St. Joe Bear News

The Miss St. Joseph Pageant was held Saturday, December 12th, 2015.  Rachel Carle was crowned Miss St. Joseph.   Congratulations to the court!  Pictured Left to Right: Mr. St. Joseph Eric Engel, Miss Congeniality Rebecca DeFay, 1st Runner Up Kailee Siemans, Miss St. Joseph Rachel Carle, 2nd Runner Up Allie Hughes and Mr. St. Joseph Evan Wilson.

One of our most popular events every year is the Holiday Concerts put on by the Band, Orchestra, and Choir programs.  Last year we were able to stream one of them on our YouTube channel, and we are once again making that opportunity available.  And by popular request, we will also stream the next two nights of concerts as well. This year will only feature 1 Non-moving camera focussed on the stage, but you will be able to hear and see our wonderful students perform the holiday classics.  Last year we had someone checking in from Italy. So, whether you or down the street, or half way around the world, please check out this wonderful opportunity! These streams are already setup and can be accessed by going to the St Joe Bears Network youtube channel at:   youtube.com/c/stjoebearsnetwork   Tonight’s stream is labeled 47th Annual SJHS Holiday Concert – 12/14/15 The direct link for tonight is:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6XRPlQ96h0 Enjoy, and happy holidays!!

There were rumors that the SAT and the written essay portion for the SAT were optional next spring for junior students. The essay portion of the SAT for students taking the SAT as a component of the state administered MME is required.   The SAT with essay is a required component.  The date of this exam is April 12, 2016, and it is for our current juniors. There are a number of prep resources for the SAT, and I will list some of those in a separate posting.  However,  a great place to start though is Khan Academy, at  https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/sat  (if you are taking the "old test through March 2016) or if you are taking the new test, then use this link: https://www.khanacademy.org/login?continue=https%3A//www.khanacademy.org/mission/sat   You have to create a log in and password and then at the top of the screen will be a drop down menu.  In that menu, choose test prep, SAT, and follow the prompts.  There are quizzes, practice exams, and other resources availab

Hi everyone, Just a quick reminder to please take the parent survey about BYOD at the high school.  We would like to look at results next week, so you have until Sunday.  Here is the link:    http://goo.gl/forms/PuFKgR2jMb Thank you! Kevin

One final reminder about conferences on Thursday.  High School teachers will be in the Field House from 12:30-4 and 5:30-8:30 on Thursday. Please print off your students's schedule at home before arriving for conferences .  It will make it much easier for you and you will not have to wait for it to be printed here at the school.

I wanted to remind everyone that our students will be performing the musical, Cinderella , this weekend in the high school auditorium.  Performances will be on Friday, November 20th at 7 p.m. and Saturday, November 21st at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.  You can purchase tickets at the door for adults at $10, or students and seniors for $8.  You can also email or call in advance to: jonrwallace@yahoo.com and 269-449-8972.   Come out and support our fantastic students and Performing Arts Department.  Enjoy the show!!

SJHS Book Fair Needs Your Help! We are running a book fair at SJHS on the Media Center balcony Nov. 16-19.  We are in need of volunteers Nov. 16, Nov. 17 and Nov. 18th during the school day in two-hour time slots. ********We're using Volunteer Spot (the leading online Sign-up and reminder tool) to organize our upcoming Sign-ups. Here's how it works in 3 easy steps: 1) Click this link to see our Sign-Up on Volunteer Spot: http://vols.pt/fAYEZ6 2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like. 3) Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on Volunteer Spot. Thank you so very much for checking your calendars! Please contact Deb Darr at 734-355-1726 or email her at thedarrs@rocketmail.com with any questions.

Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on November 19, 2015.  Students do not have school on November 19 or 20.   Conferences will be held from 12:30-4 p.m. and 5:30-8:30 p.m.   High School teachers will meet with parents in the High School Fieldhouse, and Middle School teachers will meet with parents in the High School Student Center. If you have questions, please contact Chad Mandarino at the middle school, myself, or your students' teachers. Also, students are out for Thanksgiving Break from November 25-27, 2015.

The 2015 Book Fair is quickly approaching.  The dates are below, and all proceeds from this book fair will go towards purchasing new books for the media center.   If you have any questions, you can email Mrs. Humes at ahumes@sjschools.org  SJHS Book Fair 2015 Nov. 16  12-3pm Nov. 17&18  7:30am-3pm Nov. 19  12:30-4:30pm  & 5:30-8:30pm   Media Center Balcony

I would like to invite you to take this brief survey on BYOD.  The committee has continued to meet this fall and we are trying to monitor progress after the first quarter.  We are also going to survey students and teachers.  If you could, please complete this by Friday, November 6.  Here is the link to the survey, and it is anonymous.  Thank you!! http://goo.gl/forms/CEKc4JncYB

November 2015 Tuesday, November 3rd End of the First Marking Period Wednesday, November 11th One Hour Delay Thursday, November 19th No School Parent Teacher Conferences Friday, November 20th No School SJHS Fall Musical: Cinderella 7pm Saturday, November 21st SJHS Fall Musical: Cinderella 2pm Wednesday, Thursday, Friday November 25th, 26th, 27th No School - Thanksgiving Break December 2015 Wednesday, December 9th One Hour Delay Saturday, December 12th Miss St. Joe Contest Monday, December 14th SJHS Holiday Choir and Orchestra Concert 7pm HS Auditorium Tuesday, December 15th Upton Choir and Orchestra Concert 7pm SJHS Auditorium Distinguished Alumni Nominations are Due Wednesday, December 16th MS/HS Band Concert 7pm SJHS Auditorium Friday, December 18th Winter break begins at the end of the day January 2016 Monday, January 4th School Resumes

St. Joseph High School teachers celebrate College Application Week, by wearing something from their Alma Mater.

On October 6, 18 of our high school students competed in part I of the MI Math Prize Competition.  Five of those students qualified for the final round of the competition, which will be held in December.  Congratulations to Will Beaudette, Zach Borgerson, Peter Chen, Ryan Faulkner, and Patrick Fischer for their outstanding achievement.

St. Joseph High School Student Senate would like to invite you to the 2nd annual Veterans Breakfast at the high school on November 13, 2015 from 8-10a.m.   If you are a Veteran, or if you have a family member who is, please join us for breakfast as we honor those who have served our country.  If you would like to attend, please RSVP by November 10, 2015.  If you have any questions, you can email the address on the invite, or the principal at kriggs@sjschools.org.

As you are already aware, the state of Michigan has changed the exam that all juniors will take next spring from the ACT to the SAT.  This will be a new experience for almost all of our students as they had been preparing for the ACT for many years.  This change as prompted some to start asking questions about which exam they SHOULD take, or does it matter.  About 80% of our juniors took the PSAT last week, which is good practice for the the spring, but again, the SAT will be new next spring, so there is still some question as to what it will look like exactly.  We wanted to provide a little more of an answer for you regarding the two tests.  There was also an article in Time magazine last week about the impending change, and what it might mean for your student.  I wanted to try and post that article here as well, but I have not been able to find a "free" link.  If I do, I will post it at a later date.  I will also continue to post more information over the coming month

The goal of the program is to help all graduating high school seniors navigate the complex college admissions process and provide the opportunity to complete at least one application by the conclusion of Michigan College Application Week. Michigan College Access Network received a signed certificate from Gov. Rick Snyder proclaiming that Oct. 26-30, 2015 is Michigan College Application Week. The proclamation supports dedicated time for college seniors to complete applications for postsecondary education. In addition, it encourages all Michigan colleges and universities to accept the National Association for College Admission Counseling application fee waiver for those students who demonstrate financial need. Each day of the week our counselors have planned activities to support this initiative, not just for seniors, but many activities are for all high school students, grades 9-12.  If you have questions or would like further information about the activities planned, pl

The WindUp will again be on sale for 75 cents during lunch on Monday, Oct. 12. Subscriptions are also still available for $6.   Contact Joyce Hunter at jhunter@sjschools.org

The Wind-Up , St. Joseph High School’s newsmagazine, goes on sale this Friday, Oct. 9 for 75 cents during lunch.  Subscribers can pick up their copy at this time. Subscriptions are still accepted. Student subscription cost is $6. If you are interested in a subscription, you can email Joyce Hunter at jhunter@sjschoools.org

Please cheer on your St. Joe Bears this Friday for the Play for Pink game at Dickinson Stadium.  You can order your special Play for Pink shirts by going online to Lazer Graphics...look under sales.  You can also call them. Orders must be in by NOON on Wednesday. Proceeds benefit breast cancer research and health screenings. The team will be wearing new pink jerseys for the game. Also, all St. Joe Rocket & Flag players, as well as area breast cancer survivors will be recognized during the game.

Upcoming Events at St. Joseph High School October 2015 Wednesday, October 7th  Count Day SJPS Foundation Fundraiser @ Silver Beach Pizza Friday, October 9th Home Varsity Football game -Home vs. Niles Wednesday, October 14th  One Hour Delay Friday, October 16th  Home Varsity Football game - Home vs. Battle Creek Lakeview Senior Night for Football, Cheerleaders and Band Tuesday, October 20th Fall Choir Concert 7pm  Monday, October 26th Academic Letter Awards 7pm Wednesday, October 28th One Hour Delay Thursday, October 29th Orchestra Fall Concert 7pm November 2015 Tuesday, November 3rd End of the First Marking Period Wednesday, November 11th One Hour Delay Thursday, November 19th No School Parent Teacher Conferences Friday, November 20th No School SJHS Fall Musical: Cinderella 7pm Saturday, November 21st SJHS Fall Musical: Cinderella 2pm Wednesday, Thursday, Friday November 25th, 26th, 27th No School - Thanksgiving Break Saturday, Nove

St. Joseph High School Performing Arts Hall of Fame In order to recognize and honor those associated with St. Joseph High School, a Performing Arts Hall of Fame has been created this past summer.  The Hall of Fame would like to recognize those who have distinguished themselves in one or more of the following areas: vocal, instrumental, and theater. The Performing Arts Hall of Fame steering committee would like to invite you to nominate an individual for induction into the Hall of Fame.  This could be someone who was a contributor to the Performing Arts program of St. Joseph Public Schools, someone who was a mentor who provided leadership, guidance, inspiration and/or innovation to the Performing Arts at Joseph High School; or last, someone who graduated from St. Joseph High School at least 10 years prior to the year you would like to nominate them.  You may find the nomination form at the following link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1b5bMO6dLPvjc

The district has created a new place on the web site for distributing fliers on upcoming events.  You can follow the included link and see upcoming events in one location.  If you would like to get a flier posted on the site for others to see, please contact Sue Patzer in the superintendent's office for approval.   Thank you, http://www.sjschools.org/sjps-parents/community-cork-board-district

Parent Teacher Conferences will take place on November 19, 2015.  High school students and their parents will be able to visit with teachers in the Fieldhouse Gym.  Middle School students and their parents will again be able to visit with middle school teachers here in the high school student center.  Times for both schools are from 12:30-4 pm and 5:30-8:30 pm.   We hope to see you here on November 19th.

The SJPS Foundation/Silver Beach Pizza Fundraiser event is right around the corner.  This is a great way to support the SJPS Foundation and get a great dinner at the same time.  10% of ALL  proceeds on October 7 th will come back to the SJPS Foundation.  That includes carry out, dine in and bar purchases.  THANKS! Link to FB Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/968162453206650/

The PSAT will be on Oct. 14 at the high school. All juniors are highly encouraged to register to take the test.  It is the official route of entry to the National Merit Scholarship program. Additionally, this test is excellent preparation for the SAT test that all juniors will take in April as part of our Michigan Merit Exam.  The SAT is recognized by all colleges as a standardized test for college admissions purposes. Please register by Sept. 30 – cost is $11.25 and you can pay in the guidance office.

There will be a Parent- Student informational meeting about the educational science trip to Costa Rica during Spring Break of 2016.  This meeting will take place on Wed. Sept. 23rd at 7:00 pm in room S104.  We will be discussing details of the trip as well as fundraising opportunities.  If you cannot attend but would like to know more about the trip, please email Mary Ann Milletics.   Mmilletics@sjschools.org

Here is a list of current athletic teams with their coaches, and our current clubs with the sponsor for each organization.  Contact information for all staff members can be found on the high school web site. Athletic Teams Clubs

The 2015 Yearbooks are in.  They are being distributed during the lunch hours.  Seniors can pick their copy up in the main office.

This is information for current Juniors and Seniors: The Rotary Student Program is now accepting essays for Juniors and Seniors interested in securing a mentor living the “dream career.” As in the past, the most thoughtful essays will determine student selection. Essays are due  on Friday, October 2.  For more information, see the Rotary Counselor Advisor, (Tracy Wagner, Jeri DiBrito or Ruth Gephart).  This now global program, which started with the Rotary Club of St. Joseph-Benton Harbor, is a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet with a mentor. Good luck to everyone that applies. There are also posters hanging in school that can provide you with more information.

NHS Tutors will be available Tuesdays and Thursdays after school in Ms. Nicholie’s room S106 starting September 24 th .  For current NHS members there will be a mandatory meeting on September 15 th .  If you need further information please contact Ms. Nicholie at 926-3320 or  nnicholie@sjschools.org .

Back to School Night is on Tuesday, September 15, 2015.  It begins at 5:30 with schedule pick up in the student center.  Class bells will begin at 6.  There is a OK2Say presentation in the student center at 7:30.   More information on that program is also in the blog.  I have provided links for you below to helpful documents related to Tuesday evening.  Hope to see you there! Kevin Riggs, Principal Back to School Info for Parents Back to School Parent Invite Back to School Night Schedule

Presentation Dates for St. Joseph Public Schools are: High School: Monday, Sept. 14 Lincoln Elementary: Tuesday, Sept. 15 Brown Elementary: Wednesday, Sept. 16 E.P. Clarke Elementary: Thursday, Sept. 17 Upton Middle School: Friday, Sept. 18 *Community Seminar Night: Tuesday, Sept. 15, 7:30 to 8:30 @ St. Joseph High School If you do NOT want your child to participate, please fill out the attached form and return the bottom of the attached sheet to your student's school on the day of or prior to the day of the scheduled presentation.  To print out form follow this link : http://sjschools.org/images/HighSchool/Parent_Notification__Opt-out_200252_7-1-3.doc

We have schedule picture retakes for October 30 at 9 am.   Please let your student know if they missed pictures on the first day of school. Thank you,

Hello, Amy Dirlam shared a good deal of information with students today during our BYOD session.  Each grade level was able to meet with Amy for 45 minutes.  She shared the following link with students today, and thought it might be helpful to share it with all of you as well.  Please let us know if you have questions or ideas as we continue to make the transition to a BYOD school this fall.  The link is:   https://goo.gl/DERzRd   Thank you, Kevin

Upcoming Events The district has created a new place on the web site for distributing fliers on upcoming events.  You can follow the included link and see upcoming events in one location.  If you would like to get a flier posted on the site for others to see, please contact Sue Patzer in the superintendent's office for approval.   Thank you, http://www.sjschools.org/sjps-parents/community-cork-board-district

Senior Mentors will be handing out schedules to 10th - 12th graders on September 2 AND 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  In previous announcements, only the 2nd was advertised, so I just wanted to let you know the 3rd was also an option. Thank you!

AUGUST 2015 NEWSLETTER Dear Parents, The new school year is right around the corner and I am excited to be a part of the great educational family at St. Joe High School.   I enjoyed my first full summer here in St. Joseph, and I am looking forward to my second year as principal at the best high school in Michigan!   I am truly humbled to be a part of such a great team here at the high school, and always impressed with how well our students do day in and day out in their endeavors both in and out of the classroom.    It is going to be a wonderful year with a couple of different changes, like our BYOD initiative.   I will keep everyone updated as the year progresses.   Please feel free to ask questions at any time.      One change for this year is the first day of school for our students.   We are trying to accomplish a variety of activities that first morning with students so that we can eliminate some of the traditional interruptions in the first couple w