St. Joseph
Catholic School

Psalm 40

R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will. 

Sacrifice or oblation you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, “Behold I come.” 

R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will. 

“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
To do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!” 

R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will. 

I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know. 

R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will. 

Your justice I kept not hid within my heart;
your faithfulness and your salvation I have spoken of;
I have made no secret of your kindness and your truth
in the vast assembly. 

R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

Calendar-at-a-Glance

Thursday, March 26
Spring Pictures
Mandatory Cheer Parent Meeting

Friday, March 27
Spirit Dress
Stations of the Cross
Drama Production - The Wizard of Oz

Saturday, March 28
Drama Production - The Wizard of Oz

Monday, March 30
Field Trip (3rd grade)

Tuesday, March 31
8th Grade Retreat

Wednesday, April 1
Mass
Food Drive
Adopt-a-Child Collection
Fair Sponsorship Letters Due
Vendor/Craft Fair Applications Deadline

Friday, April 3 - Friday, April 10
Easter Holidays

Saturday, April 11 & Sunday, April 12
Strawberry Festival Parking

Monday, April 13 - Friday, April 17
Silent Auction Item Drop Off in Carpool Line
Eighth Grade Trip

Wednesday, April 15
Mass
Food Drive

Friday, April 17
Spirit Dress

Rice Bowls

“Lent is a fitting time for self-denial; we would do well to ask ourselves what we can give up in order to help and enrich others by our own poverty.” – Pope Francis

Dear Families,

This Lent our school is participating in CRS Rice Bowl, a faith-in-action program that helps families experience Lenten spirituality by living in solidarity with people in need around the world. Here are three simple ways to bring Lent to life in your home.
• Place your CRS Rice Bowl in a prominent place in your home and use it to collect your Lenten sacrifices.
• Read the Lenten calendar reflections each day as a family.
• Visit RICE BOWLS to find videos and family activities, or take Lent outside of the bowl and download the CRS Rice Bowl app on your mobile device.

Rice Bowls were sent home with students on Wednesday, February 25.

We will be collecting Rice Bowls at the end of Lent, so stay tuned to learn more. Thank you for using CRS Rice Bowl with your family this Lent.

Spring Pictures - March 26

Spring pictures will be taken on Thursday, March 26.

Students may come out of uniform on that date.

This is a pre-paid program. Packets were sent home last week, Wednesday, March 18. More are available in the office.

This is a dress-up day. Dress code will follow the BIRTHDAY DRESS CODE found on the school website.

Cheerleader Mandatory Parent Meeting - March 26

There will be a mandatory meeting for parents/guardians of girls trying out for cheerleader on Thursday, March 26, beginning at 5:30 in Mrs. Bankston's classroom.

A parent or guardian or an adult family member must attend this meeting in order for a child to try out.

Tryouts are open for students currently in grades 4-7.

Important dates:
Tuesday, April 14 - tryout clinic (3:00-5:00 P.M.)
Friday, April 17 - cheer tryouts (3:00-5:30 P.M.)

Tuesday, April 21 - fittings for cheerleaders who made the team (5:30 P.M.0
June 10-12 - mandatory cheer camp for all girls who make the team.

Stations of the Cross - March 26

St. Joseph students and faculty in grades 1-8 will follow the Stations of the Cross every Friday during Lent. Our next Stations will be on Friday, March 26. The devotional will begin at 1:45 in the church. All are invited to join us.

If 1:45 is not convenient, St. Joseph Parish has Stations of the Cross again at 7:00 P.M. each Friday of Lent.

To learn more about this devotional, please visit STATIONS of the CROSS.

The Wizard of Oz - March 27 & 28

The thespians of St. Joseph Catholic School will present "The Wizard of Oz" on March 27 and 28 beginning at 7:00 P.M. each evening.

The production will take place in the gym.

We hope to see everyone there.

Easter Holidays - April 3-10

St. Joseph Catholic School will be closed on Good Friday, April 3, through Friday, April 10, in order to allow students to celebrate Easter with their families.

Classes will resume on Monday, April 13.

Strawberry Festival Parking

We're looking for volunteers for Strawberry Festival Parking.

This is a great opportunity to help with an easy fundraiser, enjoy the fellowship of other parents, and get a suntan!

Volunteers are needed for the following days/.times:
Saturday, April 11
10:00-1:30
1:00-5:00

Sunday, April 12
11:30-2:30
2:15-5:30.

Sign up is on EDLINE.

For more information and for questions, please contact
Jeff Schmitt at j2ads@yahoo.com or 985-320-7711.

Fair Sweets Booth

In hopes to increase revenue, it was decided to make a few changes to the Sweets Booth at the Fair this year. 

SWEETS BOOTH INFORMATION

Please contact Patrice Morse at 985-507-2189 or Karin Kugler at 985-320-4520 with questions or for more details.

Fair Prize Booth

It's spring cleaning time!

If gently used stuffed animals are found during spring cleaning, please consider donating them to the Fair prize booth.

Stuffed animals may be sent to the office where they will be sent to their new home at the prize booth.

Altar Server Training - April 18

On Saturday, April 18, at 11:00 A.M., there will be registration and initial training for new altar servers. 

Those interested in becoming altar servers must currently be enrolled in the 4th through the 12th grades (born prior to September 30, 2005) and practicing their Catholic faith (baptized and first communion).

Reigstration will take place in the narthex of the church. At least one parent must accompany the child to fill out the registraton forms and to receive information necessary for parents throughout this initial training.

For more information, please contact Glen or Michele Ernst.

District Literary Rally

Congratulations to eighth grade student Brett Monistere on his 2nd place finish among Division 5 schools at the District Literary Rally on Saturday!

Brett will be going on to compete in the same subject at the sate level.

Congratulations also to Leigh Henderson. She and Brett were both named as district qualifiers in Biology I.

This is the first year SJS has offered Biology I as a high school credit. Mrs. Caterina Braun, Biology I teacher, is proud of her students. 

Congratulations also to our district rally competitors: Thomas Casey (4th place) and Vaughn Bell in English I, Justin Hutches and Chase Mack in Algebra I, and Scott Jacobs in spelling.

We are proud of all our Crusaders!

March Crusaders of the Month

Congratulations to our March Crusaders of the Month.

Our Mini Crusader is third grader Julianna Steib. Our Crusader is Kelly King, eighth grade.

Crusaders of the Month are students who exemplify by their words and deeds what it means to be true Crusaders. They display a love of God and a devotion to His work. They show obvious concern for peers, family, and friends and participate in school life with zeal and enthusiasm. They stand up for causes or situation when they know it is right. They are leaders, not followers. The Crusaders show honesty and integrity, respect for authority, and a willingness to give service to others.

Community News

PONCHATOULA'S GOT TALENT
The Ponchatoula Junior High School PTSA is excited to announced the third annual Ponchatoula's got Talent Show coming up on Saturday, May 9.

Audition dates are March 21 or March 28 at PJHS.
Contestants must be a student enrolled in a Ponchatoula school.

SJS has sign-up packets in the school office.

Please see the FLYER for this event.

For questions, please contact PonchatoulasGotTalent@gmail.com.


EASTER BREAK CHEER CAMP 2015
April 6-10
Spriit Professionals Gym in Hammond
Camp t-shirt, inflatables, art & crafts, snacks, movies, games, and cheers/dances/jumps.
Full day or half day.
Ages 5-12.
Registration forms with full details are in the SJS office or at CHEER1 and CHEER 2.

SPOGA ADVENTURE CAMP
June 15-18
8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Ages 9-13
For more information, please contact Hailey at 985-345-2453 or info@spogafitnesscenter.com.
SPOGA FLYER

Our Parish

Personnel
Fr. Paul A. McDuffie, Pastor
Larry J. Melancon - Deacon
Mike Agnello - Deacon

Weekend Mass Schedule
Saturday Vigil Mass - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday Mass - 8:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m

Weekday Mass Schedule
The week day Masses on Monday through Thursday 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 beginning at 4:00.

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