Student Life

St. Joseph Regional Catholic School is a vibrant learning community offering an outstanding education for students from pre-school through grade 8. Managed by the Diocese of Manchester, the school also fulfills New Hampshire’s curriculum mandates. For specific information about academics at St. Joe’s, visit our Curriculum page. Our “tried and true” curriculum has yielded impressive results! Students from St. Joseph Regional Catholic School consistently receive high test scores on private high school entrance exams, securing their admission to such secondary institutions as: Central Catholic, Presentation of Mary, St. John’s Prep, Bishop Guertin, Trinity, Brooks School, Deerfield Academy, and Phillips Academy.

In addition, St. Joe’s graduates are more than adequately prepared for advanced placement (AP) classes in high school and are awarded numerous scholarships. While a high percentage of alumni appear on the honor rolls of the high schools listed above as well as public high schools in the Derry, Salem, Sanborn, Timberlane, and Windham school districts, a significant number have graduated as valedictorians of their high school classes. St. Joe’s students continue to receive high test scores on Catholic High School admission exams. For more Alumni accomplishments, see the Alumni section of this web site.

St. Joe’s believes a well-rounded student with a positive attitude can help build a firm foundation, not just for education, but for life! Sports is an integral part of developing a child mentally and physically.

We offer all types of sports programs for all ages and all grades when enough students are interested.

For the most up-to-date information about our current Sports Programs, please login to the Family Portal.

Our Integrated Arts at St. Joe’s is built into our curriculum for all students
to construct and demonstrate understanding through an art form.

Art

“If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.”
– Vincent Van Gogh

Physical Education

“Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.”
– John F. Kennedy

Media Literacy

“Technology is nothing. What’s important is that you have a faith in people, that they’re basically good and smart, and if you give them tools, they’ll do wonderful things with them.”.
– Steve Jobs

“A library is not a luxury but one of the necessities of life.”
– Henry Ward Beecher

Music

“Music is an agreeable harmony for the honor of God and the permissible delights of the soul.”
– Johann Sebastian Bach

Halloween Parade

Students in Kindergarten through 4th grade parade through the school in their Halloween costumes. Families are also invited to attend.

Salem Holiday Parade

The entire St. Joe’s community is involved in preparing the school’s Christmas float and participating in this town-wide parade.

Barnes and Noble Night

St. Joe’s staff members read Christmas stories to the elementary school children. This enjoyable event also serves as a fundraising opportunity since a percentage of sales from the evening goes to the St. Joe’s library.

As the school year winds down in June, all grades enjoy a day of outdoor fun, participating in a variety of sports, activities, and competitions.

Victorian Tea

This traditional event held in February is intended for all female students and their moms, aunts, grandmas, sisters, etc. Young girls get dressed up and bring their favorite dolls, while raffles are held and tea and snacks are served.

Junior High Dance

Several times a year, to celebrate occasions such as Halloween, Valentine’s Day, and Graduation, the Junior High students gather together for a Friday night dance which features a DJ and plenty of chaperones.

Back-to-School Cookout

In late August before classes begin we kick off the the school year with a back-to-school cookout for students and their families preceded by a school open house.

Three times a year, parents join together in honoring the staff. Breakfast or lunch is served in the specially decorated staff lounge where other surprises take place to show our appreciation for our dedicated teachers and staff members.

Musical Theater Program

Students in Grade K through 8th optionally participate in a Musical Theater Event in two performances at the school.

Catholic Schools Week Pot Luck Supper

Families celebrate Catholic Schools Week in January/February time frame by attending a community Mass followed by a Pot Luck Supper and school open house.

Christmas Show

This annual event never fails to put the entire St. Joe’s community in the Christmas spirit. In the beautifully decorated auditorium, students in Kindergarten through Grade 4 perform a variety of holiday songs, Christmas carols, recitations, and a unique retelling of the nativity story. A morning show is put on for fellow students and an evening show for families.

Spelling Bee

In January, selected students from Grades 5 through 8 participate in this nail-biting competition, the winner of which goes on to represent St. Joe’s at the Scripps Howard Regional Spelling Bee.

Enrichment Programs

Throughout the year outside educators, artists, businesses, and others present programs designed for all grade levels. Recent programs have ranged from the educational presentations of Mad Science to a visit from a Holocaust survivor.

Grandparents Day

In October, children celebrate a liturgy with their grandparents, followed by refreshments in the school hall.

8th Grade Graduation Dance

The 6th and 7th Grade classes host an annual farewell dance for the 8th Grade to celebrate their graduation from St. Joseph School. The 6th Grade contributes financially and the 7th Grade develops the ideas and decorates the auditorium for the big event. This is a formal event attended by the 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade classes usually toward the end of the school year.

By working on a variety of service projects throughout the year, students at St. Joseph Regional Catholic School contribute to the community, and in the process develop an appreciation for their own blessings while helping the less fortunate.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta Harvest – Every member of the St. Joe’s Community (teachers, students, staff, and parents) is asked to bring fresh produce (vegetables, fruits, and bread) to this Mass. Our families are encouraged to bring items from their own garden that they have harvested. However, a “supermarket harvest” is just as wonderful. All donated produce is placed in the sanctuary and presented at the opening of our liturgy. (In the early church, people would bring farm animals to be presented to the priest.) After our liturgy, the offertory harvest is delivered to Lazarus House.

Thanksgiving Food Drive – Each Thanksgiving, the students and parents of St. Joe’s donate turkeys along with complete Thanksgiving dinners and make over 40 Thanksgiving baskets. The baskets are delivered to needy families throughout the four supporting parishes of St. Joe’s .

Soldiers Project – Students write letters and give toiletries to our troops overseas.

Hoops for Hearts & Jump Rope for Hearts – Students participate in an annual drive for the American Heart Association by “shooting hoops” or jump roping.

Clothing Drives – Each year students participate in donating warm winter clothing for the Lazarus House.

Toys for Tots – St. Joe’s participates by donating toys for the local Toys for Tots program.

Sister School – As part of our focus on service, and on being eagles, we adopt a Sister School. Father Luvakubandi of St. Paul School, in Mascoma, Tanzania is providing us with 40 pen pals for our students in grades 2-6, and eventually every grade.

NU (no uniform) Days for a Cause – Each year, this program allows for donations to the cause determined by the Student Council. Those students who bring in a donation of $1.00 may participate.