Upton Start Up Day is August 24

Upton Middle School will host Start Up Day on Monday, August 24, 2026, from 11:30 AM to 6:00 PM.

Families are invited to stop in and get a head start on the school year. During Start Up Day, students and families can:

  • Have school pictures taken

  • Order a yearbook

  • Pick up student schedules

  • Tour the building

  • Get club and athletic information

  • Pick up 6th, 7th, and 8th grade laptops

  • Practice locker combinations

Families can also visit the Upton School website for important back-to-school information, including:

  • 2026–2027 school calendar

  • School supply list

  • Bus schedules

New families are encouraged to join the Upton Middle PTO Facebook page for updates and school information.

We look forward to seeing everyone at Upton Start Up Day.

11 days ago, Laura Koetsier
Upton Start Up Day flyer for August 24, 2026, listing event times, school preparation activities, website resources, and PTO information.
Late Start Wednesday | May 13, 2026
10 days ago, Mandy
Cartoon bear in graduation cap and gown giving graduations speech with words "Late Stat Wednesday May 13"

Football Playoff Game This Friday

St. Joseph High School will host Zeeland East in the MHSAA Football District Semifinal on Friday, October 31, at 7:00 PM.

Tickets must be purchased through GoFan. Please note:

  • No Maize and Blue passes will be accepted

  • No passes of any kind will be accepted

  • No cash sales will be available at the gate

  • GoFan tickets only

Fans should purchase tickets in advance and have their phone ready at the gate.

Go Bears!

11 days ago, Laura Koetsier
Football Playoffs flyer for Friday, October 31, announcing St. Joseph vs. Zeeland East at 7:00 PM. Tickets are GoFan only, with no Maize and Blue passes, no passes of any kind, and no cash accepted.
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 | 1 hour Late Start
about 1 month ago, Mandy
Colorful reminder graphic with a blue-to-green gradient background and a large yellow envelope shape. Centered on a beige card, bold text reads: “REMINDER: WEDNESDAY APRIL 22, 2026 1 HOUR LATE START!!” At the bottom is the St. Joseph Public Schools logo featuring a stylized bear and the letter “SJ.”
April 15, 2026 | Late Start Wednesday
about 1 month ago, Mandy
A school announcement graphic with a soft, nature-themed design. On the right, a friendly cartoon bear stands upright, smiling while holding and reading a green book with leaves on the cover. On the left, large yellow text reads “Late Start Wednesday,” with the date “April 15, 2026” shown below in white text inside a dark blue rounded rectangle. Beneath the date is the St. Joseph Public Schools logo featuring a stylized “SJ” and a bear head. A tree branch extends from the top left corner, and a border of green foliage and yellow flowers runs along the bottom.
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 | 1 Hour Late Start
about 2 months ago, Mandy
announcement graphic on a dark blue background with colorful illustrated flowers at the bottom. The text reads, "1 HOUR LATE START" in a white sans-serif font, followed by "Wednesday, April 8" in a white cursive script.

We are currently experiencing issues with our phone lines across the district. If you need to contact your student's school, please send an email to the front office staff:

Brown Elementary: msmith@sjschools.org
Clarke Elementary: mdurczak@sjschools.org
Lincoln Elementary: mkauffman@sjschools.org
Upton Middle School: lkoetsier@sjschools.org
St. Joseph High School: aessig@sjschools.org

about 2 months ago, Alli Hoskins
Wednesday, March 25 | Late Start Wednesday
about 2 months ago, Mandy
A colorful school announcement graphic with abstract shapes in green, blue, purple, and orange on a light background. Centered text reads “March 25, 2026” in orange and “1 HOUR LATE START” in purple. Below the text is the St. Joseph Public Schools logo, featuring a stylized bear head and the district name in blue.
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 | 1 Hour Late Start
3 months ago, Mandy
Graphic with abstract pastel shapes and decorative elements surrounding a peach-colored square note taped at the top. The note reads: “Wednesday, March 4 – 1 Hour Late Start.”
Late Start Wednesday | February 25, 2026
3 months ago, Mandy
Graphic with a light blue background and abstract decorative shapes in navy, yellow, and white. Centered dark blue text reads: “WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 25 1 HOUR LATE START” Yellow zigzag lines appear above and below the text, with small geometric shapes scattered around the design.
Late Start Wednesday | February 18, 2026
3 months ago, Mandy
Clipart graphic on a blue background with decorative stars and curved accents. Centered light gray box reads: “Reminder – Now. Wednesday, February 18, 2026. LATE START WEDNESDAY.” Two buttons at the bottom of the box read “OK” and “Close.”
Tomorrow, Wednesday, February 11, is Late Start Wednesday and Count Day. Please ensure your students are in attendance and arrive on time.

Student attendance on Count Day is especially important, as it is one of only two days during the school year when attendance is used to help determine the amount of state aid schools receive.
3 months ago, Mandy
Two cartoon bears holding blue heart shaped ballons with a reminder that Feb. 11 is Late Start Wednesday and Student Count Day.
1 Hour Late Start | Wednesday, February 4, 2026
4 months ago, Mandy
Graphic reads, “Wednesday, February 4 — 1 hour late start.” A cartoon groundhog is shown seeing it's shadowing saying "aww shucks". St. Joseph Public Schools logo appears in the bottom right corner.
Wednesday, January 28, 2026 | 1 Hour Late Start
4 months ago, Mandy
“Late Start Wednesday, January 28, 2026, shown with a winter illustration of a bear family reading by a fireplace.”

Due to unsafe wind-chill temps, St. Joseph Public Schools are cancelled for tomorrow, Friday, January 23, 2026. Please stay warm.

4 months ago, Mandy
SJPS School Cancellation
Wednesday, January 21, 2026 | 1 Hour Late Start
4 months ago, Mandy
Graphic with blue sky and white clouds announcing a one-hour late start on Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Special thanks to Dale Stover for his dedication to our students and his years of service to St. Joseph Public Schools as a bus and van driver. We wish Dale all the best in his well-earned retirement!
4 months ago, Alli Hoskins
Retirement notification for Dale Stover, thanking him for his years of service as a bus and van driver.

Updated Semester 1 Exam Schedule:

January 15 - Thursday (NO SCHOOL, SNOW DAY)

January 16 - Friday (Half Day of School)

  • Exam Periods 3 & 4

January 19 - Monday (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)

  • No school for students

January 20 - Tuesday (Full Day of School)

  • Exam Periods 5 & 6, in the morning

  • In the afternoon students will attend shortened classes 1st - 6th hours

4 months ago, Alli Hoskins

Due to inclement weather, St. Joseph Public Schools are cancelled tomorrow, Thursday, January 15, 2026.

4 months ago, Alli Hoskins
SJPS School Cancellation

Congratulations to our talented Upton artists who have earned Scholastic Arts Competition Awards. The Scholastic Arts Competition is the nation's longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens.

  • Violet (Gold Key Painting) This painting of a whale will now be judged on the national level.  If it is accepted by the judges, it will be displayed at Carnegie Hall.

  • Fernando (Honorable Mention Painting)

  • Carter (Honorable Mention Ceramics)

  • Violet (Honorable Mention Animation*)

  • Daphne (Honorable Mention Animation*)

    *See our Facebook post to watch the Animation!

4 months ago, Alli Hoskins
Scholastic Art Award Gold Key Painting: Violet
Scholastic Art Award Honorable Mention Painting: Fernando
Scholastic Art Award Honorable Mention Ceramics: Cater