St. Joseph
Catholic School

From the Principal

Dear Parents,

Thanks to the many parents who have offered their time and energy for the success of the Fair. The fair weekend fast approaches and every night next week workers will be setting up booths and getting ready. Help is needed. Significant labor goes into preparation. I encourage those who can to come to school on those evenings and offer their services.

The ladies of the parish will hold the annual St. Joseph Altar this Sunday. Everyone is invited to attend. The Blessing of the Altar will be after the 5 p.m. Mass on Saturday and the ceremonies will take place during and after the 10:30 Mass on Sunday.

The third nine week period is coming to a close this week. Spring is here and often the students catch spring fever and are not as attentive to their studies. Please encourage the students to work hard this last nine weeks. The summer is right around the corner. 

-- Dr. Gerard Toups

Calendar for the Week

Wednesday, March 10
Exams - Grades 6-7-8 - English & Social Studies
Library Closed

Thursday, March 11
Exams - Grades 6-7-8 - Math
Library Closed

Friday, March 12
Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited.
Stations of the Cross @ 1:55 in church. Grades 1-8. All are invited.
Spirit Dress - Wild West Spring Fest T-shirts
Field Trip Grades 3-4-5
Last Day of Third Quarter
Library Closed

Lots of things are due Friday, March 12, for the Wild West Spring Fest!
* ride band pre-orders
* Friday fish dinner pre-orders
* raffle tickets (for contest entry)
* jambalaya cook-off entries
* pie eating contest entries
* class basket/silent auction donations 

Sunday, March 14
Daylight Savings Time Begins

Monday, March 15
Bunny Rabbit Picture Orders/ Money Due

Tuesday, March 16
8th Grade Promotion Pictures
Bunny Rabbit Pictures

Wednesday, March 17
Report Cards

Thursday, March 18
Penance Prayer Service - Grades 3-4-5

Friday, March 19
Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited.
Spirit Dress - Wild West Spring Fest T-shirts
11:30 Dismissal - NO BUSES

Friday, March 19 through Sunday, March 21
Wild West Spring Fest - See you at the Fair!


RESCHEDULED EVENTS

Due to circumstances beyond our control, the following dates have had to be rescheduled:

The Religion Fair will now be held on Wednesday, March 24.

The Mardi Gras parade will now be held on Friday, April 23, as a spring parade. Mardi Gras floats already created may be used in the spring parade.

Please mark the above dates on your calendars.

Lenten Prayer

God, help us during this season of Lent to:

Fast from judging others; feast on the Christ dwelling in them.
Fast from focusing on differences; feast on the unity of all life.
Fast from apparent darkness; feast on the reality of light.
Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify.
Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger; feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism.
Fast from worry; feast on trust.
Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.
Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives.
Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing prayer.
Fast from hostility; feast on nonviolence.
Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.
Fast from personal anxiety; feast on eternal truth.
Fast from discouragement; feast on hope.
Fast from facts that depress; feast on truths that uplift.
Fast from lethargy; feast on enthusiasm.
Fast from suspicion; feast on truth.
Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire.
Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence.

May our fasting and feasting during this season of Lent purify our hearts and minds that we may more worthily heed the voice of the One who beckons us, "Come and follow me."

Wild West Spring Fest

Wild West Spring Fest Reminders:

Ride Band Orders (pre orders due by March 12)

Friday Fish Dinner Order (pre orders due by March 12)

Raffle Tickets (due by March 12 for contest entry)

Jambalaya Cook-off Entry (due by March 12)

Pie Eating Contest Entry (due by March 12)

Class Basket/Silent Autction Donation (due by Mach 12) 


Confetti Eggs - Last Call

St. Joseph School is now taking donations of eggshells to be used in the confetti egg booth.

To easily clean eggs:
1. Poke a hole in the top of the egg with a knife.
2. Peel a small amount of the top of the shell (about the size of a nickel).
3. Pour out the egg.
4. Rinse well and air dry.

Please bring your eggshells to school. Mrs. Casey will collect them during morning assembly. Do not give them to the office or your homeroom teacher. Label your carton with your name and grade.

Each student who brings in two cartons of eggshells will receive a popsicle.



Sweets Booth

The Wild West Spring Fest Sweets Booth is back! We need your favorite desserts whether it's cookies, brownies, cupcakes, pralines, candy, rice crispy treats, or some treat that might be your special creation that everyone would like to try.

You can bring your donations anytime Friday, March 19, or anytime throughout fair weekend during fair hours to the sweets booth.

Thank you for your support year after year. It's because of you that this booth is so successful!

Friday, March 19 - Early Dismissal

Due to Spring Fair weekend, on Friday, March 19, St. Joseph School will dismiss classes at 11:30. 

This is a deviation from the TPSS calendar. 

Buses will run as usual in the morning, but NO BUSES WILL RUN AT 11:30. We will run two carpool lines at 11:30 to make dismissal run quicker.

Lunch will be served.

There will be no after school care on this day.

Bunny Pictures

Peter Cottontail will be hopping over to St. Joseph for pictures on Tuesday, March 16. 

If you wish to have your child's picture made with the Easter Bunny, please fill out the form included in today's packet and return it with payment in a well-marked envelope to the school by Monday, March 15. 

Sibling pictures made be made. Please see the form for details.

Fair Queen Visits

Strawberry Festival Queen XXXIX Theresa Pevey, SJS Class of 2004, visited students in the classrooms this week to invite them to the Strawberry Day in the Park on Saturday, March 13.

More pictures of Theresa in the classroom can be found by visitng our Photo Albums.

More information about the Strawberry Day in the Park can be found under Community News in this newsletter.

Community News

STRAWBERRY DAY IN THE PARK

March 13, 2010

Memorial Park in Ponchatoula

Baking Contest - Jambalaya Cook-off - Holey Board Tournament

Strawberry Queen Theresa Pevey invites everyone for a Family Fitness in the Park Family Fun 1-Mile Walk/Run - Jump Rope - Hula Hoop Contests

* No entry fee- all ages are welcome. Minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

* First 100 winners for the 1-Mile Fun Run will receive a free Strawberry Festival water bottle.

* Run will begin at 10:00 a.m. followed by jump rope and hula hoop contests for the kids.

Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. on race day. Registrations forms are available in the office or at the park on race day.

St. Joseph Parish News

Parish Website

REGULAR MASS SCHEDULE

Saturday evening at 5:00

Sunday morning at 8:00 and 10:30

Sunday evening at 5:00 


EASTER MASS SCHEDULE

Vigil at 8:00 p.m. Saturday, April 3

8:00 a.m. on Easter Sunday, April 4

10:30 a.m. on Easter Sunday, April 4



ST. JOSEPH ALTAR

St. Joseph Altar Committee will sponsor its annual St. Joseph Altar the weekend of March 13 & 14. 



RECONCILIATION SERVICES FOR LENT

At the direction of Bishop Muench the priests of our deanery have been asked to offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation more frequently during the season of Lent at two central locations within the Northeast Deanery.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. on the following Wednesdays at Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Hammond and St. Helena Catholic Church in Amite on March 17 and March 24.

In addition to the above dates and times, the Sacrament of Reconciliation will also be available during the Parish Mission here at St. Joseph on Tuesday, March 16 at 8:00 p.m. Several priests will be available at all three locations.

This Lenten plan offers a wonderful opportunity for all of us to participate ini this very important sacrament. All our parishioners are urged to take advantage of this opportunity dyring this Lenten season. 



MISSION NEWS

On Monday, March 15, through Wednesday, March 17, at 7:00 p.m., a Lenten Mission will be conducted at St. Joseph Church by Fr. R.B. Williams, O.P.. The Sacrament of Baptism will be the theme of the Monday night session, Reconciliation on Tuesday night, and healing and Anointing of the Sick on Wednesday night. 

Fr. Williams will also preach at all the Masses the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, March 13 and 14.