Saint Joseph Catholic Elementary School is an educational community committed to preparing our students spiritually, intellectually, socially and emotionally for the future.

Our shared efforts are directed toward creating an environment rich in diverse opportunities that support academic challenge and that will ultimately lead our students toward self-confidence and independence.

Saint Joseph’s commitment to excellence fosters students who, as adults, will possess strong Christian values, be prepared to adapt to an ever changing world, and continue to be guided by the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Saint Joseph School offers high quality educational programs for children from Pre-K3 through eighth grade.  Before and After-school care, as well as a summer program, are also available.

Founded in 1857, St. Joseph School has always enjoyed a reputation for educational excellence.  The school is conveniently located near Journal Square, a bustling neighborhood that melds residential streets with a thriving business district and the Journal Square Transportation Center.

Like the surrounding area, our school is wonderfully diverse, boasting families of many ethnic, racial, religious and economic groups.  Families value Saint Joseph School for the challenging curriculum and welcoming environment we provide for students from all faiths and cultures.

One of our core strengths is a dedicated faculty, many of whom have spent their careers at Saint Joseph School.  This highly-trained group of teachers is committed to challenging each student to strive for excellence.  Through close interaction with teachers, our students develop confidence and a love of learning that remains with them throughout their lives.

This is clearly evident in the success of our graduates.  St  Joseph’s alumni go on to attend some of the area’s finest private high schools and have earned degrees from renowned universities including Fordham University, Saint Peter’s College, New Jersey City University, Montclair State University, Rutgers University, and Stevens Institute of Technology.  Our alumni Association sponsors periodic reunions whereby graduates are reunited with fellow students and faculty.

Saint Joseph School is one of an elite group of elementary schools accredited by the Middle States Commission on elementary Schools, which ensures that member schools provide the highest quality education to their students.

Saint Joseph School was recently re-accredited by the Middle States Commission in May 2010.

A Great Place to Learn

Saint Joseph School offers challenging full-day programs for Pre-K3 and Pre-K4, kindergarten and grammar school students.  Many of our students are also enrolled in before- and after-care, as well as our summer program, which provides a relaxing environment for students to learn and have fun.

We’re proud that both parents – and more importantly, students – consider Saint Joseph’s a great place to learn.  Through small classes and lots of opportunities for hands-on learning, we foster a school environment that stimulates each child’s natural curiosity.

Today’s complex society requires much more than graduates who can recite facts.  To meet this need, our rigorous curriculum is specially designed to develop critical thinking, creativity, communication and teamwork skills.  In a nurturing classroom environment, Saint Joseph’s students feel confident and secure as they master these skills.

In our early childhood grades, our teachers encourage students to develop basic socialization skills through play.  As these young learners mature,   teachers gradually introduce studies in science, mathematics, social studies, reading, writing and computers.  We firmly believe that studying the arts produces well-rounded, creative thinkers, so all children on the grammar school level also take formal courses in art and music.  Students also take foreign language classes, computer and physical education.

As a Catholic elementary school, Saint Joseph’s seeks to instill in students a sense of Christian moral values and an appreciation of all people as children of God.  Children in all grades complete formal studies in religion and participate in liturgies, prayer services and pray the Rosary in October and May.

A host of extracurricular activities enrich the Saint Joseph’s classroom experience.  Students can take part in a wide range of activities, including the yearbook, school newsletter, Christmas and spring concerts, interaction with Saint Joseph School for the Blind students, educationally-focused school trips, poetry contest publication, Student council, Science Fair and Buddy System, a program in which older students team up with children from the lower grades for class-based activities.
 

Leading in Technology

At Saint Joseph’s, we recognize that students learn best by doing.  Our modern facilities, which are equipped with updated technologies, ensure that students have plenty of opportunities for hands-on exploration.

We’re especially proud of our new science lab, which is fully equipped with a lab station, lab tables and lots of equipment for a wider range of experiments, from chemicals and dissection to studies of light, magnets, the metric system and much more.  All students, from Pre-K through eighth grade, benefit from this wonderful facility.

Computers are also an integral part of learning at Saint Joseph’s.  All classrooms are equipped with at least two computers linked to a television screen in each classroom for interactive learning.  Saint Joseph’s also boasts a computer lab with links to the Internet, and all students complete formal instruction in computers.

In addition, our fully-equipped library has updated books on a wide variety of topics for children of all ages.  Encyclopedias are also available for research.