St. Joseph
Catholic School

Psalm 110

R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek. 

The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand
till I make your enemies your footstool.” 

R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek. 

The scepter of your power the LORD will stretch forth from Zion:
“Rule in the midst of your enemies.” 

R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek. 

“Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor;
before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you.” 

R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek. 

The LORD has sworn, and he will not repent:
“You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” 

R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.

From the Principal

Dear Parents:

The school staff is making a concerted effort to help parents get into the gym for the morning arrival. It is the hope that opening the gates along 8th Street after the last bus has passed will work to shorten the stay in line and alleviate the ongoing issue of students being tardy for the start of the day. 

If at all possible, when you are shuttled through the 8th Street route, please make an effort to have students exit the car on the driver’s side. That may not always be possible, but it is a matter of safety so the students do not have to cross in front of cars to reach the gymnasium. Safety has always been an issue because students generally exit the passenger side with our traditional arrival. Instruct your children to wait for an adult to help them cross the street to the gym. As we have grown in both enrollment and in personnel, we will have adults assisting with the arrival to assure the safety of the children.

Also, please do not delay leaving your home thinking that you can arrive later at school now that we have a second route for arrival. It is expected that this new procedure will assure that all students are in the gym in a timely fashion. All gates will be closed at 7:35. Students arriving after the gates are closed will be considered tardy, and parents will have to come into the office to check them into school.

Once again, the school encourages parents to use the public school bus system which services St. Joseph well. That would do most to remedy any delays in arrival. Riding the buses would also accelerate dismissal.

Please be attentive to the material coming home this date to enroll your children for the 2013-2014 school session. Packets must be returned by February 1st. Enrollments in some grades may be limited, so please cooperate and return the forms with the registration by February 1. Late registrations do incur an extra fee. 

-- Dr. Gerard Toups
    Principal

Calendar for the Week

Thursday, January 24
Reconciliation - 8th Grade

Friday, January 25
Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited to attend.
Spirit Dress
Crusaders Announced
Fair T-Shirt Order Forms Due
Mother/Son Tailgate Party Ticket Orders Due

Monday-Friday, January 28-February 2
Catholic Schools Week

Monday, January 28
Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited to attend.
Spirit Dress with Red Shirts

Wednesday, January 30
Spirit Dress with Red, White, or Blue Shirts 
Fair Planning Meeting @ 6:30 in Library

Thursday, January 31
Religion Fair - Parent Viewing 5:30-7:00 p.m.

Friday, February 1
NO SCHOOL MASS
Spirit Dress
Krewe of Crusaders Parade @ 1:15
Re-Registration of Current Students Ends

Re-Registration - Wednesday, January 23

In-house (those students already enrolled) registration for the 2013-2014 school year will begin on Wednesday, January 23.

Re-registration papers and details were sent home today, January 23.

Re-registration is open for in-house students until Friday, February 1. 

Some classes will be very, very tight next year. Spots for current students will only be guaranteed with return of the re-registration paper AND the full registration fee. Please be sure to include siblings who will also be attending St. Joseph next year so that they may be assured a spot.

Current students who register after January 23, will be charged a $100 late fee.

The re-registration form can also be accessed at FORM.

Tailgate Party Ticket Deadline- Friday, January 25

Come join us for our second annual

Mother/Son Tailgate Party!

Sunday, January 27

2:00-4:00 p.m.

St. Joseph Catholic School

$25 per Mother/Son Ticket

Food and Drinks to be Served

Tickets Can Be Purchased on EDLINE

Payment Needs to be Sent to the Office in a Marked Envelope

Jumping Inflatables Courtesy of J&J Inflatables

If you have questions, please contact Veronica Pierson at

985-386-7799 or 985-320-4543 or veronica.pierson@lpsb.org.

Fair T-Shirt Order Deadline - Friday, January 25

The shirt cost will be $13.00 for all sizes.

The order deadline - with NO exceptions - is January 25 .

All orders are final.

Students will be able to wear the Spring Fest t-shirts every Friday in March.

Order forms may be accessed at EDLINE.

Please use a single check made out to St. Joseph H&S.

Catholic Schools Week - January 28-February 1

St. Joseph will join the nation in celebrating Catholic Schools Week January 28-February 1.

The 2013 theme is "Catholic Schools: Raising the Standards".

Our activities are as follows:

Monday, January 28
Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited to attend. We will announce our Distinguished Graduate, Courtney Hotard Roth, SJS Class of 2000. We will also announce our Students of the Year.
Students may wear red shirts with spirit dress this day.

Tuesday, January 29
The faculty will be honored this day with a luncheon provided by the SJS Home & School Association.
Students wear regular uniforms this day.

Wednesday, January 30
This is our day to salute patriotism. Students in the upper grades will have a veteran speak at an assembly.
Students may wear red, white, or blue shirts with spirit dress this day.

Thursday, January 31
This is the day for our religion fair. Parents and others may view the projects from 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Students wear regular uniforms this day.

Friday, February 1
NO SCHOOL MASS 
Some of our sixth grade students will travel to Donaldsonville for the Diocesan Catholic Schools Week Mass where Dr. Toups will be honored as Distinguished Elementary School Principal of the Year.
King Cake will be served at lunch. If your child is allergic to anything in King Cake, please send a note to the teacher and an alternative snack with their lunch.
Our Mardi Gras parade rolls at 1:15 p.m.
Students may wear spirit dress.

Valentine Fundraiser - Due Monday, February 4

Love is in the air at St. Joseph School!

The 2013 St. Joseph Student council will begin their annual Valentine's Day fundraiser for charity on Thursday, January 17. This year, they are selling 8" silk roses for $1.00 each. The proceeds from the sale will go toward a Catholic charity in our area.

The roses will be distributed to students on Friday, February 8, during homeroom.

To Purchase a Rose:
1. Fill out the recipient information on the back of the card (remember to include the grade level of the recipient and his/her homeroom).
2. Send the card, along with the money, to the office.
3. The price is $1.00 per rose.
4. Deadline for purchase: February 4.

Purchase as many roses as you like. Additional cards may be found at VALENTINE and are also available by request in the office. Please have all money and cards sent to school on or before February 4.

Mardi Gras Holidays - February 11-15

Just so you can plan ahead ........

We will celebrate the Mardi Gras Holidays Monday through Friday, February 11-15. 

Classes will resume on Monday, February 18.

Open House - Monday, February 18

If you have friends, neighbors, or relatives who might be interested in sending their children to St. Joseph School, please provide us with their names and addresses so that we may send them an invitation to our Open House.

Prospective parents will be able to see classes in session, meet and talk with the teachers, ask questions, and get a "feel" for St. Joseph School at this Open House.

Our parents are our best advocates. Thank you for your tremendous support.

You may download the form at OPEN HOUSE, fill it out, and send it to the office. You may also email information to sjsoffice@sjscrusaders.org.

The Wild West Spring Fair Is Coming!

March 8-9-10, 2013!!

We sent home last week a packet to provide you with an early look at all the information needed to make plans for the Wild West Spring Fair!

The packet shows all scheduled events, items for purchase, contests, entertainment, etc. The required deadlines for each is also included. Deadlines are necessary in order to meet planning, scheduling, and production limitations. Thank you for your cooperation.

Contents of the packet include:
***** Fair Events and Stage Performance Schedule
***** Sponsorship Letter - due 1/23/13 to be included on t-shirt
***** Class Basket/Silent Auction Drop Off - due 2/25/13 to 3/1/13
***** Fair T-Shirt Order - due 1/25/13
***** Raffle Ticket Letter - due 3/1/13
***** Jambalaya Cook-Off - due 3/1/13
***** Pay-One-Price Ride Passes - due 3/1/13

All information is also available on our school website at FAIR..

100th Day of School

Second graders celebrated the 100th day of school today by dressing (and acting) like 100-year-old people. You can see all of their pictures by visiting http://sjscrusaders.org/photo-albums/302.html.

Sixth Grade Field Trip

Our sixth grade students had a great time visiting the New Orleans Museum of Art on January 17. See all of their pictures on the school website at http://sjscrusaders.org/photo-albums/301.html.

Parish News

Personnel
Fr. Cayet Mangiaracina, O.P. - Parochial Vicar and Administrator
Fr. David K. Seid, O.P, - In Residence
Larry J. Melancon - Deacon
Mike Agnello - Deacon
Dr. M.J. "Dutch" Schanzbach - 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

ST. JOSEPH ALTAR
We are looking for children to play the role of saints for the St. Joseph Altar. The St. JOseph Altar will be on March 17. The children will be asked to participate in the rosary procession, Mass, and feeding of the saints. The children will have to furnish their own costumes. There will be a short practice on Monday, March 11, at 6:00 p.m. in the gym. If you are interested in particiating, please call Fay Murray at 985-386-8151, or the church office at 985-386-3749, with your name and the saint you will be.