St. Joseph School Introduces an Innovative Elementary Instructional Model
August 3, 2026
As St. Joseph School prepares to welcome students back for a new school year, we are excited to introduce a new instructional model for our elementary program that will provide students with even greater opportunities for academic growth while continuing the nurturing, faith-filled environment our families value.
Beginning this school year, students in Grades 1–6 will participate in a departmentalized instructional model, an approach that reflects educational best practices and allows teachers to specialize in the subjects they teach. By focusing on their areas of expertise, our teachers can provide deeper instruction, foster greater collaboration, and create engaging learning experiences that prepare students for success in middle school, high school, and beyond.
Two Learning Cohorts
Students will be organized into two learning cohorts, with dedicated Humanities and STEM teachers for each group.
Cohort A: Grades 1–3
Humanities: Mr. Carreon
STEM: Ms. Sugiyama
Cohort B: Grades 4–6
Humanities: Mr. Norton
STEM: Mrs. Okabayashi
Within each cohort, teachers will serve as subject-area specialists:
Humanities: English Language Arts, Social Studies, and Art
STEM: Mathematics, Science, STEM, and Computer
Students will also continue to receive instruction from our specialty teachers:
Physical Education: Mr. Nahoʻopiʻi
Religion: Mrs. Kawaʻauhau
A Strong Homeroom Connection
Although students will learn from more than one teacher throughout the day, every child will have a designated homeroom teacher who serves as their primary point of contact, providing daily attendance, student support, family communication, and a familiar, caring presence.
This year's homeroom assignments are:
Grades 1 & 2: Ms. Sugiyama
Grade 3: Mr. Carreon
Grades 4 & 5: Mr. Norton
Grade 6: Mrs. Okabayashi
Our Kindergarten students will continue to enjoy a traditional self-contained classroom led by one classroom teacher, ensuring our youngest learners receive the consistency and nurturing environment they need.
What This Means for Students
The goal of this new instructional model is simple: to help every child learn, grow, and thrive.
Students can look forward to:
More personalized support. Every student will continue to have a dedicated homeroom teacher who knows them well and serves as the primary connection for families.
Stronger academic instruction. Teachers will collaborate closely to provide consistent, high-quality learning experiences while building essential skills across grade levels.
Subject-area expertise. Students will learn from educators who are passionate about the subjects they teach, allowing for deeper instruction and greater creativity in the classroom.
More engaging learning experiences. With teachers focusing on fewer content areas, they have more time to design hands-on projects, collaborative activities, and meaningful lessons that inspire curiosity and critical thinking.
Preparation for future success. Learning from multiple teachers in elementary school helps students gradually develop the organization, independence, and confidence needed for a successful transition to middle and high school.
The same caring St. Joseph School experience. While classroom routines may look different, our commitment to nurturing every student's academic, spiritual, social, and emotional growth remains at the heart of everything we do.
Preparing for a Successful Start
To ensure a smooth transition, the first day of school on the elementary campus will focus on helping students become familiar with their classrooms, teachers, schedules, and daily routines. This orientation day will provide students with the opportunity to build confidence and establish expectations before our new block schedule officially begins on Tuesday.
As with any new initiative, we will continue to listen, reflect, and make thoughtful refinements throughout the school year. Our teachers have invested significant time preparing for this transition, and we are confident this new model will provide an even stronger educational experience for every Cardinal.
We are grateful for the continued trust and partnership of our St. Joseph School families. Together, we look forward to another year of academic excellence, faith formation, and joyful learning as we continue our mission of educating hearts, minds, and spirits.
Go Cardinals!