In addition to the regular course of study at St. Joseph School we are blessed with programs for the children to refine their talents, build strong character and deepen their spiritual lives. These programs are guided by the school leadership and are supervised during after school hours by our faculty, staff and parent volunteers.
Every adult who participates in these programs has completed the Archdiocesan Protecting God’s Children certification.
The St. Joseph School Band program begins its twenty-seventh year with the 2012-13 school year. Our award winning band program, which began in 1985 with 40 children now has over 215 children in five ensembles. These groups have competed throughout the Midwest at Music in the Parks festivals for over 14 years. During this time various ensembles place in the top ranks of their categories and won Best Overall Band eleven times. More significantly, the band students earned the Music in the Parks top award, the Espirit De Corps, nine times during this period.”
The band program is available to children in Grades 4 – 8. The band curriculum is a performance based program that uses online assessments that integrate technology and music to provide children with immediate feedback. The program also includes various concerts, competitions and a parade. The band program strives to make available instrumental music to any child interested in participating and focuses on the “Gift” of music from the Holy Spirit.
Children may join band in 4th grade at St. Joseph School. The 4th graders may play a clarinet, flute, saxophone, trombone or trumpet. Students who participate in band have class weekly during the school day. The Beginning Band performs a concert for Christmas and in the Spring.
Band students who complete their first year of band move up to the Intermediate Band. The students learn to use Smart Music (an online music assessment program) and perform additional concerts. The concerts for the year include a performance at Busch Stadium, a Christmas Concert, an Archdiocesan Instrumental Music Festival, a Spring Concert, a Spring Band Competition and perform in a marching band for the school’s annual Spirit Day Parade. Students attend one class, one recess rehearsal, and one after school rehearsal per week. Students receive a grade for Intermediate Band.
Band students in their third year of the program enter the Concert Band.
The students continue to use Smart Music (the online music assessment program) and perform additional concerts as well. The concerts for the year include a performance at Busch Stadium, a Christmas Concert, an Archdiocesan Instrumental Music Festival, a Spring Concert, a Spring Band trip and competition as well as perform in a marching band for the school’s annual Spirit Day Parade. Students attend one class, one recess rehearsal, and one after school rehearsal per week. Concert Band students receive a grade for band as well.
Band students in Grades 7 and 8 participate in Symphonic Band. Students continue to utilize Smart Music and prepare to perform music at the highest level for Junior High. The concerts include a performance at Busch Stadium, a Christmas Concert, a school Christmas Concert, an Archdiocesan Instrumental Music Festival, a Spring Concert, a Spring school assembly, a Spring Band trip and competition as well as perform in a marching band for the school’s annual Spirit Day Parade. Last year this group was selected and performed for the Archdiocesan Evening of The Arts at the Fabulous Fox Theater in St. Louis. Students in this ensemble may also audition for the Metro District Eight Honors groups. Students attend one class, one recess rehearsal, and two after school rehearsals per week. Students also receive a grade for Symphonic Band.
Band students in Grades 6 – 8 may audition for the Jazz Ensemble. The Jazz Band concerts include a performance at the St. Joseph Parish Fall Festival, a Christmas Concert, an Archdiocesan Jazz Festival, the St. Charles West Jazz Invitational, the St. Louis Jazz Festival at the Touhill Performing Arts Center on the campus of the University of Missouri – St. Louis, a Spring Concert, as well as a Spring Band Trip and competition.
The St. Joseph School Band program is an organization independently funded through band tuition, fundraisers and donations. Band parents and students are asked to volunteer at the Fall Craft Fair and the Basketball Concession stand for the benefit of the program. The St. Joseph School Band program is made possible by the support of the school Administration, Clergy, Band Students and Parents.
St. Joseph students in fifth through eighth Grade may participate in the Bellarmine Speech League. Practices are held after school. Students participate in meets along with students from Catholic Schools throughout the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
The Bellarmine Speech League was founded in 1945 by Father A. Frances Coomes, a teacher at Saint Louis University High School. Annually, hundreds of judges and coaches volunteer their time to guide students to become skilled, confident public speakers. The league is intended to help students in grades 5-8 develop and improve their public speaking skills by delivering memorized material of a serious or humorous nature, either individually or in duet. Students compete in three meets annually, at the end of which are awarded ribbons based on participants’ scores.