St. Joseph
Catholic School

Psalm 147

O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!

O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!
Zion, praise your God!
He has strengthened the bars of your gates
he has blessed the children within you.

O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!

He sends out his word to the earth
and swiftly runs his command.
He showers down snow white as wool,
he scatters hoar-frost like ashes.

O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!

He makes his word known to Jacob,
to Israel his laws and decrees.
He has not dealt thus with other nations;
he has not taught them his decrees.

O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!

Calendar for the Week

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) 

Wednesday, March 21
Pep Rally @ assembly
Mother Seton Luncheon
Baseball/Softball Pictures

Thursday, March 22
Reconciliation Grade 3
Hunger Games Premier Party

Friday, March 23
Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited to attend.
Spirit Dress
Crusaders Announced
Stations of the Cross @ 1:45
Sweets Collected in Carpool Line
Wild West Spring Fest

Saturday, March 24
Wild West Spring Fest

Sunday, March 25
Wild West Spring Fest

Monday, March 26 - Friday, March 30
Eighth Grade Trip!

Friday, March 30
Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited to attend.
Spirit Dress
Stations of the Cross @ 1:45

Monday, April 2 - Friday, April 6
Easter Holidays

Monday, April 9
Classes Resume

See more plans for the year at CALENDAR

Advisory Council Nominations

It is time once again to elect new members for the St. Joseph Advisory Council.

New members must meet the following requirements:
1. Be the parent/guardian of a student at St. Joseph School. Because this is a three year commitment, at least one of these students must be currently in Grade 5 or younger.
2. Be a practicing Catholic.
3. Be available for monthly meetings for a three year commitment.

The currrent elected members of the SJS Advisory Council are: Christie Atkins, Jayna Berthelot, Stephanie Brothers, Jeff LeSaicherre, Raymond Mauterer, Jerri Pevey, Veronica Pierson, Mary Ransom, and Jeff Schmitt.

Terms are ending for Jayna Berthelot, Jerri Pevey, and Mary Ransom. Jayna Bethelot is eligible for re-election.

Please make nominations on the form sent home and return the form to the school office by Friday, March 16. If you did not receive a form, one may be accessed at FORMS.

Attention Tributes:

You have been summed to the 74th Annual Hunger Games!

When: Thursday, March 22, 2012 from 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Where: Training Center (St. Joseph School Library)

Supplies: Bring a themed dish to share and a solid color t-shirt (by Tuesday, March 20) in order to participate in t-shirt training.

TO ENTER THE REAPING:
     You must be in 6th, 7th, or 8th Grade at SJS.
     You must have passed the Accelerated Reader test for The Hunger Games.

Sponsors will award gifts to tributes in the best costume.

For more information, please contact the gamemakers: Mr. Pevey (dpevey@sjscrusaders.org), Mrs. Gaines (sgaines@sjscrusaders.org), Mrs. Carroll (jcarroll@sjscrusaders.org), or Mrs. Bankston (sbankston@sjscrusaders.org).

Operation Rice Bowl

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 the first week of Lent. 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.

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.

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.

Wild West Spring Fest

SPRING FAIR T-SHIRTS

Spring fair t-shirts were last week. 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. 


CONFETTI EGGS

It's time for confetti eggs again! 

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 Sweets Booth is back for the Wild West Spring Fest!

We need your favorite desserts: cookies, brownies, cupcakes, candy, rice crispy treats, or some treat that might be your special creation that everyone would like to try.

Donations may be dropped off on Friday, March 23, during morning carpool. They may also be brought to the Sweets Booth anytime during fair hours throughout the weekend.

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

Athletes - Save the Date

Please “Save the Date” for our annual North Oaks Sports Medicine Physical Day.  Please spread the word to all of your coaches for both Female and Male Sports at your school, along with Cheerleaders and Dance Team Coaches.  

Our program offers free Physicals for 7th – 12th student/athletes.

The Tangipahoa Jr. & Sr. High School Physical Day is:

Date:     April 21, 2012

Where: ***NEW LOCATION***

North Oaks Orthopedic Specialty Center, located on the Main Campus of North Oaks Health System.

Maps and more information about our Physical Day will be coming to you in weeks to come.

Medical History Physical Forms along with North Oaks Sports Medicine Enrollment Forms will be distributed to each school later this month or first week in April.

Please call me with any questions!
Jeff Schmitt, ATC, LAT
Sports Medicine Supervisor
North Oaks Health System
985-230-5248
(Pager) 504-880-5089
schmittj@northoaks.org

Community News

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 atwww.childadv.net. Contact Jerri Pevey at 985-969-0702 for more information.

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. Melancon - 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