St. Joseph
Catholic School

Psalm 25

R - To you, O Lord, I lift my soul. 

Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me Your paths,
Guide me in Your truth and teach me,
for You are God my Savior,
and for You I wait all the day. R

Good and upright is the LORD;
thus He shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
and teaches the humble His way. R

All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy
toward those who keep his covenant and His decrees.
The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear Him,
and His covenant, for their instruction. R

Calendar for the Week

Thursday, December 3
Social Studies/Science Fairs
Home and School Meeting @ 6:30 in the Gym

Friday, December 4
Math-a-Thon Money Deadline
Pictures with Santa
Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited.
Adopt-a-Child Collection
Spirit Dress
St. Nicholas Celebration
Ponchatoula Christmas Lighting - Grades 1 & 2 - 6:15@Berryland Motors

Monday, December 7-Friday, December 11
Santa Bear unwrapped toys for the less fortunate will be accepted in the library.

Tuesday, December 8
Feast of the Immaculate Conception - Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited.
REGULAR UNIFORMS

Thursday, December 10
7th Grade Retreat to STA

Friday, December 11
Mass @ 8:30
Spirit Dress
Accelerated Reader Deadline for Second Quarter Points
Last Day for Santa Bear Toys
Father/Daughter Dance

Monday, December 14
Christmas Concert - Grades 1-4 - 7:00 p.m. in the Church

Tuesday, December 15
Exams - Grades 6-7-8 - Reading, Science

Wednesday, December 16
Exams - Grades 6-7-8 - English, Social Studies
Library Closed
Spring Fair Committee Meeting @ 6:30 in the Library - All are invited.

Thursday, December 17
Exams - Grades 6-7-8 - Math
Library Closed

Friday, December 18
Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited.
Crusaders of the Month Announced
Spirit Dress w/Christmas Hats, Bows, Antlers, etc.
Christmas Program in Gym Following Mass
Christmas Parties in Classrooms Following Program
Half Day for Students - 11:30 Dismissal - Buses Will Run
First Semester Ends
Library Closed

From the Principal

Playground Site Prep Work on December 2, 2009

Dear Parents,

Thank you for all your prayers and well wishes over the past month. I am feeling better every day. I special thank to Mrs. Little and the entire staff for their work in my absence. We are so fortunate to have such a strong staff. They are a gift to the school.

Thanks to Mr. Ronnie Perrin for his work in supervising the construction of the new building. He also made a gift to the school for the work he did in renovating the second grade classrooms. All the walls were redone and new lighting was installed in one of the classrooms. He has informed me that the school will receive no request for payment for that work.

In regard to the playground, I want to let you know that Kirk Jackson has been most active in preparing the pad where the playground will rest. I need to thank Mr. Hatfield for his immediate response in coming to school and unloading the truck when the playground arrived before Thanksgiving. That was most helpful. We were in quite a jam.

Finally, I want to remind you that registration and Open House for the next school year is right around the corner. Now is the time to speak to friends, neighbors, and relatives regarding St. Joseph School. Enrollment is the key to progress for all the students. As we get closer to the Open House we will ask you to refer families to the school. If you know of families who have students ready to enter pre-kindergarten or kindergarten, encourage them to come visit St. Joseph. If you know of families who are not completely pleased with the education their children are receiving, encourage them to visit. There are always families moving into the community; let us know who they are. Provide us with names and addresses of families who might even be remotely interested in the school and we will forward them an information packet and an invitation to the Open House.

Thanks to everyone for your support. 

-- Dr. Gerard Toups

Advent Calendars

Brock Smith and Hannah Habisreitinger, kindergarten students, show how their Advent Calendar counts the days until the birth of Christ.

Church Contribution Deadline

To qualify for tuition as a financially supporting parishioner, a family's weekly contribution to St. Joseph Parish should be a minimum of $416.00 per year. ($8.00 per week)

These contributions are to be made in full by the last day of the calendar year, December 31, 2009. Regular use of the Sunday envelope is necessary as a sign of financial support for the Church.

Please contact the parish office at 985-386-3749 to finalize contributions.

Christmas Lighting

First and Second Grade students will play the bells for the Ponchatoula Christmas Lighting on Friday, December 4, at 6:15 p.m. at Berryland Motors.

Students should be there at least ten minutes early. It should be cold, so dress warmly. Christmas hats and/or holiday attire is encouraged.

Parents should stay in the immediate area to help watch their children.

Santa Bear

Again this year we will be combining efforts with the Daily Star and Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Department to provide Christmas toys for children in need.

By combining our efforts, the Sheriff's Department can better check families and make sure that they are legitimate. Also, the Sheriff's Department takes care of deliveries.

Please bring UNWRAPPED toys to the library the week of December 7-11. Toys that indicate violence will not be accepted. Please, no guns, bows & arrows, etc.

Make an Advent sacrifice by doing this for a child that is less fortunate.

Math-a-Thon

Students in Grades 4-5-6-7-8 particiated in the St. Jude Math-a-Thon this year. Pledge money is due Friday, December 4. All checks are to be made payable to St. Jude Research.

Father/Daughter Dance

Father/Daughter Dance

Friday, December 11
7:00-9:30

$20 per dad/daughter in advance
$5 for additional daughter(s)

$30 per dad/daughter at door
$5 for additional daughter(s) at door

Food and drink are provided.

Theme is
"She's a Keeper!"

Wear your hunting/fishing attire!
There's a prize for the best-dressed family!

Santa Pictures

Santa will be at St. Joseph School on Friday, December 4, for pictures. If you'd like your child's picture taken with Santa, a form has been sent home with today's papers. Fill out the form and return it to the office with your payment.

November Crusaders

Crusader - Blair Atkins - sixth grade
Mini Crusader - Hayden Asprion - kindergarten

Christmas Concert

Grades 1-4, bells, recorder, and beginner band will present a Christmas Concert in St. Joseph Church on Monday, December 14, at 7:00 p.m.

Accelerated Reader

The last day for Accelerated Reader points for the Second Quarter is Friday, December 11. Tests taken after that date will count toward the Third Quarter.

St. Joseph Parish News

Parish Website

Mass Schedule

Saturday evening at 5:00

Sunday morning at 8:00 and 10:30

Sunday evening at 5:00


Annual Christmas Card Drive for Prisoners
Christmas cards are needed for prisoners at the Tangipahoa Parish Jail for inmates to mail to their families and friends. Please bring new Chritmas cards and drop them off in the kitchen near the Narthex of the Church no later than December 3. This year we are also asking for postage stamps since it is diffcult for the prisoners to purchase their own stamps. We will then hand these cards and postage stamps over to Deacon Nat Garofalo who will deliver the cards and stamps to the prisoners. It you have any questions, please call Deacon Larry at 386-3749..

Knights of Columbus Blood Drive
The annual Knights of Columbus blood drive will be held on Sunday, December 6, from 8:00 a.m. till noon. The Bloodmobile will be parked in the church parking lot for your convenience during the morning Masses.
There is an accute shortage of blood. As a community, it is important for us to support the Blood Center and our area hospitals. The Blood Center provides blood to over 30 hospitals in Southeast Louisiana.

Prayer for Priests

The Year for Priests 2009-2010

Dear Lord,

We pray that the Blessed Mother wrap her mantle around Your priests and through her intercession strengthen them for their ministry.

We pray that Mary will guide Your priests to follow her own words,
"Do whatever He tells you." (Jn 2:5)

May Your priests have the heart of St. Joseph, Mary's most chaste spouse.

May the Blessed Mother's own pierced heart inspire them to embrace all who suffer at the foot of the cross.

May Your priests be holy, filled with the fire of Your love, seeking nothing but Your greater glory and the salvation of souls.

Amen

St. John Vianney, pray for us.