|
 |
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Mission Statement
"It is our joint responsibility to provide a systematic training of
the child through instruction, discipline, example and the development of all his/her powers: spiritual, intellectual, social,
cultural and physical. The faculty and staff of St. Joseph Community School willingly accept the sharing of their responsibility
with the family, church, and society to educate the whole child for what he/she must do in this life in order to attain the
one for which he/she was created."
St. Joseph School-1904
St. Joseph School and convent were built in 1904 under the supervision of the pastor,
Father Richard Slatter, as a cost of $15,000. The school was staffed by many religious communities in its history: the Dominicans
were present until 1911, followed by the Franciscans until 1917, the Sisters of Charity, BVM until 1985 and the School Sisters
of Notre Dame in 1987. In November of 1921, St. Joseph School experienced a fire that destroyed the school records.
Because the school was destroyed, the students temporarily attended St. Mary’s School, New Hampton, a school that had
been organized in 1890 to serve German-speaking Catholics.
In the spring of 1922, work began on a new St. Joseph School. The brick school included six classrooms and a gymnasium,- auditorium was built at the cost of $6,731.67. In 1955, the parish purchased the quarter block across the street from the school. This land, with another land donation became an addition of two classrooms, a library, a kitchen, and the lunchroom. In 1959, the first lay teacher joined the faculty, her name was Mrs. Marie Whalen. Four Sisters and four lay teachers taught 276 students in 1965. St. Mary School-1890
In order that their children might receive religious instruction in the language
with which they were familiar and so that they themselves could assist in instructing the children, a number of German Catholics
established a parochial school in 1890. As soon as Fr. Forkenbrock began his pastorate, he obtained the services of
the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi of Milwaukee. Four sisters began teaching about a hundred students in September 1894.
Because of increased enrollment in 1897, the first building was replaced by a three-story brick veneered structure. The third
floor and basement were used as living quarters for the Sisters and for boarders. In 1908, three classrooms, two music rooms
and a chapel were added, doubling the size of the building.
For five years, from 1915 until the discontinuance of the high school in 1920, the high school department was affiliated with eh Catholic University, Washington D.C., and each student tool the examinations provided by the University, Graduates received their diplomas from the University. The first lay teacher since 1913 was Mrs. Herbert Meyer, who came in 1958. In 1965, two lay teacher and four Sisters were on the faculty instructing 147 students. St. Joseph Community School
St. Joseph School and St. Mary School consolidated in 1969, following the closing of St.
Mary School. At that time, the school name was changed to St. Joseph Community School. This arrangement included all other
surrounding parishes. St. Joseph Community School was considered a regional Catholic school.
During the summer of 1992, the former convent was converted to Sunrise Preschool. The renovation, furniture, equipment and supplies were all donated by parishioners and friends of Sunrise Preschool. Expansion and renovation marked the beginning of the twenty first century of St. Joseph Community School. The 1.6 million dollar project began in 1997. The church – school addition connected the church and school. The addition contained an elevator that provided accessibility for the entire church and school complex. The upper level included four classrooms and space for art. A multi purpose center (Parish Center) was built directly west of the school. It provided space for physical education, sports events, and a stage for music productions. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Remembering Our Past, Living Our Present,
Anticipating Our Future!