ELEMENTARY TEACHERS' HELP NEEDED TO PAY IT FORWARD

We are fortunate to have the opportunity to “pay it forward” to tornado-ravaged Moore, Oklahoma, but we need our elementary teachers' help to do so. 

Schools there are in need of Treasures textbooks and we are making arrangements to send the materials we are no longer using. We also need to gather materials for their teachers. They are in need of 15 to 18 sets of teacher materials at each grade level, K-5.  We kindly ask that Bossier Parish teachers volunteer to go to their classrooms and box Treasures teacher materials for shipment to Moore.

If you are willing to volunteer, please call Jeannette Bange at 549-6774. We will make a list of all volunteers and offer guidance on how to package the materials.

We need you. The Bossier School System received textbooks following Hurricane Katrina from a district in Virginia. Now it is our turn to pay it forward and help our neighbors in Oklahoma.

MR. BILLY GETS A GOLD STAR

At Platt Elementary, everyone loves Mr. Billy.

Billy Hill is the school's head custodian and has been at Platt for the past nine years. Not only does he love his work, ...more

PLATT TRANSFORMED INTO 'LIVING' WAX MUSEUM

Madame Tussauds doesn't have anything on Platt Elementary's wax museum, where the school's famous characters come 'alive.'

There was Walt Disney, Babe ...more

T.L. RODES SAYS HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!

  The T.L. Rodes staff family wishes everyone a great summer break. They are also eager for fellow teacher Missy Staton to return next school year. She is currently undergoing treatments for Stage 4 breast cancer, but was able to swing by Rodes for an end-of-school picture.

  We are all pulling for you, Mrs. Staton.

LEARNING HOW TO CARE FOR MOTHER EARTH

"Why do you like trees?" Gary Knippers asked students at Meadowview Elementary. After explaining how trees absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, he gave ...more

BELLAIRE STUDENTS HOST LEADERSHIP DAY FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS

There has been something special happening at Bellaire Elementary this school year; and students let community members in on it recently ...more

BOSSIER ELEMENTARY STUDENTS ENJOY SUMMER LITERACY CAMP 

  Nearly two dozen students at Bossier Elementary are playing with their food, digging in the dirt and cooking S'Mores; and they are being encouraged to do so. 

  The Kindergarten, second and third graders were hand-picked to participate in a Summer Literacy Program, being held in conjunction with the Education Department at LSU-Shreveport. For the month of June, LSU-S students pursuing either their undergraduate degree in Elementary Education or Masters certification as a Reading Specialist are partnering with Bossier Elementary for their practicum.

  It is a win-win situation for both the teachers and students.

 "They need students to work with and of course, our students benefit," said Ashley Grantham, a teacher at Bossier Elementary. Because of Grantham's past experience working with the Summer Literacy Program when she pursued her education, she was able to convince Dr. Debbie Williams, Associate Professor of Education at LSU-S, to bring it to Bossier Elementary this summer.

  "The clinical practice -- the one on one -- is invaluable," explained Dr. Williams, adding it gives educators the chance to try out their lesson plans and gauge how children react to the instruction. She emphasized the lessons are structured and in line with Common Core State Standards. 

  As for the Bossier Elementary students participating, "Hopefully it will head off regression of literacy learning and give them a boost,"  Dr. Williams said. 

   Even though students are learning, they just know they are having fun. Each group has a learning theme, whether it is camping, rainforests, farms, ocean animals or alligators and swamps. Teachers then individualize their lessons and address students' needs, as identified by a pre-screening. At the end of camp, they will be evaluated to determine their degree of learning success.

  "Bossier Elementary also plans to track the students' progress over the next school year and compare their scores with others," explained Grantham. 

  So while making "alligator food," sowing seeds and cooking S'Mores in solar ovens sounds fun, these students are also solidifying their foundation in literacy skills by relating the hands-on lessons to language, sequencing and vocabulary. More S'Mores, please.  

(Editor's Note: A special thanks goes out to Brookshire's, SONIC, McAllister's, Wal-Mart and Super One Foods for being so generous to supply snacks to the Summer Literacy Program for the entire month.) 

"FISHING FOR PROFICIENCY"

In January, Meadowview students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grades were encouraged to go "Fishing for Proficiency." The reward for those meeting the challenge would be a field ...more

STOCKWELL TEACHER WINS KTBS GRANT

Karen Cervenka is on a crusade to help not only her students with learning and language-based disabilities at Stockwell Place Elementary, but those district-wide.

BELK TREATS KERR TO A SPRING SPRUCE-UP

It isn't what you would normally find employees of Belk department store in Bossier doing on the clock; swinging hammers, painting and the like. But it isn't ...more

KID POWER

(BOTH THE HUMAN AND GOAT KIND)

A kid can change a life, whether you are referring to a child or a baby goat.

Take for example the animal kind. Once it reaches adulthood, a goat can ...more

CHILDREN'S AUTHOR VISITS BELLAIRE

In the literary world, Jan Brett is a rock star.

Not only were students at Bellaire Elementary excited to finally meet the New York Times best-selling children's ...more

MISS LOUISIANA DELIVERS TROPHY TO PRINCETON

Miss Louisiana Lauren Vizza believes strongly in volunteerism and helping others in need. That is why she personally delivered a trophy to Princeton ...more