District sets standard for tech rich spaces

The Zachary School Board has set a high standard when it comes to technology-rich learning spaces. Cutting-edge multimedia classrooms equipped with ceiling mounted digital projectors and Hitachi StarBoard® T-17SXL EM Panels are becoming the norm. These multimedia teaching devices are compact, ergonomic and pen-driven with a 17-inch LCD display. Think overhead projector meets the Jetsons. The model mirrors the interactive classroom set up common in the higher education setting. Teachers drive presentation and classroom lectures from the device with the ability to write, draw, and control any of the applications on the teacher station computer. This allows the students to easily view the information on the 10 foot retractable screens installed in the front of each classroom. Replacing an older model involving televisions, the new standard takes advantage of digital projectors and a large screen to permit increased visibility throughout the classroom. All new construction in the districts is being built based on this model and existing spaces have been retrofitted to include the new technology.

Educators from the Zachary School District toured various other schools around the region as a part of their research into the best interactive presentation solution. After seeing the Hitachi Software StarBoard T-Series panels in action at an Atlanta school, the answer became clear.

The installation began with high school math classes and has now been adopted throughout the district. We are now around 180 total panels throughout the district; most of those being the T-17SXL model, and our teachers continue to be impressed with the overall increase in student participation and enthusiasm. From kindergarten to Calculus, students in the Zachary Community School District are provided with a technology-rich environment not limited to a computer lab.

Joe Rush of MIS Technology in Baton Rouge handled the product introduction and transition for the school district. “We’ve installed a complete interactive presentation solution in the classrooms in Zachary with the standard setup being a Hitachi Software StarBoard T-17SXL panel, a Hitachi CP-X260 ceiling mounted LCD projector and a 120-inch screen, creating a visually stimulating and interactive environment for the students,” said Rush.

“Every student is engaged in the technology,” said Rush. “Teachers are actively letting students operate the T-Series panels and the students are excited to “play with the toy,” which is key in a society where kids are surrounded by other interactive electronic technologies such as cell phones, video games and MP3 players.”

For more information or to arrange a tour, contact Adonica Duggan.

New café rewards hard working ZHS students

There’s no such thing as a free lunch. That is, unless you’re a hardworking Zachary High student. The Hard Work Café at Zachary High is a part of the school’s ongoing move to provide unique ways to reward students for their efforts. Each week teachers select one of their students to be treated to lunch in the café. Students are chosen for having worked exceptionally hard during the previous week. Students then use their passes on Thursdays as admission to the café for a free lunch brought in from area restaurants. They enjoy lunch in a fun atmosphere complete with music.

Located near the ROTC classes, The Hard Work Café is decorated to represent Zachary High, the Zachary community, and the state of Louisiana. A beautiful cast aluminum fence was built by Zachary High Welding Instructor Davis Rayborn. Administrators are hoping the café will be a positive motivation for all students to give their best so that they can participate.

Zachary High will host the café’s grand opening celebration on March 6 at 10:45 a.m. For more information, contact Adonica Duggan at 658-4969.

Zachary students exposed to the wonders of space with STARLAB

Ursa Major, Orion and Aquarius will all be on display in the Copper Mill cafetorium next week. Students in Zachary are being exposed to the exciting world of astronomy as a result of a generous donation from the Zachary Rotary Club. The organization chose the purchase of a STARLAB portable planetarium as their Rotary Centennial Service Project a few years ago. Since that time, students, teachers and parents in Zachary have had access to this unique tool for bringing astronomy to life.

A community of stargazers has been born. Family Science nights have been held as a fundraiser to offset teacher training costs and allow a STARLAB expert to teach the students. During that time thousands of Pre-K through 5th grade students have been dazzled and awed by the exciting classes they have participated in using this exemplary educational tool. Fifth grade classes at Copper Mill Elementary will be cycling through the STARLAB during the week of February 25. For more information, contact Adonica Duggan.

Past Releases

February 2008
Add one to the millions of bloggers in cyberspace. Zachary Community Schools Superintendent Warren Drake launched his new blog Thursday. The Superintendent's Desk is now available on the Zachary Community School District website. As of December 2007, blog search engine Technorati was tracking more than 112 million blogs worldwide. Zachary Superintendent Drake hopes to join them in offering informative content with a personal touch. The new blog provides insight into the operations of the district and a place for Superintendent Drake to communicate directly with stakeholders.

Drama students from Zachary High School and Eighth grade drama students from Northwestern Middle School traveled to the Louisiana State Thespian Conference. The students were able to attend many workshops taught by professionals. They also viewed performances from Thespian Troupes all over Louisiana as well as competed in a series of individual events. Seven competition pieces were entered from Zachary. Of the seven pieces entered in the competition five won superior ratings and earned the right to represent Louisiana and compete on the national level at the National Thespian Convention in Lincoln, Nebraska. The winners were: Shebi Bush, monologues from The Diary of Anne Frank and As You Like It; Adam King and Amanda McGilvery - scene from Funeral Parlor; Emily Flanders and Allison Kippers, scene from La Dispute; Vincent Jemison, monologues from Golden Boy and Tartuffe; Candace Franklin and Kailin Page, scene from Tartuffe. Only fifteen spots are available from Louisiana to compete on the national level, Zachary students will fill five of those spots

Despite the unpredictable south Louisiana weather, Zachary Community Schools teacher Breigh Rainey and her third grade gifted students at Zachary Elementary got a glimpse of what real cold weather is like. Rainey and her students conducted a live videoconference with scientists in Antarctica from their very own classroom. In November, Rainey and her gifted students attended a field trip to “Stories from a Changing Planet,” part of Polar-Palooza, a celebration of the International Polar Year that is dedicated to raising awareness by bringing together scientists, researchers, students, and Alaskan natives to discuss the huge impact that these seemingly remote places actually have on our planet. Adrienne Lopez, LSU’s Scope-on-a-Rope coordinator, helped Rainey arrange a web-based videoconference between the students and three researchers on site in Antarctica. With the Lopez’s help and equipment, the class was able to chat with the researchers via webcam. After showing and explaining the special gear that they wore to brave the extreme weather conditions and pointing the camera to show students a view of Antarctica from their station, researchers answered questions from Rainey’s students. Third grader Breann Burson was interested in the types of data that were being collected on site in Antarctica, and she was excited to hear that they were researching penguins and collecting a variety of data including information on the Antarctic penguins’ weights, diets, and behavior. So much data, in fact, that researchers told students they nearly filled their entire computer with all that they collected thus far. Through this experience, students were able to come closer to Antartica than any map or textbook could ever take them, bringing the reality of this distant yet crucially important continent right into their classroom.

December 2007
The Northwestern Middle Tri-M Music Honor Society led a school-wide drive for Christmas cards. The cards were addressed to "A Recovering Soldier" with notes written inside and mailed to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. Tri-M members collected, counted, and bundled the cards for mailing. A total of 822 cards were mailed to brighten the holidays of those soldiers recovering from injury or illness.

October 2007
The Zachary Community School Board recognized Ashlyn B., winner of the districts annual Christmas Card Contest at the December 13 regular meeting. The board also honored Angela Cassard, Tiffany Coulon and Carol Price for having recently achieved National Board Certification. National Board Certification is a rigorous process designed to provide evidence of teacher quality. Retiring School Board Member Beth Kimmell was recognized as well at her final school board meeting.

Zachary High School will mark the 50th anniversary of the only time in the school's history the football team competed for the state championship by recognizing members of the 1957 football team this Friday before the Istrouma game. In 1954, Noel H. Wilkins was named head football coach and began his coaching career as Zachary High School established its first football team. In only the fourth year of Zachary football, Coach Wilkins and his assistants, Coach James L. Hooper and Coach Joe Boyd led the 1957 Zachary High School Football team to win the Class B South Louisiana Championship. Several members of the team will be on hand to be recognized in the pregame ceremony

September 2007
Superintendent Warren Drake was presented with the Louisiana Distinguished Civilian Medal for "exceptional meritorious service as a Patriotic Employer," in a surprise ceremony at the September 13 regular meeting of the Zachary Community School Board. Drake was nominated by Capt. Patrick Jenkins for the honor. According to the recommendation, "Mr. Drake provided generous and outstanding support to the LA Army National Guard during Hurricane Katrina and Rita as well as Operation Iraqi Freedom. Mr. Drake's generous support of the LA Army National Guard and it's "citizen Soldiers" helped to enhance the morale of Soldiers serving their country and greatly enhanced the effectiveness of our efforts in fighting the Global War on Terrorism. It is a community leader such as Mr. Drake that will be a keystone in the ensuring viability of the all-volunteer force. Mr. Drake's loyalty and devotion to the 769th Engineering battalion reflects great credit upon himself, the city of Zachary, and the state of Louisiana." Among his other achievements noted in the recommendation, was his role in a Hail and Farewell Program to recognize Capt. Jenkins' deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Mr. Drake celebrated and emphasize his support for the military and his employee on both television and in print media.”

August 2007
Congratulations to Northwestern Middle School Teacher Carla Murray on being selected Regional Middle School Teacher of the Year.

July 2007
Mike Jones, a rising senior at Zachary High School was elected National Beta Club President at the National Beta Convention in Nashville. He was installed by Julie Fletcher, outgoing and 1st girl National President, who is also from Louisiana. Mike was elected State President at the Louisiana State Beta Convention in January, 2007. Mike ran against 12 candidates for President from 12 other states. Mike is the 10th state officer from Zachary High since 1986 and he is the 2nd National President from the Zachary High Beta Club.

Zachary High Senior Blake Pace was recently elected Governor of Louisiana Boys State. Louisiana Boys State is a prestigious leadership camp held every summer at LSU to teach boys how government works. Blake will be a senior at Zachary High this school year. He is an honor student, a member of Beta Club, and is on the baseball team. Congratulations Blake!

May 2007
The Bronco Baseball team had a resounding 11-1 victory over Shaw advancing to take on Captain Shreve for the championship.