Class of 2029

Students who stay involved tend to feel more connected to the St. Joe community. Encourage your daughter to:

• Continue participating in clubs and extracurricular activities or try something completely new during Club Week
• Participate in service opportunities like St. Joe Serves
• Explore leadership opportunities
• Attend school events and support her classmates
• Become more involved in Campus Ministry
• Continue discovering new interests and talents

There's always something new to experience at St. Joe, and sophomore year is a great time to branch out.

Sophomore year is often when students begin to balance increased independence with greater responsibility. This may include driving, managing a part-time job, taking more challenging courses, and navigating changing friendships. While exciting, these experiences also provide valuable opportunities to grow in confidence and maturity.  Some reminders as she continues to grow:

• Continue encouraging a growth mindset.
• Friendships naturally evolve during high school, and sophomore year is often when students begin to experience what is sometimes called the "Sophomore Switch." As students grow and discover new interests, friendships may change. While this can be challenging, it is often a normal part of growing up.
• When friendship challenges arise, one of the greatest gifts you can offer is a listening ear. Resist the urge to immediately solve the problem or draw conclusions. Instead, ask thoughtful questions, encourage your daughter to consider different perspectives, and help her identify trusted adults at school who can support her if needed.
• Encourage healthy routines, including sleep, nutrition, and downtime.
• Continue setting healthy boundaries around technology and social media.
• Allow her to experience small disappointments and work through challenges independently.
• Celebrate effort and perseverance as much as achievement.
• Remind her that asking for help is a sign of strength.

One of our favorite reminders: "This or something better."

Instead of jumping immediately into solving it, try walking through these questions together:

• What is the problem?
• What are some possible solutions?
• Who at school could help?
• How can you ask for help?

Our hope is that every Angel continues growing in confidence as a self-advocate.

Sophomore year often brings increased academic expectations as students begin taking more rigorous courses and balancing additional responsibilities.

Help your daughter by encouraging her to:

• Continue developing strong time-management skills
• Read every course syllabus carefully
• Complete all assignments on time
• Use free periods wisely, if she has one
• Prioritize sleep, healthy eating, and downtime
• Put her phone away while studying
• Ask questions and seek help early
• Continue practicing self-advocacy by speaking with teachers first

We also encourage every family to review:

• The Academic Integrity Policy (including expectations regarding AI)
• The Student Advocacy Policy
• The Academic Qualities of an Outstanding Angel

Remember, cheating is often rooted in stress, lack of confidence, or poor time management. Helping students build healthy habits is the best prevention.

To help ease traffic congestion, we ask families to use both the Athletic Entrance (back of school) and the Shanahan Commons Entrance (front of school) for carpool drop-off and pick-up. Using both entrances significantly improves traffic flow during our busiest times.

Morning Arrival
Please do not drop off or pick up at the Main Office unless your daughter is arriving late or leaving early. Traffic patterns take a little time to settle at the beginning of the school year. If your daughter drives to school, please encourage her to leave early enough to safely navigate traffic, find parking, and be seated in her first-period class by 8:15 a.m. Campus doors open to students at 7:00 a.m.

Afternoon Pick-Up
If your schedule allows, consider picking up after 3:10 p.m. The carpool line is typically clear by then. If you arrive early, please park in an available parking space. If no spaces are available, pull as far forward as possible to keep traffic moving.

Traffic Reminders
Parking or waiting along Litzsinger Drive or in the lots of neighboring businesses is strictly prohibited during the school day, including after-school pick-up. Violators may be ticketed by the Frontenac Police Department. Thank you for helping us be good neighbors.

Please follow the directions of our traffic staff. They are there to ensure a safe and efficient arrival and dismissal process for everyone.

Please note that there is no after-school supervision on the following early dismissal days.

All students must be picked up by 12:30 p.m.:

• St. Joe Day – Friday, August 28
• Mission Day – Friday, November 20
• Fall Semester Stop Day – Monday, December 14
• Fall Semester Exams – December 15–18
• Spring Semester Stop Day – Wednesday, May 19
• Spring Semester Exams – May 20–25

We love seeing your daughter at school! Regular attendance and arriving on time are important to her success, so we ask families to prioritize being in class each day.

We understand that absences are sometimes unavoidable. When they do occur, please follow these procedures:

Reporting an Absence
A parent/guardian must call (314) 394-4300 or email mainoffice@sja1840.org by 8:00 a.m. each day a student is absent. If we have not heard from you, you will receive an automated attendance message. Please return the call to the Main Office to verify the absence.

Planned Absences & Early Dismissals
Please notify the Main Office in advance of any planned absences or early dismissals. On the day of an early dismissal, students should stop by the Main Office before first period to pick up an accountability slip.

For additional attendance policies and procedures, please refer to page 52 of the Student/Parent Handbook.

For many students, sophomore year marks the exciting milestone of earning a driver's license and driving to school for the first time.

Students who drive to St. Joseph's Academy must register their vehicle and obtain an SJA parking permit. Parking permits are issued on a first-come, first-served basis once a student has obtained her driver's license.

To request parking registration, students should email Ms. Anna Hotop, Principal of Student Affairs. Registration instructions and parking permit information will then be provided.

Please remember:

• Parking is not permitted on Litzsinger Drive or in the parking lots of neighboring businesses.
• The Frontenac Police Department may issue citations to vehicles parked in these restricted areas.
• Students should display their parking permit as instructed and park only in designated student parking spaces.

For complete parking policies and procedures, please refer to pages 78–79 of the Student-Parent Handbook. We encourage students to remember that driving is both a privilege and a responsibility. Safe driving habits and respect for our neighbors help ensure a positive experience for everyone in our community. 

At St. Joseph's Academy, our Phone-Free School Day helps create a learning environment where students are fully present, engaged in their learning, and connected with the people around them.

Students are expected to keep their phones powered off and stored in their lockers or backpacks during the school day. Smartwatches are not permitted during the school day.

If you need to reach your daughter during school hours, please call the Main Office at (314) 394-4300. We will gladly get a message to her or connect you if needed. Likewise, if your daughter needs to contact you during the school day, she should do so through the Main Office or Student Support Services.

Students with documented medical needs requiring phone or smartwatch access during the school day should work with our School Nurse to ensure appropriate accommodations are in place.

For complete details about our Phone-Free School Day policy, including expectations and consequences for policy violations, please refer to page 63 of the Student-Parent Handbook.