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.
–
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 78TH YEAR
The Livingston Parish Fair Association will celebrate its 78th 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.