Dear parents and guardians, we are 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
Depression is not normal teen moodiness; it is a medical condition that interferes with a child’s life and may have long-lasting symptoms. Depression can lead to suicide. Treatment is essential. Consider these facts:
1. Depression begins in adolescence.
At least half of all cases of depression begin by age 14.
2. Teen depression is common.
By the end of their teen years, 20% will have had depression.
3. Depression is treatable.
More than 85% of teens improve with a combination of medication and therapy.
4. Over 65% of teens don’t receive treatment from a mental health provider.
5. Untreated depression has serious consequences. It can lead to
Substance abuse
Academic failure
Bullying
Eating disorders
Suicide, the second-leading cause of death among 15- to 24-year-olds.
Signs of Depression: What Parents or Other Adults May Notice
Irritable or cranky mood
Loss of interest in sports or other activities, withdrawal from friends and family, relationship problems
Failure to gain weight as normally expected
Excessive late-night activities, having difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, having trouble getting up in the morning, frequently late for school
Taking a long time to complete normal tasks, pacing back and forth, excessive repetition of behaviors
Social withdrawal, napping, withdrawal from usual activities, boredom
Making critical comments about themselves, having behavior problems at home or school, being overly sensitive to rejection
Poor performance at school, drop in grades, frequent absences
Frequent complaints of physical pain (headache, stomachache), frequent visits to school nurse
Preoccupation that life is meaningless
Writing about death, giving away favorite toys or belongings, “You’d be better off without me.”
If you are concerned about these issues, here are some things you can do:
Learn about teen depression and how you can help by viewing our FREE webinar, Understanding Teen Depression on demand. Register at www.familyaware.org/trainings.
If a teen you know has been thinking about death or suicide, page their clinician, call 911, or take them to their local emergency room immediately.
Families for Depression Awareness is a national nonprofit organization empowering families to recognize, address and cope with depression and bipolar disorder to get people well and prevent suicides. www.familyaware.org * 781-890-0220 * info@familyaware.org
Higher education opens doors to opportunity.
The U.S. Department of Education is making transformational changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. The FAFSA form is an application that students and families need to complete to apply for federal student aid, such as federal grants, work-study funds and loans. Completing and submitting the FAFSA form is free, and it gives students access to the largest source of financial aid to help pay for higher education.
The Better FAFSA is simplified, redesigned and streamlined. It is faster and easier to fill out, with most students and families completing it in less than 15 minutes. It ensures 665,000 more students will receive federal Pell Grants to pay for college. Additionally, more than 1.7 million more students will receive the maximum Pell Grant.
A Focus on Improving the FAFSA® Experience
The department is pleased to share some of the significant progress that has been made with the help of our partners and improvements we are making for the 2025–26 FAFSA cycle. The department is committed to learning from challenges with the launch of the 2024–25 FAFSA form, increasing transparency, and making key improvements to the experience for students, families, colleges and other stakeholders in the coming year. Read more here.
Making FAFSA Corrections
Some students who have already submitted the FAFSA forms may need to make corrections. For students who need to make corrections to their FAFSA form, doing so should only take a few minutes. To get started, students and contributors should go to their StudentAid.gov account and select the form that notes an "Action Required" under "My Activity." Select "View FAFSA Submission Summary" to review the information and any actions you need to take to complete the form. Select the "Make a Correction" button at the top of the "FAFSA Form Answers" tab. Some of the most common corrections include signing the form or providing consent and approval to access and use federal tax data. Remember: Successfully completing your FAFSA form is the first step to unlocking affordable and accessible higher education opportunities.
Watch these videos to learn more about making corrections to your FAFSA:
Your child's success at school depends just as much on what happens at home as on what happens at school.
Home life affects each school day.
What you say and do at home shapes your child's attitude toward school. Think of supporting education the same way you think of feeding and clothing your child — a part of what you do to get your child ready for school every day.
You don't have to be a professional teacher.
Your role is different. In general:
Always talk positively about school.
Encourage your child's curiosity and desire to learn. Also, make doing schoolwork a priority.
Keep the lines of communication open, especially as your child gets older. For example, ask “W questions” such as who, what, where and why instead of yes/no questions.
Your involvement is vitally important throughout your child's K-12 years, but the ways you are involved will change over time.
Get involved at school, too.
Get to know your child's teachers and others who work at the school.
Keep in touch with teachers and other school staff if you have questions or concerns.
Attend school events.
Volunteer to help the school in some way. It doesn't have to be a big-time commitment.
Many will benefit from your efforts.
When you are involved, your child will likely be more motivated, have good work habits and want to continue his or her education after high school.
Your child's teachers will be better able to work with your child, having learned more about your child from you.
The school will benefit from your involvement.
You will feel good about helping your child, and your relationship with them will be even stronger.
You child and your child's school want you to be involved!
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month — a time to raise awareness, promote hope and normalize help-seeking. Suicide affects millions of people every year, yet too many struggle in silence. Your voice matters whether you’re facing challenges, supporting a friend or loved one or looking to help. This month is dedicated to recognizing the warning signs for suicide, encouraging open conversations about mental health and connecting people to proven treatment and resources. When we stand together in strength, dignity, hope and purpose, we can make a difference. We can help save lives.
Warning Signs of Suicide
Suicide is complex and determined by multiple combinations of factors, such as mental illness, substance misuse, chronic illness, trauma, painful losses, exposure to violence and social isolation.
Below are the warning signs of suicide for youth and adults. Act if you notice these signs among a family member, friend, neighbor, coworker or others. Suicide risk is greater if a behavior is new or has increased, and if it seems related to a painful event, loss or change.
Youth Suicide Warning Signs
Expressing hopelessness about the future.
Displaying severe or overwhelming emotional pain or distress.
Increased physical symptoms — such as fatigue, headaches, and stomachaches —commonly associated with emotional distress.
Changing or withdrawing from social connections or situations.
Changes in sleep (increased or decreased).
Anger or hostility that seems out of character or out of context.
Recent increased agitation or irritability.
Adult Suicide Warning Signs
Talking about or making plans for suicide.
Acting anxious, agitated or behaving recklessly.
Talking about being a burden to others.
Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.
Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs.
Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.
Sleeping too little or too much.
Withdrawing or feeling isolated.
Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.
Displaying extreme mood swings.
Chronic illness or serious physical health conditions.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW:
If you are considering starting a new PTA unit, we'd love to have you. PTA is the oldest and biggest child advocacy association in the country! National PTA is 127 years old with millions of members, and the Louisiana PTA is celebrating its 103rd year! To start the application process, click on the link below.
A successful after-school routine for kids includes:
1) a healthy snack to refuel, 2) quiet time to decompress, 3) time for homework and chores, 4) opportunities for free play and physical activity, and 5) a wind-down period before dinner and bedtime. Key principles are to keep it flexible, involve kids in the process and establish designated areas for schoolwork and belongings to promote independence and responsibility.
Before Dinner
1. Unpack and Organize:
Have kids put away their backpacks, unpack lunch containers and hang up coats in a designated spot.
2. Healthy Snack:
Offer a nutritious snack like fruit, yogurt or whole-grain crackers to replenish energy after a long school day.
3. Decompress/Quiet Time:
Provide 15-30 minutes of quiet time to help children relax and decompress from the school day through reading, listening to music or drawing.
4. Homework:
Tackle homework while your brain is fresh. You can use a timer (like the Pomodoro Technique with 30 minutes of work and a 10-minute break) or set a specific homework time each day.
5. Chores/Responsibility:
Involve children in age-appropriate chores, such as tidying up their rooms, putting away dishes or preparing their bags for the next day.
6. Physical Activity:
Encourage movement through outdoor play like a walk, playing in the yard or a bike ride to release pent-up energy.
After Dinner & Before Bed
Family Time: Make time for family to connect over dinner and other activities.
Downtime: Allow for free choice and fun activities like board games or puzzles.
Bedtime Prep: Include showering, brushing teeth and putting on pajamas.
Wind Down: Read a book, listen to calming music, or engage in quiet activities to prepare for sleep.
Key Tips for Success
Flexibility:
Routines are helpful, but they don't have to be rigid. Adjust them based on your family's schedule and individual needs.
Involve Your Kids:
Give children agency by letting them have a say in the routine and the activities they choose for free time.
Ask Specific Questions:
Instead of "What did you do today?" try "What was the best part of your day?" to encourage more detailed responses.
Create Designated Zones:
Set up a specific spot for backpacks, coats and school papers to make the routine more organized.
1. Read to your child every night. Reading to your child expands their vocabulary, stimulates their imagination and improves their listening skills. It also nurtures the bond between you and your child.
2. Encourage active reading. While reading a story, ask your child questions such as, “What do you think will happen next? What would you do?” and "How do you think he felt?
3. Develop writing skills. Encourage your child to write sample thank-you notes and get-well cards and to title and sign their artwork.
4. Build math skills. Look for ways to talk about numbers in everyday life. Ask your child to bring you a certain number of objects, and play games that require counting.
5. Stay informed. Attend parent programs, meetings and parent-teacher conferences. Also, regularly check your school's website for news and updates.
6. Work with your child's teacher. If you have questions or concerns about your child's progress, be sure to talk to your child's teacher.
7. Develop routines. Routines for sleep, meals, chores and play provide stability for young learners. Sticking to routines at home will also help your child follow routines at school.
8. Be interested and enthusiastic. Talk about what happened at school each day. Ask specific questions about your child's day, such as, “Who did you play with at recess today?”
9. Teach independence. Encourage your child to do things for him/herself, such as using the bathroom independently and zipping up their own coat.
10. Build social skills. Children need support as they learn to build relationships outside of their family. Encourage your child to use words to let others know their needs and wants.
MEET AND GREET: ESS Parent Liaisons
Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025
10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Professional Development Center
3000 N. Sherwood Forest Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70814
LUNCH AND LEARN: "Understanding Accommodations/Modifications”
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.
LaMont Cole, Superintendent of Schools
lcole@ebrschools.org
Marlon Cousin, Administrative Director of Family and Community Engagement
mcousin@ebrschools.org
Andrea Simmons, Community Liaison
asimmons2@ebrschools.org
Twahna Harris, Community Liaison
tharris5@ebrschools.org
1050 South Foster Drive Baton Rouge, LA 70806, USA
