St. Joseph
Catholic School

Psalm 51

R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. 

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. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. 

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. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. 

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. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

From the Principal

Dear Parents,

The new basketball floor in the gymnasium is beautiful and very functional. Thanks to all who purchased tickets for the Football Raffle and the dinner at NOLA and to anyone else who in some way contributed to making this sorely needed project a reality. A special thanks to Jerod Breaux and Artie Thompson and the rest of the Crusaders Dads' Club.

The School Fair is around the corner and many preparations are in progress. Please support the Fair to the fullest. This is the school’s largest fund raiser. All information on the Fair is on the school website under the FAIR tab. The success of the Fair is dependent on the volunteers who work it. Please do your part. 

-- Dr. Gerard Toups
    Principal

Calendar-at-a-Glance

Thursday, March 13
Exams (grades 6-7-8) English & Science
Field Trip (fifth grade)
Fair Basket Drop-Off this Week

Friday, March 14
Spirit Dress (or fair -shirt)
Exams (grades 6-7-8) Math
Stations of the Cross @ 1:45
Math-a-Thon Money Due
Accelerated Reader Deadline (third quarter)
Fair Raffle Tickets Due (to qualify for prizes)
Fair Ride Pass Orders/Money Due
Fair Jambalaya Entries Due
Fair Basket Drop-Off this Week

Sunday, March 16
Second Sunday of Lent

Monday, March 17
Exams (grades 6-7-8) Reading & Social Studies
Last Day of Third Quarter 

Tuesday, March 18
LEAP Phase I

Wednesday, March 19
Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited to attend.
Bring bagged, boxed, or canned food item for our area needy.

Thursday, March 20
March Birthdays

Friday, March 21
Fair Holiday
Spring Fair Begins

Saturday, March 22
Spring Fair Continues

Sunday, March 23
Third Sunday of Lent
Spring Fair Ends

Wednesday, March 26
Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited to attend.
Bring bagged, boxed, or canned food item for our area needy.
Crusaders Announced
No Buses
Report Cards

Thursday, March 27
Spring Pictures

Friday, March 28
Spirit Dress (Spring Fair t-shirts okay)
Stations of the Cross @ 1:45

Sunday, March 30
Fourth Sunday of Lent

Exam Schedule - March 13, 14, & 17

The end of the third quarter is quickly approaching.

The exam schedule for students in grades 6, 7, and 8 is as follows:

Thursday, March 13 - English and Science

Friday, March 14 - Math

Monday, March 17 - Reading and Social Studies.

Accelerated Reader Deadline - March 14

The last day to take Accelerated Reader tests for the third quarter is Friday, March 14.

The library will be open until 2:50 to accommodate tests. Tests may also be taken in the classrooms.

Math-a-Thon Money Due - March 14

Math-a-Thon money is due to the office by Friday, March 14. Thanks to all for participating in this event

Stations of the Cross - March 14

SJS students in grades 1-8 will participate in the Stations of the Cross on Fridays in Lent.

The Stations will be in the church beginning at 1:45. 

Our first Stations of the Cross will be on Friday, March 14. All are invited to attend us with.

For those who can't join us in person, Stations of the Cross are also featured at STATIONS.

Fair Raffle Tickets, Ride Bands - due March 14

In order to be eligible for prizes, raffle tickets must be turned in to the school office by Friday, March 14. This due date is only for prizes. Raffle tickets may continue to be turned in.

Orders and payment for all-weekend ride bands are due by Friday, March 14. Orders may be placed on EDLINE. Please place orders and turn in payment in a well-marked envelope to the office.

March Birthdays - March 20

All students at St. Joseph who have a birthday in March may come out of uniform on Thursday, March 20.

This is the only day students with March birthdays may come out of uniform. There is no make-up day.

Out of uniform guidelines can be found on the WEBSITE.

Fair Holiday - March 21

St. Joseph School will not have school on Friday, March 21.

We will take that day as our fair holiday.

Classes will resume on Monday, March 24.

Spring Fair - March 21, 22. 23

We are ready to start collecting donations of good, clean stuffed animals as fair prizes. They can be sent to the office.

We continue to collect cleaned egg shells for the confetti egg booth for the Spring Fair. Please check the FAIR tab for directions on how to clean the eggs. Those who contribute may qualify for the popsicle party!

All of the Spring Fair news can be found under the FAIR tab on this website.

Fair Sweets Booth

It’s fair time again and the Wild West Spring Fest Sweets Booth is back. We need your favorite desserts, whether it’s cookies, brownies, cupcakes, candy, rice crispy treats, or any treat that might be your special creation. All donations are welcome.

You can drop off your donations at the sweets booth Friday, March 21st through the 23rd during fair operating hours.

Thank you for your support year after year. It’s because of you that this booth is so successful.

Rice Bowls

St. Joseph School is participating in CRS Rice Bowl again this year. Your child will receive a cardboard Rice Bowl to collect Lenten alms. Also, included with the Rice Bowl is a Lenten calendar to provide inspiration for your Lenten journey. 

More information can be found at: RICE BOWLS. Please use the Rice Bowls and return them on Monday, April 14th.

Cheerleader Tryouts

Anyone student in grades 4th-7th grade wishing to tryout for the 2014-2015 Cheerleading Squad must have a parent attend a MANDATORY meeting that will be held Thursday March 27th at 5:30 in Mrs Bankston's room. 

At the meeting all information for the year will be given out as well prices and contracts. 

Any student wishing to try out must stay after school Tuesday April 1st to 5:00 for the try-out clinic to learn a cheer and dance routine. 

The actual try-out date will be after school Friday April 4th.

Sports Physicals

Mark your calendars!

Tangipahoa Free Physical Day will be on April 5, 2014. 

Only 7th and 8th graders of elementary schools are invited to this day. 

Forms will be distributed at a later date to present 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.

Track News

On Saturday, March 1, the Crusader track team competed in the Trafton Opener at SLU. We are so proud of all the teams and athletes; most of our teams finished in third place in their age divisions. 

We would specifically like to recognize the Boys Sub-Elementary team who received the runner-up trophy. 

Members of the team include (seated from left) Tyler Christian, Brennan Bishop, Easton Romano, Ethan Senko, and (standing from left) Jacob Laurent, Michael Marshall, and Ethan Laurent. Not pictured is Gabe Millet. 

Great job, Crusaders!

Celebrate Crusader Style!

First grader Daniel Wittie recently celebrated his birthday in true Crusader style with a special cake from The Cocoa Bean Bakery & Cafe. 

Check out this Crusader cake!

Rest in Peace, Sister Roselle

Sister Mary Roselle Orso, O.P., the first Principal of Saint Thomas Aquinas Regional Catholic High School, passed away peacefully from the care of her Dominican Sisters to the loving arms of our Lord on Feb. 7, 2014. She served STA as Principal from 1986-1992.

“Sister Roselle, St. Thomas' first Principal, worked tirelessly with parents, students, and community leaders to bring out the best in each of us and to ensure the support of the community,” said current Principal Jose Becerra. “She left a thriving high school with a firmly established reputation for Christian service and academic excellence.” 

The STA community will offer a Memorial Mass in her honor on Wednesday, March 19th at 7:00 p.m. in the STA Commons. STA Chaplain Father Randy Cuevas will be the Celebrant. All are welcome, especially those who knew Sister Mary Roselle, to gather with our Falcon family to remember a beautiful lady who was so important to continuing the tradition of Catholic educational excellence in Tangipahoa Parish. A brief reception will follow the Mass. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sister Mary Roselle OP Scholarship fund at STA, 14520 Voss Drive, Hammond, LA 70401 or to the Dominican Sisters Retirement Fund, 1237 W. Monroe, Springfield, IL 62704.

Lenten Penance Services

“The Light is ON For You” Lenten Confessions 

The priests of the Northeast Deanery of the Diocese of Baton Rouge are once again making the special sacrifice of their Wednesday evenings during the season of Lent to be available for confessions in our local area. On every Wednesday evening of Lent beginning March 12th, through Wednesday, April 9th, confessors will be available at Holy Ghost Church in Hammond from 6:00 PM until the last penitent’s confession is heard. 

In addition, confessors will also be available at 6 PM at the following locations until the last penitent’s confession is heard:
Wednesday, March 12th at St. Helena Church in Amite
Wednesday, March 19th at Mater Dolorosa Church in Independence
Wednesday, March 26th at St. Joseph Church in French Settlement
Wednesday, April 2nd at St. Joseph Church in Ponchatoula
Wednesday, April 9th at St. Margaret Church in Albany

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