Psalm 116

R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.

I believed, even when I said,
"I am greatly afflicted."
Precious in the eyes of the LORD
is the death of his faithful ones.

R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.

O LORD, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your handmaid;
you have loosed my bonds.
To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.

R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.

My vows to the LORD I will pay
in the presence of all his people,
In the courts of the house of the LORD,
in your midst, O Jerusalem.

R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.

Calendar for the Week

Thursday, March 8
Exams - Grades 6-7-8 - reading, science
Reconciliation Grade 5
Parent Meeting (mandatory) for Cheerleader Tryouts 5:00-6:00 p.m.

Friday, March 9
Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited to attend.
Spirit Dress (with Spring Fair t-shirt option)
Accelerated Reader Deadline
Stations of the Cross @ 1:45

Monday, March 12
Exams - Grades 6-7-8 - English, social studies 
Silent Auction Items Collected in Carpool

Tuesday, March 13
Exams - Grades 6-7-8 - math
Last Day of Third Quarter 
Silent Auction Items Collected in Carpool
Cheerleader Tryout Clinic 3:00-4:30 p.m. 

Wednesday, March 14
Advisory Council @ 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 15
Spring Pictures
Reconciliation Grade 4
Silent Auction Items Collected in Carpool

Friday, March 16
Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited to attend.
Spirit Dress (with Spring Fair t-shirt option)
Eighth Grade Retreat
Stations of the Cross @ 1:45
Cheerleader Tryouts 3:00-5:30
Weekend Ride Pass Money Due
Silent Auction Items Collected in Carpool

Tuesday, March 20
LEAP (8th Grade)

See more plans for the year at CALENDAR

Read the Most from Coast to Coast

IN THE PICTURE - Mrs. Jeri Carroll as Fox in Socks

Students at St. Joseph School took part in “Read The Most From Coast To Coast”
on March 2, and helped to set a new national record for the number of Accelerated Reader™ Quizzes taken in one day. 

The one‐day record students were challenged to top was 2,177,586. Students coast to coast joined in the challenge and succeeded in setting a new record. 

“The new record for the number of Accelerated Reader Quizzes taken in one day is 3,581,992,” said
(your name, title). “Students were excited to be a part of this shared challenge. They enjoyed seeing
their quizzes counted among the national results on the live quiz counter.” 

The nation’s most widely‐used reading management software program for K12 schools, Accelerated Reader helps teachers motivate students to read, measure progress and improve reading levels. 

Students read a book at the appropriate level and then take a quiz that assesses comprehension of the book just read. Accelerated Reader scores the quiz, monitors results, generates reports, and provides a platform to manage individual reading practice. 

“Read The Most From Coast To Coast enabled students to take part in a shared reading adventure,” said Mrs. Jeri Carroll, SJS librarian. “Students were thrilled when the one‐day AR Quiz record was shattered. The St. Joseph School total tests was 851.” 

To encourage students to read, teachers dressed up as Dr. Seuss characters (March 2 is Dr. Seuss' birthday), read to students, and held silent reading times during the school day. Visit the PHOTO ALBUMS to see teachers in costume on this fun day of learning.

Reading Dr. Seuss

IN THE PICTURE - Mr. Jay Naquin reads a Dr. Seuss selection to his eighth grade students, from left Collin Dillon, Holly Guay, and Emily Waddell.

Wild West Spring Fest

SPRING FAIR T-SHIRTS

Spring fair t-shirts were distributed today. They may be worn with spirit dress on Fridays in March: 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th.


SILENT AUCTION 

Silent Auction items will be collected during carpool the week of March 12-16.

Donations of baskets, ribbons, and/or bows would be greatly appreciated.

Anyone who would like to help put baskets together should contact Kristy Wisecarver at 504-616-4717.


WEEKEND RIDE PASS ORDER DUE MARCH 16!

The Spring Fair Committee is pleased to announce the return of GoldStar Amusements as our ride company.

We will again have PAY ONE PRICE ALL WEEKEND pass. The pass will be good for the entire fair (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). These bracelets will be $50.00 each. If you bought every session during the fair individually, it would cost $100. That's half price off the individual session bands!!!

We are pre-selling ONLY the ALL WEEKEND passess until Friday, March 16. You will be able to redeem your voucher anytime during the fair, but a special line will be set up on Friday from 5:00-6:00 p.m. where the voucher can be redeemed early. We are NOT pre-selling the individual ride sessons.

Make your check payable to St. Joseph H&S.


SPRING FAIR COMMITTEE MEETING

The Spring Fair Committee will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, March 7, at 6:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria. All are invited to attend.

Rice Bowls

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus explains that “whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” Our faith calls us to reach out to our sisters and brothers in need and to be authentic expressions of God’s love in our world today. This Lent, St. Joseph School will be participating in CRS Operation Rice Bowl as one way to live out this Gospel call.

CRS Operation Rice Bowl helps bring to life the rich spiritual traditions of Lent. Through CRS Operation Rice Bowl, we will pray with our families, fast in solidarity with those who do not have enough food, learn about the joys and challenges in the lives of those in need, and give sacrificial contributions to assist the poor.

Our Lenten sacrifices will be put to use by Catholic Relief Services to bring help and hope to our brothers and sisters in need around the world. Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States, and alleviates suffering and provides assistance to people in need in nearly 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. In other words, CRS acts as our hearts and hands in countries which we may never see.
Through CRS, our prayers and sacrifices will help bring people out of hunger and poverty. People like 13 year old Gulsana in India, whose parents struggled to provide enough food for their family. Gulsana’s younger sister struggled with health problems because she didn’t have enough food. With the help of CRS, Gulsana’s family was able to receive nutritional food supplements, and now her younger sister is healthier and happier.

Rice Bowls were sent home with each student last week. Please be sure to take these materials home with you and use them as a family this Lent. You can use the cardboard Rice Bowl to collect your Lenten sacrifices.

Thank you for opening your homes to our brothers and sisters in need around the world through CRS Operation Rice Bowl this Lent. Together we can give hope to a world in need

Cheerleader Tryouts

St. Joseph School cheerleader tryouts are open to girls in 4th-7th grades.

The tryouts for the 2012-2013 squad will be in March. The schedule is as follows:

Thursday, March 8 - mandatory parent/guardian meeting - 5:00-6:00 p.m. - Mrs. Bankston's classroom. An adult must attend this meeting in order for your child to try out.

Tuesday, March 13- cheer clinic - 3:00-4:30 p.m.

Friday, March 16 - cheer tryouts - 3:00-5:30 p.m.

Stations of the Cross

Lent began on Ash Wednesday, February 22, this year. A special Lenten devotion practiced by St. Joseph School students is the Stations of the Cross.

After Jesus died and rose from the dead, many people reflected upon His passion and death. Pilgrims began to visit Jerusalem and walk in Jesus' footsteps along the street where He walked, which is known as the Via Dolorosa, the way of pain. They stopped along the way and remember what had happened to Jesus.

As the years passed, the practice spread throughout the world. Many Catholic churches now have the Stations of the Cross along the walls of their churches. Worshippers come to church, pray and move from station to station. This is how we, as followers of Christ, remember His death and resurrection.

St. Joseph School students in grades 1-8 observe this devotion every Friday in Lent. Stations of the Cross begin at 1:45 p.m. All are invited to attend.

A video of St. Joseph students following the stations is available at STATIONS.

Baseball Pics

Pictures of our varsity baseball team are posted online in PHOTO ALBUMS. Please visit the site to our boys in action.

Spring Pictures

Barberito Photographers will be at St. Joseph School on Thursday, March 15, to take spring pictures with their newest green screen concept for 2012!

Students may wear their own clothes to school for the pictures. Solid colors are recommended. Students are asked to refrain from wearing green. 

A full color brochure with your child's image will be sent home in approximately three weeks for your consideration of purchase.

Remember  -  Clothing must be appropriate to the values of St. Joseph School. No shorts may be worn. Blue jeans may not have holes in them. Shoulders and midriffs must be covered. Dresses and skirts must be of appropriate length. Too tight clothing, crocs, high heels, and sandals may not be worn. ALL SHOES MUST HAVE A BACK OR BACK STRAP.

Rule of thumb --- If you think it wise to pack optional clothing in case what is worn does not pass the guidelines, choose to wear something else.

Community News

OLIVER!

Ponchatoula High School Drama Club presents Oliver!, originating from Chrales Dickens' novel Oliver Twist.

The performance will be at Ponchatoula High School auditorium on Thursday through Saturday, March 8 through 10, at 7:00 p.m. A Sunday matinee on March 11 will begin at 2:00 p.m.

Tickets will be sold only at the door.

Logan Henley, SJS fourth grade student, will be featured in the show as Oliver. Three former SJS students are also involved with the play.



2nd ANNUAL BLUE RUN

Child Advocacy Services is hosting the 2nd Annual Blue Run on March 31, 2012 to kick off National Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month. 

This event features a one mile fun run and a scored 5K. 

Awards will be given to the overall male and female winners and to the top male and female finishers in the following age categories: 10 and under, 11 to 17, 18 to 30, and 31 and up. There is also a team competition this year. 

Entry fee is only $15 dollars if registration is received before March 16th. 

Forms are available at Perfectly Fit in Hammond, SPOGA Fitness Studio in Hammond or at the Child Advocacy Services Office. You can also register online at www.childadv.net. Contact Jerri Pevey at 985-969-0702 for more information.

Title I Parent Center Parent Activities

Title I Parent Center Parent Activities 2012

Note:
Individual consultations are given daily to parents seeking guidance in improving their children’s academic skills.

Call 985-429-9043 for more information. Limited seating in computer lab sessions.

March 9 9:00 – 11:00
Publisher Basics
Technology Dept. Lab
Technology Resource Teacher
Hammond Jr. High

May & June Summer Workbooks PreK to K through Gr. 7 to 8

Note:
Individual consultations are given daily to parents seeking guidance in improving their children’s academic skills.

Call 985-429-9043 for more information. Limited seating in computer lab sessions

Parish News

Personnel
Rev. John Dominic Sims, O.P. - Pastor
Rev. Cayet Mangiaracina, O.P. - Parochial Vicar
Rev. J.D. Logan, O.P. - In Residence
Larry J. Melcanon - Deacon

Weekend Mass Schedule
Saturday Vigil Mass - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday Mass - 8:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 5:00 p.m.

Lenten Confession Information
St. Joseph Church - March 21 - 6:00-7:30
Holy Ghost Church - March 7, March 14, March 21, March 28 - 6:00-7:30

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



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