Pastoral Ministry

Saint Joe High works hard to enhance the spiritual life of our students. As part of that effort, we hold monthly Masses for the entire school community.

At special times of the liturgical year (Advent and Lent), the school community assembles for Penance services, at which area priests offer the sacrament of Reconciliation and share lunch with students.

Special Sunday Masses are held annually for each of the four classes, as well as for grandparents. Students assist in these Masses by serving as ministers of the Word and Eucharist.

In order to provide opportunities for spiritual reflection, retreats are offered for all students. Freshman and sophomore retreats cover topics such as prayer, relationship building, spirituality, and the sacramental life. Junior and senior retreats are optional, and senior retreats usually involve an overnight stay. Retreats also include Mass and Reconciliation.

Most importantly, the members of the Saint Joe High pastoral ministry team are available to counsel any member of the school community.

Guidance Counseling

Each Saint Joseph's student is assigned a guidance counselor upon registration. Counselors assist students in selecting the courses that will help them achieve their goals, then help them stay on track to meet those goals, whether they plan to continue their education beyond high school or enter the workforce.

Saint Joseph's goal is to assist each student to enter the career world of the 21st century, prepared for an environment of technology and change. Counselors assist students in learning career identification skills and integrating them with academic preparation. Freshman English students work on a career paper. Sophomores take a survey designed to help them become aware of the careers available in their interests and find out information about them. Both the paper and the survey become part of the student's career portfolio presented to them before graduation.

Saint Joe High also sponsors "World of Work" for juniors and seniors. This program allows them to have excused time from school in order to visit a community professional in a field they may like to pursue. Since its inception in 1990, over a thousand students have visited professional offices in the Michiana area. Along with Career Day, which is held every other year, these programs connect our students with careers that are compatible with their interests.

Advanced Placement

This program offers eligible students the opportunity to complete and receive credit for college-level studies during high school. College faculty report that AP students are far better prepared for serious academic work at the college level, and college admissions officers are more apt to accept a student who has had AP experience.

The average participating high school offers six AP courses and administers 72 AP exams. Saint Joseph's High School offers thirteen AP courses and regularly administers over 150 AP exams: courses are offered to prepare students for exams in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Calculus, Computer Science, US History, US Government, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, English Language/Composition, French Literature, and Spanish Language.

Honors Courses

Most of the Advanced Placement courses listed above earn honors credit. In addition, Saint Joseph's has a thriving honors program to complement those courses, with offerings in Theology, English, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Languages.

Basic Skills

We offer a Basic Skills designed to offer assistance to students who have received formal testing and measurement that identifies a learning disability. Case conferences are held annually, after which the student receives an individual educational plan (IEP). The goal of the program is to help each student achieve to his or her potential.