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
Baton Rouge Magnet High School's Bulldog Bites was among 728 school-based enterprises achieving gold-level certification for the 2023-24 school year. It will be recognized during DECA’s International Career Development Conference on April 27-30 in Anaheim, California.
A school-based enterprise (SBE) is an entrepreneurial operation in a school setting that provides goods and services to meet the needs of the market. SBEs are managed and operated by students as hands-on learning laboratories that integrate national curriculum standards in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. DECA advisers have utilized this effective educational tool for over four decades to provide their students with realistic and practical learning experiences that reinforce classroom instruction, enhance 21st-century skill development and prepare students for college and careers.
The Baton Rouge Magnet High DECA members who contributed to the certification were Katia Fuentes, Ashley Lambie, Nicolas Nguyen, Mary Case, Madison Vu, Lilah Weisberger and Dristi Thaker. They were assisted by DECA chapter adviser Marcia Lee. The Baton Rouge Magnet SBE has operated for six years and is to be commended for this achievement.
“DECA’s School-based Enterprise Certification Program is a rigorous process designed to help DECA members demonstrate their classroom learning in a practical, learning laboratory and then translate that into meaningful outcomes,” said Christopher Young, CAE, chief Program Officer at DECA Inc. “These DECA members are practicing important workplace readiness skills while preparing for college and careers.”
DECA’s School-based Enterprise Certification Program provides recognition for outstanding achievement by school-based enterprises and motivates SBEs to strive for excellence and growth. SBEs can be certified at three levels: bronze, silver or gold. In order to apply for the certification, SBEs must submit extensive documentation that explains how the SBE demonstrates the practice of various marketing and retail standards. A review committee evaluates the documentation to determine which level of certification has been achieved. DECA’s School-based Enterprise program is sponsored by Otis Spunkmeyer Inc. and Pop Chips/You Need This.
About DECA Inc.
DECA is a career and technical student organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs with a career interest in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. DECA enhances the preparation for college and careers by providing co-curricular programs that integrate into classroom instruction, apply learning, connect to business and promote competition. DECA student members leverage their DECA experience to become academically prepared, community-oriented, professionally responsible and experienced leaders. DECA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with nearly 250,000 members in 4,000 high school and college chapters in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Germany.
For more information about DECA, visit www.deca.org.
The I CARE Program recognizes March as Tobacco and Vaping Prevention Month.
The program is actively working with community partners such as the DEA, Gardere Initiative, American Heart Association, OLOL’s Health Care Centers in Schools and local hospitals to continue to inform students and families about the dangers of opioids and other drugs. The I CARE Program provides schoolwide education to promote safe and healthy choices outside of vaping and tobacco use. As a parent, you can also participate in training and request additional information to stay heavily informed about fake prescription pills and fentanyl deaths in Louisiana.
E-Cigarettes and Vapes:
E-cigarettes and vapes are a rapidly emerging and diversified product class. These devices typically deliver nicotine, flavorings and other additives to users via an inhaled aerosol. These devices are referred to by a variety of names, including “e-cigs,” “e-hookahs,” “mods,” “vape pens,” “vapes” and “tank systems.”
E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that heat a liquid into an aerosol that the user inhales.
The liquid usually has nicotine, which comes from tobacco, flavoring and other additives.
E-cigarette products can also be used as a delivery system
for marijuana and other illicit drugs.
Research suggests that vaping is bad for your heart and lungs!
Nicotine is a toxic substance. It raises your blood pressure and spikes your adrenaline, which increases your heart rate and the likelihood of having a heart attack. There are links to vaping, smoking and cardiovascular disease.
Talking Tips
Try the following tips to promote honest and calm conversations:
Let your child lead the conversation, and listen to their questions and comments.
Encourage your child to tell you how they feel.
Empathize with pressures they may be feeling to do drugs or drink alcohol from their peers or their environment.
Ensure to regulate your own emotions, especially right now.
Highlight the risks of tobacco and vaping.
Show that you value their perspective and make the conversation a win-win for them.
Did You Know?
E-cigarettes contain nicotine.
5 mg of nicotine a day is enough to establish a nicotine addiction.
Evidence shows that the effect of nicotine on developing brains may also lead to vulnerability to addiction to other drugs.
The U.S.’s lack of regulation of nicotine levels is dramatically different from other countries.
Many young people turn to nicotine to alleviate stress, anxiety and depression. But it may be making them feel worse.
Reference:
“Colliding Crises: Youth Mental Health and Nicotine Use.” Truth Initiative. (n.d.).
The American Heart Association recently attended the I CARE Crisis Response Team Training where hands-only CPR training to employees in the district was offered free. This initiative aims to equip individuals with lifesaving skills and promote a healthier, safer community. Additionally, I CARE and the Capital Area American Heart Association collaborate on educating students about making healthy choices for total wellness.
Twelve Baton Rouge Magnet High School seniors have been named Presidential Scholar candidates. The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 by Executive Order of the President to recognize and honor some of our nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors. The selection of about 4,000 general program candidates, for the most part, was made based on SAT and ACT scores. The scores associated with the top 20 male examinees and top 20 female examinees are used to select candidates from each state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and from families of U.S. citizens living abroad. A review committee of qualified individuals experienced in secondary and postsecondary education evaluates candidates on their academic achievement, personal characteristics, leadership and service activities, and an analysis of their essay. Approximately 650 candidates are named semifinalists and forwarded to the commission for further review. In April, the Commission on Presidential Scholars reviews the applications of all semifinalists based on the same criteria used by the review committee. The commission selects up to 161 U.S Presidential Scholars each year.
For the second year in a row, Baton Rouge Magnet High leads all high schools in Louisiana in Presidential Scholar candidates. Baton Rouge Magnet High School's candidates are Veda Devireddy, George Guice, Hsincheng Lai, Kate Lee, Brandon Lin, Jennifer Lin, Shashank Nanjundiah, Andy Ou, Sophia Ren, Fuller Stevens, Helen Wang and Louisa Zhu.
Sixth Annual Community Pitch of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy of Baton Rouge!
Take part in and witness the transformation of students to CEOs on Wednesday, March 6, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the LSU Business Education Complex. Watch our impressive group of young entrepreneurs:
Pitch their startups to a panel of judges (see panelists below).
Seek seed funding to help launch their real businesses.
Compete for a spot at the national YEA pitch competition later this spring
The Community Pitch is made possible through the generosity of Community Coffee. A family-owned business, Community Coffee has been serving customers and local communities for over 100 years. Its tradition of giving back generously sets a strong example for our next generation of entrepreneurs and our entire business community.
Science and math sometimes get a bad reputation among students. Many believe they're “just not good” in these subjects. However, when middle school students engage in activities related to science, technology, engineering and math (the STEM subjects), they often change their minds. If the middle schooler thinks science or math is too challenging:
Enjoy science and technology media together. Search on YouTube or Common Sense Media to find science shows and games for kids.
Head to the kitchen. Cooking involves both math and chemistry. And you can get to eat the results! As you cook together, ask your child questions, such as: Why do you think water boils when it gets hot? What happens when we forget to add baking powder to the cookies? How much flour will we need if we double the recipe?
Visit a natural history museum or science center in person or online. Your child can look for STEM exhibits, learn about the history of technology and discover how things work.
Praise the process. When your middle schooler is learning something new in a class, it's often hard at first. So rather than focusing on grades, talk about what your child is learning and the new skills your child is developing.
Discuss the different styles of decision-making with your teen
You know that your teen's decision-making skills will get better with experience. But did you know that your teen may make decisions in a different manner than you do?
Have a discussion about different styles of decision-making. Which style do each of you use most often? Are there situations when one style might work better than another? Here are five styles:
Decisive? People in this category often act quickly. They base their decisions on the information that is immediately available to them. They rarely change their minds.
Flexible? Flexible decision-makers may act on limited information, but they are not open to changing their minds. If their first solution to a problem doesn't work, they will switch to another one. And they will reevaluate decisions as more information becomes available.
Hierarchical? These types of decision-makers collect as much information as they can before making a decision. They look at the information and determine the best solution. And they stick with their decision because they worked out the details before making it.
Integrative? These people are like scientists. They collect and evaluate a lot, but realize many solutions could work for the problem. They test each idea by imagining the outcome.
Systematic? These people collect as much information as possible and come up with as many solutions as possible. They then rank the solutions from best to worst and try out each one.
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 for additional information, program requirements and/or any questions you may have.
Adam Smith, Interim Superintendent of Schools
asmith22@ebrschools.org
Marlon Cousin, Interim Administrative Director of Communications & Public Relations
