Religion Department

The Living Rosary - October 8, 2007

Religion should be an integral facet of every Catholic school. The teaching of our Catholic Faith is the number one priority at St. Joseph. The school employs a religion coordinator, Mrs. Ellen Dyer, to coordinate the Religion Department. The administration, faculty, and staff of the school are practicing Catholics who are firm believers in Catholic education. All teachers participate in adult religion classes offered by the Diocese of Baton Rouge and most hold certifications from the program.

Every student at St. Joseph receives instruction in the Faith as part of their daily schedule. The school uses the Sadlier "We Believe" series in Grades Kindergarten through Sixth as their text. PreKindergarten uses the Sadlier "Discovering God" series. Students in the Seventh and Eighth Grades study from Sadlier's "We Live Our Faith" texts. 

Religion, however, involves more than classroom study. This is evidenced in the loving and caring relationships of our school community each and every day. 

The physical surroundings at St. Joseph also reflect our presence of Faith with statues, pictures, religious articles, and classroom prayer corners as constant reminders of our committment. 

Although a complete list of religious activities would be difficult to compile, the following covers many typical practices at St. Joseph School:

* Prayer - The student body assembles each morning for a short communal prayer led by an Eighth Grade student. The school day concludes with a student-led prayer over the loudspeaker to every classroom. During the day, upper grades begin each new class with a prayer while lower grades begin each new transition the same. Grace before and after meals is also recited.

* Weekly Mass - Friday the entire student body worships at Mass which begins at 8:30 in St. Joseph Church. Students in grades 4-8 participate in the various ministries on a rotating basis. Everyone is invited to attend.

* Reconciliation - Students who have made their First Reconcilation have regularly scheduled opportunities throughout the year to receive this special Sacrament. 

* Adopt-a-Child - For the past several years, students at St. Joseph School have "adopted" two children from Guatemala. Collections to benefit these children are taken at the first Mass of each month. 

* Student Retreats - Students take time at various points in the school year to have a reflective holy time with God. The retreats are scheduled for all grades, but length varies according to the age of the students.

* Sacramental Programs - Second grade students receive formal instruction for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Communion.

* Service Projects - Each year every class choses a Service Project to work on as a group. Students in the Eighth Grade must earn Service Hours as part of their religion grade.

* Crusaders of the Month - Two students, one from the upper grades and one from the lower, are chosen monthly to be honored as Crusaders of the Month. Student nominations are submitted to a committee who selects the honorees. Crusaders of the Month are students whose actions and words exemplify Christian values and principles.

* Living Rosary - During October, the month of the Holy Rosary, a Living Rosary is said by the entire student body with students representing each prayer and mystery.

* All Saints Day - As part of their religion class, Sixth Grade students research and report on a Saint. At the Mass on All Saints Day, the students dress as their Saint participate in costume.

* Thanksgiving Mass - Eighth Grade students and their Kindergarten buddies dress as Pilgrims and Indians and participate in the Mass in costume.

* Advent Wreaths - During the season of Advent, the traditional wreaths are blessed for each classroom where students and teachers have the opportunity to enjoy this seasonal prayer service. A school-wide Advent Wreath is incorporated into Morning Assembly.

* St. Nicholas Day - Each December 6 on the Feast of St. Nicholas lower grade students leave a shoe outside the classroom doors to discover that a little surprise has been left for them.

* Living Nativity - The Eighth Grade students perform a Living Nativity during the Christmas Program as a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.

* Knights of Columbus Respect for Life Poster Contest.

* Catholic Schools Week - Many fun activities are scheduled during the last week in January to celebrate our Catholic Schools.

* Religion Fair - Student-created religion projects are displayed and judged.

* Stations of the Cross - Students in Grades First through Eighth attend weekly Stations of the Cross during the Lenten Season.

* May Crowning - Each May, selected Eighth Grade girls with an honor guard of Second Grade girls in their white First Communion dresses crown Our Blessed Mother during a special Mass.

* Eighth Grade Promotion - Eighth Grade Promotion Ceremonies are always celebrated with a Mass especially for this class as they end their years as St. Joseph students.

Library Department

FIRST QUARTER HIGH POINT SCORES - BY CLASS
Leah Dahmer (5th Grade - 65.2)
Blair Atkins (Mrs. Casey's 3rd Grade - 3.8)
McKenzi McNemar (Mrs. Casey's 4th Grade - 11.6)
Evan Babineaux (Mrs. Casey's 2nd Grade - 1.5)
Heath Greaud (8th Grade - 73)
Rebekah Currie (Mrs. Brennan's 1st Grade - 4.7)
Emily Buddy ( 6th Grade - 138.9)
Cayden Giluso (Mrs. Casey's 2nd Grade - 1.5)
Spencer Wyld (7th Grade - 90.9)
Katelyn McKneely (Mrs. Naquin's 4th Grade - 39.3)
Emily Ransom (Mrs. Ryal's 3rd Grade - 67.8)
Kaitlynn Schulz (Mrs. James' 1st Grade - 4.0)
Kayla Adams (Mrs. Casey's 3rd Grade - 3.8)
Absent was Joseph Pellittieri (Mrs. Dufreche's 2nd Grade - 19)


ACCELERATED READER PROGRAM
Students in first grade through eighth grade participate in the Accelerated Reader Program, a computer based program which tests students' reading comprehension. Students earning the highest points in each reading class are announced each quarter and again at the end of the year. Students earning a minimum of 100 points are named to the Accelerated Reader 100 Points Club and are given a medallion as well as a certificate at the end awards ceremony in May. Other incentives such as spirit dress days and pizza lunches are used throughout the year.

Our librarian is Mrs. Jeri Carroll.

FIRST QUARTER ACCELERATED READER GOAL-MAKERS
FIRST GRADE A
Thomas Casey, Rebekah Currie, Catherine Dahmer, Daniel Damond, Allison Deffes, Maddy Henry, Chloe Partridge, Dane Schmitt, Samantha Wisecarver
FIRST GRADE B
Marley Bohning, Cody Flynn, Justin Hutches, Scott Jacobs, Scotty Oalmann, Victoria Perrin, Kaitlynn Schulz
SECOND GRADE
Abby Anderson, Rebekah Bass, Kade Bleakley, Traci Carollo, Claire Chevalier, Brennan Currier, Gabrielle Escude, Gabrielle Gremillion, Kayla Guilllory, Mollie Hebert, Evan Loney, Kennedy Martin, Avery Meyers, Joseph Pelittieri, Lane Pierson, Morgan Sibley, Alex Wisecarver
THIRD GRADE
Christina Ernst, Emily Kron, Claire-Chapin Perilloux, Emily Ransom, Ian Waller
FOURTH GRADE
Savanna Barrient, Julia Cervini, Collin Dillon, Leigh Fresina, Katelyn McKneely, Lauren McKneely, Aaron Weymouth
FIFTH GRADE
Jenniver Brescher, Blaze D'Amico, Leah Dahmer, Kirsten jackson, Erin Pereira, Garett Touchard, Ben West 
SIXTH GRADE
Hannah Alord, Eric Alphonso, Colleen Atkins, Zachary Barrient, Aaron Basso, Luke Bleakley, Katie Bougère, Emily Buddy, Olivia Currie, Clayton D'Antoni, Elizabeth Ford, Callie Fulmer, Jennie Gaines, Harmony Hermida, Andre Killebrew, Sarah Kron, Calyn Landaiche, Hunter Landaiche, Marc LeBlanc, Alexa LeSaicherre, Ronald Pembo, Logan Pierson, Adam Poche, Ricky Wehrs
SEVENTH GRADE
Megan Allen, Jeremy Casey, Adam Hebert, Christine Palmisano, Patrick Pereira, Taylor Ransom, Josie Serigne, Elena Wisecarver, Spencer Wyld, Luke Yoes
EIGHTH GRADE
Seth Bleakley, Carven Corbett, Tyler Corbin, Phillip Ernst, Trey Foster, Heath Greaud, Jake Lipps, Peggy West

Music Department

SJS MUSIC PROGRAM
St. Joseph School offers a strong music program to its students. All students, preKindergarten through eighth grade participate. Liturgical music is a regular part of the school week for each student.

Students in preK and kindergarten attend music classes once a week.

First and second grade students focus on bells. Third graders have a recorder class. Fourth grade will be introduced to band beginning with th e2007-2008 school year.

Students in grades five through eight have the option of participating in bi-weekly band classes during the school day. The band pefforms at St. Joseph School home sports games and during the school's Krewe of Crusaders Mardi Gras parade.

Students may also audition to join the choir, leading the congregation in weekly Mass.

Students as groups and as individuals showcase their talents at various times throughout the year as well as at the end of the year with a large-scale musical program.

Our music instructor, Mr. Malcolm Lanius, also offers private piano and band instrument lessons for an additional fee.

BAND NOTES
Starting 2007-2008 school year, fourth graders will take band instead of recorder. Instruments will be provided. Instruments will be provided by the school. Each student list their top three choices for an instrument from among the following: trumpet, flute, saxophone, clarinet, trombone, and baritone. Drums will not be available for fourth grade.

Science Department

Brandon Nguyen studies a specimen in the new microscopes in the Science Lab. Updated equipment was recently purchased to enhance studies in the science program.
Mrs. Elizabeth Mercer teaches science in grades sixth through eighth.