Psalm 52

R. I trust in the mercy of God for ever. 

I, like a green olive tree
in the house of God,
Trust in the mercy of God
forever and ever. 

R. I trust in the mercy of God for ever. 

I will thank you always for what you have done,
and proclaim the goodness of your name
before your faithful ones.


R. I trust in the mercy of God for ever.

From the Principal

Please check the PHOTO ALBUMS for pictures from the first few days of school.

Dear Parents:

The school year started in a very smooth manner. The electricity did not go out on the first day of school as in the previous two years. We had a very satisfying meeting with the pre-k and kindergarten parents last week. Tuesday, the first through fourth grade teachers met with parents to orient them to the new school year. Tomorrow, the Open House for the upper grades will be follow the first Home and School Meeting at 6:30. We expect to see everyone at this first meeting.

It is most important that all the students begin the school year in a manner that will assure their success, so please check on your children to see that they have everything they need and that they are preparing themselves each evening for the next school day. One day builds on another, and each new school year offers a new beginning.

I bring the following to everyone’s attention because at times this becomes an issue with some students. State law is very specific in terms of the number of days students must be in school, the number of days school must be in session, the length of the school day, and the length of time students are to spend in each subject. I ask again that parents be very attentive to school attendance. Plan vacations when school is not in session. Do not keep students home for minor complaints.

Dismissal and arrival have generally been going very well. As the pre-kindergarten and the kindergarten come to school for the first time tomorrow, please anticipate delays. Leave earlier so that all are in the gymnasium by 7:35. Dismissal would be smoother if more students ride the buses provided by the Tangipahoa Public School Board. There will be twenty more students to dismiss this year. We anticipate the carpool line to be cleared generally by 3:00 each day. The office closes at 3:00. Students who are not picked up by 3:00 or who miss their bus will be placed in After School Care and parents will be billed for that service and may pick up their children in the Early Learning Center.

On another matter, the school had a very successful year in the financial support it received last year. The efforts of the Home and School, the generosity of parents, grandparents, and friends paid dividends. Following are ways that parents, grandparents, friends of the school can help on a daily basis with costing any pit of pocket expense.

For those of you who shop at Winn Dixie, we thank you for registering your cards in the name of the school. St. Joseph receives a significant contribution twice a year.

https://givewith.target.com/schools/24201 - This site will send you to the Target Website. The company has an excellent offer for schools if parents sign in. We will place this on our website. Please visit this site. Also, the use of Target’s Visa card earns the school a check each year.

The school also collects Community Coffee and Tea UPC’s and submits those every year for a check. The value of each UPC is between 10 and 15 cents.

General Mills Corporation sponsors Box Tops for Education. These are worth 10 cents apiece. They are on all General Mills cereals including Cheerios and Fiber 1 from the old folks. Other products with Box Top for Education stamps that can be submitted include all Pillsbury products, Chex Mix, Fruit by the Foot, Bisquick, Totino's Pizza products, Nature Valley products, Betty Crocker, Ziplock Storage bags, Bounty Paper Towels, and many other General Mills Products. Look for them when you shop.

Thank you for all your cooperation. Everyone at school is invested in making this year productive, peaceful, and prayerful. Your support is most important. 

-- Dr. Gerard Toups
   Principal

Calendar for the Week

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 

Monday, August 20 & Tuesday, August 21
Terra Nova Testing for New Students Grades 3-8

Tuesday, August 21
Cub Scout Pack 186 @ 6:30

Wednesday, August 22
July Birthday Free Dress

Friday, August 24
Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited to attend.
Spirit Dress

Wednesday, August 29
August Birthday Free Dress

Back-to-School Night Grades 5-8

Back-to-School Night for parents of students in grades 5-8 will be held on Thursday, August 16, beginning after the Home & School meeting.

Student schedules will be available for parents. Parents will rotate through their student's schedule to visit each classroom.

Cross Country

All students (PK - 8th) grade are eligible to run Cross Country. 

If your child is interested in running please contact Kirk Jackson or Jerri Pevey by emailing them at sjsrunners@yahoo.com. 

Please include your child's name and grade in the email. 

Returning runners in the middle school and junior high divisions have been practicing all summer.
 
Practices for new runners will begin on August 27th.

Cub Scouts

The Cub Scout fall round-up will be on Tuesday, August 21, at 6:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria.

This meeting is for all boys in the 1st through 5th grades who are interested in joining the Cub Scout Pack. 

Cub Scouts have two meeting per month. Meetings last no longer than one hour.

If more information is needed prior to the meeting, please contact Chris DeLatte at 225-572-8117 or cdelatte@excelusa.com.

Edline

Edline is up and running. Homework, projects, class notes, and upcoming tests should start showing up on parents' pages. Several new features - site reporter, forms and surveys, and interactive classroom - have been added to the site. We'll be testing out those new features soon.

Edline codes/passwords for parents who have been here a while should still work. If you've forgotten the password, please email Mrs. Little at slittle@sjscrusaders.org. She can issue a new one. Please include your child's name in the email.

Edline activiation codes were sent home on Wednesday, August 15, for the parents of new students as well as anyone who hasn't activated their accounts to this point. Please ask your child for papers from the office. If anyone doesn't find that information, please let Mrs. Little know.

Home & School Meeting

The first meeting of the Home & School Association will be on Thursday, August 16, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the gym.

Faculty and Staff of the school will be introduced. 

We hope to see everyone there!

July and August Birthday Free Dress

New this year!!!!

We're trying a new birthday celebration this year.

All students at St. Joseph who had a birthday in July may come out of uniform on Wednesday, July 22. This is the only day students July birthdays may come out of uniform. There is no make-up day. Out of uniform guidelines can be found on the WEBSITE.

All students at St. Joseph who have an August birthday may come out of uniform on Wednesday, August 29. The same guidelines as above apply.

Signature Packet

The oldest St. Joseph student in each family has received a packet today which includes various permissions, forms, and information important for the school year. The packet also has a signature form on top.

Information in the packet includes Acceptable Use Policy, Bus Rules, Child Protection Information, Emergency Care and Transportation for Medical Treatment, Emergency Procedures Drills, Medication at School, Publications Release, Sports Permission Form, and Student/Parent Handbook.

Please read through the information, initial and sign the Signature Page (top page), and return the Signature Page ONLY back to school tomorrow. The rest of the information can be kept for further reference.

Thanks to everyone for a great start to the new school year!

Target Fundraiser

What a great EASY fund raiser Target has going on! St. Joseph School parents can get involved.

Parents just need to vote for the school. For every 25 votes, SJS gets a $25 gift card for school supplies. One vote per day is allowed per person. 

Here's the LINK. 

Let everyone know. Voting ends September 8, so hurry!

Terra Nova Testing

On Monday and Tuesday, August 20 and 21, new students to St. Joseph will take the English/Language Art and Math protions of the Terra Nova standardized test.

The purpose of this testing is to establish a baseline for academic growth during the school year. We have certified teachers coming in to administer the tests. 

Teachers will work with these students in order that they not fall behind in their regular coursework.

Asbestos Letter

August 15, 2012 

Dear Parents,

In compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) and Louisiana Administrative Code Volume II, Air Quality Division Title 33, Chapter 27, Asbestos Containing Materials in Schools and Public Building Regulation, the St. Joseph School administration wishes to notify you of the following:

This letter represents the annual notification regarding asbestos containing
materials in the school. All friable asbestos has been removed in strict compliance
with the above-mentioned regulations. Periodic surveillance and other preventive
measures are ongoing. These actions have all been documented and have been
placed into the Asbestos Management Plan.

You may view a copy of the Management Plan by contacting the school office. You may speak to the school principal. If you have any questions, please feel free to come to the school office to discuss them.


Sincerely,



Gerard Toups, Ph.D.
Principal

Community News

Ponchatoula Little Conference Football
Cheerleader Registration 
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.


EPIK 5K RUN
A one-mile run and a 5K run will be sponsored by EPIK on Saturday, September 22. Runners will start their races at Cate Square Park in Hammond.

Early entry fees are $25 for adults and $10 for children under 12. 

More details can be found by downloading the registration form or by contacting the following:
Mike Sons, EPIK Porduction Direction at 225-788-4409
Blaine Ehrlich - EPIK CEO at 985-507-4586
Holly Sons, EPIK Fundraising Director at 225-788-4140
Carthon Engram - EPIK Sales Manager at 985-351-4223,

Proceeds benefit St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.

Registration forms can be found at EPIK 5K RUN. Registration forms can be turned in at Ponchatoula Fitness, Perfectly Fit, or Rival Nutrition.

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



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