St. Joseph
Catholic School

Poetic Fifth Graders

Fifth Grade students have been busy publishing their own original poems in a poetry booklet.
Mrs. Nancy Redmann is their teacher.

Back row, from left, Zachary Partridge, Morgan Fontenot, Leah Dahmer, Ben West
Front row, from left, Bethany Herrick, Stephanie Ekker

From the Principal

With the approval of the Advisory Board and Fr. Kauchak, a decision was made to double the third grade for next school year in lieu of the second. I know this might disappoint some first grade parents, but there was a large waiting list for third grade and no waiting list for second. I spoke to Mrs. Dufreche. She has had a full class for years and has agreed to take on the task next year. We will hire a fulltime aide for second grade next year to assist her. Thus, both grades two and four, where there are full classes, will have fulltime aides to assist in teachers.

Fourth Cup Presentations Thursday, March 13 8:30 a.m. Holy Ghost School Sunday March 16 9:30 a.m. St. Joseph Church Sunday March 16 6:00 p.m. St. Joseph Church

There will be a Fair Meeting tonight night at 7:00. There was excellent attendance at the last meeting and much progress was made. Please make an effort to attend. 

-- Dr. Gerard Toups

Advisory Council Elections

Ballots for election of Advisory Council members are included in today’s packets. Please take a minute to consider who would best represent your interests on the St. Joseph Advisory Council. Three new members will be elected. 

Ballots are due back to the office by Wednesday, March 19.

Spring Fair News

So much is going on with the Spring Fair just around the corner! 

Please take a minute and read carefully the special attached flyer which outlines all the fellowship opportunities to be had while helping with the fair. 

Also included is information about when to wear the fair t-shirts, the fair holiday, POP tickets, and the chicken dinner! 

The next meeting concerning the Spring Fair will be tonight, Wednesday, March 12, at 7:00 p.m. in the library. 

We look forward to seeing a crowd of enthusiastic parents there!

Operation Rice Bowl

Religion classes are participating in Operation Rice Bowl, an annual Lenten solidarity program sponsored by Catholic Relief Services. We assist the poor and vulnerable around the world by depositing the money we save, through our Lenten sacrifices, into our Rice Bowl.
Donations may be sent to school and will be brought up to the altar by student during Holy Week Mass. 

To learn more, please visit: orb.crs.org.

MDA Wearing o' the Green

For a $1.00 donation, students may wear spirit dress with a green shirt on St. Patrick’s Day, Monday, March 17. 

All donations will be sent to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. 

This event is sponsored by Student Council.

SJS Registration

Registration for new students to St. Joseph is going well. 

Several classes are already filled, but we still have some openings for students in grades Kindergarten and First. 

Due to the decision to double Third Grade, openings are also available in that there. 

If you are aware of anyone who would like to send their child/children to St. Joseph School, please let them know that registrations are being accepted in the office during school hours, 7:30-2:30

SJS Loans and Tuition

Thanks to all the many parents who have already sent in their loan papers for the 2008-2009 tuition.
Anyone anticipating taking a tuition loan through First Guaranty Bank is encouraged to send the paperwork sent out in last Wednesday’s packet to the office as soon as possible. All loan paperwork is due by Thursday, May 1. 

Please remember that tuition for 2008-2009 is due in full to the school office by Thursday, May 1.

Bunny Grams

Student Council is selling Bunny Grams! The Bunny Grams will be sold from March 13-20 at a cost of 50 cents each. Money can be sent in an envelope to the office with the form in today’s packet or brought to the gym each morning. Checks can be made out to St. Joseph School. 

Student Council would also greatly appreciate any donations of plastic Easter eggs. These may be sent to the office.

Another Calendar Change

Please note that the Home & School Meeting and the Parent/Teacher Conferences have been postponed until after Easter. 

A new time and date will be announced following the holidays.

Tuition Tax Credit

A Tuition Tax Credit for parents of students in private/parochial schools is currently being considered by the state legislature. 

Please contact your state Senators and Representatives in support of this bill. 

Steve Pugh - pughs@legis.state.la.us
Julie Quinn - quinnj@legis.state.la.us

Student Council Labels

Student Council is collecting the following product labels:
Box Tops for Education,
Campbell’s Soup (needs the UPC attached, please don’t cut them off),
Community Coffee. 

Please send them to the office.

8th Grade News

Attention 8th Graders: 

A minor revision to the 8th Grade packet has been made to include fees. The revised copy has been sent home today. 

The March payment of $125 for the 8th Grade Trip is due on Friday, March 14.
All of the paperwork for the trip: buddy list, medication list, permission slip, movie slip, are also due on Friday, March 14. 

On April 3, PHS will host an informational meeting at 6:00 p.m. in the auditorium for incoming freshmen and their parents. Scheduling, graduation requirements, TOPS requirements, and LAePortal will be covered.

Meetings & Events

March 12 - 7:00 Spring Fair Meeting Library
March 13 - Reconciliation Third Grade
March 13 - 1:15 Pep Rally in the Gym
March 14 - 8:30 Mass w/Crusaders
March 14 - Cake Raffle
March 14 - Spirit Dress with Spring Fair T-Shirts or Crusaders T-Shirts
March 14 - 1:55 Stations of the Cross Grades 1-8
March 15 - District 5 Rally
March 17 - MDS Wearing o’ the Green $1.00 donation
March 18 - 8:30 Mass
March 18 - Spring Fair T-Shirts

St. Paul Quote of the Week

Phil 2:8 ... He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.

Spring Fair Flyer

Next Meeting
The next Spring Fair meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 12, at 7:00 in the library. Everyone is urged to attend. 

Can You Help?
Any volunteers, questions, comments, or suggestions are welcome! Please contact Lori Kyle (985-789-5079) or Lenny George (504-464-9795).
Thank you for your continued support.

Pay One Price Tickets
Pay One Price Tickets are now on sale for the Spring Fair at $15 per session. Please complete the order form below and return to the school with payment by Friday, March 14. 

Fair Tee-Shirts
Students who purchased fair t-shirts may wear them with spirit dress on Friday, March 14; Tuesday, March 18; and Thursday, March 20. 

Raffle Tickets
Every student at SJS received 10 raffle tickets in last week’s packet. We ask that these be sold and the money and stubs returned to the school. Chances are $1 each. Top prize is $1000. More raffle tickets can be had for the asking by contacting the school. 

Chicken Dinners
Barbeque chicken dinners will be sold on Friday, March 28, at $6 per dinner. The dinners will be served through the car pool line starting at 5:00 p.m. If you would like to purchase advance tickets, please fill the attached form and return with payment to the office by Friday, March 14. Your tickets will be sent home. 

Confetti Eggs
Eggshells for confetti eggs at the fair will be collected in the gym from 7:15-7:30 a.m. by Susan Casey from March 10-14. Please put your child’s name on each carton.
A spirit dress day will be given to those students credited with two cartons of eggshells on April 2.
Volunteers are needed to stuff eggs.
Please consult today’s flyer for more details regarding the egg shells. 

Lagniappe Booth
Lots of prize donations are needed for the Lagniappe Booth because every ticket is a winner! Now the time to go through your attic and closets, find those unopened gifts or even gently used items, and send them to office labeled “Lagniappe Booth” before Easter break. Our success depends on your help. More information is on the flyer in today’s packet. 

Sweets Booth
Donations are being sought for the Sweets and the Wheel o’ Cakes Booths. All sorts of goodies are needed to make these booths successful. Please consult the flyer in today’s packet for details. 

Silent Auction
This is a reminder that it’s time to turn in items for the Silent Auction. Baskets will be made up in the gym on Tuesday, March 18, following assembly. Volunteers are also needed to put the baskets together. See you there! 

Holiday!
Following a tradition at St. Joseph School, the day after the Spring Fair will be a day off from school for students. This year the holiday extends our Easter vacation.
Therefore, St. Joseph will not have classes beginning on Good Friday, March 21, through Monday, March 31.
Classes resume on Tuesday, April 1.