LIVINGSTON PARISH SCHOOLS MAINTAIN TOP TEN RANKING WITH GRADES
3-8 TESTING

Livingston Parish Schools continue to rank among the state’s top tier districts in academic performance, according to the latest report from the Louisiana Department of Education, which shows how students in grades 3-8 did on tests taken in March and May.  The rankings were released this month, showing Livingston Parish is among the state’s Top Ten districts.   At the same time, the latest report shows that Livingston Parish increased the number of students in grades 3-8 scoring Mastery and above from 33 percent in 2014 to 43 percent this year – a 10 percent increase at the top testing levels.  The state department will release individual results in November, and letter grades for the district will be given out in December.

PARISH HIGH SCHOOLS OUTPERFORM STATE AND NATIONAL AVERAGES

The seven high schools in Livingston Parish that have received scores thus far from the Louisiana Department of Education made improvements in measures used to assess school performance, collectively growing a total of 50.8 school performance points over last year’s score.  That growth represents an average improvement of 7.25 points per school.  The parish’s other four combination schools (high schools that include lower class grades on the same campus) will receive their scores in December.

Superintendent John Watson noted that the average ACT score for the parish’s 2015 graduating class was 20.5, which is nearly a full point above the national average of 19.7, and much better than the state average of 19.2.  “The remarkable aspect of this statistic is that Louisiana is one of only 11 states in the nation that has every senior take the ACT.  Some of the other states calculated in the national average have only the top 30 percent of their student population taking the ACT,” Watson said.  He also noted that the parish’s graduation rate is at 80 percent, which is considerably higher than the state average of 74.6 percent, and parish students scored 11 percent higher than the average Louisiana student on End of Course Exams.

RENOVATIONS AT HOLDEN SCHOOL TO BEGIN SOON

The Livingston Parish School Board recently accepted a construction bid to begin more than $280,000 worth of renovations at Holden School. The list of improvements include replacing the gym’s roof, and interior repairs in the school’s cafeteria and special education building.  School Board President Malcolm Sibley said the work is expected to begin in November and will take about a year to complete.

MAUREPAS HIGH SENIOR BETA CLUB HOSTS BIKE-A-THON FOR CHARITY

The Senior Beta Club at Maurepas High School hosted a bike-a-thon on Oct. 17 to raise funds for Colors for a Cause, a Louisiana charity supporting families with children battling cancer.  Participants were asked to contribute at least $5 in donations to ride round-trip from the school to Whitehall Grocery, which is approximately five miles.  Business sponsors each contributed $50 to the cause.  Overall, the event raised more than $2,100.

Senior Beta Bike-A-Thon Participants: (Front Row, L to R) Emily Wagner, Tori Bovia, Chloe Ernest, Sarah Crawford, Keegan Marchand, Laigen Loupe, Hannah Gautreau, Brailie Gautreau, Hannah Delatte, Rebecca Weir; (Back Row, L to R) Peyten Sturges, Christian Vicknair, Lacy Loupe, Kiah Barthelemy, Mason Vicknair, TJ Stewart, Hannah Maggio, Ava Borskey, Grant Meadows, Briggs LeBourgeois, Tyler Anderson. Not Pictured: Chaz Montaldo, Chaz Scivicque, Sophie Salinas, Hunter Dupuy, Holly Garland, Cole Bovia.

LOCAL BAND MEMBERS TO PLAY WITH LOUISIANA YOUTH ORCHESTRAS

Five members of the Denham Springs High School Jacket Pride Band will play with the Louisiana Youth Orchestras for the 2015-16 season.

Hannah Graham and Levi Thompson will play oboe and clarinet, respectively, in the Louisiana Youth Orchestra. Juan Cecchini, Tim Marquess and Jonas Truax will participate in both the Louisiana Junior Youth Orchestra and the Louisiana Youth Orchestra on French horn, percussion and trombone, respectively.

The Louisiana Youth Orchestras, which is the educational component of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, is made up of four ensembles with participants from Baton Rouge and the surrounding parishes in the metro area. The program serves students ranging in age from 5 to 21 and helps to supplement and enhance music education received in schools and private lessons with orchestral performance opportunities.

pictured from left to right: Levi Thompson, Hannah Graham, Jonas Truax, Juan Cecchini and Tim Marquess will play with the Louisiana Youth Orchestras for 2015-16.

LIVE OAK STUDENT IN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

Grace Ann Carroll, a student at Live Oak High School in Watson, represented Livingston Parish at the Louisiana Girls Leadership Academy this summer at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux. The academy is a program of the Louisiana Center for Women in Government and Business, which was established in 1990 at Nicholls to promote, inform and encourage leadership among women.

The tea was hosted by Maurice Durbin of Denham Springs, a 2011 Louisiana Women’s Center Hall of Fame honoree, and Sandra Herman of New Orleans, a 2013 Louisiana Women’s Center Hall of Fame honoree.

AWARDS GIVEN FOR EXCELLENCE IN CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Livingston Parish educators were recognized at the GBRIA awards night. Pictured left to right are Gary Jones, DSHS welding/electrical instructor; Staci Polozola, LPPS Career & Technology Education Coordinator; Jason St. Pierre, principal of Walker High School; and Billy Doiron, Craft Workforce Development instructor at Live Oak High School. Not pictured is Raymond Roberts, Craft Workforce Development instructor at Maurepas High.

Three parish high schools and a local instructor have been awarded the Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance, Inc., (GBRIA) High School Craft Workforce Development Excellence Award for outstanding promotion of career and technical education on their campuses. Denham Springs, Maurepas and Walker high schools were recognized for teaching and promoting career and technical education classes related to construction as Associated Builders and Contractors Pelican Chapter’s “High School Program Partners.” Billy Doiron, the welding, agricultural science, carpentry and electrical instructor at Live Oak High School was also named a GBRIA Craft Education Champion for his efforts in developing education programming and curriculum that meets today’s industry needs. The awards were presented at the Eighth Annual Craft Workforce Development Excellence Awards program, which was held at the Renaissance Baton Rouge on Sept. 10.

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STATE DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES COMPREHENSIVE JUMP START WEB SITE

The Louisiana Department of Education has launched a new “All Things Jump Start” web portal that includes more than 200 valuable resources for students who are interested in earning industry-valued credentials that will prepare them to continue their post-secondary education or career development and most likely lead to high wage careers. Jump Start is for all students. To achieve Jump Start industry credentials, students must complete graduation pathways of courses and workplace-based experiences that have been developed by a team of industry, college and school district professionals. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has approved 47 graduation pathways.

DENHAM SPRINGS SENIOR NAMED SADD STUDENT OF THE YEAR

DSHS Senior Susan Lynch has been named the Livingston Parish SADD Student of the Year.

Susan Lynch, a senior at Denham Springs High School, has been named the Livingston Parish Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) Student of the Year for 2015-2016. Lynch will be the teen spokesperson for the organization, and she will represent her peers on the organization’s board of directors. SADD is a peer-to-peer education, prevention and activism organization dedicated to preventing destructive decisions, particularly underage drinking, other drug use, risky and impaired driving, bullying, teen violence and suicide.

TRAINING SESSION FOR ASPIRING STUDENT LEADERS SET FOR OCT. 1

Nearly 100 high school students in Livingston Parish who are drug-free and aspire to become active members of the nation’s leading peer-to-peer education and prevention club have been chosen to attend a leadership training session on Oct. 1 at the Literacy & Technology Center.  The event is hosted by the Livingston Parish Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) Chapter.  At the training session, the high school students will meet with experts in the prevention field and learn how to address issues like underage alcohol use and prescription abuse.

LIVINGSTON PARISH FAIR CELEBRATES 78^TH YEAR

The Livingston Parish Fair Association will celebrate its 78^th year of existence next month, when it hosts the Annual Livingston Parish Fair, Oct. 3-11 at the fairgrounds in Livingston. The eight-day event will begin with a chili cook-off and parade early Saturday, Oct. 3. Family Night will be held Tuesday, Oct. 6, and festival goers can pay the single price of $15 to enjoy the rides from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Exhibits from the school clubs will be on display beginning that same day.

Property Donated to Livingston Parish Schools for Future School Campus Site

The Livingston Parish School Board recently accepted a donation of nearly 16 acres of land off 4-H Club Road, located south of Denham Springs, to be used as a potential site for a future elementary or middle school in the Denham Springs School District. The property, which consists of 15.981 acres, is located adjacent to the future site of Nickens Lake Subdivision off 4-H Club Road.

“This donation will provide the Denham Springs district with the land it needs to build a new campus in an area where we are anticipating future growth,” School Board Member Buddy Mincey, Jr., said.  “While we do not have a projection on when a new campus will be needed, we want to prepare for what appears to be an inevitable need to help us manage our growth.”

Mincey said the donation agreement will stipulate that the Livingston Parish School System has 25 years to build a school on the property or the land could revert back to the original owner.  The agreement includes an additional five-year period to purchase the land at the appraised value if the school system had not begun construction on the property within the first 25 years.  Mincey noted that the agreement gives the school system a full 30-year option on the property.

Livingston Parish Schools Rank 5^th for ACT Scores

The latest ACT scores released by the Louisiana Department of Education confirm that Livingston Parish students continue to be among the highest performing students in the state.

The Livingston Parish School District ranks 5th in the state with a composite ACT score of 20.5. The state average is 19.4. At the same time, more students within the parish are achieving “college-going” scores of 18 or higher on the ACT, which is allowing more graduates to enter college without needing to take remedial courses. The number of Livingston Parish seniors who scored an 18 or higher on the ACT during the 2014-2015 school year increased by 319 over those achieving the same mark in the 2011-2012 school year.

According to the state’s latest report, those district with the highest composite ACT scores are St. Tammany Parish, 21.5; Central Community Schools, 21.1; Zachary Community Schools, 20.7; Ascension Parish, 20.6; Livingston Parish, 20.5; West Feliciana Parish, 20.5.

Livingston Parish Students Continue to Perform on Advanced Placement Exams

Livingston Parish students continue to be among the state’s top performers in Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to a recent report by the Louisiana Department of Education.

According to the report, 368 students in the 2014-15 school year earned an AP exam score that resulted in college credit, which is a 50-percent increase from the previous year, when 243 students earned college credit.

AP courses in high school offer students the opportunity to earn college credit in the same subject, depending on the outcome of an end-of-course exam.  Those students who score a 3, 4 or 5 on the AP exam can earn college credit and have those credits transferred to nearly any college in the nation and all colleges in Louisiana.

The largest increase in participation occurred at Albany High School, where participation grew from approximately 30 students taking AP courses in 2014 to 120 taking AP courses in 2015.  Holden High increased its count from about 20 students taking AP courses in 2014 to 66 taking AP courses in 2015. Walker Freshman High, which offered AP courses for the first time last year, led the parish with a 70.8 percent rate in the number of students who scored a 3, 4 or 5 on the AP exam.  More than 57 percent of Walker High School’s AP students earned a qualifying score for college credit last year, while nearly 54 percent of Live Oak High School’s AP students earned a qualifying score for college credit.

Assessor Sponsors 15^th Year of Parish-Wide School Supply Drive

Livingston Parish Assessor Jeff Taylor and his team of volunteers recently completed their 15^th year of providing needy children in Livingston Parish, from pre-kindergarten to 12^th grade, with the school supplies they need to be successful in the classroom.  This year’s Assess the Need campaign collected more than $46,000 to benefit more than 2,600 students.  The supplies were distributed to all the parish’s schools.  Donations were collected outside the parish’s Wal-Mart stores and through business sponsors.

“It’s hard to believe that we started this program 15 years ago.  In many ways it seems like yesterday that my wife and I were sitting at our breakfast table with some of our teacher friends discussing the need in our schools and putting a plan of action together,” Taylor said.

Taylor noted that he will once again sponsor the Chef’s Showcase, which will feature the parish’s restaurants and their top dishes, along with a live and silent auction, on Oct. 15, with proceeds benefitting Assess the Need. Tickets are available at the Livingston Parish Assessor’s Office.

Industry Helps Livingston School Teach Construction Skills

Superintendent of Schools John Watson accepts a check for $59,630 from Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors Alvin Bargas to support welding and electrical training classes at parish high schools. Attending the presentation are (front row, from left) ABC Board member Troy Allen, Bargas, Watson, Board member Glenn Redd and parish schools Career and Technical Education Coordinator Staci Polozola. On the back row are instructors Josh Murphy, Billy Doiron, Glenn Miller, Gary Jones and Darrell Posey. (photo and information provided by the Livingston Parish News)

The Livingston Parish School System recently received a $59,630 check from private industry to support a program that taught welding and electrical construction skills to dozens of students last semester.

Stacy Polozola, the district’s career and technical education coordinator, said the after-hours classes at the campuses of Denham Springs, Live Oak and Walker High schools will help provide the state and region with workers ready to fill a growing number of highly technical jobs. The Associated Builders and Contractors Pelican Chapter sponsored the grant through the Louisiana Construction Education Foundation.  The grant paid for materials and supplies that were needed and paid for all the instructors’ time after hours.

Polozola said Denham Springs High School signed up 34 students in its after-school classes – half in welding and half in electrical instruction; Pathways in Walker had 18 welding students and Live Oak High School enrolled 13.

LIVINGSTON PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM HONORS TOP PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS

Livingston Parish Public Schools recently recognized the winners of this year’s Principal of the Year and Teacher of the Year awards.  Teacher nominees from each school were awarded certificates and top winners were presented with plaques and their portfolios were advanced to the state’s regional competitions.

“Our greatest asset in Livingston Parish are our educators, and these professionals are at the top of the list,” Superintendent John Watson said.  “We can’t say enough about their commitment to excellence and their dedication to the children of this parish.”

The Livingston Parish Principal of the Year winners were honored by the district this month. Pictured left to right are: Middle School Principal of the Year Bryan Tyler Wax, principal of Denham Springs Junior High; Elementary School Principal of the Year Debbie Tate, principal of Albany Upper Elementary; and High School Principal of the Year Jason St. Pierre, principal of Walker High School.

The Livingston Parish Teacher of the Year winners were honored by the district this month. Pictured left to right are: High School Teacher of the Year Delanea Gates, Live Oak High School; Elementary Teacher of the Year Amanda Robinson, Doyle Elementary; and Middle School Teacher of the Year Troy Glorioso, Springfield Middle School.

For the names of all those teachers who were nominated for the top award by their respective schools, click here to visit our website at www.lpsb.org.

A+PEL RECOGNIZES 2015 VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR

The Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana (A+PEL) recently honored 38 education volunteers from across the state for their dedication to students and teachers in Louisiana’s public schools.  Livingston Parish had two honorees – Jessica Alman, a volunteer at North Live Oak Elementary; and Jeffrey Maruschak, a volunteer at Walker High School.

Alman is currently serving her fourth year as a public school volunteer.  She serves as a substitute teacher when needed, and this past year, hosted an Operation Christmas Child packing party for her Fellowship of Christian Athlete students, packing more than 100 boxes for the cause.

Maruschak volunteers more than 90 minutes each day to teach students in grades 10-12 about heating ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration.  After working in the HVAC field for more than 35 years,  he said he wanted to share his knowledge with those students who sought career options that didn’t require traditional college.

WALKER HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE RECEIVES SCHOLARSHIP

Walker High School graduate Ryan Miller was recently granted a $500 scholarship award from Pelican State Credit Union.  Miller is a member of Pelican State Credit Union, and he is one of 13 college-bound students across the state to receive this award from Pelican, which grants up to $6,500 in scholarships each year.

While at Walker High School, Miller was a member of Beta Club, Ambassador Club, Open Door Baptist Church Teen Group and several other scholastic and service organizations.  He earned several awards throughout high school, including being recognized as the 2015 Walker High School Student of the Year.  He plans to attend Southeastern Louisiana University and pursue a career as a licensed nurse practitioner.

Ryan Miller accepts his scholarship award from Pelican State Credit Union Denham Springs Branch Manager Dawn Matthews