St. Joseph Academy (SJA) is an all-girls, private Catholic high school. Students come from all over the greater St. Louis area, some making the drive from as far as Belleville, IL each morning. Principal Sr. Pat Dunphy is one of six nuns in a faculty of 57. The school is also attached to a convent where several retired sisters reside. Enrollment is about 600 students, and the building consists of four main hallways with a side wing branching off each one. SJA has a recently renovated gym/commons area, tennis courts and two soccer fields.
School begins: 8:05 a.m.
School ends: 2:45 p.m.
Discipline: Each student has a “PAR card” reminding them to keep a Polite And Respectful attitude at all times. Any teacher or staff may issue a PAR at their discretion for offenses such as being disrespectful in a class or improper hallway etiquette, and three PARs results in a detention. Some violations such as an out of uniform sweatshirt result in an automatic detention.
Dress code: Students wear a uniform consisting of a gray, green and yellow plaid skirt with either a gray or white polo or oxford shirt. Yellow shirts may be worn by seniors, a privilege reserved exclusively for their last semester at SJA. Any sweatshirts must be on the approved list of pullovers and cardigans. Socks must be gray, white or black, and shoes must be close-toed with a back. Uggs may be worn for a portion of the year determined by announcements made at the discretion of the administration.
What SJA students think of KHS: Many girls at SJA have close friends or know some students that attend KHS. Although school with boys is a foreign concept, they view KHS as another great option for high school in the area, and Bequette described Kirkwood students as welcoming and fun to be around.
What students would change about SJA: Many students agree SJA can create a challenging workload. Bequette said homework can pile up, especially once extracurriculars are factored into a girl’s daily schedule. Girls also jokingly cite the school’s infamous stairs as a daily struggle; the school has three floors in addition to a ground level.
What students like about SJA: SJA creates a great environment. Each day is lively, and girls are challenged to do their best. Students are eager to learn and truly care about and encourage one another. Also, students appreciate that SJA’s curriculum features a wide variety, so everyone is able to find classes that interest them. Students who choose SJA, such as Lauren Bequette, junior, feel that it offers “the whole package.”
What sets SJA apart: SJA’s modified block schedule offers a mix of block days and full seven-class days and also rotates the time at which a student has each of their classes throughout the day. SJA is well-known for their athletics, but they also boast an average ACT score of 26. Their motto, “Not I, But We,” emphasizes involvement in the SJA community and reaching out to help others, demonstrated most clearly through the tradition of Mission Week where the girls spend five days raising money for missions in Peru and Uganda.
