St. Joseph School continues to uphold the highest in academic values.

Fire and Flood: An Auspicious Beginning
St. Joseph School was conducted by the School Sisters of Notre Dame for well over seventy years. Three sisters opened a newly constructed school on January 9, 1905. Despite flooding caused by a broken water pipe, a day after they arrived, and a fire caused by an overheated furnace the following morning, the sisters happily occupied roughly half the school building until the early 1920s.

The "Little School"
At that time, St. Joseph Parish purchased a residence on Polk Street to be used as a classroom for the primary grades. The three buildings and Monroe Street encompassed a well-equipped playground that doubled as a parking lot for Sunday Masses.

A New Home
In June 1949, the sisters took up residence in a convent on Washington Street which was the former Ed Peters home. Thereafter the so-called "little school" was torn down to provide additional playground and parking space. The remodeled original building then housed all classrooms.

A Most Generous Benefactor
At his death in 1949, William G. McKay—renown owner of McKay Nursery—bequeathed over $100,000 to St. Joseph Parish with the express condition that it be used exclusively for school purposes.

In 1962, with money saved in a building fund, the parish purchased the former public school site located on Polk Street between Monroe Street and Jackson Street. By the Fall of 1963, a modern school building consisting of six classrooms, a lunch room, a full-size gymnasium, and well-equipped kitchen was built for $200,000. Later, the former school building on Washington Street was razed.

Enrollment Soars
Enrollment grew from 66 students, during the first year of operation in the new building, to a high census of approximately 150 students in the late 1960s. The 2001-2002 enrollment stands at 83 students.

Over the years, curriculum has been enriched, services added, and cooperation with the public schools has grown. Highlights include:

• 1951 to Present
  Music lessons offered all interested students
• 1952 to Present
  Open House, Book Fairs, and Parent/Teacher conferences
• 1967 to Present
  Hot Lunch Program provided
• Numerous field trips taken annually
• Professionally choreographed Christmas plays
• 1968 to Present
  Seventh and Eighth Graders continue their education at the public schools
• 1999 to Present
  Pre-Kindergarten program established

The St. Joseph School Legacy
St. Joseph School is, and always has been, an integral part of the parish and community. The academic and character development skills it has taught has served its graduates in leading well ordered and useful lives. For some graduates, more endowed with God's intellectual gifts and determination, the early training received provided an excellent foundation for further scholastic achievement and participation in the life around them.

Notes from: 1979
Jennifer Thomas (now Batz), Wanda’s daughter and Brandon’s mom, was the star of the Courier getting her picture in not once, but twice during the year.

Gregory Vogt of NASA presented a program for a combined assembly of St. John’s Lutheran and St. Joseph’s Catholic School.

Jill Tesmer (Karley & Nathan’s aunt) had the opportunity to wear a NASA space outfit.

Notes from: 1976
There are 103 students opening day at St. Joseph School. St Joseph’s Catholic Parish will celebrate the first mass in the new church Saturday evening November 13th.

Other big news include Jill Tesmer (Karley and Nathan’s aunt) and Ronald Welhoefer ( Jordyn’s uncle) were winners in the Knights of Columbus poster contest. The “Bird’s Eye View of Waterloo” (that hangs by the school telephone in the hall) is presented to Sister Rose from the Historical Society.

Notes from: 1975
Faculty for the year: Sr. Rose Helene, Janet Duschack, Paula Sutter, Joan Fitzgerald. 

Our Pastor was Fr. Henry Kalscheuer.  Enrollment in the school was 102, of the 102 students 6 where Vietnamese students.

• Anne Weiner received her First Holy Communion in her home in the evening.  Father Kalscheuer was the celebrant for the Mass.  Sisters and a number of relatives were present for the occasion.  Everyone enjoyed a delicious meal after the liturgy.  Note: Children make their First Holy Communion at various times.

• Spelling Bee at Sun Prairie. Debbie Meitner, Grade 6, Represented St Joseph's.

• May Crowning took place in church at 7:30 P.M. followed with the rosary and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

• The fifth and sixth graders in Sr. Rose’s class at St Joseph's Catholic School are growing hydro-ponic tomato plants.  Lead students for the project were Kris Finkler and Mike Quamme.

Notes from: 1966-67
Enrollment for the school was 143 children.  The faculty for this year is Sister M. Laverne, Sister Monica Marie, Mrs. James Tesmer, Sister M. Johnelle.

• The Amantrouts from Lake Mills are able to attend, riding with Mrs. Tesmer who is also from Lake Mills.

• For the First time in St. Joseph's history the second graders received First Communion early.  It is beautiful to see them receive Our Lord standing between their parents.  Father Carroll Veik had just received the Order of Diaconate the day before and had the priviledge of giving Holy Communion for the first time to his sister, Charlene.

• Tim Breunig, one of our second graders, was struck by a car and seriously injured.  The children in school prayed so intensely for his recovery in the weeks that followed and their prayers were definitely heard.   Tim seems to be doing well at last report.

• The Living Rosary and May Crowning Ceremonies were held this night.  Judy Geishirt had the privilege of crowning the Blessed Virgin.

• Graduation services were held in the evening.  Mass was offered with the graduates singing hymns.  After Mass father presented awards each child receiving one for an outstanding characteristic. 

• The graduates for this year were: Diane DeYoung, Therese Freund, Judy Geishirt, Mary Kay Harley, Trudy Kaupert, Diane Krause, Jane Petranek, Donna Standiford, Gail Zimbric, Mike Govek, Tom Ladron, Tom Post, Fed Schwartz, Joe Sellnow, Jim Setz, Dan Wells.

Notes from: 1954-1955
• "School bells rang again at St. Joseph’s where 104 pupils took their places for another school year. Teachers: Superior M. Ivana, Sister Ingrid, Sister Juliana."

• Rev Father John Forest Higgins sang a High Mass here at our church. The newly ordained priest was a former pupil of St. Joseph’s and the children were happy to participate in the special occasion. Our 6th, 7th, and 8th grade girls sang the High Mass most beautifully.

• After a jolly, happy vacation St. Joseph's pupils and teachers returned to school bells and the anticipation of semester exams. Everyone’s brains seem to be working overtime these days - especially the teachers.

• Louise Bartosch, eighth grade student represented our school at Jefferson County spelling bee held at Jefferson. Poor Louise went down on the nineteenth round, but she did very well.

• Twenty-four excited and happy children celebrated their First Holy Communion. They were well prepared by their zealous and devoted teacher, Sister Mary Ingrid. God's privileged friends for the day were: Edward Bartosch, Jean Deppe, David Hamshire, Joseph Joyce, Terry Luther, Kenneth Montague, Priscilla Motl, David Peschel, William Pomplin, Kathleen Rood, Joseph Schaefer, Michael Schwartz, Lawrence Skalitzky, Marie Skalitzky, Nancy Skalitzky, Sharon Skalitzky, Elaine, Stangler, Wilbur Stark, Cassandra Stokes, Kathleen Wedeward, Jacqueline Wolfe, Susan Zehren, Laverne Woolver.

• Examinations began full swing. The Holy Spirit was pleased at the many pleading voices who begged for help and the right answers were supplied by "Him."

Notes from: 1948
An interesting program was presented in the parsonage for the Rev. Pastor’s Name day. Father Hess was much pleased with the little skit Rev. Joseph Bier composed. Later in the day, all received a large juicy apple as a surprise gift from Rev. Father.

May, the beautiful month of our Lady, ushered in some lovely activities at St. Joseph’s, namely, First Holy Communion on Mother’s Day and Graduation on the last day of May. Benediction followed graduation after which ‘Praise Ye the Father’ was sung and another group of lovely children left dear St. Joseph’s. Graduates for this year: Paul Cooley, Thomas Cooley, Helen Huebner, Lawrence Netzer, Marianne Peschel, John Spies, Betty Welhoefer (Jordyn’s Aunt), and Ronald Zimbric.

A Basketball team was organized in fall. Suits were purchased for the boys on the team. Colors: purple & gold. The cheerleaders were presented with yellow sweaters and purple monograms.