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.
1959 – 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 – Our current pastor and school principal, Fr. Michael Williams and 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 – Our current pastor and school principal, Fr. Michael Williams and 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.