“WE ARE ST. JOE!” This cheer can often be heard at our football games as students and adults alike proclaim their pride in support of the athletic team on the field. That same statement applies to the pride we have in this wonderful community, from the beaches to the summer concerts and the beautiful sunsets, to the academic successes of our students and the overall quality of our school program.

Last school year was marked with many positive successes. All our buildings again received the letter grade of “A” from the state, our third through ninth graders scored at the top of the state’s MEAP student assessment, and our eleventh graders led all other students in public schools in Southwest Michigan. We remain in the top 5% of schools in the state.

The 2009-2010 school year promises to be another banner year for the St. Joseph Public Schools. New teacher computers were purchased for our elementary teachers, and two new buses were obtained to replace two retired models. Our teachers continue to grow in the delivery of instruction because of an aggressive professional development program designed to improve the teaching and learning in our classrooms every day. Financially our house is in order as we prepare to weather the financial crisis at the state level. All of our labor groups have accepted three year contracts with a pay freeze in the first year. For the first time in five years our fund balance is large enough that borrowing will not be necessary, and we have a strategic plan in place to guide all our decisions so your schools will continue to excel at every level and be the “Lighthouse District” that others turn to as the example of excellence.

In addition, the St. Joseph Public Schools Foundation continues to support our district through teacher grants, field trips, and major projects such as upgrading the Upton Planetarium and creating the demonstration Classrooms of Today in every building.

While we have much to be proud of, there remain several areas of need that must be addressed in the very near future. Last year at this time we were preparing to ask the taxpayers of this district to support a bond issue to upgrade technology, increase energy efficiency, improve student safety and security, and bring our fine arts complex, including the auditorium, up to twenty first century standards. The Board wisely withdrew that request in light of the extreme economic downturn we all faced.

Unfortunately, the needs in these areas have not changed and the upgrades are desperately needed. The pause, however, has allowed us to demonstrate the increased student achievement in the Classrooms of Today. Nationally, the gain for students in classrooms using this technology is 17%. Our limited time in these classrooms has given similar results. When the time is right, the St. Joseph Board of Education will again bring the issue to the voters so we can address these needs. In the meantime, the Board will continue to use building and site funds to address critical concerns.

We appreciate the support this community has shown our schools and we look forward to seeing you at concerts, games, athletic events, honors assemblies, parent teacher conferences, and back to school nights.

Great Schools in a Great Community – We are St. Joe!

Allen Skibbe Superintendent

What’s Inside:GENEral School calENdar

buSiNG iNformatioN

food SErvicE updatE

thaNk you SJpS fouNdatioN

loSiNG a lEGENd

rEmEmbEriNG 9/11

parENt iNtErNEt viEwEr

fall SportS SchEdulES

SJ topS iN mmE ScorES

cot roomS a SuccESS!

orchEStra to play carNEGiE hall

mEmoriES of thE paSt

fiEldhouSE proGramS

alumNi iNvitatioN

Board of Educationfrank pastrick, president

amy porritt-peirce, vice presidentrandy reimers, treasurerdenise reeves, Secretary

dean ray, trusteemary ann pater, trusteetamara patrick, trustee

St. JosephPUBLIC SCHOOLS

GrEAT SChOOLS IN A GrEAT COMMUNITy FALL 2009

school calendar 2009-2010

noTe: This calendar may be modified as necessary to comply with state law and through the calendar committee. Dates will be posted as soon as available. All up-to-date calendars are available on-line at www.sjschools.org.

day scheduleYoung Fives/Kindergarten AM 8:25 am to 11:46 amYoung Fives/Kindergarten PM 12:30 pm to 3:52 pmElementary Schools 8:25 am to 3:52 pmUpton Middle School 7:45 am to 2:44 pmHigh School 8:00 am to 3:05 pm

2009sePTeMBer 1 Teachers Report 2 5-6 pm Upton Middle School Orientation 6-7 pm Elementary Ice Cream Socials 6-8 pm HS 9th & New Student Orientation 8 school Begins 15 High School - Back to School Night 16 Elementaries - Back to School Night 17 Middle School - Back to School Night 23 MS & HS Two Hour Delay - Teacher Inservice 30 Student Count Day

ocToBer 23 no school y5/K-5 28 MS & HS Two Hour Delay - Teacher Inservice noveMBer 1 Daylight Savings Begins 3 End of 1st Marking Period 11 Parent/Teacher Conferences MS & HS *School as normal for all students 12 no school y5/K-12 P/T Conferences – Grades Y5/K-5 Teacher In-Service for HS & Middle 13 no school y5/K - 12 P/T Conferences – Grades Y5/K-5 25,26,27 no school y5/K-12 Thanksgiving Break

deceMBer

18 Winter Break Begins at end of day

2010 January 4 school reconvenes 18 no school y5/K-12 Martin luther King day – 20,21,22 Semester tests - High School No PM Classes, Grades 9-12 only 22 end of 2nd Marking Period 25 no school y5/K-12 Teacher record day

FeBruary 10 Student Count Day 11,12 no school y5/K-5 P/T Conferences – Elementary Only 15 no school y5/K-12 President's day 24 MS & HS Two Hour Delay - Teacher Inservice Kindergarten Round-Up 7 pm Lincoln March

3 Time Change - Spring Forward 9 Michigan Merit Exam (MME) Testing Freshmen, Sophomores, and Seniors only - no School 11 no school y5/K-5 Teacher In-service 17 MS & HS Two Hour Delay - Teacher Inservice 24 End of 3rd Marking Period

aPrIl 1 spring Break Begins at end of day 12 school reconvenes 22 no school y5/K-12 Teacher In-service "Take Your Child to Work Day"

May 31 no school y5/K-12 Memorial day

June 2,3,4 Semester tests - High School & Upton No PM Classes, Grades 6-12 only 4 last day of school for all students Half Day AM & PM Programs report in AM 7 Teacher record day (no students)

importaNt! EmErGENcy card iNformatioN

all emergency cards will be filled out on-line for the 2009/10 school year. this means that you will only fill out 1 form per family!

www.sjschools.org/parentinfo after September 1st

we are asking that you complete these forms as soon as possible. if you do not have internet access please contact your school office.

transportationbuS routES aNd SchEdulES will bE availablE SooN at www.SJSchoolS.orG/traNSportatioN

Bus routes and schedules will be available on-line as well as posted on the front doors at school. you will need to determine the stop closest to your home forthe morning pick-up and afternoon drop-off for all students in young Fives through 12th Grade.

Please contact the Transportation Department, at 926-3900 or email ksoper@sjschools.org or skroening@sjschools.org, with any questions you might have. Please also notify them of changes in your child’s expected bus route due to day care, etc.

your child’s safety is a top priority for us! Please be patient the first few days of school as our drivers work to welcome new riders, establish routines, and double check student names. Often routes tend to be a little longer the first week or two.

please Note: parents of young fives and kindergarten students will be contacted by their bus driver prior to the start of school regarding mid-day transportation procedures.

Thank You!“No Show” Ball yields big results!

The students, teachers and administration would like to extend their thanks to the St. Joseph Public Schools Foundation for their donation of over $9,000 to the annual fieldtrip fund.

This means that despite the State level budget crisis that St. Joseph students will still be able to enjoy these great trips. Some of these include:

Salvation ArmyUpton Planetarium

Curious Kids Lake Michigan College

Lansing CapitalMI City Train St

Grand Mere Froggy Park

Lincoln/heritage CenterB.C. Courthouse

SJ LibraryConner PrairieSWM College

Art Institute of ChicagoLakeland hospitalAndrews Library

5 Pines Starks Funeral

MSUBlossomland

from the cafeteriayoung fives & kindergartenMilk is $32 for the year for our young Fives andKindergarten students and can be paid for in theschool office on September 2nd during Orientation.

Elementary breakfast programBreakfast will be offered daily in the cafeterias, please check your school’s calendar for times. Meal prices are $1.30 for elementary students and $1.50 for secondary students. More information will be sent home with your child the first week of school.

lunch programStudent lunches are $2.25 for elementary and $2.55 for secondary per day. This includes the entrée (or alternate choice of sandwich), vegetable/fruit bar, and milk. Additional milk may be purchased for 45 cents. Students need to bring lunch money with them on the first day of school unless they have funds left from last year. Any food service debts from last year should be settled as soon as possible. Please visit www.lunchdeposit.com for information related to student accounts.

free & reduced mealsApplications for free and reduced price lunches and milk will be sent home on the first day of school or they can be found at www.lunchapp.com. Lunch and milk must be purchased until these applications have

been received and qualification has been determined. If you would like to pick up an application before the school year begins, they are available in the school office.

all menus are available on-line.

StudiES Show that childrEN who rEGularly atE a hEalthy luNch had bEttEr StaNdardizEd tESt ScorES aNd bEttEr claSSroom bEhavior.

REM

EMBE

RING 9/11 - A SPECIAL EVENT!

losing a legendSoccer coach Steve lohrke retires.

friday, September 11

To commemorate this important date, Middle School and high School students will hear from Jim LaPenna, a First responder to the 9/11 Attacks. Jim and his son will also join us at the football game that evening. Please help us to remember this important event and to honor those who continue to give their lives for our freedom.

Sponsored by the St. Joseph Public Schools Foundation.

To access PIV, go to www.sjschools.org and select your child’s school. Then under the “parents” tab found at the top of the page, you will find the PIV option.

NotE: thE uSEr id aNd paSSword for thiS applicatioN iS Not thE SamE oNE that you uSE to loG iNto thE wEb SitE.

you will need to have your student’s id number and the password assigned by the school district. This is handed out at the beginning of each school year at Back-to-School night. If you are unable to attend, or have misplaced your information, please contact:

ren Baldwin, Dir. of Technologyrbaldwin@sjschools.org or 926-3245.

ParentInternet vIewerview your student’s grades and attendance on-line. Note, this is for MS and HS students only.

Steve Lohrke started coaching the Bear’s Soccer team in 1985, just four years after the high school started a varsity program. Prior to his arrival, the team finished last in the conference in each of the previous four years, and averaged only 4 wins and 14 losses. Within two seasons Steve turned the program around, and the 1987 team posted the school’s first winning season on record (14-7). Coach Lohrke also led the team to a conference, district, and regional titile, eventually losing in the state semi-finals to eventual state champion.

In 1992, Steve was instrumental in the planning and completion of the first high school “soccer-only” facility in SW Michigan. The “Bear Cage” is now considered one of the premier soccer facilities in the State of Michigan. College teams regularly use it to train for their visits to Notre Dame University and it has been studied, photographed, and used as a template for other programs, when building their own facilities.

Coach Lohrke will be greatly missed by students and staff. Athletic Director, Kevin Guzzo had this to say, “Steve was a first class coach and person that will be greatly missed as a role model in our district. he inspired many student athletes and has left quite a legacy as a coach. Players, opposing coaches, and officials all greatly respected him for his many, many contributions to the world of high school soccer.”

1985-2008 boys varsity Soccer

24 year record of 325 wins 148 losses, 26 ties

22 consecutive winning Seasons

7 west division championships

4 conference championships

7 district championships

2 regional championships

1 State runner-up

30 players who attained college roster spots

8 academic all-State teams

1996-1999/ 2002-2009 varsity Girls Soccer

12 year record of 131 wins 71 losses 15 ties

11 winning seasons

4 western division championships

1 conference championship

2 district championships

1 regional championship

15 players who attained college roster spots

6 academic all-State teams

Varsity Footballfri 08/28/09 marShall* 7:30pmthurS 09/03/09 harpEr* 7:30pm

fri 09/11/09 NilES 7:30pmfri 09/18/09 loy Norrix* 7:30pm

fri 09/25/09 bENtoN harbor* 7:30pmfri 10/02/09 portaGE cENtral 7:30pm

fri 10/09/09 mattawaN* 7:30pmfri 10/16/09 lakEShorE 7:30pm

Fri 10/23/09 Portage NortherN − HOmEcOming 7:30pm

Women’s Varsity Golf

thurS 08/20/09 tri mEEt* 9:00amfri 08/21/09 kzoo iNvitE* 9:00am

wEdS 08/26/09 wESt Jam* 10:00ammoN 08/31/09 wESt@mattawaN* tba

wEdS 09/02/09 lEaGuE * 9:00amwEdS 09/09/09 wESt@bh* 3:30pm

thurS 09/10/09 South havEN* 3:30pmmoN 09/14/09 wESt@NilES* 3:30pmthurS 09/17/09 tri mEEt* 3:30pm

moN 09/21/09 SJhS 3:30pmmoN 09/28/09 lEaGuE mEEt* 9:00am

tuES 09/29/09 NilES 3:30pm

Men’s Varsity Soccer

Sat 08/22/09 portaGE iNvitE* 9:00ammoN 08/24/09 otSEGo* 6:45pm

Sat 08/29/09 vickSburG 6:45pmmoN 08/31/09 dowaGiac 6:45pmwEdS 09/02/09 paw paw* 6:45pm

tuES 09/08/09 mattawaN* 6:45pmthurS 09/10/09 bENtoN harbor 6:45pm

Sat 09/12/09 lakEShorE* 6:45pmmoN 09/14/09 NilES 6:45pm

Sat 09/19/09 clay claSSic* 9:30amthurS 09/24/09 wESt@EaSt* 6:45pmtuES 09/29/09 cENtral@wESt 6:45pmthurS 10/01/09 lEaGuE tourN* 6:45pmSat 10/03/09 South havEN 6:45pm

tuES 10/06/09 lEaGuE tourN* 6:45pmthurS 10/08/09 lEaGuE tourN* 6:45pm

Sat 10/10/09 bridGmaN 6:45pm

Men’s Varsity Tennis

thurS 08/20/09 allEGaN* 8:30am

Fri 08/21/09 SB−SJ 5:00PM

Sat 08/22/09 forESt hillS* 9:00am

tuES 08/25/09 h. chriStiaN 4:00pm

wEdS 08/26/09 portaGE N* 4:30pm

Sat 08/29/09 travErSE iNv.* tba

wEdS 09/02/09 lakEShorE 4:30pm

wEdS 09/09/09 mattawaN* 4:30pm

Sat 09/12/09 pioNEEr iNvitE* 8:00am

wEdS 09/16/09 NilES 4:30pm

thurS 09/17/09 w ottawa* 4:30pm

Sat 09/19/09 okEmoS Quad* 9:00am

Sat 09/26/09 GraNdvillE* 9:00am

moN 09/28/09 wESt@EaSt* 4:30pm

tuES 09/29/09 allEGaN* 4:30pm

wEdS 09/30/09 cENt@wESt 4:30pm

Women’s Varsity Volleyball

moN 08/24/09 vickSburG* 5:00pm

wEdS 08/26/09 dowaGiac* 5:00pm

Sat 08/29/09 port NorthErN* 8:00am

wEdS 09/09/09 mattawaN* 7:00pm

Sat 09/12/09 lakEShorE* 8:30am

wEdS 09/16/09 bhhS* 7:00pm

wEdS 09/23/09 NilES 7:00pm

Sat 09/26/09 crowN poiNt iNv.* 9:00am

moN 10/05/09 paw paw* 6:30pm

wEdS 10/07/09 lakEShorE 7:00pm

Sat 10/10/09 SturGiS iNvitE* 8:30am

tuES 10/13/09 otSEGo* 6:00pm

Sat 10/17/09 coloma* 8:30am

wEdS 10/21/09 wESt@EaSt* 7:00pm

Sat 10/24/09 SJ iNvitE 9:00am

wEdS 10/28/09 cENt@wESt 7:00pm

Women’s Varsity Swim

wEdS 09/02/09 bc lakEviEw 6:00pm

Sat 09/12/09 bc lakEviEw rElayS* 11:00am

Sat 09/26/09 SturGiS rElayS* 10:30am

tuES 09/29/09 mattawaN 6:00pm

thurS 10/01/09 bc cENtral* 6:00pm

tuES 10/06/09 portaGE cENtral* 6:00pm

thurS 10/08/09 otSEGo* 6:00pm

tuES 10/13/09 lakEShorE 6:00pm

thurS 10/15/09 plaiNwEll 6:00pm

tuES 10/20/09 port. NorthErN* 6:00pm

Sat 10/24/09 miSca mEEt away tba

tuES 10/27/09 kzoo cENtral 6:00pm

Men’s & Women’s Cross Country

Sat 08/22/09 NilES iNvitE* 10:00am

wEdS 09/02/09 SJ iNvitE 4:30pm

Sat 09/12/09 harpEr crEEk iNv.* 10:00am

fri 09/18/09 mSu iNvitE* tba

wEdS 09/23/09 wESt@NilES* 5:00pm

Sat 09/26/09 baNGor iNvitE* 9:00am

wEdS 09/30/09 tri mEEt 5:00pm

Sat 10/03/09 bc iNvitE* 9:30am

wEdS 10/07/09 wESt@lakEShorE* 5:00pm

Sat 10/10/09 portaGE iNvitE* 9:00am

thurS 10/15/09 dowaGiac iNvitE* 5:00pm

fall athlEtic SchEdulES

For additional game details, jv & freshmen schedules, directions, ticket information, and youth clinics please visit www.sjschools.org

* indicates away game

writtEN byrEN baldwiNdir. of tEchNoloGy

Following the completion of the evaluation period of Classrooms of Today, the COT teachers and Director of Technology met to finalize the overall evaluation of the technology rich learning environments.

All those involved readily agreed that test results and daily observations clearly showed the advantages of a COT room above those of a traditional classroom.

The engagement and eagerness of students to participate was clearly seen. While the evaluation time period was very short, the testing results demonstrate excellent academic growth. At the elementary and middle school levels NWEA testing results were used to compare success rates. This is testing done early in the school year and again in the spring.

results of longer, multi-year studies, by robert Marzano (http://www.marzanoresearch.com), an internationally known researcher in educational assessment, on the effectiveness

of teaching and learning in interactive classrooms show an average of 17 percent higher achievement than teaching and learning in traditional classrooms and by traditional methods.

To assure that all students in the District have the opportunity to learn in true 21st Century Learning Environments, the Educational Technology Specialists and current COT teachers in our district are committed to work with the Administration, Board of Education, and St. Joseph

Education Foundation to secure adequate funding to transform all district classrooms into “Classrooms of Today”.

Please look for more information as we get closer to acheiving this goal.

OutstandingMMe ScoresBy SJ Students

StUdentS fInd SUCCeSSin the Classrooms of today!

St. Joseph students excelled again this year, by achieving top scores in four out of five categories on the MME test. The MME was introduced in 2007 as a replacement to the high school MEAP exams. Every spring the MME tests high school juniors on their proficiency in five core subject areas: reading, writing, math, science and social studies.

In four of five subjects, St. Joseph has shown steady improvement over the three years of the MME. Since 2007, reading proficiency has risen from 71.2 to 76.4 percent; writing from 53 to 65.4; math from 63.8 to 71.3; and science from 73.1 to 79.7. Social studies proficiency started high at 92.3, dipped slightly, then came to 91.2 percent in 2009. All scores are well above state averages.

top scores: SJ top Public School in Berrien County

rEadiNG writiNG math SciENcE Social StudiES

St. Joseph 76.4

St. Joseph 65.4

St. Joseph 71.3

St. Joseph 79.7

Lawton 95.3

Lakeshore 74.4

Lakeshore 58.6

Lakeshore 70.7

Gobles 68.9

Bridgman92.4

Bridgman 74.4

Lawton 58.6

Lawrence 66.0

Lawton 68.8

Lakeshore 92.2

South haven 70.3

Niles 49.5

Bridgman57.0

Lakeshore 68.4

New Buffalo 92.1

Lawrence 69.8

South haven 48.6

South haven 55.6

Bridgman 63.3

St. Joseph 91.2

State Avg. 59.9

State Avg. 43.4

State Avg. 49.3

State Avg. 55.6

State Avg. 81.3

for morE viSitwww.SJSchoolS.orG/bop

The high School orchestra and band are planning exciting and educational trips in June, 2010! The orchestra is going to Washington D.C., Philadelphia and New york with a concert at Carnegie hall. The band is planning a fun filled trip to Boston. To help decrease the cost of the trips, both groups are working together on fundraisers. The money generated will help reduce the cost for all students and chaperones traveling! Many volunteers, students and parents are needed for these fun events.

On October 3, you can watch a double feature movie under the stars at the football stadium. There will be lots of fun games and activities as well.

you can join the Tail Gate party on October 16 when St. Joseph football takes on Lakeshore. Enjoy the food and fun!

If you don’t feel like cooking, we have Port-A-Pit serving a

BBQ supper in November. Also in November and December, you can order a calendar and holiday CD of the band, orchestra and choir.

Other fundraisers during the year include bake sales, a raffle and donation of $50 for each bike sold if you mention our East Coast trip at Kickbikemike.com

This is a sample of events Band and Orchestra parents are planning to help defray the expenses of the trips. These trips are wonderful enrichment activities for our children. Our goal is to make them affordable so all students have the opportunity to attend. Please consider donating your time and money to this effort.

The St. Joseph Band and Orchestra Parents Association (SJBOP) was established in 1951 to aid the students and the program of the St. Joseph

Instrumental Music Departments. This year, there are over 600 high school and middle

students involved in band and orchestra. They help provide instruments, equipment, Artists in residence (professional musicians helping our teachers), chaperones, scholarships to summer camps, attend Board of Education meetings as music advocacy liason, and raise funds for large trips through many fundraisers including Football concessions, Fall Sports Program advertisements and sales, Cool Nights Auction/Dance, Middle School fundraiser, and

many other events.

regular board meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month, with no meetings scheduled during December, June, July, and August. This year’s meetings will be held at 7:00 pm in the Upton Orchestra room, with September 8 as our first meeting. Interested parents are encouraged to attend.

the bop is seeking your support.

“Membership in the SJBOP is open to anyone with a vested interest in the instrumental music program in the St. Joseph Public Schools, including parents, alumni, and grandparents, and friends.”

- prESidENt, mary moraN

looking for your memoriesSt. JoSEph SchoolS iS dEvElopiNG a formal hiStory of thE SchoolS aNd would likE your iNput!

In 1837, on a Saturday in May, the first St. Joseph School Board met to formally create the St. Joseph School District within the State of Michigan. Over the last 172 years Bear Pride has shined brightly on the shore of Lake Michigan - although we weren’t always the Bears. In doing research for an alumni project, it has come to our attention that there is no true historical record that has been kept of the school’s past. We are asking alumni, community members and anyone out there that has old photos, documents or vivid memories, to share those with us.

To learn more about this project, please contact Christine Waterhouse, Communications Director at 926-3252 or via email cwaterhouse@sjschools.org.

fine arts: SJ Orchestra to play at Carnegie Hall!

oN-liNE Fieldhouse PublicFitness Program

Starts in early November and runs through March. All St. Joseph

residents are welcome.

walking/Jogging

adult basketball

weight room

Sunday family Swim/Gym

ultimate frisbee

parent w/child basketball

For more information about times, costs, etc... please visit

www.sjschools.org.

parENt wEb SitE rEGiStratioNParents, in order to provide the best communication between our district, teachers, and your household, we are requesting that you register on our web site. It is an easy and quick process and will allow you to receive E-Alerts from your student’s teachers, update emergency information, view custom calendars and access common forms and more.

STEP 1: register by visiting the school web site and filling out the on-line form.

STEP 2: After you receive confirmation of your registration you MUST ThEN subscribe to the areas you want to receive e-alerts from by logging in to the site and clicking on the My INFO link.

www.SJSchoolS.orG

St. JoE bEarS alumNi aSSociatioN iNvitES you!The St. Joe Bears Alumni Association will be welcoming alumni at the Bears homecoming Football Game, October 23rd. Please stop by the Alumni Tent for refreshment and information regarding membership. The St. Joe Bears Alumni Association is for all graduates from St. Joseph high School.

3275 liNcolN avENuE, St. JoSEph, mi 49085www.SJSchoolS.orG

UPCOMING EVENTSmiddle School 6th & New Student orientationSept. 2nd 5-6 pm

Elementary ice cream SocialsSept. 2nd 6-7 pm

high School 9th & New Student orientationSept. 2nd 6-8 pm

firSt day of School!Sept. 8th

high School Back to School NightSept. 15th

Elementary Back to School NightSept. 16th

middle School Back to School NightSept. 17th

...more inside