Why Choose SJCA?

Joleen Aberer and Kristi Rasmussen may not have a lot in common when it comes to their families in Catholic schools. 

Joleen, second-grade teacher at St. James School, and her husband, Mike, have seven children who all attended St. Joseph Catholic Academy. Their two youngest are currently at Bishop LeBlond High School, and they currently have four grandchildren who attend St. James. They have had children in the Academy for almost two decades. 

Kristi Rasmussen, director of Communications and Marketing for the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, and her husband, Paul, have one daughter, Katarina. She began attending St. Gianna Early Childhood Center and is currently in seventh grade at Cathedral. 

But they do share this in common: Both are very happy with their choice to send their children to the Academy. They appreciate the strong academics in a faith-based atmosphere, and both feel a strong sense of community within the schools. 

Joleen said she grew up attending Catholic schools in Omaha, Nebraska, and Mike attended two years at St. Patrick School in St. Joseph (now closed) before attending public school. 

When the time came to choose a school for their children, Joleen said they never really had a conversation about it. 

“It was just an assumption that we would send them to Catholic school,” she said. “Mike knew what he didn’t get growing up and he wanted it for his kids.” 

Kristi said she always figured they would send her daughter to public school, but they had such a great experience at St. Gianna’s that they decided to continue at Cathedral. 

Then her husband, who went to a Catholic church as a child but was not confirmed, had an interest in becoming Catholic and went through RCIA classes. “I wanted us all to be able to take Communion together, so I went through the classes the next year,” Kristi said. 

She said one experience when Katarina was in kindergarten cemented their decision about Catholic school education. 

“Before my mother passed, we used to talk on speaker phone every day on the way to school. Mom was talking about a friend of hers who was sick. A few minutes later I looked in the back seat and saw Katarina praying. When she was done I asked her what she was praying about and she said, ‘for Grandma’s friend to get better.’ As much as I’d like to say that was my great parenting skills, I think that was more Mrs. Supple’s (her kindergarten teacher’s) influence. It warmed my heart and is something I’ll never forget.”

Joleen remembers feeling a sense of belonging and validation of her and Mike’s decision from the moment she registered her oldest daughter for school at St. James. “A mom came up to me and gave me several uniforms, all clean and pressed. She saw that I had several daughters and knew I could use them. I know it seems like such a small thing, but I felt so welcomed,” Joleen said. “It was nice to immediately feel a part of the community, especially since I didn’t grow up here.”  

(She also noted that she had five girls go through Catholic schools and she only had to buy one uniform skirt. “Later, someone gave me skirts, so if I had waited two weeks, I wouldn’t have had to buy any,” she said with a laugh.) 

Joleen believes the relationships that her family formed with their children’s teachers is another great benefit of Catholic schools. “The teachers have helped us through the difficult times. It’s bigger than academics; the teachers really get to know the kids and their needs. No system is ever perfect, but when you are on this parenting ride with like-minded people, it really helps.” 

“Overall, I’m totally confident with our choice in sending our daughter to a Catholic school,” Kristi said. “The small class sizes are great and she knows all the teachers and administrators in the building. She’s known most of the kids in her class for so long, they feel like extended family. And she is exposed to God every day.”

Joleen had been teaching part time, but began teaching full time this academic year because all  full-time Academy teachers now receive free tuition for their children, no matter which Academy school their children attend and no matter where they teach. 

“Every day in the Catholic school, children are surrounded by people whose faith is important to them,” Joleen said. “Faith becomes more of the fiber of their lives rather than just a small part of it.” 

One of the most powerful ways SJCA grows is through the enthusiasm and recommendations of our current families. By sharing the many benefits of Catholic education, along with the scholarships and financial aid opportunities available, you can help others see that a Catholic education is an achievable and life-changing option for their family. Potential families can visit www.stjoecatholicacademy.com/tours to set up a tour!

Maximizing the Benefits of 529 Plans for Private School Tuition

Cristina Wiebelt-Smith

For families invested in providing a quality Catholic education, the cost of tuition is often a significant consideration. Fortunately, a powerful financial tool can make these expenses more manageable while offering tax benefits: the 529 plan.

What is a 529 Plan?

A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged savings plan designed to encourage saving for future education expenses. While traditionally associated with college savings, federal tax laws now allow families to use 529 plans to pay for up to $10,000 per year per student in tuition for K-12 private schools, including Catholic elementary and high schools.

How Does it Work for Missouri residents?

Missouri families enjoy additional benefits when contributing to a 529 plan. Contributions to any 529 plan are tax-deductible on state income taxes—up to $8,000 per year for individuals or $16,000 for married couples filing jointly.

For example, if a married couple contributes $10,000 to a MOST 529 plan and uses $8,000 of that to pay for private school tuition, they will still receive a $10,000 deduction on their Missouri state taxes. It’s a simple yet impactful way to save on taxes while supporting your child’s Catholic education.

Contribution Limits

Although Missouri offers state tax deductions for contributions up to $8,000 (or $16,000 for married couples), you can contribute much more to a 529 plan. The lifetime contribution limit for a Missouri 529 plan is $550,000 per beneficiary. While you may not need to save that much for K-12 tuition, these plans are an excellent long-term savings vehicle if you plan to fund both private school and college expenses.

Benefits of Using a 529 Plan for K-12 Tuition

1. Tax-Free Growth: Any earnings in a 529 plan grow tax-free, meaning you won’t pay federal or state taxes on investment gains while the money is in the 529 plan. You also won't pay taxes when you take distributions to pay for qualified educational expenses, which includes K-12 tuition.

2. State Tax Deduction: Contributions reduce your Missouri taxable income, providing immediate tax savings.

3. Flexibility: Funds can be used for tuition at private elementary schools, high schools, and colleges, giving families the flexibility to plan for their child’s entire educational journey. Funds can also be transferred to another family member if one child doesn't need the money. 

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How to Get Started

If you’re new to 529 plans, opening an account is straightforward. You can visit Missouri’s MOST 529 website to create an account and set up automatic contributions. Even small, consistent contributions can add up over time and make a big difference in covering tuition costs.

Once you have a 529 plan, you can deposit the amount of your child's tuition in it to get the tax deduction. If you’ve already paid some of the tuition, you can reimburse yourself. If not, you can use it to pay the school. You can put the money in at any time during the year and reimburse yourself at any time.  

By leveraging the benefits of a 529 plan, our families can reduce the financial burden of tuition while ensuring their children receive the values-based education that Catholic schools provide.

For more information about using a 529 plan for Catholic school tuition, consult your financial advisor or CPA. For general questions, I'm happy to help as well. 

Cristina Wiebelt-Smith, CPA & Wealth Advisor 816-259-5060 cristina@gertsema.net

2025 Catholic Schools Week

During the last week of January, each of our schools celebrated our catholic identity and mission.  A Catholic School is not a stand alone entity nor here to simply boast great athletics, high level of scholarship or an empty promise to merely provide for parents’ educational desires.  A catholic school is always, by its nature, connected to the local church and her mission.  

I will always be grateful for the Catholic education I received.  Growing up in a Catholic family, my parents always took me to Mass.  They also strove to teach us the faith.  But the Catholic school was the place where I learned so much (and I don’t just mean in the classroom)!  I have fond memories of the activities of Catholic Schools week- the eighth grade volleyball game, the dress up days, the extra time for prayer, writing ‘thank-you’ cards for the local community.  In many ways, the Catholic school assisted my parents in preparing me for a priestly vocation. It taught me the importance of growth in virtue, friendly competition and our duty to promote a peaceful society.

I’d like to take a moment to share a story.  During my fifth grade year of Catholic grade school, the school had an “occupation day”.  Well, I declared to my parents that I would dress up as a priest.  All sorts of students dressed down that day as lawyers, teachers, doctors, and there was a photographer.  As we began our religion class that day, which was taught by the priest who nurtured my own vocation, one aspiring photographer took a picture of me standing next to our parish priest!  Looking back at that photo over the years, which I keep in the front of my bible, I am always reminded of the gift of my Catholic education which was so much more than ‘learning good things’.  Moments like these from my youth inspired me to be a good catholic and a priest- and one who recognizes that all of the faithful have a task to support true education.  

The Catholic Church reminds her bishops, priests and all of the faithful of the noble ideals we must see at work in our Catholic schools: “True education must strive for complete formation of the human person that looks to his or her final end as well as to the common good of societies, children and youth are to nurtured in such a way that they are able to develop their physical, moral and intellectual talents harmoniously, acquire a more perfect sense of responsibility and right use of freedom, and are formed to participate actively in social life” (CIC 795). 

Admittedly, the Church recognizes that these lofty ideals can also be fulfilled by parents who choose to use public schools and take their responsibilities to form their children in the faith seriously.  The Church also recognizes these same goals can be met by homeschooling households and co-ops.  But we really do have many special opportunities, at this time in St. Joseph, to ensure that genuine catholic education will be here to stay in our Catholic schools.  

Thank you for supporting the Church in her evangelizing mission. And thank you for supporting our Catholic Schools!!!

In Christ, 

Fr. Armentrout

Chaplain, Bishop LeBlond High School