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New School Year Changes
Terry Cassreino
When St. Joseph Catholic School started the new school
year August 10, students saw several major changes that
include a remodeled cafeteria, a new sports affiliation and a
dual-credit program with Mississippi College.
More significantly, St. Joe will operate as close as possible to
the way things were before the coronavirus pandemic. Classes
will return to the normal size; masks will not be required; and
everyone will be able to attend school sporting events.
“St. Joe was open all last year with classes held in person
amid strict Coronavirus protocols,” said Dr. Dena Kinsey, the
school principal.
“Now it’s time to return a sense of normalcy to school and
to everyone’s lives this fall,” she said. “Despite the challenges
of the pandemic and our continued heightened awareness of
virus transmissions, we had a great school year last year. This
school year will be even better.”
St. Joseph Catholic School, founded in 1870 by the Sisters
of Mercy, is celebrating more than 150 years of faith formation
and education excellence. The school offers seventh- through
12th-grade students a rigorous college prep curriculum
grounded in the teachings of the Catholic church.
St. Joe, at 308 New Mannsdale Road in Madison just west
of the Interstate 55-Mississippi 463 exit, is accredited by the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the accrediting
arm of Cognia.
Changes at St. Joe began shortly after school broke for the
summer. Classrooms and hallways were painted, as were the
hallways and lobby of the fine arts building.
Lockers were removed from two of the three buildings that
house middle school and high school classes. Having no
lockers will improve the flow of student traffic and make it
easier to change classrooms between periods.
Lockers remain in one of the three classroom buildings for
high school students who request to use one.
The St. Joe cafeteria will see the most cosmetic changes.
Ceiling tiles were replaced, walls were painted, student art will
adorn the walls and new tables and chairs will be available on
the deck overlooking the football field. The microwave station
has been rebuilt and new microwaves purchased.
In athletics, coaches and players continue to prepare for
the upcoming fall sports season and St. Joe’s move to the
Midsouth Association of Independent Schools, or the
MAIS – the state’s private school sports association.
As a member of the MAIS, St. Joe will be able to renew
longtime Catholic school rivalries with Natchez Cathedral,
Vicksburg St. Aloysius, and Greenville St. Joseph – all of
which already are MAIS member schools.
Joining the MAIS means girls soccer will move from
winter to fall and softball will move from spring to fall. Both
will join other fall sports that include football, volleyball,
swimming and cross country.
“It’s been a move we have thought about for the last four or
five years,” said Michael Howell, the St. Joe athletic director.
“We thought it best for our students. We also will renew old
rivalries with our other Catholic schools. Getting them back on
the schedule will be great for us and the Catholic community.”
The most significant change this fall will come in academics.
St. Joe and Mississippi College have joined forces to offer
Bruin seniors college-level math and English courses that will
satisfy high school graduation requirements and also count as
three hours of college credit. Seniors will be able to take
English Comp I, English Comp II, College Algebra with
Application, and College Trigonometry.
Students interested in taking the two English classes, two
math classes or all four must have an ACT subscore of at least
20 in math and/or English. They also must pay a $200 fee for
each class to Mississippi College; the $200 fee is in addition to
their St. Joe tuition.
St. Joe students who take the dual credit courses will enroll
as MC freshmen and have access to all amenities offered the
traditional college student.
“This is a great opportunity for our students,” Kinsey said.
“While finishing their senior year they also can get a head
start at college at a cost significantly less than they would
normally pay,” she said. “The ability to take college courses
while still under the safety net of high school teachers will
give them a significant advantage in their college academics
wherever they go,” she continued.
“These things – and our emphasis of and efforts at fostering
faith and love of Jesus – make our school a unique experience.
We are not your average Joe.”
Hometown MADISON • 35