Psalm 96

R  Proclaim His marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Sing to the Lord a new song;
     sing to the Lord, all you lands.
Sing to the Lord; bless His name.  R

Announce His salvation, day after day.
Tell His glory among the nations;
     among all peoples, His wonderous deeds.  R

Give to the lord, you families of nations,
     give to the Lord glory and praise;
     give to the Lord the glory due His name.  R

Workship the Lord in holy attire.
     Tremble before Him, all the earth;
say among the nations; The Lord is King,
     He governs the peoples with equity.  R

From the Principal

Dear Parents:

Yesterday, for the first time, the students were allowed on the playground. I believe everyone enjoyed the experience. The cost of the project from inception to completion was $60.266. The students thoroughly enjoyed it thus far and will continue to enjoy the slides, the ladders, the rock walls and the other features of the facility.

The fence has also been completed around the property circling all the school buildings and the new playground. The completion of the fence cost $11, 900.00. The fence will provide complete security during the time the students are in school.

I believe that everyone will agree that both projects are very worthwhile. They are made possible by the generosity of you the parents who work so hard on the fair, help park the cars at the Strawberry Fest, and given generously to the Development Drives that we have had.

Please know that it is our goal to serve the students better everyday. From increasing class time for the older students with an additional building making the computer lab easily accessible, to providing an excellent new classroom facility with the support of St. Joseph Parish Community for the younger students, to the reduction in class size in the middle grades, to the continuous upgrading of the whole facility, the goal of the school is to serve the students and their families better everyday.

I know that you will continue to support the school as best you can. The most important date on the calendar for the school today is February 22, Open House. Please continue to talk the school up in the community and refer new students to St. Joseph. Enrollment increases have also been very instrumental in giving us the resources to continue to improve the school. Now, as new parents are shown around, the playground offers a new element to the attractiveness of the school. Much work needs to be done but with your help and support we ill continue to make St. Joseph a better place for the children to work, play and grow in the faith. 

-- Dr. Gerard Toups

Calendar for the Week

Thursday, January 21
Reconciliation (8th Grade) 

Friday, January 22
Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited to attend.
Spirit Dress 
Haitian Donation Deadline

Wednesday, January 27
Last Day for CSW Dental Hygiene Collection 
Mother Seton Award Nominations Due 
Carnival Mask Deadline

Thursday, January 28
Reconciliation (7th Grade)

Friday, January 29
Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited to attend.
Spirit Dress
Crusaders of the Month Announced
Last Day for Christmas Card Fronts
Cheer Clinic Registration Deadline

Sunday, January 31-Saturday, February 5
Catholic Schools Week 

Thursday, February 4
Final Day for Kiss-o-Gram Money

Haitian Tragedy

We're all aware of the recent tragedy which struck the impoverished island of Haiti.

Blaze D'Amico and Shelby Bagvy, seventh grade students at St. Joseph School are spearheading a monetary collection for the rescue and recovery efforts in Haiti. The drive has been kicked off by Dr. Toups with a personal check of $100. He has challenged each class to meet his donation.

Donations will be collected through Friday, January 23. Please send donations to the office in a labeled envelope (ex - Haiti collection, from Jane Doe, Grade 4). Checks may be made payable to St. Joseph School with Haiti written in the memo line.

Money collected will be sent to the Doctors without Orders organization to assist with their humanitarian work during this crisis in Haiti.

Thank you for your support.

CSO Donation Project

The Catholic Schools Office is conducting a Donation Project during Catholic Schools Week.

The donations will be brought to the Catholic Schools Week Mass in Baton Rouge on Friday, February 5.

The donations will benefit those at St. Vincent dePaul and the Catholic Community Charities in the Diocese of Baton Rouge.

St. Joseph School has been asked to donate tooth paste, tooth brushes, mouth wash, and dental floss to this project. We will begin taking donations on Thursday, January 21. The collection will continue through Wednesday, January 27.

We thank you for your generous donations to those who are less fortunate than ourselves.

Open House for Prospective Parents

If you have friends, neighbors, or relatives, who might be interested in sending their children to St. Joseph School, please provide us with their name and addresses so that we may send them an invitation to our Open House.

A flyer has been sent home so that information may be provided. You may also call or email the school with the information.

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 St. Joseph at this Open House.

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

Mother Seton Award Nominations

A nomination form for the Mother Seton Award was sent home with today's packet. Below are guidelines for making nominations.

The Mother Seton Award was created to honor those individuals whose volunteer service and dedication to home, school, and church has been exemplary. This individual should be recognized as an outstanding volunteer and cannot be a paid employee of the school. Strong Catholic values and a selfless dedication to Catholic schools should be manifest in the honoree chosen. The honoree should have at least three years involvement in the SJS Catholic school community and be an active member of his/her church parish.

• Diocesan Home & School Association dues have been paid.
• Nominee is a current (dues paying if applicable) member of the local home and school organization.
• Nominee is a volunteer.
• Nominee has been an active Home & School volunteer for at least three years.
• Nominee espouses Gospel values and emulates the qualities of Elizabeth Ann Seton.
• An individual may receive this award more than once IF presented by a different school.
• Nomination is made by the Home & School Association with the approval of the school principal.

Nominations are due in the school office by Wednesday, January 27.

EDLINE

EDLINE is now being used for all students in Grades 1-8. Parents should use their EDLINE accounts (distributed at the beginning of this school year) to access EDLINE in order to get class information as well as current grades for their children. Midquarter Progress Reports will no longer be sent home as parents now have immediate access to student progress at all times.

Although PreK and Kindergarten teachers post classrooms happenings and notes, student progress will continue to be reported to parents as ususal. Their grades are not on EDLINE.

Mardi Gras Mask Contest

Student Council is sponsoring a carnival mask decorating contest. The pattern for the mask and directions have been included in today's packet.

Please make sure your child's name is on the back of the mask. 

The deadline for the contest is next Wednesday, January 27. Winners will be announced Friday, January 29.

Student Council members will vote to decide a winner from each grade level. Each winner receives a mini king cake.

Kiss-o-Grams

SJS Student Council will be selling kiss-o-grams for Valentine's Day. 

A kiss-o-gram is a paper heart with two Hershey's kisses attached. The names of the receiver and the sender are written on the heart. Kiss-o-grams may be sent to anyone who attends or works at SJS. 

Each kiss-o-gram costs 50 cents. 

Money brought in on Thursday and Friday of this week should be given to homeroom teachers. Beginning next week on Monday, January 25, and continuing until Thursday, February 4, Student Council members will be in the gym collecting money before school. 

Please make sure that order forms are turned in with the money. Kiss-o-grams will be delivered on Thursday, February 11. 

Thank you for your support.

Cheer Clinic

St. Joseph Cheerleaders will host a cheer clinic for SJS students in Grades PreK-4 on Saturday, February 20, in the SJS gym.

The $25 cost includes a t-shirt and ribbon. Participants will learn a cheer, dance, cheer techniques, and jumps.

Participants must bring a lunch and drink, but snacks will be provided.

A registration/t-shirt order form is included in today's packet or can be picked up in the school office. Forms are due into the school office by Friday, January 29.

Christmas Card Recycling

The SJS Student Council is collecting used Christmas cards for the St. Jude's Ranch for Children's recycled card program.

If you would like to donated your used Christmas cards (or other greeting cards), please send just the fronts of the cards to school with your child.

If you don't have time to cut the fronts off, send the cards and Student Council will cut them apart.

Your child should give the cards to his/her teacher.

Cards will be collected until January 29.

Thank you for your support.

You may visit the St. Jude Website for more detailed information about the program.

Looking for Saints

Calling all Students - Grades 3-12

St. Joseph Parish is looking for children to paly the role of saints for the St. Joseph Altar. 

The altar will be on Sunday, March 14. 

The children will be asked to participate in the rosary procession, Mass, and feeding of the Saints. Each child is responsible for his own costume. There will be a short practice on Monday, March 8, at 6:00 P.M. in the gym. 

Anyone interested in participating, please contact Mrs. Fay Murray at 985-386-8151 or call the rectory office at 985-386-3749.

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 


Bible Study on First Corinthians

St. Jjoseph Parish is offering a 10 week Bible study on St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians. 

The first Monday night session will begin at 6:30 on January 25. 

A Wednesday morning session will also be held beginning on Wednesday, January 27, at 10:00. 

The study will cover St. Paul's strategy for evangelization, living in a pagan culture, the importance of the Eucharist in our daily lives, and seeing our bodies as a temple of the Holy Spirit. Both sessions will be conducted int he conference room of the church. 

To register, Please contact Deacon Larry at 985-386-3749.

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.


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