St. Joseph
Catholic School

Psalm 51

R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned. 

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me. 

R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned. 

For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
“Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight.” 

R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned. 

I have done such evil in your sight
that you are just in your sentence,
blameless when you condemn.
True, I was born guilty,
a sinner, even as my mother conceived me. 

R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned. 

Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness;
the bones you have crushed shall rejoice.
Turn away your face from my sins,
and blot out all my guilt. 

R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

From the Principal

Dear Parents,

I have had several parents question me regarding the changes in the Archdiocese of New Orleans in terms of placement of the seventh and eighth graders. 

Since St. Joseph is in the Diocese of Baton Rouge, that decision will not affect our school or any Catholic school in Tangipahoa Parish. 

The only change that has occurred is that St. Joseph students will not be accepted into Archbishop Hannan in the eighth grade but will have to wait until the ninth grade for acceptance because the bishops of both dioceses made this agreement. 

-- Dr. Gerard Toups
    Principal

Calendar-at-a-Glance

Friday, January 31
Family Movie Night @ 7:00

Monday, February 3
January Crusaders of the Month Announced 
Re-registration for 2014-2015
Student Council Valentine Sale

Tuesday, February 4 
Religion Fair - Parent Viewing is 5:30-6:30
Home & School Meeting @ 7:00 in Cafeteria
Re-registration for 2014-2015 
Student Council Valentine Sale

Wednesday, February 5
Mass @ 8:30
Bring Bagged, Boxed, or Canned Good
Adopt-a-Child Collection 
Neighbor's Way Winner Announced
Midquarter 
Student Council Valentine Sale (last day)
Re-registration for 2014-2015

Thursday, February 6
Individual Picture Re-takes
8th Grade Cap & Gown Pictures 
Students of the Year Announced
Re-registration for 2014-2015

Friday, February 7
Spirit Dress
Sock Hop 
Fair T-Shirt Orders Due
Fair Sponsorship Letters Due
Re-registration Ends

2014-2015 Re-Registration

Re-registration for families already attending St. Joseph Catholic School who plan to return in the fall began on, Wednesday, January 22.

A form wassent home for everyone to indicated whether or not their child/children will be returning to St. Joseph in 2014-2015.

Forms will be due back to the school office by Friday, February 7.

There is also a place on the form for siblings who will be entering St. Joseph for the first time next year.

It is VERY important that this form be returned by the due date with the $200 per child registration fee in order to be considered registered for the next school year.

A tuition increase of $100 for next school year has been approved by the Advisory Council. All tuition and fees are listed on the SCHOOL WEBSITE.

Religion Fair - Tuesday, February 4

The Religion Fair has been rescheduled to Tuesday, February 4. 

Parent viewing for the Religion Fair will be that evening from 5:30-6:30, followed by a Home & School Association Meeting at 6:30 in the cafeteria.

Home & School Meeting - Tuesday, February 4

The next Home and School Meeting of the year will be held on Tuesday, December 3, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the gym.

As this is a business meeting for adults, we appreciate parents making arrangements for their children.

To learn more about the Home and School Association, please visit the school website at HOME & SCHOOL.

Valentine Fundraiser - through February 5

Due to the weather-related missed days of school, this sale has been extended through Wednesday, February 5.

The 2014 St. Joseph Catholic School Student Council began their annual Valentine's Day fund raiser for chaity on Tuesday, January 21.

This year, the Student Council is selling Valentine's Day themed pencils with the student's own specialized message on an accompanying heart.

The cost will be $1.00 for each heart/pencil. The proceeds from the sale will go toward a charity in our area.

The hearts/pencils will be distributed to the studens on Friday, February 14, during homeroom.

To purchase a Paper Heart and a Valentine's Day Themed Pencil:
1. Fill out completely the recipient information on the cards sent home on
Wednesday, January 15, or download the form VALENTINE.
2. Send the card along with $1.00 donation to the morning assembly.
3. Tables will be set up on January 21-February 5, for the students to write their
personalized messages on the hearts.
4. Deadline for the purchase is February 5.

Purchase as many hearts and pencils as you like. Additional cards are also available by request in the office.

Sock Hop - Friday, February 7

The next SJS sock hop of the year will be held on Friday, February 7!

The event is for SJS students in grades 5-8.

Cost is $10 which includes refreshments.

Optional pictures are available in $5 and $10 packets.

SJS students may bring one guest outside of the school. The guest must also be in grades 5-8 and must abide by all rules that cover the SJS students, including dress. 

The theme for the event is Winter Wonderland. Students should attend in Sunday best attire. No jeans or shorts, please.

This sock hop is sponsored by the St. Joseph Student Council.

Friday, February 7

Friday, February 7, is a big day for deadlines at SJS!

It is the last day for fair t-shirt orders. Please see EDLINE to order.

It is the last day for fair sponsorship letters. Please see the FAIR tab for information about sponsorship letters.

It is also the last day for re-registration for the 2014-2015 school year. Please return forms AND the registration fee(s) to the school office in order to secure a place for your student for next school year. Extra forms are available in the school office.

Benefit Dinner - Tuesday, February 25

The Crusader Dads are sponsoring a dinner for the benefit of St. Joseph Catholic School.

The dinner will be held on Tuesday, February 25, with a social from 5:30-6:30 and dinner served from 6:30-8:30.

The dinner is hosted by NOLA Cafe' located at 1625 Highway 51 in Ponchatoula.

Tickets are limited. Only 150 will be sold. Tickets are $100 per couple.

The dinner menu consists of the following:
Wood Grilled Filet Mignon
VooDoo Chicken
Shrimp & Crab Pasta
Twice Baked Potato
Penne Pasta
Sauteed Vegetables
Salad with Choice of Dressing
Bread Pudding
Soft Drink/Tea/House Wine.

A cash bar will be available.

Tickets may be purchased from any members of the Crusader Dads. Tickets are also available in the office. Please make checks payable to Dinners that Make a Difference.

100th Day of School

Second grade students celebrated the 100th day of school last week! They dressed as what they thought they would look like as 100-year-old people and played games and activities involving the number 100.

More pictures of our second grades can be found in at 100 DAYS in the Photo Albums.

Change in Terra Nova Dates

Our superintendent of Catholic schools, Dr. Melanie Verges, has contacted us with a change in Terra Nova testing dates.

The test dates are now scheduled for the week after our Easter holidays, April 28-May 2, and May 5-8.

Mother/Son Tailgate Party

The Mother/Son Tailgate Party committee would like to thank all who attended the Third Annual Mother/Son Tailgating Party. 

God blessed us with a beautiful day, and we had a great turnout! Every year gets better and better! 

The boys loved the basketball outside this year; thank you Kim Thibodeaux for that new game. The goal post for the picture was too cute; thank you Jerod and Brandie Breaux for that addition. 

We would also like to thank J & J inflatables for their jumpers, John Falcon for the music set up, Papa John's for the pizza steal of a deal, and PHS JROTC for the use of the tug of war rope, and our Office Angels who help with the registration process. Thank you to all who helped set up, clean up, and anything else done to make it a success! 

Everyone had a wonderful time! Thanks to all, and God bless!

Prospective Students

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.

Spring Fair

All information including ordering and deadlines about the Spring Fair 2014 can be found on this website under the FAIR tab.

Parish News

Personnel
Fr. Paul A. McDuffie, Pastor
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.

Weekday Mass Schedule
The week day Masses on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday will be at 8:30 a.m. Reconciliation (Confessions) will be available before all week day Masses at 8:00 a.m. in addition to Confessions on Saturday from 3:30-4:30 p.m.

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