September 2025
Parent Newsletter
- Events
- Campus Life
- Ongoing Reminders
- Counseling Center
- Student Resources
- Campus Ministry
- Mission Advancement
- Parent Clubs
- Sticker Shop
Events
LABOR DAY HOLIDAY
School is closed on Monday, September 1, in observance of Labor Day.
FACULTY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY
Tuesday, September 2. There is no school for students.
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 speakers are LSU men's basketball coach Matt McMahon and 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.
GUEST SPEAKER
On Monday, September 8, our students, faculty and staff will hear from internationally recognized Catholic chastity speaker Jason Evert during a school assembly. Details will be shared with parents in a separate communication. We will follow Schedule 6. If you’d like to watch a live stream of the assembly, click here.
There will be a second session for adults and teens (ages 13+ only) hosted by St. Michael the Archangel High School for all parents of high school students in the Diocese. The parent session is scheduled for September 8 from 6 to 9:15 p.m. in the St. Sebastian Gym (17521 Monitor Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70817) and will include a talk, Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation and additional resources for attendees. You may purchase a ticket for the event session here.
PARENT/SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP WORKSHOPS
As we shared in our Back-to-School Parent Newsletter, the Counseling Center and the administrative team will offer grade-level workshops for parents during the coming year. Please note that at least one parent should attend.
Our first meeting is for the parents of sophomores. Please choose from one of two dates: Tuesday, September 9, at 12 p.m. in the Mother Alice Hall Community Room or Wednesday, September 17, at 6 p.m. in the Fife Student Commons. The topic is Deep Dive into Test Prep and Understanding Your GPA.
Parents of freshmen should choose between Thursday, September 25, at 6 p.m. in the Fife Student Commons or Monday, September 29, at 12 p.m. in the Mother Alice Hall Community Room. The topic is Preventing Substance Abuse in Teens (Drugs/Alcohol).
MID-QUARTER GRADES
First-quarter mid-quarter grades will be current on MySJA at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, September 10. Please direct questions regarding your MySJA account to Registrar Cristina Latiolais at latiolaisc@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2226. Teachers may leave a mid-quarter report comment for students. If a comment is posted, parent(s) and students will receive an email that includes the comment. It will also show up on MySJA under Official Notes located at the top right corner of the screen. Questions about grades should be directed to your daughter’s teacher(s) or the Counseling Center at (225) 388-2282.
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Second-quarter mid-quarter grades will be available on November 7.
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Third-quarter mid-quarter grades will be available on February 4.
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Fourth-quarter mid-quarter grades will be available on April 2 for seniors and April 17 for grades 9-11.
SERVICE ACADEMY DAY IN LAFAYETTE
On September 13, the offices of Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy, Speaker Mike Johnson and Representatives Clay Higgins, Julia Letlow and Cleo Fields will host Service Academy Day at the LITE Center at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Registration will open at 8:30 a.m., and the event will begin at 9 a.m. All high school students and their parents, as well as school officials, are welcome to attend at no cost.
Representatives from America’s service academies, including West Point and the Naval and Air Force Academies, will make presentations on what their academies have to offer. If a student gains admittance to one of those Academies, they will graduate with a bachelor’s degree and become a commissioned officer in our Armed Forces. Additionally, the three academies are tuition-free.
Attendees will hear presentations from ROTC units and a presentation on the Congressional nomination process. They will also be able to visit the booths of the service academies, ROTC units and members of Congress to ask questions.
RSVP to Shawn_Hanscom@cassidy.senate.gov.
EARLY DISMISSAL
Tuesday, September 16, for Faculty Professional Development. We will follow Schedule 8 with students dismissed at 1:30 p.m. Please note that the Technology and Learning and the Fife Student Commons will remain open until 5:30 p.m. and that resource teachers (math, science, English and writing) are available.
DRAMA CLUB TALENT NIGHT
Thursday-Saturday, September 18-20, 6:30 p.m. in the Black Box Theater. Tickets will be available through SchoolCash Online.
SENIOR GRANDPARENTS’ WEEK
Monday-Friday, September 22-26, during all three lunch periods, Mother Alice Hall Community Room. Grandparents will join their seniors for lunch during their assigned lunch period on a designated day which was indicated on the invitation that was mailed earlier this month. Seniors will then take a photograph with their grandparents and lead them on a tour of campus. Grandparents should look for SJA Event signs posted around campus which indicate parking spaces. Grandparents are asked to RSVP by September 11 to Assistant Director of Mission Advancement – Events Jennifer Knight at knightj@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2270. Please check with your daughter’s grandparents to be sure they received their invitation. We ask that you contact Jennifer Knight if they don’t have their invitations by September 2.
BIG SIS/LITTLE SIS REVEAL
On Wednesday, September 24, freshmen “little sisters” will meet their senior “big sisters” as part of SJA’s traditional Big Sis/Little Sis program. The event will be held from 3 to 3:45 p.m. The program’s purpose is to welcome incoming freshmen to our school. Each freshman will be randomly matched with a senior group to foster new relationships with their peers and establish connections with their new classmates.
Several SJA-sanctioned activities and events occur throughout the year, all on campus: Candlelight Ceremony, Sweet Tooth Day and Hat Day. Seniors may invite their little sisters to join them in other activities, as well. While we want to foster relationships between the girls, parents must make final decisions as far as allowing your freshman daughter to participate in non-sanctioned events. We encourage parents of both seniors and freshmen to use the online Student Directory to communicate with one another if your daughters plan events outside of school.
Questions? Parents of seniors should contact senior class moderators Stephanie Faucette (faucettes@sjabr.org) or Aimee Cronan (cronana@sjabr.org). Parents of freshmen should contact freshman class moderators Brooke Haigler (haiglerb@sjabr.org) or Allie Carlock (carlocka@sjabr.org).
STUDENT COUNCIL FUN DAY
Friday, September 26. The theme is Sticker September. Students can dress as their class mascot. Students will receive dress guidelines via email. General Fun Day guidelines were included in the Back-to-School Parent Newsletter. Please direct questions to Dean of Women Christina Richardson at richardsonc@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2278.
CLASS RING, GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENT ORDERING SESSION
Monday, September 29, Fife Student Commons during all lunch hours and again at 5-7 p.m. Juniors are invited to order their school rings, and seniors are invited to order graduation announcements. Parents are encouraged to attend the evening session with their daughters.
If you would prefer to order online, visit Jostens.com. For complete details, including a QR code to take you directly to the SJA order site, junior parents should click here. Senior parents should click here.
VOCATIONS MASS
Tuesday, September 30, 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 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 via livestream, click here.
Campus Life
HANDBOOK ADDENDUM
Per school policy, the school handbook can be amended at any time during the school year. Parents are notified of changes via the Parent Newsletter.
SJA’s cell phone/smart watch policy is below. The change to this policy is indicated in bold text.
Cell phone use by students is not permitted during school hours. Before or after school, students are permitted to use their cellphones in any area. Students are asked to turn off their cellphones in their bags/bookbags during the school day, including during lunch or unstructured periods. They should remain off and stowed away until the final bell rings. Cellphones are not permitted in the Technology and Learning Center during school hours. Students can wear smart watches but are not permitted to use them to text or make phone calls during the school day.
If a student is sick and needs to leave school, she must go to the nurse’s office to call her parents. If a student needs to contact her parent during the school day, she is expected to email or go to the Main Office to make a phone call. If a student is found using her cell phone, holding the cellphone in her hand, having it out and visible on her desk or texting/making calls on her smart watch, in or outside of a classroom building, restroom, common space (Quad, Fife Student Commons or Dining Hall) or any campus area during school hours), she will have the device taken from her. She will retrieve it, along with an infraction, at the end of the day from the Dean of Women.
The use of cellular devices in an unacceptable manner in the school setting is prohibited. Examples of unacceptable usage can include but are not limited to the following: use of a device for any purpose inside a restroom, use of a device on the school campus for cheating, cyber bullying, sexting and taking inappropriate pictures or videos (including videos that contain inappropriate music). Students are to refrain from creating videos with inappropriate content while wearing the school uniform at any time. Regardless of your privacy settings, assume that all of the information you have shared on your social network is public information. Students are not to record or take pictures of other students, faculty or staff without consent.
Teachers will require students to stow away cell phones, smart watches or other devices that might distract the student while completing any graded work in the classroom. The classroom teacher has the discretion to determine when these items can be used for educational purposes.
The use of smart watches and cell phones while testing, including exams, tests, quizzes, etc., is prohibited. Teachers will ask students to remove smart watches before any assignment or assessment. They will also ask students to put their cellphones in the designated areas within each classroom. If a student has her cellphone or smartwatch on her person in a testing environment, she is subject to the Academic Dishonesty Policy and its consequences.
If a student chooses to bring a cell phone on campus, the student assumes all risks and responsibility for the cell phone. SJA is not liable for lost, stolen or damaged student cell phones.
2025-2026 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.
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September 1: Labor Day
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October 17 and 20: Fall Holiday
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November 24-28: Thanksgiving
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December 22-January 5: Christmas
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January 19: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday
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February 16-20: Mardi Gras
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April 3-10: Easter
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.
SJA 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.
Remaining Fall 2025 Dates and Topics
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.
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 or subscribing to SJA Community Prayer on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
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 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.
SJA PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT
Registration for the third annual SJA Pickleball Tournament, presented by Audi Baton Rouge, closes on Friday, October 3. We hope that you will join us for two days of fellowship, food and fun. The event will be held on Saturday and Sunday, October 18 and 19, in the Academy Student Center and Activity Center. Our tournament is open to men’s, women’s and mixed doubles teams. We welcome all alumnae, parents and friends 18 and older to participate. We look forward to seeing everyone there!
THE SOIRÉE: A REDSTICKER THURSDAY NIGHT
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 13th 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!
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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
Seniors
Kellie Braud Wintz '02, Class of 2026 Counselor (wintzk@sjabr.org; 388-2223)
Allison Bruton '95, College Advisor A-K (brutona@sjabr.org; 388-2299)
Ellen S. Frazier, College Advisor L-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 (A-K) or Ms. Frazier (L-Z) if you have questions pertaining to college admissions including applications, scholarships, recommendation letters and transcript requests. Additionally, any college/scholarship application, including the Common Application, that asks for the counselor’s name is to be completed with the name of your daughter’s College Advisor, not Mrs. Wintz.
SENIOR FALL CHECK-IN VISIT
Mrs. Wintz will be meeting with your daughters this fall for a personal and academic check-in, including a discussion regarding their estimated TOPS GPA. Please contact Mrs. Wintz if you have questions about your daughter pertaining to academic or personal concerns.
NACAC COLLEGE FAIR IN BATON ROUGE
The NACAC College Fair will be held in person on Tuesday, September 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Raising Cane’s River Center. There are currently more than 50 colleges that will be represented, and new colleges are added weekly. This event is optional, and students must register to attend; however, please note that students can sign up on the day of the fair. When students register, they will receive a confirmation email with a QR code. This code is scanned by the college representatives to track who they speak to at the fair. It is important to note that demonstrated interest and interaction with colleges look favorable during the application process. Students can click here to register and view participating colleges and universities. There are two Baton Rouge links. Be sure to click on the one for September 9 (6-8 p.m.). Don’t register for the event during the school day.
COLLEGE CAMPUS VISITS
One of the best ways to determine if a college is the right fit for your daughter is to visit the campus and meet with ambassadors and members of the various departments.
Seniors are allowed three excused absences for college visits during the academic year. These three days are not in addition to the 10 days already allowed. Juniors and sophomores are allowed two excused absences for college visits during the academic year. Notification of a student’s college visit and confirmation of the tour from the university, if applicable, must be sent to the attendance coordinator by a parent at least one school day before the scheduled absence. If notification is not received, the absence will be marked as unexcused. Any student who misses more than her allowed number of excused absences for college visits will receive an infraction. Please email the attendance coordinator with any additional questions at attendance@sjabr.org.
No college visits will be approved during midterms, final exams or AP testing. Please note that any day missed for college visits, whether considered excused or unexcused, counts towards a student’s overall absences for the semester. No college visits will be approved during the month of December or after April 15 of a student’s senior year.
COLLEGE REP VISITS ON SJA’S CAMPUS
College representatives will be visiting with our students both in person and virtually this semester. As usual, email announcements will be sent ahead of time, and the visits will be announced daily in our regular morning announcements during the school day. Upcoming visits also appear in Naviance Student.
ACT/SAT TESTING
Even schools that are test-optional for admission may require a test score for scholarship consideration. We are still strongly encouraging our seniors to take the ACT (or SAT), if they haven’t already, and retake as needed. TOPS still requires an ACT or SAT score. Click here to view the ACT National Saturday test dates. Registration for the ACT is done through the student’s account at https://www.act.org/. Click here to view the SAT National Saturday test dates and register, if interested. Registration for the SAT is completed through the student’s College Board account using the same link.
SJA test center code: 161060
TOPS code: 1595
NCAA code: 9999 (for those students registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center for college athletics)
Please note that students should have a record of their passwords. This is not information that is kept on record at SJA. Last spring, your daughter saved her password to a reference sheet for future use. Should she not remember her password, she should reference this list or reset her password so that she can regain access to her account.
ADDITIONAL COLLEGE INFORMATION
After meeting with seniors during Orientation to set up Common Application accounts, link those accounts to Naviance and complete FERPA waivers, Ms. Bruton and Ms. Frazier met with your daughters in English and History classes to introduce them to the specific application forms and to assist them with more sections of the Common Application. During the week of August 25-29, Ms. Bruton and Ms. Frazier held help sessions during all lunch hours. When students return to school after Labor Day, they will be invited to one-on-one appointments in September and October to discuss college applications. These appointments will be scheduled over the next several weeks, but students can always email, stop by or Teams chat anytime they have questions or require a meeting with their college advisor.
College advisors have emailed parents and students slides of their presentations from the first three weeks of school. These slides are also available for reference in the Class of 2026 College Advising Class in MySJA. Students are encouraged to refer to the slides as they complete various sections of the applications. These presentations and slides do not replace students’ individual one-on-one appointments, but they do contain helpful information regarding the college application process.
A MESSAGE FROM SJA’S WELLNESS EDUCATOR
Melissa Shaw ’96
shawm@sjabr.org; (225) 388-2347
I hope your daughters are the masters of healthy sleep hygiene and are practicing this nightly. I will meet with our Turtles later in the semester for in-class wellness education, and this year is special in that our seniors’ spring semester includes college-tailored wellness programming. As always, I am here to provide additional resources and support in collaboration with our Counseling Center team. See you soon, and stay well!
Juniors
Lindsay Carlino ’02, Class of 2027 Counselor (carlinol@sjabr.org; 388-2225)
CLASSROOM ORIENTATION VISITS
On August 13 and 14, I met with all juniors through their Theology classes. I also sent parents an email with the presentation just in case there are questions. My goal this year is to make sure that all parents and students are on the same page and receiving the most up-to-date information regarding college readiness. Topics covered during the orientation visit were updated information about TOPS; the differences between weighted GPA, unweighted GPA and core GPA; important standardized testing dates; information about topics to be covered during a student’s individual appointment with me this semester; and what to look forward to this spring regarding college application prep.
TOPS STUDENT HUB
Throughout the month of September, I will be visiting with all junior U.S. History classes to have students set up their LOSFA Student Hub. Students will be able to track their progress toward TOPS in this platform. It is also the account that they will use throughout college to track their TOPS award status.
INDIVIDUAL STUDENT MEETINGS
I will meet with all juniors individually during the fall semester regarding college readiness. During this time, your daughter and I will update her academic resume; update her college list in Naviance that she created during her college and career group last spring; and discuss her career interests. The goal of this meeting is to prepare her for the meeting with her College Advisor in the spring.
STANDARDIZED TESTING
PSAT: All juniors will take the PSAT on Tuesday, October 28. The PSAT is the test that juniors take to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program and is a practice for the SAT test. It includes tests in reading, writing and language and math and is scored 320-1520. Your daughters took this test last year as sophomores so they could acclimate themselves to the format of the test. Each student also went over her results in a spring English classroom visit and had access to her College Board account which provides the opportunity for test prep. The girls were reminded of this opportunity during my junior year orientation visits.
ACT: All juniors will take the ACT on Tuesday, March 10, on campus during a school day. ACT recommends the first time a student is truly prepared to take an ACT test is the spring of her junior year. The reason for this is because the ACT is a curriculum-based test. By the spring of their junior year, students will have covered a majority of the concepts being tested. Mrs. Brubaker, SJA’s testing coordinator, will visit all junior English classes at the beginning of March to help the students register for the test, as they must have a unique ID number provided by ACT to register for this special administration.
COLLEGE VISIT OPPORTUNITIES
NACAC Fair in Baton Rouge: On Tuesday, September 9, from 6 to 8 p.m., NACAC will host its annual College Fair. Representatives from more than 100 colleges in the U.S. and around the world will be in attendance. This is a great opportunity for your daughter to meet with various schools and have questions answered. Your daughter can register here.
College Rep Visits: Throughout this school year, many college reps will come to SJA or have virtual campus visits during the school day. This is a great opportunity for your daughter to meet with reps of schools that she is interested in possibly attending. Juniors may attend these meetings if they are scheduled during her unstructured hour, during her lunch or have their teacher’s permission to miss class. All college rep visits are posted on the school calendar and are listed in her Naviance account under college visits. The girls also receive email reminders so that they can plan accordingly.
College Campus Visits: Students are encouraged to visit colleges of interest during school holidays; however, juniors are allowed two excused absences for college visits during the academic year. When necessary, a travel day is allotted for each college visit. Notification of a student’s college visit and confirmation of the tour from the university must be submitted through the Absence Reporting Form on MySJA by a parent at least one school day before the scheduled absence. If notification is not received, the absence will be marked as unexcused. 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 midterms, final exams or AP testing. College visits should be avoided on any test days. Students are responsible for paying attention to their test calendar. Please note that any day missed for college visits, whether considered excused or unexcused, counts towards a student’s overall absences for the semester.
COMMUNITY COUNSELING RESOURCES
While I can be a great resource to your daughter at school, many students benefit from counseling services in the community. If you are interested in seeking counseling services for your daughter, please do not hesitate to reach out to me for help figuring out a few clinicians who may be a good fit. I know that looking at a list of counselors who accept your insurance can be overwhelming. I also have six pages of resources available on the Counseling Center Moodle page that can be accessed through your daughter’s account. I update this list at least once per semester.
A MESSAGE FROM SJA’S WELLNESS EDUCATOR
Melissa Shaw ’96
shawm@sjabr.org; (225) 388-2347
Glad to see our Bees buzzing into their junior year. I also hope you are all sleeping well and already locked in for a successful year. October is planned as a busy month for junior wellness education. Plans are in the works for our upcoming Wellness Day in October, and I also will be visiting your daughters in classrooms to educate them about Growth Mindset and Test Anxiety. As always, I am here to provide additional resources and support in collaboration with our Counseling Center team. See you soon, and stay well!
Sophomores
Allison Adler Dasso ’16, Class of 2028 Counselor (dassoa@sjabr.org; 388-2281)
CLASSROOM ORIENTATION VISITS
At the very beginning of school, I met with all students in person through their Theology classes. During my meeting, I reviewed the differences in their weighted, unweighted and core GPAs. Students and parents need to be aware of this since every college uses its own standards for granting admission and awarding scholarships. These GPAs vary depending on the courses your daughter takes.
For instance, TOPS requires a core GPA of 2.5 in the 19 courses in the TOPS curriculum and a 20 on the ACT to be awarded scholarship money toward tuition to in-state colleges and universities. Your daughter’s TOPS GPA is not included on her transcript, as it is calculated separately by the state. Some helpful links about the TOPS program are listed below.
TOPS Curriculum
Opportunity Award
TOPS Performance Award
TOPS Honors Award
TOPS Excellence Award
TOPS Tech Award
The requirements for the SJA honors diploma were also reviewed during this visit. For a complete list of the requirements, please visit the this page.
STANDARDIZED TESTING
PSAT: All sophomores will take the PSAT on Tuesday, October 28. The PSAT is the test that juniors take to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program and is a practice for the SAT test. It includes tests in writing and language and math and is scored 320-1520. Providing our sophomores with the opportunity to take this test will give them an advantage in that they can familiarize themselves with the timing and question format for this high-stakes test junior year.
PreACT: All sophomores will take the Pre-ACT on Tuesday, March 10. The Pre-ACT is a valuable test in that it is an official practice test for the ACT. It includes tests in English, math, reading and science and is scored 1-36 just like the ACT, but it has fewer questions and will take less time to administer. This test also provides students with a predicted ACT score range based on their performance.
I explained these two tests during my classroom visits in August. Your daughter can find test prep information for both the Pre-ACT and PSAT on MySJA. Students will receive results along with an explanation during classroom visits in the spring semester.
BALANCING LIFE AND MENTAL HEALTH
A portion of my classroom visit was dedicated to discussing with your daughter the importance of maintaining a good balance among the various areas of her life (family, spiritual life, physical health, emotional health and social/community). It is important that your daughter be able to recognize when things are out of balance and implement some reflection and relaxation techniques so that she can think clearly to problem solve. I discussed the following indicators that can help her identify when she is stressed and struggling:
- Negative self-talk
- Reactions that are exaggerated
- Drastic changes in sleep patterns
- Drastic changes in eating habits
- Isolation from friends, family and activities she once enjoyed
- Physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches and feeling jittery
While many of these can be considered typical for your daughter’s development stage in the short term, they can be problematic if prolonged. I discussed several examples with your daughter about how she can tell if she needs to reach out for help to deal with an issue that she is going through. In addition, I gave her many examples of stress-relief techniques so that she can deescalate herself to calm down and think clearly. A few I shared were:
- Communicate with parents, school counselor and other mentors
- Prayer
- List things to be thankful for
- Take quiet time to reflect
- Keeping established routines
- Check-in with a friend
- Be active
- Sleep
- Guided relaxation/imagery (mindfulness)
- Grounding
- Music/dance
COMMUNITY COUNSELING RESOURCES
While I can be a great resource to your daughter at school, many students benefit from counseling services in the community. If you are interested in seeking counseling services for your daughter, please do not hesitate to reach out to me for help in figuring out a few clinicians who may be a good fit. I know that looking at a list of counselors who accept your insurance can be overwhelming. I also have six pages of resources available on MySJA that can be accessed through your daughter’s account. I update this list at least once per semester.
A MESSAGE FROM SJA’S WELLNESS EDUCATOR
Melissa Shaw ’96
shawm@sjabr.org; (225) 388-2347
I hope everyone is back on schedule, including having a healthy sleep plan. I have enjoyed seeing our Flamingos back on campus. I will be meeting with your daughters for in-class wellness education this month to inform them about maladapting coping mechanisms with a focus on vaping. I am also planning our upcoming Wellness Day in October. As always, I am here to provide additional resources and support in collaboration with our Counseling Center team. See you soon, and stay well!
Freshmen
Mary Beth Elfert, maternity sub for Ally Giardina (elfertm@sjabr.org; 388-2283)
Ally Giardina, Class of 2029 Counselor (giardinaa@sjabr.org; 388-2283)
MEETING YOUR DAUGHTER
In August, I completed classroom visits with the class of 2029 to provide an overview of freshman year. In addition, I have begun individual meetings with the students to build a rapport with them, so they feel comfortable using me as a resource throughout the school year.
In the class presentation, I emphasized the importance of grades even in freshman year. Grades are reported on MySJA. Please take time to review your daughter’s grades periodically. If you have any concerns or would like to discuss her academic progress, please contact me. Also, if you see that your daughter needs additional assistance, the SJA Learning Center is available to provide extra help at no charge during lunch periods and after school. The Learning Center can also provide you with a private tutor list.
COMMUNICATION
You will receive emails from me throughout the year updating you on classroom visits and information that has been given to your daughter. Please let me know if you have any concerns. If you have any questions about your daughter at any time during the year, please feel free to contact me. I am happy to help!
HELP WITH THE TRANSITION
- Recognize the changes your daughter has gone through and will continue to go through this year.
- Ask your daughter about the best parts of her day at school. Keep the talk positive.
- When trying to find out information from your daughter, open-ended questions can be beneficial rather than ones that can be answered with a quick “yes,” “no” or “fine.”
- Listen. Sometimes your daughter just needs to vent. Change is scary for everyone, and the transition to high school is a big step.
- Encourage her to get involved in clubs and athletics. In addition to this being a great way to make new friends, it also assists with time-management skills.
- Meet the parents of any friends your daughter has made. These connections are important.
- Make sure she gets enough sleep. Removing all electronic devices, including computer and phone, from her bedroom at night facilitates a good night’s sleep.
A MESSAGE FROM SJA’S WELLNESS EDUCATOR
Melissa Shaw ’96
shawm@sjabr.org; (225) 388-2347
These Dolphins have dived into a great start! I hope everyone has implemented a healthy sleep hygiene plan, and if not, I encourage creating one for this year’s success. In my role as SJA’s wellness educator, I will meet your daughters for presentations on topics related to mental health and wellness. This fall, I will give a presentation to our freshmen about healthy relationships. I am also busy planning this year’s Freshman Wellness Day for later next month. Then I am here in the Counseling Center to provide additional resources and support in collaboration with our Counseling Center team. 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 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 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 MySJA 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, 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 Camp, 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
The 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.
Mission Advancement
The SJA Annual Fund is more than just a tradition. It’s a key contributor to our students’ success. Thanks to your generosity, last year’s appeal raised more than $680,000, directly supporting curriculum enhancements, faculty development, campus security upgrades and other vital needs. This success is built on the power of one: one donor, one gift, one year. When each family contributes, no matter the amount, the collective impact is extraordinary. Your support ensures that our students continue to thrive in a safe, enriching and empowering environment.
We invite you to make your 2025-2026 Annual Fund pledge or donation by September 29. You’ll have until June 30, 2026, to fulfill your pledge. Our goal is ambitious but achievable: 100 percent parent participation.
Please complete the commitment card you received in the mail, or click here to donate or make your pledge.
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 near the Fife Student Commons. For more information, contact Mission Advancement Operations Manager Wendy Coniglio at conigliow@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2336. Click here to purchase your brick today.
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! 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!
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 the Parents’ Back-to-School Dance, Father-Daughter Day and the Sticker Scramble, benefit our daughters. Are you ready to join for the 2025-2026 school year? Sign up now to join the best group of guys on campus.
If you have any questions, please contact Dads’ Club Moderator Meg Gerald at geraldm@sjabr.org or (225) 388-2254.
Sticker Shop
We hope everyone is settling smoothly into the new school year! The SJA Sticker Shop is open and ready to help you gear up with all things SJA, from uniform essentials to fun fall spirit items.
New parents, don’t forget to remind your daughters to stop by the Sticker Shop during lunch on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. They can pick up pre-ordered items or enjoy a little shopping break!
Visit us online at www.SJAstickershop.org. You’ll find everything from sweatshirts and hats to water bottles and blankets, perfect for school, sports and everything in between.
If your daughter’s birthday is in September, she can enjoy 10 percent off one item during her Sticker Shop visit. Just let us know at checkout!
Shopping is easy:
- Shop online and pick up in person.
- Visit during lunch hours.
- Or stop by the shop in Mother Alice Hall (3080 Kleinert Avenue). Just ring the bell, and we’ll welcome you in!
Hours of Operation: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
(Closed when campus is closed)
We accept major credit cards, Apple Pay and cash.
Have questions? Email us at stickershop@sjabr.org.
And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram: @sjastickershop for updates, sneak peeks and more.
Thank you for supporting the SJA Sticker Shop and the Mothers’ Club. Every purchase helps further our mission. Let’s show off that SJA spirit together!