EBR Schools has an exciting new resource to share with our parents and community — the EBR Parent Participation Program! This weekly resource is designed to empower parents and community members with the tools they need to support student success on the LEAP 2025 assessment as well as DIBELs (K-2). Each week, families can visit the EBR Parent Participation Program site to receive a structured yet manageable way to engage with key academic content featuring one LEAP-released item in ELA, math, science and social studies. With just 15-minute sessions, three to four times per week, this program provides an easy yet impactful way to reinforce essential skills at home. Spread the word and encourage your students' families to take advantage of this powerful learning tool!

The Department of School Counseling is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024-25 School Counselors of the Year awards:

We extend our congratulations to the School Counselors of the Year! They were formally recognized at the March 20 School Board meeting.

 

 

Louisiana has long been known as a "Sportsman's Paradise." Its many bayous, swamps and coastal marshes provide world-class hunting and fishing opportunities. But, with those opportunities come an even bigger responsibility: safe firearm ownership and storage. 

 

According to Everytown, Everystat, in an average year, 1,207 people die by guns in Louisiana. With a rate of 26.7 deaths per 100,000 people, Louisiana has the second-highest rate of gun deaths in the U.S.  Each year, 3,345 people are wounded by guns.  With a rate of 71.9 injuries per 100,000 people, Louisiana has the second-highest rate of gun injuries in the U.S.  

 

In Louisiana, an average of 161 children and teens die by guns every year, of which 15% of these deaths are suicides and 78% are homicides. In the U.S., 30% of all gun deaths among children and teens are suicides and 65% are homicides. 

 

The Louisiana Department of Health's 2019-2021 Louisiana Child Death Review Report revealed homicide as the leading cause of death in children ages 10 to 14 in the Baton Rouge area, more than half being due to firearms. It is imperative to safely store all firearms in children's primary home and relatives' homes so that they are inaccessible to children and other people at risk of harming themselves or others.

 

Be SMART states, "Safety is always an adult responsibility. Kids will be kids, so it's always an adult's responsibility to keep children safe. Always assume that curious or impulsive kids may find and touch an unsecured gun, even if they've been told not to. If a child handles a gun, a bad decision can quickly become a fatal one. Be SMART adults protect kids by making sure all guns are stored securely, which means they are inaccessible to kids, and by making sure children are never in the presence of unsecured guns".

 

The Be SMART campaign encourages parents and caretakers to "Be SMART" and take these five simple steps to help prevent shootings by children:

Secure all guns in your homes and vehicles.

Model responsible behavior around guns.

Ask about unsecured guns in other homes.

Recognize the role of guns in suicide.

Tell your peers to Be SMART.

 

Everyone wants to keep their family safe. If there's a gun in your home, practicing secure storage will help you do just that. Learn more about secure storage at besmartforkids.org or email lakeinjuryprevention@fmolhs.org for additional information.

Every year, April is designated as Alcohol Awareness Month to raise awareness about the dangers of alcohol misuse and help those struggling with addiction find support and treatment. Alcohol misuse is the third-leading preventable cause of death in the United States, with nearly 100,000 people dying from alcohol-related causes each year, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

 

Research shows that even moderate alcohol consumption significantly contributes to at least seven types of cancer. Yet, at least half of U.S. adults are unaware of this association. Additionally, alcohol use can lead to several other problems, including alcohol use disorder.

 

If you have any of these signs of alcohol use disorder, further screening is warranted:

• Drinking alone or in secret.

• Drinking in the morning or at inappropriate times.

• Drinking to cope with stress, anxiety or depression.

• Drinking to the point of blacking out or passing out.

• Increasing tolerance to alcohol.

• Neglecting responsibilities and obligations.

• Continuing to drink despite negative consequences such as problems at work, in relationships or with the law.

• Engaging in risky behaviors while under the influence of alcohol, such as driving or unsafe sex.

• Having physical symptoms of alcohol abuse, such as shaking, sweating or withdrawal symptoms when not drinking.

• Developing health problems related to alcohol abuse, such as liver disease or high blood pressure.

 

Last year, 873 helpline callers cited alcohol as their primary drug, according to HELP4WV, the state's mental health and addiction helpline. The only drugs cited more frequently were heroin and methamphetamine.

 

Although treatment for alcohol use disorder may include inpatient withdrawal management and residential treatment, many people can find recovery through lower-level intervention. That includes medication assistance, outpatient counseling and support groups. If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol use disorder, free and confidential support is available by calling or texting 1-844-HELP-4WV or chatting online at HELP4WV.com.

Prom night — an evening that teens dream about their entire lives and a night that parents dread. Unfortunately, for too many teens and parents annually, prom night ends in tragedy. As the well-deserved celebration of high school juniors and seniors nears, it is important for teens and parents alike to understand the risks and how to avoid them. Whatever your plans for the evening, Life360 is here to help with our prom night safety tips.

 

The most common danger teens will come across on prom night is road safety. Here are some statistics that are important for parents and teens to know:

Statistics source .

 

Don’t let bad decisions ruin what could have been a perfect night. Life360 offers a prom night safety solution for parents and teens alike.

 

SOURCE:  https://www.life360.com/blog/prom-night-safety-tips

Step back in time and immerse yourself in the fascinating world of ancient Egypt at the Louisiana Art and Science Museum from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 5. LASM's interactive event, “Egyptian Art and Archaeology: A Day of Hands-On History,” invites visitors of all ages to engage with the captivating history, art and culture of ancient Egypt through fun and educational activities facilitated by Glasgow Middle’s Roman technology students, the Louisiana Division of Archaeology and 2021 Louisiana Teacher of the Year Nathalie Roy.

 

Visitors will explore the mysteries of Egypt with exciting excavation activities, learn about ancient traditions and even try their hand at creating art and artifacts that ancient Egyptians once used. An Egyptian-themed Read & Create program will take place at 11:15 a.m., followed by a related craft.

 

Event activities sponsored by the Louisiana Division of Archaeology and the Archaeological Institute of America include unearthing hidden treasures from ancient Egypt; creating sand art stratigraphy; constructing a model pyramid; mummifying apples; deciphering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics; and more.

 

This one-day event is in conjunction with the museum’s yearlong exhibition, “Discoveries on the Nile: Exploring King Tut’s Tomb and the Amin Egyptian Collection.” The exhibition, in partnership with art collector Giovanni Amin, features certified reproductions of artifacts from the tomb of King Tutankhamun and authentic Egyptian funeral masks. Visitors are also invited to explore LASM’s Ancient Egypt Gallery, which features a 2,300-year-old Ptolemaic-era mummy.

 

Egyptian Art and Archaeology: “A Day of Hands-On History” provides a rare opportunity to engage with the rich heritage of ancient Egypt in a hands-on, family-friendly environment. Participants can learn, create and play while gaining a deeper understanding of the art, science and culture that made ancient Egypt one of the world’s greatest civilizations.

 

General museum admission includes all hands-on activities for the day, as well as unlimited Irene W. Pennington Planetarium shows. Admission to the event is free to LASM Members.

Parents are the experts on their children and teachers are the experts of classroom learning. Share what you know and ask questions to co-create a simple plan.   

Use this tool to get ready for parent-teacher conferences. You can also use it to follow up with teachers, and make sure you have the information you need about your child’s progress. 

 

Think about what’s most important for the teacher to know about your child (socially, emotionally and academically). Share something positive you notice the teacher doing that is helping your child.

 

 

Find out what’s expected of your child this year and what kind of “benchmark” tests will help track your child’s learning. Teachers use “multiple measures” such as tests, classwork, rubrics, etc., to inform classroom instruction. Ask to see these so you can have a more accurate picture of their progress.

 

Co-create a plan that includes how you can help at home and stay in regular touch with the teacher.

 

 

Louisiana is working to make good on its commitment to responsibly reduce the time students spend taking state tests. The Louisiana Department of Education announced changes to grade 3-8 social studies testing that will cut assessment time in half while more closely aligning with the state’s more rigorous Freedom Framework standards.

 

“Count me in the number that believes Louisiana students spend too much time testing,” said state Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley.  “Assessments are vital to measure academic progress and guide instruction and policy decisions. We will continue to take a strategic approach to reduce testing time while maintaining high-quality assessments.”

 

Louisiana is one of only 13 states that require social studies assessments and the only state that mandates annual social studies testing for grades 3-8. Federal regulations do not require states to administer social studies assessments at any grade level.

Beginning with the 2027-28 school year, Louisiana will align social studies testing with the state’s new Freedom Framework standards. Instead of testing every year in grades 3-8, students will take social studies assessments in grades 3, 5 and 8. This change will cut total testing time in half — from 1,100 minutes to 550 minutes.

 

The Freedom Framework divides social studies instruction into three learning modules across grades K-8. Students in K-3 learn about the American story, grades 4-5 learn world history and grades 6-8 learn Louisiana and American history. Under the revised testing schedule, assessments will align with the conclusion of each module. High school students will continue to take a civics assessment.

 

In October 2024, Dr. Brumley announced a significant reduction in student testing time and committed to further reductions. That action resulted in a 20% reduction in testing time made to the grade 3-8 ELA and math LEAP assessments. This latest round of reductions continues the department’s commitment to responsible testing adjustments.

Student Ambassador Exchange is operated by its parent organization Children of All Nations. The purpose of SAE is to provide high-quality educational opportunities that promote and enhance the exchange of education, knowledge and culture between the United States and other countries.

Student Ambassador Exchange was the hope of one of the adoptive parents from CAN, a parent who wished his child could see a world that was open and accepting to a variety of different cultures through study, work and philanthropy. He believed that CAN’s extensive international experiences with children and cultures the world over was the perfect match to bridging the gap between the United States and other countries. Drawing on over 17 years of experience in working with children, legislating and advocating for international relations, and initiating charity programs for child welfare, CAN decided to make the next step in connecting cultures by launching its Student Ambassador Exchange Programs.

 

Student Ambassador Exchange is about connecting lives, sharing experiences, and forging life-long friendships.

 

It may seem odd at first the a student exchange department grew out of adoption organization, but at the heart of the company is a shared mission. Through its work in adoption, orphan hosting, and student exchange, the larger organization that is Children of All Nations seeks to connect the world through cultural exchange. It is our belief at Children of All Nations, and at SAE, that a broader understanding of cultures different from our own can make a better world for tomorrow.

 

SAE hopes to provide an environment that will encourage Americans to participate in a reciprocal exchange of the educational and cultural programs of the international participants’ foreign countries, and will actively advocate for this exchange in the American schools, business, and homes that the exchange visitors attend.

 

 

Cultural, educational, trade, and governmental exchanges between the US and other countries of the world have increased by leaps and bounds each year.  Among all these exchanges, education partnerships between countries, including college and secondary student exchange, have grown steadily year to year.  Thousands of international students come to the US and study at all grade levels across the country, with most of these students returning to their home country at the end of the year or upon graduation.  The positive experience these students enjoy in the US makes them the most convincing ambassadors when it comes to promoting the U.S., its culture, and mutual understanding between the United States and other countries of the world.  Children of All Nations (CAN) formed the Student Ambassador Exchange (SAE) to promote this goodwill and partnership between countries all over the globe.

 

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.