ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY
CLUBS, VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, AND SPECIAL EVENTS

Ongoing Functions

Ongoing functions are clubs, activities, or groups that have some sort of function over the whole school year, or for a significant portion thereof. Volunteer hours can be earned either for helping with one of these groups, as your interests and time allow, throughout the year, or for helping on one or more specific dates. Volunteer hours can be earned either at home, during meetings, or helping out with special events on or off-campus.

After School Care

Help is needed from parent volunteers to staff the After School Care program. This program provides a needed service for many families in looking after the students from the end of the school day from 3:45 P.M. until 5:00 P.M.

Altar Boy Club

This club is open to all boys in the 5th grade and up who have a desire to serve our Lord during school Masses as an Altar Boy. Meetings will be held once per month.

Art Docent Program

The Art Docent Program consists of parent volunteers who are trained to go into the classroom (K-12) once per month to present an art project on “The Great Masters”. Training is brief and fun. All supplies are provided. Docents are needed in all grades.

Associated Student Body—Middle and High School (ASB)

The function of both the Middle School and High School ASB is to be a service organization responsible for all student-sponsored, non-academic, activities at St. Joseph Academy. Its purpose is to give students a democratic means of government and to administer extra-curricular activities such as:

· Praise and Worship Band
· Pro-Life group
· Youth Group

Booster Club

Under the direction of the Athletic Director, the Booster Club assists with the coordination of sports events and fundraisers for the athletic program throughout the school year.

California Scholarship Federation and Junior California Scholarship Federation (CSF & JCSF)

These organizations promote scholarship, further education and service, and honor those students who have achieved a high level of academic performance. CSF is for High School students, and JCSF is for students in 7th and 8th grade.

Campbell’s Soup Labels

We are able to order many needed school supplies when we collect a designated number of labels. Please submit the labels to the office through your Family Envelope.

Chess Club

Under the auspices of the San Diego Chess Academy, the students in all grades are to participate in chess competitions at lunch break once a week.

Choir

Students who participate in the choir not only learn to sing, they also learn basics in theory and reading music. The choir will rehearse approximately one hour per week and will provide the music for the Masses as well as for special events such as the May Crowning.

Computer Committee

Volunteers are needed to set up the computer labs and provide needed training as well as make decisions on purchasing, installation, and utilization of hardware and software products throughout the year.

Cub Scouts

Cub Scout Pack 639 is going to begin their sixth year at St. Joseph Academy. The Cub Scouts are open to boys in grades 1-5.

Drama Club

The S.M.A. Drama Club performs one major production during the school year. Students audition for the various roles needed for the production. Volunteers are requested for assisting Mrs. Del Castillo with production.

Event Coordination Group

The Event Coordination Group is comprised of all the coordinators of the various clubs and volunteer groups. They work to facilitate communication between staff and parent volunteers, and oversee the timely implementation of the various activities.

First Friday Luncheons

Room Moms coordinate these events every first Friday of the month for our teachers. A different class hosts each month and one or more parents prepare a meal for the faculty in gratitude for all they do. See your Room Mom to volunteer.

Fix-It Team

The Fix-It Team are the go-to can-do handymen and handywomen who know how to make things work they way they were designed to. When a desk breaks, or a door needs re-hanging, the school knows they can count on this group to make it whole again. Whether you can build a house or just enjoy tinkering in the shed, The Fix-It team has jobs that need your attention throughout the school year.

Fun First Fridays

Every first Friday of the month, Mass is offered on campus followed by an early dismissal for the students (minimum day). The teachers use the afternoon for their monthly luncheon and in-service training. The students have the opportunity to participate in “Fun First Fridays” with their families and fellow students. Trips to the beach, local parks, and ice-skating have been done in the past. There is no after-school care on these days.

Fundraising / Building Committee

Members of this committee meet regularly and work to further the construction and development of our new permanent campus. Various committees are established. We need committed volunteers to serve on these committees.

General Mills Box Tops

General Mills provides needed resources for the school in exchange for quantities of box tops from their products. Please turn in your box-tops to the office.

Hospitality Committee

The Hospitality Committee welcomes new families to the school and helps assimilate them into the St. Joseph Academy family. A Mentor program is set up by pairing experienced families with incoming families.

Hot Lunch Program-Little Caesar's Pizza and Mexican Food

Little Caesar’s Pizza and Mexican food are offered to the students once a week on different days. This not only gives parents a day or two off from making lunch, but also provides delicious hot meals for the students.

Little Flowers Club

In the spirit of St Therese the Little Flower, the Little Flowers Club is a Catholic catechetical program for young girls. This program will give our girls an opportunity to learn about their faith in the company of other Catholic girls—and to have fun.

Music Docent Program

The Music Docent Program consists of parent volunteers who are trained to go into the classroom (K-8) once per month to present a music lesson. Training is brief and fun. This program is helping to assist the Academy in providing a well rounded classical education. All supplies are provided. Docents are needed for all grades.

Music Lessons

Music lessons are offered by Ratko Filipovich, a professional music professor. Parents pay him directly for lessons.

National Honor Society (NHS)

The National Honor Society is a national organization directed toward creating enthusiasm for scholarship, stimulating a desire to serve, promoting leadership, and developing character in students of secondary schools grades 10 through 12.

Parent Advisory Group

The Parent Advisory Group will meet once a month with the Principal to discuss ideas for improving and enriching St. Joseph Academy.

Publicity Coordinator

As a subcommittee of the Building/Fundraising Committee, the Publicity Coordinator will be responsible for sending photographs and press releases to local newspapers and coordinating media access to inform the community of happenings at St. Joseph Academy.
Room Moms / Dads

Every year each grade asks for a parent to serve as “Room Mom” or “Room Dad”. The High School requires only one parent. Duties of the Room Mom or Dad include: Coordinating the annual class bake sale; coordinating class field trips for the teacher; celebrating the teacher’s birthday; coordinating any class parties; coordinating the class project for the Spring Gala; coordinating one of the First Friday faculty luncheons; and some other duties specific to each grade level. One coordinator manages the activities of all the Room Moms and Dads.

1st and 2nd grade room Moms/Dads will have special duties related to First Confession and Holy Communion.

7th and 8th grade room Moms/Dads will have special duties related to 8th grade Graduation.

Philosophy Club

The Philosophy Club brings the High School students together to explore the underlying truths of the world around us. We will strive to develop an acute sense of understanding and an ability to reason and communicate logically.

School Garden

This group of dedicated volunteers helps to keep the grounds, including the Marian Garden, at the school looking its best.

Scrip Coordinators

The Scrip Coordinators will coordinate this simple to use and easy way to raise money for the school. St. Joseph Academy will receive a percentage of the sales from participating retailers and service providers when the products and services are purchased with scrip certificates. The certificates are as easy to use as a debit or credit card and the potential rewards for the school are significant.

SJA Yearbook

We are always looking for volunteers to help the students and the yearbook advisor with the production of this valuable piece of school year memorabilia. Families are encouraged to submit photographs of the various school events to the office in an envelope clearly marked “YEARBOOK”. Please do not write on the front or back of the photographs.

Spanish Program: K-6

Beginning and intermediate conversational Spanish for children in grades K-6 introduces students to the basics of the Spanish language.

Yard Duty

In order to provide a safe environment for the students, parents are required to assist with the supervision of students during lunch break and when school lets out. A schedule is published and each family is assigned the duty four or five times during the academic year. These duties definitely count for volunteer hours. Be sure to show up on your assigned day or find a replacement.

Web Site

The St. Joseph Academy web site, www.saintjosephacademy.org, needs volunteers committed to the upkeep and improvement of this valuable source of information.

Works of Mercy Fridays

On many Fridays other than the first Friday of the month students are offered the opportunity to engage in works of mercy such as visiting the sick at a local nursing home or helping those who are in need of food or clothing. These activities are done immediately after school hours and are sometimes concluded with an informal dinner at a casual or fast food restaurant.

Special Events

All Saints Carnival

Help is always needed to help out with the All Saints Day carnival held annually on or around October 31st, in honor of All Saints Day on November 1st. The school has all of the information. Room Moms and Dads are designated to set up different game booths and the High School students run the booths. All families are asked to bring one bag of candy to contribute.

Bake Sales

A different class each month will offer baked treats for sale to the students at lunch time and after school. The proceeds from the bake sale support various class projects and needs. You will be asked to contribute a baked good for this event. The Room Moms are in charge of coordinating the Bake Sales.

Christmas Pageant

The St. Joseph Academy Christmas Pageant is a truly Christ-centered pageant and every student and class participates. This year the pageant will be held on December 3rd. Volunteers are needed for:

· Assisting with the rehearsal ; at least one parent for each class needed
· Assisting with costumes the night of the Pageant
· Making costumes
· Set up the night before and clean up afterward
· Coordinating the refreshment table
· Musically inclined parents always needed

Fall Raffle

The Fall Raffle is the first of our two big annual fund raisers. It is not only a worthwhile and rewarding fund raising activity but also a great social evening with St. Joseph Academy families and community supporters. Volunteers are needed in several areas before, during, and after the big drawing. This is one of the two fund raising activities in which 10 of your family volunteer hours must be devoted out of the mandatory 40 hours total for the year.

· Set up/clean up
· Newsletter/Publicity
· Invitations
· Coordinate bar

Family Picnic

The Family Picnic gets the year started off right every August. Help out with the planning and execution of the picnic for 2005 and be a part of the great beginning that every school year can be.

Field Day

This is a fun day where the K-8 students are divided into different teams to participate in various activities such as a balloon toss, relay races, and a tug-of-war. The High School students run the events and the 8th grade students coordinate a sale of hot dogs and hamburgers to raise money for their graduation.

Jog-A-Thon

The students will participate in this physical activity on February 11th during the school day. Pledges are collected in advance and donations are dependent on how many times the sponsored runner runs around the track. Family members are encouraged to run right along with the students if they wish. Volunteers are needed to assist the Athletic Director and Boosters with the event organization and on the big day itself. The Jog-A-Thon is held in the spring. All proceeds benefit the P.E. and athletic programs.

May Crowning

The May Crowning of our Blessed Mother will take place at Saint Mark’s church in May. The service will include a rosary and benediction and is one of the most important spiritual events for the students every year. If you would like to assist, please call the coordinator.

Sports Banquet

An evening of celebration, good food, and awards is held once a year for the athletes on our Middle and High School sports teams.

Spring Gala / Auction

The Spring Gala is the second of the two big fundraisers of the year. Volunteers are needed to help with the planning and execution of this fun and important event in the following areas:

Newsletter
Gifts and Donations
Invitation Mailings
Silent Auction Baskets
Class Baskets
Auction Runners
Set-Up Crew
Clean-Up Crew
Bartenders
Cashiers
Spotters
Decorating Crew

The Auction committee will begin meeting in the late fall. This is one of the two fund raising activities in which 10 of your family volunteer hours must be devoted out of the mandatory 40 hours total for the year.

Talent Show

The talent that our K-8 students possess and have cultivated is showcased in this much-anticipated annual event. Help is needed in several areas both before the event and on the big night.

Teacher Appreciation Luncheon

The Teacher Appreciation Luncheon is an annual event held as close as possible to the feast of St. Joseph the Worker on May 1st. A special meal is prepared for the teachers as an expression of gratitude.

Wrapping Paper Sale

Our annual Sally Foster wrapping paper sale provides needed funds for the school.

Yard Sale