Volleyball tryouts
Volleyball tryouts for girls in grades six to eight are Wednesday, Aug. 6, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the gym. For more information, contact Vic Lupis at 304-676-2671.
Weis 4 School
SJS is again participating in the Weis 4 School program to raise funds for educational technology and other academic needs.
If you want to participate, please register your Weis Rewards card at weis4school.com and select St. Joseph School, 86909, as the one you want to support. You also can scan the QR code shown on the flyer here to register.
By participating in this program, you can earn money for our school by simply shopping. Once you register, you’re in the program and you do not need to sign up again this school year.
Feel free to share the code with friends and relatives!
Drop-off/pickup highlights
Our drop-off/pickup procedures for the coming school year are now available on our website (sjswv.org) under “parent resources” and in FACTS under “resource documents.” There are some noteworthy items:
Early dismissal from the offices ends at 2:30 p.m., when the doors will be secured to focus on preparing for dismissal for the day. A request for early dismissal must be made to the office ahead of time unless there is an emergency.
Because all of our PK students are on one part of campus now, there will be NO “walkers” in the main building.
Yellow cards are for grades K-6, and pink cards are used for grades 7-9. If you have children in both, please display both colors (they will have the same car number). New students will be issued their car numbers at orientation or during the open house on Aug. 18. Your family will retain the same number for all the years your children attend SJS.
Parents may enter the car line on Queen Street no earlier than 2:30 p.m.
We will do a staggered dismissal:
○ Pre-K buildings: dismissal begins at 2:45 p.m.
○ Grades 7-9: dismissal begins at 2:50 p.m.
○ Grades K-6: dismissal begins at 2:55 p.m.
Spirit wear on sale through Aug. 31
Our spirit-wear store is open online at https://www.storessimple.com/fastink/sjs25. It closes on Sunday, Aug. 31. Please note that the polos ARE FOR PARENTS AND STAFF ONLY. You can just list your child’s grade where it asks for a homeroom teacher.
If you have any questions, please email sfa@sjswv.org.
SJS on social media
Our school website is sjswv.org.
Please check out our Facebook page (facebook.com/SJSMartinsburg), where we frequently post photos and updates.
Our Instagram account is sjsmartinsburg. Please follow us for updates and a look into the daily activities at our school.
Invitation to participate in cross-country
All rising sixth- to eighth-graders are invited to have some fun running cross-country at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year! Practice starts in August and the team will hopefully meet for some fun runs/activities this summer, if schedules allow. Rising ninth-graders are welcome to practice with the team, but will not be able to participate in middle school meets. If you are interested, please fill out the form at https://forms.gle/DYE5SXmmEvjUkqHKA. You also may contact coach Kate Harding at kharding27@gmail.com.
Free, reduced-price lunches
Applications for free/reduced-price lunches for the 2025-26 school year are now available. The forms - including eligibility guidelines - are available in the front office; on FACTS (Renweb) under “resource documents”; and on our website (sjswv.org) under “parent resources.”
You also may apply through the SchoolCafe app. Simply log into your account and scroll down the menu bar on the left-hand side. Go to "Benefits" and click on "Apply for School Meals."
If you received benefits during the 2024-25 school year, your benefits will carry over for the first 30 days of lunch service, but please complete the application as soon as possible to ensure you continue to receive benefits for the upcoming school year.
Applications are available in many languages. If you would like to receive an application in a language other than English, please email Cafeteria Manager Suzi Crowder at scrowder@sjswv.org.
2025-26 school calendar
The calendar for the 2025-26 school year is on the FACTS family portal under “resource documents” and the home page of our website (sjswv.org), so you can start planning for the coming months. Also under “resource documents,” you will find many other helpful documents, including our student handbook, PK handbook supplement, financial policies, athletic participation forms and directions on how to apply for the diocese’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).
VEX IQ boot camp for grades 6-8
Registration is open for rising sixth- to eighth-grade students who are interested in joining the SJS Robotics Club to attend a VEX IQ boot camp. This is a one-day camp, offered on two dates - Aug. 13 and 14 - from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Code Agents in downtown Martinsburg. Students only need to attend one. Pizza and water will be served after the camp. Students may bring their own lunches, if preferred,
Students who attend one of the boot camp sessions will receive priority acceptance into the SJS Robotics Club for the 2025–26 competition season.
All proceeds from this camp support the growth of our new VEX IQ program. Funds raised will go toward:
Competition Field + Game Pieces ($585.86)
Team Robot Kits ($200–$400 per team)
Registration link: https://cp.mystudio.io/e/?=PhXL6Y/13691///1738604829. You need to enter the studio code: PhxL6Y.
If you have questions or want to learn more about our robotics program, please email Sonia Ala at sala@sjswv.org.
Contact for finance-related matters
Please direct any finance-related questions to finance@sjswv.org or call 681-247-5598. That will ensure your questions will go to those who can answer them promptly.
Lands’ End gift cards available through church
St. Joseph Parish participates in the RaiseRight (SCRIP) program, through which gift cards can be purchased and a portion of the card sales go back to the church. New to their offerings are gift cards for Lands’ End, through which our school uniforms are ordered. If you would like to buy gift cards and use them for uniforms, you may buy them in the parish office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or after Masses in Lackey Hall. You also can request them by calling the parish office at 304-267-4893.
Dates of note:
Monday, Aug. 4: cross-country practice, 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Poor House Farm Park, Poor House Road, Martinsburg
Tuesday, Aug. 5: cross-country practice, 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Morgan’s Grove Park, 4198 Kearneysville Pike, Shepherdstown
Wednesday, Aug. 6: cross-country practice, 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Poor House Farm Park; volleyball tryouts for girls in grades six to eight, 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the gym
Thursday, Aug. 7: cross-country practice, 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Morgan’s Grove Park
Saturday, Aug. 9: Free bowling social event for students in grades six to nine, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Pikeside Bowl, 3485 Winchester Ave., Martinsburg
Wednesday, Aug. 13: Sixth-grade orientation, 6 p.m., cafeteria; orientation for grades seven and eight, 6:30 p.m., cafeteria; ninth-grade orientation, 7 p.m., cafeteria
Thursday, Aug. 14: preschool orientation for families of toddlers through PK4 (please do not bring children), 6 p.m., gym; kindergarten orientation (please do not bring children), 7 p.m., cafeteria
Monday, Aug. 18: Open house for all grades, 1 to 7 p.m. Children are welcome to attend.
Tuesday, Aug. 19: First day of school (full day)
Saturday, Aug. 23: Deadline for Catholic and non-Catholic families to apply for Phase III of Diocesan Tuition Assistance Program (TAP); details are on the FACTS family portal under “resource documents.”
Monday, Sept. 1: Labor Day; no school