The East Baton Rouge Parish School System is proud to announce the launch of “Let’s Talk!,” a powerful new feature available on our district website and mobile app. It is designed to enhance communication, promote transparency and provide an exceptional customer service experience for families across the parish. Let’s Talk! is a two-way communication tool that gives you direct access to FAQs, district departments and system leaders. Whether you have a question, need support, or want to celebrate the efforts of an outstanding employee, Let’s Talk! ensures your voice is heard.

With this new tool, you can: 

● Ask questions and receive timely, accurate responses. 

● Submit feedback or concerns directly to the appropriate team. 

● Highlight employee excellence and share positive experiences. 

● Access FAQ’s and obtain school and district informational resources 24/7. 

 

As part of our ongoing commitment to enhanced customer service, EBRPSS is also leveraging innovative AI technology to streamline support for families and staff. This allows us to respond more efficiently, provide helpful information faster and create a more responsive school system for everyone. We invite you to start the conversation today! Visit www.ebrschools.org and click Contact Us to engage with our Customer Service Center and Let’s Talk! or download the EBRPSS mobile app and tap the Let’s Talk! button today. We know that when families are engaged and communication is clear, students thrive. Thank you for being EBRPSS families, and we are excited to continue our progress on the promises of cultivating an excellent academic experience for students and families.

Whatever their age, many kids are apprehensive about starting school or going back to school. The good news is there’s a lot you can do to ease their minds and help them get ready for a new school year.

 

Getting back into a school sleep schedule won’t happen overnight! A few weeks before school starts, get your child into the habit of going to bed earlier. Gentle winding-down activities such as bath time and reading before bed can help your child relax.

 

Establishing a consistent routine is important for kids. Write out the steps in the routine and rehearse them with your child. In the evening, this could include doing homework, playtime, brushing their teeth, having a bath and reading before bed.

 

Children who play an active role in preparing for back to school — such as choosing and organizing school supplies and new clothes — are more likely to get excited about going back to school. It, in turn, eases their jitters. Is your child old enough for chores like emptying the dishwasher or making lunches? Daily, age-appropriate tasks will help your child gain independence and confidence.

 

Backpacks that are too heavy or worn improperly could result in muscle strain, headaches and neck pain. Try to choose a backpack made of sturdy, lightweight fabric with wide, padded straps that will support your child’s shoulders. Watch that they don’t sling it over just one shoulder.

 

Review outdoor safety rules such as: looking both ways before crossing the street, taking the same route every day if they are walking, familiarizing themselves with crosswalk rules and being cautious in talking to strangers.

 

Involve your children in choosing and preparing healthy lunches and snacks. Help them find physical activities they enjoy. Take them shopping for healthy snacks and lunch itemsopens in a new tab they can pack themselves. Try to stick to regular meal times.

 

Back to school is the perfect opportunity to re-establish screen time limits. Why not have the whole family “unplug” in the evenings before bedtime? Choose a spot where everybody can charge their devices overnight. Use an alarm clock instead of a cellphone to wake up in the mornings.

 

If your kids are starting at a new school, practice walking or driving to the bus stop or to the school building a week or two before school starts. You could even play in the school playground before school starts. This creates fun memories associated with the school before summer vacation ends.

 

Reassure your child that being nervous is natural – even for teachers. You can help your child cope with these feelings when you:

If you celebrate the first day of school, your kids will see back to school as a transition they can really enjoy. Try a back-to-school party the day before school starts, complete with cake, balloons and educational gifts. And don’t forget to take a picture on the front step in their first-day-of-school outfits. It’s going to be a great year! 

Health Care Centers in Schools, a part of Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health, have full-time behavioral health providers in seven school-based health centers (SBHC) in the EBRPSS. These providers are licensed social workers who provide quality behavioral and mental health services to students that effectively integrate a wide range of interventions and collaborative mental health services in the SBHC setting. Responsibilities include individual, group and family therapy, as well as case management and crisis prevention and intervention services. The HCCS behavioral health providers are available for video visits for students attending EBR schools that do not have a health clinic. 

To schedule a visit, please scan the QR code below:

Young Entrepreneurs Academy of Baton Rouge is an after-school program that helps high school students launch their own businesses. No business idea is required to apply.

Young Entrepreneurs Academy transforms area high school students into confident entrepreneurs. Over the academic year and under the instruction of the LSU E. J. Ourso College of Business, select students launch their very own companies as they:

National Wellness Month in August encourages individuals to make self-care a priority, build healthy routines and support their mental, physical and emotional well-being. Whether you’re focusing on hydration, movement, mindfulness or simply slowing down, this month is your reminder to put yourself first. 

 

The concept of National Wellness Month emerged from the need to shift the wellness conversation from luxury to lifestyle. Launched by Live Love Spa in 2018, it was built to encourage sustainable habits and bring together a community passionate about self-care. What started as a curated calendar and wellness pledge quickly turned into a social movement supported by spas, wellness brands, and now, even airlines and major retailers.

Today, the concept of self-care encompasses various practices aimed at holistic well-being, including physical exercise, healthy eating, mindfulness and stress reduction techniques. Self-care and wellness are personal and subjective concept, but the underlying idea of taking deliberate actions to care for oneself physically, mentally and emotionally remains central.

 

In 2018, Live Love Spa dedicated August as National Wellness Month to celebrate and inspire others to commit to their self-care. National Wellness Month encourages people to prioritize self-care by taking a pledge to habits of wellness, joining the 31-day Wellness Month challenge calendar and encouraging others to do the same socially.

A missed school day is a lost opportunity for students to learn. In this era of increased accountability for states, districts and schools, the connection between student attendance and learning is being studied more than ever before. As a result, education agencies are asked with increasing frequency to report attendance data in a standard manner to allow comparisons across organizations and jurisdictions.

The primary rationale for high-quality attendance data is the relationship between student attendance and student achievement. Teacher effectiveness is the strongest school-related determinant of student success, but chronic student absence reduces even the best teacher's ability to provide learning opportunities. 

Students who attend school regularly have been shown to achieve at higher levels than students who do not have regular attendance. This relationship between attendance and achievement may appear early in a child's school career. A recent study looking at young children found that absenteeism in kindergarten was associated with negative first-grade outcomes such as greater absenteeism in subsequent years and lower achievement in reading, math and general knowledge.

Poor attendance has serious implications for later outcomes as well. High school dropouts have been found to exhibit a history of negative behaviors, including high levels of absenteeism throughout their childhood, at higher rates than high school graduates. These differences in absentee rates were observed as early as kindergarten, and students who eventually dropped out of high school missed significantly more days of school in first-grade than their peers who graduated from high school. In eighth grade, this pattern was even more apparent and, by ninth grade, attendance was shown to be a key indicator significantly correlated with high school graduation.

 

The effects of lost school days build up one absence at a time on individual students. Penalties for students who miss school may unintentionally worsen the situation. The disciplinary response to absenteeism too often includes loss of course credits, detention and suspension. Any absence, whether excused or not, denies students the opportunity to learn in accordance with the school's instructional program, but students who miss school are sometimes further excluded from learning opportunities as a consequence of chronic absenteeism.

To make homework more manageable, students can try creating a dedicated study space, setting a consistent routine and breaking down assignments into smaller, more achievable tasks. Time management is also key; students should prioritize tasks, eliminate distractions and take breaks to avoid burnout.

 

Designate a specific time and location for homework each day, free from distractions like TV or social media to help create a focused environment.

 

Before diving into assignments, create a list of tasks and prioritize them, tackling the most challenging ones first when energy levels are typically higher.

 

Divide large assignments into smaller, more manageable steps to make them less overwhelming and provide a sense of accomplishment as each step is completed.

 

2. Optimize Your Study Environment:

Choose a quiet area, free from interruptions and electronic devices to maximize focus and concentration.

 

Ensure you have all the materials needed for homework, such as textbooks, notebooks, pens and calculators to avoid interruptions during study sessions.

 

A well-lit and comfortable study space can improve focus and reduce eye strain. 

 

Step away from work for short breaks to refresh your mind and prevent burnout. Engage in physical activity or relaxation techniques during these breaks.

 

Turn off notifications on phones and other devices, and let family members know when you need uninterrupted study time.

 

Explore techniques like the Pomodoro Technique (working in focused bursts with short breaks) to improve focus and productivity.

 

 

Don't hesitate to ask teachers, classmates or family members for clarification or assistance when struggling with a concept or assignment.

 

Take advantage of online resources, tutoring services or study groups to gain additional support and deepen understanding.

 

 

Try to find something interesting or engaging within each subject to make it more enjoyable.

 

Celebrate completing homework assignments with small rewards to maintain motivation and positive reinforcement.

 

Recognize that homework is an opportunity to reinforce classroom learning and deepen understanding of the material. 

At Westdale Heights Academic Magnet, a team of fourth-graders saw a problem in the community and decided to take action. Through the school’s Swift Coding Club, launched in partnership with Apple and Teach For America, they designed an anti-bullying app to help their peers recognize harmful behavior and respond with kindness.

 

“I’m incredibly proud of these girls,” said technology lab teacher Angela Clare. “They saw a real problem and took action with creativity, empathy and determination. It’s been inspiring to watch them grow not only as learners but as changemakers.” 

 

Their app was selected as a national finalist in the Coding Club Showcase — a celebration of student innovation spanning 90 schools across 27 states. Through TFA’s innovative partnership with Apple, nearly 60,000 students are getting the chance to learn to code, flex their creativity and build the skills needed for the jobs of tomorrow.

 

At WHAM, the coding club quickly became more than just an extracurricular — it became a launchpad for confidence and possibility. “Introducing coding opened doors to problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration in ways that traditional instruction doesn’t always allow,” said Principal Dr. Nathan Hite, a Greater Baton Rouge TFA alum. 

 

“It gave our students, many of whom may have never imagined themselves as future app developers, engineers or tech innovators, a chance to see themselves in those roles. That’s powerful.” Next year, the impact continues: As rising fifth graders, these same students will serve as coding “experts” and teach app design to their entire grade level. 

 

With your support — and thanks to bold partners like Apple — students across the country are learning to lead, innovate and advocate for change through technology.

 

SOURCE:  Teach For America's Summer 2025 Donor Newsletter

The “Help Them" app showcases potential bullying scenarios and models how to respond appropriately. It was developed by Westdale Heights Academic Magnet students, from left, Maisie Somers, Addison Tremblay, Aadhya Malisetty and Kaylee Sanders

Riding the school bus for the first time is a big step for your child. Help your kids get a gold star in school bus safety by following these tips.

 

School buses are the safest way to get children to and from school, but injuries can occur if kids are not careful when getting on and off the school bus.

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.