St. Joseph
Catholic School

Psalm 68

R. God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor. 

The just rejoice and exult before God;
they are glad and rejoice.
Sing to God, chant praise to his name;
whose name is the LORD. 

R. God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor. 

The father of orphans and the defender of widows
is God in his holy dwelling.
God gives a home to the forsaken;
he leads forth prisoners to prosperity. 

R. God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor. 

A bountiful rain you showered down, O God, upon your inheritance;
you restored the land when it languished;
your flock settled in it;
in your goodness, O God, you provided it for the needy. 

R. God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.

From the Principal

Dear Parents,

Today the technology company hired by the school is in the process of installing a new server for the school. That was planned for the summer but has been delayed until now. The new server will better serve us all as we continue to improve on the service offered to you our parents.

As the school year begins, I believe this is a great time to remind parents that they are the primary educators of their children. The school is simply an agent to help the parents to do their job of educating the students in the faith and assisting them academically to become successful individuals. Attendance of Mass on Sunday and being good models of behavior for their children is a primary responsibility of parents. If parents make sure homework is completed and help the children when necessary, the children will understand the importance of achieving in school and their performance in the classroom will be assured.

I promised last week to introduce the other teachers hired by the school this year. Most of you know Mrs. Jennifer Jolly Tallo. She has been very active in the Home and School since her daughter started St. Joseph. Mrs. Tallo completed the school year in third grade last school year subbing for a teacher who was on maternity leave. She has a B.A. from Southeastern. This is her first year at St. Joseph as a fulltime employee. She has taught eleven years for the Tangipahoa School Board. She is married to Dustin Tallo. They have one daughter in third grade at St. Joseph.

Mrs. Raffy Rigney is the new first grade teacher. Mrs Rigney has seven years of teaching experience, five years in the first grade at St. Jean Vianney in Baton Rouge. Mrs. Rigby holds a B.A. from the University of Louisiana and a Masters Degree in Library Science from Louisiana State University. She is married to George Rigney and they have two daughters.

Mrs. Debra Caliva teaches art and fourth grade reading and math. She also works as an aide in the library. Mrs Calva has four years teaching experience much of it in the area of Deaf education. She is also a speech therapist. She has a B.A. from Southeastern Louisiana University. She is married to Bruce Caliva and they have four grown children.

Next week I will introduce to you the other new employees to the school.

Please spend time on the website. Several announcements bear notice. Thank you for your support. 

-- Dr. Gerard Toups

Calendar for the Week

Friday, September 3
* Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited to attend.
* Spirit Dress
* Adopt-a-Child collection 
* 4-H meeting - 2:40-3:40
* Magazine Sale continues


Monday, September 6
* Labor Day Holiday - No school!


Wednesday, September 8
* Magazine Sale ends
* Volleyball games - St. Peter @ SJS - 4:30/5:30


Thursday, September 9
* Penance Prayer Service - grades 6-7-8


Friday, September 10
* Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited to attend.
* Spirit Dress
* Sock Hop - grades 5-6-7-8 - 7:00-10:00 p.m. in the gym

Magazine Sale

The Magazine Sale continues!

The sale will last until Wednesday, September 8. All orders and payments should be sent in on or before that date.

All of the information concerning the sale is included in the packet set home with each child today.

Prizes are offered for various levels of participation. As a special incentive, all student selling three or more subscriptions/renewals (five for families with multiple children) will attend the BMX bike show to be held on campus later in the school year.

Check out the information and help St. Joseph School with magazine subscriptions/renewals.

Sock Hop

“Get Back in the Groove”

When: Friday, September 10, from 7 – 10 pm
Where: St. Joseph’s Gym
Cost: $10 (snacks provided free)

St. Joseph’s 5th – 8th grade students may each bring one guest of the same age range. Dress code includes age-appropriate 70’s styles – no strapless outfits, and skirts must be at least uniform length. Jeans are acceptable!

Come join us for a GROOVY time!!

Volleyball Schedule

September 8           St. Peter  - 4:30/5:30

September 13         @ Kehoe France - 4:30/5:30

September 15         Mary Queen of Peave - 4:30 (JV only)

September 16         @ Cedarwood - 4:30/5:30

September 20         Trafton - 4:00/5:00       

September 22-26   Trafton Tournament

September 27          Holy Ghost - 4:00/5:00

September 29          Northlake Christian - 4:30 (V only)

October 4                  Christ Espiscopal - 4:00/5:00

October 6                  St. Scholastica - 4:30 (V only)

October 7                 @ Mater Dolorosa - 4:00 (V only)

October 14                Our Lady of the Lake - 4:00/5:00

October 15                @ Holy Ghost - 3:15/4:15

October 19,20,21      NIAL JV Championship @ OLL

October 27-29           NIAL V Championship @ SSA  

Fall Fest T-shirt Orders

If you would like to order Fall Fest T-shirts, please fill out and return the attached order form with payment to the office by Friday, September 17. Students will be able to wear the Fall Fest T-shirts each Friday in the month of October.

Looking for Cameras

A new enrichment class for digital photography and editing has been started at St. Joseph School this fall. Students in grades 6-7-8 have signed up to take the classes.

We're on the lookout for digital cameras to help with this class. If you have an old camera (or wish to donate a new one), please bring it by the school office. Cameras need to be at least 4 megapixels and in good working order. The Kodak Easy Share cameras are great, but any working camera will be gratefully accepted.

4-H Club

Students from grades fourth through eighth are invited to come and check out the 4-H Club.

4-H is about having fun, learning new and exciting things, and making new friends.

Some of our upcoming events include: entering arts and crafts and other homemade items in the Tangi Parish Fair; pumpkin decorating contest; and the Tangi Bake Hike at Tickfaw State Park. There are many, many more other events throughout the year.

Come find out more this Friday, September 3, from 2:40-3:40, in the main building on the first floor in the last room on the elft from the carpool side.

Carpool Line

The carpool route for SJS has been sent home today. Please follow the directions carefully.

Please note that cars must go down several blocks on 7th Street before cutting across to 8th to get in line. IT IS VERY DISCOURTEOUS TO CUT INTO THE CARPOOL LINE. We want to teach our children to wait their turns and be courteous to others. Watching parents go to the end of the carpool line and waiting their turn could be a very opportune learning experience for the students.

It doesn't matter how tardy for school a parent is. Parents still should wait their turn in the carpool line rather than make others tardy also.

Also, please be respectful of cross traffic coming from the neighborhoods trying to get through the carpool line to go about their business in town. We cannot disrupt their access to the rest of the streets in town.

Discover a Cure Dance

Dear 7th and 8th Graders:

To all of you who came to the disco and helped raise money for Mary Bird Perkins -- THANK YOU!! We helped raise $3576.73 to help people in our area dealing with cancer. I hope everyone had a great time.

Sincerely,

Nicole R. Dillon

Community News

A Ponchatoula travel softball team for 7/8 year old girls is forming. Please contact Ray Cheek at 985-320-5345  or blitz_softball@ymail.com for more information.

St. Joseph Parish

Personnel
Rev. John Dominic Sims, O.P. - Pastor
Rev. Victor F.A. Celio, O.P. - Parochial Vicar
Larry J. Melcanon - Deacon

Sunday Mass Schedule
Saturday Vigil Mass - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday Mass - 8:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 5:00 p.m.

Contact Information
Address - 255 North 8th Street (P.O. Box 368), Ponchatoula, LA 70454
Phone - 985.386.3749
Website - www.stjosephsonline.com


Six Week Book Study 
sponored by St. Joseph Marriage Ministry

"Men, Women and the Mystery of Love"
by Edward Sri
Sessions offered on Tuesdays or Wednesday.

* Tuesday Session Dates - 7:00-8:15 p.m.
     10/5 - chapel 
     10/12 - conference room
     10/19 - chapel
     11/2 - chapel
     11/9 - conference room
     11/16 - chapel

* Wednesday Session Dates - 6:00-7:15 p.m. - SJS school library
     10/6 - 10/13 - 10/20 - 11/3 - 11/10 - 11/17

* Sessions are open to all parishioners, 18 and older, married or single

* The only cost will be cost of the book ($15).

* Contact Maureen Lavastida at 985-386-3137 or email at mmlavastida@gmail.com by 
September 22. Please specify which session you prefer. 

* Books can by picked up from Heavenly Gifts on September 30.

* Please read chapers 1 and 2 before the first study session.