BTS/C1

C2 AMERICAN PRESS SAtuRdAy, July 13, 2013

BACK TO SCHOOL 2013-2014
Special to the American Press
Children grow and develop their
personalities in various ways.
While many youngsters are teased
or receive some good-natured rib-
bing at some point in their school
careers, some teasing can eventu-
ally turn into bullying.
The National Education Associa-
tion estimates that 160,000 children
miss school every day due to fear
of attack or intimidation by other
students. Furthermore, more than
70 percent of students report inci-
dents of bullying at their schools.
Although children in lower grades
have reported being in more fights
than those in higher grades, there
is a higher rate of violent crimes in
middle and high schools than in el-
ementary schools. According to the
association Make Beats Not Beat
Downs, harassment and bullying
have been linked to 75 percent of
school shooting incidents.
Bullying can take many forms,
and learning the warning signs as
a parent can help prevent harass-
ment and potentially dangerous
situations.
Verbal: If your child reports be-
ing called names, being the recipi-
ent of racist, sexist or homophobic
jokes, or being spoken to in an
offensive or suggestive way, this can
be a form of verbal bullying.
Cyber: Social media, email and
text messaging has become a way
for bullies to spread malicious mes-
sages or photos. In the era of digital
media, this type of bullying has
increased considerably.
Physical: Some bullies engage in
physical attacks, including hitting,
kicking, spitting, or other forms of
physical confrontation. Destroying
personal property also is consid-
ered physical bullying.
Indirect: Gossiping and spread-
ing nasty rumors about a person is
another form of bullying. This type
of bullying may go hand-in-hand
with cyber bullying.
SignS yOur CHiLd
iS Being BuLLied
Parents can recognize certain
signs that their child is being bul-
lied at school. Bullied children
frequently make excuses to avoid
going to school. While the desire
to stay home is something many
children may express, those who
are bullied may do so much more
frequently.
Bullied children tend to avoid
certain places and may be sad,
angry or withdrawn. They may have
trouble sleeping or experience
changes in appetite, and bullied
youngsters academic performance
may suffer. Also, parents may notice
that children return from school
missing some of their belongings.
SignS yOur CHiLd
iS THe BuLLy
Parents may not want to imagine
their children bullying other stu-
dents, but bullies do exist. Children
who bully other kids have strong
needs for power and negative domi-
nance. They may find satisfaction
in causing suffering to others. Some
signs that your child may be a bully
include:
l easily becoming violent with
others
l having friends who bully others
l blaming others quickly
l comes home with belongings
that do not belong to him or her
l getting in trouble with teachers
or school administrators
l picking on siblings
l not accepting responsibility for
actions
There are ways parents can
teach their children to act properly
when faced with a bully. First, par-
ents should explain that bullying is
not the childs fault and he or she
does not deserve to be picked on.
Next, parents can let children
know that being assertive but not
violent with bullies may diffuse the
situation, as some bullies thrive
on the fear of their victims. If the
bullying behavior continues, the
student should speak to an adult or
authority figure.
Parents of bullies may need to be
especially mindful of their chil-
drens behavior. Counseling could
be necessary to determine what
is compelling kids to bully other
students.
Learn the early warning signs of bullying
Special to the American Press
Bullying can take many forms, and learning the warning signs as a parent can help prevent harassment and po-
tentially dangerous situations.
Special to the American Press
These days, bullying isnt only
happening in the schoolyard. The
Internet has changed things to
such an extent that students are
now vulnerable to bullying at-
tacks at any time of day or night.
Cyberbullying can have serious
consequences and should be
taken seriously.
What is cyberbullying? It is the
harassment of an individual that
comes in the form of insulting,
degrading, or threatening acts
through emails, instant messag-
ing, private or public posts and
comments on social networks and
discussion groups. Even if the
messages are not spoken out loud,
the consequences can be disas-
trous: loss of self-confidence,
social isolation and even suicide.
LOdge A COmPLAinT
It is imperative to do some-
thing about this type of situation
as soon as it first arises. Students
should inform their parents or a
member of the schools personnel.
Threats should be reported to
the police. People must be aware
that slander, extortion, criminal
harassment, fabricated messages,
and the uttering of threats are
considered to be violations of the
criminal code. Civil courts are
a recourse for that type of case.
Before lodging a complaint or
attempting to sue a cyberbully,
it is important not to delete the
messages in question, as they will
be required as proof.
PrevenTiOn
It is possible to prevent cyber-
bullying. Some actions to take:
never respond to a bully; protect
personal information; inform the
Internet or cell phone service
provider about incidents; and
immediately close the Web envi-
ronment where the intimidation
is taking place. Lastly, parents
should monitor what their chil-
dren are using the Internet for
and be vigilant for any signs
of distress, such as an unusual
reluctance to go to school, fear or
anxiety.
Cyberbullying can have serious consequences
Parents, you can already
picture those first morn-
ings of the school year: the
challenge of dragging cranky
kids out of their beds at dawn
after two months of mellow
summer mornings.
Each year, many of us
swear well do it differently.
We will listen to the experts.
We will adjust our childrens
bedtimes back to a school-
year schedule as soon as
August arrives. We will work
with biology, not against it,
by dimming the lights and
drawing the curtains in the
evenings. We will remember
the power of a good bedtime
routine.
It does sound wonderful.
But each year, many fami-
lies embrace the spontaneity
of summer and the long, light
evenings, ditching routines
and enjoying late nights
with the kids. Or maybe we
really do try to get them to
bed early, but Little League
baseball games run late and
vacations to other time zones
make it impossible.
Then we try to get our
kids up early for the first day
of school and their bodies
naturally rebel. Its never
easy to be waking up at the
time youre biologically ready
to be asleep, says Dr. Peter
Franzen, child sleep expert
and assistant professor of
psychiatry at the University
of Pittsburghs Sleep Medi-
cine Institute.
Lack of sleep can affect
kids ability to learn, to re-
member and to handle emo-
tions, he says.
So here are some tips for
getting them back to a sen-
sible bedtime:
Begin adjusting bedtime
at least two weeks before
classes begin, says family
sleep counselor Dana Oble-
man, founder of the Sleep
Sense system for getting
babies and toddlers to sleep
well.
You dont have to jump
into going to bed at 7:30
and being really strict,
she says. But do an evalu-
ation of where the bedtime
has been falling and move
back toward that by about 15
minutes every third night.
(Of course, if youve altered
your kids bedtime by more
than an hour, youll need to
make those changes in larger
increments.)
For young kids, the most
effective routine includes
a warm bath and reading a
favorite book. Skip televi-
sion, which has a stimulating
effect.
With older children,
Obleman suggests having a
sit-down meeting two weeks
before school begins. Dis-
cuss the importance of being
rested during the first weeks
of school.
Plan a solid bedtime rou-
tine together, making sure
they understand how much
sleep is necessary. Children,
from toddlers to adolescents,
need 10 to 12 hours of solid
nighttime sleep, Obleman
says. Teens are likely to need
at least 9 hours.
People say, If my child
got eight hours, thats ad-
equate. And it might be ad-
equate, Obleman says. But
you want to be giving them
great, awesome restful sleep
at night.
Once youve chosen a
bedtime, agree to turn off
electronic screens one hour
earlier, because the light
from these devices signals
our bodies to stay awake,
Franzen says. Kids already
have a harder time get-
ting sleepy at night as they
reach their teen years due to
changes in their body chem-
istry, he says. Looking at the
light of electronic devices
only delays that response
further.
A regular bedtime routine
triggers a childs natural
urge to sleep, and also cre-
ates treasured memories of
quiet moments with mom and
dad, notes Lorraine Breffni,
director of early childhood at
Nova Southeastern Univer-
sitys Mailman Segal Center
for Human Development, in
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
By melissa rayworth
Associated Press
Early to bed, early to rise can take effort at summers end
Do an evaluation of
where the bedtime
has been falling and
move back toward
that by about 15
minutes every third
night.
dana Obleman
Founder of Sleep Sense
See SummerS end, C8
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Saturday, July 13, 2013 aMErICaN PrESS C3
BACK TO SCHOOL 2013-2014
Children engaged in a
prekindergarten program
are more likely to be ready
for kindergarten, accord-
ing to the Calcasieu Parish
School Boards director of
early-childhood education.
Sheryl Piper said about
1,400 students enroll in a
pre-K program annually,
giving them the advantage
of being better prepared
academically and socially
for kindergarten. The pro-
gram also helps familiarize
the young students with a
school setting and develop
a foundation for future
growth and development,
she said.
Piper said that when
a child starts kindergar-
ten they are expected to
display cognitive abilities,
including early literacy,
alphabetic understanding,
vocabulary, listening com-
prehension and emergent
writing skills.
Kindergarten students
are also expected to know
basic numeric concepts,
like counting, and make
observations using their
senses.
Piper said early-child-
hood education programs
also give children oppor-
tunities to engage in early
learning.
With programs avail-
able in elementary schools
across Calcasieu Parish,
Piper said the program has
become more popular over
the years.
Family engagement
in childrens learning has
increased and families and
communities are gaining
more awareness of nec-
essary skills related to
kindergarten readiness,
Piper said in an email.
Support and resources
are provided to encourage
families to enroll children
in a preschool program.
Piper said that in ac-
cordance with the states
early-learning and devel-
opment standards, chil-
dren enrolled in early-
childhood programs learn
literacy and language
skills; social, math and
motor skills; basic numeric
concepts; problem-solving;
and science and social
studies concepts. And they
learn to participate.
On entering kindergar-
ten, students are ex-
pected to have social and
emotional competencies
including self-regulation,
self-identity, self-reliance
and respect for others.
She said that to be eli-
gible for a pre-K program
children must be 4 years
old by Sept. 30.
By Natalie Stewart
nstewart@americanpress.com
Pre-K program a plus
for kindergarteners
Special to the American Press
The classroom atmosphere
familiar to todays children
is likely very different from
the atmosphere their parents
were accustomed to when
they were students. Many of
these changes can be traced
to technology, which has
gradually had an increasing
presence in the classroom
over the last several decades.
Thanks in large part to
the Internet, technology also
has changed the way kids
approach their schoolwork at
home. Though a potentially
valuable learning tool, the In-
ternet also poses some prob-
lems for todays students. The
following are some of the ad-
vantages and disadvantages
of relying on the Internet to
complete schoolwork.
THe PrOS
The accessibility of the
Internet can be a significant
benefit to students. Students
have a wealth of resources
available to them online, and
those resources can make it
easier for kids to understand
key concepts on nearly every
subject. Whereas students
might once have been forced
to trek to the library to re-
search a given subject, now
they can do so from the com-
forts of home. And unlike the
library, the Internet never
closes, so information is at
students disposal regardless
of when they sit down to do
their schoolwork.
Another advantage to us-
ing the Internet to complete
schoolwork is that the Inter-
net can be an extension of
the classroom beyond school
walls. Educational websites
abound on the Internet, and
many of these sites are writ-
ten and monitored by profes-
sional educators. These sites
can be valuable resources
for students who may find
themselves struggling with
certain lessons. Many of their
questions or concerns may
already be addressed, and
certain topics may be more
easily explained on a website
written by a professional
educator or scholar in a given
field. Rather than waiting to
address an issue in class, stu-
dents can visit such websites
to answers to their questions
immediately.
The Internet also can pro-
vide students with a forum to
discuss their studies which
does not always exist in the
classroom. That forum may
engage students and make
them better students.
THe CONS
Much of the concern about
using the Internet to com-
plete schoolwork is the reli-
ability of the information on
the Internet. Many sites offer
reliable and well-researched
information, but many do not.
Students, especially younger
students, may not be capable
of discerning fact from fic-
tion and will simply take the
written word on the Inter-
net as truth. That may land
students in hot water or make
it more difficult for them to
understand their subjects.
Another significant disad-
vantage to using the Internet
to complete schoolwork is
that students may be tempted
to cheat. Because the In-
ternet is so vast, students
might be tempted to cut and
paste answers to homework
problems from the Internet
or copy information from
websites and claim it as their
own, feeling as if there is no
way their teachers will ever
find out. Some students may
not even understand that
such cutting, pasting or copy-
ing is wrong. Such behavior
also makes it harder for
students to learn the mate-
rial, which will make it more
difficult for them to grasp key
concepts going forward.
Social networking sites
can quickly distract kids
from their schoolwork, cost-
ing them valuable time they
should be devoting to their
studies.
Pros, cons of using Internet for schoolwork
Metro Creative Connections
Technology, namely the Internet, has changed the way stu-
dents approach their schoolwork.
Special to the American Press
Homework time can be a
difficult moment for children
as well as parents. Between
making dinner, daily chores,
and children who grumble
or who refuse outright to do
their homework, it is not easy
to stay Zen! Here are seven
tricks to help you:
l Establish a routine at
the beginning of the school
year and stick to it. Home-
work should be done at the
same time each day, in the
same place (a quiet, well-lit
room), and for about the same
amount of time.
l Ban all forms of distrac-
tion. No television, music, or
aimless wandering about by
other family members where
children are doing their
homework.
l Let your children empty
their own schoolbags and
organize their school mate-
rial. Give them time to look
at their teachers homework
schedules and ask them what
they have to do.
l Stay present and avail-
able, without succumbing to
the temptation of doing the
homework yourself. If your
children need help, show
them that you are paying
attention and are willing to
give advice.
l Let your children read
instructions out loud. This
will enable them to stay con-
centrated on their homework
and you will also know how
far along they are.
l If they get stuck, ask
them to explain to you in
their own words what they
understand. Then tell them
what you understand. By
working together you may
succeed in solving the prob-
lem.
l Always try and make
homework time a positive
experience, punctuated with
encouragement for every ef-
fort. Your children will be all
the more motivated.
Helpful tricks for getting homework done
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C4 AMERICAN PRESS SAtuRdAy, July 13, 2013
BACK TO SCHOOL 2013-2014
By Family Features
While moms want to make
sure their children eat a
healthier lunch at school,
its not always easy packing
lunches that are good for
them.
Food and lifestyle expert
Evette Rios has five easy
tips to help families pack a
healthier lunch, and turn a
good lunchbox into a great
lunchbox:
l Subtract the fat. Remove
unnecessary fat with fat-free
deli meats your kids wont
know the difference.
lAvoid temptation with
snacks. Children who eat a
poor-quality breakfast or
lunch may give in to temp-
tation, so offer healthier
snacks like nuts and dried
fruit, or sneak 20 percent of
your childs daily fiber into
the lunchbox by packing, for
example, a granola bar.
lIts not juice if its not 100
percent. If you are going to
serve juice, make sure its 100
percent fruit juice.
lDont be afraid to give
them a sweet treat. Instead
of a candy bar or cookies, try
packing low-fat yogurt.
lIf children help select it
or cook it, theyll eat it. Give
them a choice and involve
them, but guide their choices.
Let them cruise the produce
aisle and pick out the fruit
they want to eat. Show your
children how to cut vegeta-
bles into bite-size pieces that
they can dip into a favorite
sauce. Also, have them make
trail mix with low-salt nuts
and dried fruits, and portion
it into single-serving bags.
LunCHBOxeS:
3 queSTiOnS TO ASK
Lunch boxes come in every
imaginable shape and size,
so everyone is sure to find
the perfect one for their style
and tastes.
For the younger set, there
are lunchboxes with pictures
of cartoon heroes or interna-
tional stars; teenagers prefer
something trendier, in line
with what they wear, maybe,
or bags that can be used to
carry things other than just
food.
Sturdiness
To choose the best lunch
box, check how sturdy it is.
Double or triple stitching
is best. Pay attention to the
handle; it shouldnt give way
under the weight of its con-
tents. It should also be able
to stand up to some rough
treatment.
Capacity
Ensure that its big enough
to contain a thermos for
hot food. These days, most
lunchboxes are made with
reliable thermal insulation
that can keep foods cool for
several hours, but try to find
one with a compartment de-
signed for an ice pack.
Efficiency
Some lunchboxes come
with a removable liner, which
makes cleaning up spilled
food a whole lot easier. Fold-
able lunchboxes are also
practical, as well as those
that can expand to accommo-
date large containers.
Lastly, even though the
best of lunchboxes should be
well-designed, its important
that your children be happy
with the design. After all,
they are the ones who will
be carrying them to school
every day.
Turn good lunchboxes
into great lunchboxes
Special to the American Press
Allow children to choose the fruit they want to eat in their
lunches. The more food they help select, the more likely they
are to eat it.
Special to the American Press
Once a school year be-
gins, many students spend
more time in the classroom
with their teachers than
they do at home with their
parents. Thats especially
true in dual-income house-
holds where both parents
work outside of the home.
Though many parents
would love to spend more
time with their children, do-
ing so can be difficult when
both parents must go to
work every day. Because stu-
dents spend so much time
with their teachers, its im-
portant for parents to work
toward building a strong
parent-teacher relationship.
Such a relationship fosters
communication, which can
help a young student do his
or her best in and out of the
classroom, something thats
a goal for parents and teach-
ers alike. Parents inter-
ested in developing a strong
relationship with their kids
teachers can take several
steps to make that happen.
l Meet your childs
teacher at the beginning
of the year. Teachers have
many students come in and
out of their classroom on
any given day, so it can be
hard for teachers to initiate
a relationship with parents.
Parents have significantly
fewer children to look after,
so they should take the
first step toward building
a relationship with teach-
ers. Introduce yourself at
the onset of the school year,
providing phone numbers
and email addresses where
you can be reached. Let the
teacher know youre avail-
able for discussion any time
during the school year and
that you look forward to
working with the teacher as
the year progresses.
l Attend Back to School
Night. School events like
an open house or Back to
School Nights are a great
way to help kids grow ac-
climated to their school. But
such events also make great
opportunities for parents to
learn more about their kids
teachers than they might
have learned during their
introductory meeting. Such
events may allow teachers to
explain the curriculum for
the upcoming year.
l Prioritize parent-teach-
er conferences. Unlike an
introductory meeting or an
open house at the beginning
of the school year, a parent-
teacher conference allows
parents and teachers to spe-
cifically discuss students in
private. Teachers may pro-
vide insight into how a child
is performing and behaving
in the classroom, offering
advice as to how to improve
that performance or sugges-
tions as to how to encourage
kids to keep up the good
work. Such conferences may
be your only opportunity
for a one-on-one, in-person
discussion about your child,
so make sure that you are
on time and dont miss these
conferences. You can use
this as an opportunity to
ask any questions you have
about your child.
Build a strong parent-
teacher relationship
BTS/C4
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stuuents giaues th thiough
th while auuiessing the neeus
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00819541
00819063
337-564-6763
4447 Nelson Rd.
(Nelson at McNeese)
Lake Charles, LA 70605
www.facebook.com/giftsandgrinds
Friends, Coffee,
Conversation & Gifts
00818935
Faith-lled environment
Pre-Kindergarten - 8th Grade
Certied Faculty with Excellent teacher/student ratio
Standardized test scores
consistently above national average
Advanced Ed/SACS Certication
Full range of Enrichment & Athletic Programs
Extended Day Care and Summer Program
2012 recipient of Catholic Schools for Tomorrow Award
Innovative classroom technology
Openings Still Available
ST. MARGARET
CATHOLIC SCHOOL
(337) 436-7959 or (337) 497-0436
www.stmcs.com
2510 ENTERPRISE BOULEVARD
LAKE CHARLES, LA 70601
St. Margaret Catholic School welcomes all children regardless of race, creed or nationality.
Always Growing
.... Rooted in Christ
00818653
Saturday, July 13, 2013 aMErICaN PrESS C5
BTS/C5
Randee Monceau
Veterinary Medicine
Class of 20J2
Do you define your passion or does it define you? Through
whatever lens you view your life, LSU will sharpen your
focus and turn your dreahs into reality. Here, you don't just
see the bigger picture, you're part of it.
L5U s where PA55IONbecomes GENIU5.
4snapLSU on Instagram
Isu.edu/majors
00819415
C6 AMERICAN PRESS SAtuRdAy, July 13, 2013
Aug. 12-13: Teacher in-service.
Aug. 14: First day of school.
Sept. 2: Labor Day.
Sept. 23: Teacher in-service.
Oct. 28: Teacher in-service.
Nov. 11: Veterans Day.
Nov. 25-29: Thanksgiving break.
Dec. 23-Jan. 3: Christmas break.
Jan. 20: Martin L. King Jr. Day.
Feb. 3: Teacher in-service.
March 3-5: Mardi Gras holiday.
April 18-25: Easter/spring break.
May 23: Last day of school.
May 26-27: Teacher in-service.
BACK TO SCHOOL 2013-2014
Calcasieu Parish
Allen Parish
Hamilton Christian Academy
Grand Lake High School
Vernon Parish
South Cameron, Hackberry
and Johnson Bayou
Charter schools
Episcopal Day School
Jeff Davis Parish
McNeese State University
Sowela Technical Community College: Calendar not available at press time.
Beauregard Parish: 4-day
Beauregard Parish: 5-day
Diocese of Lake Charles
Aug. 12-13: Teacher in-service.
Aug. 14: First day of school.
Aug. 30: Teacher in-service.
Sept. 2: Labor Day.
Nov. 25-29: Thanksgiving break.
Dec. 20-Jan. 3: Christmas break.
Jan. 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Jan. 26-Feb. 1: Catholic Schools
Week.
March 3-4: Mardi Gras holiday.
April 18-25: Easter break.
May 13: Graduation.
May 22: Teacher in-service.
May 23: Last day of school.
Aug. 1-5: Staff development.
Aug. 6: Students report to school;
half-day a.m.
Aug. 6: Staff development; half-day
p.m.
Sept. 2: Labor Day.
Oct. 4: Fair Day holiday.
Nov. 11: Veterans Day.
Nov. 25-29: Thanksgiving break.
Dec. 20: Staff development.
Dec. 23-Jan. 6: Christmas break.
Jan. 6: Staff development.
Jan. 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Feb. 17: Presidents Day.
March 3-4: Mardi Gras holiday.
April 18-25: Easter/spring break.
May 8: Last day for seniors.
May 22: Last day of school.
Aug. 7-9: Staff development.
Aug. 12: First day of school.
Sept. 2: Labor Day.
Oct. 4: Fair Day holiday.
Nov. 11: Veterans Day.
Nov. 25-29: Thanksgiving break.
Dec. 20: Staff development.
Dec. 20-Jan. 6: Christmas break.
Jan. 6: Staff development.
Jan. 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Feb. 17: Presidents Day.
March 3-4: Mardi Gras holiday.
April 18-25: Easter/spring break.
May 9: Last day for seniors.
May 21: Last day of school.
Aug. 9: Students report for frst
day; grades 1-12.
Aug. 9: Students report for frst
day; pre-K/kindergarten.
Sept. 2: Labor Day.
Oct. 4: Fair Day.
Nov. 25-29: Thanksgiving break.
Dec. 23-Jan. 3: Christmas break.
Jan. 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
March 3: American Heritage Day.
March 4: Mardi Gras holiday.
March 5: Bank Day.
April 18-25: Good Friday/spring
break.
May 22: Last day of school.
Aug. 9, 12-13: Teacher in-service.
Aug. 14: First day of school.
Sept. 2: Labor Day.
Sept. 3: Teacher in-service.
Nov. 25-29: Thanksgiving break.
Dec. 23-Jan. 3: Christmas break.
Jan. 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Jan. 21: Teacher in-service.
March 3-5: Mardi Gras holiday.
March 15: School carnival.
April 18-25: Easter break.
May 23: Eighth-grade graduation
and last day of school.
Aug. 5-7: Teacher in-service.
Aug. 8: First day of school.
Sept. 2: Labor Day.
Sept. 27: Teacher in-service.
Oct. 25: Teacher in-service.
Nov. 25-29: Thanksgiving break.
Dec. 23-Jan. 3: Christmas break.
Jan. 10: Teacher in-service.
Jan. 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
March 3-5: Mardi Gras holiday.
April 18-25: Easter break.
May 22: Last day of school.
Aug. 6-7: Teacher in-service.
Aug. 8: First day of school.
Sept. 2: Labor Day.
Sept. 23: Teacher in-service.
Oct. 14-15: Fall break.
Nov. 11: Veterans Day.
Nov. 25-29: Thanksgiving break.
Dec. 23-Jan. 3: Christmas break.
Jan. 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Feb. 3: Teacher in-service.
March 3-7: Winter break.
March 21: Family Fun Day (half-day).
April 14-17: Spiritual Emphasis
Week.
April 18-25: Easter/spring break.
May 8: Last day for seniors.
May 16: Graduation.
May 19: Last day for pre-K and
kindergarten students.
May 20: Kindergarten graduation.
May 22: Last day of school.
May 23: Teacher in-service.
Aug. 5-13: Teacher orientation.
Aug. 14: First day of school.
Sept. 2: Labor Day.
Sept. 23: Teacher in-service.
Oct. 28: Teacher in-service.
Nov. 11: Veterans Day.
Nov. 25-29: Thanksgiving break.
Dec. 23-Jan. 3: Christmas break.
Jan. 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Feb. 3: Teacher in-service.
March 3-5: Mardi Gras holiday.
April 18-25: Easter/spring break.
May 23: Last day of school.
May 26-27: Teacher in-service.
Aug. 5-7: Teacher in-service.
Aug. 8: First day of school.
Sept. 2: Labor Day.
Sept. 27: Teacher in-service.
Oct. 25: Teacher in-service.
Nov. 25-29: Thanksgiving break.
Dec. 23-Jan. 2: Christmas break.
Jan. 10: Teacher in-service.
Jan. 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
March 3-5: Mardi Gras holiday.
April 18-25: Easter break.
May 22: Last day of school.
Aug. 9: First day of school.
Sept. 2: Labor Day.
Sept. 20: Fair Day.
Nov. 25-29: Thanksgiving break.
Dec. 23-Jan. 3: Christmas break.
Jan. 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
March 3: American Heritage Day.
March 4: Mardi Gras holiday.
March 5-7: Spring break.
April 17-21: Easter/spring break.
May 23: Last day of school.
Aug. 8: Staff development day.
Aug. 9: First day of school.
Sept. 2: Labor Day.
Sept. 26: Staff development, half-
day; parent-teacher conference, 2-5
p.m.
Oct. 4: Fair Day.
Nov. 8: Staff development, half-day;
parent-teacher conference, 2-5 p.m.
Nov. 11: Veterans Day.
Nov. 25-29: Thanksgiving break.
Dec. 23-Jan. 3: Christmas break.
Jan. 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Feb. 14: Staff development day.
Feb. 17: Presidents Day.
April 18-25: Easter/spring break.
May 20: Last day of school.
May 21: Staff development, half-
day; and half-work day.
AUGUST
19: Last date to apply for admission.
21: Freshman orientation, 8 a.m.
23: Late registration begins.
26: Classes begin.
27: Last date to register, add/drop
courses, and make section and
credit/audit changes.
SEPTEMBEr
2: Labor Day holiday.
9: Last date to fle for fall degree
completion.
20: Last date to make grade appeal
from previous semester.
OCTOBEr
10-11: Fall break (evening classes will
meet on Oct. 9).
14: Midterm.
24: Last date to withdraw from
courses.
NOVEMBEr
14: Last date for comprehensive fnal
examination for fall degree comple-
tion.
25-29: Thanksgiving holiday. (Classes
will not meet Nov. 30. University of-
fces closed Nov. 27-29).
DECEMBEr
4: Classes end (evening classes will
meet).
5: Study Day (fnal examinations for
evening classes begin).
6: Final examinations begin.
11: Final examinations end.
11: Last date for faculty to remove
previous semester I grades for cur-
rently enrolled students.
12: Grades for degree candidates due
by 9 a.m.
13: Degree certifcations due in the
Registrars Offce by 10 a.m.
14: Commencement exercises, 10 a.m.
16: All remaining grades due by 9 a.m.
20: University closes at 4:30 p.m.
and reopens on Jan. 6.
JANUAry
6: University reopens at 7:45 a.m.
13: Last date to apply for admission
for regular session.
15: Freshman orientation, 8 a.m.
16: Late registration begins.
20: Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
(University offces closed).
21: Classes begin.
22: Last date to register, add/drop
courses, and make section and
credit/audit changes.
FEBrUAry
3: Last date to fle for spring degree
completion.
7: Offcial Reporting Day (14th Class
Day).
14: Last date to make grade appeal
from previous semester.
MArCH
3-5: Mardi Gras holiday.
11: Midterm.
25: Last date to withdraw from
courses.
APriL
14: Last date for comprehensive
fnal examination for spring degree
completion.
18-25: Spring vacation (classes will
not meet April 19 and 26; University
offces closed April 18 and 21).
MAy
5: Classes end (evening classes will
meet).
6: Study Day (fnal examinations for
evening classes begin).
7: Final examinations begin.
12: Final examinations end.
12: Last date for faculty to remove
previous semester I grades for cur-
rently enrolled students.
14: Grades for degree candidates due
by 9 a.m.
15: Degree certifcations due in Regis-
trars Offce by 10 a.m.
16: All remaining grades due by 9 a.m.
17: Commencement exercises, 10 a.m.
BTS/C6
00819138
1736 COMMON STREET
LAKE CHARLES, LA
215-1677 OR 491-9935
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Saturday, July 13, 2013 aMErICaN PrESS C7
BACK TO SCHOOL 2013-2014
Metro Creative Connections
Test taking comes easily for some. Make sure you eat
and get enough rest the day before and the day of the
test.
By Kara Carrier
kcarrier@americanpress.com
Senior year of high school is the
year many teenagers look forward
to the most. Its their last hurrah
the final year with their closest
friends, ruling the school, choos-
ing a college and graduating with
classmates theyve grown up with.
Having to move senior year is
probably a teens worst nightmare.
Instead of having a year of last
times, he or she will have a year of
first times a new school, new
teachers, new friends and nothing
familiar at all. Being the new kid
in school is tough, but being the
new kid your senior year is even
worse.
This is what happened to my
16-year-old daughter, Myah. After
attending grades 1-11 in North
Carolina, Myah had the unfortunate
luck of having her dad retire from
the military and move our family
back home to Louisiana. As par-
ents, my husband and I felt guilty
the new car she is driving is proof
of this.
Myah is outgoing and was
involved in many extracurricu-
lar activities at her former high
school. She was an honor student;
cheerleader; and a member of the
softball and swim teams, the prom
committee, and various clubs. She
had tons of friends and a boyfriend
she claims she loves. She also had a
job lifeguarding at a local pool.
We knew leaving all of this be-
hind wouldnt be easy for her, and if
she had a choice shed want to stay,
graduate with her friends and at-
tend college in North Carolina. But
all of that wasnt an option for our
family, so my husband and I made it
our mission to make this transition
as easy as possible for her.
We started by keeping her in-
formed of what was going on every
step of the way. As soon as we knew
there was a possibility we would
be moving, we told our daughter
so she would have plenty of time to
prepare herself. Anytime we had
any new information about any-
thing pertaining to the move, we let
her know.
Since Myah was so involved at
her old school, we wanted her to
have a similar experience here.
Early on we began researching
schools and included her in the
process. As a family we were able
to choose a school where she could
play softball, take honors classes
and join clubs. Most importantly, we
allowed her to have a say in where
she wanted to spend her senior
year, and get excited about it.
We also encouraged our daugh-
ter to look for a job while my
husband and I looked as well. Since
she is a certified lifeguard, she was
easily able to set up an interview
for the day after we arrived and
was hired on the spot.
Louisiana is where my husband
and I grew up, and most of our fam-
ily and friends are here. We enlist-
ed their help to introduce Myah to a
few other people her age and even
some who would attend her school.
She now has a few friends here she
has been able to hang out with.
Myah was disappointed about
not being able to attend college in
North Carolina, and although she
still could, we really dont want
her that far away from us. I am an
LSU alumna and have begged her
to follow in my footsteps for years.
After touring the campus and the
LSU website, she is now excited
at the prospect of being an LSU
student after she graduates in 2014.
We have already looked into dates
to attend their open house for high
school seniors in the fall and plan
to attend as many football games
as possible. Myah actually took
the initiative to research applica-
tion deadlines, dorms and sorority
information.
With everything we did to
prepare her, Myah has handled
the move well. We fully expected
a river of tears, feet stomping,
toddler-style tantrums and mass
protest from her and her friends.
Thankfully, we didnt get that.
There were a few tears and she was
definitely sad. What really shocked
me was that she was most upset
about having to wear a uniform to
school something shes never had
to do. Being the fashionista that my
daughter is, I should have foreseen
that issue.
She of course still misses her
friends and the boyfriend in
North Carolina, but social media,
texting, FaceTime and the Internet
have helped with that. We have en-
couraged her to keep using this to
keep in touch with her friends. We
have also planned for some of her
friends to come visit over Thanks-
giving and for her to visit them over
spring break.
Overall she has a great attitude
about moving here, and she is look-
ing forward to starting her senior
year in August. She loves living
near our family, getting to see her
cousins and grandparents all the
time, and getting good Cajun food
whenever she wants.
When asked if she had any
advice to give others moving their
senior year, she said, Its tough,
but dont get too upset about leaving
your friends because you will still
see your real ones down the road.
Its just another adventure in life.
You can have a fresh start and still
be who you want to be.
Changing schools senior year just another adventure for Myah
Special to the American Press
Students are periodically tested to
gauge their progress on a variety of sub-
jects. Although testing can be an effective
way to determine a students understand-
ing of a given subject, not every student
performs well on tests. Test-taking comes
easily for some but not so for others.
Nerves can foil the best students. Howev-
er, there are ways for students to improve
their test-taking skills.
PrePArATiOn
Most tests are given with prior notice,
enabling students to prepare for them
well in advance. Sometimes teachers and
professors will surprise students with a
quiz. These pop quizzes are used to judge
how well students are absorbing the
information and if they have been paying
attention.
When in class, continually jot down
notes and create an outline of important
information. The teacher may provide
hints about the upcoming test, includ-
ing emphasizing specific areas of focus
or even revealing the format of the test.
Contrary to what some students believe,
teachers want their students to succeed.
Therefore, your teacher may offer a
review session the day before or be open
for questions prior to the test if further
clarification is needed.
Studying with others can shed new
light on a subject. Studying difficult sub-
ject matter with peers may help students
grasp the materials better than they did
in class. Classmates may have some tricks
theyve developed, including mnemonic
devices for putting facts together.
THe dAy BefOre And THe dAy
Of THe TeST
Prior to a test, make sure you eat and
get enough rest. While it may be tempt-
ing to pull an all-nighter, you will not
perform well on the test if you are tired
from having studied all night. Review
the material and put the main ideas or
formulas onto a sheet that can be quickly
reviewed. Review it many times and then
put it away. Have a good meal, relax and
try to get at least eight hours of sleep.
On the day of the test, wake up and ar-
rive on time or even a few minutes early
for your class. This can help to calm your
nerves and enable you to squeeze in some
last-second studying.
THe TeST iTSeLf
Make sure you have the supplies
needed for the test. This may include
pens or pencils, a calculator, a textbook if
you are allowed to reference, or any other
supplies the teacher allows. Have a watch
available so that you can pace yourself
during the test. Avoid using a mobile
phone during the test, as the teacher may
misinterpret that as cheating.
Try to remain positive through the
test. If you feel yourself getting nervous,
take a few deep breaths and regroup.
In addition to these tips, there are
other ways to approach the test.
l Do the easiest problems first. If you
do not know a question, skip it and move
on. There may be clues later on in the test
that help you go back and answer skipped
questions.
l Always read the entire question.
Skimming could find you missing impor-
tant instructions.
l Look for words that may help you
determine the answer, such as all,
never or none. They present clues to
the answer.
l Pay attention to your work and only
your work. Do not be distracted if others
finish before you.
l If there is time, go back and look over
your test. Make sure that all the questions
have been answered for any careless
mistakes. Proofread any essays and short
answer questions.
How to improve test-taking skills
BTS/C7
FUELING GOOD
FOR A GREAT YEAR!
CITGO is !ue|ing good lhings in Calcasieu Parish schools and
we wish all sludenls a happy relurn lo school and a successful
acadenic year, especially our Parlners in Educalion: E.K. Key
Elenenlary, Sulphur High School, Sulphur High School 9lh Crade
Canpus and Calcasieu Parish Allernalive Sile. Fenenber, fueling
your educalion is lhe way lo your dreans.
Dream big, anything is possibIe!
2013 CTCO Pelroleun Corporalion
00819406
C8 AMERICAN PRESS SAtuRdAy, July 13, 2013
Those routines can be very personal
family rituals a certain snack that you eat,
a certain book you read, a certain song that
you sing, she says.
For adolescents and teens, Breffni, says,
keep in mind that the time they go to bed
may not be close to the time they actually fall
asleep. So make sure older students un-
derstand what time they should actually be
asleep.
One of my cornerstones is that if chil-
dren are going to bed early enough, there
shouldnt be a need to wake them in the
morning, Obleman says. If youre dragging
them by the ankle every morning, theyre go-
ing to bed too late.
On the last mornings before school starts,
you might even induce the kids to get up early
by taking them out to breakfast at their favor-
ite restaurants.
One final step, which can be especially
tough on parents: Ideally, the whole family
should go to bed early on those final nights.
It may be hard to give up the late night hours
youre accustomed to, but going to sleep ear-
lier will benefit you as well as your kids.
Were seeing an epidemic of sleep depri-
vation among adults, Franzen says. Were
certainly not modeling appropriate behavior
for our kids.
These experts say adults really do need
eight hours of sleep per night, though many
of us get as little as five or six.
Special to the American Press
Each day thousands upon
thousands of children board
school buses to take them
to and from school. Parents
and caregivers entrust their
childrens well-being to the
care of school bus drivers
and aides.
The National Highway
Traffic Safety Administra-
tion advises that school buses
are designed to be safer than
passenger vehicles in avoid-
ing crashes and protecting
against injury. Buses are
arguably the safest mode of
transportation for getting
children to and from school.
By keeping millions of cars
off the roads surrounding
schools, school buses contrib-
ute to less crowded road-
ways, which are less condu-
cive to accidents.
Knowing the SAfety
ruleS
While a large part of
protecting children is on the
shoulders of the school bus
driver, it is also vital for pas-
sengers to learn the basics of
school bus safety.
Kindergartners or chil-
dren who are riding the bus
for the first time should be
taught the rules of school bus
safety.
Some schools offer a
school bus tour prior to the
new school year. This lets
youngsters acclimate them-
selves with the look and feel
of the school bus. This in-
troduction also may include
information about bus safety,
but parents can also educate
their children (and them-
selves) about using caution in
and around the bus by follow-
ing these guidelines.
l Get to the bus stop 5 to 10
minutes prior to the assigned
pickup time. Rushing last-
minute can lead to injury,
especially if youre chasing
down the bus. If your chil-
dren wait alone, tell them
they must return home if the
school bus doesnt show up.
l Step back five paces
when the bus arrives and
wait until it comes to a com-
plete stop before getting any
closer.
l Board the bus calmly,
holding onto the handrail.
Go directly to a seat and sit
down. Buckle up if there are
seatbelts on the bus.
l Remain seated while the
bus is in motion.
l Keep voices low so as not
to distract the driver.
l Keep your head and
hands inside of the bus, and
never hang out of the window.
l Do not throw things on
the bus or play rough with
friends or classmates.
l Keep the aisle clear at
all times. Keep your school-
bag and your lunchbox on
your knees or put them under
the seat: never obstruct the
center aisle.
l Be careful when getting
off the bus. When the bus
arrives at school, wait until it
has come to a complete halt
before standing up. Hold the
handrail when getting off
the bus and never push other
children.
l Only get off at your
designated stop unless you
have permission to get off
elsewhere.
l When exiting the bus,
walk at least 10 steps past the
front of the bus and cross in
front where the driver can
see you. Do not cross behind
the bus.
l Wait for the driver to
give you a signal that it is safe
to cross. Be sure to check
that all cars on the road have
come to a complete stop.
l Get to the sidewalk or
off the street as quickly as
possible.
l If youve forgotten some-
thing on the bus, do not run
back and attempt to retrieve
it. The driver might not see
you and start the bus. Rather,
call the bus company and
see if you can pick it up at
another time.
lDont try to retrieve
items dropped close to the
school bus unless you tell the
driver first. Alternatively,
wait until the bus has gone
before picking them up.
l Do not get into the cars
of strangers waiting around
bus stops, even if they offer to
take you home.
Parents can arrange to
meet with bus drivers so that
they will recognize their
faces. Adults also can encour-
age schools to host bus safety
courses to further ensure
their youngsters are safe.
SuMMerS enD
Continued from C2
BACK to SChool 2013-2014
Metro Creative Connections
Boarding the school bus calmly and holding on to the handrail
is one of several safety rules to help ensure accidents are
kept to a minimum.
By taffi Poirot
Special to the American Press
Do you dread the rush in the
morning on weekdays? When you
have school-aged children, espe-
cially young children, it seems as
though there is never enough time
in the morning to get everyone
ready without being late. This leads
to stress and a generalized tense
mood for all involved.
Lets face it. Thats not a good
start to the day for anyone, no mat-
ter how much Zen finds you that
day. If you find yourself wishing you
could turn the clock back before
you leave your driveway in the
morning or counting your passen-
gers to make sure theyve all made
it in the vehicle before you leave,
then read on.
I have learned much through
trial and error, and Im ready to
pass it on to you.
the olD wAy
Does this sound familiar? Let me
paint a picture for you ....
The alarm goes off. You get out of
bed and press snooze, because no
one went to bed on time last night
and you cant muster the superhu-
man strength at this moment to
begin to get anyone else out of bed.
Ten minutes later the alarm goes
off again and you know what you
must do. You get up and wash your
face, brush your teeth and take the
walk of shame toward your sleep-
ing child. You say in the sweetest of
voices, Its time to get up.
You receive a slightly audible
mumble in response, then you re-
peat yourself in the same tone. No
movement from the small human
is detected. You decide its time
to move on to phase two: You try
to move the child yourself, rolling
them over in bed, nudging them and
bribing them with treats, toys and
television just in the slight hope
they will move into an upright posi-
tion. After intense negotiation, you
do indeed get your desired result.
Upright child, eyes opened. This is
progress.
Ill save you some time and the
pain of reliving your typical morn-
ing routine in total by summarizing
it for you here ....
Attempt to wake child. No re-
sponse.
Nudge and roll child over. Slight
response.
Bribe child with mental sparkly
things to lure them into an upright
position.
Go to childs closet, survey the
pile of clean clothes on the floor
and base your final choice of outfit
by the amount of wrinkles that
remain in the fabric as you pluck it
from its resting place.
Lay outfit next to child and beg
the child to put in on while you get
ready.
Seven minutes later, when you
are done getting ready (youve got
this down to a science), re-enter
childs room and threaten to take
away previously offered bribes if
they do not get dressed. Offer extra
bribes successively until you see
action.
Head toward the door, announce
your impending departure and
wait for two minutes as you hear
scuffling and footsteps followed by
the appearance of said child. You
survey their appearance, and say
nothing, because as you know ...
socks, shoes and hair are done in
the car.
You all move toward the vehicle
and realize that lunchboxes and
backpacks are missing. You go back
into the house. You find what looks
like a lunchbox, open the refrig-
erator and take the first few items
on the top shelf and swoop them
into the lunchbox. You once again
assure yourself that ketchup is a
vegetable.
In the meantime, the backpack
has been miraculously retrieved
and everyone enters the car.
Open console of car and grasp
granola bar stash and toss into back
seat in hopes that your child has
caught one to eat for breakfast as
you finally focus on backing out of
the driveway.
And, youre off! Oh happy day!
the new wAy
Your guide to a more relaxing
morning routine:
When you have a young child and
you are a working parent, the morn-
ings can be a bit harried when try-
ing to get everyone ready for school
and work. There are a few steps
you can take to make the morning
routine a breeze. It involves prepa-
ration, organization, strategic time
management and repetition.
lThe Evening Before
When you are preparing dinner,
this is a good time to prepare lunch-
es for the next day. If you or your
child bring lunch to school, del-
egate a space in the refrigerator to
place prepared lunches. It is help-
ful to prepare the lunch the evening
before for two reasons: there is
less hassle in the morning and all
negotiations for lunch choices have
been resolved the night before. All
you have to do before you leave the
house is retrieve the lunch boxes
from the refrigerator.
Choose a permanent home for
shoes, coats, purses and keys and
make it a habit to place these items
there each day. If your child is
older, then have them place their
backpack and homework in the
same location every evening, too.
lClothing
Check the weather the day before
and choose clothing for the follow-
ing day accordingly. You could even
prepare a selection of outfits for the
week and hang them in a special
spot in the closet. Young children
especially like this, because they
have the option of a few outfits to
choose from the night before and
they still get to exercise their inde-
pendence.
lMeal times
One of the most helpful time
savers you can employ is to make
breakfasts ahead of time. Choose
recipes you can make ahead and
freeze. Some suggestions are:
breakfast burritos, breakfast muf-
fins, and steel cut oatmeal. You can
make a big batch of any of these
items on the weekend and then
freeze them. When its time to make
breakfast, you can just take out
what you need for that mornings
meal, heat and serve.
When your children wake up,
have them get fully dressed down
to their shoes. Once they are fully
dressed, then reward them with
time to play or their own free time
until its time for breakfast. You can
use that time to get yourself ready
and there are no worries that you
will be sending anyone out in public
in their pajamas on that day.
lRepetition, Repetition, Repeti-
tion
The key is to repeat the same
routine every weekday, and soon
it will become second nature for
everyone in the household and you
will all enjoy stress-free mornings.
lStress-Free Morning Checklist
The night before:
Prepare lunches.
Choose clothing.
Place school/work items in del-
egated spot.
Go to bed on time.
In the morning:
Have children get dressed down
to their shoes and fix hair.
Once they are dressed, they may
choose an activity while you get
ready or until its time for break-
fast.
Everyone meets near the door
at a specific time to gather lunch-
boxes, backpacks and coats and you
are ready to go.
If you put these methods and tips
to use each day, you will most cer-
tainly create a kid-friendly morning
routine that works for you and your
family.
Get in routine of taking back control of weekday mornings
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
Make sure children are fully dressed down to their shoes before serving
them breakfast. By repeating the same routine every school morning, it will
become second nature and lead to stress-free mornings.
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Saturday, July 13, 2013 aMErICaN PrESS C9
BACK TO SCHOOL 2013-2014
Special to the American Press
Picking a college major is
a big step for young students.
Though many adults eventu-
ally find themselves working
in fields that have little to
do with their college majors,
many more spend their en-
tire careers in the same field
they chose to major in way
back in their college days.
Choosing a major is a deci-
sion that ultimately rests on
the shoulders of the students
who must consider a host of
factors before committing
to a specific field of study.
But parents can still help
their children, whether those
kids are already enrolled in
college or college-bound, as
they make such an important
decision that could very well
affect the rest of their lives.
l Encourage patience.
Todays college students and
college-bound youngsters
are living in a world thats
significantly different than
the one their parents or even
older siblings might have
encountered. Global and do-
mestic unemployment rates
remain high, and technology
is changing the way many
industries conduct business.
But students trying to pick a
major should avoid picking
one too quickly. Just because
a certain field is experi-
encing job growth does not
mean that field is ideal for
all students. Encourage kids
to be patient when choosing
a major so they can find the
field thats right for them,
and not just the major they
feel will produce the best job
prospects.
l Suggest a double major.
Many of todays students are
fully aware of the difficult
job market and the cost of
a college education. As a
result, such students want to
choose a major they feel will
put them in the best posi-
tion to land a well-paying job
after college. Thats a smart
strategy, but its also one that
overlooks the joy of studying
a subject you are passionate
about. Parents can simulta-
neously encourage kids to be
smart about their job pros-
pects and pursue their pas-
sions by suggesting a double
major. For example, if your
child has a love of art but
understands the difficulty in
earning a living as an artist,
suggest a double major in art
and graphic design. This way
he or she has more career
options upon graduation but
still has the chance to pursue
a subject he or she is passion-
ate about while in school.
l Encourage students to
apply for internships. An
internship is another great
way parents can help kids
as they decide on a col-
lege major. Internships are
rarely easy to get, but some
firms hire interns who are
still in high school. Parents
should encourage kids to
pursue internships as early
as possible. Internships can
provide young students with
some real-world experience
and give them an accurate
glimpse into what their pro-
fessional lives might be like if
they choose a particular field
of study. Some kids might be
encouraged by an internship,
while others might realize
a given field is not really for
them. Either way, the intern-
ship can help narrow down
the field of prospective ma-
jors for young students.
l Let students know a
major isnt the same thing
as a career. The pressure to
choose the right major can
be overwhelming for some
young students. But par-
ents should let kids know
that a major is not the same
thing as a career, and many
graduates end up working in
fields that had little or noth-
ing to do with their majors.
For instance, just because
a student earns a degree
in finance does not mean
he or she will end up work-
ing on Wall Street. While
parents should emphasize
the importance of choosing
the right major when speak-
ing to their children, they
should also let kids know that
nothing is ever set in stone.
That can help take some of
the pressure off students as
they make such an important
decision.
Todays college students
have more to consider when
choosing a college major than
many of their predecessors.
But parents can still take
steps to help kids choose the
right major without succumb-
ing to the stress that comes
with making such a signifi-
cant decision.
Help college students choose the right major
Metro Creative Connections
Todays college students may lean on their parents for advice
as they attempt to choose a college major that will help them
improve their job prospects after college.
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STELLY PROVIDES LEADERSHIP
TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Southwest Louisiana John Stelly of Paramount Automotive
Companies, Owner of Nissan of Lake Charles and 171
Nissan of DeRidder, will be funding The Leader In Me
initiative in three schools in Southwest Louisiana. In
Calcasieu Parish, a portion of these funds ($50,000) will
bring The Leader In Me to Fairview Elementary School.
John Stelly and Paramount Automotive Companies
investment in The Leader In Me is a total of $150,000.
Judge each day not by the harvest
you reap, but by the seeds you plant.
I believe that by partnering with
the Southwest Louisiana Economic
Development Alliance and The
Leader In Me, we are planting 1100
seeds, and, together, we can harvest
a brighter economic future for our
region by empowering the next
generation to be leaders within
themselves.
A major emphasis of the Alliance is developing our
workforce and future leaders. One of our major goals is
to fund The Leader in Me in all sixty-one elementary
schools in our fve parishes. Currently, the Southwest
Louisiana Economic Development Alliance and sponsors
have this in six of our elementary schools, and these
additional schools will bring us nine schools in our region.
We thank John Stelly for generosity and his investment
in our future and our children, said George Swift, Presi-
dent/CEO of the SWLA Economic Development Alliance.
The Leader in Me is a process that nurtures the innate
abilities within each child to be responsible, involved,
confdent, and collegial.Using the leadership principles
of The 7 Habits of Highly Efective People, this model
is integrated into a schools foundation.It is not
another program with a have to do mentality, but
a process for building leadership from the inside-out;
administration, staf, community stakeholders, and
students are involved.
The Leader in Me process also helps to create a
common language within a school.Building
upon the proven leadership skills found in the
7 Habits of Highly Efective People:
Habit 1: Be Proactive Youre in Charge
Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind Have a Plan
Habit 3: Put First Things First Work First, Then Play
Habit 4: Think Win-Win Everyone Can Win
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be
Understood Listen Before You Talk
Habit 6: Synergize Together Is Better
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw Balance Feels Best
Pictured: Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance President/CEO
George Swift, Fairview Elementary Assistant Principal Marlana Collins, Fairview
Elementary Principal Karyl OBanion, Southwest Louisiana Alliance Foundation
Development Director Ann Barilleaux, and John Stelly of Paramount Automotive
Companies, Owner of Nissan of Lake Charles and 171 Nissan of DeRidder.
Pictured: John Stelly of Paramount Automotive Companies, Owner of Nissan
of Lake Charles and 171 Nissan of DeRidder, T.S. Cooley Principal Fritzi Fralick,
Southwest Louisiana Alliance Foundation Development Director Ann Barilleaux,
and Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance President/CEO
George Swift.
Pictured Avon Knowlton (SWLA Economic Development Alliance Director of Investor
Services), Chad Schulz (Merryville Elementary Principal), Dennis Parrott (Rosepine
Police Chief), John Stelly (Paramount Automotive Companies Owner), Tim Cooley
(Superintendent of Beauregard Parish Schools), Troy Auzenne (Owner and General
Manager of 171 Nissan), George Swift (SWLA Economic Development Alliance
President/CEO), Ann Barilleaux (SWLA Economic Development Alliance Foundation
Development Director).
John Stelly,
Paramount Automotive Group
00818728