St. Joseph
Catholic School

Psalm 119

R. O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.

Those who love your law have great peace,
and for them there is no stumbling block.

R. O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.

I keep your precepts and your decrees,
for all my ways are before you.

R. O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.

My lips pour forth your praise,
because you teach me your statutes.

R. O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.

May my tongue sing of your promise,
for all your commands are just.

R. O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.

I long for your salvation, O LORD,
and your law is my delight.

R. O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.

Let my soul live to praise you,

and may your ordinances help me.

R. O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.

From the Principal

Dear Parents,

The Promotion Ceremony last Tuesday night for the Eighth Graders was
beautiful. Thanks to Father Cayet for his wonderful message. 

Additional awards were given that evening. Congratulations to the St. Joseph Award winners Dawson Pinion and Emily Ransom! They were the recipients of St. Joseph’s most prestigious award. Emily Ransom was honored for the highest GPA and Christina Ernst had the second highest in the class. Seven of the class members received a high school credit for Algebra I, and nine received a credit for English I. 

The eighth grade class this year was a most cooperative and congenial group of students. Parents and grandparents should be most proud of them. Teachers indicate they were a pleasure to teach. All who had the pleasure to work with them know they will do St. Joseph proud as they enter their high school years.

Congratulations to the three 2013 Summa Cum Laude graduates of PHS who are alumni of St. Joseph School. Scott Felder, Taylor Ransom and Luke Yoes continue to epitomize the excellence of the education students receive at St. Joseph. Congratulations to Kaitlyn Farkas who was named salutatorian of the graduating class at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. We are most proud of the class of 2013.

The St. Joseph faculty and staff look forward to next school year when we will welcome well over 440 students. Enrollment for the 2012-2013 school year is 426. We thank all parents for their support over the years. We are especially indebted to those who served on the School Advisory Committee, the Home and School Association including the room mothers, the School Fair chairpersons and those who chaired and worked the Strawberry Fest Parking.

I pray that each of you have a pleasant and safe summer. Please be attentive to the children and return them to us safely. It is a fact that summer vacation is the most dangerous time for school age children. 

-- Dr. Gerard Toups
    Principal

Calendar for the Week

Thursday, May 23 
Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited to attend. 
Awards Ceremony @ 9:30 in Gym 
Fourth Quarter Ends 
Last Day for Students
11:30 Dismissal

Friday, May 24
First Day of Summer Vacation

Yearbooks

You still have time to order those yearbooks for the closing year 2012-2013.

Yearbooks are much like last year's with over 100 full-color pages with lots and lots of pictures. 

The cost of the yearbook is $40. The order form is on EDLINE. The money should be sent to the office in a marked envelope. Yearbooks will be delivered shortly after school starts in August.

Cafeteria News

The cafeteria wants to remind parents of the following important deadlines:

Last day to accept checks in the cafeteria: May 3

Payments to cafeteria must be cash or money order after this date.

Deadline for refund request forms to the cafeteria: May 17 

Last day for online payments: May 31 

Please contact Mrs. Gwen Klein, cafeteria manager, with questions: 985-386-8075.

Last Day of School/Summer News

lThe last day of school is Thursday, May 24.

Events for the last day are as follows;
** Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited to attend.
** Awards Ceremony @ 9:30 in Gym 
** Fourth Quarter Ends 
** Last Day for Students
** 11:30 Dismissal.

Back-to-School information such as summer office hours, 2013-2014 faculty, supply lists, summer reading, uniforms, and next year's calendar can be found on this website under the BACK TO SCHOOL TAB. Not all is quite complete as yet, but new information will be added as soon as it becomes available.

Summer Reading

In order to simplify our program for Summer Reading, a few changes have been made.

Students going into grades 2-8 will no longer be given specific titles to read. Instead, a point requirement will be made. This will allow students to read more of the books that interest them. 

These students will be graded by the amount of AR points that they obtain out of the amount that is required. As an added bonus, any points obtained that exceed the Summer Reading requirement will be added to the first quarter!

Students (grades 2-8) may read whatever book they choose as long as:
* it meets grade level requirements, and 
* the student has never taken a test on the book before.

Students in grade 1 will be given specific titles to read because they are not familiar with the AR program yet.

Reading requirements and summer testing dates can be found on this website under the LIBRARY TAB.

Used Uniform Swap

The Home & School Association will conduct a used uniform swap during Vacation Bible School in June.

If you would like to donated gently used, clean uniforms to the sale, please bring them to the school office during summer office hours, 8:00-noon. Please note that the office will be closed for Memorial Day. 

Details about the exact time and date will be announced as soon as they are available.

Community News

ST. JOSEPH VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 
June 10-14 
Registration is open May 13-June 7 at http://stjosephsonline.com/vacation-bible-school.html.


CAMP KATERI 
Register your child @ www.rosaryvillela.com for Camp Kateri! 
$450 Overnight or $295 day camp. 

Join Camp Kateri this summer for swimming, fishing, canoeing, arts and crafts, talent shows, campfires, singing, and much, much more! 

Camp Sessions are June 23-28 and July 14-19. 

Camp is open to ages 7-13. 

More information is available by contacting 225-294-5039.



OAK KNOLL COUNTRY CLUB 
Summer Memberships - 

Looking for a healthy and fun alternative for your family this summer? Oak Knoll Country Club is offering a special summer family membership jut for you! Available from Memorial Day through Labor Day (May 25 - September 2). 

Enjoy unlimited swimming, tennis, and golf for the entire fmaily for only $300 (cart fee additional). 

Pool memberships also available for only $150 per family. 

Discounted rates for pool parties are also available to summer members. 

Tennis and golf camps as well as golf lessons are also offered. 

Contact Michele at mfirmin@oakknollcountryclub.com  or call the office at 985-345-2387 extension 1 for further details. 



HOOPSTER BASKETBALL CAMP 
June 17-20 @ 9:00-noon 

for girls ages 5-10 and boys ages 5-10 

St. Joseph Gym 

Cost before June 3 is $65. Cost after June 3 is $75. 

Each camper will receive a camp t-shirt and basketball. 

For additional information, please contact Kristi Gill @ 985-507-4778. 

Registration forms are available in the school office.



STA COACH ERROL GAUFF'S BASKETBALL CAMP
Tuesday-Friday, May 28-31          8:30-noon

boys & girls ages 6-10                  $90

For more information contact Coach Gauff at 985-542-7662 or egauff@stafalcons.org..




SUMMER ENRICHMENT READING PROGRAM ONLINE PROGRAMS 
for grades K-4th 

Phonics, long-word decoding, fluency, comprehension, love of reading 

Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. and Saturday 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 

For more information or to register, please call 1-800-964-9974.




DAY CAMP TANGI 2013 
A special summer pgoram has beend esigned to continue Girl Scouting throughout the year. Girls Scout Day Camp means adventure, exploration, and fond memories for the girls and volunteers alike. Camp offers girls an opportunity to develop their full individual potential through value-based programs which will include arts and crats, games, songs, camping skills, and water fun. Junior and above will have the option of overnight camping on Wednesday. Your daughter will not want to miss this great opportunity. 

July 8-12 @ 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 

Girl Scout Camp Whispering Pines, Independence 

for all girls entering K through 12th grade. Girls are welcome to register with a friend. Girls who are not a registered Girl Scout must register as a Girl Scout at the time of Day Camp Registration. 

Cost is $50 per registered Girl Scouts or $62 per NON-Girls Scouts (includes $12 registration fee). 

For more information, please contact Katherine Mott @ 985-386-2478 or Rachel Cowell @ 985-507-7819. 

Registration forms are in the office. 




SOUTHEASTERN CAMP DISCOVERY 
Enrichment for academically gifted/advanced students. 

for students in grades 1-6 (2012-2013 school year) 

Students must be enrolled in a gifted program or be recommended by a teacher. 

Monday-Thursday, 8:30-12:30 June 10-27 

Southeastern Louisiana University Laboratory School 

$175 per child or $160 per child if registereing multiple children from the same household. 

Capacity is 15 students per grade level for 60 students total - first come, first serve policy. 

For additional information or applications, please contact Dr. Susan Zimlich @ susan.zimlich@selu.edu or 985-549-5083.




PHS LADY WAVE VOLLEYBALL CAMP 
July 16-19 @ Ponchatoula Recreation Park Gym 

Ages 8-14                7:30-11:00 

Cost is $60. This includes a camp t-shirt. 

Registration forms are in the SJS office. 

More information can be obtained from Lauren Long at 985-634-3938.




FUTURE LEADERS YOUTH PROGRAM
This summer, WBLBCYC will be launching its first summer youth program entitled "Future Leaders Youth Program". Future Leaders Youth Program will provide a variety of educational, physical fitness, and recreational activities for boys and girls from the ages of 5-14 years old. Our teachers are local and certified, and they will be assisted by college students who are seeking degrees in Education. Our porgram will include classes in reading, math, computer lab, arts & cracts, and physical education. 

Location: Michael J. Kenney Center 
601 West Coleman Avenue
Hammond, LA 70403

May 28-July 26          8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Contact:
April Simmons @ 985-634-1625
Darryl Smith @ 985-277-5902
wblbcommunityyouthcenter@yahoo.com 

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   


VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
June 10-14
Registration is open May 13-June 7 at http://stjosephsonline.com/vacation-bible-school.html .