here - St. Josaphat Parish

ST. JOSAPHAT SCHOOL
ENLIGHTEN • EMPOWER • EXCEL
AT-A-GLANCE
St. Josaphat School at a Glance
Your search for the right school is an important endeavor. St. Josaphat School
is a welcoming, caring, faith based community.
• St. Josaphat School was established in 1884.
• Over 375 students are currently enrolled.
• Average Class Size: 17
• 1:11 Student teacher ratio
• Half-day Pre-K3 and Full-day Pre-K4 and Kindergarten
• Before School Care and Extended Day Programs are available.
• Our Standardized Test Scores place us in the top 10% of the nation.
• Students attend the top high school in the city: Walter Payton,
Whitney Young, Jones College Prep, St Ignatius, Lincoln Park IB Program,
DePaul College Prep, Lane Tech and Loyola Academy.
• Differentiation of Instruction insures that we challenge all students at their
own level.
• Accreditation by Advanced Ed.
• Students are committed to community-based and international service
programs.
• We invest in technology; every classroom has a Smartboard, iPads and
computers. Our Junior High utilizes a one-to-one iPad Program, preparing
our students for a lifetime of integrated technology.
• After School Enrichment covers diverse interests including robotics, sports
and exercise, crafts, cooking, sewing and computer programming.
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INTRODUCTION
COMMUNITY
A Welcoming Community • 130+ Years
People choose St. Josaphat
Parish and School because it is
“A place to come home to.”
Established in 1884, St. Josaphat Parish quickly saw that part of its mission was to
educate the young of the immigrant Kashubian families seeking a place of worship.
As the neighborhood has changed, the school has adapted and developed. 1987 saw
the rebirth of the school with over 250 students registered. Since 1994, the school has
grown significantly with five new additions added doubling its size. These included
new classrooms from Pre-K -8th grades, a library/media center, a computer lab, a
science lab and bathrooms.
People choose St. Josaphat Parish and School because it is “A place to come home
to.” We have a strong caring community of over 1200 parishioners. Energetic
teachers and responsive, involved parents make St. Josaphat School the wonderful
environment it is. There is a feeling of growth and a sense of opportunity not to be
missed that pervades our school. Generations of generous people have supported
St. Josaphat School. We are most grateful to them and to the generations to come.
Our Mission
St. Josaphat School is a welcoming
community where our children are
Enlightened to discover God in all,
Empowered to thrive intellectually and
emotionally as they Excel to meet a lifetime
of challenges as future leaders.
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ACADEMICS
Academics
At St. Josaphat School, we strive to build a rich learning community that
enlightens our students’ spiritual development, empowering them to grow and
excel by achieving academic excellence.
Our school consists of four levels- Early Childhood, Primary, Intermediate and
Jr. High. At every level, we focus on developing life-long learners at a pace that is
appropriate for each child.
ACADEMICS
Primary Education (1st-2nd)
First and Second grades continue to build upon the literacy
and mathematical foundation by emphasizing reading, math,
science, social studies and religion.
• Students engage in new reading comprehension and fluency
strategies developing skills to become independent readers.
• Everyday Math, a curriculum developed by the University of
Chicago, is introduced and teaches the application of math
skills in real-world situations.
Intermediate Education (3rd-4th)
Third and Fourth Grades focus on curriculum that furthers the
development of critical thinkers and problem solvers.
• Students are introduced to studying skills that benefit them
throughout their educational career. Researching topics
and gathering data are brought to life during Science and
State Fair projects.
• A strong mathematics education continues with
multiplication and long division; students become
vigorous readers and writers; explore ecosystems; learn
about Illinois, the 50 states; and much more!
Jr. High Education (5th-8th)
Early Childhood Education (Preschool-Kindergarten)
We provide our children with a unique classroom experience developing their social,
emotional, physical and intellectual development with an emphasis on independence
and classroom structure.
• Children are encouraged to explore, problem solve, create, and participate in an
interactive environment.
• Jolly Phonics curriculum is introduced and appeals to all learners (visual, auditory
or kinesthetic) through a multisensory method.
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As our students transition into their Jr. High years we ensure
they are in a setting that nurtures a strong sense of self-esteem.
In preparation for high school, the curriculum maintains a
rigorous pace.
• Students are expected to read 40 books per year, math
continues to be more conceptual and science moves into
full-fledged investigations.
• Students and families have a High School counselor who,
along with the junior high teachers, offers guidance and
support and works with each family through the application
process. Meetings begin in 6th grade. St Josaphat strives to
find the best high school for each of our students.
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CURRICULUM
SPECIALS
Enhancing student’s curriculum is important so they may pursue creative and individual
interests. Students meet with specialized teachers throughout the week who enrich their
experience through art, music and physical education.
Visual Arts
The Visual Arts curriculum exposes students to the joy of
aesthetic expression, the hard work of craftsmanship and
the necessity of art within the human experience through:
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A historical perspective via the study of great artists
and their work
Hands-on opportunities to manipulate multiple
materials and create mixed-media projects
Music
Faith
Technology
Foreign Language
At St. Josaphat School we
provide a faith based education
and believe all knowledge leads to
God. Our endeavor is the
successful formation of future
Catholic Leaders — spiritually,
intellectually, psychologically,
physically and emotionally.
As technology evolves at
lightning fast speed,
St. Josaphat School strives to
ensure that our students have the
skills to interact with technology
in their everyday lives.
Technology is not to be looked at
as a separate discipline, but one
that is woven into each aspect of
the student’s day.
Children begin foreign language
instruction in French and
Spanish in Pre-school and
continue through Jr. High. Most
graduates will place into
advanced or honors foreign
language classes in high school.
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Catholic values and scripture
are integrated into the daily
curriculum.
We prepare our students to
receive the sacraments of
Reconciliation, Eucharist and
Confirmation as a part of their
religious education.
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Beginning in Pre-school
interactive curriculum is
taught using media that
includes interactive
whiteboards and iPads in
every classroom.
A key component of our
Jr High is the one to one
iPad program. A majority of
instruction and work is
executed on the student’s
iPads.
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Exposure to foreign
language in early grades s
harpens student’s
intellectual abilities and is
associated with higher
performance in higher
order thinking skills.
As students improve their
skills using their second
languages-speaking, listening,
reading and writing-these
skills transfer to their native
language as well as other
coursework.
Music is a gift that can benefit a child for the rest of their
lives. By learning how to express themselves through
music, our students are better able to experience and
appreciate the gamut of human emotion.
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Students develop their singing voices, memorization
skills and they also receive instrumental instruction.
The upper grades are introduced to a variety of
liturgical, classical and contemporary musical styles as
well advanced composition assignments.
Physical Education and Athletics
The foundation of our athletic department is to instill the
ideals of Christian Sportsmanship; loyalty, honesty, integrity,
self-discipline, respect and teamwork.
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Our Physical Education program ensures that EVERY
child’s sports skills are highlighted and encouraged no
matter what their skill level.
Students can participate on many teams including Boys
and Girls Basketball, Boys and Girls Volleyball, Boys and
Girls Cross Country, Cheerleading and Flag Football.
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STUDENT LIFE
STUDENT LIFE
Student Life
St. Josaphat School offers a wide variety of activities and clubs that students can join
to build their leadership skills and explore their independent interests. We are proud
to offer one of the richest extra-curricular experiences in the city.
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Athletic Teams
Choir
Academic Team
Band
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Service Club
Drama Club
Girl Scouts
Student Council
• Yearbook
• Literary Review
• Altar Servers
Students can choose from many after-school enrichment options: Chess, Karate,
Yoga, Art, Sewing, Sports and Computer Programming.
Staff
St. Josaphat School takes great pride in the accomplishments and success of our
teaching staff. They teach and lead by example every day.
• 85% of the faculty and staff hold a master’s degree or is currently completing a
master’s degree in education.
• Currently on staff, we have a full time Social Worker, School Psychologist, Reading
Specialist, Math Specialist, Director of IT and a variety of support staff to assist
learners at all levels.
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St. Josaphat School
2245 North Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
773-549-0909
www.stjosaphat.net