Principal's Update
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March 9th
Good evening Saint Joseph School Community. I continue to pray that all are safe and well. Remember, Time moved ahead one hour.
Congratulations to our third and fourth grade girls and our Varsity girls basketball teams as they both won their championships in their divisions. We congratulate our varsity boys team for their efforts this season as they came in second place in their division. Our varsity girls basketball team will represent Essex County in the CYO Tournament of Champions next weekend in Kearny.
This week is a full week of school. All after school extra curricular activities will take place this week.Please make sure your child's fees are paid for the month of March in order for them to participate.
Monday March 9 is the last day to turn in the Spring Fundraiser orders with money. There is still Ms. Chocolate candy available to sell. Please fill out the form in your email to order boxes.
Thursday March 12 extra slice pizza money is due. Favorite book or movie character tag day will take place. Tag day dress policy will be in effect. No torn , distressed or inappropriate riting on jeans or tee shirts. no vrocs, clogs , or slippers can be worn. Donation $2.00.
Monday March 9 begins the third trimester and final report card period for the 2025-2026 school year. Please encourage your child to continue to do their beat.
The SFIC scholarship online applications opened March 1 thru May 1, 2025. You must upload your 2025 income tax with the application. Information was sent home last week.
Effective Monday March 9, 2026, students must wear their dress uniforms to school with shoes. Gym uniform can only be worn on gym days or when instructed for oter days. If shoes are too small, please send a note to school.
Any billing concerns or questions can be referred to Ms. Lizzy our school bursar.
Thank you for your continued support and cooperation of Saint Joseph School.
Please take care and be safe.
God bless,
Ms. Cavaness
Principal
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Contact Us
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Ms. Karen Cavanesskcavanessstjosepheo.comPrincipal
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We're in this together
“We’re in This Together”
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As we look forward to the 2025-2026 school year here at St. Joseph School
East Orange, I want to share with you a few things from my heart for the
coming school year.
We welcome our new families and our returning families to our school
community. We, here at St. Joseph School, are committed to creating an
environment where every student feels safe, seen, and supported and will
be given what they need to have a successful academic year promoting
academic growth and personal development. This will only happen through
partnership, communication and trust between home and school.
What does this look like:
A. Relationships at school matter, and we are working to get them right.
● At the center of everything we do is the belief that children
learn best from those they trust. You may have heard your child
talk about a favorite teacher, coach, or mentor. This didn’t
happen by incident, it was intentional, cultivated and essential
● Our teachers, coaches and staff members are trained to
prioritize relationships because we know the academic,
emotional and social growth is developed in relationships with
safe, trustworthy adults.
● We know we aren’t perfect, and won’t always get it right, but we
are committed to learning and growing from our mistakes just
like our students learn.
B. Our faculty and staff are trained on building trust and sustaining
Boundaries
● Every adult in our school is expected to be a trustworthy adult,
someone your child can go to when they need encouragement,
support, comfort or challenge.
● Clear training as Protecting God’S Children Awareness
sessions and tools that focus on creating strong connections
and healthy boundaries,
● Creating trust through compassion, consistency and
transparency
● Communicating and maintaining healthy boundaries to ensure
all interactions are appropriate, safe and in the best interest of
the student’s development.
● We also support staff in how to communicate with families and
how to manage concerns professionally and when extra
support is needed.
● This training is on going as needed for staff.
C. Here is what you can expect from our school community
● We will treat your child with dignity and respect
● We will communicate clearly, consistently and within health
boundaries
● We will follow school policies as outlined in the Student/Parent
Handbook
● We will assume good intentions, seek to understand, and
respond with care.
● We will make space for your child to grow, take healthy risks,
and develop resilience
● We will value you as a vital partner in this journey
D. What we hope we can expect from you
● You are the expert on your child. We ask you to see us as the
experts on student development. When we meet in the middle
with mutual respect and clear expectations,together we can
provide the strongest support for your child.
● Support your child in getting plenty of rest and getting to
school on time
● Read messages or information sent home and respond in a
timely manner
● Speak positively about our school and the adults at school.
Your child will adopt your attitude towards SJS. A good one will
help them grow
● Allow space for your child to be resilient and experience natural
consequences
● Resist communicating with your child during school hours
● Attend events, games, contests, and concerts your child
participates
● Encourage your child to seek out and connect with trusted
adults at school
● Reach out to the school office if resources are needed.
I hope you read this message and keep it as a reminder that behind every
confident, capable student is a village of adults, parents, teachers,
coaches, staff members at St. Joseph School working together to develop
a productive , independent child.
“ We’re in this Together”
God Bless,
Ms. Cavaness
Principal
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