Seventeen Baton Rouge Magnet High School seniors have been named Presidential Scholar Candidates by the U.S. Department of Education. 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. 

 

In 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields. 

 

Each year, up to 161 students are named U.S. Presidential Scholars, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students. The scholars represent excellence in education and the promise of greatness in young people. In honoring the U.S. Presidential Scholars, the president symbolically honors all graduating high school seniors of high potential.

Back row, left to right: Tejasvi Tyagi, Varun Gala, Michael Shi, Ryan Wilson, Spencer Yan, Dhruva Sonti, Ryan Feng, Owen Dong

Front: Nicole Baumgartner, Eva Lockridge, David Shen, Frances Kantrow, Emily Chen, Emily Phan, Sydni Wheeler, Sofia Lockridge

Not Pictured: Benedict Michel

I wanted to share an incredible Junior Achievement/EBR School System success story that I believe would be a great addition to both our communications. Recently, we had the chance to reconnect with JA alumna Destiny, and her journey truly highlights the powerful impact of our partnership!

 

Destiny's story is one of growth, leadership, and success. She began her JA exposure in elementary school through the “JA in a Day” program, where she learned age-appropriate financial literacy and work readiness skills from a JA mentor.

 

In middle school, she progressed to the Finance Park curriculum, participated in the personal finance simulation and got the opportunity to "become an adult for a day."

 

In high school, Destiny took her knowledge and leadership skills to the next level by giving back to younger students, teaching JA in a Day to a local elementary school with her DECA club. Later, she entered JA's Trust Your Crazy Idea Challenge, winning first place in the local competition and earning scholarship money for college. She then moved on to the state competition, where she placed first again to secure even more scholarship funds.

 

Most recently, we had the privilege of working together again, conducting speed interviews with students at Scotlandville High — bringing her full circle in the JA/EBR experience.

 

Today, Destiny is a marketing director at Southern Parent and Teachers Federal Credit Union, and she attributes much of her career success to the mentorship and opportunities provided by JA and the East Baton Rouge Parish School System.

 

Sincerely,

Paula Dawson, president, Junior Achievement Greater Baton Rouge & Acadiana

Students at your school can receive care on campus from an Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health pediatric primary care provider. Health Care Centers in Schools operates seven full-service, school-based health centers, providing comprehensive healthcare services and wellness education to students in grades K-12. 

 

Our services are available onsite during school hours Monday through Friday with same-day appointments available. Our providers can treat sore throats, coughs, sprains and more. We provide well-child checks, school physicals, sports physicals, can help manage chronic diseases and provide referrals for specialized care.

 

What about my child’s existing pediatrician? Your child’s pediatrician is a trusted healthcare provider, and we want that relationship to continue! Health Care Centers in Schools supplements your child’s care and can make things easier for parents and guardians when their kids get sick. We can even serve as your primary care provider if you prefer.

 

Part of the mission of school-based health centers is to provide services to any student with or without insurance. Clinic visits are covered by most insurance plans, but we do not charge a co-pay and do not charge for services beyond what insurance will pay.

Much like other documents the school keeps on file for your child, our clinic will need a signed consent form to keep on file for each child.

Vaping Awareness Month is March 1-31. The month highlights the health risks of vaping and the growing concerns about youth vaping. 

 

According to the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey, youth vaping continues to be a serious public health concern with more than 2.5 million middle and high school students reporting that they have used e-cigarettes in the last 30 days. Because of these continued high rates, youth vaping remains a significant health issue.  

The American Lung Association is actively working to end the youth vaping epidemic with education, advocacy and research on e-cigarettes. The organization is educating parents on what they need to know about vaping.  

Here are four facts that every parent needs to know about e-cigarettes:

 

1. It isn’t just water vapor. Vaping involves inhaling “e-juice” in the form of aerosol produced by an electronic cigarette or vape device. The aerosols typically contain flavorings such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to serious lung disease, nicotine and other harmful chemicals. Vape cartridges or “pods” can also be filled with THC, CBD or other “e-juice.”

 

2. It can cause health risks, including lung damage and lung disease. In January 2018, the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine released a consensus report that reviewed over 800 different studies. That report made clear that using e-cigarettes causes health risks, increases the chance that youth will start to use combustible tobacco products and exposes others to dangerous secondhand e-cigarette emissions. In addition, e-cigarettes deliver a high level of addictive nicotine quickly. Nicotine is harmful to developing brains, affecting attention, learning, mood, impulse control and memory.

 

3. Signs Your Teen is Vaping Can Be Difficult to Detect: Vaping is easy to hide, and the signs can be easy to miss. Unlike traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes don’t leave the telltale scent of smoke. E-cigarettes and vape devices come in a number of forms. While some resemble tobacco products, others resemble household objects like USB devices, pens, highlighters and chargers. If you notice any of the following things, it’s best to talk with your child about whether or not they are vaping:

4. Talk to your child about vaping early: You can play a significant role in protecting your child from the dangers of vaping and nicotine dependence. Maintain an open line of communication with your kid and use the tips and suggestions at TalkAboutVaping.org as a framework for having a productive conversation. The American Lung Association recommends parents speak to their children about vaping early, while they are still willing to listen (middle school or earlier) before they may be exposed to e-cigarettes. TalkAboutVaping.org provides a guide for parents to talk to their kids about vaping.  

 

In August, the American Lung Association and the Ad Council launched a new series of public service advertisements  encouraging parents to proactively talk to their kids about the dangers of vaping. Parents are encouraged to visit TalkAboutVaping.org for resources to empower parents to talk to their kids about this important topic.

Learn more at TalkAboutVaping.org. The American Lung Association has other resources to prevent tobacco use and help youth quit, including the Lung Helpline, our Vape-Free Schools Initiative, Not On Tobacco, and more resources available online. 

Not all teens know how to study.  Those that don’t may spend more time than they need to on their work for school.  Or they may get frustrated and stop studying completely.

Share these strategies  to help your teen study effectively:

 

1.  Take notes in class.  Writing down what the teacher says can help your teen see what the teacher thinks is important.  Reviewing their notes regularly will also improve their retention of the material.

 

2.  Break it up.  Research shows that frequent short study sessions spaced out over time are more effective than one long study session.

 

3.  Study similar subjects at different times.  Putting new information into your brain is a little like pouring concrete.  Your teen has to give it time to “set up.”  So between a science lesson with a lot of formulas and a math lesson with a lot of formulas, your teen should study history or English to allow the science lesson time to set.

 

4.  Avoid getting sidetracked.  If your teen finds their mind wandering during study time, they should keep a notepad by his study spot.  They can jot down reminders or random ideas that pop into their heads and then get right back to studying.

 

5.  Eliminate distractions.  The TV, phone and growling stomach will all distract your teen Make sure to turn off all electronics and take care of hunger and thirst before sitting down to study.

Middle schoolers can be easily influenced by their peers — and that’s not always a bad thing. Get to know the types of peer pressure and learn how to respond to each.

 

Simple things families do at home can make a big difference in how well students perform in math. Use these three strategies to boost your child’s math learning.  

 

1.  Family engagement.  Partnering with the teacher to support your child’s math learning results in higher achievement.  Look over math papers your child brings home, and talk about what your child is learning.  Ask the teacher what else you can do at home to help your child with math.

 

2.  Math talk.  When your child solves a problem, ask, “How did you get your answer?”  Children solve problems more accurately in the long run when they regularly talk about their math thinking and explain their methods.  While explaining, they clarify their thinking and often catch their own mistakes.

3.  Motivation.  Children often do better at things they enjoy, so make math fun!  When you play board games, appoint your child scorekeeper or banker.  Put a math twist on games like hopscotch (write a problem in each square) and Simon Says (“Simon says add 18 plus 18”). In the car, challenge each other to solve problems using numbers on road signs.  If the speed limit is 65, your child can solve 6 + 5, 6 – 5 or 6 x 5.

Baton Rouge area high school students interested in exploring careers in law are invited to apply to the 2025 UREC Academy Pre-Law & ACT Prep Institute hosted by Urban Restoration Enhancement Corporation in partnership with Southern University Law Center.

 

The UREC Academy Pre-Law & ACT Prep Institute will take place March 11 – May 8 at Southern.  During the program, participants will learn about legal and criminal justice systems, gain mock trial experience, network with law professionals and prepare for the ACT exam.

 

Interested applicants can REGISTER HERE to submit an online application.  There is no cost to participate.

 

UREC is offering the 2025 Pre-Law & ACT Prep Institute through partnerships with Southern University Law Center, Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation and Capital Area United Way. For more information, call 225-356-8871.

 

Program Dates:
March 11 – May 8
Tuesday – Thursday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Some weekend sessions are required.

Location:
Southern University & Virtual

 

About UREC Academy Trailblazers:
Urban Restoration Enhancement Corporation, founded in 1992, is a nonprofit organization that transforms communities by investing in people and restoring neighborhoods. To prepare youth for college and careers, the UREC Academy Trailblazers initiative hosts after-school and summer institutes for high school students — providing them with pathways to Industry-Based Credentials, college and career readiness opportunities, ACT preparation, and real-world or simulated professional experiences. UREC Academy Trailblazer initiatives include the: Pre-Law, ACT Prep, Certified Nursing Assistant, Entrepreneurship, and Technology institutes.

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.