Hours of Operation

• Monday–Thursday: 7:35 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

• Friday: 7:35 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

A Nurturing Start to Learning

St. Joseph Catholic School Preschool & Pre-K provides a positive, child-centered environment where young children can grow, explore, and develop a lifelong love of learning.

Our program focuses on helping each child become:

• Independent and confident

• Curious and enthusiastic about learning

• Respectful of others

• Connected to a caring community

• Ready for the next stage of their educational journey

• Growing in their love for Christ

Quality Early Childhood Education

Our Preschool & Pre-K program has earned a four-star rating through the Quality First Program, reflecting our commitment to providing high-quality early childhood education.

Through our partnership with Quality First, our program benefits from:

• Scholarships that help make preschool accessible to families

• Grant funding for educational resources and classroom materials

• Resources tailored to the needs of our students and teachers

• Monthly professional support and coaching for teachers

• Continued focus on strengthening the quality of our early learning environment

Investing in Young Learners

The early childhood years are an important time for growth and development. Quality early learning experiences help children build the social, emotional, cognitive, and academic skills they need to enter kindergarten ready to learn and succeed.

Through our partnership with First Things First, we support young children and families by creating a nurturing environment where children can thrive and parents are supported as their child’s first and most important teachers.

The Kindergarten program creates an opportunity for students to begin their academic formation. Teachers work closely with parents to ensure the best possible success for their child by encouraging parental involvement. 

Religion

Students explore their Catholic faith by exposure to scripture, adoration and weekly Mass. Students increase their knowledge of  Catholic faith through daily prayer, reflection and discussion. Age appropriate community service projects are integrated throughout the school year.

English Language Arts

 The SUPERKIDS Reading Program introduces students to the alphabet, phonemic awareness, letter recognition and decoding. Reading comprehension is also introduced through pictures associated with text.  

Math

Students learn basic math concepts by counting and comparing numbers up to 100, the concepts of place value, adding and subtracting whole numbers, identify shapes and their attributes, and measurement attributes and data.

Science

Working closely with the STEM teachers, the Kindergarten students have the opportunity to observe and describe the life cycle and characteristics of plants and animals. Classroom activities and discussions create an environment for exploring the seasons, weather and climate.

​Social Studies

Students begin to understand rules and the responsibilities of living and working together. As a classroom community, the students develop an awareness of history, cultural heritage, and Catholic identity. 

First grade at St. Joseph’s Catholic School is a positive step for students because they become independent learners and thinkers. First grade is a bridge entering elementary school, leaving kindergarten filled with academics and individual growth, emotionally becoming a more faithful Catholic. Through field trips, all-school activities, and parental involvement, students flourish in first grade as Eagles! 

Religion

Through daily outdoor assembly and weekly Mass, children in first grade truly start to recognize God. In first grade, students learn about the Holy Trinity, Mary, and other saints. Students understand the importance of Jesus dying to save us, and rising again. Students understand making positive choices and forgiving others as well. Through weekly school Mass, students learn appropriate behavior, demonstrating the sign of the cross, and saying prayers. First grade is also involved in a class service project which is worked on monthly.

​English Language Arts

First grade continues to use The Superkids Reading Program that was introduced in kindergarten. Students are able to decode sounds, identify sight words, rhyming words, word families, differentiate between short/long vowels, and blending sounds together. Students gain the skills to comprehend and read fluently with expression, and are able to use punctuation correctly. Skills are reinforced including forming uppercase and lowercase letters, as well as writing multiple sentences to tell students’ thoughts and stories. 

Math

Many of first grade’s math skills are introduced in kindergarten but extended and mastered by using hands-on manipulatives and partner/group work. Concepts include: identifying and extending patterns, identifying and writing numbers 0-100, comparing numbers 0-100 (less than, greater than, between), knowing place value to the hundreds place, counting by 2’s, 5’s and 10’s, sorting objects into different classifications, identifying different shapes and geometric figures, knowing the days of the week and months of the year, solving story problems (with hands-on manipulatives), and introduction to telling time and counting money.

Science

Students in first grade are able to identify their five senses, seasons of the year, and different types of weather. Students absolutely love learning about animals (mammals, reptiles, insects and amphibians), their habitats, food chain, but best yet- creating their own animal diorama! They are also exposed to many scientific concepts in STEM class.

Social Studies

First grade is a critical year when students learn where they live in relation to their world. We take a look at the history of the United States including its foundings: Native Americans, Pilgrims, and the thirteen colonies. Through Superkids Magazines, students are exposed to real life scenarios and situations that lead to critical thinking. With the use of picture books, students learn about previous presidents, current national symbols, and landmarks.

Second grade is a year of spiritual, emotional, academic and social growth. Students build on the basic language and mathematical concepts learned in first grade. They become more self-aware, independent, and cooperative workers. Second graders are faithful Catholics who prepare for the beautiful celebration of the sacrament of First Reconciliation. 

Religion

Second grade students participate in the school community morning assembly. They learn additional traditional Catholic prayers and participate more fully in the weekly school Mass. Classroom lessons introduce and expand education on the seven Sacraments, liturgical calendar, parts of the Mass, the Ten Commandments, social teachings of the Church, Jesus as Savior, Teacher and Friend. Through hands-on activities, discussion, group activities and art projects students express their faith journey. Second graders participate in a community service project focused on outreach to homebound St. Joseph parishioners.  

English Language Arts

Second grade curriculum is based on an integrated program, The Superkids Reading Program. Students engage in daily routines of decoding, spelling, writing and editing. They practice oral reading with expression and to increase fluency. Small groups focus on oral reading, critical thinking, word attack skills, and vocabulary development.  Listening, speaking, composition, grammar, handwriting and punctuation skills are incorporated in the daily Word Work Book exercises and Backpack homework pages.  Writing practice includes the steps of brainstorming, drafting, editing and finalizing narrative and creative pieces. The Superkids Program includes reading and discussing chapter books and non-fiction articles in the Super Magazine.

Mathematics

Focus is on hands-on experiences to master basic addition and subtraction facts (0-18), computation of two-and three-digit numbers, place value, money and time, data organization, measurement, graphing, geometry and problem solving. 

Science

Science concepts are taught in conjunction with the STEM program. Students learn about the scientific method, energy and motion, plants and animals, the solar system. Hands-on experiences, experiments, small group activities and class discussions, inquiry and analysis are included. Second graders are introduced to the science fair by participating in a class project. 

​Social Studies

Community involvement, national holidays, government, the Presidents of the United States of America, famous Americans, patriotism and cultural differences are introduced within the Superkids program. Activities include arts and crafts projects, small group and whole group discussion, and role-playing. Local community helpers are guest speakers regarding safety, health and culture.

​​Third grade is an exciting year at Saint Joseph Catholic School. The children are embarking on an educational journey to become more independent, lifelong learners. Building on a foundation of basic skills, 3rd grade students bridge the gap between primary grades and intermediate grades through researching, cooperative learning, observing, calculating, analyzing, and drawing conclusions. Working with others and respecting others are a few of the ways we are followers of Jesus. Curriculum highlights in 3rd grade include: First Eucharist, Cursive Handwriting, Multiplication and Division. 

Religion

The specific areas of study are covered during daily religion classes are: preparation for the sacrament of First Eucharist, the formation of the Church, the Seven Sacraments, the parts of the Mass, and how we are called to be disciples. The school attends Mass and Adoration every Friday. We also have a class service project. First Communion Day is the most special day in third grade!

English Language Arts (ELA)

The 3rd grade language arts program covers reading, grammar, spelling, and writing. Reading explores different genres of literature and emphasizes comprehension, vocabulary, decoding skills, and fluency.  Grammar covers the basics of English mechanics including types of sentences, parts of speech, and punctuation rules. Third graders learn and practice cursive handwriting.

Mathematics

Our Math series, “My Math” covers the core curriculum for 3rd grade including place value, expansion of addition and subtraction with regrouping, multiplication, division, fractions, geometry, and interpreting data. The main emphasis is on exploring multiplication and division strategies and learning basic facts.

Science

Third Graders love science! They learn about plants and animals, habitats, food chains, ecosystems, and our earth. All 3rd graders are required to enter a project in the school Science Fair following SARSEF rules.

​Social Studies

The 3rd graders learn to interpret timelines, charts, and graphs of historical eras. They learn about globes and different kinds of maps of continents and countries. They identify important people and their contributions to America. Democracy Studies Weekly is used in third grade.  By the end of the year they are able to identify all fifty states.

Fourth grade is a challenging year. During this year, students experience significant spiritual and intellectual growth.  Students are encouraged to appreciate the complexities of their subjects, striving for deeper understanding of concepts they’ll continue to expand upon the rest of their time in school.    

Religion

Fourth grade religious teachings include taking a closer look at the 10 Commandments and discovering the real-life applications of these teachings. Open discussion is encouraged as we learn about the world around us and our call to witness our faith. Students also learn about social justice and the role that it plays in our daily lives. As part of our curriculum, we attend weekly Adoration in the church.  We also have a year-long class service project. Projects include “My Favorite Saint” and creation of various religious bulletin boards throughout the school year.

English Language Arts

Fourth grade Grammar includes identifying correct sentence structure and usage, proofreading for grammatical mistakes and becoming more familiar with identifying and diagramming verbs,  nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and adverbs. Writing standards covered include creation of opinion pieces, informative and explanatory text and personal narratives. During Reading class, emphasis is placed on using text and various other resources to enable students to seek out and find answers during the reading process. Our reading curriculum is varied, including fictional, non-fictional, plays, and poetry selections.  Reading focuses on building a strong vocabulary, inferencing, summarizing, and various other skills. State and Diocesan standards are the foundation of reading lessons. Spelling in fourth grade encourages students to widen their knowledge of spelling mechanics and rules. Emphasis is on consonants, contractions, suffixes, prefixes, homophones and compound words. 

Math

Fourth grade Math is directly related to Diocesan and State Standards. Topics covered include multiplication, long division, operations and algebraic thinking, numbers and operations dealing with fractions and decimals, measurement and geometry.

Science

In fourth grade, students begin the year learning about the world of living things including cells, ecosystems, plants, animals and basic life processes.  We continue on with the Earth and our own solar system. Students also learn about water and weather, physical science including properties and changes with matter, forms of energy and electricity which align with State and Diocesan Standards. Scientific method and the inquiry process are addressed and each student is required to present a project board for the regional Science Fair.

​Social Studies

Fourth Grade Social Studies focuses on our home state of Arizona. The featured text is “The Arizona Story” written by The Arizona Historical Society.  Following State Standards, students learn about American history including early civilizations, exploration and colonization, territory days, pioneers, statehood, and the emergence of the modern United States.  Map understanding and usage along with physical and cultural characteristics of Arizona are also addressed. 

Grade 5 is a wonderfully exciting year between elementary grades and middle school years.  Fifth grade is truly a transition year that bridges many significant gaps. Our goal is to make the jump as smooth and productive as possible by modeling and encouraging the acquisition of effective study skills and habits.  As part of our integrated curriculum, our fifth grade program incorporates traditional skill work, teacher modeling, student exploration, and cooperative group practice. 

Our fifth graders also serve as role models for our kindergarten students. In an effort to welcome and acclimate kindergarten students into the life of elementary school, we have implemented a kindergarten buddy system. When the school attends mass, fifth grade accompanies kindergarten. The fifth grade students are responsible for helping and educating the kindergarten students during mass. The fifth grade student helps the kindergarten student understand the proper behavior during mass and answers any questions the kindergarten student might have. Throughout the year, activities are scheduled between fifth grade and kindergarten.

Religion

In grade 5, the following areas of religious study are emphasized and taught: liturgy, sacraments, seasons of the Church and Catholic prayers. We focus heavily on each of the seven Sacraments as well as each person’s role within the Catholic community. Students investigate the ways they are called to be witnesses to the Catholic faith. As part of our Religion curriculum, we participate in weekly Adoration in the church. As well, fifth grade completes a year-long class service project.

English Language Arts

The English Language Arts program in grade 5 covers the areas of English, Reading, and Spelling. English provides a strong basis in the mechanics of the language, looking at the function of sentence parts. We work on identifying and correctly using nouns, pronouns, verbs, prepositions, and modifiers within the sentence. In addition, we learn proper punctuation, types of sentences, and how to diagram sentences. We practice correct sentence structure and written expression. Reading explores different genres and elements of literature, focusing on building vocabulary, improving comprehension, identifying text structures, making inferences, identifying text features, using context clues, recognizing figurative language, synthesizing information from multiple sources, using text evidence, and following directions.

​Mathematics

Our Math series covers the Diocesan curriculum. Areas of study include reviewing and expansion of previously acquired skills as well as the introduction and development of newer skills.  The curriculum includes addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of whole numbers, decimals, fractions, and mixed numbers. As well, students explore numerical expression, graphing, exponents and powers, prime factorization, perimeter area, volume, and geometry.

Science

In the fifth grade Science curriculum,  the following areas are addressed:

• Life Science – plant processes, reproduction and classification, characteristics and classifications of all living things, interaction of living/non living components within ecosystems.

• Populations & Ecosystems – living things and environments, energy and matter in ecosystems. Carbon cycle; oxygen cycle and water cycle.

• Earth and Space Study – solar system, earth’s atmosphere and weather.

• Physical Science – states of matter, classify and describe matter in terms of elements, compounds, mixtures and atoms.

Social Studies

The overall emphasis in 5th grade Social Studies is on the history of the United States, with extensive focus on the following units: exploration of the new world, settling of the American colonies, American Revolution, and the Constitution. The textbook is enriched by supplemental resources,  inquisitive classroom discussions, and student-created interactive notebooks. Students are encouraged to investigate the reasons behind historical movements and events and how these events have shaped the United States today.

Organizations

Fifth grade students have the opportunity to belong to organizations that promote our school’s Student Learning Expectations. Fifth graders are allowed to run for select positions in Student Council. Students can also take part in team sports and train as altar servers.

Our sixth, seventh and eighth grades make up our Middle School. The core curriculum consists of religion, language arts (literature, vocabulary, grammar, and writing), history, science, and math. In addition, students take three enrichment classes throughout the year: STEM, art, and physical education. Technology is incorporated in all classrooms through a variety of devices such as document cameras and SMART boards.

Religion

Although Catholic identity is infused in all subject areas, middle school students’ religion classes focus on Jesus’ life.  Our aim is to provide Catholic teaching and morality that will prepare students for the Sacrament of Confirmation in 8th grade.  Students participate in weekly Adoration in the Church. 

Language Arts

The language arts curriculum integrates the Arizona College and Career Readiness Standards with Catholic identity themes. Literature selections cover many genres, and students have extensive instruction and practice of both narrative and expository writing as well as formal grammar and vocabulary instruction.

Mathematics

Sixth grade continues to cover operations, geometry, statistics/probability, and the basics of algebra. Seventh graders take Pre-Algebra which expands on skills from 6th grade and prepares them for the rigors of Algebra I, which is taught in 8th grade. 

Science

Sixth grade studies environmental, water, and animal sciences. Earth science, chemistry,  and astronomy are studied by seventh graders. Eighth graders focus on biology, physics, and chemistry. Each grade has the opportunity to do a curriculum based project during the year in addition to a project for the schoolwide Science Fair. 

Social Studies

The 6-8 Standards are organized into time period themes. Sixth grade is the study of Ancient Civilization, focusing on River Valley Societies through the Middle Ages. Seventh grade studies United States History from the Enlightenment through the Industrial Revolution. Eighth grade begins with the Progressive Era, and ends with Contemporary Affairs. These units were carefully constructed, and are designed to be taught in the order in which they are written in the standards. In addition, there is a set of competency skills for 6-8 grades that are designed to be integrated into the content standards. They can be used to guide objectives, activities, or assessments.   

Organizations

Middle School students have the opportunity to belong to many organizations that promote our school’s Student Learning Expectations. We have chapters of S.A.D.D. (Students Against Destructive Decisions), National Junior Honor Society, and Student Council. Students can also take part in team sports and train as altar servers.

Physical Education is a very important part of every student’s life at St. Joseph School. It is a great release from the rigors of schoolwork that the children face every week. There are a number of valuable lessons and tools that the students learn during their Physical Education class.

The curriculum for kindergarten through first grade students focuses on fitness development, hand-eye coordination, and body management, fundamental and specialized skills like throwing and catching an object, and strengthening their fine and gross motor skills.  Second grade through eighth grade curriculum is based on organized game play, skills, tactics, rules and regulations. Students are involved in a variety of sports like volleyball and basketball as well as the non-traditional sports like Rugby and team handball. Students are also introduced to general health topics in a structured classroom environment.

The students are constantly taught the importance of sportsmanship and fair play which are vital for all children to learn at a young age. They will develop certain skills that will help them to develop as young athletes. Students will always be reminded of the good habits of stretching and eating right in order to stay healthy. They will have a great deal of fun while getting the proper exercise that every child needs. Most importantly, they will learn to have respect for one another while taking part in athletic activities.

The K-5 Elementary Music Program at St. Joseph Catholic School is designed to actively involve students with developmentally appropriate experiences that help them discover their creativity and build their vocal and instrumental skills.  This includes a myriad of opportunities in singing, playing instruments, moving to music, learning to read and notate music, creating music, and listening to and analyzing musical performances.  

​St. Joseph Catholic School is a Christ - centered community dedicated to empowering students to learn, serve, lead, and succeed.  The STEM lab fosters these goals by interacting with the natural world around us through Science; creating a product to solve a problem through Technology; using a design process to solve a problem through Engineering; using numbers, shapes, and quantities to solve a problem through Math. These are the pieces of our Kalil Family STEM Lab designed to encourage students in career fields and lifelong learning.