Depth of Learning

From Wanda Jaraczewski, Assistant Head of School

“Education is the food of youth, the delight of old age, the ornament of prosperity, the refuge and comfort of adversity, and the provocation to the soul.”
 ~ St. Augustine

The gift of education is treasured at Saint Joseph’s. We approach it with humility and patience, knowing that inspiration, curiosity and wonderment need time to take root and flourish. 

There are times when I’m asked why Saint Joseph’s doesn’t offer more high school credit classes in 8th grade. Or, sometimes, if a student plans to leave our middle school for one of the public high schools in the area, they feel the need to leave after 7th grade so that they aren’t “behind” when they start high school. 

Let me first affirm our belief that choice in schools is a great thing for families. We believe in Saint Joseph’s distinct method of education; however, we know that it might not be the best fit for every student or family. We want all educational options in this area to be strong, dynamic and exceptional so that young people can grow and learn to the best of their abilities. That is what is best for our Upstate community and, ultimately, the future of our world. Each school works to establish a curriculum and plan of study that provides the best opportunity to achieve its goals and accomplish its mission. We are no different in that desire. However, our approach - and the reasons behind that approach - are distinctly different.

When it comes to offering high school credit classes in middle school, we are quite purposeful and deliberate in our plan. A Saint Joseph’s education is rooted in the belief that the best learning takes time - time for information to move to deeper levels of understanding, time to evoke and stir passions and interests, time to form connections to knowledge that is already present and available. Deep learning also requires space - space to struggle with application of knowledge, space to be immersed in an environment of high expectations, space to wrestle with our purpose and who God is calling us to be. These are just some of the things that inspire our method of education. And because this is what inspires us, we are not interested in early and quick accumulation of credits. Rather, we’ve designed a plan of study that supports what we consider to be the most essential elements to the formation of a person’s mind, body and spirit. While early accumulation of high school credits might be the goal for some students and families, it does not align with the ultimate desire for our students. We are preparing our students for more than graduation - we are preparing them to live a God-inspired vocation. The more time they have with us, the better. 

There is also a very practical consideration when starting high school with several credits from middle school. As students near their senior year, many of them need just a few classes to meet graduation requirements. While a lighter academic load is quite appealing senior year, it might not be the best launching point for the high expectations they will encounter in college. We believe our approach of deliberate and sustained rigor provides our students with the structure and focus they need to finish high school with strength and confidence. So much of what our young people experience is fast-paced, rushed and designed to check the proverbial box. We want our students to slow down, relish the opportunities before them, and revel in the mysteries of encounter, awe and inspiration. We understand that might not be the desire for all students and families. But it is our desire.

We know that our depth-of-learning approach works. We hear about it all the time. Our graduates provide us with regular and consistent feedback on their success at the postsecondary level. No matter what college or university they attend, our graduates find that their Saint Joseph education sets them apart from their classmates. Professors identify our graduates as standouts in the classroom because of their academic achievements, work ethic, writing abilities and respectful interactions. We’ve prepared them to juggle multiple priorities, manage their time and embrace challenge and uncertainty with assuredness and hope. This results in a confident posture, an approach that says, “I’ve done this before!” While with us, our graduates heard that they are unconditionally loved by God and created with a purpose. That message, while not always fully grasped while they were in our care, is firmly planted deep in their hearts, ready to inspire their path and direction.

As always, we encourage families to explore the educational options available to them. It is so important. We are here to address your questions with authenticity and transparency, believing truly and fully that God is directing the course and plan for all the young people in our care.

Please continue to pray for all of us in the Saint Joseph community. 

"The whole journey of life is a journey of preparation... to see, to feel, to understand the beauty of what lies ahead, of that homeland towards which we walk."
 ~ Pope Francis