St. Joseph
Catholic School

Psalm 69

R. Lord, in your great love, answer me. 

For your sake I bear insult,
and shame covers my face.
I have become an outcast to my brothers,
a stranger to my mother’s sons,
because zeal for your house consumes me,
and the insults of those who blaspheme you fall upon me. 

R. Lord, in your great love, answer me. 

Insult has broken my heart, and I am weak,
I looked for sympathy, but there was none;
for consolers, not one could I find.
Rather they put gall in my food,
and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. 

R. Lord, in your great love, answer me. 

I will praise the name of God in song,
and I will glorify him with thanksgiving:
“See, you lowly ones, and be glad;
you who seek God, may your hearts revive!
For the LORD hears the poor,
and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.” 

R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.

From the Principal

Dear Parents,

The Strawberry Fest crowds were down which led to out numbers being down only making $9,400 for the weekend. I would like to thank the following volunteers that helped make our parking a success: Melissa Maurer, David Owens, Crystal Smith, Jerod Breaux, Veronica Pierson, John Falcon, Lori Kyle, Eric Millet, Ben Perrin, Tommy Brothers, Andrea Kraft, Eric Thibodeaux, Joey Anderson, Scott Reeves, Brandon Perrin, Phil McCrory, David LaCroix, Angela Schwaibold, Glen Laraunt, Brant Alexander, Todd Acosta, and our chairman Jeff Schmitt

I am most pleased to announce that the proceeds from the fair will be in excess of $62,000.00. That breaks the record of $52,000.00 from years past. Thank each of you for supporting this wonderful event.

I hope all enjoyed the Peter Pan production as much as I did. One final thanks to Mrs. Notariano, Mrs. Curtis, the eighth graders, and all who helped for the fine performance.

The end of the school year is fast approaching. Please encourage your children to work hard these last weeks.

From the faculty and staff of St. Joseph School, have a Happy and Holy Easter. Below please find the schedule for services for Holy Week. 

-- Dr. Gerard Toups
    Principal

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE:

Holy Thursday - April 17
7:00 P.M      Mass of the Lord's Supper
Presentation of the Consecrated Oils
The Washing of the Feet
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Procession and Transfer of the Holy Eucharist
Adoration in Chapel until Midnight

Good Friday - April 18
Noon           Stations of the Cross
3:00 P.M.    Celebration of the Passion
Proclamation of the Passion
Formal General Intercessions
Veneration of the Cross
Communion Service

Easter Vigil - April 19
8:00 P.M.      Easter Vigil Mass
Service of Light
Procession with the Easter Candle
Easter Proclamation
Liturgy of the Word
Celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation
Liturgy of the Eurcharist

Easter Sunday - April 20
Masses Celebrating the Resurrection of Christ
8:00 A.M. & 11:00 A.M.

Calendar-at-a-Glance

Thursday, April 17
Holy Thursday
Living Stations of the Cross @ 8:30
Summer Reading Orders Due

Friday, April 17
Good Friday - NO SCHOOL

Sunday, April 20
Easter Sunday

Monday, April 21 - Friday, April 25
Easter Holidays - NO SCHOOL

Monday, April 28
Class Resume

Monday, April 28 - Friday, May 2
Terra Nova Testing (grades 2-7)
8th Grade Trip

Thursday, May 1
Tuition or Loan Papers Due to the School Office

Friday, May 2
Spirit Dress

Summer Reading Orders Due - April 17

St. Joseph School Summer Reading List for 2014 was sent home last week with students in grades Kindergarten through Fourth Grades.

Students are required to read all selections from their appropriate grade level for the 2014-2015 school year. Students will be responsible for these books through tests or projects at the beginning of the 2014 school year.

For your convenience, the library will be offering the required books for sale directly through school. The school receives a discount on these titles, and if you participate in this offer the savings get passed on to you. Most of our prices are lower than the same new paperback titles on Amazon.com.

We will try our best to distribute the books to the students before school dismisses for the summer. If we are unable to get the books to you before the end of the year, they will be available for pick up in the office, and we will notify you when they are here.

Please mark your selections on the form sent home, and return the form with a check for the total purchase payable to St. Joseph School. All pre-paid orders must be received no later than THURSDAY, APRIL 17.

Easter Holidays

St. Joseph Catholic School will be closed starting Good Friday, April 18, through the next week in order for our students and staff to celebrate Easter with their families.

School will re-open for classes on Monday, April 28.

Please be on time for school Monday, April 28. We begin our Terra Nova testing on that date.

Terra Nova Testing - April 28-May 1

Terra Nova Testing, our standardized test, will be conducted starting Monday, April 28, and continuing through the week.

Please make every effort to encourage your child to work hard during the test and do the best he or she can.

Also, make sure they are at school, well rested, and on time. Thank you for your cooperation.

Tuition/Loan Papers Due - May 1

Tuition and Loan Papers for the 2014-2015 school year are due in the school office on Thursday, May 1.

The loan application was sent home with students. It can also be downloaded at LOAN APP.

Altar Server Training - April 27

Registration and initial training session for those interested in becoming Altar Servers is scheduled for Sunday, April 27th.

Please gather in the chapel immediately following 11 a.m. Mass. Prospective Altar Servers must be baptized Catholic, have received First Communion and be in at least the fourth grade (born prior to Fall 2004). We will begin with a short talk by Father McDuffie then proceed to registration and training. Parents need to register their children and we highly encourage you to stay for the entire session. This initial session should last approximately an hour. We look forward to seeing you there! Glen and Michele Ernst

We will begin with a short talk by Father McDuffie then proceed to registration and training. Parents need to register their children and we highly encourage you to stay for the entire session. This initial session should last approximately an hour.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Glen and Michele Ernst

Cafeteria News

Friday, May 2, will be the last day personal checks are accepted by the cafeteria.

Parents will still be able to make on-line payments after that date.

Any student not returning to St. Joseph may request a refund by May 16.

All other funds will roll-over this year to next school year.

New Advisory Council Members

Congratulations to Stephanie Brothers and Jeff LeSaicherre. They have been re-elected to serve another term on the SJS Advisory Council.

Congratulations also to Ben Perrin on his election as new board member.

Many thanks to all who agreed to run for positions on the board. Your willingness to particiate is appreciated.

We'd also like to thank all those who voted for board members.

Nominations for Home & School

It's time to nominate officers for the St. Joseph School Home and School Association.

Those already running for these offices include:

Kimberly Thibodeaux - president

Jerod Breaux - vice president

Shelly Ernst - recording secretary

Abby Anderson - corresponding secretary

Kimberly Reeves - treasurer

Sean Benoit - historian

Kevin Raiford - parliamentarian.

If you'd like to nominate yourself for a position, please do so on EDLINE. Nominations will close at noon on Tuesday, April 29.

State Literary Rally Winner

Congratulations to Joseph Pellittieri! He won third place at State Literary Rally in Division V, English I. Joseph, an 8th grade student, competed against 9th graders taking the same subject. 

We are equally proud of Olivia Maurer who represented in SJS in Algebra I, and Brennan Currier, our first Physical Science I student to compete. 

Go SJS Crusaders!

Cafeteria Help Needed

Opening in Cafeteria – Full time Position

Those interested can apply by going to EMPLOYMENT or by calling the cafeteria manager, Rhonda Caronna at 985- 386-8075. 

Hours 6:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.

Eighth Grade Retreat

Some of our eighth grade students enjoy the peaceful surroundings of Rosaryville during their retreat last week. 

Other retreat pictures can be seen at RETREAT.

Fourth Grade Field Trip

Gabrielle Bordelon and Breelynn Daigrepont enjoy exploring science at the field trip taken by our fourth graders to the LA Arts & Science Museum last week. 

Other pictures from the trip can be view at FOURTH GRADE.  

Old School Moving

THE OLD SCHOOL WILL BE MOVING!!!!

We are currently remodeling a new and better location for the summer!
(Across from Channell Drugs on W. Thomas)
There will also be a drive-thru window for convenient monogram pick-up!

We are very excited to offer new gift items when we open!

To make room for the new merchandise
select items are 30% to 50% off!!!

The Old School 1500 W. Church Street 985-419-1900

Football Tryouts

Ponchatoula Junior High football tryouts for those students entering 7th or 8th grades in the fall will be held on May 7, from 4:00-5:30 at the Ponchatoula Junior High football stadium. 

You may wearshorts, t-shirt, and cleats.

Please see the office for a form that needs to be filled out and returned before May 2.

Our Parish

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  


HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE:

Holy Thursday - April 17
7:00 P.M      Mass of the Lord's Supper
Presentation of the Consecrated Oils
The Washing of the Feet
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Procession and Transfer of the Holy Eucharist
Adoration in Chapel until Midnight

Good Friday - April 18
Noon            Stations of the Cross
3:00 P.M.      Celebration of the Passion
Proclamation of the Passion
Formal General Intercessions
Veneration of the Cross
Communion Service

Easter Vigil - April 19
8:00 P.M.        Easter Vigil Mass
Service of Light
Procession with the Easter Candle
Easter Proclamation
Liturgy of the Word
Celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation
Liturgy of the Eurcharist

Easter Sunday - April 20
Masses Celebrating the Resurrection of Christ
8:00 A.M. & 11:00 A.M.