Dear parents and guardians, I am so excited to welcome you to our Parent Power Newsletter. We're thrilled that you’re interested in learning more from our dedicated team at EBR Schools and can’t wait to start sharing with you.
Inside this Issue
In an ongoing effort to engage our families and the community, many of our schools now have an additional point of contact to serve our customers. Family and Community Engagement (FACE) facilitators are strategically assigned to assist in schools, regions and communities where we aim to enhance and improve our connections.
I encourage parents, families and the community to connect not only with the FACE facilitator assigned to your child's school but to also connect with FACE facilitators within your region.
Call for Student Applications!
Our Future Is Science is excited to announce that 2022-2023 applications for our virtual, experiential, pipeline STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) mentorship program for 14- to 17-year-old students.
OFIS provides new perspectives around science and shapes educational and career avenues for young people. Please share this opportunity (flyer)with students; parent(s) or caregiver(s); organizations; and any academic networks.
At the end of the program, mentees will receive a $1,000 stipend from the founding organizations — The Aspen Institute Science and Society Program and Coda Societies — for their full participation. Learn about our last year’s mentors and mentees here.
We especially encourage students to apply who identify as an “underrepresented” identity; belong to a historically marginalized and underserved group; are of low-income background; and/or are eligible for free/reduced school lunch.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
High school student mentees are paired with STEM graduate student mentors in “mentorship teams.”
Individual and group activities enable them to explore linkages between STEM disciplines and social justice— and how this understanding will equip them to solve our most pressing societal challenges.
Mentees will develop a capstone project centered on a societal problemin their own community or one that they care about, projects such as food insecurity and access to health care in underserved communities; using artificial intelligence and physics to inform climate change adaptation; and more.
Attend monthly community talks led by scientists, activists and other professionals to learn about career trajectories, diverse perspectives and the real-world intersection of STEM and social justice.
We look forward to having students in your network on this journey with us.
- The OFIS Team
Retool for Back to School!
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No matter your age, your East Baton Rouge Parish Library has the resources to help you succeed in school. Whether you need help with math homework, an English paper or preparing for a test, your library card is all you need. We have online tutoring; databases; a huge print and digital collection; and 14 locations that are open seven days a week.
Teens
HomeworkLouisiana - Free Online Tutoring, Job Search Assistance and Academic and Career Resources
Did you know that the East Baton Rouge Parish School System has an ESports League?
The mission of the ESports League is to provide scholastic opportunities for all students using esports as a platform to acquire authentic STEAM-based skills, earn industry credentials and develop social-emotional attributes such as communication, collaboration and problem-solving abilities needed to positively impact the gaming culture and thrive in work and life.
Together with our Esports Program, we are going to embark on a journey that will level up the East Baton Rouge Parish School System and engage students like no other program has before. The East Baton Rouge ESports League (EBREL) was designed as an inclusive program to let the future leaders of tomorrow run the functions of a scholastic esports league while honing their leadership skills, STEM/STEAM soft skills and, of course, having fun. We will be bringing out their best with engaging activities such as competitive tournament play, audio/video production, digital design, web mastering and so much more.
Our program is not just about gaming, but it focuses on what you can do with your gaming knowledge and experience. Scholastic esports has not only provided students with the same social and emotional learning (SEL) benefits of traditional athletics, such as improved teamwork, leadership, and a sense of belonging, but esports is also being used as a lens to teach everything from career and technical education (CTE) to literacy and STEM habits of thinking to students from kindergarten through high school. Gaming competitions between schools are the product where we believe the best outcomes are gained in the process of student-led entrepreneurship, organization, strategy analysis and content creation. In addition to the team practices and competitions, curricular resources connected to ISTE, CSTA and CTE student learning standards will be shared with teams and coaches. These tools will assist in creating empowered learners and digital residents to enhance student achievement in core classes.
Participating EBREL schools will benefit from:
access to a league for students to compete free of extra charges or restrictions of gaming entities.
extracurricular activities to support inclusion, STEM skills (collaboration and problem solving) and SEL.
a tailored scholastic experience in the esports pre-industry.
college and career exposure; scholarships and networking with professionals in the field.
workforce industry development and opportunities to earn certifications in Adobe and computer science concepts.
Currently, there are nine East Baton Rouge ESports League schools:
Istrouma High
Northeast High
Scotlandville High
Tara High
Capitol Middle
Southeast Middle
Jefferson Terrace Academy
The Dufrocq School
Villa Del Rey Elementary
CONTACT US:
esports@ebrschools.net
esports@ebrschools.org
FOLLOW US:
twitter@EBRPSSesports
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month! This year’s theme is “Life is Beautiful.” In an effort to educate, inform and bring awareness to what many have referred to as a “silent epidemic” among our youth, the I CARE program supports suicide prevention campaign efforts at every school and in the community.
Research indicates that incorporating suicide prevention activities in schools will provide students with the following:
An opportunity to increase knowledge about current statistics and common myths regarding youth suicide.
The ability to assist family and friends who might be depressed or may consider suicide.
The ability to recognize warning signs associated with suicidal thoughts.
An opportunity to pledge support for themselves and/or friends regarding suicide.
We hope the resources assist you with conversations about suicide prevention, wellness and healthy coping skills. We strive to empower our students and community while supporting an environment to create safe schools that are alcohol, drug and violence free. If we may be of further assistance, contact your I CARE prevention specialist at your school or call us at 225-226-2273.
Parent Tips:
Warning Signs
A history of mental illness or substance abuse is a risk factor for developing suicide ideation or attempting suicide.
Noticeable change in eating or sleeping patterns.
Observable personality change.
Unusually rebellious or violent behavior.
Isolating or withdrawing from family, friends or peers.
Declining performance in school.
Talking about, posting online or drawing about contemplating suicide or killing self.
What Can I Do?
Remember, talking about suicide does NOT cause suicide. Make sure to validate your child’s feelings, listen, and get professional help when needed.
Be curious: Don't be afraid to ask questions and listen to your child.
Safety planning: Secure all sharp objects, pills and risky items that one could attempt suicide with at home.
Seek professional help: Contact your child or teen’s health insurance plan using the behavioral health number on the back of the card. Insurance companies can provide a list of counselors in your area who are in network with your plan.
Call or text a child or teen with the suicide hotline; the suicide prevention lifeline is 988.
Work with school: Collaborate with their school and ask if there is a counselor who can provide another source of support.
Go to ER: Do not hesitate to seek emergency department evaluation if there is a concern for danger of suicide, or if there have been any physical attempts.
Neither Starbucks nor CC’s Coffee can top the FREE iced vanilla latte being piloted in EBR high schools as part of the breakfast program. The recipe for the vanilla lattes is a healthy one: 8 ounces of skim milk, sugar-free vanilla syrup and 1 ounce of cold brew coffee. Because of the 8 ounces of skim milk, the iced latte can be chosen instead of milk on the days offered to students. While being offered in the high schools two days per week during the pilot, it may be on the menu each day for breakfast in the future. Latte flavors may change to a caramel then to a mocha; the temperature may change from a cold brew to a hot latte during the winter months.
Every student receives one breakfast and one lunch at no charge in the EBR school district under a USDA program called Community Eligibility Provision. The latte offering is an effort to increase high school breakfast participation, and it is working. In several high schools, breakfast counts have nearly doubled since the latte offering started several weeks ago.
Nadine L. Mann, PhD, RD, LDN
Child Nutrition Program
Chief Financial Director
Kind words are like honey,
Sweet to the soul.
~Ancient Proverb
In honor of National Honey Month, I’d like to share a story from my childhood that helped me learn the importance of kind words!
I loved sitting at the kitchen counter when my mother took her blue ribbon-winning homemade biscuits out of the oven! She sliced them open, covered them in butter and drizzled warm honey on top! My, O, my, what a delight!
She never failed to use those honey-covered biscuits as an opportunity to teach a lesson in good character. She had a different phrase every time she served those biscuits:
Using kind words melts cold hearts like butter on a hot biscuit.
Kind words stick to people like honey.
Bitter words make no friends; honey words make lots of friends.
Kind words taste sweet like honey.
Teddy bears, not grizzly bears, get invited inside for honey.
Kind words go down easy and feel good in your soul.
You get the idea! I hope you’ll try your hand at homemade biscuits with honey this month. Be sure and add in a little sage wisdom while you’re at it. This is a lesson I’ve carried in my heart! I hope your kids will too!
(All Mother had to do was lick her lips if we used an unkind word to remind us to replace our ugly words with sweet-as-honey words.)
Super easy biscuits
4 cups self-rising flour Two-thirds cup Crisco 1 tbsp. baking soda 2 cups buttermilk Pinch salt
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix all ingredients well in a large metal mixing bowl. Roll out 2/3 inch thick on a floured surface. Cut with a biscuit cutter and dip in melted butter. Place on a greased baking sheet, ½ inches apart. Bake for 10 minutes till golden brown on top. Serve warm with honey drizzled over!
Never finished high school? Need to improve your reading, math or language and communication skills? Need to learn English or Spanish as a second language?
We can help!
Preparation for the High School Equivalence Test (HiSET ~ formerly the GED) and other alternative pathways to earning a high school equivalency diploma are available through the EBRPSS Adult and Continuing Education Program.
In addition to the HiSET Prep program, the following Adult Basic Education courses are offered:
Reading
Math
Language arts
Writing
EBRPSS Adult and Continuing Education students can also take advantage of workforce preparation, personal development and personal enrichment courses in the following areas:
College readiness
Computer essentials
ESL - English as a Second Language
Financial literacy
Health literacy (CPR/AED/first-aid certifications available)
We offer specially priced computers and laptops for lower-income households. Bring in your current driver’s license or state ID, along with one of the following:
Medicaid card
Food stamp card
Unemployement or disability information
Veterans VA card
Proof of age 62 or above
501c3 (LANO members and NPOs)
The CACRC's Computers for Louisiana's Families program offers low-cost refurbished computers with a Microsoft Windows 7 Operating System and additional software pre-installed. More information can be found on our flyer. If you qualify and would like to print out an application, click the link below:
All computer systems include the following software: Internet Explorer, Firefox, Open Office Suite, Avast Antivirus and Adobe Acrobat Reader.
september is library Card
Sign-up Month
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September is Library Card Sign-Up Month! Your East Baton Rouge Parish Library is joining with the American Library Association and public libraries nationwide to ensure that every child signs up for their own library card. Since 1987, Library Card Sign-Up Month has been held each September to mark the beginning of the school year. A library card is one of the most important and cost-effective school supplies there is! It provides FREE use of online tutoring; databases; books and magazines; e-books; audiobooks; literacy and stem programs; and so much more! Studies show that children who are read to in the home and who use the library perform better in school, and they can turn to the library for materials, programs and knowledgeable staff to support academic achievement. To sign up for your library card, visit one of EBRPL's 14 locations today!
September Calendar
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Parent Power is a publication of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System
The East Baton Rouge Parish School System and all of its entities (including Career and Technical Education Programs) do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, national origin, disability or gender in its educational programs and activities (including employment and application for employment); and it is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of gender by Title IX (20 USC 168) and on the basis of disability by Section 504 (42 USC 794). The Title IX coordinator is Andrew Davis, director of Risk Management (ADavis6@ebrschools.org, 225-929-8705). The Section 504 coordinator is Danielle Staten-Ojo, (dstaten@ebrschools.org., 225-326-5668). The Title II coordinator is Dr. Sandra Bethley, administrative director of Federal Programs (SBHorton@ebrschools.org, 225-922-5538).
All students have an opportunity to participate in Career and Technical Programs of Study, including but not limited to areas of health care; construction crafts and trades; automotive technology; IT computer technology; culinary programs; criminal justice; and agriculture. Admission requirements for each course can be found in the student course guide/schedule packet of the individual campus where the course is being offered. Please contact the guidance counselor at the specific school site for additional information, program requirements and/or any questions you may have.
Dr. Sito Narcisse, Superintendent of Schools
sitonarcisse@ebrschools.org
Letrece Griffin, Chief of Communications & Public Relations
