The East Baton Rouge Parish School System celebrates its third consecutive year of growth — achieving its highest overall school performance score under the current accountability system. The district also grew in seven key indices according to the annual report cards released by the Louisiana Department of Education on Nov. 20.

 

The school system maintains a “C” letter grade but grew by a point, earning a 70.1 overall score. Performance score data provides evidence that EBRPSS continues to narrow the achievement gap and make academic progress with 98% of district schools earning a letter grade of A, B, or C in the state’s Progress Index.

 

“We acknowledge that there is still significant progress to be made, but I want to commend our educators and staff for their unwavering dedication to improving student outcomes,” said LaMont Cole, EBR Schools superintendent. “We will continue to actively engage with our communities to strengthen family involvement, address the identified gaps and challenges, and work tirelessly to restore public confidence in our school system's ability to deliver a world-class educational experience.”

 

While we celebrate our students and staff for their remarkable progress, Cole said EBRPSS remains steadfast in its commitment to a bold and daring approach. As the newly appointed superintendent, Cole’s goal is not only to achieve greater strides within the accountability system but also to offer unique opportunities that nurture students’ passions and prepare them to thrive as world-class citizens.

 

“As we continue our commitment to excellence, it’s crucial that we acknowledge the challenges and disparities in our D and F schools,” Cole said. “To foster meaningful growth, we will be implementing proven instructional tactics and leveraging partnerships with business and community organizations to uplift our students. With this collective dedication and strategic focus, we will work to provide every student with the tools and resources they need to succeed. We pledge to be better every day and are committed to excellence in every step forward."

 

For more information, visit the adult education webpage in the Divisions►Student Support ►Adult Education link on the EBRPSS website @ https://ebrschools.org

During the holidays, your child can enjoy arts, crafts, sports, games, swimming, field trips and other fun activities at the YMCA holiday camps. Holiday camps are open to children ages 4 (must be enrolled in a pre-K program) to 13.

 

During Holiday Camp, the campers will enjoy both inside and outside games, character development, wellness activities, arts, crafts, STEM and other recreational fun activities.

 

Branch:  A. C. Lewis YMCA

Location: Baranco Clark YMCA

Availability: Available

Status: Active

Dates: Monday, Dec 23; Thursday, Dec 26; Friday, Dec 2; Monday, Dec. 30; Thursday, Jan. 2; Friday, Jan. 3

Time: 7 AM - 6 PM

Ages: 4 years to 13 years and 11 months

Days Offered:  Monday

Registration: Aug. 1, 2024 to Dec 23, 2024

Every four years, we endure the onslaught of political commercials, emails and phone calls that come along with the presidential election. For many, this year’s election brought on emotion, stress and tension. Believe it or not, children can sense these feelings and draw from the emotions.

 

 

No matter your political affiliation or who you voted for, this election could give you an opportunity to have meaningful conversations with your child about elections. It is likely that on the heels of this highly publicized election, parents may be answering many questions from kids. The theme of your talk doesn’t necessarily have to revolve around partisan beliefs or even about who you voted for. This can be an opportunity to give your child an objective view of the democratic process and learn about the importance of participation.

 

It’s important that kids understand why we choose to vote for candidates to represent us and our values. Consider speaking to them about why their vote matters, how civic engagement and participation is important and that voting is our right and obligation as part of a democracy.

 

While this year’s election was particularly divisive, explain that being part of something bigger than yourself is good for your mental well-being. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people have felt isolated and kids’ worlds have been turned upside down, voting in an election is a normal part of living in this country. With the continued news coverage of this election, consider taking breaks with no television, so that kids don’t begin to feel overwhelmed.

 

Remember, it’s OK to talk to your kids about feelings you’re having about the election. Parents can model meaningful conversations about emotions by explaining just how they’re feeling: “I’m anxious about this election,” or “I’m hopeful for the future.” While sharing how you are feeling, it is also important for parents to be in touch with kids’ emotions. Ask them how they are feeling and what they have been hearing about the election at school or from their friends. Listening could help you open up a dialogue.

 

It’s important to remember not to tell kids how they should think or feel but to create a space where you can both share opinions. This will help show kids that it’s OK and normal to have differing opinions from others and, that, most importantly, we should be respectful of others.

 

In a world with people from all walks of life, we all have different ideas, but that does not mean that we cannot live together peacefully. Throughout life, you and your child will face issues that may be difficult to explain. Talking openly about this election will give kids an         opportunity to ask questions and learn valuable life skills.

 

Pediatric behavioral and mental health services are easier than ever to access for patients and families with the new specialty clinic in Baton Rouge. Click here to learn more about Children’s Hospital Baton Rouge Specialty Center. Children’s Hospital New Orleans is doing more than ever to help kids and teens struggling with mental and behavioral health challenges. Learn more about the Children’s Hospital Behavioral Health Center here. 

Safe Toys & Gifts Month is an annual observance dedicated to promoting the safety of toys and gifts for children, particularly during the holiday season. It serves as a reminder to parents, caregivers, and gift-givers to choose age-appropriate and safe toys to ensure the well-being of young recipients.

 

Safe Toys & Gifts Month focuses on raising awareness about the importance of selecting toys and gifts that meet safety standards and align with a child’s age and developmental stage. The goal is to prevent accidents and injuries caused by inappropriate or hazardous toys, especially during a time when gift-giving is common.

Safe Toys & Gifts Month is observed throughout December, coinciding with the holiday season when gift shopping and toy selection are at their peak. It is a reminder to prioritize safety when choosing presents for children.

 

Promoting safe toys and gifts during this month is essential for children’s well-being. Here are ways to participate and ensure safe gift-giving:

Safe Toys & Gifts Month was established to educate consumers about toy safety and the potential risks associated with certain toys and gifts. The campaign emphasizes the importance of making informed choices when selecting items for children and prioritizing their safety above all else.

Organizations and consumer advocacy groups actively participate in this campaign to raise awareness and provide valuable information to parents and gift-givers.

 

When sharing information about safe toys and gift choices, consider using these relevant hashtags to spread awareness:

Using these hashtags can help you join conversations, share valuable insights and connect with others who prioritize child safety during the holiday season.

At one point or another, we've all sent a card to someone we care about. In a world dominated by emails and social media, receiving a physical card from someone special can mean the world to the recipient. While simply going to the store and purchasing a mass-produced card gets the job done quickly, creating your unique card can make an even bigger impression. If you want to get creative and make homemade cards but need help figuring out where to start, here are a few helpful tips to get you on your way.

 

Before you rush to the hobby store to buy your card-making materials, it’s important to first figure out what kind of card you want to make. There are almost as many reasons to send a card as there are actual cards in the world, and different reasons can often mean a different approach to the creative process. Creating a Christmas card, for example, might mean seeking out materials that are red, green or white since those are the colors most associated with the holiday. Birthday cards can use a wide variety of colors and shapes, while “get-well” or condolence cards might benefit from being more subdued.

 

Once you know what direction you want to take your cards, you can begin buying materials. Hobby and craft stores sell a variety of papers used for scrapbooking and card making, and these papers range in size, shape, texture, thickness and choice of color or pattern. Avoid using generic construction paper since this cheaper material will look less professional and be harder to work with. Make sure you have a good pair of scissors, glue and other cutting tools such as an X-ACTO knife or paper cutter.

 

Another tool you should always have when making cards is a straight-edge implement of some kind. A simple ruler works best. Making cards means cutting plenty of paper and, once cut, any serious mistakes cannot be amended. Before making any major cuts or folds, be sure to use a ruler to measure the proper amounts of paper that are being kept or cut. Before committing to the cut, use the ruler’s straight edge and lightly draw a line as a guide for your scissors.

 

If you’re planning on writing in your card, it’s important to know exactly what you’ll be writing before you put any ink on your freshly cut paper. Practice writing your message on a piece of scrap paper first, making sure to eliminate misspelled words and grammatical errors. You may even want to lightly write your message on the card in pencil first, and then trace over your letters with a pen or marker. 

When it comes to creativity, there are no rules. Creating is all about having fun and experimenting, so don’t be afraid to color outside the lines and try new things. Don’t limit yourself in terms of materials, colors or subject; make the card the way you want to make it. If you have fun while working, those who receive your homemade cards will notice and appreciate your passion.
 
With these tips and your own creativity at your disposal, you’ll be surprising your loved ones with beautiful, handmade cards in no time. 

According to a recent study, kids whose parents value kindness over achievement tend to do better in school than kids from families where academic success matters above all else.

In fact, putting pressure on your child to score high marks can have the opposite effect. It can cause their grades and self-esteem to suffer and lead to depression and anxiety. However, when parents promote kindness and respect, students tend to perform better in class. This may be because they feel more secure and know their parents’ approval doesn’t hinge on their getting good grades.

 

To show your child how much you value respect and kindness:

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.