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
Paraprofessional Jenna McMasters assists Westside Junior High athlete Andrew Ingrahm at the Special Olympics’ Florida Parishes Area Track & Field Meet. Photo courtesy of The Advocate, by Photographer David Normand.
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
Holden High School Senior Jessica Litolff played the lead role of Rosie in the Livingston Parish Talented Arts Program’s production of “Rosie the Riveter.” Photo courtesy of Livingston Parish News
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 Student Laurie McCreary selected to the SADD National Student Leadership Council.
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
Pictured, left to right, are: (back row) Macy Dufrene, Grace Dugas, Cameron Hood, Tommy Fuentes, Austin Barnes, Evan Bergeron, Reeves Blankenship, Jack Dalbert, Nathan Penalber, Eric Forbes, Caroline Taylor, Gabrielle Chenier, (front row) Jasmine Hendry, Katelyn Prescott, Krysta Mostert, Kaitlyn Rayborn, Haleigh Jones, Emily Beever, and Jessica Litolff.
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.