Dear Parents/Guardians,

We are about to enter the most solemn and meaningful three days of our liturgical year…The Triduum.

Holy Thursday On this special evening of prayer we commemorate the first Mass, the Last Supper, and the institution of the Sacraments of Holy Eucharist and Holy Orders. We thank you, Lord, for the beautiful gifts of friendship, service, and priesthood.

Good Friday On this solemn day we remember the day that Christ died on the cross for us. Such an ignoble death for our Redeemer. How He loves us! Jesus, let us be like you. Let us grow in gentleness, understanding, kindness, tolerance, and courage.

Holy Saturday We wait this day, quietly wait. To wait patiently is difficult. Today we pray that Jesus will help us acquire the gift of patience especially in the face of adversity.

Our parish gives us many lovely opportunities to make the Triduum a special time to deepen our faith life. Make an effort as a family to attend one of the many services offered during these three days. Then at the glorious liturgy of Easter the true meaning of our Lord’s Resurrection will be even more special for you and your children.

Some Continue and Some Come to an End

ver the past few weeks several of the programs for collecting receipts have ended for this school year. Giant, Metro, SuperFresh, Staples, and Crown programs have ended. Mrs. Jane Malone has seen her last Giant and Metro (which also includes Staples and Crown) receipts. Our totals for these have been our best ever! Giant = $315,088.35 and

Metro, et al = $250,099.05

SuperFresh has also brought their program to an end for 1998-99. Mrs. Susan White-Baxley reports that we will receive about $150.00 cash from that program. We will add that to our PC lab upgrade project for this summer.

Mrs. Amy Fassio has also sent another bundle of boxtops and labels to General Mills. To date we have received $280.00. This program continues all year long so please continue to send in the General Mills boxtops towards next year’s redemption.

Many thanks to Mrs. Malone and Mrs. Primrose, our in-house assistant, Mrs. White-Baxley, and Mrs. Fassio for the many hours of work on this project again this year.

AT&T is discontinuing their Learning Points Program. If you are a participant in this program you have been notified of the program ending. We will redeem our points this summer for computer software for our computer lab. Many thanks to the 65 families, friends, and faculty who contributed points to SJS. We earned 127,022 points for software and licenses.

With this newsletter every student in grades K—7 is bringing home 2 order sheets for gym wear for the 1999 school year. All orders with payments must be returned to the school office by May 3. A gym uniform is required for each student. The sweats are optional, but no other sweats except those with the SJS logo are permitted. By your ordering directly through the school office and only in the spring of each year, we are able to keep costs as low as possible.

Samples for sizing will be on display in the front hall from April 12 through April 23. Students will receive their orders during the first week of school. (Sorry, but opening date has not been set yet for SJS.)

If you have any questions please call the office or see Mrs. Goldbeck.

May 14, 15, 1999

he rides are booked; the food is ordered; and the wheels are oiled—it is almost time for St. Joseph’s 12^th annual spring fling—Kaleidscope.The organizing committee has been working all year and things are coming down to the wire.

PLAN B - Due April 1, 1999 As the school office will be closed April 1—9, all payments should be mailed or taken to the rectory office by April 9. Payments received after we re-open on April 12 will be considered late.

PLAN C –Monthly payments are due April 15, 1999. Please send your payment to the office or mail it before April 15.

enator Tom Bromwell and Delegates Kathy Klausmeier, Jim Ports, and Al Redmer are issuing a challenge to all of the students and families of the 8^th Legislative District to be a part of the TV-Free 7-Day Challenge anytime during the month of April. Researchers point out that watching TV is a passive activity that does little to foster any true learning. The average elementary school age child spends 50% more time watching TV than attending school in the course of a year. The challenge is to give up TV for a week and find something else to do that will be creative, enjoyable, relaxing, etc. If you would like more information or a packet call Senator Bromwell’s office at 410-841-3620. Good luck!!

…The Second Grade Students will celebrate their First Eucharist at special Masses on April 10 and 17. Please keep the students in your prayers as they come to the Lord’s table for the first time.

…Friday, April 30 is Volunteers" Appreciation Day at SJS. The faculty will showcase their culinary talents to thank the scores of volunteers who help the SJS family, at large. A Mass. will be celebrated at 12:45 in the Church. It will be followed by a reception in the Supper Room. Volunteers, watch for your invitation after Easter and RSVP ASAP.

…The Spring Track season is upon us. Meets this year are May 1 at Old Mill and May 8 at Essex Community College.

…Middle School Play May 19 in the Church Three vignettes will be presented. Cats, The Sound of Music and West Side Story will share the spotlight.

uring the month of March our students collected non-perishable food items in their homerooms for Catholic Charities and Our Daily Brea. Each homeroom was given a list supplied by Our Daily Bread. Classes that met their goals were given an Out-of-Uniform Day on March 31.

We are attempting to seek contributions from large corporations to help with our technology program. Since most companies are more willing to donate if their employees are affiliated with the requesting organization, we need your support. If someone in your family is employed by BGE, Bell Atlantic, McCormick, T. Rowe Price, IBM, Proctor Gamble, a banking institution or any other large corporation, please contact Gina Westfall at 410-529-0167 to see how you can help.

On Feb. 21 I had the pleasure of working with 50n young people from our school and parish. These young boys and girls came from grades 6-7-8, our Middle School. Most had never worked the Chicken Dinner. They worked every minute they were here. As this was also my first Chicken Dinner in the "dining room", I was very nervous that all the things the needed to be done would get done. THANKS to the wonderful people who are raising these fine students. I think the dinner went great! I was stopped by so many diners who complimented me on their "server" I lost track. These kids were friendly, helpful, and most importantly, very respectful of everyone around that day. Thank you again for all the hard work, kids, and I look forward to a bright future with all of you! SEE YOU IN MAY FOR KALEIDOSCOPE AND THEN AGAIN FOR THE OCTOBER CHICKEN DINNER!

Mary Kistler

During this school year the faculty has been busily completing the Middle States Self-Study as part of the re-accreditation process. The report is a mammoth undertaking and a huge "typing" job. Mrs. Michaud and Mrs. Thaler are seeking a few volunteers who are have a PC with MS Word 95 or 97 and are very familiar with the program to do the word processing for us by July 15 so the report can be published. If you are qualified to help with this job please call Mrs. Thaler or Mrs. Michaud at school. The page set-up and format will be pre-set so that all work will come together in a unified manner.

Over 200 school families responded to the

HSA ‘s December hot lunch survey. The Board is now tallying up the results and discussing the many concerns and options expressed by the parents and teachers. The Board also needs to discuss the issue seriously with the chairpersons of all the hot lunch days to see what volunteer resources are available to chair and staff another lunch day if indeed this becomes a reality.

Thank you again to all who returned the survey and let their voices be heard! We hope to have another great turnout when it’s time for families to vote for the HSA Executive Boards this spring!

Thank you to all the families who dared to stand in line at Pizza Hut and support the HSA ‘s 1^st Pizza Night fundraiser. The management at Pizza Hut claimed it set a record for fundraising in the Baltimore area. The HSA raised over $400; money that will be put toward the lavatory upgrade and the computer lab. Special thanks to the following volunteers who gave their time to bus tables, wash dishes, hand out raffle tickets, and blow up balloons.

Michael Beres

Laurie and John Currens

Chuck, Amanda and Marissa Pribyl

Paul, Brian, and Steven Bollinger

Christina Blair

St. Joseph’s Home School Assoc. invites you to Swing Into Spring

at the annual Fashion Show and dinner

at Columbus Gardens

from 6:30—10:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.

Call Gina at 41-256-0167 or Marlene at 410-529-0234.

Raffle/Door Prizes and Special Drawings for "Table of 10 Sellers"

We are putting together a cookbook and need someone (or two) to head the project.

The cookbook will feature recipes from school families and faculty and will be ready for purchase in the Spring of ’00.

This was done a few years ago and was a great

success!

If you worked on the previous edition and would like to help again, your experience would be greatly appreciated.

For more information call Chuck Pribyl at

410-529-0324

A new club is being formed for St. Joseph parents interested in making crafts. The primary purpose of this club is to make crafts for Santa’s Secret Workshop. We will also make things that are of interest to the members. If you would like to take charge of this fun group call Paula Beres at 410-256-8871.

We are adding dinner to the menu on May 19, the night of our Middle School Play. Carrabba’s Italian Grill will prepare dinner in our kitchen and dinner will be in our Supper Room.

The chairperson for this event will be responsible for "selling tickets, buying paper supplies, coordinating volunteers." Interested parents call Donna Gawryck at 410-529-2583 or Chuck Pribyl at 410-529-0324.