Student Activities

Academic Competitions
...include the following: National History Day, Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science, Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair, English Festival, PA Math League Competition, American High School Math Exam, SJHS Science Fair, and Westinghouse Science Honors Institute.
PJAS: Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science
PRSEF: Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair
Science Bowl

Ambassadors
...are students whose responsibilities include recruitment events and public relations at SJHS.

Apprenticeship Program
...is conducted through the Allegheny Intermediate Unit.  Students work with professionals at various professional facilities.

Class Officers
...are elected each year and have specific responsibilities.  The officers, President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary organize events such as Dances, Prom, Fund-raisers, and Spirit Days.

Drama
...program generally presents two or three stage productions in a school year.  Participation is open to the entire student body through announced auditions.  Students are encouraged to try out for the play/musical, but there is also a need for students willing to work on designing and building the set, make-up, costumes, lighting, sound and ushering.

Emporium
...is a student published literary magazine.  All students are encouraged to submit their original stories, poems, and/or artwork.

Mock Trial
...is a program sponsored by the PA Bar Association that trains students to compete at the Allegheny County Court House.

National Forensic League
...trains students to compete with other high schools in speech, debate, and dramatic readings.

National History Day
...is a national contest for students in grades 6-12.  The students conduct extensive research related to an annual theme and present their findings in one of four categories: exhibits, documentaries, performances or papers.  Students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills while creating their entries.

Pro-Life Group
...plans events such as March for Life, Pro-Life Vigil, and guest speakers for the SJHS community.

Robotics
...is a competition in which team members build a robot to compete against other schools in a skills competition. 

S.T.A.F.F. (Shaping Tomorrow's Adults for the Future)
...is a leadership development program which is organized and led by students who have completed the seminar and are members of Executive Board.  The summer program is open to students who have completed either the 9th or 10th grade year.

St. Joseph High School Squires
...are dedicated to promoting service and the Catholic faith – while providing opportunities for fun and leadership training to young Catholic men.  The Columbian Squires is the official youth organization of the Knights of Columbus.

Student Ministry Council
...is a representative group of students who meet on a regular basis to give a student voice to concerns and issues, to lead the SJHS community in prayer and liturgy, and to reach out the wider community in service.  This council is dedicated to strengthening the Catholic identity of the school and to building a faith community.  Homeroom representatives pass along information to the entire student body in order that all students are aware of and can be involved in the various aspects of Student Ministry.

Service Projects
...are required of each student in his/her church or community of 100 hours (25 per year) of service.  Involvement may include the following: youth group, altar server, lector, choir, hospital volunteer, grade school volunteer, firefighter, EMT, library aide, and museum volunteer are some of the areas in which SJHS students are involved.

Volunteer Opportunities
St. Joseph High School students are required to accumulate 100 volunteer hours over the course of their four years in high school in order to graduate. 

World Youth Day
...is the Catholic Church's week of events for youth and with youth.  It gathers thousands of young people from around the world to build bridges of friendship and hope between continents, peoples and cultures.  World Youth Day will be held in Sydney, Australia from July 15 - 20, 2008.

Yearbook
...is designed by the students (with a little help from teachers and staff) to portray a pictorial portrait of SJHS during the school year.