St. Joseph
Catholic School

January Crusaders

January Crusaders of the Month
Paul Mitchell, Sixth Grade, and Dane Schmitt, Second Grade.

From the Principal

Dear Parents, 

First, thanks for all your help in promoting the school Open House. We have already exceeded by a fair number requests for information about the school that we received last year. We look forward to a successful day. The site for the new building is in its last stage of preparation and the convent is completely gone. We are making progress. Hopefully, there will be more action at the site by the time of Open House. 

Please come to the Home and School Meeting on February 5, and we will give a complete report on the school. The Fair Committee will have important information to share. They have been very busy and I thank the Home and School Officers, especially George Waddell, for their initiative on that important event. Please offer him, the Fair Committee, and the Home and School your support. 

Congratulations to Cassie Fulmer and Faith Allen who have been chosen to represent St. Joseph as fifth and eighth grade Students of the year respectively. They will represent the school very well. They will now compete on the Diocesan level. Congratulations to Scott Dufreche, Savanna Barrient, and Taylor Ransom runners-up. We thank Mrs. Marilyn Smith for chairing the Selection Committee and helping the students prepare their portfolios. 

The winners of the Brotherhood-Sisterhood award presented at Mass on Monday were Anna Talabock and Nathan Waller. Mrs. Dawn Ekker was recognized as the faculty representative for the award. Congratulations to these three fine representatives of St. Joseph.

—Dr. Gerard Toups

Student of the Year - Fifth Grade

Cassidy Fulmer ... Fifth Grade Student of the Year

Student of the Year - Eighth Grade

Faith Allen ... Eighth Grade Student of the Year

Brotherhood/Sisterhood Award

Nathan Waller and Anna Talabock ... Brotherhood/Sisterhood Award Winners

Brotherhood/Sisterhood Award

Mrs. Dawn Ekker 
Brotherhood/Sisterhood Award Winner

Calendar Events

Calendar for the Week:
January 29 - Religion Fair Parent Viewing 6:00-7:00
January 30 - Spirit Dress
January 30 - CSW Mass in Baton Rouge
February 4 - Current Student Re-Registration Begins
February 5 - Reconciliation (7th)
February 5 - 7:00 Home & School Meeting
February 6 - 8:30 Mass with Adopt-a-Child Collection
February 6 - Spirit Dress
February 6 - 7:00 p.m. Home & School Family Science Night in the Gym

Literary Club Contest

The SJS Literary Club is sponsoring its writing and art contest for the Second Semester.
The theme for the contest is sports. The contest is open for all SJS students in Grades 5-8.
Entries should be turned in to the club sponsor, Mrs. Nancy Redmann, on or before February 13.
Now’s the time to be creative and get those sports idea together!

Kiss-o-Grams

Student Council is kicking off its annual Kiss-o-Gram Sale! These are Hershey Kisses attached to a red heart and delivered to your favorite valentine’s classroom.
Kiss-o-Grams will be sold from February 1-10. The treats will be delivered on February 13.
An order form with more details is attached. Cost for each Kiss-o-Gram is 50 cents.
Student Council appreciates your support!

SJS Open House

If you have friends, neighbors or relatives who might be interested in sending their children (or grandchildren) to St. Joseph School, please provide us with their names and addresses on the attached flyer so that we may send them an invitation to our Open House on February 16. 

We are especially looking for students entering grades preK, kindergarten and first. 

Prospective parents will be able to see classes in session, meet and talk with the teachers, ask questions, and get a feel for SJS. 

Your help in this matter is most important. Thank you for your tremendous support of our school!

Registration for 2009-2010

SJS will begin the registration of current students and their siblings for the 2009-2010 school year on Wednesday, February 4. 

Registration forms will be sent home in the Wednesday packet on that date. 

All parents should indicate whether or not their children will be returning to SJS the following year.
If your child is returning, a $200 per child registration fee is due with the registration form.
New students who are siblings of current students may also be added to this form. Their $200 registration fee is also due at this time. 

All forms are due back to the office on or before Friday, February 13. 

Registrations accepted after that date will be assessed a $100 per child late fee.
Any student not registered by Friday, February 13, risks losing their place in the class as the school will begin taking registrations from new students shortly after. 

The new tuition schedule was sent home last week. Tuition and/or loan papers will not be due until May 1. More information about that will be sent home later.

Survey Says

In March of 2009, St. Joseph School will have its Ten Year Evaluation by a visiting team of professionals from the Catholic Schools Office in Baton Rouge. 

We need parents to assist us in evaluating our present operations and planning for the future by answering the attached survey questions. 

Please fill out the survey and return it to the school in a sealed envelope by Wednesday, February 4.
Thank you for all of your help and support for this effort.

Catholic Schools Week

National Catholic Schools Week
January 25-31
Catholic School Celebrating Service

Area Happenings

** Kids Night Out
PHS Cheerleaders are sponsoring a Kids Night Out on Saturday, February 7, from 6:00-10:00 p.m. for children ages 4-12 at a cost of $25 per child. Please contact Christie Atkins at 985-386-3514 for more information. Registration forms are available in the office. 

** Ponchatoula Youth Baseball/Softball
Registration will be January 31 and February 7, from 9:00-3:00 at the Ponchatoula Community Center. Players must be between the ages of 5-18 years. Please contact Jeff or Dana Regan at 985-386-7942 for more information. Registration forms are available in the office. 

** Ponchatoula Softball Camp
The camp will be Sunday, February 8, from 9:00-5:00 at the PHS Softball Field and is for girls in grades 1-8. Please contact Hollie Thompson at 985-969-8159 or Kelly Morse at 985-320-3725 for more information. Registration forms are available in the office.

St. Paul Quote of the Week

Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.

Eph 5:8-9