The philosophy of St. Joseph's Academy states that the "faculty recognizes parents are the primary educators who extend to and share with the school the responsibility for the education of youth.  The home and family are viewed as the basic educational environment where values are communicated and character formation is begun and continued.  St. Joseph's affirms the importance of open lines of communication between parents and educators and sees cooperative collaboration as essential." 

Formed in 1973, the Mothers' Club continues to support the school through active services and spirit-building events. The founding officers were Mrs. William Luikart, president; Mrs. Thelma Macmurdo, moderator; Mrs. Leo Heuvel, vice president; Mrs. Ryan Dauzat, treasurer; Mrs. Jacqueline G. Bramhall, recording secretary; and Mrs. Sidney McNairy, corresponding secretary.

The mission statement of the Mother’s Club defines its purpose as follows: “The mission of the St. Joseph’s Academy Mothers’ Club is to enhance the academic, social, and spiritual lives of the people in the SJA Community including, students, faculty and administration, parents and siblings, and alumnae. The spirit of Christ and His belief in inclusion of everyone shall govern the intent and actions of the organization.”

Members must have a daughter currently enrolled at St. Joseph's Academy and pay annual dues. Through a system of active committees, the Mothers' Club hosts the following events and is generously available to support the administration, faculty and students in day-to-day activities of the school. Contact any of the members of the executive committee or call the school at (225) 383-7207 for further information. 

Click here for a Mothers' Club Registration Form.

Committee Descriptions, Chairs and Vice Chairs

Cafeteria Committee - Serve SJA cafeteria lunches once a month from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Volunteers identify which week and day of the month to work for the school year. If a specific week/day cannot be committed for the entire year, volunteers can elect to be a substitute on an as-needed basis.

• Katrina Doiron, Chair
• Deanna Harb, Vice Chair

Chaperones Committee - Chaperone St. Joseph's Academy school dances during the year. Chaperones serve from 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight.

• Ginger Cary, Chair
• Gina Contini, Vice Chair

Computer Committee - Maintain Access database for Mothers’ Club to produce management reports for various Mothers' Club committees. Specific knowledge and experience with Access database tables, queries and reports desirable.

• Dina Bonnecaze, Chair

Development Hospitality Committee - Assist the SJA Development Office during the school year in hosting receptions, luncheons and dinners for SJA donors. Responsibilities include preparing and serving refreshments and meals and cleanup after the events.

• Beth Allison, Chair

ExxonMobil Parents Committee - Work with the Development Office to coordinate volunteer efforts of ExxonMobil employees with funding opportunities. Mothers or fathers must be ExxonMobil employees to volunteer for this committee. Efforts are underway to expand this project to other companies with similar programs..

• Lori St. Germain, Chair

Faculty Christmas Party Committee - Provide refreshments, decorations and other supplies for the SJA Christmas party.

• Cindy Bozeman, Co-Chair
• Toni Douglas, Co-Chair
• Cassandra Allain, Vice Chair

Faculty Luncheons Committee - Coordinates lunches for the faculty and staff periodically through the year for Faculty Meetings, Academic Work Days and Retreats.

• Anne Winkler, Chair
• Laura Simoneaux, Vice Chair

Happy Muggers Committee - Volunteers paint cups to sell as favors for Sweetheart Dance and Winter Formal; artists needed to copy designs determined by committee (freehand and trace).

• Dana Piland, Chair

Mail Out Committee - Assist assembling the monthly SJA Parents' Newsletter and other parent mailings during the school year. Members meet at the end of each month in the SJA Convent in the morning for approximately two hours to fold and label newsletters. Committee may also assist in special mail-out projects during the year.

• Mari Buzbee, Chair
• Peggy Saizon, Vice Chair

Moms On Call Committee - A talent bank of moms willing to provide hospitality for participants in special events at SJA such as science fair judges, guests of the school administration or any other SJA administration special events during the school year. Responsibilities include providing and serving refreshments and/or cleanup after the event. These moms are also called on for miscellaneous projects during the year.

• Michele Cancienne, Chair
• Beth Hitt, Vice Chair

Mother/Daughter Brunch Committee - Organize this event held during the spring semester at the Radisson Hotel. Responsibilities include preparing and mailing invitations, organizing photography services, soliciting and organizing door prizes and favors, decorating ballroom and organizing the style show featuring SJA mom and student models. Approximately 900 moms and daughters attend this event.

• Michelle Dow, Chair
• Cissy Landry, Vice Chair

Mothers' Club Fall Luncheon Committee - Organize fall luncheon for approximately 125 Mothers' Club moms hosted at the home of an SJA mom. Responsibilities include set-up, decorations and cleanup after the event. The Mothers' Club Executive Committee decides the luncheon site.

• Margaret Miller, Chair

Open House Decorations Committee - Decorate the school for the October Open House for prospective students. Volunteers must be available during the school day. Volunteer for only one Open House Committee.

• Jean Gremillion, Chair
• Mary Prochaska, Vice Chair

Open House Greeters Committee - Assist in greeting and guiding prospective students and parents on a tour of the school. Volunteers will be assigned to various stations throughout the school from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Volunteer for only one Open House Committee.

• Sheri Lindsey, Chair
• Deborah Barrilleaux, Vice Chair

Open House Reception Committee - Organize this reception for prospective students and their parents. Responsibilities include school decorations, which will also be needed during the school day, reception set-up, refreshments for the reception and the hospitality room for students and guides and the cleanup after the event. Volunteer for only one Open House Committee.

• Mari Tumminello, Chair
• Becky Montes de Oca, Vice Chair

Parents Who Pray Committee - Participate in an email group and receive confidential prayer requests. Members of this committee then pray for those intentions submitted by all members of SJA community. Please submit confidential prayer requests to parentswhopray@sjabr.org.

• Cindy Nicaud, Chair
• Claudia Larriviere, Vice Chair

Pass-It-On Uniform Sale Committee - Prepare used uniforms for resale including receiving, sorting and pricing uniforms and conducting sale, usually held the first week of June.

• Debbie Lynch, Chair
• Patti Clement, Vice Chair

Placement Exam Refreshments Committee - Provide refreshments for students taking the SJA high school entrance placement exam. Placement exam is usually scheduled for the first Saturday in December.

• Dina Bonnecaze, Chair
• Terry Arikol, Vice Chair

Science Fair Reception Committee - Provide refreshments for students and faculty at the science fair. The science fair is usually scheduled in January and involves one afternoon.

• Martha Hess, Chair

Senior Brunch Committee - Host brunch in May at SJA after the Senior Mass to honor seniors. The committee's responsibilities include organizing, providing food, serving and cleanup after the event. Senior moms should not volunteer for this committee.

• Teri Jeansonne, Chair
• Cindy Nicaud, Vice Chair

Serve Together Committee - Coordinating refreshments for "Serve Together" participants during the Mardi Gras break. This service program is sponsored by the Sisters of Saint Joseph and offers SJA students the opportunity to participate in a three-day "mission" experience in Baton Rouge. Responsibilities include recommending menu selections, making food arrangements, serving participants and cleanup after the event.

• Nanette Gremillion , Chair

Showcasing the Arts/Grandparents' Day Committee - Assist in hosting a reception in conjunction with the Showcasing the Arts event, held on a Sunday afternoon in the spring. Responsibilities include providing and serving refreshments and cleanup after the event.

• Katie Brouillette, Chair
• Paula Zumo, Vice Chair
• Susan Green, Vice Chair

Student Appreciation Committee - Demonstrate support for the students throughout the year by providing treats during the lunch period, 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and treating the students to two jambalaya lunches during the school year. Dads prepare the jambalaya.

• Chris Virgets, Chair
• Mary Weimar, Vice Chair

Summer Book Sale Committee - Process SJA student book orders for the required summer reading program. After books are selected by the faculty, students complete purchase order forms, and book delivery is scheduled through the SJA administration.

• Nancy Plaisance, Chair
• Denise Schroeder, Vice Chair

Sticker Shop Committee - Process SJA student and staff sweatshirt orders, as well as other SJA logo items. Volunteers also assist with sweatshirt distribution, which is usually in the fall.

• Ginger Manning, Chair
• Melanie LaPorte, Vice Chair

Teacher Appreciation Committee - Show appreciation for teachers and staff throughout the school year by providing food, candy and pastry treats and honoring them on special days such as Teachers Appreciation Day, Saint Joseph's Feast Day, Secretaries Day, etc. Volunteers will prepare or provide food and favors for these occasions.

• Mary Carmouche, Chair
• Anne Winker, Vice Chair

Welcome Back Faculty Luncheon Committee - Host a luncheon in August before the first day of school in the school cafeteria for the SJA faculty. Responsibilities include organizing, decorating, preparing and serving food and cleanup after the luncheon.

• Lynda Carbo, Co-Chair
• Ann Guercio, Co-Chair
• Tina Pope, Vice Chair

Welcoming Hospitality Committee - Make phone calls to incoming freshmen families during the first few weeks of school to welcome them to the SJA family. Approximately 200 families will be contacted and welcomed. New freshmen moms should not volunteer for this committee.

• Deborah Paul, Chair
• Cheri Lasseigne, Vice Chair