What a beautiful day it is today, March 20th, 2008. Our students get out for Easter today and they deserve a vacation. So do all of our employees. As we go into this time off we need to think about all of our blessings. The beauty of the world around us that God has provided, our families, our health, happiness and our job are but a few of them. We will be closed until Wednesday, March 26th and so I wish you all a great Easter Holiday. Warren Drake

Greetings from the superintendents office. We just finished a crazy few weeks with an academic pep rally, bond issue and accountability testing. On top of that we got news that we were again the #1 district in the state. The academic pep rally was something to see. More than 4000 people jammed Bronco Stadium on Thursday, March 6th to see cheerleaders, dance teams and bands play. It was amazing and overwhelming the response we had. Free food did not last long. Thanks to the PTO's and Bronco Backers for your help. We could not have done this without you. Thank you to the parents of our kids for being there. Copper Mill won the spirit contest and Northwestern Middle had the highest attendance. They will receive a spirit award to place in their trophy case. All students will receive a special ice cream treat today.

Our bond issue was passed by a large margin on March 8th and I thank the people of Zachary for their support. This will not raise your tax millage and the money will be used to build a two story classroom addition at Zachary High and a 12 classroom addition at Copper Mill.

Accountability testing was completed last week and it is always a time of excitement and apprehension. I know that our students will do well because they are taught by the best teaching staff anywhere. Our teachers have character and do what it takes to get the job done. Our students work very hard and they want to succeed and they do. Thank you students and teachers.

On a closing note, this community is something special. I know that I talk about that often and some people may get tired of hearing it but it is true. Our schools have always been good because our community has demanded they be for a long time. The founders of this system were visionaries that saw an opportunity to build something very special and they did. I can't explain it myself because we defy the statistics. I say to you, thank you and we will always have high expectations for our kids and continue to work very hard to produce a product that you are proud of. Have a good day. Warren Drake

WOW! Results for the State Department show Zachary as the #1 Academic school district in the state. While proud we should be humbled by our success. Great teachers, great students and a great community spells SUCCESS! Thanks Zachary.

PEP RALLY THIS THURSDAY

Tomorrow night March 6th at 6 PM we will hold a pep rally at Bronco Stadium. Free food and entertainment from the middle and high school groups. We want to be ready for the tests that begin next week. See you there. Warren Drake

One week and counting until our students take the accountability tests for this year. I believe they are ready because I see confidence in them as I visit our classrooms. Our teachers have prepared them well and are expecting great results.

I attended the LSBA, the Louisiana School Boards Association Conference this past week in Shreveport, LA. along with our school board. The most important words I heard were from a middle school principal from Philadelphia, PA. who said that students will rise to the expectations that their teachers have of them. He said we must be humble and kind and treat all students with respect and dignity. We do not know how a child comes to school each day. Whether he or she is rich, poor, white or black, when they come into your classroom they are all the same. How we as educators treat each other is an indication of what kind of teacher we will be. We in the Zachary School District, whether we teach in the classroom, mow the grass or sit in the superintendents office, are teachers of our students. What I expect of our employees reminds me of a William Penn quote which goes like this. "I expect to pass through life but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, for I shall not pass this way again. If we remember this, we will not fail our students or our community.

Warren Drake

Just two weeks and counting until our students attack the state tests. That is how we need to view this challenge. We need to be offensive and not defensive. Confidence in their ability is the #1 thing students need. They know the material, the teachers have prepared them well and now we beat that test. More later on testing.

Congratulations to Miriam Downing, senior at Zachary High. She is the Student of the Year and a National Merit Finalist. We will honor Miriam with a reception this Tuesday, February 26th at 9 AM at Zachary High.

I am proud of all of the students in the Zachary Community School System. They have helped us achieve the honor of being the #1 school district in the state for two consecutive years. Thank you students and keep up the GREAT WORK!

We are three weeks away from the state accountability tests and there is something for everyone. The high stakes grades are 4th and 8th where a student does not go to the next grade if they do not pass the test. The IOWA test is given in the 1st and 2nd grade and is used as a means of measurement for our younger students. The iLeap is the new test that is taken by the 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th grades. Talk about stress on kids but also parents and teachers. Testing is the week of March 10th and students and teachers are anxious as we get near the date. As I visit our students I see a confidence in them which I can only attribute to our teachers for getting them prepared so well. Our teachers are awesome and it shows. The GEE is the graduate exit exam that our 10th and 11th grade students take. Students must pass this test to graduate When students become seniors they are home free on standardized tests except of course the ACT and SAT. Whew! That is the short version of testing in the Zachary School District. As we get closer to the tests I will tell you more. Have a good day. Warren Drake

Today I met with State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek, United States Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, and Governor Bobby Jindal. It is always interesting to hear different perspectives on education. As we all know Louisiana has much work to do as a state, but as I listened I was reminded of what a remarkable school system we have in Zachary. Some of the themes I heard were parental involvement, outstanding teachers and great leadership in the schools. This is no secret in Zachary. We have great parental involvement. Our teachers care for our kids and will do whatever it takes to get the job done and our schools have outstanding principals. I believe what makes the difference between a good and a great school system are the things that cannot be seen -- persistence, dedication, ownership, enthusiasm, respect, character and attitude. It is not what we do but how we do it and it is not the program but the people. Thank you school board, thank you teachers, thank you community but most of all thank you students.