August 2025

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope this message finds you and your family well and enjoying the final weeks of summer. As we prepare to open our doors for another school year, our 157th, I want to extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to all of our students and families. I am proud to serve as principal of this community for the ninth year.

This year, we are embracing our charism theme of Relationships: Sacred Threads That Connect. This theme will guide our community as we deepen our connections with one another, recognizing the sacredness in every relationship and the strength we draw from our shared faith in Christ. 

As we begin the year, I would like to draw your attention to two important policy changes – Updated Cell Phone Policy and Revised Attendance Policy – that were shared via email on July 9 and are included in the School Handbook.

Parental support and cooperation in reinforcing these policy changes at home are essential to their success at school. I ask you to take some time to carefully review these policies with your daughter, and please reach out to us if you have any questions. I firmly believe that schools are most effective through the collaboration of faculty/staff, students and parents. Students achieve success by prioritizing instructional/class time by limiting the number of absences and classroom distractions.

Our work will continue to align with our vision and mission of empowering students to be unifying members of the world community and providing rigorous and effective instruction. Thank you for entrusting your daughters to us. We are honored to partner with you in their faith development, education and growth, and we look forward to a year filled with opportunities of joy, discovery and meaningful connections.

I look forward to greeting you in person at our parents’ Back-To-School Night on Thursday, August 14.

Sincerely,

Stacia B. Andricain, Principal

I love what I do, I love who I do it with and I love that we do it together in the name of our patron, St. Joseph.

STUDENT ORIENTATION
Wednesday, August 6, for sophomores, juniors and seniors, and Thursday, August 7, for freshmen and seniors. Please note that seniors will attend both days of orientation. In addition to typical orientation activities on August 7, seniors will have a session with the college advisors on August 6, when they will discuss the college admissions and application process. Laptops are required both days and should be fully charged.

Please be reminded that orientation is considered a school day, and your daughter should be present at the required time. If your daughter cannot attend her scheduled session, please submit the reason in writing to Dean of Women Christina Richardson at richardsonc@sjabr.org. For additional information, please call the Deans’ Office at (225) 388-2280.

Click here for orientation schedules. Regular uniforms are allowed on orientation days. The first full day of school is Friday, August 8. We will follow Schedule 2 for this welcome gathering. Dress uniforms are required. (Seniors are permitted to wear their red shirts with their dress uniform.) Full dress uniforms are required for all students on Friday, August 15, as we celebrate mass.

Freshmen are reminded to print their class schedules and bring them to school on their orientation day, as they will have a chance to go through their schedule, meet their teachers and find their classrooms.

YEARBOOK AND STUDENT ID PICTURES
Kleinpeter Photography will take photographs for the SJA yearbook and student ID cards. Freshman pictures will be taken on July 31 during Welcome Week. Sophomores and juniors will have their pictures taken on August 6. Senior pictures will be taken during their cap-and-gown/drape photo sessions at Kleinpeter Photography. Click here for the order form. The completed form and payment should be given to the photographer on your daughter’s designated picture day. Kleinpeter will email ordering instructions should you want to order photographs online after pictures are taken. Students who do not take their yearbook and ID pictures during their scheduled session will take their pictures on Wednesday, August 20, during all lunch periods.

SENIOR PORTRAITS
Senior parents, if your senior daughter has not yet scheduled her photo session with Kleinpeter Photography for her cap-and-gown, drape and student ID shots, please do so at your earliest convenience. Please be reminded that appointments must be scheduled by July 26.

Please direct questions to Kleinpeter Photography at kelly@kleinpeterphotography.com or (225) 928-7596. 

CLASS SCHEDULES 
Students will be notified by email when their class schedules have been posted online prior to the start of the school year. Schedules will not be printed and provided to students, so if they choose, they should print their own. Once the school year begins, schedule changes will be considered during the first two weeks of classes based on level changes only (i.e., moving from Algebra II Honors to Algebra II). These requests are honored only if dropping or adding a course does not affect class sizes or teacher load and if the change is possible in the student’s schedule. Because electives are not required courses and are based on student choice, schedule changes cannot be honored as the deadline has passed.

Please direct questions to Dean of Academics Aubrey DeJohn at dejohna@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2269.

CLASSES AT CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
Questions/issues for SJA students taking classes at CHS will be addressed during student orientation. Please direct curriculum questions to Dean of Academics Aubrey DeJohn at dejohna@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2269. Transportation questions should be addressed to Activities Coordinator Aimee Cronan at cronana@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2266.

TABLET INSURANCE
Please be reminded that the Insurance Form must be completed annually, whether you choose to purchase insurance on your daughter’s computer or not. If you have not yet completed the form, we ask that you please do so here. If you choose to purchase the insurance, it will not go into effect until we receive the completed form and payment through AKKO. If you choose not to purchase insurance, we ask that you indicate that option on the form.

The cost of the computer insurance for the coming year (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026) is $62. The insurance process is managed in house, and SJA will act as your contact when you need to file a claim.

Please direct questions to Technology Operations Manager Sharon Cashio at cashios@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2246.

DINING HALL ACCOUNTS 
Please be sure that your daughter’s Dining Hall account has sufficient funds to begin the 2025-2026 academic year. Parents of freshmen and students new to SJA can create an online account through MyKidsSpending beginning today. Click the Create Account bar at the bottom of the page and follow the prompts. If you have an existing MyKidsSpending account, please log in and verify that the Auto Fund feature is enabled to prevent your daughter’s Dining Hall account from running a deficit.

Cash is not accepted for Dining Hall purchases. It is imperative that MyKidsSpending accounts are funded and active.

Be sure to download the “Touch of SAGE” mobile app for Android and iOS to track events, view menus and more.

For additional information, please contact Food Services Director Lauren Guy at lguy@sagedining.com.

SUMMER READING REMINDER 
Please be reminded that all students must complete a summer reading assignment for their English classes before the start of the school year. Click here for the reading list for the summer of 2025.

SCHOOL HANDBOOK
The 2025-2026 School Handbook is located on the SJA website under the Parents and Students portals. It is the responsibility of students and parents to read the handbook and to be informed of its contents. Please note that changes to last year’s handbook are indicated with asterisks around amended or new policies.

The School Handbook Acknowledgment Form 2025-2026 can be found in the yellow banner in MySJA upon login. Both you and your daughter must log in and sign the form in order to submit. (Please note that only one parent needs to sign the acknowledgment form.) Signing and submitting this form indicates that you have read the handbook and agree to follow and uphold the policies and practices of St. Joseph’s Academy.

Parent/guardian signatures also grant permission for your daughter’s photograph, video image, name and/or interview answers to be used for publicity purposes on the SJA website, in Academy-produced publications and in various external and SJA media outlets, including social media platforms. (See the Communications section of the handbook for the complete policy.)

The signed form must be submitted no later than the first day of school on Friday, August 8.

Failure to abide by the policies of the handbook by either the student or the parent/guardian may result in the student’s removal from school.

The School Handbook can be amended at any time during the school year. Parents will be notified of changes via the Parent Newsletter; students will be notified via email. Final interpretation of all items is determined by the administration.

SAFETY PLAN
Our campuswide safety plan is not included in the School Handbook. This is done in compliance with our insurance company to ensure that our plan does not fall into the wrong hands. SJA’s safety policies and Emergency Action Plan are available upon request. Please contact Principal Stacia Andricain at andricains@sjabr.org.

STUDENT PROFILE AND EMERGENCY CONTACT FORMS 
In order for SJA to have up-to-date information on record for our students, we ask parents of returning 10^th-12^th grade students to complete the Student Profile and Emergency Contact forms, if you have not yet done so, at your earliest convenience. Both forms are located in MySJA. Please click on each yellow banner to complete each form. If you do not see a yellow banner, it may be that another parent/guardian has completed the process. Please direct questions to Registrar Cristina Latiolais at latiolaisc@sjabr.org.

HEALTH INFORMATION FORM 
It is a requirement that we have an updated health information form each year in order for your daughter to attend classes on campus. You will see the form in the yellow banner in MySJA upon login. This form must be completed by the first day of school on Friday, August 8.

If you experience technical difficulties accessing any forms, please contact Information Systems Manager Karen Faucheux at faucheuxk@sjabr.org. If you have questions about the required medical information or other health-related information, please contact Nurse Marie Vukovics at vukovicsm@sjabr.org.

VACCINE EXEMPTION FORM
If you turned in an exemption form last year opting your daughter out of the Hepatitis A vaccine or any other vaccine, we need a new exemption form for the 2025-2026 school year. Please click here for the exemption form from the state of Louisiana. If your daughter has since received the Hepatitis A vaccine or any other missing vaccine, please submit a signed State of Louisiana Universal Certificate of Immunizations, which you can get from your daughter’s healthcare provider. 

Near the end of July, you will receive an email from MySJA asking you to upload your new exemption form. The form will be due before the first day of school on Friday, August 8. If you have any issues uploading your form, please email Nurse Marie Vukovics at vukovicsm@sjabr.org. 

REMINDER TO PARENTS OF SJA JUNIORS 
According to the state of Louisiana, “Students 16 years of age and entering the 11^th grade are required by state law to show proof of having received a second dose of MCV4 (meningococcal) vaccine.”

The state of Louisiana requires all schools to have a current official immunization record on file for all students showing that they have received the meningococcal booster within a one-month grace period following their 16^th birthday. If you have decided against having the booster administered, an exemption form should be submitted each school year.

In preparation for your daughter’s junior year at SJA:

• If your daughter is already 16 years old or will turn 16 before the start of the new school year, you will receive an email near the end of July from MySJA asking you to upload a signed State of Louisiana Universal Certificate of Immunizations, which you can get from your daughter’s healthcare provider. It will be due before the first day of school on Friday, August 8, or by one month after her 16^th birthday.
• If your daughter will turn 16 after the start of the 2025-2026 school year, be sure to schedule an appointment when she is nearing her 16th birthday. The appointment needs to be on her birthday or within one month after her birthday. You will receive an email from MySJA asking you to upload a signed State of Louisiana Universal Certificate of Immunizations closer to her actual birthday. 
• If you have decided to opt out of the booster, an exemption form must be submitted each school year. Please click here for the exemption form from the state of Louisiana. Please upload a completed form on MySJA or email a copy to Nurse Marie Vukovics at vukovicsm@sjabr.org. Please note that we will need a new exemption form at the beginning of each school year.

Remember, a summary of vaccines from MyChart or LINKS is not considered a valid record for school purposes and will not be accepted. Please contact School Nurse Marie Vukovics at vukovicsm@sjabr.org with any questions or concerns.

CALCULATOR REQUIREMENTS 
Students must have a TI-30XIIS scientific calculator for Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus, Algebra III, Calculus and Calculus Honors. We ask that you permanently label calculators before bringing them to school. 

Pre-Calculus Honors and AP Calculus students will use a TI-84 Plus CE series graphing calculator, which will be available to sign out.

Please direct questions to Math Department Chair Allie Carlock at carlocka@sjabr.org.

PE UNIFROMS
PE shirts will be available for purchase through the Sticker Shop and can be picked up during students’ lunch hours. In addition to the official PE shirt, students are required to wear red or navy athletic shorts of appropriate length. Shorts may be any brand.

Sticker Shop hours during the school year are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Please note the shop is not open on days when campus is closed.

YEARBOOK ORDERS
The SJA yearbook captures once-in-a-lifetime memories in a single place. Click here to purchase your 2025-2026 copy today. A receipt will be emailed to you once your purchase is complete. If you have more than one daughter attending SJA, please purchase a copy under each student’s name.

If you are purchasing a yearbook for your senior daughter, you may choose to have the book shipped directly to you after it’s published in the fall of 2026. Otherwise, your daughter will receive her yearbook at the Six-Month Reunion for the class of 2026 in December of 2026.

SUMMER OFFICE HOURS 
Summer hours continue through Thursday, July 31. We will resume regular hours on Friday, August 1.

Summer hours are 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Thursday. We are closed on Fridays.

Please note that the Main Office will be open during SJA Welcome Week (July 28-31) from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL WELCOME AND PRAYER SERVICE
Friday, August 8, Academy Student Center. We will follow Schedule 2. Dress uniforms are required. We will gather as a school community to kick off the 2025-2026 school year with the charism theme Relationships: Sacred Threads that Connect. We will introduce the class of 2029 and new upperclass students as well as new faculty and staff members. This is a time of prayer as we strengthen our bond as a faith community. The Student Council executive board and class representatives elected in the spring will be inducted following the prayer service. (Details about elections for class representatives for the freshman class will be shared after school begins.) Family and friends are invited to join us beginning at 9:53 a.m.

Guests can check in online in advance, and their name badge will be pre-printed and waiting for them in the lobby of the Academy Student Center. Please show a form of ID upon arrival. 

If you can't join us but would like to watch the livestream, click here.

FRESHMAN SOCIAL
All freshmen from SJA and freshmen and 8^th graders from Catholic High School are invited to a Freshman Social at CHS on Friday, August 8, from 3 to 4 p.m. SJA students will gather after school in the orchard and walk to CHS together. Chaperones will walk students back to SJA promptly at 4 p.m. for pick-up from the carpool line. The social is designed to allow the freshman classes of both schools to meet new people and interact with old friends. Freshmen will be given more information during orientation.

MOTHERS’ CLUB MEET & GREET
Friday, August 8, 3-4:30 p.m., Mother Alice Hall Community Room. This event is for new and current SJA moms to meet and see one another. We look forward to seeing you there!

DADS' NIGHT OUT AT L'AUBERGE
The Dads’ Club board of directors invites all SJA dads to a night out at L’Auberge’s ESPN BET on Wednesday, August 13. Come enjoy food, fun and fellowship with the best guys on SJA’s campus. The event is a come-and-go affair starting at 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Please direct questions to Dads’ Club Moderator Meg Gerald at geraldm@sjabr.org.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT
We welcome all parents to campus on Thursday, August 14, from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. for Back-to-School Night. Parents can visit their daughters’ classes and meet their teachers. Please bring a copy of her schedule. Attendance is optional.

Parents will report directly to their daughters’ first period class to begin the evening. Parents will have the opportunity during their daughters’ lunch period to speak with members of the administration or their daughter’s grade-level counselor if they choose to do so.

Student Ambassadors will be on hand to assist you with classroom locations.

FIRST SCHOOL MASS 
We will celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Friday, August 15, in the Academy Student Center. We will follow Schedule 4. Dress uniforms are required. Family and friends are invited to join us beginning at 9:46 a.m.

Guests planning to join us can check in online in advance, and their name badge will be pre-printed and waiting for them in the lobby of the Academy Student Center. Please show a form of ID upon arrival. 

If you can’t join us but would like to watch the livestream, click here.

STUDENTS' BACK-TO-SCHOOL DANCE
All students from SJA and CHS are invited to the Back-to-School Dance on Friday, August 15, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Catholic High School gymnasium. Details regarding tickets, dance theme and parking/carpool instructions will be provided closer to the date of the dance.

PARENTS' BACK-TO-SCHOOL DANCE
The Dads’ Club invites all SJA parents to an adult-only Back-to-School Dance on Saturday, August 16, at 7 p.m. in the Academy Student Center. Tickets are $80 per couple or $40 individually and include food, beer, wine, soft drinks and daiquiris. The Groupie Package includes a reserved table for 10, two bottles of champagne and light-up party favors at your table. Come dance the night away to the sounds of Pants Party. Grab your friends and join us as we celebrate the beginning of the new school year!

Purchase your tickets today! Please direct questions to Dads’ Club Moderator Meg Gerald at geraldm@sjabr.o​rg or (225) 388-2254.

MISSION ADVANCEMENT MEETING FOR ALL NEW PARENTS
All new parents of SJA freshmen and transfer students are asked to attend a meeting with the Mission Advancement Office and SJA Counseling Center. We have three dates and times from which to choose. Please select the meeting that works best for your schedule. The meetings will be held on Tuesday, August 19, at 12 or 6 p.m. or Wednesday, August 20, at 12 p.m. All meetings will be held in the community room of Mother Alice Hall (3080 Kleinert Avenue). Please click here to select your date and time as soon as possible, as space is limited.

Those unable to attend any of the three meetings will be asked to schedule a make-up meeting with the Mission Advancement Office. Please direct questions to Mission Advancement Director Meg Gerald at geraldm@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2254.

EARLY DISMISSAL
Thursday, August 21, for Professional Learning Community. Students are dismissed at 1:46 p.m. We will follow Schedule 3. Please note that the Fife Student Commons and Technology and Learning Center will remain open until 5:30 p.m. and that resource teachers (math, science, writing and English) will be available.

STUDENT COUNCIL FUN DAY
Friday, August 22. The theme for this Fun Day is Wild About the New Year. Students can wear safari or animal attire. They will receive dress guidelines via email. General Fun Day guidelines are included in the Campus Life section of this newsletter. If your daughter has questions about her costume, please encourage her to contact Dean of Women Christina Richardson at richardsonc@sjabr.org. Please note that students who do not follow dress guidelines are subject to disciplinary action.

PARKING AT SJA
Parking is a privilege for seniors, juniors and sophomores. We will continue to provide security for our campus and parking lots between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. each school day. We ask parents of freshmen to make carpool or other transportation arrangements as well as sophomores without a driver’s license. Sophomores, juniors and seniors must have a valid driver’s license (not a learner’s permit) to register a vehicle and purchase a parking spot. A spot cannot sit empty. If a student will not have a car to drive, then she must wait until she has a car before purchasing a spot.

Parking opened in May and closed on July 1 for the first round of assignments. Any spots purchased after this time will be assigned after the original round of parking assignments is complete. Sales reopened on July 15 on SchoolCash Online.

Parking lot spots are $324.75 if purchased in the first semester (August-December) and $162.50 in the second semester (January-May). Students will be able to list their lot choices in order of preference. However, specific lot assignments and parking spaces will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis within each grade. If a student is assigned to a lot that is not her preference, she will not be allowed to request a refund or to switch to street spot. Senior spots will be assigned first in the following lots: Synagogue, Kleinert, Mother Thollot House and Academy Student Center. Junior spots will be assigned after seniors in the following lots: Synagogue, Kleinert and Mother Thollot House. Sophomore spots will be assigned after juniors in the following lots (based on availability): Synagogue, Kleinert and Mother Thollot House.

Street parking spots are $108.50 and sold on a first-come, first-served basis. There are only 50 spots available for street parking. Students will be assigned a specific section of street parking for the year. Seniors received priority with purchasing street spots first, with any remaining spots being available to underclasswomen. For safety reasons, our goal is to have as few students parking on the street as possible.

Students will receive their parking assignments by email on Friday, August 1, and should park in their assigned spot when they come for orientation. During the first week of school, students will receive an email telling them when to pick up their passes. They must bring a copy of their driver’s license to receive their parking pass. Parking passes must be picked up by Friday, August 15, and should always remain visible in the vehicle. Students who park on campus without a parking permit are subject to disciplinary action.

Please direct questions to Attendance Coordinator Amanda Stinson at stinsona@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2202.

BRIGHTARROW COMMUNICATION
New this year, we will use the BrightArrow system to send urgent and important text messages to SJA families. The first text message you receive will come from 79041 and will prompt you to reply YES to continue receiving these important texts. It is important that you reply YES to that message in order to continue receiving important communications from SJA via text messages.

ACT UPDATE
St. Joseph’s Academy and Catholic High School have combined ACT test sites to offer more testing opportunities for our students throughout the year.

Starting in September, both schools will become private ACT testing sites for Saturday (national) testing dates for SJA and CHS students only.

During the ACT registration process, the system defaults to search by zip code. To register for one of the national Saturday testing dates at SJA, you will need to choose the Change Location option and enter the test center code listed below that is associated with the date you would like to test. Please note this is for the national ACT test and is not associated with the school-day ACT required for seniors in October and juniors in March at SJA.

SJA will host the ACT on September 6, December 13 and July 11. The test center code is 161060.

CHS will host the ACT on October 18, April 11 and June 13. The test center code is 182570.

SAVE THE DATE: PARENT/SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP WORKSHOPS
The Counseling Center and the administration of St. Joseph’s Academy will offer grade-level workshops for parents during the coming year. Please add these events to your calendar and plan to have at least one parent in attendance.

Our purpose is to create open lines of communication between parents and the school as we strive to proactively address issues of specific importance to your daughters. Additional details, including workshop times, will be shared as we near each date. 

Mandatory Freshman Parents Workshop (encouraged for all freshman parents)
Please choose one session time:

• Thursday, September 25 (evening session): Preventing Substance Abuse in Teens (Drugs/Alcohol)

• Tentative Location: Fife Student Commons

• Monday, September 29 (lunch session): Preventing Substance Abuse in Teens (Drugs/Alcohol)

• Tentative Location: Mother Alice Hall Community Room

Mandatory Sophomore Parent Workshop 
Please choose one session time:

• Tuesday, September 9 (lunch session): Deep Dive into Test Prep and Understanding Your GPA

• Location: Mother Alice Hall Community Room

• Wednesday, September 17 (evening session): Deep Dive into Test Prep and Understanding Your GPA

• Location: Fife Student Commons

Mandatory Junior Parent Workshop
Please choose one session time: 

• Thursday, March 12, or Wednesday, March 18: College Planning 

• Tentative Location: Fife Student Commons

Mandatory Senior Parent and Student Workshop

• Wednesday, February 4: Review End-of-the-Year Events

• Location: Academy Student Center

2024-2025 SCHOOL CALENDAR
Click here to view our monthly calendar. Please make note of the mandatory retreat dates and testing sessions, as student attendance is required. We encourage families to use the school calendar when planning vacations, college visits and other events to ensure they align with scheduled school breaks.

Additionally, an overview of important dates can be found here. Please note that dates may be subject to change.

OFFICE HOURS
The Main Office in St. Joseph Hall is open from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

HOLIDAY OFFICE CLOSINGS
The Main Office is closed on these holidays. Please plan accordingly.

• September 1: Labor Day

• October 17 and 20: Fall Holiday 

• November 24-28: Thanksgiving

• December 22-January 5: Christmas

• January 19: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday

• February 16-20: Mardi Gras 

• April 3-10: Easter

DAILY COMMUNITY PRAYER
Each day, St. Joseph’s Academy pauses at the end of 7th hour to lift our minds and hearts to God in prayer. We invite you to join us in our daily community prayer by visiting here.

ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL REMINDERS 
We ask for your partnership in reminding students who drive to school to be safe drivers, abiding by all the rules of the road and school zones, especially the speed limit. As a reminder, all students should be picked up in one of the two designated carpool lines until carpool ends at approximately 3:30 p.m. A map of the different routes for freshman and upperclass carpool lines can be found in the online handbook in the Drop-off/Pick-up by Car tab. After 3:30 p.m., students staying after school may be picked up in front of the Fife Student Commons or Medaille Hall. 

Students are not to be picked up on neighboring streets or park their cars in the neighborhood without permission from the homeowner. Students who are identified as not following proper carpool procedures will meet with Assistant Dean of Women Brianna Sommers and will be issued a disciplinary consequence. 

COLLEGE VISITS
Students are encouraged to visit colleges of interest during the summer and school holidays. Please reference the school calendar for the days students are not in school during the 2025-2026 school year. 

Seniors are allowed three excused absences for college visits during the academic year. Juniors and sophomores are allowed two excused absences for college visits during the academic year. Freshmen are not allowed excused absences for college visits. Emailed notification of a student’s college visit must be submitted through the Attendance Reporting Form on MySJA at least one school day before the scheduled absence. If notification is not received, this will be marked as an unexcused absence. Any student who misses more than her allowed number of excused absences for college visits will receive an infraction. No college visits will be approved during mid-term exams, final exams or AP testing. Absences related to college visits are counted as part of the allotted 10 days per semester.

Seniors invited to attend university spring testing events, including LSU Spring Invitational, are allowed an additional excused absence(s) if they have followed proper check-out procedures and given advance notice. 

AFTER-SCHOOL RULES AND REGULATIONS 
After dismissal, students may remain on campus in one of the following designated areas: Fife Student Commons (FSC), quad, courtyard or the Technology and Learning Center (TLC) between 2:50 and 3:30 p.m. Please note that the 3:30 p.m. sign-in time is a change from the traditional 4 p.m. sign-in time from previous years. Students may not leave campus after dismissal to roam the neighborhood. At 3:30 p.m., an announcement will direct students who are not in after-school activities to sign in at either the FSC or TLC while they wait for their ride. The FSC and TLC are open until 5:30 p.m. Our security officer is on campus until 5:30 p.m. each school day. Students must sign out before leaving for the day.

If a student is not picked up by 5:30 p.m., this will be reported to Dean of Women Christina Richardson, and a plan will be made. After-school rules can be found in the school handbook under the Students and Parents portals. Please direct questions to Christina Richardson at richardsonc@sjabr.org or Brianna Sommers at sommersb@sjabr.org.

ACT TEST PREP PROGRAM FOR 2025-2026
Gear Up for the ACT: SJA will offer four-hour sessions during the summer for each subject-specific test of the ACT (reading, English, math, and science) prior to the two summer testing dates above. These sessions will focus on strategies and practice techniques for that content-specific ACT test. The cost is $55 plus fees for ACT math, science, reading and English. Your payment includes an ACT practice book for that subject. Space is limited to 50 students per session. Sessions can be purchased on SchoolCash Online.

Students are encouraged to review the scores they received from their spring 2025 ACT test taken at SJA or their most recent scores to determine which subject areas they need to work on. Counselors recently reviewed these scores with students in their English classes.
 
Fall 2025 Dates and Topics

• Saturday, August 16: ACT Diagnostic

• Saturday, September 13: Math

• Saturday, September 20: Science

• Saturday, October 4: Reading 

• Saturday, October 11: English 

ACT Diagnostic Testing: SJA will offer ACT Diagnostic Testing in the summer through Revolution Prep. Students will practice taking a full-length ACT test in a test setting and receive specific feedback on the areas where they need to work to improve their scores. Each student will receive a detailed report of her test results, stating specific skills and content areas to focus on to achieve a higher score. The test will simulate a real ACT test with the setting, timing and using an ACT-released test. The cost is $15.50 plus fees. Extended time is offered. The Diagnostic Test Session can be purchased on SchoolCash Online.

ACT Testing for the Class of 2026 in the Fall at SJA: Mark your calendars! SJA will offer the class of 2026 an additional opportunity to take the ACT in a comfortable environment during the school day at SJA in the fall. The test will be on October 28 and will be required for all seniors. Data shows that most students scored the highest score in the fall of their senior year. The cost will be less than $45 (the specific price will be shared in July) and will be available to purchase at the beginning of the next school year through SchoolCash Online. This test is only for seniors.

STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE
SJA carries student accident insurance through Scholastic Insurance. All students are automatically covered, so there is no need to enroll. 

Coverage limit is $25,000 per injury from the first day of school until the last day of school. The policy pays 100 percent of the reasonable and customary expenses incurred for necessary medical, dental or hospital care (with an additional dental benefit of $1,000) up to a maximum of $25,000 for any one injury, subject to the deductible amount, excess provision and exclusions.

Expenses incurred after one year from the date of injury are not covered. Deductible is $100, or the amount collectible from any other insurance sources, subject to the excess provisions, if applicable. Liability for school-time-only coverage will be limited to the part of expenses that is in excess of the total benefits payable by other valid coverage on an expense-incurred or provision-of-services basis.

Students are covered for injury that occurs:

• while on the school premises during the hours and days when classes are in session and while participating in or attending any school activity, including athletics, sponsored by and under the direct and immediate supervision of the school;

• while away from the school premises, if participating in a school-sponsored, directly supervised activity, including all athletics on field trips;

• while commuting directly and without interruption to or from their place of residence and school for regular school-day sessions; and/or

• while traveling to or from any school-sponsored, directly supervised activity, including athletic events, in a school-authorized vehicle.

Please note that virtual insurance coverage extends to students participating in a school- sponsored class or activity whether at school or elsewhere. 

To receive a claims form or if you have questions, please contact Director of Operations Linda Thompson at thompsonl@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2305.

SAFETY REPORT 
SJA is in compliance with federal regulations concerning asbestos. All federal guidelines for underground pipes are also in compliance. Additionally, both the sprinkler and fire alarm systems have been tested and certified for another year.

For further information, contact Maintenance Supervisor Evan Fontenot at fontenote2@sjabr.org.

PESTICIDE HYPERSENSITIVITY 
SJA is in compliance with Act 237 and maintains a registry of students who are hypersensitive to pesticides. If your daughter has this sensitivity, please send written verification by a licensed physician and your written statement regarding her condition so we may attend to her needs. Send verification to School Nurse Marie Vukovics at vukovicsm@sjabr.org.

CARPOOL 
If you are interested in forming a carpool in your neighborhood, please contact Attendance Coordinator Amanda Stinson at stinsona@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2202 beginning Thursday, July 31.

PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION
As a non-public school, St. Joseph’s Academy is not affected by the state law which requires parents to make an election at the beginning of each year to grant or deny consent for the school to collect your daughter’s Personally Identifiable Information and disclose it to the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) for TOPS and other financial aid or to the state’s colleges and universities for admissions. We will share this information unless you request through your daughter’s grade-level counselor that it be withheld.

CUSTODY INFORMATION 
St. Joseph’s Academy abides by the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) with respect to the rights of parents and, in the event of divorce, the rights of custodial and noncustodial parents. In the latter case, absent a court order to the contrary, the school will provide the noncustodial parent access to academic records and other school-related information regarding the student. If there is a court order specifying that no information is to be given, it is the responsibility of the custodial parent to provide the school with a copy of the court order. We do not need the complete court order, only the part dealing with custody. Please direct questions to Principal Stacia Andricain at andricaina@sjabr.org.

NSHSS
Each summer, families receive information from the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS). Please be aware that NSHSS is not affiliated with St. Joseph’s Academy and that NSHSS regalia is not permitted at SJA graduation.

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS 
Please be reminded that we must have one valid, regularly checked email address in MySJA. If your email, phone number or physical address has changed since last time you updated our records, please let us know. If you have questions, please contact Registrar Cristina Latiolais at latiolaisc@sjabr.org.

SAFE DRIVING HABITS 
Please remind your daughters to observe speed limits, especially around campus and in our campus parking lots. We also ask that you talk to your daughters about unsafe driving practices, including texting while driving. We thank you for your partnership and continued modeling.

STUDENT COUNCIL FUN DAYS 
Details about each Fun Day, including theme-specific dress guidelines, will be included in each month’s Parent Newsletter as well as emailed to students. General guidelines are as follows:

• IDs must be worn with costume at all times.

• No spaghetti tank tops/no sports bras visible.

• No crop tops of any kind/no exposed midriff of any kind.

• No skirts or shorts shorter than school skirts.

  • The distance from the bottom hem of the skirt to the top of the student’s knee should be no more than two-three inches (i.e. the dimensions of an SJA ID).

  • If leggings are worn as part of the costume, the student’s bottom/buttock must be fully covered by her top. 

• No toy weapons.

• No glitter/no feathers.

• No full-face paint/no full-face masks.

• No faux facial hair.

• No sleepwear (PJs, boxers, night gowns). Onesies are permitted.

• No swim wear, bathing suits (over or under clothing).

• No lamp-shading (bottoms should be longer than the t-shirt).

Themes for the 2025-2026 School Year 

• August 22: Wild About the New Year (safari or animal attire)

• September 26: Sticker September (dress as your class mascot)

• October 10: Pep Rally; theme TBA

• October 31: Stick or Treat on Broussard Street (Halloween)

• November 21: Name November (dress as something that starts with the first letter of your name)

• December 12: Dashing through December (Christmas attire)

• January 23: Jeanuary (denim attire)

• February 27: Famous February (dress as a celebrity)

• April 24: A Sweet Last Fun Day (candy or treats)

• Challenge Week

  • March 23: Monochrome March (dress in one color)

  • March 24: Tip Off Tuesday (athletic attire)

  • March 25: Wacky Hair Wednesday

  • March 26: Throwback Thursday (dress as a previous decade)

  • March 27: Challenge Day (theme TBA)

SCHOOL CLOSURES
When school is closed due to weather or other circumstances, please be reminded that SJA generally follows the same procedures as the East Baton Rouge school system and Diocese of Baton Rouge. Closures will also be announced via our BrightArrow communication system.

If your phone number has changed since you last updated our records, or if you would like to add additional phone numbers to those we call/text, please contact Registrar Cristina Latiolais at latiolaisc@sjabr.org.

ATTENDANCE POLICY 
If a student is absent due to illness, parents should complete the Attendance Reporting Form located under Resources in MySJA. For an absence for any other reason, advance notice of one school day must be sent by a parent via the Attendance Reporting Form located under Resources in MySJA for it to be considered. Parent notification of a student’s reason for an absence must be submitted by the end of the school day, or the absence will be considered unexcused and will not be changed.

A student may not miss more than 10 full days (70 classes) or 10 times in a single course within a semester, regardless of whether absences are excused or unexcused.

Any student who arrives to her first-hour class after the tardy bell must report to the attendance coordinator’s office for a tardy slip. Beginning with the third unexcused tardy, an infraction is given.

Any student wanting to check out due to illness must report to the nurse’s office. If necessary, the nurse will call the student’s parent to obtain permission before the student leaves. Failure to check out in the nurse’s office because of an illness will result in an unexcused absence for missed class time.

Most routine visits to the doctor should be scheduled outside of school hours. For appointments scheduled during school hours, a parent must fill out the Attendance Reporting Form in MySJA. When the student returns to school, she must present a note to the attendance coordinator signed by the physician to receive an excused absence. Notes may be submitted in the main office or by uploading them to the Attendance Reporting Form and must be submitted within three school days of the absence/check-in/check-out.

WEDNESDAY MORNING ROSARY 
Every Wednesday at 7 a.m., the rosary is recited in the Chapel at SJA. 

SAVE THE DATE: DADS' CLUB FALL GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING 
The Dads’ Club will hold its fall membership meeting on Thursday, September 4, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in the Fife Student Commons. Our guest speaker is Gordy Rush, vice president and market manager for Guaranty Media. The night promises lively conversation, a delicious meal and fellowship. A good time will be had by all! Cost is $20 per person and includes dinner, beer or soft drinks. All dads are welcome. You can sign up on SchoolCash Online. Please direct questions to Dads’ Club Moderator Meg Gerald at geraldm@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2254.

SAVE THE DATE: MAHJONG MADNESS
Join us for an exciting evening of fun and friendly competition at SJA’s Mahjong Madness fundraiser, co-hosted by Mahjong Rouge, on Wednesday, September 10, in the Fife Student Commons, 6-8:30 p.m.

Registration is $75 per person (bring your own tiles) or $85 per person (tiles provided). Reserve your spot today at https://mahjongmadness.org/.

Sponsorship Opportunities: Support the event as a sponsor for $500. For more information, contact Jennifer Knight at knightj@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2270.

Mark your calendars. We can’t wait to see you there!

SAVE THE DATE: THE SOIRÉE
Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 30, for The SJA Soirée: A Redsticker Thursday Night. This is a casual, fun night of live music from the Peyton Falgoust Band, great food and drinks from some of Baton Rouge’s best restaurants, plus live and silent auctions and more. Come enjoy a relaxed evening with SJA parents, alumnae and friends. There are many ways to be involved, and we welcome your help in making this event a success. New this year: Get your friends together and purchase a table to guarantee a reserved seat!

Early-bird tickets are now on sale at www.sjasoiree.org. Discounted prices are good until the end of August. Get your tickets before the prices go up! Raffle tickets are also available for a Dream Vacation or your choice of one of three designer purses.

If you would like information about assisting the planning committee, volunteering, sponsorship opportunities or donations, please contact Assistant Director of Advancement – Events Jennifer Knight at knightj@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2270.

SAVE THE DATE: 13TH ANNUAL SJA STICKER SCRAMBLE 
On Wednesday, November 5, the SJA Dads’ Club will hold the 2025 Sticker Scramble presented by Stine at TopGolf of Baton Rouge. The Sticker Scramble is now in its 13^th year and has raised more than $110,000 for campuswide enhancements. The tournament offers men’s, women’s and mixed teams all vying for top prizes.

To register to play or to help sponsor this great event, please click here or contact Dads’ Club Moderator Meg Gerald at geraldm@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2254. For event information, visit www.stickerscramble.org.

Our goal is to raise $10,000 this year. All sponsorships, gifts and services are tax deductible. Work a half-day, then join us, rain or shine. You’ll be home in time for dinner. We look forward to seeing you on November 5 at TopGolf!

Counseling Center

The Counseling Center provides students with resources and support they need to be successful. Grade-level counselors support students during all four years at SJA. The Counseling Center collaborates with teachers and administrators to identify and discuss students who may need additional assistance and to determine best practices to reach all students both academically and socially. In addition, counselors meet with every student at least twice a year to discuss college and career readiness. Two full-time college advisors assist students with college and scholarship applications. A wellness educator designs programs in support of SJA’s social emotional wellness program.

Learning Center 

The Learning Center provides free-of-charge assistance to any student needing extra help with math, science, English or writing. Academic counseling is also offered. No appointments are necessary for any tutoring.

MATH RESOURCE
Math Resource is available Monday-Friday during all three lunch hours and Monday-Thursday after school in the Learning Center classroom in the Technology and Learning Center. Email pfiferc@sjabr.org.

SCIENCE RESOURCE
Science Resource is available Monday-Thursday during all three lunch hours and after school in the Learning Center classroom in the Technology and Learning Center. Email brownh@sjabr.org, laplacev@sjabr.org, brownd@sjabr.org or krzystowczykn@sjabr.org. 

ENGLISH RESOURCE (including writing) AND ACADEMIC COUNSELING
English Resourceis available Monday-Thursday during all three lunch hours and Tuesday-Thursday after school in the Learning Center classroom in the Technology and Learning Center. Email abadiej@sjabr.org or saiaa@sjabr.org. Students can schedule an appointment for a writing conference through the Learning Center MySJA page.

SPIRITUAL FORMATION
SJA students can grow in their faith through various opportunities to pray, receive the sacraments and serve the dear neighbor. All students attend a monthly schoolwide mass or prayer service and an annual class retreat. The sacrament of reconciliation is offered to students biannually. Additionally, students may choose to participate in a weekly rosary, weekly Bible study, bimonthly Eucharistic Adoration, mission trips and various ministry clubs, including Student Ministry, Liturgy Committee, Liturgy Choir, Praise & Worship Band and Stickers for Life Club.

RETREAT INFORMATION
2025-2026 Retreat Dates 

• October 12-13, 2025: Senior Retreat, Dry Creek Baptist Center, Dry Creek, Louisiana

• November 10, 2025: Freshman Retreat, SJA

• March 2, 2026: Sophomore Retreat, SJA

• March 16, 2026: Junior Retreat, TBA

Participation in retreats is required for promotion to the next grade level and to graduate from St. Joseph’s Academy. Appointments, co-curricular activities and travel should not be planned on a student’s retreat day(s). These absences will not be excused unless they are part of a school-sponsored event and approval is given by the Campus Minister. This includes, but is not limited to, out-of-school competitions for club teams, college visits, college recruitment events and any other outside events.

All absences, excused or unexcused, must be made up with a full Catholic retreat of equal or greater duration by the last regular day of school (not including exam days). A student who is absent from her grade-level retreat should research a retreat she can attend to fulfill the make-up requirement. She should submit the retreat request to the campus minister for approval. Retreats attended as mandatory elements of preparation of a sacrament (i.e., confirmation retreats) are not eligible to be used to make up a missed grade-level retreat. Retreats must be in person and intended for high school students.

Retreat questions should be directed to Campus Minister Chelsea Colomb at colombc@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2221.

REQUIRED SERVICE PROGRAM

SJA service policy states that freshmen and sophomores are required to complete 15 hours of service during the 2025-2026 academic year while juniors and seniors must complete 20 service hours. The 2025-2026 Freshman and Sophomore Service Directory and the 2025-2026 Junior and Senior Service Directory can be found on MySJA and the Service Hour Opportunity Teams Channel. Please review the revised policies before completing service hours. Students can participate in opportunities outside of those included in the service directories only after receiving written permission via email from the Assistant Campus Minister/Service Coordinator. All students will use their Mobile Serve account to log service hours. These accounts for incoming freshmen will be set up during SJA Welcome Week. User guides for the website and cellular application can be found on the Service Hour Opportunities Team Channel. Parents, grandparents and immediate family members cannot verify students service hours.

The 2025-2026 service year for current students began on April 10, 2025, and will end on Monday, April 13, 2026. Hours must be verified by the supervisor no later than Wednesday, April 15, 2026. All service hours must be logged electronically in each student’s school-issued Mobile Serve account. Hard-copy verifications will not be accepted. Failure to complete service hours by the deadline will be examined on a case-by-case basis and may result in disciplinary action. Seniors must complete their service requirements in order to graduate from SJA, and underclasswomen must complete their service hours in order to take their final exams.

All service hours must be done through a non-profit agency or through a for-profit business, with prior written approval, that serves those most in need. Service performed through a for-profit business must be non-clerical in manner. Tasks such as filing, answering the phone, etc., will not be permitted as part of the service program. SJA and CHS club hours do not roll over at any time, and SJA and CHS club hours must be independent and separate from the SJA service program. SJA and CHS sports team hours do not roll over at any time, and SJA and CHS sports team hours must be independent and separate from the SJA service program.

Visiting patients in nursing homes or hospice facilities does not need prior approval. All service hours must be done outside of normal school hours. Donations of any kind, including Sticker Sacks, are not eligible for the service program. However, SJA may offer a schoolwide donation opportunity for service hours. SJA reserves the right to limit the number of hours earned on mission trips; hours earned on SJA mission trips will be determined and applied after the trip is complete. This will ensure students receive accurate credit for the number of hours served. 

In conjunction with their senior retreat, members of the senior class participate in a day of service in the Baton Rouge community. This experience serves as an opportunity for the class to give back to the community as a group. Students are assigned to a service site for this day. Senior Service Day is considered part of the senior retreat and is a requirement for graduation.

Please direct questions about service hours to Assistant Campus Minister/Service Coordinator Rachael Duchmann at service@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2295.

ANNUAL FUND 
The SJA Annual Fund is an essential component of St. Joseph’s Academy’s fundraising efforts. Last year’s appeal raised more than $690,000, supporting curriculum, faculty enrichment, facility enhancements and other areas of need. Our parents are key to the success of the Annual Fund. During 2024-2025, they contributed more than $205,000 towards the total. Thank you to everyone who partnered with us in this effort.

Outside of tuition, the SJA Annual Fund is the second largest source of revenue for St. Joseph’s Academy. Please help us to continue growing the SJA Annual Fund and provide vital support to the St. Joseph’s Academy community by making a contribution during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Upperclass parents will receive their commitment forms in the mail the week of August 11. Freshman parents will receive their commitment forms at the freshman parent meeting of their choice on either Tuesday, August 19, at 12 p.m. or 6 p.m. or Wednesday, August 20, at 12 p.m.

Click here to donate online today. Thank you in advance for your generosity and support in continuing the tradition of excellence for our students.

For additional information, please contact Mission Advancement Director Meg Gerald at geraldm@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2254.

PAVE THE WAY BRICKS
Make your mark on SJA’s campus by purchasing a brick for your daughter. Engraved brick pavers are placed around the Fife Student Commons. For more information, contact Mission Advancement Assistant Wendy Coniglio at conigliow@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2336. Click here to purchase your brick today.

SJA Mothers' Club

Do you want to know about SJA Mothers’ Club events, meet other moms and support your Sticker daughter? Then join the Mothers’ Club! Our membership drive is officially under way. Your membership dues and volunteer service are crucial. Both enable us to support our girls and the SJA community throughout the year. If you haven’t joined for the 2025-2026 school year, we invite you to join now!

MOTHERS’ CLUB MEET & GREET
Friday, August 8, 3-4:30 p.m., Mother Alice Hall Community Room. This event is for new and current SJA moms to meet and see one another. We look forward to seeing you there!

PARENTS WHO PRAY
Please be reminded that prayer requests can be sent to parentswhopray@sjabr.org.

SJA Dads' Club

The Dads’ Club works in partnership with the school on a variety of events throughout the year. Some of the highlights of our involvement are class retreats, seniors’ last day, Open House and exam snacks, to name a few. Your membership dues, in combination with the profits from Dads’ Club-sponsored events such as Father-Daughter Day and the Sticker Scramble, benefit our daughters. Are you ready to join for the 2025-2026 school year? Sign up now on SchoolCash Online to join the best group of guys on campus.

DADS' NIGHT OUT AT L'AUBERGE
The Dads’ Club board of directors invites all SJA Dads to a night out at L’Auberge’s ESPN BET on Wednesday, August 13. Come enjoy food, fun and fellowship with the best guys on SJA’s campus. The event is a come-and-go affair starting at 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Please direct questions to Dads’ Club Moderator Meg Gerald at geraldm@sjabr.org.

STICKER SHOP SUMMER HOURS AND BACK-TO-SCHOOL DETAILS
The Sticker Shop will be open on select days this summer to help you get ready for the upcoming school year. Whether you’re looking for school spirit gear, PE uniforms or just want to stop by, we’d love to see you! Below are our summer hours and important details for the new year.

Summer Hours
During SJA’s Grand Reunion Family Day: Saturday, July 19, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

During Welcome Week: Monday-Thursday, July 28-31, 8-10 a.m. all four days plus 1-3 p.m. on Monday and Thursday.

During Student Orientation: Wednesday-Thursday, August 6-7, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Additional pop-up hours may be announced on Instagram, so be sure to follow us for updates throughout the summer.

Regular School Year Hours
Beginning Tuesday, August 12, we’re open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Please note the shop will be closed when the campus is closed.

PE UNIFORMS
PE shirts will be available for purchase through the Sticker Shop and can be picked up during students’ lunch hours. In addition to the official PE shirt, students are required to wear red or navy athletic shorts of appropriate length. Shorts may be any brand.

INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING
If you would like to help in the Sticker Shop during the 2025-2026 school year, please email your name, phone number and email address to stickershop@sjabr.org.

We hope you enjoy the rest of your summer, and we look forward to seeing you soon.