Saint Joseph Catholic School accomplishes its mission by assisting parents in their responsibility to guide their children towards eternal happiness with God in heaven. The school strives for solidarity with parents in this regard, and to be a trustworthy and reliable resource for them and their children. Students are taught Christian virtues and are expected to be responsible citizens. We recognize the varied talents of our students and emphasize the importance of learning to share those talents with others. We strive to build a vibrant faith community among our students, staff, and parents.
A rich sacramental life is available for students, and parents are always welcome to participate with their children. We pray in the church each morning as an entire school with our priests. We have Mass weekly, with readings and songs done by students. Older students also attend the parish Mass at noon every Friday. Grades 3-6 visit the Adoration Chapel regularly. Preparation for First Communion is part of the curriculum in Grade 2. All students learn the prayers and gestures of our Faith. There are regular confessions available for students, as well as Stations of the Cross and recitation of the Rosary at the appropriate seasons. Training is offered for older student to become altar servers, and priests actively participate in educating the students on the richness of the Liturgy and Catholic culture.
Our focus is to grow the ability of our students to think, reason, and communicate well in the pursuit of truth. This starts with a strong classical foundation in reading, writing, and mathematics. The academic curriculum meets or exceeds standards established by the Archdiocese, the State of Oregon, as well as national standards in each subject and each grade. We stress deep factual knowledge of the essentials of each subject, and we teach with a combination of Christian charity and high expectations. We intend for each student to reach their fullest potential and to equip them for the next levels of their education. The core curriculum is supplemented with classes and activities in Art, Media, Music, Spanish, Latin, and Physical Education, which vary by grade level.
The school atmosphere is safe and nurturing, with an emphasis on the importance of being respectful to others, providing service to others, and developing self-discipline. We believe each child is a unique gift, who requires loving guidance, encouragement, and individual attention in all the areas of life. We look to our parents to participate in the life of the school to ensure it is a continuation of family life, rather than an institution.
