In 1943, Father Louis Boeynaems, SSCC, Pastor of St. Joseph Church, wrote to His Excellency, Bishop James J. Sweeney requesting the building of a Catholic school in Makawao. After approval, the Baldwin family, through Maui Pineapple Company, released land adjacent to the church. The men of the 4th Marine Division leveled the ground for the first wing. Fr. Louis bought a Quonset hut, which was used to house the kindergarten class. At 8:00 a.m. on October 1, 1945, St. Joseph School opened its doors for the first time to 118 students in grades kindergarten, first and second. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange staffed the school. Under the guidance of Fr. Raphael Smelders, the second wing was completed in 1949. In 1968 the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange were recalled. Bishop John Scanlan and Father Joseph Putman, SS.CC. invited the Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary from the Philippines to teach at St. Joseph School. They have maintained a presence at the school since that time. It was in 1986 that St. Joseph School closed grades 7 and 8, due to lack of enrollment, and opened a Preschool. In 1995, St. Joseph School celebrated its 50th year of educational excellence. The last grade 6 to graduate from St. Joseph School was in 2007. There has been a resurgence of interest in the school, coupled with a growth in the settlement of new families Upcountry. Presently, a lay principal, helped by both religious and lay faculty members, staff the school. There is currently a waiting list for the 2009-2010 school year. The St. Joseph Church website can be found at: http://www.sjcmaui.org   PHILOSOPHY  St. Joseph School is a Catholic Preschool-5 parish school dedicated to the formation of the whole child.  Our safe, family-oriented, value-laden environment nurtures each individual’s desire and passion for life-long learning.  Through our words, actions and faith we are committed to develop responsible students, strong in morals and principles.  In accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ, we guide each individual’s spiritual, intellectual, emotional, physical and social growth.  With teachers as facilitators within the classroom, we strive for academic excellence by providing a well-rounded, research-based curriculum, always mindful that parents are the primary educators of their children. St. Joseph School focuses on the whole child in its philosophy.  With parents as primary educators of their children, the staff and teachers continue to be facilitators of learning for the child.  The school’s philosophy envelops the moral teachings of the Catholic church and encourages the child’s spirituality to thrive in an academic community of excellence.