On this page: Latest Updates | Preparedness & Planning | Distance Learning Testimonials
August 19, 2022:
St. Joseph School has adopted new guidelines as shown in the COVID-19 Pandemic Addendum (updated August 2022). Please contact the school office at 262-662-2737 with any questions.
January 20, 2022:
St. Joseph School has adopted new guidelines as shown in the 1/21/22 COVID-19 Pandemic Addendum. Please contact the school office at 262-662-2737 with any questions.
January 1, 2022:
CDC has issued new guidance shortening the recommended time for isolation and quarantine. St. Joseph School is diligently reviewing the CDC guidance with our school and public health partners to determine when and how to best roll out the new guidance with students and staff. Until then, we are continuing to follow the protocols described in our 11/24/21 COVID-19 Pandemic Addendum which are based on 10-day quarantine & isolation periods.
November 24, 2021:
Due to the availability of COVID-19 vaccines for the majority of our student population, we have added information about quarantine procedures for vaccinated individuals to the COVID-19 Pandemic Addendum on page 14. Thank you to the health experts and School Advisory Committee who contributed to this update.
August 27, 2021:
Please see the updated COVID-19 Pandemic Addedum to the Family Handbook for the current 2021-2022 policies & procedures.
January 20, 2021:
Waukesha County Public Health has updated its quarantine guidelines to align with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services released in December 2020. The School Advisory Committee has updated the COVID-19 Pandemic Addendum to the Family Handbook to reflect the latest quarantine guidelines for asymptomatic people.
September 16, 2020:
The School Advisory Committee is currently reviewing current guidance and recommendations for COVID19 in regards to Governor Ever's mask order that is currently set to end on Sept 28. Based upon current best practices, we will continue to require students to wear masks while inside if they are unable to social distance. We will continue to keep you informed on this issue.
We invite you to review the following document from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WDHS) titled Returning to School After COVID-19. This document provides guidance for schools and parents to help us determine when children need to stay at home and when it is safe to return to school. The document can be found here WDHS Returning to School after COVID 19. Additionally MASD put together the following flowchart and slideshow which provides excellent detail for Quarantine and Isolation Guidance if a child is sick. These documents are sourced from Wisconsin DHS and Waukesha County Health Department.
Flowchart - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yX7gMdobBP-3O1gxA1QIdJypJrMdTcF0/view
Slideshow - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Qiq3M38e40p8Qx-xqWY3VPxpudcIT7kA/view
Please contact us at the school office with questions or concerns. Thank you for your continued support and patience through these challenging times.
August 12, 2020:
Here is the Covid-19 Pandemic Addendum to the Family Handbook. For more information you can also go to the following link from Wisconsin Department of Health Services -
https://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/sspw/pdf/Returning_to_School_After_COVID-19.pdf.
August 7, 2020:
Here are is the presentation from the July 30th Parent Meeting. Thank you to everyone for participating.
July 30, 2020:
Hi St Joseph Families,
As promised on Friday, below is the link for the Virtual Learning Survey. We want to hear from you what went well and what we can look to improve on for the coming school year should the need arise to go virtual due to situations beyond our control. Teachers are already looking at best practices within our building as well as around the area to help put together a plan, but we also want to make sure you as parents get to share how things went on your end so we can be better prepared all around should we be mandated to go virtual.
We would like a short turnaround time on this survey, if possible, so we have adequate time to dive into the results. Please complete this survey by Tuesday August 4th.
St. Joseph School Remote Learning
In God We Trust,
Jeff Van Rixel
July 24, 2020:
Dear St. Joseph School Families,
I hope you are having a wonderful and relaxing summer. Over the last few weeks, the Staff, School Advisory Committee and I have been working on a plan for the 2020-2021 school year. I would like to especially thank our dedicated, flexible and thoughtful teachers. They have already been preparing for every aspect of the upcoming school year - from their curriculums and classrooms to reviewing staff duties and developing new COVID procedures.
We understand after reviewing the enclosed documentation you still may have questions or concerns. We would love to hear from you. We invite you to a Parent Meeting via Zoom on Thursday July 30 at 7:00-8:00pm to help answer your questions or take suggestions. The link for the meeting will be sent next week. So we can be prepared and make efficient use of our time together, please submit all questions ahead of time so we can compile them for the good of the group. Please have these submitted by Wednesday July 29. We will have chat enabled to ask questions that may arise and if we have time at the end will open up for other questions. Minutes from the meeting will be taken and shared if you are not able to attend.
Here is the form: https://forms.gle/9bdSqryqiTmky3nY6
While our goal is to be at school with face to face instruction, we are preparing for the possibility of the Health Department recommending or issuing a quarantine for a class or the school. We will be using the data collected in a survey (coming early next week) to further guide our plan. Please watch for a separate email that will contain a survey regarding St. Joseph School Remote Learning.
See this document which contains the St. Joseph School reopening plan.
Thank you for your continued support of your children and Catholic education. We are so blessed and have much to be thankful for.
Blessings,
Jeff Van Rixel, Principal
June 16, 2020:
Throughout the summer, our principal, teachers, and staff are continuing to prepare and plan for all possible modes of learning during the 2020-2021 school year. In partnership with the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, we are reviewing and enhancing our at-home learning procedures, should the need arise again. Additionally, we are reviewing all aspects of in-person learning in order to lessen the risk of spreading COVID-19. Accordingly, updates to procedures will be reflected in the 2020-2021 Family Handbook later this summer.
Meanwhile, please read the following letter and Q&A from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee:
What can my family do to prepare for COVID-19 challenges?
Here are some helpful resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
What makes St. Joseph School uniquely prepared to face COVID-19?
St. Joseph Catholic School is well-positioned to handle circumstances such as learning at-home (a.k.a. distance learning) and in-person instruction during COVID-19:
- Our smaller class sizes allow teachers to provide individual attention to each student, ensuring that no student falls behind during distance learning.
- We offer technology aides for students such as chromebooks, to ensure every student has the opportunity to fully participate when learning at-home.
- When we're together in-person, our spacious classrooms help maintain personal space and lessen the spread of germs. After all, the fewer days students are out sick, the more time spent learning!
Here's some of what families had to say about their at-home learning experience at St. Joseph School:
"Mr. Hanson [Physical Education Teacher] has offered a ton of fun activities for the kids to complete during their distance learning that has offered a great break from the routine of the day."
"I was so taken back by the amount of effort and hard work Mrs. Kinderman [5K Teacher] also put into everything! The stem activities, fun science experiments, virtual field trips and private zoom meetings twice a week was absolutely amazing! She even sent the kids things in the mail and a final hardcover book with a personal message in it!"
"I continue to be amazed by Mrs. Post [1st Grade Teacher]. She takes time out of her busy life for three classroom media meetings a day. She makes these kids feel missed and loved with surprises and gifts, and encouragement. She spends even more extra time reaching out to mom and student to be sure we are ready and up to date and not stressed."