St. Joseph
Catholic School

Welcome Back to School

Katie Bougère and Callie Fulmer are excited to start a new school year as Seventh Graders!

From the Principal

The school year is off to a great star. Just as last year, the main electrical transformer that feeds the school blew. The school was in the dark for three hours last Friday. I am sure your children filled you in on the occurrence. 

Besides teachers being busy setting up classrooms as usual, the move out of the Notre Dame Center and into the new building has been challenging. There are a number of things to work out. We are connecting computers, telephones and the intercom. I thank everyone who has worked so hard to make the necessary move. 

I apologize to the third grade for having to locate them across the street. The move made sense because they only have to come across once or twice a day. They do not have to share teachers like the upper grades. The compensation is that they occupy the best classrooms in the school. Next school year the school will have a new school building and this will solve our housing problems for some time. 

It is most important that you carefully examine all the materials in this packet. Several items need to be returned. Please do so immediately. 

For those new to the school, The Crusader Connection is published on Wednesday of each week. All the important events and concerns of the St. Joseph School and Church Community will be highlighted in the newsletter. The oldest child in the school will receive the newsletter. Parents will be held responsible for information published in the newsletter. 

Thursday is the Open House for the upper grades. The Home and School Meeting will follow for all parents in the school. Please plan on being there. 

                                                                                                                                                — Dr. Gerard Toups

Calendar Events

August 13 - 7:00 Back-to-School Night for Parents of Students in Grades 1-4
August 14 - 6:00 - Gym Home & School Association Meeting for All Parents
August 14 - Following Meeting Back-to-School Night for Parents of Students in Grades 5-8
August 14 - First Full Day of Class for PreK & K Students
August 15 - Mass - 8:30 - Church Grades 1-8
August 15 - Spirit Dress Day

Calendar Correction

We ask that parents make the following correction to the 2008-2009 Handbook Calendar:
The Labor Day Holiday is Monday, September 1. The calendar incorrectly lists it on a different date in September.

Prayer Time in First Grade

Caroline Casey

Emergency Contact Forms

It is imperative that the bright green card distributed on the first day of school, the Emergency Contact Form, be filled out and returned to the school office as soon as possible.
This is how we contact you in case of emergency with your child at school. If the form has been lost, please contact Cory in the school office.

Signature Packet

Included in today’s information is a thick packet of forms which must be signed every year.
For convenience, the school has provided all information to the parents, but ask that only one signature sheet per family be returned to the school. The information sheets my kept at home for future reference. 

Information and guidelines for several aspects involving the education of children at St. Joseph School are included in the packet. 

Please read the information, then initial each publication title listed on the signature form to indicate that the information has been received, read, and understood by the parents. 

The lack of consent for any items must be communicated to the principal in written form.
It is very important to remember to sign the bottom of the form and return only the top sheet to the school. The information and guidelines attached are to be kept at home. 

The following information is included in the packet: 
Publications Release
Emergency Procedures Drill
Medication at School
Bus Rules
Emergency Care & Transport
Student/Parent Handbook/Calendar
Sports Permission form
Acceptable Use Policy of Computer & Telecommunications

Stuffing the Locker

Kaisa Trepagnier - Sixth Grade

Child Protection Update

According the Office of Child and Youth Protection of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, all volunteers of St. Joseph School who serve in a supervisory capacity involving students MUST comply with the following guidelines:
Child Protection Training
Fingerprint/State Background Check
Code of Ethics Signature. 

Field trip chaperones are included in the categories of volunteers who must meet all three guideline criteria. 

The Child Protection Training may be accessed through the Safe and Sacred Learning Center website at http://safeandsaacred-diobr.org. After viewing the information and taking the test online, please print the certificate and turn it in to the school office. 

Fingerprint and state background check forms are available in the school office. This is done in Baton Rouge. A fee is charged. 

The Code of Ethics can be found as a link on the school’s website, www.sjscrusaders.org. Only the signature sheet needs to be returned to the school. 

Thanks to everyone for their cooperation in this matter.

Room Mothers Form

Enclosed with today’s packet is the Room Mothers and Helpers form. 

Parents interested in helping with their children’s classrooms, please fill out the forms and return to the school office by August. You will be contacted soon for a meeting which will explain all duties and expectations.

Total Concentraton

Cody Flynn - Second Grade

Other Information

TENNIS LESSONS
Oak Knoll Country Club Tennis Programs
Ages 6-15 August 18-December 12
Contact: Abrie du Plooy 985-634-6229
Registration forms are available in the school office. 

CHEERLEADER REGISTRATION
Ponchatoula Little Conference Football, Inc.
Ages 5-13
August 16
10:00 a.m. til 1:00 p.m.
Information forms are available in the school office.

St. Paul Quote of the Week

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, love is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it doesn’t seek its own interest, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
1 Cor 13:4-7