The St. Joseph Elementary School building in Missoula now houses an early education program as well as classes for children in kindergarten through eighth grade.

The St. Joseph Early Education Program for children ages 2-5 began receiving students at the building in late August. Previously, the program was housed at St. Francis Xavier Parish.

St. Joseph Principal Rick Hyland said the relocation grew from a desire to provide continuity in education and followed a lengthy period of planning. Children who receive early education at the St. Joseph Elementary building can more easily transition into the elementary education that is well established there, Hyland said.

He also said the new arrangement fosters ties between children who are 2 or 3 years old and the 12- or 13-year-olds nearing the end of their time at St. Joseph.

“These young adults are loving the opportunity of being the `big brothers and big sisters’ of the children in the Early Education Program,” Hyland said.

“Together, as these boys and girls are walking side by side, they are learning how to live, love and pray as one community. Most importantly, the seventh- and eighth-grade students are showing these young boys and girls how to walk the path of Christ.”

Children in early education are instructed by statecertified teachers in a variety of areas, including music, art and physical education.

“I like the playground at the new school!” said Logan Pederson, who is in the program.

Early Childhood Director Irene Tiefenthaler said she is pleased that for some households, the relocation means that parents of multiple children can have all of them in one place during the school day.

Tiefenthaler also said the continuity that smooths the path from early-childhood education to elementary school likely will result in more of today’s preschoolers proceeding through many years of school together, strengthening their bonds over time.


Published in The Montana Catholic Online, Volume 26, No. 9, September 17, 2010.