St. Joan of Arc Catholic School
PreK-3 thru 8th Grade 412 Fir Street LaPlace, LA 70068 (985) 652-6310 Fax: (985) 652-6390
Weekly School News
May 24, 2013
NEWSLETTER
To: All SJA Parents and Students
From: Larry J. Bourgeois, Jr., Principal
Long Range Strategic Plan:
The Long Range Strategic Plan for the Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New Orleans was released on May 6, 2013. Since then we have attempted to address many questions and concerns from parents, teachers and staff, and students. The facts are as follows:
I. The Long Range Strategic Plan covers many topics – Catholic Identity, Governance, Academics, etc. For the most part, St. Joan of Arc Catholic School is already in compliance with the recommendation. Only the topic of Grade-Level Structure has a potential for a major impact on us.
II. The plan recommends that elementary schools consist of PreK to grade 7 and that high schools begin at grade 8.
III. The River Parishes Catholic Schools will request that the Office of Catholic Schools grant an exception or waiver for our schools, as we have large healthy 8th grade programs. (SJA currently has fifty-one 8th graders.) Our school and our parents would be hurt by the loss of our eighth grade programs.
VI. There will be no changes next year during the 2013-2014 school year.
V. During the 2014-2015 school year the plan for the school’s future will be announced.
VI. In the 2015-2016 school year the plan will be implemented.
VII. There was no mention of financial plans. These plans are still under consultation and will be released following approval by the Archdiocese.
Schedule of the Summer of 2013:
Office Hours: Monday – Thursday – 8:00 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
Closed for Vacation: Friday, June 21 – July 7
Office re-opens: Monday, July 8
Closed for Vacation: Friday, July 19 – Sunday, July 28
Office Re-opens: Monday, July 29
Due to the remodeling of the Early Childhood Center our offices will be relocated to Boudreaux Hall for the summer. Enter Boudreaux Hall by the double doors near the volleyball courts. Dominican Hall will not be remodeled this summer.
Dates for Opening of 2013-2014 School Year:
Thursday, August 8 – New Student/New Parent Orientation for Grades 1-8 – 7:00 P.M.
Monday, August 12 – First Day of School for Grades 1-8
Monday, August 12 – Orientation for PreK & K Boys – 10:00 A.M.
Tuesday, August 13 – Orientation for PreK & K Girls – 10:00 A.M.
Wednesday, August 14 – First Day for PreK & K Boys Only
Thursday, August 15 – First Day for PreK & K Girls Only
Friday, August 16 – First Day for All PreK & K
Tuesday, August 20 – “Back To School Night” – Grades 1-4 – 7:00 P.M.
Thursday, August 22 – “Back To School Night” – Grades 5-8 – 7:00 P.M.
Biddy Basketball Thanks:
Thank you to all of the parents and teachers who served as coaches, scorekeepers, and officials for our Biddy Basketball program. Special thanks to our coordinator, Coach Amy Verbois, who organizes the program each year.
Relay for Life:
Under the leadership of the SJA Student Council and Beta Club the school community raised $2,759.08 for the 2013 Relay For Life. Thanks to everyone who made this possible.
First Communion Kudos:
Congratulations to all of those children who received First Holy Communion this month. May the blessings of the Risen, Living Christ be with you!
Congratulations Graduates:
Congratulations to all our graduates, especially our 8th graders, who graduated Wednesday night. May the Holy Spirit be with you as you move to the next phase of your life.
Pro-Life Project:
Congratulations to the 8th Grade Class for their adoption of the Women’s New Life Center for their pro-life service project. The class raised $760.65 this year, which was presented to the center to assist young mothers in saying yes to life.
Schedule for the Close of School:
Friday, May 24 – Exams – 12:00 P.M. Dismissal
Friday, May 24 – Last Day for PreK – Promotion at 9:00 A.M.
Monday, May 27 – Memorial Day – No School
Tuesday, May 28 – Exams – 12:00 P.M. Dismissal
Wednesday, May 29 – Exams – 12:00 P.M. Dismissal
Thursday, May 30 – Teacher Record Day – No School for Students
Friday, May 31 – Last Day of School – 8:15 A.M. – Mass – 10:00 A.M. Dismissal
Summer Reading:
Students entering grades 4-8 will be required to complete a summer reading assignment. Teachers will be sending home information along with the assignment the student must complete. The reading selections are as follows:
Students entering:
4th grade – students must read one Accelerated Reader book of their choice on a 4.0 lever or above.
5th grade – The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
6th grade – Holes
7th grade – honors – Across Five Aprils
7th grade – academic – A Wrinkle in Time
English I – Lord of the Flies and White Fang
8th grade academic – Across Five Aprils
IXL Math:
IXL is a comprehensive Common Core State Standards-aligned math practice program offering unlimited problems in thousands of skills. It covers pre-school through some high school courses and allows the student to choose which grade level to use. When a problem is wrong, the program shows the child how to get the correct answer. Students can access the program from school and from home. For the next school year your child’s teacher will be able to view their progress in the program. Log-in information has been sent home with all students who are registered for the 2013-2014 school year.
School Information Systems:
Due to the technical problems with Edline and Grade Quick we will move to new school information systems over the summer. When Edline and Grade Quick go down this summer they will not return. After school begins you will receive new access codes for the new systems. The new systems are Rediker’s Parent Plus. They are more user friendly. Please continue to check the school website for current information.
Class Postings:
Class list postings for 2013-2014 will be done at 5:00 P.M. on Thursday, August 8, 2013. Only children whose accounts are paid in full for the months of June and July will be assigned to a class. Please avoid inconvenience by keeping your account current.
End of the Year Thanks:
As this is the final newsletter of the school year, I wish to take this opportunity to thank everyone (parents, grandparents, teachers, staff, friends, donors and sponsors) for their hard work and generosity on behalf of our children. Hurricane Isaac’s tidal surge flooded 7,000 homes in LaPlace and Reserve last August. This situation gave us a unique challenge, but our community rose to the occasion and helped us to provide as normal a school year as possible for the children. All of the hard work, the generosity, the cooperation, the kindness and the creativity showed how the Lord can work through us when we allow Him to do so. I was amazed at what truly was one of our finest hours. Thank you for everything. Let us now pray that we will be spared from another tropical storm this summer. I will continue to pray for those of you who are still recovering from the storm.
Have a Blessed Summer!
