St. Joseph
Catholic School

Psalm 62

R. Rest in God alone, my soul. 

Only in God is my soul at rest;
from him comes my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed at all. 

R. Rest in God alone, my soul. 

Only in God be at rest, my soul,
for from him comes my hope.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed. 

R. Rest in God alone, my soul. 

With God is my safety and my glory,
he is the rock of my strength; my refuge is in God.
Trust in him at all times, O my people!
Pour out your hearts before him. 

R. Rest in God alone, my soul.

From the Principal

Dear Parents:

Calls continue to be made this week for volunteers for the fair. There is much work that has to be done to set up, operate, and clean up after the event. This is the school’s largest fundraiser so we need everyone’s support. Please be generous with your time and labor. You have my assurance that the funds made available to the school through your efforts will be spent judiciously for the benefit of your children.

This week the students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade are busy taking their exams. The third nine weeks will end on Friday. Friday is also the St. Joseph Mardi Gras Parade. We welcome all of you to come out to see the parade: parents, grandparents, and friends.

The school continues a very successful enrollment for next year. I thank you all for your support and the positive things you have said in the community regarding the school. I have indicated on numerous occasions that we rely on you to recruit for the school. Our present registration for next school year is 39, and that exceeds the enrollment in the school for this school year. We do have openings, and we receive inquiries daily. Again, I encourage you to promote the school with parents in the community. A visit the school to the school often results in registration. Increased enrollment will allow us to do more for everyone in the school.

Next week the school will be closed for the Mardi Gras Holidays. It is our prayer that you all have a happy and safe Mardi Gras and return to us ready for school next Monday. 

-- Gerard Toups

Current Calendar

Thursday, March 3
* Exams - Grades 6-7-8 - Math
* Reconciliation - Fifth Grade
* Math-a-Thon Permission Slips Due

Friday, March 4
* Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited to attend.
* Adopt-a-Child Collection
* Spirit Dress (optional fair t-shirt may be worn)
* Krewe of Crusaders Parade
* Third Quarter Ends

Monday, Marcy 7 - Friday, March 11
* Mardi Gras Holidays 

Wednesday, March 9
* Ash Wednesday

Sunday, March 13
* Daylight Savings Time Begins - Spring Forward
* First Sunday of Lent

Tuesday, March 15
* Diocesan Home & School Luncheon & Mother Seton Awards 
* Mandatory Meeting for Parents of Girls Trying Out for Cheerleaders @ 4:30-5:30

Wednesday, March 16
* Report Cards

Thursday, March 17
* St. Patrick's Day
* Reconciliation - Fourth Grade

Friday, March 18
* Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited to attend.
* Spirit Dress (optional fair t-shirt may be worn) 
* Stations of the Cross @ 1:45
* Spring Fair Begins!

Saturday, March 19
* Spring Fair Continues!

Sunday, March 20
* Spring Fair Continues!
* Second Sunday of Lent

Tuesday, March 22
* LEAP Grade 8 
* Cheerleader Tryout Clinic @ 3:00-4:30
Thursday, March 24
* Reconciliation - Third Grade

Friday, March 25
* Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited to attend.
* Crusaders Announced
* Spirit Dress (optional fair t-shirt may be worn)
* Stations of the Cross @ 1:45 
* Cheerleader Tryouts @ 3:1504:30

Sunday, March 27
* Third Sunday of Lent

Tuesday, March 29
* Spring Pictures

Mother Seton Award

St. Joseph Home and School Association is pleased to announce Nicole Dillon as the 2010-2011 Mother Seton Award winner.

Nicole Roberts Dillon is a graduate of St. Joseph School (1993). She and her husband Jason have one son, Collin, in seventh grade at St. Joseph.

Nicole is a busy attorney and an active volunteer in many civic organizations whose goals benefit the community at large. Yet amid all this activity, she makes time to not only volunteer in our school, but to also lead other volunteers in efforts which benefit St. Joseph School. 

Nicole's positive and upbeat nature inspires others to step up to the plate and help out. Whether she’s baking her to-die-for cupcakes for a class party or lending her wisdom and expertise to policy decisions on the Advisory Board, Nicole can always be counted on for positive, gracious, and untiring volunteerism which makes her a perfect Mother Seton Award recipient.

February Crusaders

Mini Crusader - Jack Brothers - Second Grade
Crusaders - Ricky Henry - Eighth Grade

Cheerleader Clinic

The St. Joseph cheerleaders will sponsor a mini-cheer clinic on Saturday, April 16, for any SJS students in preKindergarten through Fourth Grades.

The clinic will begin at 4:00 p.m. Mini-cheerleaders will peform for their families at 7:00 in the school gym.

The cost is $25.00. Participants will receive a certificate, a t-shirt, and an SJS hair ribbon.

Please register on the form sent home today by Wednesday, March 30, to be included in the fun!

Cheerleader Tryouts

SJS girls in Grades 4-7 are welcome to try out for a position on the 2011-2012 cheerleading team.

A mandatory parent information meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 15, from 4:30-5:30 in Mrs. Bankston's room.

The tryout clinic will be Tuesday, March 22, from 3:00-4:30 in the school gym.

Tryouts will be Friday, March 25, from 3:15-4:30(ish) in Mrs. Gaine's classroom.

Numbers of new team members will be posted after 8:00 p.m. on the main building doors (bus side).

Uniform fittings will be Thursday, March 31, from 7:00 p.m. until finished in Mrs. Bankston's classroom.

Mandatory summer camp is June 15, 16, 17.

Please contact Mrs. Gaines at sgaines@sjscrusaders.org or Mrs. Bankston at sbankston@sjscrusaders.org with any questions.

Mardi Gras

The Krewe of Crusaders will roll their parade around the church parking lot starting at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, March 4. Parents, grandparents, and friends are invited.

We ask that parents, grandparents, and others watching please give the students, both those watching and those participating,  room to enjoy the parade. 

A parade route has been sent home today.

The Mardi Gras holidays at St. Joseph School will be from Monday, March 7, through Friday, March 11. Classes will resume on Monday, March 14.

Spring Fair News

WORK SCHEDULE

The Spring Fair work schedule has been sent home today. If you haven't confirmed with your room mother yet, please contact her as soon as possible. We need to make sure we have enough workers for each shift.

We could use a few more workers in all shifts, however, we especially need more help during the following:
Friday - 7:50 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Saturday - 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Saturday - 6:50 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

We need everyone's help to make our fair a success. 

 

SWEETS BOOTH

The Wild West Spring Fest Sweet Booth needs your favorite desserts, whether it's cookies, brownies, cupcakes, candy, rice crispy treats, or some treat that might be your special creation that everyone would like to try.

Donations for the Sweet Booth can be dropped off Friday, March 18, during morning or afternoon car pool, or donations can be dropped off at the Sweets Booth anytime during fair hours throughout the weekend. 

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

SILENT AUCTION

The Silent Auction is in need of empty baskets, ribbons, and bows to make up the Silent Auction baskets for the fair. If you have any of these items and would like to donated one or more to us, we would greatly appreciate it.

Baskets are expensive to buy, and we need approximately 30-40 of them in a variety of sizes. Donations can be dropped in the Silent Auction boxes in the gym.

This is a reminder that Silent Auction donations for the Spring Fair will be collected during the week of February 28-March 4 and again on Monday and Tuesday, March 15-16.

Please start sending in your Silent Auction items!

PreK - Summer Fun

Kindergarten A (Harwell) - BBQ Fun

Kindergarten B (Smith) - Kitchen Gadgets

First Grade A (James) - Gardening

First Grade B (Rigney) - Sporting Goods/Outdoors

Second Grade A (Dufreche) - Saints

Second Grade B (Scruggs) - Rest & Recreation

Third Grade A (Tallo) - Family Fun

Third Grade B (Casey) - LSU

Fourth Grade A (Naquin) - Arts & Crafts

Fourth Grade B (Thomas) - Cajun Cooking

Fifth Grade A (Aymond) - Health & Fitness

Fifth Grade B (Hamilton) - Health & Fitness

Sixth Grade (Wagner) - All Around Ponchatoula

Seventh Grade (Mercer) - Movie Night

Eighth Grade (Naquin) - PHS/STA Sports

If you have questions, please contact Kristie Wisecarver at 504-616-4717.

St. Jude Math-a-Thon

This is a reminder that permission slips sent home last week to participate in the Math-a-Thon are due back to school on Thursday, March 3. Books will be sent home to students with permission slips. The pledge deadline has been extended until after the Fair. More information will be coming home later.

Of course, the best reward for participating is knowing that your family has made a difference in the life of children suffering from cancer and other catastrophic diseases, but the added bonus is that Math-a-thon will help your child sharpen his math skills just in time for Terra Nova testing.

To learn more about St. Jude, visit www.stjude.org. For additional informaiton regarding the Math-a-Thon program and a complete list of prizes, please visit www.mathathon.org.

Through Math-a-Thon, you and your child make it possible for St. Jude to treat patients regardless of a family's ability to pay.

For 8th Grade Parents

PHS Parent Info Night:
Attention all 8th grade parents:
Ponchatoula High School will be holding their annual parent information night for incoming freshman on March 3 at 6:00pm. This meeting will be held in the PHS auditorium. You will receive registration information as well as scheduling packets at this meeting. However, if you cannot attend the meeting, you may pick up these packets at the PHS office after March 3rd.

Community news

Ponchatoula Recreation Baseball and Softball Info:
Registration for the 2011 Ponchatoula Baseball and softball season is going on now through March 5th. Forms can be found in the St. Joseph School office or online at www.ponchatoulayouthbaseball.com
*Walk in Registration Date March 5 @Community Center-2nd floor conference room from 9:00am - 2:00pm


1 MILE FUN RUN/WALK AND 5K RACE
Child Advocacy Services will sponsor a 1 mile fun run/walk and 5K race on Saturday, April 2, beginning at Cate Street Square Park in Hammond.
Registration may be completed online, in person, or by mail.
More information can be obtained by clicking on the Blue Ribbon tab at www.childadv.net or by calling 985-902-9586.

St. Joseph Parish

Personnel
Rev. John Dominic Sims, O.P. - Pastor
Larry J. Melcanon - Deacon

Weekend 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


ST. JOSEPH ALTAR

St. Joseph Altar Committee will sponsor its annual St. Joseph Altar, the weekend of March 26 & 27. Traditionally, all items used for the altar are donated and all proceeds collected from the altar are distributed to the poor of the parish through our St. Vincent de Paul Society.

The members of the St. Joseph Altar coordinating committee requests donations of goods, services and money towards the preparation for the altar. The following items are needed for cookies: all purpose flour, sugar, 3lb cans of Crisco shortening, powdered sugar, evaporated milk, and dried figs. If you can donate any of these items, please bring the items to church and place them in the box marked St. Joseph Altar. .

CALLING ALL STUDENTS GRADES 3RD-12TH

We are looking for children to play the role of saints for the St. Joseph Altar. The St. Joseph Altar will be on March 27. The children will be asked to participate in the rosary procession, Mass, and feeding of the saints. The children will have to furnish their own costume. There will be a short practice on Monday, March 21 at 6:00 p.m. in the gym. If you are interested in participating, please call Fay Murray at 386-8151 or the church office at 386-3749.

COOKIES

We will bake cookies on Saturday, March 5th at 8:30 a.m. at Ponchatoula High School cafeteria. Bring a rolling pin and a small knife.

We will frost cookies on Monday, March 7th at 9:00 a.m. at St. Joseph School cafeteria.

NEEDED: 3 gallons grape juice, fresh shrimp, and 8 chocolate bunnies that sit up.


Please call Fay Murray at 985-386-8151.


ROSARY ALTAR SOCIETY
The St. Joseph's Altar Society will have a monthly public rosary for world peach and pro-life on March 12, at 10:00 a.m. We will meet in front of the school by the Blessed Mother sttaue, weather permitting. In inclement weather, we'll meet in the chapel. All are invited and encouraged to come pray the rosary with us. If you need more information, please contact Peggy West at 985-370-7397.