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.

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.

• Family members of students at St. Joseph Catholic School who would like to attend school Mass at 8:15 a.m. must preregister by 12pm on Tuesday, May 20th.
• If you have previously visited SJCS and been cleared through the Raptor System using your driver's license, simply submit the form below.
• **Please note that you must be cleared through the Raptor System each school year. If you have not had your driver's license scanned this year, please go to the school office to have this done.
• If you haven't been cleared through Raptor, please complete the form below AND you must go to the school office to have your driver's license scanned into our Raptor System for attendance at future events by 12pm on Tuesday, May 20th.
• If you submit by noon on the Tuesday before Mass, please plan to arrive at the back doors of the church in the courtyard by the Parish Center between 7:55 a.m. and 8:05 a.m. on the day of the Mass. 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.
• Once Mass begins, we will not open doors to visitors for the safety of our students.

Click here to sign up to attend Mass: https://forms.gle/K9dv3XcUz93Zk2ZC9

*****Please use your name on the form that appears on your driver's license.

Our May Crowning was such a beautiful event to honor Jesus' mother, Mary. Our second graders, class representatives and our 8th graders made this a special way to recognize Mary. We also appreciate our vocalists Ms. McGillin, Mrs. Freeland, the school choir, and the students from Harrison School of the Arts, including alumni Isabella, for their musical accompaniments.

The Passing of the Light ceremony is a meaningful SJCS tradition that symbolizes the transition of leadership and responsibility from the 8th grade class to the 7th graders as they prepare to become the new leaders of the school. During the ceremony at yesterday's Mass, each 8th grader passed a light to a 7th grader, representing the sharing of wisdom, guidance, and school spirit. This was a beautiful way to recognize our 2025-2026 8th graders!

For parents and family members who are coming to school events, all vehicles need to be parked in the parish center parking lot in the spaces along the recess field (the roadway that connects with the Unity way exit, not the spaces in the drop off/pick up line) or in spaces closest to the soccer field. Please do not park in the school office parking lot as there are limited spaces there. Also, please do not park in the Church offices parking lot as those parking spaces are for Church office business or the chapel. Once parents and family members have parked, they can walk down Unity Way to reach the school office.

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.

Please know that when planning classes for the upcoming academic year, special care is taken to ensure that each child is placed in an environment where they can thrive both academically and socially. The process involves careful consideration of each student’s individual needs, learning styles, and personality traits, as well as input from teachers who know the students well. Additionally, efforts are made to create balanced classrooms that promote a positive and effective learning atmosphere for all. Please note that we are unable to take individual parent requests for specific teachers or class placements. Thank you for understanding and trusting in our process. Teacher assignments will be shared with families during the new school year packet pick-up.

Spring Concert (Elementary & Middle School Concert Choir, 6th, 7th & 8th grade bands, Honor Band & Drumline) is tonight, Thursday, May 15 6pm in the gym. All middle school students are required to attend.

We are excited to honor all of our incredible SJCS volunteers after Mass on Wednesday, May 21st!

Our school is made stronger by the dedication of so many wonderful individuals, and we want to take this opportunity to recognize and thank you for your support.

Whether you are a PTO member, room parent, field trip chaperone, classroom helper, or have volunteered in any capacity—we warmly invite you to join us for this special celebration.

Thank you for helping make SJCS such a great place to learn and grow!

All 6th graders need an immunization before 7th grade. 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. Brown at sbrown@stjosephwhschool.org.

The PreK end of the year program will be next Thursday, May 22nd, at 10 am in the Church. Family members of students at St. Joseph Catholic School who would like to attend must preregister by 12pm on Wednesday, May 21st. Please use the Google Form link below to register.

https://forms.gle/bmVJUxedvnwNHNbu7

Please mark your calendars to join us on Wednesday, May 28th for Mass at 8:15 am to celebrate our 8th grade graduates. Please use this link to sign up to attend this Mass. https://forms.gle/mfB6DmYm9NcMSBeY6

The graduation ceremony will also be on Wednesday, May 28th at 6:00 p.m. in the Church. All are welcome!

We will have our end of the year awards program for grades K through 7 at 11:00 am in the Church on Thursday, May 29th. To attend, please fill out the Google Form on this link: https://forms.gle/Siy2PtN188xnaHDa8

We have so many wonderful things happening in May!

Wednesday, May 21st Mass at 8:15am and SJCS Volunteer recognitions

Wednesday, May 28th 8th grade Baccalaureate Mass at 8:15

Thursday, May 29th Kindergarten graduation program at 9am in the church

Thursday, May 29th End of the Year awards at 11am in the church

We welcome all 2025 high school seniors who are SJCS alumni to join us tomorrow, Friday, May 16th at 2:15pm for our annual Senior Walk through the hallways of SJCS. Our staff and students want to honor you as you graduate from high school. You will need to bring your driver's license with you that day. We are so excited to welcome you all back! Click the link to sign up to join us.

https://forms.gle/mbH887fqXe1d3uQQ7

Educational summer camps offer exciting and enriching opportunities for students to continue learning and growing outside the traditional classroom setting. We encourage families to take advantage of these valuable experiences to help students stay engaged and inspired throughout the summer. Spots are limited and go quickly – register today!

Roberts Academy Summer Reading Camp - Intensive reading instruction in a whole group and small group setting along with independent practice. STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, & Math) – Students will be immersed in instruction to enhance learning. https://www.flsouthern.edu/academic-life/academic-centers/roberts-center-for-learning-and-literacy/summer-reading-camp

Kids At College – For children ages 5 – 13, choose from a wide variety of classes in topics including 3D Printing, Games Unplugged, Rocketry, Ninja Warriors, and Magic! https://www.polk.edu/kids-at-college/

Camp Early Bird – Camp Early Bird helps incoming kindergartners develop pre-reading skills through hands-on activities and learning centers based on reading readiness while continuing to support motor, social, and cognitive development. https://www.polkschoolsfl.com/quicklinks/earlybird

Please consider helping teachers with packing or cleaning, lost and found clean out, summertime prep, etc. This is a great way to earn your 20 required service hours for each family. Reach out to your homeroom teacher to see what you can do to help. Volunteers will need to be fingerprinted if help is provided during the school day.

**SPORTS AWARDS**

Our athletic awards are on May 20th at 6pm in the gym. This event is for athletes and their families.

Please RSVP with the athlete name and who will be attending to mkupka@stjosephwhschool.org

Coach Edwards will be hosting three days of learning volleyball skills and playing for any students in grades 5 or middle school students who have not played on our team in the fall. Plan to meet in the gym on Wednesday, May 21st, from 3:30-5:00pm. There is no cost for this but all students who participate will need a signed permission slip before attending on any of these dates. These can be picked up in the school office or Coach Edwards will also have them.

All library books are due this week. Please help your students locate those and return them to the school. On Monday, May 19th any student with books still checked out will be given an overdue notice listing the titles and price of the book. If you are not able to locate a book, you will need to replace it with another copy or pay the school for the cost of the book. If you have any questions about your child’s overdue books, please email me kmcgillin@stjosephwhschool.org

Upcoming Library Dates:

SSYRA Club Lunch Friday, May 16th

Last Day for AR testing Friday May 23rd

If you are still looking for a way to fulfill the 20 hour service hour requirement, please consider donating a book off our Book Fairy Wishlist. These books were once a part of our collection but have been lost or damaged. Reminder: Every $10 is 1 service hour.

Book Fairy Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2S6G0MFCC15VU?ref_=wl_share

The first day of the 2024-2025 school year will be Monday, August 11th, 2025.

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

* A full calendar will be shared this summer.

Thank you to Room Parent chairs, Ruth Quintana and Cindy Martin for a great year! We are looking for room parents for next year. Anyone interested in becoming a room parent (2025-2026, grades PK3-8th), please contact the school office.

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!

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

Please see the information below about the Food Allergy Management Program from Machio's for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.

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 have a few different choirs at SJCS.

School Mass Choir
Students in grades 3-8 are invited to sing in the choir at all school masses. Practice will be once a month. Please don't arrive to pick up your child(ren) until 4:00 pm if they are staying for choir.

Church Children's Choir

The Children's Choir for our church will practice from 3-4pm on Thursdays. Jitka Cinibulk, music director from our church, coordinates this ministry. This is for students to sing at weekend Masses. If you have any questions about this opportunity, please email her at jcinibulk@stjosephwh.org.

Concert Choir with Mrs. James

Students in 3rd-8th grade have the opportunity of joining Concert Choir. The SJCS Concert Choir performs at various community events during the school year including Carols in the Park, the Christmas program and singing the national anthem at the Rays, Bucs and Tropics games. During rehearsals, students will be developing many vocal concepts such as correct posture, resonance and technique. We will be singing a range of repertoire and work on two and three part harmony.

Grades 3-5

Rehearsals: 3rd, 4th & 5th grade on Wednesdays at 3:15-4:00pm beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 19th

Middle School Rehearsals: Thursdays from 7:15-7:45am

Please e-mail Mrs. James at vjames@stjosephwhschool.org if you have any questions. Thank you!

Church Handbell Choir

The Church Handbell choir is looking for 2-3 new ringers. The starting age is 10, so if any student is interested, this would be a great time to join us. Practice is on Thursdays 6-8 pm in the church. If you have any questions about this opportunity, please email Jitka Cinibulk at jcinibulk@stjosephwh.org.

The next Middle School Edge will be on Wednesday, April 30th from 6-8pm in Room 2. Parents who volunteer to help with EDGE may earn SJCS service hours.

St. Joseph Catholic Church's religious education coordinator is Mrs. Melady Roque.

If you intend for your child to receive any sacraments (such as First Communion or Confirmation) through St. Joseph Catholic Church, you can call the church office at 294-3144 or email Melady Roque at mroque@stjosephwh.org.

Confirmation classes will take place every Sunday from 12:15-1:00pm in Room 2. Confirmation is open to grades 8-12. Parents can contact Mr. Nathan Hayes with any questions at nhayes@stjosephwh.org or by calling the office at (863) 294 - 3144 ext. 224.

When Judas had left them, Jesus said,
“Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
If God is glorified in him,
God will also glorify him in himself,
and God will glorify him at once.
My children, I will be with you only a little while longer.
I give you a new commandment: love one another.
As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.
This is how all will know that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another.”

Our next Box Top goal is $600. Remember all you need to do is scan your receipts to help us reach this goal and all students will earn another dress down day.

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.

Important calendar dates for the 2024-2025 school year are listed below. ***Please note that the school intentionally schedules school closures at times throughout the school year. We are giving these dates to you early to help your planning for the 24-25 year. Families should schedule family vacations and other commitments during scheduled school closures; vacations should not be scheduled when school is open. Vacations are not considered excused absences and are a violation of the School Attendance Policy.

• May 26th: Memorial Day: No School
• May 29th: Last Day of School

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