Junior Achievement & BizTown
St. Joseph School students in grades K-6 participate in the Junior Achievement program. The Junior Achievement program is volunteer-led and seeks to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. Its core content areas of work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy—ignite the spark in young people to experience and realize the opportunities and realities of work and life in the 21st century.
In grades 5 and 6, students visit JA BizTown. BizTown combines in-class learning with a day-long visit to a simulated town. This program allows elementary school students to operate banks, manage restaurants, write checks, and vote for mayor. The program helps students connect the dots between what they learn in school and the real world.
Visit https://www.juniorachievement.org/web/ja-usa/home for more information.
Student Support Team
Student Leaders in 7th and 8th grade meet monthly as our Student Support Team. The SST members organize and promote school-wide service projects and act as representatives for their peers.
Math Masters
Math Masters (open to 5th and 6th graders) is an after-school math team that challenges students to use critical thinking and problem-solving skills in mathematics. Students are required to complete an entrance exam and attend practice each week in preparation for the competition. Yearly, the teams attend a competition with many other schools to showcase their knowledge in mathematics.
Quiz Bowl
The Quiz Bowl is a contest of knowledge and quickness in which four 8th grade students compete against other Catholic elementary schools in the Archdiocese. The 8th graders are chosen by completing a test of general knowledge in which questions must be answered quickly. The top 4 student scores become our Quiz Bowl team.
Geography Bee
The Geography Bee is open to students in 4-8th grade. Each grade has a preliminary competition in which each student answers an oral question in seven different rounds. The top two students from each class then compete in the school championship where students answer oral questions in front of the student body. The winner of the school championship then must take a written test and must score in the top 100 of students throughout Minnesota to qualify for the State Competition.
Spelling Bee
Our school Spelling Bee is open to students in grades 4, 5, and 6. Each grade has a preliminary bee, which determines the top three spellers per grade level. The top three spellers for each grade (4-6th grade) level then compete in our school spelling bee in front of the student body. The school spelling bee champion then advances to the Archdiocesan Spelling Bee.
Performing Arts
Handchime Ensemble (grades 5-8): Our Handchime Ensemble performs at weekly all-school Masses and special events throughout the school year. Rehearsing once each week (after the school day), this is a great opportunity to enhance musical skills in a group setting.
Middle School Mass Choir (grades 6-8): The Middle School Mass Choir leads the parish and school music at weekly all-school masses. At times they are the featured choir while other times they use their leadership qualities in assisting the younger grades singing in the choir.
Preschool-4th Grade Christmas Program: A much anticipated tradition every school year, our younger students gift the St. Joseph community with sacred holiday music and a play focusing on the story of Jesus’ birth.
Grades 5-8 Spring Musical: A fun way to end the school year, our older students combine their talents of singing, dancing, acting and tech production in an entertaining large-group musical production.
Band/Instrumental Music
Students in grades 5-8 can participate in band through district #196 (Rosemount Elementary and Rosemount Middle School). Transportation is provided for students to attend band rehearsal class and lessons at the public school during the school day.
Field Trips
Students in grades preschool-8th grade will participate in at least one or more field trip per grade level each school year. Field trips vary as they are age appropriate and connected to curricular goals for each grade level.