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A Rich Tradition

St. Joseph Catholic High School has experienced many transitions since opening in 1931 as the first high school for the Catholic boys in the Edmonton region. During the 1930’s and 1940’s the school educated most of the prominent Catholic boys of Edmonton. In the early 1950’s a number of expansions allowed the school to lead the way in education, and when St. Mary’s High School closed, St. Joseph’s opened its doors to girls and became co-educational.

During the 1960’s, the need for vocational education and alternative education programs encouraged St. Joseph educators to develop vocational courses and the Integrated Occupations Program (IOP). In the 1980’s, new realities for the school involved the introduction of English as a Second Language (ESL) to meet the changing needs of Canadian multicultural society.  Innovation at St. Joseph’s continued in the early 1990’s with the introduction of the Academic Support and Educational Experiences Programs.

In 1996 St. Joseph’s embarked on a new educational model that continues to shape its destiny. The adoption of Individualized Self-Directed Learning (ISDL), in concert with a major renovation, provided students from the greater Edmonton area with an exciting new direction in education. Modifications to this program offering have led to a name change--Personalized Self-Directed Learning (PSDL)--in 2007. In 2002 St. Joseph’s innovation continued with the arrival of the high school completion and post-secondary preparation programs of Ascension Collegiate. In 2004 St. Joseph’s embarked on yet one more transition with the introduction of the Academic Plus Academies, and Advanced Placement and Honors subject offerings in academic core disciplines.

Currently, St. Joseph is continuing to work with its post-secondary partners of NAIT and GMC to extend learning for senior students into college level courses. In addition, 2008 will see the introduction of more structured learning opportunities for students in PSDL which will allow students some choice between self-directed and classroom learning. Finally, St. Joseph is beginning an initiative to implement the International Baccalaureate Program in September 2008 or 2009.  Connected with these new programs, the staff of St. Joseph’s is committed to bringing the Word of Our Lord and the Gospel of Jesus to our students in their daily lives.