Catharine
Joseph W. Catharine Elementary School, situated in the Paschall neighborhood of Southwest Philadelphia, is a public elementary school serving students from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade. As part of the School District of Philadelphia, Catharine is committed to providing a high-quality education in a safe and nurturing environment.
Quicklinks
Principal’s Message
Welcome to Joseph W. Catharine Elementary
Dear Catharine Family,
As a member of the J.W. Catharine family, I am excited to re-launch all of the learning, community, and connection that our students, staff, and families expect from us.
Our school leadership team, in addition to our teachers and other support staff, have worked extremely hard over the summer to develop and enhance our learning program. Our planning for our educational experience is based on our guiding principles:
- Ensuring the health and safety of all scholars and staff
- Protecting our mission and vision
- Being adaptive
- Keeping relationships close
- Communicating intentionally
As we begin to work together we remain focused on two goals: to protect learning and to promote home and school connectedness.
Protect learning- our goal is always to ensure that students continue to learn and develop. It is critical that we continue to hold ourselves accountable with engaging students with rigorous curriculum and high quality learning tasks that are paired with high quality instruction.
We know that there has been unfinished instruction from the spring. Therefore, protecting our time with our students then becomes even more important.
- We will protect our time for students by providing instruction that contains the elements of effective teaching practices with time for student individualization.
- We are also committed to protecting teacher development as well, we provide weekly opportunities for teachers through professional learning, collaboration, and data analysis so that we are prepared to provide the best possible experience for our scholars.
Promote home and school connectedness- we see the value in our connection with students, families, and with each other.
- We will continue to connect with families through personalized calls home, parent conferences, consistently updating our website, and increased use of our social media pages.
- We want to keep you updated on the most recent and important information.
We look forward to partnering with you this year.
Ms. Lisa Wilmer, Principal
Mrs. Emilie Burton & Mrs. Marianne Kennedy Assistant Principals
Calendar
➜ View our school event calendar anytime on Class Dojo.
At the start of each month, a printed student calendar will be sent home, highlighting key dates such as early dismissals, days off, field trips, testing, interim reports, and more.
A digital copy will be posted on Class Dojo for easy access.
What is Class Dojo?
Class Dojo is our main communication tool for sharing daily updates, announcements, and event reminders. You can also message your child’s teacher directly through the app.
Our School
At Joseph W. Catharine School, we are proud to serve students in grades PreK–5 with a strong focus on academic excellence, inclusion, and community. Located in the Paschall neighborhood of Southwest Philadelphia, we offer a welcoming and supportive environment where every child can grow and succeed.
Our students engage in a well-rounded curriculum that includes Health & Physical Education, Art, STEM, and Writing specials. We’re committed to supporting the whole child—intellectually, emotionally, and socially—through a variety of academic and enrichment opportunities that help every student thrive.
Attendance & Bell Schedule
Bell Schedule
School Day: 7:30 am – 2:09 pm
Breakfast: 7:10-7:25 am
Lunch:
- Grades K-1: 10:15-11:00 am
- Grades 2-3: 11:00-11:45 am
- Grades 4-5: 11:45 am – 12:30 pm
Recess: 15-minute
For details on early dismissals, inclement weather procedures, delayed openings, and emergency closings, please refer to the Parent & Student Handbook.
Attendance
Attendance matters! The consistency for both students and teachers is critical to success. Consequences can come from excessive or unexcused absences.
Points of Pride
We are a small school with a strong, positive climate that offers enriching academic and social experiences for all students.
One way we measure our success is through student performance on national standardized tests, and we’re proud to share that our students are making great progress!
Math
- 3.5% more students scored Proficient or Advanced on the state PSSA math exam compared to last year.
- 8.5% more students are now performing at or above grade level on the STAR math assessment year over year.
English Language Arts (ELA)
- 2.7% more students scored Proficient or Advanced on the PSSA reading exam compared to last year.
- 8.6% more students are now reading at or above grade level on the STAR assessment year over year.
Attendance
74.1% of our students attend school every day, 90% or more of the time.
PBIS | Positive Behavior Intervention and Support
Monthly the school recognizes students who exhibit our 3R’s (Be Ready, Be Respectful, and Be Responsible) in a variety of ways (ex: dances, prize cart, etc.). In order to be recognized, students must earn a certain amount of class dojo points. A list of monthly events are posted on class dojo.
Instrumental Music Program
The arts are so important to our young minds. Our 4th and 5th graders enjoy weekly band or orchestra lessons and shine on stage at our winter and spring concerts—building confidence, creativity, and community.
Digital Literacy Lab – Coming Soon!
Programs, Clubs & Sports
🎶 Music
- Our 4th and 5th-grade students participate once a week in lessons with our band or orchestra teachers. Students showcase their talents at the winter and spring concerts.
🎯 Extracurricular Clubs & Activities
- Homework Help
- Arts & Crafts
- Cheerleading
- Garden Club — Coming Soon!
🤝 Community Partnerships
- ArtWell
- Zhang Sah Karate
- Musicopia
- Ballroom Dancing
- Artist Year Residency
Student Handbook & Policies
- Catharine – Parent/Student Handbook & Code of Conduct
- District – Student Code of Conduct & Discipline Process
Policies
- Attendance
- Dress Code – Uniforms
- Cell Phone Policy
- Report Bullying, Harassment, or Discrimination
- Student Safety
Annual Notification of Rights under FERPA
The School District of Philadelphia is required to annually notify parents and eligible students of their rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). These rights include the right to inspect and review education records, request amendments, consent to disclosures, and file a complaint.
For questions, please contact the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities.
Uniforms
The School District of Philadelphia has adopted a mandatory uniform policy for all students in Kindergarten through grade twelve. By fully embracing a uniform policy, we work purposefully to promote a positive school climate and instill self pride in our students and school community.
Everyday Uniform:
- Yellow shirt
- Navy blue bottoms
- Black or brown shoes
NOT Permitted:
- Hoodies
- Jeans
- Open-toed shoes or slides
See our uniform policy for more details.
At A Glance
Principal
Lisa Wilmer
Grade Levels: PreK-5
Learning Network: 1
Student Enrollment: 400
Phone: 215-400-8150
Fax: 215-400-8151
Address:
6600 Chester Avenue,
Philadelphia, PA 19142
SEPTA – Trip Planner
Academics
At Joseph W. Catharine School, we offer a strong, supportive learning environment where students in grades PreK–5 thrive academically and socially. Our well-rounded curriculum includes reading, math, science, and social studies—alongside music, art, physical education, and technology to keep learning engaging and fun.
We meet the needs of every learner through personalized support services like reading intervention, counseling, and speech therapy. Our goal is to help every student grow into a confident, curious, and successful learner.
View our full academic overview to learn more about our curriculum and academic programs.
Multilingual Curriculum & Programs - Language Access Support Services - ESOL services
The School District of Philadelphia provides a variety of programs and services in many languages to support our multilingual families. Students whose first language is not English may qualify for ESOL services.
Need Help?
Contact: Ms. Gerber, ESOL Point Person (tgerber@philasd.org) for questions or concerns.
Or, contact your school’s Bilingual Counseling Assistant
Programs & Services
- Multilingual Curriculum and Programs
Learn more about the different programs and opportunities offered for multilingual students and families, and to get assistance with any District-related questions or processes.
- Language Access Support Services
Learn more about accessing interpretation/translation services, including Bilingual Counseling Assistants (BCAs) assigned to your school, and other resources. - Language Access Concern
Your feedback is essential in helping us improve language access within our District. If you’ve encountered a language-related challenge, such as a communication barrier, translation issue, or interpretation challenge, your input helps us improve our services.- For assistance at Catharine, contact Ms. Bute, SIS, at vbute@philasd.org or visit them on-site at school.
- For additional support to help you resolve concerns, visit Family & Community Engagement
Special Education - Accommodations - Specialized Services
Catharine is committed to providing specialized services to children in the least restrictive environment, as required by the law. Students receive accommodations and modifications as outlined in their Individualized Educational Program (IEP).
The District provides an extensive range of educational services and supports for students with diverse needs within our schools.
Learn more about Parent Information Sessions, Special Education Programs
Summer Programs
Visit the District Summer Programs site for additional opportunities for your student over the summer.
Enrollment
Welcome to Catharine! We’re excited to welcome new students in PreK, Kindergarten, and Grades 1–5.
Not sure if Catharine is your neighborhood school? Check with the School Finder Tool
Health Services - Nurse
School Nurse
Our school nurse provides immediate care for health concerns, conducts required screenings, and supports students’ overall wellness.
For details on medication administration, mandated screenings, immunizations, and other health services, please refer to the Parent & Student Handbook.
Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS)
IBHS supports children with mental, emotional, and behavioral health needs. IBHS offers a wide range of services that meet the needs of children in their homes, schools, and communities.
For more details, refer to the Parent & Student Handbook.
Mental Health Resources
For mental health resources and support services, visit the District’s Mental Health Resources page.
Health Services & Resources
To learn about immunizations, physicals, and wellness programs, go to the Student Health Services page.
Resources
Parent Portal
➜ Log in to the Parent Portal to view your child’s grades, test scores, attendance, immunization records, report cards, and more.
Family Hub
➜ Visit the Family Hub for help with registration, academics, special education, English learner support, student records, transportation, and more.
Google Classroom
➜ Log in to Google Classroom using your student’s Chromebook and District credentials to view classwork and homework. For help, see the Google Classroom Login Directions.
Class Dojo
➜ Log in to ClassDojo to get daily updates, school events, announcements, and direct message your child’s teacher.
Chromebook Support
➜ Get Chromebook help and support including repair locations, resources, and FAQs.
Transportation
➜ View transportation services for bus routes, bus status, the Flat Rate Program, and support.
Accommodations & Multilingual Support
➜ Request translation or accessibility accommodations for any school or District event.
AHERA Inspection Reports
➜ View AHERA inspection reports for asbestos material status and school-specific details.
Get Involved
Parent & Family University
Parent & Family University provides free resources, courses, and support to help parents and families engage with their children, schools, and community.
➜ Learn more about Parent & Family University
Volunteer
We love parent involvement! Make a positive impact at our school by volunteering your time and talents.
➜ Find out how to become a volunteer
School Advisory Councils (SACs)
SACs are peer-elected groups of family members, school staff, students (grades 7–12), and community members who work together to support academic success and strengthen school partnerships.
➜ Learn more about School Advisory Councils
Contact Us
Stay Connected
Phone: 215-400-8150
Fax: 215-400-8151
- Staff Directory
- Contact Central Office
Get help with registration, academics, special education, English learner support, student records, transportation, and more. - Parent Portal
View grades, test scores, attendance, immunization records, report cards and more. - Google Classroom
To view your student’s classwork and homework - Class Dojo
Stay updated about school events, announcements, and important information.
Address:
6600 Chester Avenue,
Philadelphia, PA 19142
SEPTA – Trip Planner
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