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
A New Annual Financial Literacy Conference for Southeast Louisiana
Saturday, Nov. 12: 9 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
At Baton Rouge Community College's Magnolia Library and Performing Arts Pavilion
Presented by 89.3 WRKF Baton Rouge Public Radio
Managing Finances in American Families
Most American families need better financial management, regardless of their geographic, economic or demographic characteristics. Many Americans remain financially vulnerable and ill-prepared to meet current financial needs, plan for the future or respond to immediate financial emergencies. The Federal Reserve’s report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2018 revealed the fragility of many Americans' personal financial health. For instance:
Nearly 40% of Americans, if faced with an unexpected expense of just $400, would have to borrow or sell something or simply could not cover the expense at all.
25% of adults skipped necessary medical care in 2018 because they were unable to afford the cost.
Of adults who applied for credit, 23% were denied at least once in the prior year, and 31% were denied or offered less credit than requested.
25% of nonretired Americans indicate that they have no retirement savings or pension.
About the Conference: Growing Financial Literacy
Thirty years ago, a group of New Orleans-area financial planners started an event to help people learn to manage their money more successfully ― to improve the financial literacy of metro New Orleans. Called Money Watch Live, the event was attended by thousands by the time it was discontinued due to Hurricane Katrina. This year, a group of the original Money Watch Live organizers, along with WWNO New Orleans Public Radio, brought back the event to New Orleans. The renewed event, now called Money Moves, will debut in Baton Rouge on Nov. 12.
Like its predecessor, Money Moves Baton Rouge will be:
Presented at no charge to the public.
Focused on helping Baton Rouge-area residents from all walks of life gain the financial skills they need to meet their families’ current, future and emergency needs, and to improve their families’ lives through better financial planning and to invest.
Committed to presenting attendees with information they can trust from knowledgeable local or national professionals in the financial world.
Dedicated to providing impartial education and information to attendees, without promoting any companies, products or services.
Format, Schedule
The keynote session will feature a keynote speaker, followed by three subject tracks of three sessions each (total of nine sessions available).
8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.: Registration and complimentary coffee
9:10 a.m. to 9:40 a.m.: Welcome; keynote speaker Peter Ricchiuti
9:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.: Session 1
10:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.: Session 2
11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Session 3
Fifteen minutes between sessions. Speakers will be available in a roundtable room after each session to facilitate Q&A without impeding the session following. 12-16 exhibitor booths total.
Session Topics
Track One: Investing Basics
Session 1: THE ABC'S OF SUCCESSFUL MONEY MANAGEMENT; Practical Tools & Rules Session 2: PURSE STRINGS; Important Financial Decisions Are in Your Hands
Session 3: ACCOUNTANTS, FINANCIAL PLANNERS AND BANKERS; How Can These Professionals Help Me Reach My Financial Goals?
Track Two: Your Path to Retirement
Session 1: HOW MUCH MONEY DO I NEED TO RETIRE? Let's Have Your MONEY Make MONEY
Session 2: HEALTHCARE EXPENSES; Preparing Your Finances for The Unexpected
Session 3: ESTATE PLANNING; Making A Lasting Impact
Track Three: Hot Financial Topics
Session 1: YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO IT ALONE; Expanding Your Access to Financial Institutions
Session 2: CREDIT, CREDIT SCORES AND IDENTITY THEFT; Making Smart Decisions Can Keep You Out of Trouble
Session 3: THE SECRETS TO SUCCESSFUL BUDGETING; Determining Your Priorities and Making a Plan
Paul Maassen, WWNO general manager, paul@wwno.org, 504-280-7003
Barbara Clark, WRKF development director barbara@wrkf.org, 225-926-3050, ext. 13
Three EBR Schools will be presenting as MAKERS at the Baton Rouge Mini-Maker Faire, a FREE event coming up from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at the EBR Main Library on Goodwood Boulevard. This event allows visitors to experience all kinds of HANDS-ON STEM and STEAM activities.
The EBR schools there will be
Baton Rouge Magnet High School's STEM Club presenting STEM for ALL.
Glasgow Middle's Roman technology classes presenting Ancient Roman technology — catapults.
Sherwood Middle's Robotics Club presenting on LEGO robots.
The I CARE program in the EBRPSS is the only prevention education program of its kind and has been serving the East Baton Rouge community for over 40 years!
The 21st-century vision of the I CARE program is to provide students and staff with social-emotional coping strategies and trauma-informed approaches in prevention education. I CARE will advocate for students, community members, parents and staff to have safe and drug-free schools. Red Ribbon Week is one of I CARE's premier prevention education programs! We look forward to your participation this month at your school sites and having you join us in our commitment to drug-free lifestyles.
What Is Red Ribbon Week? It is an ideal way for people and communities to unite and take a visible stand against drugs. Show your personal commitment to a drug-free lifestyle through the symbol of the Red Ribbon, Oct. 23-31. The mission of the Red Ribbon Campaign is to present a unified and visible commitment toward the creation of a drug-free America.
DID YOU KNOW? Children of parents who talk to their teens regularly about drugs are 42% less likely to use drugs than those who don’t; yet only a quarter of teens report having these conversations. Red Ribbon Week, the oldest and largest drug-prevention campaign in the nation, is your opportunity to get the ongoing conversation started. This year’s theme is Drug-Free Looks Like Me." Visit www.redribbon.org to learn more about Red Ribbon Week and get tips for talking to your kids about drugs. The life you save may be that of your own child or a dear friend.
Practical Advice for Parents of Teens Regarding Prescription Drug Abuse:
As a parent, teach your teen to:
■ Respect the power of medicine and use it properly.
■ Recognize that all medicines, including prescription medications, have risks and benefits. The risks tend to increase dramatically when medicines are abused.
■ Take responsibility for learning how to take prescription medicines safely and appropriately, and seek help at the first sign of a problem for their own or a friend’s abuse.
Parents can make a difference! Kids who continue to learn about the risks of drugs at home are up to50% less likely to use drugs than those who are not taught about the dangers. Only 22% of teens report discussing the risks of abusing any prescription drug without a doctor’s prescription with their parents. It’s up to YOU to talk openly with your kids!
The I CARE Program is here to help!
Icare.ebrschools.org
225-226-2273
The East Baton Rouge Parish School System has partnered with Education Solutions Services to manage the recruitment, hiring, training and placement of substitute teachers, substitute paraprofessionals and substitute school food service personnel. We are encouraging parents and other members of the community to consider joining us in one of the many substitute openings we have available. This is an excellent way to positively impact your community!
ESS offers the perfect mix of flexibility, training and support. With the ability to handpick your assignments from a user-friendly online system, you get to decide when, where and how often to work. Whether you're just getting started in teaching, or a seasoned or retired teacher, the company will give you the training and support you need to enter the classroom confident and prepared.
A representative from ESS will contact you for an interview once you submit your initial application online.
Lights On Afterschool Events Across the Country to Showcase the Fun, Innovative Ways Afterschool Programs Engage Students in STEM Learning
A conversation with a NASA scientist. Paper roller coasters. A drone air show. Glow-in-the-dark slime. Solar-powered cars. Color-changing T-shirts. A boat-building and boat-racing competition. These are some of the fun, educational STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) activities taking place at Lights On Afterschool events across the country next month.
Now in its 23rd year, Lights On Afterschool is America’s only national rally for afterschool programs, with thousands of events being held on or around Thursday, Oct. 20. It is organized by the Afterschool Alliance to underscore the need to invest in afterschool programs, which keep kids safe, inspire them to learn and give working parents peace of mind that their children are safe, supervised and learning after the school day ends.
“Afterschool programs are an ideal setting for students to explore STEM through hands-on, team-based activities,” said Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant. “Whether they’re building robots, testing soil samples, shadowing health care professionals or writing code in afterschool programs across the country, students are learning STEM by doing STEM. We’re thrilled that so many Lights On Afterschool events this year are shining a light on the unique ways afterschool programs engage students in STEM activities. As the pandemic continues, it is more important than ever to ensure students have access to quality afterschool programs, which build students’ interest in learning and help them forge successful futures.”
The Afterschool Alliance is teaming up with Energy Superheroes to spark excitement about energy careers for Lights On Afterschool this year. The authors and sponsors of “Everyday Superheroes: Women in Energy Careers” are donating nearly 300 books to afterschool programs for their Lights On Afterschool celebrations and for use throughout the year. In addition, Energy Superheroes and trailblazers will sign donated books and build wind turbines with students at Lights On Afterschool events in Oklahoma City; Boston; Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Houston. NASA will host a Lights On Afterschool event at its Washington, D.C., headquarters for middle school students on Oct. 20. For the 16th consecutive year, the New York skyline will shine for afterschool on Oct. 20 when the iconic Empire State Building is lit in yellow and blue to celebrate.
Some 24.7 million U.S. children not in an afterschool program would be enrolled, if a program were available to them, according to a survey of 1,500 parents commissioned by the Afterschool Alliance and conducted by Edge Research in May and June of 2022. That is the highest number ever recorded. Unmet demand for afterschool programs is significantly higher among Latino and Black children (at 60% and 54%, respectively) than among children overall (49%). A household survey released in summer of 2021 confirms that afterschool programs have been ramping up their STEM offerings, but students from low-income families are most likely to miss out. Seventy-three percent of parents report that their child’s afterschool program offers STEM learning opportunities, up from 69% in 2014. Three in five parents of afterschool students (60%) report that their child participates in STEM in afterschool twice or more per week, up from 52% in 2014.
The American Rescue Plan provided historic resources to expand access to out-of-school time programs. In July, the U.S. Department of Education launched the Engage Every Student Initiative, a bold and historic call to action to use funds from the American Rescue Plan, as well as state and local funds, to ensure access to high-quality, out-of-school time programs for every child. The Afterschool Alliance is one of five coordinating organizations in this historic new public/private partnership.
BellXcel, Capital One, and Clear Channel Outdoor are generous sponsors of Lights On Afterschool this year.
The Afterschool Alliance is a nonprofit public awareness and advocacy organization working to ensure that all children and youth have access to quality afterschool programs. More information is available at www.afterschoolalliance.org
For young children, play is their work. Attributes that lead to success, such as patience, getting along with others and problem-solving, are best learned while kids are just being kids. Have you ever watched how a group of kids on the playground interact? We all could learn a lot about the art of negotiation by watching the give-and-take of 8-year-olds as they play a game of kickball.
Children at play feel safer trying new things around peers rather than around parents because the level of expectation is lower, and as a result, it heightens their curiosity and creativity. Children who can’t seem to focus in structured settings are able to concentrate when it comes to play. Kids who play hard on the playground may transfer that energy into seeking their potential later in life.
Some additional life skills gained during playtime include:
Ability to make choices and decisions based on what’s best for all.
Perseverance.
Ability to encourage others.
Ability to find joy in others’ accomplishments, which is too often lost in the classroom or on the sports field.
Strategic planning.
Ability to express ideas.
Parents who allow their kids lots of time for free play are equipping them with the important skill sets they need to succeed and fulfill their potential.
When children play name games, sing songs and recite jump-rope rhymes, they’re developing language skills.
When they construct a block tower, follow directions to a game and work jigsaw puzzles, they’re developing thinking skills.
When they string beads, make clay figures and cut with scissors, they’re developing small-muscle skills.
They develop large-muscle skills when they play ball, rollerblade and run relay races.
When they make up stories, put on a puppet show and play dress-up, they are nurturing skills in creativity.
When they team up to play ballgames, discuss rules for a card game, and decide who will play what part in a dramatic play, they are developing their social skills.
The value of play is priceless. When they are being silly and laughing, children receive the refueling they need to meet the challenges of growing up.
October focuses on Emotional Wellness Month. While taking stock of our stress levels, it’s an excellent time to make some changes, too. Emotional Wellness Month provides information and resources to help us do just that.
Stress comes into all our lives in varying amounts. Depending on our demands, emotional health can take a toll. However, noting the causes of our stress helps identify the biggest offenders so we can stop them.
ASSESS YOUR STRESS
Review your financial plan. Make sure your plan aligns with your savings and income with our goals. You may need to readjust for the future or change current spending habits. Even planning for a dream vacation can improve emotional wellness when done responsibly.
Calculate screen time. In this digital world, the amount of time we spend online impacts our emotional health. We are bombarded by data, news and alerts constantly. Consider reducing the amount of time spent in front of the screen. One way to reduce online and screen time is to unplug one day a week. Use the time to read a book, schedule a massage and go for a walk. Rate your emotional wellness before and after your unplugged time.
Assess resources available to you. Many employers offer tools and discounts for emotional wellness. Checking with your human resources department is an excellent place to start. From videos to free counseling sessions, these benefits provide substantial relief when life seems upside down.
Remember the relationships in your life. This is a big one. Friends, family and even co-workers play a huge role in our emotional health. They improve our social and spiritual well-being by keeping us connected. Human beings thrive on social interactions. Without them, we feel isolated. Large or small, a well-balanced, healthy, social community provides satisfying spiritual, emotional, recreational and educational benefits. As a result, our friends and family provide a strong support system we rely upon when a crisis strikes.
How’s your physical health? Keep up with routine health checks. Also, add healthy eating habits and increase physical activity to reduce overall anxiety.
By identifying stressors and improving our emotional health, we are more likely to surf through the highs and lows in life more successfully.
HOW TO OBSERVE #EmotionalWellnessMonth
Set some goals for reducing stress in your life. Consider what your biggest stressors are and the best ways to remove them. How do you reduce stress? Do you have a stellar support system? Use #EmotionalWellnessMonth to post on social media.
NATIONAL EMOTIONAL WELLNESS MONTH HISTORY
Emotional Wellness Month has been observed since 2004.
BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo will host its 26th Annual Boo at the Zoo on Oct. 22, 23, 29, 30 – Presented by Hancock Whitney Bank. This merry, not scary trick-or-treat extravaganza began in 1996 and has grown to become one of Baton Rouge’s most popular Halloween events.
Key details for this event are as follows:
The zoo is happy to have the Capital City Produce Pumpkin Patch! Thousands of minipumpkins will flood the pavilion area for beautiful seasonal photo opportunities. Children ages 12 and under will be invited to take one complimentary minipumpkin.
The zoo will be prepackaging treat bags for all children ages 12 and under to collect upon exiting their day at the zoo.
Halloween costumes continue to be encouraged for all attendees. And a costume contest will be hosted this year, whereby attendees are encouraged to take a photo inside the zoo during the event and post it on social media using the hashtag #BRZooBoo. Zoo staff will select one lucky guest to win a zoo membership to enjoy the zoo all year long.
Traditional fall and Halloween-themed inflatables and decorated pumpkins will be sprinkled throughout the zoo for festive photo opportunities.
Special character visits.
Holiday-themed enrichments will be provided to the zoo’s animals throughout the day.
The zoo will offer regular cafe service, as well as additional vendor-sold refreshments in the food court, including Rice & Roux and SnoMobile of Louisiana.
Admission gates will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and zoo grounds close at 5 p.m. Regular zoo admission applies, free for members. For more information on Boo at the Zoo, please visit http://www.brzoo.org/events/special/boo-at-the-zoo/ or call 225-775-3877.
About BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo is a place where people connect with animals, including tigers, giraffes, rhinos and alligators. The world-class Realm of the Tiger, Flamingo Cove, Giants of the Islands, Safari Playground, L'aquarium de Louisiane and KidsZoo exhibits offer fun and education for all ages.
Arm Your Middle Schooler with Effective Study Habits
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Students need strong study skills to be successful in middle school — and parents play a significant role in helping their children develop them. The study skills middle schoolers learn now will help them succeed today, in high school and beyond.
To lay groundwork for your child’s academic success:
Encourage them to break down large projects. Don’t let your middle schooler get rattled by long-term assignments. Show them how to divide big projects into smaller, more manageable parts.
Have your child estimate how long a homework assignment or project will take and plan their study time accordingly. Then, have them use a timer to see if their estimates are accurate. This will help them make adjustments for future assignments, if necessary.
Increase their self-awareness. Ask your child to figure out when their at their best. Then encourage them to do most of their homework and studying during those times. If they need to let off some steam after school, encourage them to go for a run or a brisk walk before sitting down.
Turn off the television. Don’t buy your child’s argument that TV is “just background noise.” Make sure homework time is free from all distractions.
Promote organization. Help them create a system to keep track of important assignments. It might be file folders, a color-coded binder or a desk calendar.
October 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 & Family Engagement
