About Us

On December 15, 1959, St. Joan of Arc Parish, purchased eighteen acres of land from Gulf States Lands and Industries.  The land was formerly part of the Godchaux Plantation, and was to be the future site for the entire parish plant. 

On November 13, 1960, ground for the school was broken by Father Edward Boudreaux and blessed by Msgr. Jean Eyraud, pastor of St. Peter Church in Reserve.  St. Joan of Arc School was the first Catholic school in LaPlace and opened for classes on September 5, 1961, with 136 students and a staff of four. Sister Mary Edmund, O.P., was principal.

In the fall of 1963 a third building, the South Wing, was opened.  In 1985-86 the East Wing was opened and dedicated.  In 1985 the school began its first computer science and P.E. classes.  In 1986, preschool was opened. The Msgr. Bergeron Family Life Center was opened in 1995 with a gym and additional facilities.
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In 2000, the Alack Memorial Library was completed.  In 2001, the Viking Booster Club was created, and new permanent softball and baseball fields were installed.  In 2005, a football and soccer field was added.  The band program began in the late 1990’s and continues to flourish.

In 2006, St. Joan of Arc Catholic School became the first elementary school in St. John the Baptist Parish to be accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The school continues its accreditation through AdvancED with periodic reviews and site visits.

During the 2011-12 school year SJA celebrated the school’s 50th anniversary.

Sr. Mary Germaine, the last Dominican principal, served from 1972 to 1999.  In 1999, Larry Bourgeois, Jr. became the first lay person to serve as principal of the school.  In 2014, after 34 years of service to St. Joan of Arc Catholic School,  Mr. Larry Bourgeois, Jr. retired.  Mr. Jeffrey Montz, a 1973 Alumnus returned to SJA to serve as principal. The school continued to flourish under Mr. Montz's leadership until his retirement from administration. In the 2019-2020 school year, Mrs. Jenny Poulos begins her first year as principal of SJA.  Mrs. Poulos shares, "I am excited, honored, and humbled to accept the position as Principal and spiritual leader of St. Joan of Arc Catholic School. I look forward to joining and getting to know the faith community and working with Fr. Pat and the dedicated staff of SJA to foster the spiritual and educational development of each student."