February 2025
PARENT NEWSLETTER
- Events
- Campus Life
- Ongoing Reminders
- Counseling Center
- Student Resources
- Campus Ministry
- Mission Advancement
- Parent Clubs
- Sticker Shop
Events
COURSE SELECTION INFORMATION FOR 2025-2026
Grade-level counselors continue to visit students in their classes this week to discuss courses for the upcoming academic year.
The course selection process will be done online beginning today (Wednesday, January 29) and continuing through Thursday, February 6, by the end of the school day. Course selections should be made carefully and with parental involvement. Parental approval of courses selected by students will be done in late March. Instructions for the approval process will be emailed to you at that time.
If you have questions about or problems using the online course selection process, please contact Registrar Cristina Latiolais at latiolaisc@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2226 or Information Systems Manager Karen Faucheux at faucheuxk@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2220. Please direct questions about academics to Dean of Academics Aubrey DeJohn at dejohna@sjab.org or (225) 388-2269.
ADORATION
Thursday, January 30, Chapel at SJA during all three lunch periods.
REGISTRATION FOR 2025-2026
Registration for current 9th-11th grade students opens on Friday, January 31, and is due on Monday, February 10. You will receive an email on January 31 with instructions for completing the online process. If you have questions about registration, please contact Registrar Cristina Latiolais at latiolaisc@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2226 or Information Systems Manager Karen Faucheux at faucheuxk@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2220. If you have questions about the registration fee or tuition options, contact Accounts Receivable Tuition Specialist Amy Jackson at jacksona@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2234.
Please be reminded that the online registration process should be completed by one parent. In the case where a student’s parents do not live together, we ask that you determine which parent will complete the process. If you would like your student to have more than one family account in Blackbaud Tuition Management, please contact Mrs. Jackson at jacksona@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2234.
STUDENT SCHEDULING LUNCH & LEARN
On Friday, January 31, teachers and students will be available in front of the Dining Hall during all lunch hours to showcase and provide information about course offerings for the 2025-2026 school year. Please encourage your daughter to visit the tables in order to discern the kinds of classes she would be interested in taking next school year.
AP/DE SCHEDULING SEMINAR FOR PARENTS
On Monday, February 3, the administration and Academic Counseling Center will host two scheduling seminars (12-1 p.m. or 6-7 p.m.) for the parents of current freshmen, sophomores and juniors to present information about college prep, honors, dual enrollment and Advanced Placement courses.
If your daughter plans to enroll in an AP or dual enrollment course for the first time for the 2025-2026 school year, at least one parent must attend one of the seminars. If a parent attended in previous years, you are not required to attend again. If your daughter has already taken an AP or dual enrollment course and you did not attend last year, we strongly encourage you to do so this year.
The seminar beginning at 12 p.m. will take place in the Mother Alice Hall Community Room. The evening seminar will be held in the Fife Student Commons.
Please direct questions to Dean of Academics Aubrey DeJohn at dejohna@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2269.
POUR IT FORWARD WINE SALE
Join us on Saturday, February 8, for a wine sale benefitting St. Joseph’s Academy. Shop for a special discounted bottle (or bottles) to toast your Valentine or laissez les bons temps rouler. SJA and Neat Wines invite you to browse our pop-up shop in the Fife Student Commons between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Additionally, Chris Agan with Second Lines Wines will be on hand for tastings and signing bottles of his wine.
EARLY DISMISSAL
Monday, February 10, for Professional Learning Community. We will follow Schedule 3 with students dismissed at 1:46 p.m. Please note that the library will remain open until 5:30 p.m. and that resource teachers (math, science, English and writing) will be available.
SENIOR PARENT MEETING REMINDER
The senior class moderators, grade-level counselor and dean of women will host a Senior Parent Supper on Wednesday, February 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Academy Student Center. We will review the senior events that are scheduled for the spring semester, as well as share a moment of fellowship as senior parents. The event is mandatory for at least one parent per student. Please note that seniors should not attend, as this information will be shared with them in their classes.
The RSVP deadline was January 27, as we needed an accurate meal count. We will serve a jambalaya dinner.
Please direct questions to Dean of Women Christina Richardson at richardsonc@sjabr.org.
ADORATION
Thursday, February 13, Chapel at SJA during all three lunch periods.
STUDENT COUNCIL FUN DAY
Friday, February 14. The theme for this Fun Day is Falling for You February. Students can wear Valentine attire. They will receive dress guidelines via email. General Fun Day guidelines were included in the Back-to-School Parent 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.
FROSH DANCE
Saturday, February 15, 7-9 p.m. in the Academy Student Center. The theme is Falling into FROSH. All students must arrive by 7:30 p.m., and no one will be allowed to leave until 9 p.m.
Optional pictures with Snap Happy will be taken from 7 to 9 p.m.
FROSH is for SJA girls only in grades 9-10. Students can choose to bring a male date from another school or may come to the dance with other SJA students. SJA students are responsible for their date as well as his behavior before and at the dance.
Please note that tickets sales end on Thursday, February 13, at midnight. Tickets will not be sold at the door. If your daughter has a special circumstance and cannot purchase her tickets by the cutoff time, she should contact Dean of Women Christina Richardson (richardsonc@sjabr.org) by the end of the school day on February 13. Tickets are $20 per couple.
Students should bring their school ID to scan (or have a good picture of the full ID, including the barcode, on their phones) for entry to the dance and ticket purchase verification. Guests do not need an ID.
If your daughter purchases a ticket and is unable to attend, parents should email Mrs. Richardson at richardsonc@sjabr.org before the dance. A member of the administration will call the parent of any student who purchased a ticket and did not attend unless advance notification is received. Students who purchase a ticket but do not attend will not be refunded.
Dress should be formal or semi-formal. Dress length should follow the “fingertip” rule. Dress should be appropriate, not skintight. If the dress has a tulip hem (split in the front), make sure that the split is not too high. Avoid front keyhole openings, full open backs, side openings, too much cleavage showing, etc. Click here for examples. Students must wear shoes at all times, so bring flats to change into. If attire is deemed inappropriate, a parent will be called, and students will have the option of leaving the dance to change into appropriate attire.
For males, a coat is recommended but not required. Males must wear a dress shirt, dress pants and tie. Facial hair should be trimmed and tidy. No facial piercings or visible tattoos are allowed.
Alcohol should not be a part of the FROSH dance (before, during or after the event). All students and guests are subject to being tested for alcohol consumption using the school’s breathalyzer. If alcohol is detected, parents will be called, and the student and her date will be sent home. Additional consequences will be discussed with the school’s administration.
All guests must follow school rules at all times. Appropriate face-to-face dancing is expected at all times. Proper behavior is expected at all times inside and outside of the Academy Student Center. Limos and party buses are not allowed. Those driving can park in the Academy Student Center lot or along Parker and Kleinert streets. There is no parking in the lawyers’ or synagogue lots. Those being dropped off should use the Academy Student Center carpool line. To help maintain the flow of traffic, please enter the lot from the north side and exit to the right towards Broussard only.
Please direct questions to Dean of Women Christina Richardson at richardsonc@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2278.
UNITY MASS
Tuesday, February 18. Dress uniforms are required. We will follow Schedule 4. Parents are invited to join us at 9:46 a.m. in the Academy Student Center.
Parents 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.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH LEARNING FAIR
Wednesday, February 19, during all three lunch periods, Investar Quad. The SJA Diversity Club invites all students to check out the Black History Month Learning Fair during their lunch hours.
COLLEGE ESSAY WORKSHOPS FOR JUNIORS
The Learning Center English tutors will host two evening workshops for juniors to assist in their college essay-writing efforts. The workshops will be held on Wednesday, February 19, and Monday, April 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Fife Student Commons. These evening sessions are designed to be a relaxed opportunity for juniors to get assistance with their college essays regardless of where they are in the process, from choosing a topic to brainstorming, revising or editing. English tutors will continue to be available Monday-Thursday during all three lunch hours and Tuesday-Thursday after school in the Learning Center classroom in the Technology and Learning Center. Students can drop in or schedule an appointment for a writing conference through the Learning Center’s Moodle page.
SOPHOMORE RETREAT
Monday, February 24, from 8 a.m. until 2:50 p.m. in the Academy Student Center and Activity Center. Students may not be dropped off prior to 7:30 a.m. This is a time when sophomores come together to deepen their relationships with God and one another. The retreat will be led by senior Student Ministers and various faculty and staff members. Please do not make out-of-town plans or schedule appointments for your sophomore daughter until after the retreat. All grade-level retreats are mandatory for graduation. Further instructions regarding what to wear, what to bring and where to be dropped off and picked up will be emailed to the sophomores.
The Main Office will be closed on Monday, February 24. Additionally, the Technology and Learning Center and Fife Student Commons will not be open following the retreat. Sophomores will need to be picked up at 2:50 p.m. in the Academy Student Center carpool line.
Please direct questions to Campus Minister Chelsea Colomb at colombc@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2221.
NO SCHOOL FOR GRADES 9, 11 AND 12
Monday, February 24.
FRESHMAN HAT DAY
Thursday, February 27. This is an annual tradition of the Big Sis/Little Sis program. Seniors will make hats for their freshmen little sisters. Hats are due by Tuesday, February 25. Freshmen will receive their hats before school on Thursday on the Batchelor Terrace in front of the Academy Arts Center. Parents of freshmen should address questions to Allie Carlock at carlocka@sjabr.org or Brooke Haigler at haiglerb@sjabr.org. Senior parents should contact Alexandra Arceneaux at arceneauxa@sjabr.org or Aimee Cronan at cronana@sjabr.org.
ADORATION
Thursday, February 27, Chapel at SJA during all three lunch periods.
Campus Life
TAX ID INFORMATION
If tax information is needed for your 2024 taxes, you may access your family tuition statements online through your Blackbaud Tuition Management account. The website address is parent.blackbaud.school. The SJA Tax ID # is 72-6001242. Please direct questions to Accounts Receivable Tuition Specialist Amy Jackson at jacksona@sjabr.org.
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.
2024-2025 SCHOOL CALENDAR
Click here for important dates for the 2024-2025 school year. Please note that all dates are subject to change.
HOLIDAY OFFICE CLOSINGS
The Main Office is closed on these remaining holidays. Please plan accordingly.
◾ March 3-7: Mardi Gras
◾ April 18-25: Easter
OFFICE HOURS
The Main Office in St. Joseph Hall is open from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
ACT TEST PREP PROGRAM
Gear Up for the ACT: SJA offered a four-hour session for each subject-specific test of the ACT during the fall and will do so again in the spring (before the March 2025 ACT date for juniors). These sessions 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.
Remaining Spring Gear-Up Dates
◾ Science: February 1, 2025 (8 a.m.-12 p.m.)
◾ Reading: February 15, 2025 (8 a.m.-12 p.m.)
◾ English: February 22, 2025 (8 a.m.-12 p.m.)
Please check athletic and other schedules prior to purchasing a testing session. SJA pre-purchases the supplies needed for each ACT test-prep session based on registrations and cannot guarantee a refund if your daughter cannot attend the session. The science portion of the ACT test will eventually become optional. Please check with specific institutions of interest to see if the science section will be required for admission.
If you have questions about any of these programs, please contact Dean of Curriculum and Instruction Melissa Brocato at brocatom@sjabr.org.
SUMMER PE
There are six sessions of Summer PE offered to students considering this option. Students must choose one session and may not attend other sessions to fulfill the requirements. Students must attend 10 of the 12 classes offered during the selected session. Classes will be two-and-a-half hours in length with no classes on Fridays. Students will continue to complete home health assignments each week of class.
◾ Session 1: June 2-June 19, 7-9:30 a.m. (Monday-Thursday)
◾ Session 2: June 2-June 19, 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. (Monday-Thursday)
◾ Session 3: June 2-June 19, 2:30-5 p.m. (Monday-Thursday)
◾ Session 4: June 2-June 19, 5-7:30 p.m. (Monday-Thursday)
◾ Session 5: June 23-July 14, 7-9:30 a.m. (Monday-Thursday, no classes on July 3)
◾ Session 6: June 23-July 14, 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. (Monday-Thursday, no classes on July 3)
Please note that students who take Summer PE will not be permitted to schedule an unstructured period the next academic year. Also, students are not eligible to take Summer PE for half-credit electives. Students who sign up must be physically capable of completing the session. If a student must enroll in summer school, she cannot take Summer PE and would need to change her schedule.
The course fee is $235 and will be paid in early April. Instructions for enrolling, paying and choosing sessions will be emailed to parents and students after course selections are made. Please direct questions to PE Department Chair Sivi Miller at millers@sjabr.org.
SAVE THE DATE: GIVE DAY AT SJA
Save the date for SJA’s Give Day on Wednesday, March 19. This is a 24-hour online giving event. Learn more at www.sjagiveday.org.
SJA TENNIS CLASSIC
Registration is open for the 2025 SJA Tennis Classic on March 21-23. Alumnae, parents and friends of SJA are invited to participate in a weekend of tennis, fellowship and fun at Bocage Racquet Club.
This event raises money for the SJA Tennis Classic Scholarship, which offers need-based tuition assistance to deserving students and their families. For more information, to register or for sponsorship opportunities, click here.
SAVE THE DATE: MAHJONG MADNESS
SJA’s inaugural Mahjong Madness event is set for Wednesday, April 9, in the Academy Student Center. Mark your calendars and make plans to join us for all the fun! Times are 6 to 8:30 p.m., and the cost is $75 per person. Be on the lookout for more information in the coming weeks.
JOIN THE SOIRÉE PLANNING COMMITTEE
Would you like to be part of the planning for this year’s SJA Soirée: A Redsticker Thursday Night? We would love to have you join our committee! If you are interested, please click here to let us know your particular area of interest. And mark your calendars for Thursday, October 30, 2025, and be sure to join us!
WEDNESDAY MORNING ROSARY
Every Wednesday at 7 a.m., the rosary is recited in the Chapel at SJA.
YEARBOOK ORDERS
The SJA yearbook captures once-in-a-lifetime memories in a single place. Click here to purchase your 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 2025. Otherwise, your daughter will receive her yearbook at the Six-Month Reunion for the class of 2025 in December of 2025.
SENIOR YEARBOOK ADS
Senior yearbook ads are now on sale. Yearbook ads contain photos and a personal message to your senior daughter. All ads must be purchased and created online through Herff Jones Yearbooks. Click here for available options are available. The deadline to submit an ad is April 11.
If you need assistance with creating your ad, please contact Herff Jones at 866-287-3096. If you have not purchased a yearbook, you may do so while purchasing the ad. If you are unsure if you already purchased a book, click the “Find My Order” button at the bottom of the home screen.
Ongoing Reminders
ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL POLICIES
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 at 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 Dean of Women Christina Myles and will be issued a disciplinary consequence.
SAFE DRIVING HABITS
Please remind your daughters to observe speed limits, especially around campus and in our campus parking lots. We have recently observed students engaged in unsafe driving practices, including texting while driving and speeding. We thank you for your partnership and continued modeling.
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 15 full days (105 classes) or 15 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 emailing attendance@sjabr.org.
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 2024-2025 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. Emailed notification of a student’s college visit must be submitted through the Absence 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.
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 Myles, 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 Dawn Lorio at loriod@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2420.
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.
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 Assistant to the Registrar Stacy Rennhoff at rennhoffs@sjabr.org.
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 School Messenger alert system (phone and text).
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 Assistant to the Registrar Stacy Rennhoff at rennhoffs@sjabr.org.
Counseling Center
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.
Contact Us
Counseling Center Staff
Valerie Brubaker
Allison Bruton
Seniors
Alexandra Giardina, Class of 2025 Counselor (giardinaa@sjabr.org; 388-2283)
Allison Bruton, College Advisor A-J (brutona@sjabr.org; 388-2299)
Ellen S. Frazier, College Advisor K-Z (fraziere@sjabr.org; 388-2251)
SENIOR WELLNESS SERIES: TRANSITIONING FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE
On Wednesday, January 29, the senior class is gathering for the first in a series of wellness topic presentations focusing on transitioning from high school to college. Throughout February, seniors will hear from guest speakers about preparing for college. In the first session, Lieutenant Ronald Plaisance and Investigator Allissa Hauck from the Southeastern Louisiana University Police Department will speak about college campus safety. Our future presenters include Tanya Stuart, co-owner and licensed social worker for Genesis Behavioral Health Services, who will present important information regarding substance abuse; Kathy Saichuk, SJA teacher and health promotion coordinator at LSU, who will speak about personal responsibility and maintaining a healthy lifestyle during college; Rachel Rhodes, associate director of donor engagement at the LSU Foundation, who will speak about college campus organizations and Greek life; and our SJA Counseling Center team, who will engage our seniors in problem-solving scenarios involving common college dilemmas. All information presented will be relevant to any college your daughter may choose to attend.
COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE AND SCHOLARSHIP OFFERS/FINAL TRANSCRIPT REQUESTS
Valerie Brubaker, Counseling Center assistant, visited senior world history classes in January to explain the College Decisions & Scholarships/Final Transcript Form that can be downloaded on the Class of 2025 College Advising Moodle page. Seniors must email this form to Mrs. Brubaker at brubakerv@sjabr.org to ensure that accurate information is updated in their student record. The college’s name, the admissions decision and/or the scholarship amount awarded should be listed for all colleges to which the student applied. The final transcript request portion of the form authorizes SJA to send a final transcript to the college the student has chosen to attend. The form must be submitted by April 30. However, students are highly encouraged to submit this form as soon as possible and as soon as the information becomes available to them.
SPRING ORIENTATION OFFERED AT COLLEGES
Colleges often invite high-achieving students to Spring Orientation sessions. Students are only eligible to participate if they have been admitted and invited; please do not attempt to register for these opportunities until the student receives an invitation from the college she plans to attend next year. It is wise to respond to orientation invitations quickly. Since Spring Orientations often fall on school days, an absence excuse is needed. Please submit these to Mrs. Amanda Stinson in the Attendance Office. If your student is not invited to a Spring Orientation at the college she plans to attend, she will have the opportunity to attend one in the summer and should choose the earliest available session.
MID-QUARTER GRADES
Mid-quarter grades will be updated on Wednesday, February 5, to students’ MySJA accounts. With seniors halfway through the 3rd quarter, it would be a great time for you to sit down with your daughter to assess her progress and create a plan with her if improvements need to be made. Remember that your daughter has access to tutors in the Learning Center. These are phenomenal resources on campus.
REMINDER ABOUT SENIOR EXAMS
If a senior has an A for the third and fourth quarters, she can be exempt from the final exam. The exam grade will be the average of the third- and fourth-quarter number grades.
FAFSA
All students must complete the FAFSA to be awarded TOPS in the state of Louisiana; however, completing the FAFSA is not just for TOPS. It is used for other financial aid in all states, including scholarships, student loans and work-study programs. The FAFSA for the class of 2025 opened on November 18 and may be completed using 2023 tax information. Detailed information is available at Federal Student Aid. All students will need to send their FAFSA confirmation to Ms. Giardina at giardinaa@sjabr.org by April 30. The confirmation page contains no financial information; it simply verifies that you have filed the FAFSA.
Please note that this is one of the items on each student’s graduation “check-out list” in May. It is highly recommended that parents complete this as soon as possible, as it can take a while to process, and colleges are beginning to package financial aid and scholarship offers early in the second semester. It is important that all students include at least one Louisiana college or university on the FAFSA application, even if they are planning to attend college out of state. Then, if a student returns to Louisiana for undergraduate school, she may qualify for the remainder of her TOPS award if she is in good academic standing.
TOPS ACT AND GPA REQUIREMENTS
Remember, the TOPS office does not accept ACT super scores.
Requirements for members of the class of 2025 to qualify for the TOPS Opportunity Award are a core 2.5 GPA in the required 19 core units as well as an ACT composite score of 20. The TOPS Performance Award (TOPS + $400/year) requirements are a 3.25 core GPA and a 23 ACT composite score. The TOPS Honors Award (TOPS + $800/year) requirements are a 3.5 core GPA and a 27 ACT composite score.
Don’t forget to send your highest ACT score to the Louisiana Office of Federal Student Aid (LOFSA) using number 1595 on the act.org website.
A TOPS qualifying score on the ACT must be achieved by the April national test date. An initial qualifying score achieved on the June national test date will be accepted; however, the student will be penalized one semester of eligibility. In addition, June ACT scores cannot be used to upgrade an Opportunity Award to Performance or Honors Award.
A MESSAGE FROM SJA’S WELLNESS EDUCATOR
Melissa Shaw ’96
shawm@sjabr.org; (225) 388-2347
Wow, it’s almost February! I hope you and your loved ones had a chance to enjoy the recent and rare snow event. We kicked off our Senior Wellness Education series with college campus safety tips from Southeastern Louisiana University’s police department. Later this month, we will have guest speakers speaking about substance abuse in youth, staying motivated and healthy in college, college campus organizations and Greek life, and how to problem solve common college/young adult dilemmas. A reminder that I am in the Counseling Center to provide additional resources and support as part of our Counseling Center team. Stay Well!
Juniors
Kellie Braud Wintz, LCSW-BACS, Class of 2026 Counselor
wintzk@sjabr.org; (225) 388-2223
Allison Bruton, College Advisor A-J (brutona@sjabr.org; 388-2299)
Ellen S. Frazier, College Advisor K-Z (fraziere@sjabr.org; 388-2251)
Please contact Mrs. Wintz if you have questions about your daughter pertaining to academic or personal concerns. Please contact Ms. Bruton or Ms. Frazier if you have questions pertaining to college selection and applications.
CLASSROOM VISITS FOR SCHEDULING SENIOR CLASSES
Mrs. Wintz will be visiting all 11th grade theology classes through January 31st to present information about senior year course selection. Requirements for graduation, TOPS and honors diploma will be reviewed. Following classroom visits, she will email all parents a video presentation containing the information that was covered in class. Students are to complete the online course selection process by Thursday, February 6. At that point, all prerequisites and requirements will be checked by the registrar, teachers and counselors, and then parents/guardians will be sent an email for final approval. It is important to walk with your daughter through each step of the course-planning process for her final year at SJA.
Following the class visits, Mrs. Wintz will hold designated help sessions for students who wish to meet with her to discuss their course selection on Tuesday, February, 4 during all lunch periods.
AP/DUAL ENROLLMENT SEMINAR FOR PARENTS
Students can earn college credit while in high school through Advanced Placement courses or Dual Enrollment courses through LSU. SJA will host an informational meeting for parents to discuss these different options and course requirements on February 3 at 12 or 6 p.m. If your daughter wishes to enroll in a DE or AP class her senior year and has not taken an AP or DE class before, parent attendance is a requirement for her to enroll.
ACT
All juniors will be taking the school-based ACT on Tuesday, March 11. Mrs. Valerie Brubaker, SJA’s testing coordinator, will be visiting history classes in February to help students set up their ACT accounts and to link their March 11 ACT to their account. Additional information regarding test day will be given at that time.
HONORS DIPLOMA REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CLASS OF 2026
The following requirements are taken from the Student Handbook.
All honors and AP courses are weighted on a 5.0 scale. The requirements for an honors diploma are a GPA of at least 3.8 after eight (8) semesters of work and the completion of eleven (11) weighted courses over the four years. The following criteria are the minimum course requirements each year. Please note these requirements do not add up to the required 11 weighted courses. The remaining four (4) weighted courses required to earn an honors diploma can be taken in any grade and can be chosen from any weighted course offered by SJA.
• A minimum of two (2) weighted courses must be taken during the freshman and sophomore years combined.
• At least two (2) weighted courses must be taken junior year.
• Among the weighted courses taken during the freshman, sophomore and junior years, two (2) must be AP courses and must be completed by the end of junior year.
• At least three (3) weighted courses must be taken senior year, and two (2) of those weighted courses must be AP courses.
• There is no AP score requirement to earn the honors diploma.
If the student has taken the highest-level core AP courses prior to senior year, the Administration will work to find alternate courses to fulfill the honors diploma requirements, which might be but are not limited to courses at Catholic High School or a postsecondary university.
To earn an honors diploma, the student must earn all As and Bs in all courses but can earn one (1) C in a weighted course. Honors diploma recipients receive a gold SJA medallion and red stole to wear at graduation. Students are reminded about the honors diploma and its requirements during the scheduling process by their grade-level counselor.
FIRST AND SECOND ACADEMICS
First academics must earn a 3.6 cumulative GPA or higher with no Ds or Fs during 10th, 11th and 12th grades. Students will receive a silver SJA medallion and red cord to wear at graduation. Second academics must earn a 3.3-3.599 cumulative GPA with no Ds or Fs during 10th, 11th and 12th grades. Students will receive a bronze SJA medallion to wear at graduation. There are no requirements regarding honors/Advanced Placement courses for the first and second academics.
VALEDICTORIAN/SALUTATORIAN REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CLASS OF 2026
The valedictorian and salutatorian must meet the criteria for an honors diploma and have the two highest GPAs, based on the following criteria.
• Must have attended St. Joseph’s Academy for four years.
• Cannot schedule any unstructured periods during their four years of high school.
• Must have an A in all courses taken outside of normal school day hours (for example, Summer PE and any extra course that the Administration has given a student permission to take and that will be included on her transcript). However, courses taken outside of the normal school day will not be calculated in the final GPA that determines valedictorian and salutatorian. Final determination is made by the Administration.
• The GPA will be calculated using 7 credits earned each year, during the regular school day, over the four years of high school.
• Must have taken AP U.S. History, World History AP, English 3 AP, English 4 AP, AP Calculus AB and at least one of the following sciences: Biology AP, Chemistry 2 Honors or Physics AP. If one or more of these science courses is not offered in the year a student requests it, Physics Honors can be substituted with the approval of the Administration, but only if Physics AP is not offered at SJA.
Beginning with the class of 2026, if there is a tie for valedictorian, a tiebreaker is only enacted if there are four or more students with equivalent GPAs who meet the requirements for valedictorian and salutatorian. In such cases, an average of these students’ numerical semester averages from every class their junior and senior years are calculated. The student with the highest average will be named the valedictorian, and the remaining students will be named as salutatorians. In the event there is still a tie for valedictorian due to equivalent averages, those students will share the title of valedictorian, and the remaining students will be named salutatorians. In the event there is no tiebreaker due to three or fewer students having equivalent GPAs, no salutatorian will be named. There is no tiebreaker for salutatorian in any case.
COLLEGE ESSAY INFORMATION AND UPCOMING WORKSHOP
The college advisors visited all junior English classes in January to explain the growing importance of the personal essay in college admission and scholarship applications. Writing a personal essay for college applications is an assignment in all junior English classes this semester and is required by SJA. Your daughters were encouraged to begin brainstorming topics and writing a rough draft now.
The Learning Center English tutors will host two evening workshops for juniors to assist in their college essay-writing efforts. The workshops will be held on Wednesday, February 19, and Monday, April 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Fife Student Commons. These evening sessions are designed to be a relaxed opportunity for juniors to get assistance with their college essays regardless of where they are in the process, from choosing a topic to brainstorming, revising or editing.
Early preparation is important when writing a strong college essay. Therefore, encouraging your daughter to attend the College Essay Workshops hosted by the Learning Center and/or scheduling an appointment during her lunch hour with the Learning Center are excellent ways to motivate your daughter to start the brainstorming process now and to continue her work on her essay throughout the semester.
COLLEGE PLANNING INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
The college advisors will meet with your daughters individually this semester to discuss their college plans, how to look for best fit colleges, how to create a realistic college list and to begin focusing on the details of applying to colleges.
College advisors will keep you and your daughters informed about changes to the college admission landscape (which have been particularly rapid in the past few years) and other college topics. Family conversations about college choice, including topics such as cost, distance from home, campus safety and academic programs, among others, are an important first step in helping your daughter create a realistic college list. Additionally, we will be hosting a College Planning Parent meeting in March. Parents may choose to attend the meeting on either March 11 or March 12 from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Fife Student Commons. We will send more details about that meeting in the upcoming weeks.
Please feel free to communicate with us with any questions you may have. If your daughter’s last name begins with A-K, her College Advisor is Ms. Bruton; if her last name is L-Z, her College Advisor is Ms. Frazier. The contact information for the college advisors is at the top of this segment.
A MESSAGE FROM SJA’S WELLNESS EDUCATOR
Melissa Shaw ’96
shawm@sjabr.org; (225) 388-2347
It’s almost February, and I hope you and your loved ones had a chance to enjoy the recent and rare snow event. It’s always exciting to experience such a treat! It’s hard to believe another month is nearly complete and we are closer to my in-class wellness education. I am planning to meet with your daughters next month. As always, I’m here in the Counseling Center to provide resources and support as part of our Counseling Center team. Stay well!
Sophomores
Lindsay Carlino ’02
Class of 2027 Counselor
carlinol@sjabr.org; (225) 388-2225
CLASSROOM VISITS FOR SCHEDULING JUNIOR CLASSES
I have been visiting all 10th grade theology classes this week to present information about junior year course selection. Requirements for graduation, TOPS and honors diploma will also be reviewed. Students are to complete the online course selection process by Thursday, February 6. At that point, all prerequisites and requirements will be checked by the registrar, teachers and counselors, and then parents/guardians will be sent an email for final approval. It is important to walk with your daughter through each step of the course planning process. At the conclusion of this semester, the class of 2027 will be halfway through their high school years.
Following the class visits, I will hold designated help sessions for students who wish to meet to discuss their course selection. These dates and times will be emailed to students.
STANDARDIZED TESTING
All sophomores will be taking the PreACT on March 11. This PreACT test is the 10th grade version of the ACT test. It is very important that students take this test administration seriously so that they can obtain an accurate predictive score for when they take the test in the spring of their junior year (spring 2026). This test is a good starting point for learning what areas students should focus on when preparing for the ACT.
COLLEGE & CAREER GROUPS
Sophomore College & Career Lunch group will be starting soon. Many students are undecided about a major, and that is normal. During these small groups, your daughter will be focusing on career exploration. She will also be learning about the types of colleges and universities, degrees, programs available and things that she should consider when choosing a college.
HONORS DIPLOMA REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CLASS OF 2027
The following requirements come directly from the Student Handbook. All honors and AP courses are weighted on a 5.0 scale. The requirements for an honors diploma are a GPA of at least 3.8 after eight (8) semesters of work and the completion of eleven (11) weighted courses over the four years. The following criteria are the minimum course requirements each year. Please note these requirements do not add up to the required 11 weighted courses. The remaining four (4) weighted courses required to earn an honors diploma can be taken in any grade and can be chosen from any weighted course offered by SJA.
• A minimum of two (2) weighted courses must be taken during the freshman and sophomore years combined.
• At least two (2) weighted courses must be taken junior year.
• Among the weighted courses taken during the freshman, sophomore and junior years, two (2) must be AP courses and must be completed by the end of junior year.
• At least three (3) weighted courses must be taken senior year, and two (2) of those weighted courses must be AP courses.
• There is no AP score requirement to earn the honors diploma.
If the student has taken the highest-level core AP courses prior to senior year, the Administration will work to find alternate courses to fulfill the honors diploma requirements, which might be but are not limited to courses at Catholic High School or a postsecondary university.
To earn an honors diploma, the student must earn all As and Bs in all courses but can earn one (1) C in a weighted course. Honors diploma recipients receive a gold SJA medallion and red stole to wear at graduation. Students are reminded about the honors diploma and its requirements during the scheduling process by their grade-level counselor.
FIRST AND SECOND ACADEMICS
First academics must earn a 3.6-5.0 cumulative GPA with no Ds or Fs during 10th, 11th and 12th grades. They receive a silver SJA medallion and red cord to wear at graduation. Second academics must earn a 3.3-3.599 cumulative GPA with no Ds or Fs during 10th, 11th and 12th grades. They receive a bronze SJA medallion to wear at graduation. There are no requirements regarding honors/Advanced Placement courses for the first and second academics.
VALEDICTORIAN/SALUTATORIAN REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CLASS OF 2027
The valedictorian and salutatorian must meet the criteria for an honors diploma and have the two highest GPAs, based on the following criteria.
• Must have attended St. Joseph’s Academy for four years.
• Cannot schedule any unstructured periods during their four years of high school.
• Must have an A in all courses taken outside of normal school day hours (for example, Summer PE and any extra course that the Administration has given a student permission to take and that will be included on her transcript). However, courses taken outside of the normal school day will not be calculated in the final GPA that determines valedictorian and salutatorian. Final determination is made by the Administration.
• The GPA will be calculated using 7 credits earned each year, during the regular school day, over the four years of high school.
• Must have taken AP U.S. History, World History AP, English 3 AP, English 4 AP, AP Calculus AB and at least one of the following sciences: Biology AP, Chemistry 2 Honors or Physics AP. If one or more of these science courses is not offered in the year a student requests it, Physics Honors can be substituted with the approval of the Administration, but only if Physics AP is not offered at SJA.
A MESSAGE FROM SJA’S WELLNESS EDUCATOR
Melissa Shaw ’96
shawm@sjabr.org; (225) 388-2347
We are moving toward February! I hope you and your daughters have had a smooth start to the second semester and enjoyed the recent and rare snow break. I have just completed in class wellness education on emotional intelligence. We discussed healthy perceptions, brain resilience and practicing grit to be successful. A reminder that I am in the Counseling Center to provide additional resources and support as part of our Counseling Center team. Stay Well!
Freshmen
Mary Beth Elfert
Class of 2028 Counselor
elfertm@sjabr.org; (225) 388-2281
SOPHOMORE COURSE SELECTION CLASS VISITS
I will continue to visit 9th grade classes through January 31 to present information about sophomore year course selection. Requirements for graduation, TOPS and honors diploma were reviewed. Students are to complete the online course selection process by Thursday, February 6. At that point, all prerequisites and requirements will be checked by the registrar, teachers and counselors, and then parents/guardians will be sent an email for final approval. If your daughter is interested in taking an AP course in 10th grade, at least one parent will need to attend the AP/Dual Enrollment Seminar. There are two options to choose from. The seminar will be held on Monday, February 3, at 12 or 6 p.m. Additional details can be found in the newsletter.
Following the class visits, I will hold designated help sessions for students who wish to meet with me to discuss their course selection.
FRESHMAN GROUPS
All freshmen have registered for the Naviance Program which is a program that assists students in exploring colleges, careers, learning styles, etc. This spring, I will be meeting with freshmen in groups to have them complete a couple of assessments to guide them in choosing a career. One of the assessments is based on Meyer’s Briggs and is a self-report questionnaire to discover how students perceive the world and make decisions. These results will be used in conjunction with another self-report assessment later this spring to explore careers that match their personality type and interests.
A MESSAGE FROM SJA’S WELLNESS EDUCATOR
Melissa Shaw ’96
shawm@sjabr.org; (225) 388-2347
It is almost February! I hope you and your daughters have had a smooth start to the second semester. Time is certainly flying as we move through the school year, and I hope the snow break was fun for your family. I’m looking forward to visiting freshman classrooms later this spring to provide wellness education, an important part of their overall growth and development. As always, I’m here in the Counseling Center to offer resources and support. Please don’t hesitate to reach out. Stay Well!
Student Resources
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 mcewenl@sjabr.org or pfiferc@sjabr.org.
SCIENCE RESOURCE
Science Resource is available Monday-Thursday 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 Resource is 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’s Moodle page.
Campus Ministry
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 (juniors and seniors), Liturgy Committee, Liturgy Choir, Praise & Worship Band and Respect Life Club.
RETREAT INFORMATION
2024-2025 Remaining Retreat Dates
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February 24, 2025: Sophomore Retreat, SJA
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March 17, 2025: Junior Retreat, Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church
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.
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.
Retreat questions should be directed to Campus Minister Chelsea Colomb at colombc@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2221.
REQUIRED SERVICE PROGRAM
The SJA service policy states that freshmen and sophomores are required to complete 15 hours of service during the 2024-2025 academic year, and juniors and seniors must complete 20 service hours. The 2024-2025 Freshman and Sophomore Service Directory and the 2024-2025 Junior and Senior Service Directory can be found on MySJA, the Service Hour Project Moodle page and the Service Hour Opportunity Teams Channel. Please review the policies and service directories before completing service hours.
The 2024-2025 service year for current students began April 9, 2024. The service year for freshman and students new to SJA began June 1, 2024. Service hours for all students are due on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. Failure to complete service hours by the deadline will be examined on a case-by-case basis. However, completion of SJA’s service-hour requirements is necessary to advance to the next grade level and is a requirement for graduation.
Students may participate in opportunities other than those included in the service directories only after receiving written permission via email from the Assistant Campus Minister. All service hours must be done outside of normal school hours. 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. Visiting with patients in nursing homes or hospice facilities does not need prior approval. Donations of any kind, including Sticker Sacks or meals prepared and delivered to soup kitchens or homeless shelters, 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 Noelle Shipley at shipleyn@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2295.
Mission Advancement
ANNUAL FUND
Roses are red.
Violets are blue.
We are lucky to have parents like you!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
For Valentine’s Day, make a gift in honor or memory of someone you love. You can donate online now or simply drop a check (made payable to SJA Foundation) in the mail to SJA with a note stating who the gift is honoring.
If you prefer to make a gift of stock, please contact Mission Advancement Director Meg Gerald at geraldm@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2254.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
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. If you are purchasing a brick for your senior daughter, please submit your order by March 1. This will ensure that the brick will be put in place by the seniors’ last day on May 1.
Parent Clubs
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! 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 2024-2025 school year, we invite you to join now!
PARENTS WHO PRAY
Did you know the Mothers’ Club has a Parents Who Pray (PWP) Committee? This is one of our committees you can join once you become a member of the Mothers’ Club.
PWP Committee members will also pray for individual intentions. Please submit your prayer requests to parentswhopray@sjabr.org.
All prayer requests are welcome, and please know that we are sensitive to sharing details. Information will be kept confidential unless otherwise requested.
At least once a month you will receive an email with requests to pray for a special intention for our SJA community and our broader community. We will also inform you of additional opportunities to gather in person to pray together.
SPECIAL THANKS
Another shout-out to the Christmas Decorations Committee members, who spent all of January 6 taking down decorations, organizing them and storing everything away until next year. Our thanks to Anna Arceneaux, Marcy Hubbs and a group of parent and student volunteers.
Thanks for Lori Denstel and her Science Fair Reception Committee for providing food and drinks for the students participating in Science Fair as well as lunch for the judges and faculty.
Thank you to the Party Blooms Committee of Beth Couvillion, Catherine Alford and Lana Malone, along with parent volunteers, who organized the sale and distribution of boutonnieres for Winter Formal.
MOTHER-DAUGHTER BRUNCH & STYLE SHOW
We’re just two months away from the always popular Mother-Daughter Brunch & Style Show! Tickets and t-shirts will be on sale through SchoolCash Online beginning on Monday, February 3. We look forward to this year’s event, set for Sunday, April 6, in the River Center Ballroom.
SJA DADS’ CLUB
Dads’ Club members have a busy spring semester. Some of the highlights of our spring activities are the sophomore and junior class retreats, Father-Daughter Day, the seniors’ last day and exam treats. Your membership dues, in combination with the profits from Dads’ Club-sponsored events including Father-Daughter Day, the Sticker Scramble and the Parents’ Back-to-School Dance, benefit our daughters. Are you ready to get involved during the second semester? Sign up now on SchoolCash Online to join the best group of guys on campus.
YOU ARE MY LUCKY CHARM: 2025 FATHER-DAUGHTER DAY
What is luckier than a four-leaf clover? Dads and daughters spending a day together. Sunday,
March 16, is Father-Daughter Day at SJA. The day will begin at 11 a.m. in the Academy Student Center with a prayer service and a guest speaker. Following the prayers service, dads and daughters will enjoy lunch and games on campus. Compete in a multitude of games with and against your daughter for prizes and bragging rights. Registration opens on February 1 on SchoolCash Online. Lunches and t-shirts will be available for purchase at that time.
LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD MEN
Pour it Forward: A Discounted Wine Sale Benefitting St. Joseph’s Academy: On Saturday, February 8, we will hold our inaugural wine sale, Pour It Forward: A Discounted Wine Sale Benefitting St. Joseph’s Academy. We are looking for volunteers to assist with setup, the wine sale and take down. Please consider donating your time to assist with this SJA fundraiser. You can sign up here.
Sophomore Retreat: The SJA Sophomore Retreat is set for Monday, February 24, on campus. The Dads’ Club will serve a pizza lunch to our sophomores in the Sister Agatha Dining Hall. We need 10 dads to help serving the pizza and to clean up afterwards. Dads will need to arrive by 10:30 a.m. We will serve lunch at 11:15 a.m. and should be finished with clean up by 12:30 p.m. Please click here to sign up.
Junior Retreat: The SJA Junior Retreat is set for Monday, March 17, at Sacred Heart. Dads will cook 350 burgers at the retreat site. We need 10-12 dads to help prep, cook and serve that day. We will move the Dads’ Club grill to Sacred Heart at 8 a.m. and start prepping at approximately 9 a.m. We serve between 11:30 a.m. and 12 p.m., so we should be finished picking up by 1:30 p.m. If you wish to volunteer, please click here.
If you have questions about any of these volunteer opportunities, feel free to contact Dads’ Club moderator Meg Gerald at geraldm@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2254.
Tennis Tournament: The SJA Alumnae Association hosts The Tennis Classic March 21-23 at Bocage Racquet Club. We need a few good men to help ice down and keep the beverages stocked during the event. You can sign up here. Please direct questions to SJA Alumnae Director Alli Bourgeois at bourgeoisa@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2244.
Sticker Shop
The Sticker Shop is your go-to source for all stylish and spirited things.
Our quarter-zip sweatshirts, in both red and navy, continue to steal the spotlight as a fantastic addition to the approved uniform. They’re in stock now, ensuring you stay both fashionable and cozy. And speaking of coziness, it’s still sweatpants season! Wrap yourself in warmth with our new Land’s End SJA navy and red uniform sweatpants, available in both jogger and open leg styles. The new sweatpants run big in size, so please encourage your daughters to come to the shop to try them on before purchasing to ensure they get the correct fit and size.
Do you know of a new family about to join the SJA community? Consider gifting them one of our new styles in pajama shorts and pants, the epitome of comfort, chic and perfect for those leisurely moments.
Show off your Sticker Pride during winter and spring sporting events with our sassy earrings. We’ve got plenty of styles to choose from, so you can cheer on your Stickers in style!
Our collaborations with local businesses will add a touch of glam and sophistication to your spirit wear. We continue to partner with the Queen of Sparkles to bring you dazzling options, while collaborations with Fig and Dove offer our one-of-a-kind wreath sashes. Additionally, items created by Becky Maher and Jen Culotta give you many options to choose from, anything from crafted ornaments to vases, acrylic blocks, tea towels, notepads and journals, assorted beautiful watercolor prints. All are perfect for graduation gifts.
From custom SJA jewelry to unique gift options, we’ve curated something special for everyone.
Stay in the loop by following us on Instagram @SJAStickerShop for the latest updates, sneak peeks and more.
Ready to shop? Visit us online at www.sjastickershop.org.
For those who prefer an in-person shopping experience, join us on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays (when school is in session) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Mother Alice Hall, Room 116. We accept all major credit cards or cash.
Got questions? Drop us a line at stickershop@sjabr.org.
Thank you for your continued support of the SJA Mothers’ Club. Geaux Stickers!