St. Joseph
Catholic School

Psalm 51

R. Create a clean heart in me, O God. 

A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me. 

R. Create a clean heart in me, O God. 

Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners shall return to you. 

R. Create a clean heart in me, O God. 

For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. 

R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.

Welcome Back to School!

We're so glad you're back!

From the Principal

August 9, 2012


Dear Parents:

Welcome to the 2012-2013 school year. We thank you for your continued support. Largely to the efforts of parents who have expressed confidence in the school, enrollment has increased again this school year, and the school year will start with 427 students in attendance.

There are additions to staff this year.

Mrs. Beth Elsenrath has replaced Mrs. James in first grade. She has seventeen years experience and taught first grade last year in a Catholic school in Mississippi. She has four children attending St. Joseph. She and her husband recently moved into the area. She is a member of the church parish.

Ms. Cynthia Chatelain will serve as a seventh grade homeroom teacher. She will teach social studies and science. She has ten years experience in the Ponchatoula schools and is a member of St. Joseph Parish.

Mrs. Gabrielle Lloyd is fifth grade homeroom teacher. She has one year of experience. She will teach fifth grade, and she is a member of the Church.

Mr. D. J. Pevey has been hired fulltime. He became a member of the faculty at midterm last year. He will be a sixth grade homeroom teacher. He is a member of St. Joseph Parish.

In addition to new staff and new assignments, the school doubled the seventh grade homerooms. Eighth grade is now the only class that has only one homeroom.

Other improvements that were made to better improve the program offered to the St. Joseph School community include the new second grade classrooms that are located in the rear of the new ministry building. The school has also paved the parking along the side of the gymnasium. The staff continued to make improvements to the main building. Two more classrooms have been renovated. Ceilings were dropped, lights were replaced, and new, very quiet, air conditioning units were installed. Students in these classrooms enjoy a quieter and more pleasant environment for their studies.

A thank-you goes out to Mr. Tommy, Mr. Joe, Nicholas and Christopher Ekker, and Emily Brehm, Mr. Tomm'sy daughter, for their yeomen efforts this summer. Every year the school environment improves and our pledge to you is that these efforts will continue.

Again, we appreciate and depend on your support and thank you for entrusting your children to our care.

We will ask the Lord’s blessing on the new school year at tomorrow morning’s Mass at 830 and invite you to celebrate with us.




Gerard Toups, Ph. D.
Principal

Calendar for the Week

Wednesday, August 8
School Supply Drop-Off for Grades 1-8 @ 1:00-3:00
PreK/K Adults-Only Orientation @ 6:30 in the Cafeteria

Thursday, August 9
First Day of School for Students @ 7:35-2:35

Friday, August 10
Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited to attend.
Spirit Dress
K Testing
PreK Small Group A @ 8:30-11:30
Pep Rally @ 1:30

Monday, August 13
K Testing
PreK Small Group B @ 8:30-11:30 

Tuesday, August 14
K Testing
PreK Small Group C @ 8:30-11:30
Back-to-School Night Grades 1-4 @ 6:30 in the Classrooms

Wednesday, August 15
Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady
Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited to attend.
K Testing
PreK Small Group D @ 8:30-11:30

Thursday, August 16
All of PreK & K Class at School 
Home & School Meeting in Gym @ 6:30
Back-to-School Night Grades 5-8 after H&S Meeting

Friday, August 17
Spirit Dress
NO SCHOOL MASS

Back-to-School Information

All information necessary to start the 2012-2013 school year at St. Joseph Catholic School is updated and posted online under the BACK-TO-SCHOOL tab.

This information includes:

First Days of School for PreK

First Days of School for Kindergarten

First Days of School for Grades 1-8

2012-2013 Calendar

2012-2013 Faculty

Summer Reading Lists (and summer AR dates in the library)

Supply Lists

Uniform Codes (please check the shoe section for Grades 1-8)

Grades 1-8 First Days of School

Welcome back to school!
The following information is for students in Grades First through Eighth.

NOTE - Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students have a different schedule. Please read their sections above for detailed information about those grades.


Wednesday, August 8, 2012 1:00-3:00
BACK AGAIN THIS YEAR!
Supply Drop Off the day before school starts.
Make the first day of school easier by dropping off supplies the day before!
Students will also be able to find their classrooms and meet their teachers before that first day.
Come join us and make the new school year an easy transition by dropping school supplies off early!


FIRST DAY BACK TO SCHOOL
Thursday, August 9, 2012
7:35-2:35
This is a full day for all students in grades 1-8.
Buses will run.
Formal uniforms will be worn.
After School Care will be open.

PreK First Days of School

For an easy transition to "big school", the following is the schedule for Pre-Kindergarten students for the first few days of school:

Wednesday, August 8, 2012 Parent Orientation 6:30 p.m. School Cafeteria
This is an orientation for PreK parents.
• It is not appropriate for the students to attend.
• Detailed information regarding Pre-Kindergarten will be discussed.
• Kindermats ($30) will be sold.
• Parents will sign-up for small group sessions.

Friday, August 10, 2012 Small Group Session A (12 students)
• Students come from 8:30-11:30 a.m.
• Students come in uniforms with Kindermat and backpack.
• Parents park in the old church parking lot. Meet in the gym.
• Parents may stay until about 9:00 a.m.
• Pickup is through regular carpool.

Monday, August 13, 2012 Small Group Session B (12 students)
• Students come from 8:30-11:30 a.m.
• Students come in uniforms with Kindermat and backpack.
• Parents park in the old church parking lot. Meet in the gym.
• Parents may stay until about 9:00 a.m.
• Pickup is through regular carpool.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012 Small Group Session C (12 Students)
• Students come from 8:30-11:30 a.m.
• Students come in uniforms with Kindermat and backpack.
• Parents park in the old church parking lot. Meet in the gym.
• Parents may stay until about 9:00 a.m.
• Pickup is through regular carpool.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012 Small Group Session D (12 Students)
• Students come from 8:30-11:30 a.m.
• Students come in uniforms with Kindermat and backpack.
• Parents park in the old church parking lot. Meet in the gym.
• Parents may stay until about 9:00 a.m.
• Pickup is through regular carpool.

Thursday, August 16, 2012
• A full day of school for all preK students – 7:35-2:15 or 2:35.
• Students wear full uniforms.

Kindergarten First Days of School

For an easy transition to "big school", the following is the schedule for Kindergarten students for the first few days of school:

Wednesday, August 8, 2012 Parent Orientation 6:30 p.m. School Cafeteria
• This is an orientation for Kindergarten parents.
• It is not appropriate for the students to attend.
• Detailed information regarding Kindergarten will be discussed.
• Kindermats ($30) will be sold.
• Parents will sign-up for individual testing sessions.

Friday, August 10, 2012 - Wednesday, August 15, 2012 Individual Testing Dates
• Students come at assigned time.
• Students do not come in uniforms.
• Parents park in the old church parking lot and check in at the office.
• Parents should stay until testing is completed.
• Bring all school supplies.

Thursday, August 16, 2012
• A full day of school for all Kindergarten students – 7:35-2:15 or 2:35.
• Students wear full uniforms.

Transportation

All students report to the gym every morning.

If you need information about how carpool runs, a map is located HERE. Scroll down to Carpool once you reach the site.

Do not enter the old church parking lot from Seventh Street during carpool either morning or afternoon. You still must do the carpool route THEN park in the lot.

Do not use the parking areas on the Eighth Street side of the school during morning or afternoon drop off/pick up times. Leaving this location during these times puts the vehicle directly in the way of school buses. 

Students riding school buses MUST have a bus form. Bus forms are located HERE. There are two forms. One is for those being dropped off at home. The other is for students being dropped off at a location other than home. Please choose the appropriate form, fill it out, and give to the bus driver on the first day. Students must have a new form every year they ride they bus.

Community News

Ponchatoula Little Conference Football
Cheerleader Registration
August 11 and August 18
8:00am - 1:00pm
*Registration is at Recreation Park on N. Hoover Road
*Ages 5 to 13
*$65. per child
*Must come in person to try-on uniforms.

Registration forms are in school office.

Parish News

Personnel
Rev. John Dominic Sims, O.P. - Pastor
Rev. Cayet Mangiaracina, O.P. - Parochial Vicar
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.

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