Photos
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The school's logo on a t-shirt on display. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller
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St. Joseph Regional School Principal Linda Nick. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller
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Parent Judy Kiederling paints a butterfly onto the face of Emelia Matti, age 4. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller
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Kathryn and Madelyn Le Frois, both age 14, helping out at the event. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller
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Juliette Matti, age 3, admires the bumble bee painted on her face. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller
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Moms Denise Hayek and Janine Cordero serve up sundaes. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller
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Children excitedly wait to enter the dinosaur bounce house. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller
St. Joseph Regional School Welcomes Community to Open House and Family Fun Night
Thursday, May 24, 2012 • 6:57am
NEWTON, NJ – From face painting to a bounce house, and make-your-own ice cream sundaes to crafts, there was something for everyone at St. Joseph Regional School on Wednesday night as the school opened its doors for its Open House and Family Fun Night.
“We decided to do ‘Family Fun Night’ as the theme for kindergarten and second graders,” said Principal Linda Nick. “It’s a nice way to bring families out, and invite prospective parents in for a casual atmosphere.”
“They [the visiting families] already feel like they are a part of us,” Nick added.
“They’re having a nice time,” said Jessie Martin, the school’s chair of the Development Committee. “We’re really all about the community.”
"She's very excited," said parent Jodi Fernandez of daughter Emelia Matti, who is entering kindergarten at the school in the fall. "She feels very 'big girl, big sister.'"
Throughout the evening, parents were able to tour the school with student guides, and, spent sessions with Nick in the library, to learn more about St. Joseph Regional School.
The school was founded in 1956, and serves grades Pre-K through seventh. The student to teacher ratio is 12:1, with an average class size of 22 students, and a total student body of 192.
All teachers are state certified, and all faiths are welcome.
The school offers an all-day kindergarten program, before and after school care, hot lunch, and busing from most school districts.
St. Joseph Regional School boasts a new computer lab, new library-media center, smart/poly vision boards in each classroom, laptop cart, advanced math program for grades 5 through 7, a science lab, and artifacts art program.
Within the curriculum are Spanish, Computers, Art, PE, Music and Library programs for all grades.
Student Council, Enrich & Grow, chess, music lessons, tennis club, Academic Bowl, Primary Reading Club, Forensics Club, Teen Tech, Environmental Club, Little Flowers Girls’ Club, American Girl Club, Karate, and Basketball, are some of the after school activities offered.
“I’ve been a principal for over 30 years in public schools, and I did not feel like I feel here,” said Nick.
She told parents about the impact of special programs, such as the prayer and reading buddies programs.
Prayer buddies take the younger children with them to church.
“It’s really nice how they bond,” Nick said.
She recalled how touched one parent was when their first grader brought home a book made by their eighth grade prayer buddy, about how special they were.
Nick herself is an alumnus of the school.
“I’m very grateful I’m able to finish my career here,” she said.
And she raved about the school’s teachers.
“I have never seen such a dedicated group of people in my life,” she said.
“I’m very proud of who we are,” Nick concluded.
Click here to access St. Joseph Regional School’s website.
