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
The Child Nutrition Program introduces MealViewer, an online menu service for parents and students. It allows for a convenient and speedy way to access the school's daily menus. MealViewer offers families an informal, easy-to-use and user-friendly service that includes the following:
Convenience – The service is available 24/7 on the web or through our mobile app for your smartphone.
You can also locate the Meal Viewer app via the EBR Schools app. Download the East Baton Rouge Parish App, then navigate to the homepage to find “additional apps.” To access the MealViewer page, select additional apps. This will bring you to MealViewer.
Listed below are links to the EBR Schools application.
The Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) helps low-income families pay for child care while working or attending school or training. Eligibility is based on family size and household income and how many hours the adult applying for CCAP works and/or attends school or training.
Households can select any Type III early learning center, family child care provider, in-home provider, school child care center or licensed child care center determined by the Department of Defense.
QUALIFYING FOR CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE
1. Are you responsible for paying child care costs for a child under 13 or a child under 18 with a disability who lives with you?
2. Do you, your spouse and any other caregivers of children who live in your home work or attend an educational or training program at least 20 hours a week in combination?
If not participating in one or a combination of these activities, do these persons receive disability income?
3. Is your household's total monthly gross earned and unearned income less than the amount listed below for your household size? (Gross income refers to income before any deductions from the paycheck.)
How to do I apply for Child Care Assistance?
There are several ways you may obtain an application to apply for child care assistance. The fastest way to apply for child care assistance is online. You may visit our websitehere to apply for CCAP. If you do not have access to the internet, you can visit a local library for computer access or the department can mail you an application.
You can fax the application to 225-376-6060 or mail the CCAP application to: Department of Education CCAP Household Eligibility P. O. Box 260037 Baton Rouge, LA 70826
Fathers On A Mission (FOAM) is one of the only nonprofit organizations that empower men to become better father figures within their community. We provide fatherhood sessions, workplace opportunities, community resources and relationship-building opportunities to men of all ages.
Mission: To promote responsible, committed fatherhood through education, strong relationships, holistic health and socioeconomic improvement opportunities.
Vision: All fathers and father figures are active, positive models with their children, families and in the community.
Fathers, father figures and men! Join us on Tuesdays at 1120 Government St. @ 12:15 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. for our weekly responsible fatherhood classes. FREE baby pampers, men's and children's clothes, men's suits, household items, and more!
Education and employment opportunities.
Counseling and therapy available.
Refreshments provided
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
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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. We want students to remember that life is beautiful, each life is valued and people care.
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, please contact your I CARE prevention specialist at your school or call the I CARE Office at 225-226-2273.
Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Healthcare Centers in Schools and community-based teams are the collaboration of education, public health and school health professionals to improve our children’s development and well-being. Our school-based health centers provide comprehensive health services and wellness education to students in grades K-12 in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System, operating seven full-service clinics.
Our services are available on-site during school hours Monday through Friday with same-day appointments available. We are staffed by a nurse practitioner, registered nurse, licensed social worker and medical assistant who work in coordination with your child’s regular provider(s) and school nurse. Access to scheduling and messaging are available through MyChart.
Services are offered to any student with a consent form completed. All students under the age of 18 must have a parent complete a consent form and have it on file.
Caregivers: expecting mothers/fathers, adoptive/foster parents, and grandparents raising children. Any person raising an infant full-time who needs assistance affording items to keep the child safe.
1. Be pregnant/expecting/adopting/fostering/raising an infant.
2. Be 4-6 weeks before baby's arrival, or currently raising an infant between the ages of birth to 6 months.
3. Be low-income or otherwise unable to afford earned baby items.
4. Not have a crib or car seat for your child.
5. Not received a free crib or car seat from The Safety Place in the last six years.
6. Attend one or both parts of the workshop between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and correctly demonstrate use of crib and car seat.
Workshop Schedule:
Part 1:
9 a.m.-9:45 a.m.: Safe Sleep Workshop
9:45 a.m.-10:45 a.m.: Crib Demonstration
10:45 a.m.-11:15 a.m.: Break & Refreshments (Visit with community vendors and collect resources)
Part 2:
11:15 a.m.-11:45 a.m.: Car Seat Safety Workshop
11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.: Car Seat Vehicle Installation
12:45 p.m.-1 p.m.: Cribs & Car Seats Workshop Certificates (Visit with community vendors and collect resources)
Submissions will be screened, and caregivers will be contacted by a member of our team. They will receive more program info via phone, email (check junk box), text message and/or social media in the coming weeks.
As your teen gets older, it becomes more important for him to think critically and weigh the information he hears, sees and reads.
There are lots of fun ways you can help your teen develop his critical thinking skills. Encourage him to:
Read more than assignments. It can't be said too often that teens should read for pleasure — everything from newspapers to magazines to novels. The more your teen reads, the more new ideas he will be exposed to.
Do puzzles. Crossword puzzles build word power. Jigsaw puzzles improve logic.
Play board games. Chess is a classic game for teaching critical thinking. However, checkers, backgammon and some popular brand-name games, such as Scattergories and Catan, build important thinking skills, too.
Debate. Most teens love to argue. Ask your teen to stop arguing with you and join the school debate team instead. No debate team? Perhaps your teen could start one.
Play a musical instrument. Making music teaches about order, rhythm and patterns. It sharpens listening skills. And it can help teens feel calm, which improves their ability to think.
Start a blog or podcast. Your teen will get practice planning and researching topics, creating and formatting content, and editing and publishing work.
Studies show that students who participate in community service have better grades and more interest in school than those who don't. Volunteers tend to have strong positive feelings about themselves and their place in society.
Students who volunteer:
Are less likely to take dangerous risks, such as doing drugs.
Have higher self-esteem, are more responsible and fell more connected to their community.
Have stronger social skills.
Are more likely to stay in school, have regular attendance and perform well.
Learn valuable skills, such as how to interact with different kinds of people, how to solve problems and how to follow through on commitments.
Meet interesting people, such as the heads of agencies or businesses. These contacts can be references for students in the future.
Encourage your child to get involved and reap the benefits of volunteering. He could:
Raise awareness for a cause on social media.
Organize a drive to clean up an outdoor site, such as a local park or playground.
Research organizations that could help him start a community garden.
Organize a book drive and distribute gently used books to local food banks.
Collect items for organizations to distribute to low-income families.
Help a new mom or an elderly neighbor with housework.
SOURCE: “Civic Engagement: Benefits for Youth,” Youth .gov
It's Not Too Late to Beef Up Your Engagement with School
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The start of this school year has been challenging, to say the least. However, when parents and schools work together, the results can be incredible, including increased academic achievement and better student attitudes and behavior.
Your involvement doesn't need to be complicated or time consuming. It isn't too late to get involved.
Starting right now, you can:
Attend school events — even if they are virtual. Participate and make an effort to connect with staff and other families.
Pay attention to school information sent home and posted online. Keep track of important dates, such as end-of-the-year tests and celebrations.
Volunteer. Ask your child's teacher if there is anything you can do to help out. Perhaps you could read to students or help in another way.
Join the parent-teacher group. If you can't attend meetings, take time to read the minutes from each meeting.
Ask the teacher questions. “How can I help my child succeed?” “What are the important school tasks for us to accomplish each day at home?”
Keep talking to your child about school. Ask about what he is learning. Let him know his education is important to you.
FREE Homebuyer Seminar
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Urban Restoration Enhancement Corporation and Hancock Whitney are partnering to empower Baton Rouge-area residents interested in homeownership on how to navigate the home-buying process. The community partners will host a free Homebuyer Seminar: Building Credit to Purchasea Home on Saturday, Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to noon at ReImagine Women’s Center, 7600 Airline Highway in Baton Rouge. Visit HERE to register.
During the seminar, attendees will learn about downpayment assistance; how to prepare credit and finances for homeownership; how to work with real estate, finance and insurance professionals; and how to maneuver through the home-buying process.
For more information, call 225-356-8871 or email info@urecbr.com. To receive updates about upcoming seminars, join our email list by texting URECBR to 22828. On social media, connect with @urecbr on Facebook and Instagram.
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
