A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A STUDENT
St. Joseph’s is indeed an active and vital environment.
Every single moment of the day, from early morning until late at night,
something is going on somewhere--either in the classrooms, the playing
areas, the students’ residence at Concordia House, or in pre-vocational
worksites outside the campus where students prepare themselves for employment
and the world at large. The spirit here is action, learning, sharing,
joy, and mutual energetic growth.
8:30 - 9:00 A.M.
A new day dawns at St. Joseph's and students head to school from our
Concordia House residence or from home in a bus arranged through the
local school district.
9:00 - 10:30 A.M.
Students attend gym class with support from the physical therapist;
other students attend visual, performing arts, music, and cooking classes;
while older students pursue social studies, pre-vocational work activities,
and orientation and mobility classes.
11:00 A.M. - 1:00
P.M.
Students enjoy lunch with, where necessary, the assistance of the occupational
therapist and speech therapist; older students help prepare their own
lunch and assist with table-setting and clean-up. All students are involved
in activities of daily living, personal hygiene and grooming activities.
1:00 - 3:00 P.M.
Students participate in classes of language skills, storytelling, math,
learning to tell time, computer skills, use of the CCTV (Closed Circuit
Television), and pre-Braille activities. Socialization skills in small
groups, orientation and mobility classes, music classes, and science
skills occupy most of the afternoon.
3:00 P.M.
Day students take the bus home while residential students prepare themselves
snacks, followed by periods of recreation that might include swimming
in our indoor pool, bowling, shopping, playing under supervision in
the local parks, or gardening at Concordia House.
5:00 P.M.
Residential students enjoy dinner at Concordia House, involve themselves
in daily living tasks such as washing dishes, light laundry, and tidying
their bedrooms, followed by homework assignments and leisure activities
in music, and arts and crafts.
9:00
- 9:30 P.M.
Our residential students prepare for bed, sleeping in a room of their
own, and getting the rest they need for another day of learning and
action!