives meaning and purpose. Camila was a reader at the Mass the students attended with Bishop Noonan.

Congratulations to our newest National Junior Honor Society members who were inducted in a ceremony yesterday.

Spring sports have begun for students in grades 5-8! Tennis will have the first practice and parent meeting this Friday at 3:30 pm at the Winter Haven tennis courts. For more information, please contact Katie Collany at katie@collany.com.
We are also starting golf and are looking for players. Sign up sheets are in the office. Also, if you are interested in helping to coach golf, please let Coach Edwards know at ledwards@stjosephwhschool.org.

The Polk County Catholic Schools Fine Arts Show will be Thursday, April 18th, at Santa Fe Catholic High School in Lakeland beginning at 5:30 pm. Come see all of our wonderful student art on display and watch musical performances from choirs, instruments, and bands. We hope to see you there!

With the onset of warmer weather, we go through several bottles of water daily in an effort to keep our afternoon carline staff hydrated. We are accepting donations of cases of water bottles in the school office. Remember you earn 1 service hour for every $10 worth of items donated. You can drop donations in the office. Thank you for your consideration.

Our Spring Book Fair is coming next week, April 15-19th in the Media Center. Mrs. Reece will need volunteers to help with this during that week. Please use this link to sign-up https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094FABA822AAF4C70-stjoseph1

Student lunches that are dropped off at the office need to arrive by 11 am. This gives the office time to notify the student and teacher that there is a lunch waiting before the class goes over to the Parish Center at their lunchtime.

Step up for Students applications are now open for the 2024/2025 school year, Please see below some helpful videos that will guide you through the process depending on which scholarship you have. Please remember Mrs. Brown will need your AWARD id when your student gets awarded a scholarship. You can email her that number at sbrown@stjosephwhschool.org or bring a copy of that into the front office.

1. FES-Unique Abilities RENEWAL ENGLISH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOb58I0HJSQ
2. FES-Unique Abilities RENEWAL SPANISH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gPWNQWYFV0
3. FTC, FES-EO (Private School), FTCPEP (homeschool) RENEWAL ENGLISH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KdWOtv2mEA
4. FTC, FES-EO (Private School), FTCPEP (homeschool) RENEWAL SPANISH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTgjPJFumW8
5. NEW APPLICATION FES-Unique Abilities ENGLISH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJOZctJKaqA
6. NEW APPLICATION FES-Unique Abilities SPANISH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljJrXTP6Xxs
7. NEW APPLICATION FTC. FES-EO (private school) FTC PEP (homeschool) ENGLISH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEC3r9hEYkc
8. NEW APPLICATION FTC, FES-EO (private school), FTC PEP (homeschool) SPANISH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx3oakG-awE

The tuition rates for the 2024-2025 school year have changed.

Tuition: $9,400 (K-8)

Technology: $350

Registration: $250/$350

PreK 3: $4,000 (7:30am-11:50am)

VPK Wrap Around: $3,150 (11:50am – 3:30pm)

• After school care: $4.50 per hour

• Before school care: $2.50 per family per day

• Graduation fee: $125 per eighth grader

With the tution total of $9750 and assuming that the scholarship amount will stay the same for the next school year, below is the out of pocket expense per child.

$9750 Tuition

K-3 $1817 out of pocket based on this year’s scholarship

4-8 $2444 out of pocket based on this year’s scholarship

Please contact the school office with any questions.

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 12: First Day of School for all students

November 25-29: Thanksgiving Break

December 23 - January 3: Christmas Break

January 6: School Resumes

February 18 - 28: Terra Nova Testing for grades 2-8

March 17 - 21: Spring Break

April 18 - 23: Easter Break

May 29: Last day of school

* A full calendar will be shared this summer.

Absences (Including Early Dismissals)

• 10 absences, the parent receives an automatic email notifying them of the number of absences accumulated thus far and reminding them of the policy.

• 15 absences without documentation, the parent will either receive communication or be required to attend a meeting with a school administrator; the student could be placed on attendance probation.

• At the 19th absence, school administration will evaluate the documentation provided and determine if the student can remain at St. Joseph Catholic School.

Tardies

• 10 tardies, the parent receives an automatic email notifying them of the number of tardies accumulated thus far and reminding them of the policy.

• 15 tardies without documentation, the parent will either receive communication or be required to attend a meeting with a school administrator; the student will be placed on attendance probation.

• At the 19th tardy, school administration will evaluate the documentation provided and determine if the student can remain at St. Joseph Catholic School

Please continue to scan your receipts so we can earn funds from Box Tops for our school. Our next goal is to earn $500. Students will have another dress down day once we reach this goal.

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.

The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way,
and how Jesus was made known to them
in the breaking of bread.

While they were still speaking about this,
he stood in their midst and said to them,
"Peace be with you."
But they were startled and terrified
and thought that they were seeing a ghost.
Then he said to them, "Why are you troubled?
And why do questions arise in your hearts?
Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.
Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones
as you can see I have."
And as he said this,
he showed them his hands and his feet.
While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed,
he asked them, "Have you anything here to eat?"
They gave him a piece of baked fish;
he took it and ate it in front of them.

He said to them,
"These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you,
that everything written about me in the law of Moses
and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled."
Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
And he said to them,
"Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer
and rise from the dead on the third day
and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins,
would be preached in his name
to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things."

O Blessed Joseph, faithful guardian of my Redeemer, Jesus Christ, protector of Mary, the virgin Mother of God, I choose you this day to be my special patron and advocate and I firmly resolve to honor you all the days of my life. Therefore, I humbly ask you to receive me as your client, to instruct me in every doubt, to comfort me in every affliction, to obtain for me and for all the knowledge and love of the Heart of Jesus, and finally to defend and protect me at the hour of my death. Amen.

Principal: Mrs. Insua

Assistant Principal: Mr. Reilly

Canonical Administrator: Fr. Tim LaBo

Superintendent: Mr. Fortier

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