Late August Events

Food Drive
The Baton Rouge Food Bank is experiencing a critical shortage of food. We are hosting a food drive between now and September 1. We are asking each grade level to participate as follows:

Freshmen: Oatmeal (instant or regular)
Sophomores: Peanut butter
Juniors: Bag of rice (brown or white)
Seniors: Bag of dried beans

Parents, we would love your participation, as well. We ask that you send grits. And we are asking our alumnae to send canned foods. Thanks in advance to everyone for helping the less-fortunate in our community.

Liturgy Workshop
Sunday, August 28, 2-4 p.m., The Commons of Mother Alice Hall. Students should enter through the back doors of the building. The Liturgy Workshop is open to any student who wants to serve in one of the Liturgical ministries at school masses. Students should plan to attend if they would like to serve as lectors, altar servers, offertory servers, Eucharistic Ministers (seniors only), banner creators or as a member of the Liturgy Choir. For more information, please contact Sister Chaplain Sister Ily Fernandez ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; 388-2262).

Big Sis/Little Sis Program
On Wednesday, August 31, freshmen “little sisters” will meet their senior “big sisters” as part of SJA’s traditional Big Sis/Little Sis program. The program’s purpose is to welcome incoming freshmen to our school. Freshmen have been matched with seniors based on interests. Every effort was made to maintain the group of 9th graders the freshmen requested. Parents of seniors should contact Mrs. Aubrey Cucullu ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; 388-2269) or Mrs. Mary Beth Elfert ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; 388-2281). Parents of freshmen should contact Mrs. Lori Harper ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; 388-2326).

September Events

School Closed
Monday, September 5, in observance of Labor Day.

Early Dismissal
Wednesday, September 7, and Wednesday, September 21, for Faculty Professional Development. Students will be dismissed at 1:45 p.m. We will follow Assembly Schedule 3.

Letter Jacket Orders
Thursday, September 8, in the Dining Hall during all lunch periods. Students who received an academic, activity or athletic letter are eligible to purchase a jacket. Students can obtain an information packet in the Administrators’ Office. Parents are welcome to meet their daughter during her lunch period to place the order. The student must bring the actual letter with her on the day of purchase. Please direct questions to Assistant Principal of Activities Mrs. Stacia Andricain ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; 388-2217).

Service Mass
Monday, September 12, 9:45 a.m., Activity Center. Father Jack Nutter, SJA chaplain and pastor of St. Louis King of France, will be presiding. We will follow Assembly Schedule 4. Dress uniforms required. Parents are welcome to join us.

Sacrament of Reconciliation
Monday and Tuesday, September 19 and 20, Mother Alice Hall. Celebrated by Bishop Robert Muench and selected priests.

College Fair
The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) National College Fair will be held at the Baton Rouge River Center on Tuesday, September 27, 6-8 p.m. This event allows students to interact with admission representatives from a wide range of postsecondary institutions to discuss course offerings, admission and financial aid requirements, college life and other information about the college selection process. There will be workshops on TOPS and financial aid, ACT and SAT strategies, how to choose a college major, NCAA compliance and how to search for scholarships. To date, 77 colleges are registered with more expected. Students will be required to complete an online form and print a bar code that will be scanned by the college representatives to register student interest. Information will be supplied by grade-level counselors as date approaches.

Respect Life Mass
Friday, September 30, 9:45 a.m., Activity Center. Father Gary Belsome, pastor of St. Theresa of Avila Church in Gonzales, will be presiding. We will follow Assembly Schedule 4. Dress uniforms required. Parents are welcome to join us.

Upcoming Events

Flu Vaccinations
HealthVacs will be on campus on Thursday, October 6, to offer flu shots to students, faculty, staff, family members and friends. Times are 6:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.; location is the concession area of the Activity Center. The cost will be $20 for the injection and $25 for the nasal vaccine. For more information on the seasonal flu injection and the seasonal flu intranasal vaccine, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov/flu.

Click here for the screening questionnaire/consent form. Please send completed forms, along with a check payable to HealthVacs for either $20 per injectable vaccination or $25 per intranasal vaccination, to School Nurse Mrs. Jenny Hanks by Friday, September 23. Please make your checks payable to HealthVacs. Please direct questions to Mrs. Hanks at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 388-2208.

Grandparents Day
Grandparents of freshmen will receive an invitation to Grandparents Day, set for Monday, October 10. If contact information for your freshman daughter’s grandparents has changed since you provided this information on your registration form, please contact Mission Advancement Assistant Mrs. Beth Sheets ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; 388-2236) with updated information.

Campus Life

ACT Scores
ACT scores for 2011 were released last week. We are pleased to report that the average composite score for St. Joseph’s Academy was a 25 as compared to a state average of 20.2 and a national average of 21.1. Our students also scored significantly higher than the state and national averages in all categories. We are also pleased to report that our score is higher than the highest state average of 24.2 from Massachusetts. Our teachers continue to use standardized test data as a tool to analyze curriculum to ensure that our students are well-prepared for college.

Early Dismissal Dates
We will follow Assembly Schedule 3 on the following dates. Students are dismissed at 1:43 p.m. on September 7; September 21; October 5; October 19; October 20; November 2; November 16; December 7; December 12; January 11; January 25; February 8; February 29; April 4; April 25; May 9; and May 17.

On October 11 and 12, we will follow alternate schedules. Dismissal times are different for different grade levels. Please check the school calendar for details.

After-School Media Center Check-In
All students on campus not involved in club meetings, athletics or other events are expected to sign in with the Media Center by 3:15 p.m. and remain there until their rides arrive. On early schedule days, students must report to the Media Center by 2:15 p.m. After their activity ends, students waiting for their parents must come to the Media Center.

Tablet Insurance Claims
If something happens to your daughter’s tablet computer and you have insurance through Student Insurance Partners, the following claims process will be followed:

Accidental Damage Claim

• A claim form is completed.
• An invoice for the repair is created by the SJA Warranty Repair Center.
• If the computer is not repairable, the replacement cost for a new laptop is submitted as a written quote.
  
  

Theft Claim
Along with the completed claim form, the following items are required for all theft claims:

• Police Report
• Written proof the student/faculty member was issued the tablet
• Replacement cost for the new tablet (a written quote stating what the school will have to pay to replace the tablet)
  
  

For both accidental damage and theft claims, completed claim forms are required. The claim forms are found online at http://www.studentinsurancepartners.com/sip/report_claim_forms. The forms are to be downloaded and filled out completely.

For tablets that cannot be repaired or for those that have been stolen, the insurance company requires the replacement cost. The claims department will accept a quote or letter from the school stating the replacement cost that can be kept on file and used for all pertaining claims.

Claim forms and the quote for replacement/repair costs are to be submitted by fax, email or regular mail. The fax number is (405) 708-5240; email address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Both go directly to the claims assistant. She will contact the parents if any additional information is needed to process the claim.


Once all required forms and documentation are received, the claim is processed and a check is issued within two to four weeks, depending on the time of year.

Writing Center
A new resource for students, the “WC” is designed to support all students, regardless of ability or level of writing expertise, in all types of writing tasks. The WC is located in the mezzanine area of the library. Hours are 4th-6th periods on Mondays and Wednesdays and 4th-8th periods on Fridays. Click here for additional information.

School Medication Policy
Students may not carry medication on their persons at school. Any needed medication should be brought to the school nurse in a labeled container accompanied by a signed Medication Parent Physician Authorization form. No school official may supply any other medication to a student without parental permission.

School Nurse Mrs. Jenny Hanks is on campus from 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. When she is not on campus, students should report to the Students' Receptionist.

Click here for SJA’s Medication Policy. Click here for SJA’s Over-the-Counter Medication Policy. Please direct questions to Mrs. Hanks ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; 388-2208).

Mid-Quarter Grades
First-quarter mid-quarter grades/comments will be available on NetSJA at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 7. Please direct questions regarding your NetSJA account to Assistant Principal of Records Mrs. Kathy Meares ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; 388-2213). Questions about grades should be directed to your daughter’s teacher(s) or the Academic Counseling Center (388-2282).
• Second-quarter grades/comments will be available on November 9.
• Third quarter: February 1
• Fourth quarter: April 4 (grade 12); April 18 (grades 9, 10, 11)

Legal Information for Student Records
To ensure we meet requirements in cases of separation or divorce, we ask parents to provide legal documentation of applicable court actions. We are not asking for settlement details; rather, we are required by our school attorney to ensure that students’ records are complete so we know who has the right to student information. Please submit to Principal Mrs. Linda Fryoux Harvison. Questions or concerns should be sent to her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 388-2240. If you have previously submitted this information, it is not necessary to send again.

Donations Needed
As we anticipate the opening of the Academy Arts Center for the 2012-2013 academic year, we are in need of a baby grand or spinet piano. If you have a piano that you can donate to us, please contact Facilities Director Mr. David James ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; 388-2204).

If you have cardio equipment (treadmill, exercise bike, etc.) that you would be willing to donate, please contact P.E. Department Chair Mrs. Brenda LeBlanc ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; 388-2274).

Student Directory
A student directory is now available. Students receive a directory at no charge; additional directories are $5 and available from Students' Receptionist Mrs. Erin McLean ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; 388-2256).

Moodle
Parents can use Moodle to view their daughter’s courses and assignments. You can access Moodle using your daughter’s login and password. The link is located on the top right of the SJA website (www.sjabr.org). Use your daughter’s schedule to determine teachers’ and class names.

Cell Phone Policy Change
Cell phone use by students is allowed during their unstructured period or lunch and only outside of buildings. If your daughter is sick and needs to leave school, she must go to the Students' Receptionist’s office to call you. If a student is found using her cell phone during class or in a building, it will be taken from her. She will retrieve it, along with a check list, at the end of the day from Associate Principal of Students Mrs. Jacqueline Labat ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; 388-2215).

Illness, Doctor Visits, Tardies
If your daughter is sick and will not attend school, please contact Students’ Receptionist Mrs. Erin McLean ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; 388-2256) by 8 a.m. If a student becomes ill during the day and must leave campus, she must report to the Students’ Receptionist, who will call the student’s parent. Any student who checks out during the day must bring a note from her parent when she returns to school.

Most routine visits to the doctor should be scheduled outside of school hours. If a student knows in advance she must leave early for a doctor’s appointment, written parental permission must be presented to the Students’ Receptionist. When the student returns to school, she must also present a note signed by the physician to the Students’ Receptionist in order to receive an excused absence. If you set a doctor’s appointment for your daughter during the school day and will be arriving to check her out, please call Mrs. McLean before arriving so your daughter can be notified of your arrival time.

Students are expected to be on time for every class. A student who arrives on campus after the tardy bell must report to the Students’ Receptionist’s office for a tardy slip before entering class. If she comes in during the day, she must bring a note from her parent to the Students’ Receptionist and sign the check-in register. A checklist will be issued for excessive tardies.

Absence from School
The online Student Handbook includes important information about excused/unexcused absences and the procedures for checking in and out of school. Please remember that missing school to get a driver’s license is not an excused absence. Early dismissal days should be used for this purpose. Address questions to Students’ Receptionist Mrs. Erin McLean ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; 388-2256).

Phone Reach System
To communicate emergency and general information in a timely manner, we have a school reach information system. You will receive a recorded voice message, email or text message from the principal informing you of plans, procedures or important events. If your phone number(s) or email address has changed recently, please contact Administrative Assistant to the Principal Ms. Stephanie Heine ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; 388-2240).


After-School Media Center/Library Hours
Media Center/Library hours are 3:15-5:30 p.m. Charge for late pickups (after 5:30 p.m.) are $15 for the first 1-15 minutes and an additional $1 per minute after 5:45 p.m. Students waiting to be picked up must report to the Media Center/Library by 3:15 p.m. Quiet study/homework time is 3:15-4:30 p.m. After-school Media Center/Library rules can be found in the School Handbook for Parents and Students under the Parent and Student drop-downs. Please direct questions to Librarian Mrs. Rebecca Stagg ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; 388-2235).

Parent and Event Parking
Parents visiting campus at any time during the school day are asked to park on Broussard Street or the curb of the carpool line and not in any spot in the Activity Center or Kleinert parking lots, as these spots are assigned. For night events, extra parking is available in the Kleinert lot. Please do not park in the synagogue lot or on the grass lots across the street from the main building.

Carpool Reminder
Please be reminded to pull all the way up in the carpool line to enable more students to load and unload at one time.

Community Coffee UPC Bar Codes
We collect the UPC bar codes from Community Coffee products. Please send them with your daughter to Mrs. Rebecca Stagg in the library.

Life Awareness Vocation Discernment Weekend
The Dioceses of Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Lake Charles are sponsoring the second annual Life Awareness Vocation Discernment Weekend, September 16-18 at the St. Charles Retreat Center in Moss Bluff. It is especially intended for high school seniors and young adults but is open to all single Catholic men and women, ages 17-45. The program explores the rewards and the obligations that go with ordained ministry and consecrated life. It does not ask for any vocational commitment but is designed to help participants to discern their vocational choice whatever it might be.The deadline to register is August 31. You can also register online at www.diolaf.org/ lifeawareness. For more information, please call Sister Lucy Silvio, CSJ, at 387-0561.

St. Joseph Spirituality Center Program
Building the City of God: Perspectives on Life in Louisiana, presented by Fr. Fred Kammer, SJ. Saturday, September 17, 9 a.m.-noon, SJA Dining Hall. Fee: $35. For details, call 383-3349.

Rosary
Each Thursday at 7 a.m., Mary’s Plaza (outside Chapel at SJA). Parents are welcome to join us. (In case of inclement weather, the rosary is recited in the chapel.) Please park on Broussard Street.


Job Opportunities
Job opportunities are posted on the bulletin board in St. Joseph Hall outside the Academic Counseling Center offices. SJA does not solicit these job announcements and does not endorse the postings. Call the prospective employer for all necessary information.

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