Psalm 145

R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.

The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.

R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.

The LORD is faithful in all his words
and holy in all his works.
The LORD lifts up all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.

R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.

The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.

R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.

Calendar for the Week

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

Wild West Spring Fest

SPRING FAIR T-SHIRTS 

Spring fair t-shirts may be worn with spirit dress on Fridays in March:  23rd, and 30th.



WEEKEND RIDE PASS ORDER DUE MARCH 16!

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

Pay One Price All Weekend Passes were sent home Wednesday, March 21. Passes will also be available at the fair.

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!!!

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. 



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!


WORKER SCHEDULE

Please check with your roommother to ensure days and times to work for your child's class.
 

Carpool Line

The fair rides will disrupt carpool line on Thursday and Friday, March 22 and 23. 

The line will take its former route on 8th Strret. Please be patient with this change. it will only last two days. On Monday we'll go back to the regular line around the church.

Please be mindful that ROOM MUST BE LEFT FOR BUSES TO TURN FROM 8TH STREET ONTO HICKORY. Thank you for helping make carpool run smoothly and safely.

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.

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.

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).

Advisory Council Ballots

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.

Ballots were sent home Wednesday, March 21. Please vote and return the form to the school office by Friday, March 23. If you did not receive a form, one may be accessed at FORMS.

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.  

The 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 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

Eighth Grade Trip

The Eighth Grade students leave on their annual trip on Monday, March 26, bound for Atlanta!

Please join in our prayers for them to have a fun, educational, and safe trip.

Their progress can be followed daily by watching the Photo Albums section of the school website. A tab will also be added to the website menu to follow their progress and blogs. 

The students will come back to SJS on Friday, just in time to enjoy their Easter holidays (and rest up from the fun!).

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



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