Saint Joseph Academy

Infobox Private School
background = #f0f6fa
border = #ccd2d9
name = Saint Joseph Academy


Saint Joseph Academy seal
established = 1865
type = Private
religion = Roman Catholic
head_name = President
head = Brother Charles D. Imbergamo, FMS
Principal = Lucy A. Williams
city = Brownsville, Texas
state = TX
country = USA
campus =
enrollment = 823
faculty = 53 full-time
class =
ratio =
year =
SAT =
athletics =
colors = Red and White
motto =Ad Astra Per Aspera ("To the stars through difficulties")
mascot = Bloodhounds
homepage = [http://www.sja.us/ www.sja.us] |

Saint Joseph Academy, sometimes referred to as St. Joe, is a private school conducted by the Marist Brothers of the Schools. It is located in Brownsville, Texas, United States, and serves the children of the lower Rio Grande Valley and Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brownsville.

Mission

Conducted by the Marist Brothers of the Schools and serving the children of the lower Rio Grande Valley, Saint Joseph Academy provides religious and moral formation and a college preparatory education in the tradition of the Roman Catholic Church. To form young men and women who will succeed in university studies, who know and love Jesus, and who actively participate in the worship and mission of the Church, including the Church’s preferential option for the poor.

Philosophy

Saint Joseph Academy is dedicated to the total formation of our students.

Religious Formation. The study of Roman Catholicism, central to the curriculum, has two aims. First, students acquire a comprehensive understanding of the Roman Catholic tradition. Secondly, and even more importantly, students gain fuller access to the rich Catholic treasury of resources for developing a meaningful life of faith. These resources include a balanced and informed moral system based on a keen sense of social responsibility. While formal religious education takes place in religion classes, Christian values are reflected throughout the curriculum. Through regular worship as a school community, opportunities for prayer and reflection, and a variety of voluntary projects aimed to serve the poor, the seeds of faith, love and responsibility to the “least favored” have the opportunity to take root in the lives of students.

College Preparatory Instruction. At the heart of our program is a comprehensive curriculum in the arts and sciences. Instruction emphasizes and builds on fundamental academic skills: the written and oral expression of ideas, problem-solving, critical thought, and the competent use of technology. Thus, our students prepare themselves not only for university studies, but also for a lifetime of learning. Our curriculum is not designed exclusively for the intellectually gifted. We accept and work with students at a variety of ability levels, meeting them at their level, and helping them to grow in their aptitude for scholastic achievement. Nevertheless, success requires diligence and consistent effort on the part of the student.

Educating the Whole Person. In addition to religious formation and intellectual growth, a complete Catholic education seeks to develop: personal character based on Gospel values, physical health and fitness, aesthetic sensibilities, and kinesthetic, artistic, social and emotional skills. These needs are addressed in various forums including the curriculum, student services, extracurricular activities, and competitive sports.

A Christian Learning Community. Educating the whole person requires more than excellent classroom instruction. For this reason, Saint Joseph Academy continually strives to build a genuinely Christian community in which students are offered love, acceptance, discipline, and challenge. The life example of our faculty and the care, attention and respect they show to students contribute significantly to this atmosphere. In turn, students are expected to treat faculty and each other in a similarly loving and respectful manner.

History

St. Joseph Academy was originally founded in 1865 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, in downtown Brownsville. The school closed and re-opened many times under the Oblates. In 1906, the school was transferred to the Marists, and it has remained open ever since. The school had been all-male until 1970, when Saint Joseph admitted its first female students into the 7th, 8th, and 9th grades. In 2004, the construction of the new administration and middle school buildings began. On October 27, 2005 the buildings' dedication took place in the middle school gymnasium.

Distinguished Alumni

*Tony Garza — Ambassador of the United States to Mexico, Former Texas Secretary of State
*H.S. "Buddy" Garcia — Director, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Former Deputy Secretary of State of Texas
*Francisco Rodriguez — 2007 Winner of the Austin ArtSpark Competition

External links

* [http://www.sja.us/ Saint Joseph Academy website]
* [http://www.edline.net/pages/st__Joseph_Academy/Edline]