Exploratory Classes

At St. Joseph Catholic School, we believe learning should spark curiosity and joy beyond the core curriculum. Our Exploratory Classes give students the chance to discover new interests, develop unique talents, and build confidence in areas that inspire creativity and growth. From hands-on art projects to engaging technology lessons and enriching physical education, each class is designed to broaden horizons and nurture well-rounded learners. At St. Joseph School we take pride in making every opportunity meaningful, personal, and impactful. And we’re always looking for ways to expand and enhance these experiences—because exploration is at the heart of lifelong learning.

The St. Joseph Catholic School library teaches skills to students beginning in Kindergarten through 8th grade. Montessori Preschool is also afforded the opportunity to check out books on a weekly basis.

Library skills include learning text features, book parts, genres and location skills in print and online. Many different books are shared and discussed; sometimes activities accompany the story being shared.

Our library has almost 10,000 books, many of which have been purchased from campus book fairs or donated by our school families.

Library Teacher: Windy Negrete

About Mr. Drollman: Hi, I’m Dave Drollman. I graduated from Eastern Washington University with a degree in secondary education in 2016, and have enjoyed being a part of St. Joe’s since the Fall of 2020.

It is a real pleasure to be teaching Art and Technology for our students. In both classes, I get to see them pick up unfamiliar skills, gain familiarity with them, and use them to express their own unique creative style.  I am always excited to pick up a new artistic medium and see what I am capable of doing with it, and it’s fun to see the kids do the same.

Annual Art Activities & Events

Art & Wine Class Auction Projects

Monthly Middle School Art Competitions

Drawing, painting, and sculpting at some point each year!

Creativity in action! Our students dive into the world of art through hands-on projects that encourage imagination, self-expression, and problem-solving. From painting and drawing to mixed media and sculpture, each piece reflects their unique perspective and growing confidence as young artists.

The mission of our art program is to help students see that, as they are created in God’s image, they too, can create, using many different medium, and can enjoy making their lives and the world more beautiful.

The goal of our program is to provide opportunities for students in 1st through 8th grade to create, present, respond and connect to art in their everyday lives.

In weekly classes, students use a variety of medium, techniques and processes.  Each year we build on the experiences of the previous year.  They are instructed in the elements and principles of art as well as safe, proper and original uses of the medium.

Art work is displayed throughout the year at the Kennewick Irrigation Building in downtown Kennewick as well as presented at the school open house each spring.  Each class creates a special item for the Art & Wine silent auction held the first Saturday in February.

St. Joseph Catholic School is a technology-rich environment, where each piece of hardware and software serves the purpose of improving a student’s education. Online safety and responsibility is a priority at SJS and is an essential component in our technology lab curriculum. Students in Kindergarten through Grade 5 develop skills through technology applications instruction in the computer lab, integrated across the curriculum within the classroom, through additional teacher scheduled time in the lab for projects and research as well as at home.  Students have weekly technology lab time to develop an understanding of digital tools and concepts including keyboarding skills, basic computer skills and functions, and how to use common software such as word processing, graphics and presentation tools.

In our middle school, technology is integrated throughout the instructional day. Students may conduct research; enrich their understanding of concepts or represent learning creatively with presentation tools. Teachers may schedule time in the computer lab for projects and research. Opportunities to middle school students include: Accessing electronic textbooks, syllabi and calendars, internet research, note-taking, productivity, multimedia projects, and collaboration.

The Physical Education program at St. Joseph Catholic School is designed to foster growth within the mind, body and spirit of each student with an emphasis on his or her relationship with God.

The mission of Physical Education is to empower all students to sustain regular, lifelong physical activity in order to accomplish individual goals within the framework of team participation.

We, as St. Joseph’s Catholic School educators, are committed to providing a safe and positive learning environment that is active, caring and supportive of all students, and one that challenges them to continue using their Catholic teachings to become successful adults.

Kindergarten through 3rd grade - Motor skills, Body awareness/Spatial Awareness, Game play and sportsmanship, Rhythmic Manipulative Movements

4th through 8th grade - Students will be exposed to a variety of sports beginning in 4th grade. They will have the opportunity to participate in the following 6 week units:

Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball, Indoor flag football, Hockey, Badminton, Softball, Health unit/Understanding the human body

Annual Activities - All Christian Track meet (5th through 8th grade), Ballroom Dance (8th grade)

Celebrating the joy of music at St. Joseph!

Our student choir leads worship during monthly Sunday Mass at St. Joseph Parish, sharing their voices in faith and community. Meanwhile, our Kindergarten musicians explore rhythm and sound in our dedicated music room, learning through play and creativity.

About Mrs. Winget:

I graduated from WSU in 1997 with a BA in Political Science and from Heritage University in 1999 with a Secondary Education Certification with endorsements in Social Studies, English, and Government/Civics. I am also currently seeking my endorsement in General Music Education and am super passionate about teaching kids to love and appreciate music. This will be my 11th school year as a staff member of St. Joseph School.

“Music, great music, relaxes the mind, awakens profound sentiments , and is a natural invitation to raise one's mind and heart to God in every situation of human existence, both joyful and sad. Music can become prayer.”

- Pope Benedict XVI

Our general music curriculum aims to provide students with a broad range  of appreciation and understanding of music through numerous experiences. We will study musical elements such as rhythm, melody, harmony, form, dynamics, tempo, timbre and texture. We will explore performance through singing, composition, and introduction to instruments. We will be developing musical listening skills, study and appreciate music from different cultures and genres, and learn about the history and specifics of different musical styles.