St. Joseph School Students, Faculty And Staff Gear Up For A New Year

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Last year, the COVID-19 pandemic presented numerous challenges for schools across the nation. Now, our students, faculty, and staff are excited to return for 2021-22, excited for the many possibilities that come with a new school year.

Principal Mrs. Amy Makruski joins in the excitement for the new school year. In particular, she is excited to be welcoming two new permanent staff members — already familiar faces at St. Joseph School, both served as substitutes in the last school year. Ms. Alicia Werner will be teaching physical education for kindergarten to eighth grade. Mr. Justin Bilewicz will be the full-time art teacher.

“We are very happy to welcome them both back as permanent parts of the St. Joe’s family,” Mrs. Makruski says.

While we welcome our newest teachers, we also look forward to the many opportunities on offer to students as an Ohio-designed STEM school, with an emphasis placed on science, technology, engineering, and math. Faculty incorporates science, technology, engineering, and math across all curricula, and the school emphasizes the use of technology to enrich learning.

Last year, students took on standalone STEM projects, but there was not much room for collaboration due to COVID-19 protocols. This year, we hope students have the opportunity to work together more across classes and grade levels. Collaboration is one of the “Seven STEM Habits of Mind” along with resourcefulness, resilience, curiosity, reflection, open-mindedness, and ethical consideration. These concepts are taught from preschool all the way to eighth grade.

Students also visit the STEM Lab each week to practice engineering and the STEM Habits of Mind. One of the school’s STEM partners is the Ohio STEM Learning Network, which facilitates a yearly design challenge — this year’s challenge is “reimagining energy in communities.” Ultimately, students can follow this project or come up with something different.

“If they’re into it and ready to go, we’ll support them,” Mrs. Makruski says. “If not, we’ll head in a direction of their choice and interest. Either way, we can expect big ideas from the students. They use their creativity to think beyond barriers, and imagine and invent in ways that are limitless.”

The school has two designated STEM areas. The lowtech, maker space provides students with a place to solve STEM challenges by building prototypes in an environment where they can learn from successes and mistakes. The new SJS Design Studio is currently in production, with the opening planned for January. This high-tech area will house 3D printers, a vinyl cutter, laser engraver, poster printer, and robots, all of which will help students at all grade levels further explore and become proficient in basic and advanced coding skills.

“For the new design studio, I’m looking forward to challenging our students and staff to dive into a new way of design thinking,” Mrs. Makruski says. “We will be able to create more high quality, usable, and permanent prototypes to express our ideas and support our school and community. It’s going to be an adventure as we learn new things.”

As in past years, Mrs. Makruski and Fr. Timothy O’ Connor ask for parishioners to continue in their support of our school. Mrs. Makruski says that supporting the school and parish is essential to the success of the school. Without parish support, St. Joseph School could not form disciples or teach the faith each day during the school year.

“What we do each day is a partnership between the parish community, the school community, and families at home,” Mrs. Makruski says. “As a Catholic school, we have the unique privilege of helping these students reach their maximum potential in not only academic areas but social and spiritual areas, as well. That is a large, but humbling responsibility.”

There are so many ways to support the school. You can pray for all those at St. Joseph or do something as simple as writing a letter to a faculty or staff member. You may also consider your talents and ask if they would be of use at the school. The support of our parishes with your Sunday offering also benefits the school. Each year, St. Joseph School provides about $30,000 in tuition scholarships to families in need. Please consider making a gift to the tuition assistance program or to the Named Scholarship Fund, where a scholarship can be given in someone’s name as a way to honor them.

If you would like more information about St. Joseph School, please visit www.sjsamherst.org.