History
September 8, 1924 – St. Joseph School opened its doors to 70 students in grades 1-8. The school was run by Mother M. Inez and the Sisters of St. Joseph from Nazareth, Michigan
1956 – The Home School Council (now known as the Parent School Council) held the first annual school carnival.
1958 – An addition of six classrooms, a cafeteria, and a kitchen was added to the south side of the building to accommodate increasing enrollment.
1963 – With enrollment continuing to increase, a second addition was added to the north end of the school which included a gymnasium with locker rooms, six classrooms, audio-video and multipurpose rooms, and student lockers.
1970 – Due to diocese wide cutbacks, seventh and eighth grade are transferred to the public junior high, keeping only grades 1 – 6 at the school building.
1983 – The Education Commission and the Parish Council established the Educational Trust Fund, a long-range plan to help finance school and non-school educational programs.
1985 – The first kindergarten class started at St. Joseph School and went for half day.
1985 – The Quiet Area dedicated to Father William G. Hankerd was added and the playground installed.
1988 – A computer lab is added by remodeling a classroom and installing 30 computers.
1995 – The TRIP (Tuition Reduction Incentive Program) begins.
2002 – St. Joseph’s dedicated teachers got their Teachers’ Lounge remodeled.
2005 – Kindergarten was switched to a full day format.
2005 – New playground equipment was installed by a parent committee with volunteers providing the majority of labor for the playground and landscaping.
2006 – New Kindergarten rooms were established on the lower level of the original school building to accommodate enrollment in all day-every day kindergarten.
2007 – An Anti-Bullying Policy was written and enacted by St. Joseph School staff.
2008 – The school library was remodeled.
2009 – The Computer Lab was remodeled, complete with all new desktop computers.
2010 – New laptops were purchased for the St. Joseph teaching staff
2012 – Pastor, Fr. Michael Williams and school principal, Mr. Christopher Wells, begin at St. Joseph Parish and School after the retirement of both Fr. Eoin Murphy and Mrs. Tomi Ann Schultheiss.
2013 – The school office is moved to the main entrance where new security doors and a security system are added.
1970 – Due to diocese wide cutbacks, seventh and eighth grade are transferred to the public junior high, keeping only grades 1 – 6 at the school building.
1983 – The Education Commission and the Parish Council established the Educational Trust Fund, a long-range plan to help finance school and non-school educational programs.
1985 – The first kindergarten class started at St. Joseph School and went for half day.
1985 – The Quiet Area dedicated to Father William G. Hankerd was added and the playground installed.
1988 – A computer lab is added by remodeling a classroom and installing 30 computers.
1995 – The TRIP (Tuition Reduction Incentive Program) begins.
2002 – St. Joseph’s dedicated teachers got their Teachers’ Lounge remodeled.
2005 – Kindergarten was switched to a full day format.
2005 – New playground equipment was installed by a parent committee with volunteers providing the majority of labor for the playground and landscaping.
2006 – New Kindergarten rooms were established on the lower level of the original school building to accommodate enrollment in all day-every day kindergarten.
2007 – An Anti-Bullying Policy was written and enacted by St. Joseph School staff.
2008 – The school library was remodeled.
2009 – The Computer Lab was remodeled, complete with all new desktop computers.
2010 – New laptops were purchased for the St. Joseph teaching staff
2012 – Pastor, Fr. Michael Williams and school principal, Mr. Christopher Wells, begin at St. Joseph Parish and School after the retirement of both Fr. Eoin Murphy and Mrs. Tomi Ann Schultheiss.
2013 – The school office is moved to the main entrance where new security doors and a security system are added.
2014 – Begindergarten program for young 5’s is added as a half or full day option.
2015 – The inaugural St. Joe Feast and Raffle is held with great success. Over $70,000 was raised for the school in one night.
2017 – The Begindergarten playground was established. Parent School Council donated the funds and parent volunteers installed the playground equipment.
2018 – Replaced entire school roof and skylights.
2018 – Installed surveillance cameras around the exterior of the school building.
2019 – New gymnasium floor was installed.
2019 – School drop off lane established in front of the building on Cass Street.
2021 – Installed new fencing around playground and parking area.
2022 – School-wide expectations implemented under the “Comet Commandments.” Students recognized on “Soaring Comets” wall.
2022 – The entire school was hard wired for internet access. WI-FI access points were installed, Smartboard technology was included into the classrooms and mobile Chromebook carts were added, making technology more assessible for student use.
2022 – Outdoor LED lighting installed around the entire school building.
2022 – Updated all kitchen appliances with new stoves, ovens, fryer, walk in freezer, standing freezer and exhaust system.
2023 – Veterans Memorial and Flag Pole dedicated to the school.
2023 – Renovation of the Kindergarten bathrooms.
2023 – School implemented Virtues-based praise and discipline plan. Virtue of the week recognized and discussed over the school P.A. system.
2023 – Created new Religion Room from the old Youth Room. All grades as well as Religious Education use the room to encounter God.
September 8, 2024 – The 100th year anniversary of St. Joseph Catholic School.
2024 – School Renovations completed. School front and windows replaced and new windows for the North wing of the building as well as gymnasium windows removed.