DISTRICT ANNOUNCES PLAN TO RECLAIM MISSED INSTRUCTIONAL TIME CAUSED BY WINTRY WEATHER
School administrators have announced a change in the 2018 spring academic calendar to add instruction time that was missed by students because of hazardous weather conditions.
The district will eliminate two scheduled half days on Feb. 21 and March 22, and replace them with full days. A student contact day also will be added to the end of the school year – May 25, which was originally a teacher-only day, will now be the last day for students to attend.
The school system has had to close for five and half days so far this school year because of weather conditions. Two days were missed last fall – one to hurricane-like weather conditions and another to snow. Three and a half days were missed in January due to snow and icing conditions.
DISTRICT RECEIVES FEDERAL GRANT TO ENHANCE LITERACY
Livingston Parish Public Schools will receive $703,000 in federal dollars this school year to improve reading and writing for struggling students. The grant is part of a $12 million allocation that is being divided among 56 Louisiana public schools and districts.
According to State Superintendent John White, the money will be used to buy popular children’s books and teacher tools to implement a high-quality literacy curriculum aligned with state standards. It will also finance literacy assessments, intervention programs and professional development for educators.
SPECIAL NEEDS FAMILIES LEARN ABOUT RESOURCES AT 9TH ANNUAL WINTER WONDERLAND
Parents and caretakers of students with special needs were introduced to services and programs that benefit their students at the 9th Annual Winter Wonderland, which was held Jan. 11 at the Literacy and Technology Center’s Family Resource Center.
A total of 17 booths, which were manned by businesses and agencies that provide services and unique products that can be of assistance to those with special needs, were available to those in attendance. School system teachers, especially those involved with teaching special education students, were also present to meet with parents and inform them about services available for students who need special attention.
Jeanne Ebey, project coordinator for the Livingston Parish Public School system’s Special Education Departments, said about 12 percent of the students enrolled in the parish’s schools require special treatment for various reasons. She said the term “special needs” defines a wide array of conditions that some students may possess. For example, gifted and talented students fall under the category of special needs and for these students the school system offers art, theater and music programs.
“The state issues regular bulletins informing us of the services that our school systems must offer. These requirements can be confusing for the families of special needs students, and the problem is complicated by families who also get opinions from doctors,” Ebey said. “That is one reason we hold Winter Wonderland, to help inform caregivers of what the school system and other businesses and agencies can offer to help them better care for and provide for students with special needs.”
Pictured from the left, Rona Burkett and Jennifer Cass, both of the Florida Parishes Human Services Authority, discuss services offered by their agency with Elsa Torres, Daabelynn Matot, Mone Mutot and Jonathan Mutot at the Winter Wonderland program hosted by Livingston Parish Public Schools at the Literacy and Technology Center. Photo provided by The Advocate.
LIVINGSTON PARISH CHAMBER HOSTS STUDENT CONFERENCE
The Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce recently joined with district officials to host “Connecting to Success,” a student business conference for Maurepas and Albany High School juniors.
Some 85 students attended break-out sessions for skill development for sessions and roundtable discussions with local business leaders. The event was geared toward helping students become job-ready and career-focused. Organizers encouraged attendees to pursue advanced training in technical skill areas and/or to attend college.
The Chamber of Commerce’s Business and Education Committee recently hosted the “Connecting to Success” event. Organizers included, from left to right, (back row) Brett Savant, Leann Stelly, Margot May, Sherry Mely, Derrick Bozeman, Mike Cotton, (front row) Staci Polozola, Kim Sanders, Amie Barton, Shannon Bernard, Jill Wybel, Regina Scott and Christi Cutrer. Photo provided by Livingston Parish News.
OCHSNER PRESENTS PRIZE TO GRAY’S CREEK ELEMENTARY STUDENT
Lily Laxton, center, a fourth grader at Gray’s Creek Elementary, was honored before the holidays as a semifinalist in the Ochsner Healthy Holiday Card Contest. Laxton received a prize of a cookie cake and art kit. She is pictured with Gray’s Creek Elementary Principal Melissa Dougherty, left, and Ochsner Health Center-Denham Springs Manager Val Mouton. Photo Provided by The Advocate.