St. Joseph
Catholic School

Psalm 121

R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 

I lift up my eyes toward the mountains;
whence shall help come to me?
My help is from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth. 

R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 

May he not suffer your foot to slip;
may he slumber not who guards you:
indeed he neither slumbers nor sleeps,
the guardian of Israel. 

R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 

The LORD is your guardian; the LORD is your shade;
he is beside you at your right hand.
The sun shall not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night. 

R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 

The LORD will guard you from all evil;
he will guard your life.
The LORD will guard your coming and your going,
both now and forever. 

R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

From the Principal

Dear Parents: 

This is to inform you that the St. Joseph Parochial Vicar Fr. Victor Celio, O. P. passed away yesterday afternoon at 5:00 p.m. The cause of his death is not known.

The children were told of his death this morning at assembly. Father Victor had been at St. Joseph only a short while. He said Mass for the children twice.

The children were asked to pray for him, his family, and his religious family, the Dominican Friars. We ask you join the children in prayer.


-- Gerard Toups 

Current Calendar

Wednesday, October 20
* Report Cards
* Voting for Fall Fest Queen/King

Thursday, October 21
* Reconciliation - Grade 5
* Voting for Fall Fest Queen/King
* Field Trip - Grade 8
* Field Trip - Grade 2
* Open House St. Thomas Aquinas High School -@ 6:ll-8:30 p.m.

Friday, October 22
* Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited to attend.
* Spirit Dress (or Fall Fest Shirts)
* Fall Fest - Grades PreK-4
* Field Trip - Grades 5-6-7

Monday, October 25-Friday, October 29
* Red Ribbon Week

Tuesday, October 26 
* Individual Pictures - Make Ups
* PreK-Kindergarten Parent Meeting @ 4:00 in the cafeteria

Thursday, October 28
* Reconciliation - Grade 4

Friday, October 29
* Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited to attend.
* Crusaders Announced
* Spirit Dress (or Fall Fest T-shirts)
* Field Trip - Grade 8 - Buddy Day @ STA

Fall Fest

St. Joseph School will hold the annual Fall Fest on Friday, October 22.

Everyone is asked to help make this event a success. All students are asked to bring in one of the following during the week of October 18-22:
bottled waters
juice packs
home-made treats (brownies, cookies, cupcakes, rice crispy treats, muffins, etc. - treats need to be covered or in Ziplocks).

Students in Grades PreK-Fourth will attend the Fall Fest. Games, face painting, several inflatables, and refreshments will be available to enhance the fun. The school is selling armbands for St. Joseph School students in Grades preK-fourth which will include unlimited game play and four tickets for refreshments.

The armbands will be presold for $10 each through Friday, October 15. An order form was sent home and are also available in the office. It is easier for everyone if the students can get their armbands in the classroom prior to the festival. Presold armbands also allow more play time for the students.

Armbands will be available the day of the festival for $12. Tickets for additional refreshments (@ $.25) will also be available on that day.

Eighth Grade Students will be hosting the festival, working games, and helping with the inflatables.

Students in Grades Fifth through Seventh will have a bowling field trip.

Parents are welcome at the festival. We can always use any extra volunteers. Please contact Toni Waddell at 985-386-6421 if you'd like to volunteer or have questions.

Fall Fest Queen/King

Only one more day to cast votes for Fall Fest Queen/King!

Thursday, October 21, during morning assembly, students may purchae "votes" for whichever teacher they would like to be queen (or king) of the Fall Fest. The teacher with the most votes will be announced on Friday, October 22, during morning assembly.

The winning teacher will be Fall Fest Queen (or King) for the day. 

"Votes" are 50 cents each or three for $1.00.

Proceeds will go to the 7th grade class service project to help less fortunate citizens in our community.

All money raised will go to a local charity.

Thank you for your support.

Father/Daughter Dance

St. Joseph School is sponsoring the second annual Father/Daughter Dance on Friday, November 5, 7:00-9:00 p.m., in the school gym.

All dads of daughters in any grade are welcome to come and enjoy a night out with their little girl. There will be music, dancing, food, and drinks. Pictures will also be available.

We realize that special circumstances permit another male firgure in a student's life. If this is the case, a grandfather, uncle, etc. may attend in dad's place.

The theme for the evening is any football attire. An award will be given for the best dressed couple.

Early bird prices - $20 admits dad and one daughter. Each additional daughter is $5.

At the door prices - $30 admits dad and one daughter. Each additional daughter is $5.

St. Joseph School Night with the Hornets!

Don't miss your chance to show your school pride and watch CP3 and the Hornets as they take on the New Jersey Nets for a night full of excitement and entertainment!

December 22 is St. Joseph School Night at the Hornets' game! One of our eighth graders, Tyler Carollo, will sing the National Anthem. After the game, the St. Joseph group will be allowed on the court to take a group photo with a few Honeybees! Our school name will be on the BuzzVision screen during the game. 

Tickets for the game are $25 each and include a special St. Joseph School/New Orleans Hornets t-shirt.

Orders for tickets are due November 19. NO late orders will be taken.

To purchase tickets, please fill out and return the purple form sent home today with payment.  Make checks payable to St. Joseph School.

Need more information? Please contact Toni in the office at 985-386-6421.

Report Cards

Report Cards are being sent home with students today, October 20. Please review these with your children.

The envelope needs to be signed and returned to school this week. The report card may be kept at home.

If you have questions about your child's grades, please email your teacher or contact the office (985-386-6421) to set up a telephone call or conference for this concern.

Magazine Sale

Prizes from the Magazine Sale are being sent home with the students today.

Our magazine representative reports that sales at St. Joseph increased over 50%!!!! That's wonderful! We thank all of our many parents who worked so hard to make the sale a great success!

The BMX bike show will be in November. More details will be forthcoming at a later date.

Book Reviews

Rissa Bartholomew’s Declaration of Independence
by: Linda B. Comerfored
AR: 5.9
This is a fictional book about a girl who got mad at all of her friends, and is ready to make new friends and be herself. This book might tell you about being a new kid in school with no friends.
Christina Ernst (6th) recommends this book to readers from grades 4 through 7 because the characters are within their age range and would appeal to readers of the same age.

Firestar’s Quest
by: Erin Hunter
AR: 5.5
When Firestar uncovers the secret of the lost fifth clan, he embarks on a journey to find the descendants and rebuild it. Will Firestar be able to handle the challenges he must face? Read this book to find out.
Emily Ransom (6th) recommends this book to young cat lovers, aged ten to twelve.

Miracles on Maple Hill
by: Virginia Sorensen
AR: 5.9
When Marly’s dad returns from a prison camp alive, but tired and sad, the family decides it is in his best interest to go on a vacation to Maple Hill. At Maple Hill, he can get away from the busy city life. They believe the beauty of the country will change him back into the happy and jolly father he was before prison camp.
Emily Ransom (6th) recommends this book to ten to twelve-year-old readers because she feels that those readers may enjoy a book about animals.

The Best Halloween Ever
by: Barbara Robinson
AR: 5.4
Charlie is participating in a Halloween party at his school. Everyone hates the party since there can be no candy. The kids search for the candy and find it in a big hole.
Raeghen Henry (6th) recommends this book to readers aged seven to thirteen. The main character is a seventh grader; however, the content may appeal to younger audiences.

Boston Jane: An Adventure
by: Jennifer L. Holm
AR: 5.0
Boston Jane is an historical fiction book about a misfit girl who lived in the 1800s. One day, her papa’s apprentice William tells her she should become a proper young lady. She follows his word and tries, only to find herself on a boat to the frontier to marry her betrothed, William.
Claire Lavastida (7th) recommends this novel to anyone from 6th through 8th grade because it is full of adventure.

STA Open House

St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Catholic High School will hold an open house for parents of students currently in 7th and 8th grades on Thursday, October 21, from 6:00-8:30 p.m. Please attend if you're interested in learning more about what St. Thomas has to offer your student.

Community News

PONCHATOULA YOUTH BASKETBALL
Registration for the 2011 season:
* Boys and girls ages 5-18
* October 24 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the Ponchatoula Community Center.

Registration forms are available in the office.
Please contact Tim Williams at 985-222-5354 for more information.

St. Joseph Parish

Personnel
Rev. John Dominic Sims, O.P. - Pastor
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