Although the pandemic caused many clubs and athletic teams to be suspended, St. Joseph School is proud to have successfully organized several extra-curricular activities during this unprecedented school year. Building upon the success of its fall season, the St. Joseph School Athletic Department, overseen by Joey Boudreau, ran a second Cross-Country program this spring. Students in grades five through eight participated on the team. Although the students knew that they still would not have the opportunity to compete against other schools, the team’s popularity grew as each runner focused on personal improvement. The group, coached by St. Joseph School Math and Science Instructor Jeffrey Grupposo, ran several trails: the Quinebaug River Trail on Schofield Road in Dudley, where the runners had the option of running either 1.8 miles or a full 5k (3.1 miles), trails at Memorial Beach in Webster, the Air Line State Park Trail in East Thompson, CT, and a 2-mile time trial at the Blackstone River Greenway in Millville/Blackstone.  Surfaces had pavement, dirt, grass, and beach sand. The length of the trail runs ranged from 1.2 miles to 3.1 miles. At each trail run, volunteers timed the runners so the students could track their times and see their progress.

In addition to the Cross-Country program, the St. Joseph School Athletic Department also offered a basketball clinic and a cheer clinic for students in grades two through four. First Grade instructor Mrs. Kayla Maynard ran the spring basketball clinics and focused on basic ball handling and shooting skills. Second Grade instructor Ms. Gina DiCola ran the cheer clinics and was assisted by Seventh Grade students Hannah Watson, Maeve Sullivan, and Gianna DiCola-Keddy. The clinic provided the opportunity for the young cheerleaders to work on their tumbling skills and learn a dance routine that they performed for their families at the end of the school year.

Finally, St. Joseph School also started a Hiking Club to have students learn about and experience Webster’s natural world. The club was organized and run by a parent volunteer, David Johnson. Students completed a total of four hikes and two at school meetings. During the two school meetings, the students learned about reading maps, using a compass, trailblazing, tying the ‘Big 6’ knots, and much more. They hiked the Quinebaug Rail Trail, several parts of the Mid-State Trail, and around Bad Luck Pond in Douglas. In total, the students walked for over 11 miles in 4 hikes!  During their treks, the students also played a game of “Guess the Poop,” seeing if they could identify animals by the droppings they left behind. St. Joseph School plans to run the Hiking Club during the fall and spring sessions again next year.