Student Activities
Athletics
Students in St. Joseph School have a variety of options for participation in athletics. The parish sponsors boys and girls teams in basketball, track and cheerleading. Our school is one of fifteen parishes in the northern Bergen county area and is a member of the Northern Valley Parochial School League. The basketball teams include students from grades 3 – 8, for both boys and girls. Our cheerleading squads consist of a pee-wee team, junior varsity team and varsity team, with girls from grades 3 – 8 eligible to participate. Students in grades K – 8 may participate in the Track team, which has its meets against other Bergen county Catholic schools in the spring. During the course of the year, an Athletic Agility Night is scheduled so that parents can see some of the activities and games the students have mastered as part of the Physical Education curriculum. During Catholic Schools Week the student-faculty volleyball game and the third and fourth grade square dance “Ho Down” always draw a large crowd!
Clubs
Many different club options are open to students in various grades. The Children’s Choir is open to students in grades 3 - 8. This choir sings at our monthly school Liturgies and at many other school celebrations and events. Coupled with their counterparts in the Religious Education Program, they also sing at the Parish Family Liturgy on a regular basis. Children in grades 5 – 8 can also join the Hand Chime Choir. This club provides the children an opportunity to learn to read music and play Suzuki Tone chimes. Students in grade 7 or 8 may write for the School Yearbook or the Upper School Magazine. Both club members edit, type and work on layout for submissions to both the yearbook and the US Magazine. Students in grades 7 and 8 may apply for membership in the National Junior Beta Club. This organization recognizes student achievement, leadership and service and requires an application process with specific requirements that must be met. Beta members provide many services to the school community. Upper School students are also involved in the parish H.O.P.E.Program (Helping Other People Everywhere). This student service organization works closely with school administration to provide Christian service opportunities for our young people. Students in grades 6 through 8 can participate in both school and parish liturgies as Altar Servers. Training is provided each year for students who wish to be of service to their Parish in this way. As part of our Fine Arts Program, student art is displayed continuously in the hallways and main lobby of each school building. Students in the Upper School may also participate in a variety of other after school clubs and activities, which typically include the Quilting Club, Chess Club, Ski Club, and Spanish Club. Students in grade 8 may also join Mrs. M’s Book Club, where they read and discuss books chosen by the director and participate in a Bowling activity. This club is held off the school property, at a local bowling ally, and meets three times during the year. The Drama Club is open to students in grades 4 – 8 and exposes them to the basic elements of Drama, including pantomime, improvisation, dialect, character identification, costuming, and make-up. Weekly meetings teach these skills, which culminates in a full-length production in the spring. Instrumental Music classes are offered during the school day, by outside instructors, at an additional cost to parents. A Martial Arts class is offered after school on a weekly basis. This is also at an additional cost to parents. Finally, many Scouting Organizations have groups that meet right here at school and offer children many activities at different levels.
Family Activities
St. Joseph School is a community that operates within the larger parameters of our parish and our various civic communities. Prayer, Liturgy and the sacraments are infused into the daily life of the school. Special prayer services and Liturgies are celebrated during all the holiday and liturgical seasons and our families are welcome to join us at these events. Family and personal intentions are mentioned in our daily prayers, and the PTO has a special sub-committee to coordinate community outreach to families who might be experiencing sudden crises of any type. The St. Joseph School family is proud to be present for our students, families and parish community in a spirit of active Christian witness and concern.
Throughout the year many activities are sponsored that bring families together, beginning with Back To School Night in the Fall, and continuing with class programs, the Reverse Raffle, Moonlight Bingo, family outings to Radio City or the New York theaters, skating parties, the annual Craft Fair, Breakfast with Santa, the Science Fair, Student Jeopardy, our Spirit Day Walk-a-thon and the many activities related to Graduation.