DISTRICT HONORS TOP TEACHERS OF THE YEAR

The district recently recognized its top Teachers of the Year for the 2016-2017 school year. The winners received a certificate, flower bouquet and gift from Superintendent Rick Wentzel and representatives of Dream Teachers, a statewide organization that rewards educators who model instructional excellence and dedication.  A top teacher from each category was selected to compete at the state’s regional level.

The High School Teachers of the Year winners included Shellie Woodward, Albany High; Elizabeth Hart, Denham Springs High; Edith Cutrer, Doyle High; Josh Burton, Holden High; Brett Beard, Live Oak High; Carol Tate, Springfield High; Brandi Hoch, Walker Freshman; and Melinda Joelle Bourgeois, Walker High.

The Middle School Teachers of the Year winners were Casey Foster, Albany Middle; Mandy McCann, Denham Springs Junior High; Jodi Herring, Holden High; Eva Glasscock, Juban Parc Junior High; Tabatha Walker, Live Oak Middle; Melissa Anderson, Maurepas; Karen Deel, North Corbin Junior High; Jason Vidaurre, Southside Junior High; Danielle Richardson, Springfield Middle; and David Will, Westside Junior High.

The Elementary Teachers of the Year winners were Scarlett Smith, Albany Lower Elementary; Melyssa DePaula, Albany Upper Elementary; Heather Kuhlman, Denham Springs Elementary; Stacy Perrone, Doyle Elementary; Nicole Yates, Eastside Elementary; Kati Holt, French Settlement Elementary; Karen Pourciau, Freshwater Elementary; April Blanchard, Frost; Debra Held, Gray’s Creek Elementary; Annie Bigner, Holden; Sarah McCrary, Juban Parc  Elementary; Jennifer Berry, Levi Milton Elementary; Sunnie Glover, Lewis Vincent Elementary; Eva Mizell, Live Oak Elementary; Joelle Shelton, North Corbin Elementary; Tonya Dean, North Live Oak Elementary;  Amy Frizell, Northside Elementary; Karly Robertson, Seventh Ward Elementary; Annette Marrs, South Fork  Elementary; Kristy Baker, South Live Oak Elementary; Elizabeth King, South Walker Elementary; Stephanie Cronan, Springfield Elementary; Julie Freneaux, Southside Elementary; and Patricia Underwood, Walker  Elementary.

 

 

TOP PRINCIPALS RECOGNIZED, STEED ADVANCES TO STATE FINALS

The district also recognized the Principal of the Year winners for the 2016-2017 school year, including the parish’s Elementary School Principal of the Year Shanna Steed, who advanced to be a semi-finalist for the state’s top award.

Assistant Superintendent Joe Murphy noted that each of the winners managed campuses that took in another school in the aftermath of the flooding in August 2016.

“I can’t say ‘Thank You’ enough to these principals and what they mean to me and this school system. We could not have opened just 20 days after the devastating flood hit our parish had they not been willing to open up their campuses and do everything they did to accommodate our needs,” Murphy said.

 

 

 

TEACHER HONORED FOR INTEGRATING AGRICULTURE IN CLASS LESSONS

North Live Oak Elementary kindergarten teacher Karen Parrino has been named the Agriculture in the Classroom Elementary Teacher of the Year for Louisiana. The award recognizes outstanding efforts in integrating agriculture across the curriculum.

Parrino will enjoy an expense-paid trip to the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference this month in Kansas City, Missouri, as well as a $500 cash award and iPad.

“One of my goals is to blend science and agriculture into the general learning experience. I want my students to become excited about the environment around them. Exposing them to real experiences will leave an impression that will probably stay with them for life,” Parrino said.

 

DSHS WIND ENSEMBLE SELECTED FOR CARNEGIE HALL FESTIVAL

The Denham Springs High School Wind Ensemble is one of only six bands in the nation that will perform in the Inaugural Cleveland Orchestra/Baldwin Wallace Conservatory International Festival at Carnegie Hall in New York City next February.

Fifty-five local students will make the trip. They are scheduled to perform on the 126-year-old Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage on Feb. 12, 2018, including participating with members of the other five bands for a premier 8 p.m. concert.

The Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music, which is a liberal arts-based and Methodist-affiliated college located just outside of Cleveland, is sponsoring the concert.

 

LIVINGSTON PARISH BASEBALL STANDOUT DRAFTED BY CINCINNATI REDS

Former Denham Springs High School baseball standout Mac Sceroler has been selected as the 137^th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft by the Cincinnati Reds.  The right-handed pitching ace will forego his senior year at Southeastern Louisiana University to play professional baseball with the Reds.   Sceroler went 9-2 this season with a 3.81 ERA, leading the SLU Lions to a NCAA Tournament appearance.  He is the nephew of former MLB pitcher and LSU Hall of Fame player Ben McDonald.  His mother, Pasha McDonald Sceroler, is a school counselor at Southside Elementary.

 

LIVINGSTON PARISH NAMES TOP STUDENTS OF THE YEAR

The Livingston Parish School Board and Superintendent Rick Wentzel on May 4 recognized parish students in grades 5, 8 and 12, who were awarded Student of the Year honors at their respective schools, as well as the parish’s top three students who will advance to compete at the state’s regional Student of the Year competition.

The parish’s top three 2017 Student of the Year winners include Daniel “Carson” Lusker-Whitten, a 5th grader at Eastside Elementary; Hailey Enamorado, an 8th grader at Denham Springs Junior High; and Eric Forbes, a senior at Holden High School.

Forbes will be entering Louisiana State University this fall with 60 credit hours and a 31 on his ACT. He is graduating with a 4.0 GPA and is a noted Bible scholar who has learned more than 2,000 verses of scripture.

Enamorado has a 4.0 GPA and president of her school’s honor society. She recently created Hailey’s Heroes fundraiser for veterans and spoke at the Baton Rouge Fallen Officers Memorial.

Lusker-Whitten has a 4.0 GPA and is active in Cub Scouts. He recently helped to raise more than $60,000 for children with heart disease.

Click here for information on all the Student of the Year winners across the parish, including group photos of the Elementary, Middle and High School Students of the Year.

 

SPRINGFIELD STUDENT ARTIST COOKING UP BUSINESS

Springfield High School Freshman Mason Sibley’s ability as an illustrator is quickly gaining attention of professionals and pancake lovers! That’s because the young illustrator is now featuring his work on a sizzling griddle.

Sibley is promoting the children’s book “Green Dinosaur Pancakes,” which is written by local author Kat Pigott and illustrated by Sibley, through unique book signing appearances across the region that include him making vibrant colored pancakes in the of green dinosaurs.

“It’s a fun way to promote the book,” Sibley said. “I mix together vibrant-colored baking gels with regular pancake mix and place it in a squeeze bottle that I can use to draw on the griddle.  From there, voila! – green dinosaur pancakes ready for the eating!”

Sibley said he learned how to make the tasty edible mixture from an international food artist. “I learned the right ingredients to use to enhance the colors without compromising the taste of the pancake,” he said.

Sibley said he and Pigott are working on a sequel to the book, which he looks forward to taking on the road as well. But at the same time, he is working on his ultimate goal to become an illustration artist for Disney. He said he has begun working with professional animators and illustrators at Disney who invite him to spend time with them each summer.

 

ALBANY STUDENT RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL AWARD

Gabriel “Blaise” Garland of Albany was recently awarded the 2017 Yes I Can Award at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston as part of the Council for Exceptional Children Convention & Expo.

The international award was presented to only 12 students with exceptionalities in the categories of academics, arts, school and community activities, self-advocacy, technology and transition. Garland was recognized in the academics category.

Over the last two years, Garland has transitioned from a combination of homebound and in-school classes to now attend school every day. He has made huge strides, like reading aloud to the class, earning a spot on the honor roll and trying out for the school football team.

 

THREE PARISH SCHOOLS EARN U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT RANKING

Three Livingston Parish High Schools continue to receive top scores in the U.S. News & World Report’s Best High School rankings.  For the 2017 rankings, Holden High School earned the 13^th spot among Louisiana schools and a silver medal, while Maurepas was ranked 29^th in the state and Springfield was ranked 40^th in the state, earning both schools a bronze medal.

The national magazine’s rankings are based on the school’s performances on state assessments, Advanced Placement tests and graduation rates. More than 5,000 schools were honored nationally.  In Louisiana, four high schools received gold medals, 12 earned silver and 82 were awarded bronze.

Holden High has been a previous bronze medal winner for the past five years in a row. This is the first time any Livingston Parish school has been awarded a silver medal.  Springfield has won four consecutive bronze medals and Maurepas has earned three consecutive awards.  French Settlement High is a past bronze medal recipient.

 

CONGRESSMAN GRAVES AND GOOGLE HOST INTERNET SAFETY SESSION

Google and Louisiana Congressman Garret Graves recently visited Denham Springs Junior High School to present the Online Safety Roadshow, an online safety assembly developed by Google for middle school students.

Two Google employees delivered the 45 minute presentation, which  focused on five tips for staying safe and being smart online. They covered topics including: thinking before you share, setting strong passwords, using settings, identifying online scams, and being positive online.

“Technology and the Internet are continuing to reshape how the world operates, and kids growing up right now will be leading future waves of innovation in the years ahead,” Graves said. “It’s important to learn early how to safely use and contribute to the ever-growing amount of information online, and I’m glad to be a part of today’s effort.”

 

FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER SPEAKER DISCUSSES IMPORTANCE OF POSITIVE CHOICES

ALL LIVINGSTON PARISH STUDENTS TO RECEIVE FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH THROUGH 2021

A U.S. Department of Agriculture initiative called the Community Eligibility Provision, or CEP, is bringing some much needed relief to Livingston Parish families after the devastating flooding in August.  The CEP will allow all Livingston Parish students to receive free meals – breakfast and lunch — regardless of income, through the 2020-2021 school year.

According to federal requirements, a school or school district is eligible to take advantage of CEP if at least 40 percent of its children qualify for free lunches. If 62.5 percent or more do, then the federal government picks up the entire tab.  Prior to the storm, only one of out of 42 schools in Livingston Parish crossed the 40 percent threshold.  Since the flooding, which has left thousands of children homeless, the number of directly certified children has doubled.

Superintendent Rick Wentzel noted that Livingston Parish has been offering free school meals to all of its more than 25,000 students since the flooding. In October, the district adopted CEP for the remainder of the school year and intends to reapply for the program for four more years.

Leah Smith, supervisor of child nutrition, said breakfast participation has increased significantly, up from 160 students a day in December to 600 per day in March.

 

LIVE OAK HOSTS SPECIAL OLYMPICS’ FLORIDA PARISHES MEET

Athletes from around Livingston Parish competed in the Florida Parishes Area  Track & Field Meet at Live Oak on March 31. District staff, paraprofessionals, as well as LOHS students, acted as coaches, chaperones and cheerleaders for the athletes.

The event is part of the Special Olympics Louisiana effort to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for all children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

 

 

TALENTED ARTS STUDENTS BRING “ROSIE THE RIVETER” TO LIFE

Students from Albany, Doyle, Holden and Springfield, who are members of the parish’s Talented Arts Program, recently presented an on-stage look at how a famous icon from World War II came to be.

They presented “Rosie the Riveter,” at the Suma Hall Community Conference Center, April 6-8. The story opens in 1942 with the owner of Eddie’s Auto Parts Factory struggling to keep his business afloat because of a freeze on the manufacturing of car parts. His secretary, Rosie, presents the idea of having the factory secure a government contract that makes airplane parts instead.  From there, the students give their fictional account of how Rosie became the American symbol of “We Can Do It!” during World War II.  The play was directed by TAP theater instructor Melani Glascock.

 

 

LOCAL STUDENT SELECTED TO SADD NATIONAL STUDENT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

Live Oak High School’s Laurie McCreary has been selected from a nationwide pool of highly qualified applicants to serve on the National Student Leadership Council for Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) for the 2017-2018 school year.

The SADD Student Leadership Council advises the organization’s board of directors on policies, programs and plans for the implementation of the annual SADD National Conference. McCreary will provide strategic direction to the organization on health and safety priorities and will serve as a national and regional representative of the SADD network. She begins her term in June.

“Laurie’s passion and commitment to issues that matter to her and to her peers makes her an ideal candidate for SADD’s National Student Leadership Council,” SADD President and CEO Dawn Teixeira said.

 

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AWARDS 21 SCHOLARSHIPS

The Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce recently awarded scholarships to 21 parish seniors during its annual State of Education meeting.  Each scholarship, valued at $500, is made possible through contributions from member businesses.

Winners of the academic scholarships included Jasmine Hendry, Albany High; Austin Barnes, Grace Dugas, Krysta Mostert and Caroline Taylor, Denham Springs High; Emily Beever, Haleigh Jones and Kaitlyn Rayborn, Doyle High; Eric Forbes, Jessica Litolff and Nathan Penalber, Holden High; Jack Dalber, Live Oak High; Reeves Blankenship and Shelby Chandler, Springfield High; and Evan Bergeron, Cameron Hood and Katelyn Prescott, Walker High.

The Alice Sibley scholarship was presented to Thomas Fuentes, Denham Springs High; Gabrielle Chanier, Live Oak High; and Samantha Hebert, Walker High. The Ability Beyond Award was given to Macy Dufrene, Holden High.

 

WALKER HIGH SCHOOL TO HOUSE NIKE APPAREL STORE

Students and savvy shoppers will soon be able to purchase some of their favorite Nike name-brand apparel on the Walker High School campus, thanks to a partnership that will allow the school to establish its own Nike apparel store, ChecqueMATE.

Walker High Principal Jason St. Pierre said he expects the store to open by the end of March. He noted that students in the school’s DECA program have surveyed students on what clothing items and shoes they most prefer to determine which merchandise they will stock in the on-campus store.

“As part of this agreement, we will have marketing professionals from Nike’s think-tank organization to come to our school to teach our students about visual  merchandising, how to start up a business, how to follow and set trends, and to cash in on the current market,” St. Pierre said.

Nike is providing the merchandise to the high school at approximately 40 percent below its price to commercial retailers, allowing the school’s ChecqueMATE store to sell items at a more affordable price than what is being offered in some large department stores or the Nike Outlet Store. He said the school will sell generic items, with no school logos, as well as items customized with the Walker Wildcat logo.

 

SPRINGFIELD HIGH TO PRESENT “WIZARD OF OZ”

Students in Springfield High School’s Theatre program will present their rendition of the classic, “The Wizard of Oz,” March 31-April 8. The students will present three shows daily, March 31-April 7, at 9 a.m., noon and 7 p.m.  Admission for each show is $5.  The students will also offer a special dinner theater performance at 7 p.m. on April 8, and admission and admission for that event is $25.  Tickets are on sale now at the school office.

 

 

LITERACY & TECHNOLOGY CENTER HOLDS 4^TH ANNUAL COLLEGE AND CAREER DAY

High school juniors and seniors from throughout the parish met with college representatives, military recruiters, industry and business leaders and several hiring agents during a day-long College and Career Day at the Livingston Parish Literacy & Technology Center.

LPLTC Director Kim Albin said students were introduced to a variety of career options with information on those skills and education needed for the available positions and opportunities.

“This event is always strongly supported by our local businesses and industries, as well as our post-secondary colleges and institutes. Many of our students walk away with valuable information that help them gain better direction for their future,” Albin said, noting this is the fourth year the center has hosted the event.  “Career Day is always a great way for our students to look at the many options that exist in today’s job market.”

 

 

LOCAL STUDENT SELECTED TO SING AT CARNEGIE HALL

Walker Freshman High’s Morgan Schroeder recently returned from a trip to New York, where she was invited to sing at Carnegie Hall. She was selected as one of 150 international students to perform six songs in four languages – English, Russian, South African and Latin. Schroeder said the choir rehearsed about 16 hours prior to performing to a full house.

Schroeder is a member of her school choir and church choir. She also plays musical instruments and is in the percussion section of the school band.

 

 

LOCAL STATE FARM AGENCIES DONATE $5,000 TO SCHOOL RECOVERY

Agents with State Farm insurance companies across Livingston Parish and Louisiana joined forces to donate $5,000 to Denham Springs Elementary School, one of the hardest hit schools in the area affected by the Great Flood of 2016.

“The local State Farm agents of the parish saw firsthand the devastation that affected the students, teachers and schools during the flood,” said Horace Wilkinson, whose State Farm Agency is on Florida Boulevard in Denham Springs. “We wanted to assist in the recovery by raising funds not only from all the local agents but from other agents around the state.”

 

DENHAM SPRINGS ELEMENTARY TEMPORARY CAMPUS OPENS

The new temporary campus for Denham Springs Elementary opened its doors to students, teachers and staff on February 6, bringing the group back to a single site for the first time since the original campus flooded on August 13. The temporary campus is located next to the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Hatchell Lane, and it is the last of three temporary campuses constructed by the district to replace those original school campuses that remain closed due to flood damage.

“Welcoming the school’s students and staff to a site that is all their own has been a priority for the district,” Superintendent Rick Wentzel said. “Despite weather delays and other challenges that slowed our efforts, we managed to roll up our sleeves and open the campus in a timely manner.”

Wentzel said the district is working with flood recovery experts to assess the structural damage of the Denham Springs Elementary campus on Range Avenue. Many of the buildings on that campus are 30 to 40 years old, and their repair and restoration involve many issues.

 

PROJECT GRADUATION SPONSORS 5K COLOR RUN

Parent volunteers for Project Graduation are sponsoring the 2017 Denham Springs 5K Color Run on March 25. The race begins at 8:30 a.m. at Train Station Park, along Railroad Avenue in Denham Springs.  Awards will be presented to the top male and female in each age division, and t-shirts are guaranteed for all early bird registrants.  Participants will enjoy food, music and fun throughout the morning.  All proceeds go to benefit Project Graduation, which offers an alcohol-free, drug-free celebration for graduating seniors at Denham Springs High School.

The deadline for the $25 early bird registration is March 12. Registration fees go up to $30 after that date, and same-day registrants will pay $35.  Registration forms are available at area schools or participants can sign up at www.getmeregistered.com/DenhamSpringsColorRun.  For more information, including vendor sponsorship opportunities, contact race coordinator Bobbi Guerin at
225-337-0041.

 

SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS HONORED

 

 

LOCAL LAW FIRM HONORS LIVINGSTON SCHOOLS

The Gordon McKernan Law Firm recently teamed up with the district to erect a billboard along I-12 near Denham Springs to congratulate Livingston Parish Public Schools for being ranked #3 in the state for academic performance. The Louisiana Department of Education awarded Livingston Schools an “A” grade and a District Performance Score of 109.5, making it one of the state’s highest performing districts overall, and the top-performing district among large public school districts.  Livingston Parish has a public school enrollment of nearly 26,000 students in grades K-12.

 

 

STUDENTS BACK THE BLUE

4H students at Lewis Vincent Elementary School recently hosted a “Back the Blue” Day to honor local law enforcement officers and express their appreciation for the work they do each day. Nearly 20 officers from the City of Denham Springs, Livingston Parish and East Baton Rouge Parish participated in a special breakfast ceremony.  At the same time, the club had food delivered to the Denham Springs fire and police departments and the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s office.

 

SCHOOL BOARD JOINS CLASS ACTION SUIT OVER I-12 BARRIER

The Livingston Parish School Board recently voted to join a class action lawsuit against the state Department of Transportation and Development and Interstate 12 contractors over the role a concrete median barrier wall played in the flood of 2016.

In introducing the matter to the board, Superintendent Rick Wentzel said the concrete barrier, which extends 19 miles from East Baton Rouge Parish into Livingston Parish, acted as a flood wall, retaining water north of I-12.

Joshua Palmintier of DeGravelles Palmintier Law Firm told the board that a team of world renowned hydrologists and knowledgeable attorneys have been put together to offer their expertise and knowledge on the issue. He said the cities of Denham Springs and Walker, the Livingston Parish government and the City of Central have also joined the suit.  The school board will not incur any expenses joining the class action lawsuit.

 

FEMA ANNOUNCES COST OF RECOVERY ASSISTANCE TO SCHOOL SYSTEMS

Louisiana schools have received approximately $60 million in public assistance to recover from last August’s flood, the Federal Emergency Management Agency recently announced. According to the report, Livingston Parish has received nearly half the money awarded thus far, because of extensive damage in the parish. FEMA announced the following —

• $17.5 million to clean and remove flood damage from the following schools:  Denham Springs Elementary, Denham Springs Freshman High, Denham Springs High, Doyle Elementary, Holden School, Springfield Elementary, Denham Springs Junior High, Freshwater Elementary, Northside Elementary, Lewis Vincent Elementary, Live Oak High, Seventh Ward Elementary, Southside Elementary, Southside Junior High, Walker Freshman High and Westside Junior High.
• $3.3 million for temporary facilities for Denham Springs Elementary, located next to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.
• $6.6 million for temporary facilities for Southside Elementary, located behind Juban Parc Elementary School; and Southside Junior High, located behind Juban Parc Junior High.
• $200,000 for temporary chairs, tables and room dividers for schools accommodating displaced students.

School officials note the totals announced by FEMA do not include other construction and material costs that have been paid by the local school system or provided through donations.

 

SCHOOL BOARD APPOINTS NEW MEMBER

The Livingston Parish School Board appointed David “Bo” Graham to serve as the interim representative for District 7, filling the vacancy created by former board member Jimmy Watson’s election as Walker mayor.

Graham received the board’s unanimous approval as Watson’s appointed replacement and was sworn in during a recess at the board’s Jan. 5 meeting. An election will be held Oct. 14 to fill Watson’s unexpired term, which runs through Dec. 31, 2018.

Graham is a retiree from the United States Postal Service. He is a life-long resident of Walker, and a graduate of Walker High School.

 

 

MAUREPAS HONORS BASEBALL STANDOUT KADE SCIVICQUE

Maurepas High School honored local baseball standout and former LSU Tiger Kade Scivicque by retiring his jersey number, #20, during a doubleheader basketball contest on Jan. 5.

Scivicque earned All-American and All-SEC honors at LSU, and in his senior year, was one of three finalists for the prestigious Johnny Bench Award, which identifies the top college catchers. He was drafted in the 4^th round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft by Detroit, who traded Scivique to the Atlanta Braves’ organization for the 2016 season.

 

 

CHURCH CONSIDERS DONATION AN OPPORTUNITY TO REPAY KINDNESS TO DENHAM SPRINGS ELEMENTARY

The new temporary campus for Denham Springs Elementary will soon open on property on Hatchell Lane thanks to help from the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. The church has donated the use of approximately four acres of its property at no cost to the school system, as a “privilege to return the favor,” according to Father Frank Uter.

He noted that prior to 1964, when the local Catholic Church was a one-room building located on Range Avenue, its young parishioners attended religion classes on the Denham Springs Elementary campus because of a lack of space on church property.

“The school board graciously made their facilities available to our young parishioners and their families. We now have the opportunity and privilege to return the favor and make some of our campus available to them,” he recently wrote in a church bulletin.

Father Uter noted that the presence of the temporary campus has been designed to not intrude upon the church’s Fall Festival grounds more than necessary.  In fact, the church’s annual carnival is slated for Oct. 27-29, 2017.   He said the agreement with the school system has the unanimous support of the Parish Finance Council and the Diocese. The temporary campus for Denham Springs Elementary is expected to open in early February.

 

A MOMENT IN HISTORY

 

 

WASTE MANAGEMENT GIFTS $200,000 TO FLOOD VICTIMS

Waste Management has donated $200,000 to Livingston Parish to aid flood victims in their recovery efforts. Residents who were heavily impacted by the flood are asked to fill out an application to be eligible for a cash grant valued up to $2,000 per applicant.  Decisions will be based on specific needs laid out in the application which is available online at www.lpsb.org, or at www.livingstonparishla.gov. For more information, send an email to livingstonrises@hotmail.com.

 

 

 

TIMELINE ANNOUNCED FOR RESTORED CAMPUSES, CONSTRUCTION OF TEMPORARY CAMPUSES

Superintendent Rick Wentzel announced that all students displaced from their home schools because of flood damage will be back on their original campuses or in new temporary campuses by the end of January 2017.

Students at Denham Springs High School and Denham Springs Freshman High will be back on their original campuses on Jan. 5 – the first day of the school year’s second semester.  Students at Southside Elementary and Southside Junior High will also transfer to their new temporary campuses on Jan. 5.  Those temporary campus are located on property behind Juban Parc Elementary and Juban Parc Junior High, respectively.

Students at Denham Springs Elementary will be relocated to a temporary campus adjacent to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Hatchell Lane in Denham Springs.  That campus is expected to be ready to welcome students by Jan. 30.  Its delayed opening has been caused by FEMA code issues and a mandated review of the site by FEMA’s Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation program, which determines if undeveloped property contains significant evidence of historic Native American activity.

“We finally have clearance to move forward on establishing the temporary campus for Denham Springs Elementary, but unfortunately, red tape has delayed our efforts by nearly three to four weeks,” Wentzel said.  “Assuming that weather does not further hamper our progress, we feel certain we can have the students, teachers and staff of Denham Springs Elementary relocated by the end of January.”

Wentzel noted that students and employees for Denham Springs Elementary will resume their present configurations at Eastside Elementary, Northside Elementary and Freshwater Elementary on Jan. 5 and remain on those campuses until the new temporary campus is completed by end of the month.

 

DISPLACED STUDENTS TO BE WELCOMED WITH CLEAN, FURNISHED CAMPUSES

Assistant Superintendent Joe Murphy said the temporary campuses for Denham Springs Elementary, Southside Elementary and Southside Junior High will each consist of 40 classrooms, a library, cafeteria, administrative building, special education building and multi-purpose building.

“There are 68 sections that occupy nine buildings, and all of those buildings are connected by a series of covered decks.  All three campuses are designed for a capacity of 500 students,” Murphy said, noting that the cost of establishing the three temporary campuses is more than $11 million.

He said another $5 million to $6 million is being spent to restore the Denham Springs High School and Denham Springs Freshman High campuses.  Those campuses will receive a final cleaning in the coming weeks, and furniture and technology systems will be delivered and installed.  However, because of time constraints, the painting of the classrooms will not be completed before the students return.

“Our students will return to clean classrooms and facilities, but many of the walls and structures at the high school and freshman high will have the visible signs of new construction and repairs, since we will not be able to repaint before they move back in,” Murphy said.  “Our principals will work with the contractors to find appropriate times to get painters into the school without disturbing class instruction, but that’s likely to take some time.”

 

LIFE SKILLS APARTMENT OPENS ON SPRINGFIELD MIDDLE CAMPUS

Livingston Parish Public Schools recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Life Skills Apartment-East, located on the campus of Springfield Middle School, which will allow the district to double its capacity to serve students with significant disabilities in the parish.

The new facility, which is a simulated home environment equipped with a kitchen, bathroom, den and pull-down bed, better enables instructors to teach students how to perform daily activities in hopes of enabling them to live a safer, more independent lifestyle in their own homes or in a group home setting.

This is the district’s second Life Skills Apartment.  The other facility is located on the campus of Denham Springs High School.  It serviced all the parish’s high-school aged students with significant disabilities prior to the campus being closed due to flood damage.  When both facilities are open on Jan. 5, the parish’s two facilities will serve approximately 130 students in grades 6-12.

“With the addition of the Life Skills Apartment-East, we can offer better service to our east-side students, and we can double our capacity parishwide,” said Eric Penalber, director of the Special Education Department.  “Before now, we could only serve our high-schoolers, but now with this new facility, we can extend this training to our middle school students.”

 

EXXONMOBIL GIVES DONATION TO SOUTHSIDE JUNIOR HIGH

 

LIVINGSTON PARISH 4-H STUDENTS TRAVEL TO WISCONSIN TO ATTEND THE NATIONAL 4-H DAIRY CONFERENCE.

 

 

LIVINGSTON PARISH INCREASES NUMBER OF “A” SCHOOLS TO 28,
IMPROVES TO NO. 3 IN THE STATE

The number of “A” schools in Livingston Parish increased to 28 in 2016 – up from 16 the year before – and the district improved its ranking to No. 3 in the state; a direct reflection of the district’s overall academic excellence and growth in every measurable category that is tracked by the Louisiana Department of Education.

The state department’s latest report shows Livingston Parish Schools received a 2016 District Performance Score of 109.5 to once again earn an overall “A” rating and earn the No. 3 ranking in the state.  Livingston Parish is the largest district in the state’s top-performing districts with an enrollment of nearly 26,000. Overall, the state report showed the district improved 7 points from 102.5 points to 109.5 points to maintain and strengthen its “A” rating.  Sixteen districts in the state earned “A” ratings for receiving District Performance Scores above 100 points.

At the same time, the report showed that 28 parish schools in Livingston Parish received an “A” – more than two-thirds of the schools in the district – while 13 earned a “B”.  The average growth for all schools in Livingston Parish is 5.9 points, or as much as 6.32 points if progress points are factored in the equation. Visit louisianabelieves.com  to see the complete ranking of school districts across the state and the school performance scores for all Livingston Parish schools.

 

GROWTH INDICATORS SHOW LIVINGSTON PARISH GAINED IN EVERY AREA OF ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

The state department’s latest report shows Livingston Parish Schools received a 2016 District Performance Score of 109.5 to once again earn an overall “A” rating and be counted among the state’s top performing public school districts. The report also showed that Livingston Parish Schools showed significant growth in K-8 assessments, as well as End of Course exams, ACT scores, and graduation rates for high schoolers.

The district’s highest gains in a performance indicator came in ACT scores – a 21 percent improvement in 2016 scores as compared to 2015. The district’s score for success on the ACT, a college preparatory exam, and the ACT Workkeys, a job skills assessment, jumped from 83.5 point to 101.3 points, for a 21 percent gain.

At the same time, the district grew its graduation rate from 79.6 percent to 84 percent, and improved it access to college and career performance indicator by 7 percent. The district also showed an overall 6 percent increase in both its K-8 Assessment index and End of Course exams.

“We are excited about these scores because they show our students improving in every category and at every level, from K to 12. Some of our schools showed double-digit gains,” Supervisor of Instruction Tracy McRae said.  Those schools that grew by double digits include Albany High School, up 14.9 points; Frost School, up 14.1 points; Springfield High School, up 13.2 points; Springfield Elementary School, up 10.8 points; Juban Parc Elementary, up 10.7 points; Denham Springs High School, up 10.4 points; and Denham Springs Junior High, up 10 points.

 

SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES CHANGES TO SPRING 2017 ACADEMIC SCHEDULE

The Livingston Parish School Board approved recommended changes to the Spring 2017 school calendar that include replacement time for the district’s academic schedule. The new calendar now requires students to attend a full day of class instruction on the following days that were previously scheduled as half-days for students or as planning/work days for only teachers and principals:

 

 

• Jan. 5 (previously a work day for only teachers and principals)
• Feb. 16 (previously a half day for students)
• March 16 (previously a half day for students)
• May 24 (previously a work day for only teachers and principals)

This new schedule results in students returning to class in the New Year one day early and extending class by one day at the end of the school year.

At the same time, the school system will add 21 minutes of instructional time to its master schedules. This time will be added 10 minutes in the morning and 11 minutes in the afternoon and will begin on Jan. 5 and continue through May 24.

 

WALKER HIGH SCHOOL CADETS VOLUNTEER TO CLEAN FIGHTER JET AT I-12 SATSUMA EXIT

Walker High School’s Marine Corps JROTC cadets have volunteered to clean and maintain the appearance of the F-4 Phantom fighter jet that is on display at the I-12 Satsuma exit. The large McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is on loan from the U.S. Department of Defense to the Town of Livingston for public display on property donated by local developer, businessman and retired Naval Captain Garry Lewis.  Lewis flew the Phantom jet during his 26 years in the military.

Walker High’s Senior Marine Instructor Maj. Alan LeCompte said the cadets will clean the jet approximately once a month during after-school hours.

 

 

LIVINGSTON PARISH SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO RECEIVE FLOOD-RELIEF DONATIONS

Various charitable organizations, businesses and individuals continue to respond the parish’s need in the aftermath of the devastating floods that damaged thousands of homes, businesses and lives in August. The school system suffered millions of dollars in damage, as well, and several schools are still closed and under repair.  Anyone wishing to make a donation to Livingston Parish Schools can contact Mr. John Foster at 225-400-7566 or donate online at friends@lpsb.org. Numerous donations have been received, and not all can be publicly acknowledged; however, the following is a list of organizations and people whose generosity is greatly appreciated and deserves our humble thanks and gratitude:

• $80,000 from St. Tammany Parish Schools, including $30,000 in supplies, $42,000 in cash donations and $8,500 in gift cards
• $65,000 worth of sportswear and jackets from Trinity Promotions
• $50,000 cash donation from Taylor Swift Foundation
• $35,000 in athletic gear from Schutt Sports
• $25,000 from Rotary International
• $25,000 worth of mattresses from Baton Rouge Mattress
• $15,000 cash donation from Assess the Need, plus thousands of dollars in supplies
• $15,000 cash donation from Tito Vodka
• $10,000 supply credit from School Specialty,with special thanks to Account Manager Gina Guarino
• $10,000 worth of supplies from the community of St. Louis, Mo., and the cast and crew of “Thread Up” for publicizing our local need
• $10,000 worth of uniforms from the Emeril Lagasse Foundation
• $10,000 worth or art supplies from Baton Rouge resident and professional art director Cullen Boudreaux
• $3,000 supply of shoes from Heart and Soul

TWO FLOODED SCHOOLS TO REOPEN JAN. 6, THREE TO RELOCATE

Students from Denham Springs High School and Denham Springs Freshman High will return to their home campuses for the start of the second semester, on Jan. 6, 2017, while students from three other schools will relocate to temporary campuses at that time.

The Immaculate Conception Catholic Church will make available nearly four acres of its property on Hatchell Lane to house the temporary campus for Denham Springs Elementary. The church has agreed to enter into a zero-dollar lease with the school system for use of the land.

At the same time, a temporary campus for Southside Elementary will be constructed on school property next to Juban Parc Elementary, and a temporary campus for Southside Junior High will be located on school property next to Juban Parc Junior High.

School officials continue to work with FEMA to determine what action can be taken with the three campuses that remain damaged; however, that determination may not be made for another six to nine months, according to Assistant Superintendent Joe Murphy.

 

HOLDEN GYM NAMED IN HONOR OF ALTON LEGGETTE

The Livingston Parish School Board unanimously voted to name the old Holden school gym the Alton Leggette Memorial Junior High Gym.

Leggette was a former school board member and hall of fame boys’ basketball coach, best known for coaching the 1963 Holden team that won the Class C state title. He started his career as the girls’ coach at Maurepas, but went on to become the boys’ coach in Holden and finished his career as head coach at Denham Springs in the mid-1970s with a career record of 498-155. In 1990, he was selected as Louisiana’s Mr. Basketball by the Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches.

 

 

WALKER PARTNERS WITH NORTH OAKS FOR SPORTS MEDICINE FACILITY

Walker High School recently opened a new sports medicine facility in partnership with North Oaks Sports Medicine.  The new facility is located in Walker High School’s newly constructed athletic field house and weight room facility, and it serves as a classroom laboratory and treatment center for the school’s athletic programs.

“We are proud to partner with North Oaks to keep our student-athletes healthy and to train our students in the exciting and growing field of sports medicine,” Walker High School Principal Jason St. Pierre said. He noted that the partnership gives students hands-on training opportunities, including access to visit and conduct clinical training at the North Oaks facilities in Satsuma and Hammond.  He also said the program will benefit the school’s Certified Nursing Assistant curriculum.

 

EMERIL LAGASSE FOUNDATION DONATES NEW UNIFORMS TO STUDENTS

The Emeril Lagasse Foundation recently donated new school uniforms to nearly 350 students at Southside Elementary and Southside Junior High in Denham Springs who were severely impacted by the flooding.

Brian Kish, president of the Emeril Lagasse Foundation said his organization donated $10,000 to Kids in Need During Disasters (KINDD), a fund that supports children affected by natural, manmade and environmental disasters, in order to purchase two uniforms for each of the 350 students identified as affected by the flood.  Each student received two pairs of short, two shirts and a sweatshirt in his or her correct size.

 

 

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS HONORED FOR ROLE IN SUCCESSFUL DROPOUT PREVENTION PROGRAM

Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance Edward Foster and Principal of Pine Ridge Alternative School Tony Terry were recently honored at the International Association for Truancy and Dropout Prevention (IATDP) Conference for their participation in a cooperative dropout prevention program that has significantly increased the graduation rate in Livingston Parish.

The 21^st Judicial District Court’s Juvenile Drug Court and Dropout Prevention Program received the IATDP’s “Program of the Year” award.  The program operates under the judicial supervision of Judge Blair Edwards of the 21^st JDC and includes members of  Livingston Parish Public Schools, the District Attorney’s Office, the Office of the Public Defender, TASC/FINS and Juvenile Drug Court, the Office of Juvenile Justice and the local office of the Department of Children and Family Services.

 

 

CLASS TIME ADDED TO 2016 ACADEMIC CALENDAR

The Livingston Parish School Board recently approved a revised academic calendar to add class time to the 2016 Fall calendar in the aftermath of historic flooding throughout the parish.  Along with the regularly scheduled classes that resumed on Sept. 12, instruction time was added by changing the following days into full class days:

• Thursday, Sept. 15 (originally a ½ day for teacher professional development)
• Friday, Oct. 7 (originally a Fair Day holiday; the Livingston Parish Fair has been cancelled)
• Thursday, Oct. 20 (originally a Teacher/Parent Conference Day)
• Wednesday, Nov. 16 (originally a ½ day for teacher professional development)

 

NEARLY ALL STUDENTS RETURN TO DISTRICT POST-FLOOD

More than 95 percent of all students enrolled in Livingston Parish schools for the 2016-2017 school year have returned to school since classes restarted after the flood.   “We have been working very hard to have all our students accounted for and back in a classroom,” Superintendent Rick Wentzel said.  He noted that most students are back with their original schools.  Also, Wentzel said some of the students who have not returned to class in the parish have contacted the school system and expressed an intention to return once they are able to return to their homes.  “We are pleased with the numbers and we will continue to work with our displaced families to get every student back before the end of the year,” he said.

 

SPRINGFIELD HIGH SCHOOL SET TO OPEN BY OCTOBER 3

Superintendent Rick Wentzel has announced that teachers, staff and students of Springfield High School will be able to return to the campus on Oct. 3.  All the school buildings have been cleaned and restored to working order, he said.  “We are very appreciative of the patience and cooperation displayed by everyone in the Springfield community, and we share in their excitement to see the campus reopen,” Wentzel said.  He especially thanked the community of Springfield Middle School for platooning with the high school.  Wentzel noted that the transportation and class schedules for both Springfield High School and Springfield Middle School will resume their normal times as before the flooding.

 

SCHOOL OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TEAM UP TO COLLECT DONATIONS FOR STUDENTS

With thousands of homes flooded and families displaced, some of the greatest needs throughout the parish have been restoring school supplies, uniforms and shoes to students so they can return to the classroom equipped and ready to resume learning. School leaders quickly established a means to request and receive donations so supplies and clothing could be dispersed to students as soon as possible.  Juban Parc Junior High Principal Jeff Frizell, Literacy & Technology Center Director Kim Albin and Supervisor Ed Foster teamed up to collect, sort and distribute school supplies that were donated.  Curriculum Director Deborah Kropog managed a team of volunteers who collected and correctly sized uniforms and shoes.  They anticipate collecting and distributing nearly 10,000 uniforms by the end of the month.  Albany Middle School Teacher Joni Smith also used her position as the newly named Louisiana Teacher of the Year to reach out to organizations across the state and nationwide to give a variety donations.

At the same time, Livingston Parish Assessor Jeff Taylor quickly responded to the school system’s call for help by reactivating the Assess the Need campaign.  Local radio, television and news organizations ran ads asking for assistance for Livingston Parish students.  One reply to that call for help came from three former LSU golfers who are on the PGA tour – David Toms, Andrew Loupe and Smylie Kaufman.  They recently presented Taylor with a $50,000 check to Assess the Need to help with flood relief for local students.

 

Some other notable donations include:

• a $50,000 donation to the school system from the Baton Rouge Area Foundation;
• an in-kind donation of football equipment, helmets and shoes for the Denham Springs High School football team from the NFL and New Orleans Saints;
• an in-kind donation of football equipment, helmets and shoes for the Southside Junior High School team from various parents and contributors, most notably Benjamin Watson, Charles Tillman, Dave Roberts and Schutt and Greg Barnett;
• a $5,000 in-kind donation of instruments and an electric public address system for the Denham Springs Junior High Band from the Baton Rouge Guitar Center;
• an in-kind donation of 600 pairs of shoes for faculty and students of Live Oak High School and Denham Springs High School from Varsity Sports;
•  an in-kind donation of shoes from Fleet Feet and the Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class.

 

MINI-PARADE BRIGHTENS SPIRITS

The staff and faculty of Gray’s Creek Elementary School took their message of hope and welcome for their students to the street – literally! Led by Marshal Jerry Denton, Principal Melissa Dougherty and her team traveled throughout flood-stricken neighborhoods the week prior to restarting school, tossing out toys, candy and other goodies to their students.  They dubbed the mini-parade their “Swamp Tour” in honor of the school’s gator mascot.

 

TEACHERS DISPLAY COLORS OF UNITY

To help welcome the teachers, staff and students of Denham Springs Elementary to their temporary home at Eastside Elementary, the teachers wore purple and gold – Denham Springs Elementary’s school colors – as a sign of support and unity. The Denham Springs Elementary campus is still closed due to flood damage, so students from grades Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1^st and 2^nd are attending class at Eastside Elementary.