Around the District

Kindergarten Round-Up to be Held March 22

noreply@blogger.com (Zachary Webmaster) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:35:00 +0000

All future kindergartners and their parents are invited to take a tour of the school, see a kindergarten room, meet the principals and teachers, and have a snack!

When: Monday, March 22, 2010

Time: 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Where: Northwestern Elementary School

Who: All incoming Kindergartners for the 2010-2011 school year

*If your child will be five by September 30th, he/she is eligible for Kindergarten.
**If your child is currently enrolled in Pre-K at Northwestern Elementary, you will not need to attend Round Up (pre-k students are automatically rolled over into kindergarten).

What to Bring:
If you have a registration packet, please complete it prior to coming to Round Up Night. You may download the registration form from the Zachary Community Schools Website under “Forms for Parents”.

• Registration Packet
• A copy of your child’s Birth Certificate
• A copy of your child’s Social Security Card
• A copy of your child’s current Immunization Records
• 4 Proofs of Residency (please see registration packet for details)

*If using the City of Zachary as proof, please be certain to make a copy of the payment stub before mailing the payment, as the address shows on the payment stub.

ZHS Baseball Team to Participate in Real Men Wear Pink Double Header

noreply@blogger.com (Zachary Webmaster) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:13:00 +0000

The second annual Real Men Wear Pink Baseball double header between Zachary High School and Parkview Baptist will be held Saturday, March 27 at Parkview Baptist School beginning at 11 a.m. with second game at 1 p.m. This event is sponsored by Lane Regional Medical Center with donations collected at the gate in lieu of the usual gate entry fee for the Susan G. Koman Foundation for Breast Cancer Awareness.

Last year approximately $2000 was collected at the gate on game day. The game was started with the first pitch by Randy Olson, CEO Lane Regional Medical Center after the national anthem was sung by James Pierce, a LaneRMC employee who also has a nephew playing on the ZHS team. The ZHS team wore black jerseys with pink lettering and PBS had blue with pink lettering. Jerseys were donated by LaneRMC. The teams also added to their attire pink wrist bands and socks. The field was lined with pink chalk, had pink bases and had pink ribbons chalked at the on deck and behind home plate locations.

In an effort to raise even more for the cause this year, LaneRMC will collect $5 from employees to wear jeans and a pink shirt and ZHS students will pay $2 to wear jeans and pink shirts on Friday, March 26.

Zachary fans are encouraged come out to Parkview Baptist School on Saturday, March 27, at 11 a.m. to support our ZHS baseball team and this great cause. And don’t forget to wear black and pink!

Michelle Clayton Receives Prevent Child Abuse Louisiana Honor

noreply@blogger.com (Zachary Webmaster) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:52:00 +0000

Zachary Community Schools Director of Academic Accountability Michelle Clayton was recently selected a recipient of Prevent Child Abuse (PCA) Louisiana’s 2010 Champion for Children Award. This is the highest honor that PCA Louisiana bestows upon individuals who have made a difference in the lives of children. The awards were presented during the 24th Annual "Kids Are Worth It!” Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect. Clayton serves on a local level to prevent child abuse in her role as homeless liaison and Director of Academic Accountability in the Zachary Community School District. She acts as an advocate for the district’s children and families in crisis. Mrs. Clayton works to find students safe, loving homes and works with the families to ensure that they have the resources they need. She has impacted the lives of countless families. Clayton and her husband Aristead are raising their 4 daughters, 1 adopted son and are currently in the adoption process for another son. She has worked in the Zachary Community School District since 2003.

New Warriors on Display at Northwestern Middle School

noreply@blogger.com (Zachary Webmaster) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:35:00 +0000

Inspired by a field trip to Houston Museum of Natural Science Terra Cotta Warrior Exhibit, Northwestern Middle Talented Arts students have produced some amazing artwork currently on display in the school’s library.

The Terra Cotta Warriors of Emperor Qin are a cultural treasure of China. They are the recently dug up remains of the Terra Cotta Army that Emperor Qin constructed for his afterlife. They were buried for hundreds of years before being discovered by well diggers in 1974 in Xi’ai Shaanxi Provence China.

Northwestern Middle School Talented Arts students, along with Tammy Wood, Margret Atkinson and Talented Arts Teacher Shawn Quincy Foreman traveled to Houston to see the Terra Cotta Warriors from China.

Foreman describes the exhibition as “amazing; just being in the presence of the works of art was truly a once in a lifetime experience. The students had a wealth of information passed on to them by the docents; they were shown how the warriors were constructed as well as the reasoned for them being built,” he explained.

Upon returning their first assignment this year was to construct a three dimensional Asian type warrior figure with armor. The purpose of the trip was to get an idea of how a figure could be constructed three dimensionally and what Asian motifs may have been like during the Qin dynasty. The students worked long and hard on constructing these new warriors. They used a construction technique called tape casting. This is where they covered a body part with plastic wrap, and then taped over it in several layers. They then cut it off and reassembled the pieces into a figure and painted it.

The Talented Art students jumped in with both feet and produced some amazing pieces of work. The New Warriors will be on display at the Northwestern Middle School library until the Christmas Break.

ZHS Band Christmas Concert

noreply@blogger.com (Zachary Webmaster) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:04:00 +0000

The Zachary High School Band will be having their 2009 Christmas Concert this Friday night, December 11th, at 7:00 in the ZHS Band Room. They will be performing selections from the Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky, as well as collections of many carols we all know and love.

If you are going to the town open house, you can watch the tree lighting, grab a bite to eat, then head over to the high school for the concert.

Whether you are able to make it or not, we would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Jason Venable Donny Alexander
ZHS Band ZHS Band

CC Lockwood to Join Zachary Elementary Students in Celebrating The Wetlands

noreply@blogger.com (Zachary Webmaster) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:07:00 +0000

The Zachary Community is invited to join Zachary Elementary School students in Celebrating Louisiana's Wetlands Thursday, December 10 at 6 p.m. After studying the different ecosystems all over the world and creating the inflatable ecosystems last year, students in Kristy Gilpin and Breigh Rainey's classes have turned their attention to the ecosystems of Louisiana. This year, they have focused on the importance of the wetlands and gone on several research trips with the students. Students had the opportunity to Honey Island Swamp, where they learned photography tips from CC Lockwood, went to LUMCON (The Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium) in Cocodrie, LA to study the marsh and visited a scale model of the Mississippi River at LSU. On all of these trips, students took their own photos and interacted with experts in the field to create their own nonfiction books related to the Louisiana wetlands.

Students will debut their books at the December 10 celebration. Guests will have the opportunity to learn from CC Lockwood who will speak about his book Marsh Mission, participate in an auction of artwork created by Zachary Elementary third grade students, and enjoy musical and dramatic selections. All of the proceeds from the evening will benefit the Zachary Elementary Library and several organizations working to save the Louisiana wetlands.

Northwestern Elementary Holds Smart Bodies Night

noreply@blogger.com (Zachary Webmaster) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:34:00 +0000

Northwestern Elementary will host Smart Bodies Night for students and parents on Tuesday, October 20 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. There will also be a Smart Body Walk on Tuesday, October 27 and Wednesday October 28 from 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. The Louisiana Body Walk Exhibit is a journey through the body, where students explore the brain, mouth, stomach, small intestines, heart, lungs, bones, muscles, and skin. They will stop at each station to participate in activities focused on the effects that different foods have on each organ. This is a 35ft (wide) x 45ft (deep) exhibit. The students enter through a giant ear into the brain and leave through a cut in the skin after traveling through each body part. Students are currently participating in the Take 10 program and Organwise Guys in their classes and Physical Education classes. Visit www.smartbodies.org for additional info.

Pastorek Visits Zachary Schools

noreply@blogger.com (Zachary Webmaster) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:21:00 +0000

Watch the WBRZ Channel 2 News Story by Lori Steele

Zachary Schools Lauded

noreply@blogger.com (Zachary Webmaster) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:17:00 +0000

Read the 10/7/2009 article in The Advocate by James Minton

State Superintendent Visits Zachary Schools

noreply@blogger.com (Zachary Webmaster) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:13:00 +0000

State Superintendent Paul Pastorek toured Zachary Community Schools for the first time Tuesday. Pastorek said he was impressed with much of what he saw including the technology, teaming and program opportunities provided to students.

Pastorek was greeted upon arrival by principals of the district’s 6 schools, community leaders and members of the Zachary Community School Board. He then joined a group of around 50 students in the Northwestern Middle School library; where he spoke briefly and listened to the students discuss future plans and aspirations.

“You’re in the best school, in the best district in the state,” Pastorek told the students.
After visiting with the students, Pastorek observed a group of sixth grade teachers during their teaming time. During the professional learning communities, the teachers meet daily to discuss curriculum, the needs of their shared students and collaborate on lesson plans.

Principal Debby Brian admitted it’s a scheduling challenge to have all of the teachers in a group free at the same to time get together but said it’s important for the success of the students and that while challenging for administrators, the district has provided her with the resources to make this schedule possible.

Pastorek then had a chance to see Northwestern Middle Teacher Michelle Powell in action with some of her students. Her captivating lesson, evidence of the great teaching and learning taking place in Zachary schools.

From Northwestern Middle, the tour moved to Northwestern Elementary where they observed the more than 900 Prek through 1st grade students housed there.
Pastorek said he was impressed with the technology he saw in place with even the district’s youngest students. Zachary Superintendent Warren Drake also highlighted the fact that the district offers foreign language, art and music to students beginning on the Prek level.

The final stop on the trip was Zachary High where Superintendent Pastorek met with a group of student leaders who joined him for lunch after he toured the agriscience program, welding and woodworking shop, athletic facilities and Hard Work Cafè. Pastorek answered student questions and enjoyed lunch in the Zachary High cafeteria before heading to his next appointment.

District officials said they were excited about Pastorek’s first visit to the state’s number one school district and happy to show him some of the great things going on in Zachary schools.

Zachary High honors Guardsmen at first home football game

noreply@blogger.com (Zachary Webmaster) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:15:00 +0000

By Staff Sgt. Denis B. Ricou
Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office

CARVILLE, La. – More than 100 Louisiana National Guardsmen took to the field for the first Zachary High School home football game on Friday night during a special celebration honoring local first responders on the eighth anniversary of 9/11.

Louisiana Guardsman Staff Sgt. Joseph Milton, recruiting and retention noncommissioned officer, partnered with Zachary Chief of Police John Herty Jr. and Zachary High School officials in organizing this event, which included food and tickets to the game.

“The Guard wanted a way to show the school that we are here for them, and the school wanted to show their support for us,” said Milton, a Zachary High graduate. “As a community, we wanted a chance to remember 9/11 and celebrate Patriot Day.”

Along with the 769th Engineer Battalion Soldiers, local police and firefighters were on hand.

“Without our servicemen, we couldn’t enjoy the freedoms that we have, “says Herty, a Vietnam veteran. “I am honored to be able to honor those men and women serving in today’s military and emergency response organizations.

“Our school and students are devoted to serving the community because the community serves us, and we wanted to show our thanks, “said Scott Devillier, Principal of Zachary High School.

The Louisiana National Guard also donated 1,500 mini flags, handed out to attendees of the game, as well as other items, to include National Guard cups used at the concession stand for the entire football season.

Hall of Fame Nominations Being Accepted

noreply@blogger.com (Zachary Webmaster) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:14:00 +0000

Zachary High School is accepting nominations for the Athletic Hall of Fame. In order to be eligible for nomination, individuals must have graduated at least 5 years prior to being nominated. A nomination form must be completed and submitted for consideration. The deadline for submitting a nomination form is Thursday September 17. Nominations forms can be picked up at the Athletic Center or printed from our website. The Hall of Fame game will be Oct 9 vs. Live Oak. Any questions feel free to call Athletic Director Joey Sanchez at 654-2776 ext 529 or by e-mail joey.sanchez@zacharyschools.org

Architect Picked to Build Academy -- The Advocate article by James Minton

noreply@blogger.com (Zachary Webmaster) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:43:00 +0000

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/53191927.html?index=1&c=y

Board Breaks Ground on New Facility

noreply@blogger.com (Zachary Webmaster) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:46:00 +0000

After a morning of welcoming back teachers with Guest Speaker John Perricone, the Zachary Community School Board members and Board Superintendent Warren Drake reconvened at the site of what will be the district's first school board office. Located at the corner of 37th and Main Street, the office will house the district's directors and staff and will also include a board meeting room. The facility is expected to be complete and ready for move in by next summer.

Education motivator says Zachary system energized -- The Advocate Article by James Minton

noreply@blogger.com (Zachary Webmaster) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:31:00 +0000

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/education/52564012.html

Immunization Requirements Changing for Students Fall 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Zachary Webmaster) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 01:23:00 +0000

Louisiana has issued new vaccination requirements for students, effective this coming 2009-2010 school year.
In addition to the scheduled immunizations already required in state law, two doses of Varicella (chicken pox) vaccine will be required for children four years and older who are entering kindergarten, pre-kindergarten, daycare or HeadStart programs in the fall. Also, children who are 11 years old or are entering the sixth grade must have proof of all age-appropriate immunizations, including a new meningococcal (meningitis) vaccine requirement.
The chicken pox and meningitis vaccines have been recommended for several years. However, by requiring these immunizations for school attendance, the State of Louisiana is now taking an important step to protect Louisiana’s children, from individual kids to entire classrooms, from disease.
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals is working closely with schools to collect students’ immunization data to monitor and ensure kids are on their proper vaccination schedules.
State law already requires standard immunizations for diseases like hepatitis B, polio, measles, mumps, and rubella for all children depending on their age.
Dr. Frank Welch, medical director for the Immunization Program, urges parents to contact their health care provider to make appointments for their children, or to ask questions about vaccinations.
“Proper vaccination sometimes takes more than one visit, and your child is not fully protected until all vaccines are finished,” Dr. Welch said. “However, if you show proof that he or she is in the process of receiving a vaccine series, your child can enter and remain in school.”
Louisiana residents needing a copy of their immunization record or their child’s record, can get a copy from any parish health unit, regardless of where the shots were received or where the individual currently resides. This is provided by the DHH Louisiana Immunization Network for Kids Statewide (LINKS) database. This system allows providers to track the immunization status of children from birth. The LINKS database is also used to help ensure that all children are properly vaccinated and, in the event of a public health emergency, allows health officials to easily know who has been immunized against a specific disease.
For a full list of immunization requirements, click here.

News from the June 25 School Board Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Zachary Webmaster) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:08:00 +0000

Among the business conducted at the June 25 Regular Meeting of the Zachary Community School Board, the board recognized several students. The Board recognized DECA Student Scholarship Recipients Courtney Kent and Sherlacea Caines. They also recognized All Metro Golfer Allison Kippers and Drew Patin and All Metro Softball Player Katie Browne.

The Board also awarded Zachary Elementary Teacher Brandie McNabb with the Beyond the Call of Duty Award for her service to the district's students.

The Board approved new Zachary High Principal Scott Devillier and thanked Mr. Donald Thomas for serving as Interim Principal of the school. In addition many new employees were welcomed to the district.

Board Approves Selection of Scott Devillier as Zachary High Principal -- The Advocate Article by James Minton

noreply@blogger.com (Zachary Webmaster) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:56:00 +0000

Read the article from the June 26 Advocate.
http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/education/49149252.html

Students Create Video Games -- The Advocate Article by James Minton

noreply@blogger.com (Zachary Webmaster) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:49:00 +0000

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/49395412.html

Kindergarten Testing

noreply@blogger.com (Zachary Webmaster) — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:21:00 +0000

Calling All Future Kindergarten Students!
If you have a child who will be entering Kindergarten for the 2009-2010 school year, please call the school. Each child entering Kindergarten will need to be tested, and we are currently scheduling testing sessions

Zachary High Career Day

noreply@blogger.com (Zachary Webmaster) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:13:00 +0000

Zachary High School will host their annual Career Day Friday, April 24. Students will have the opportunity to hear from speakers representing a variety of professions. The current list of speakers includes Kelly Bennett of the Art Institute of Houston, District Judge Chip Moore, Interior Designer Ashley Hawthorne, Author Brett Funk, La Speaker of the House Joe Salter, Shane Bourgeois cyber cop, and many others. Careers such as dentist, chemical, mechanical and civil engineers, firefighters, pharmacist, certified public accountants and the medical professionals from Lane Regional Medical Center will be on hand to expose students to the wealth of opportunities in today's job market. More than 70 speakers will be present for this special event. For more information, contact Adonica Duggan at 658-4969.

Elementary School Art Shows

noreply@blogger.com (Zachary Webmaster) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:17:00 +0000

Zachary Community School District's elementary school art programs have upcoming showcases of student work. Copper Mill Elementary's event will feature young aspiring artists and Talented Art Students Thursday, April 23. The 4th grade viewing will be held from 6:00-6:45 p.m. while the 5th grade viewing will be from 6:45-7:30 p.m. Zachary Elementary will host their event Wednesday, May 6 from 5:30-7 p.m. and Northwestern Elementary will be Tuesday, May 12 5:30-6:30 p.m. Come see the amazing pieces these students have created.

Zachary Students Shine at Digital Workforce Intensive

noreply@blogger.com (Zachary Webmaster) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:00:00 +0000

A group of Zachary Community Schools students and their teacher Margret Atkinson have had the exciting opportunity to participate in the Digital Technologies and Creative Processes Initiative Spring Intensive this past week.

3D Squared, Inc., is sponsoring a digital workforce intensive for students, parents and teachers at the LITE Center in Lafayette. Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise (LITE) is a $27 million, 70,000-square-foot facility located at the Research Park of the University of Louisiana Lafayette.

The event will culminate with a capstone stakeholder conference for leaders in business and government on April 17-18. The conference will include panel discussions with industry insiders and presentations on the digital technologies and creative processes initiative, which is funded by a grant from the Louisiana Department of Economic Development.

Of the 40 students participating in this unique experience 12 are students at Northwestern Middle or Zachary High School. The students are using Metaplace platform to create games that address real Louisiana problems. They have committed to long hours and extra research and have been engaged by this unique project.

After they had an in-service about the platform Metaplace, they began to build their virtual worlds. The students are working to solve one of Louisiana's four core problems: health care, education, brain drain, and coastal erosion. The students broke into groups, and the team leaders, presented their issue, possible solutions, and the game genre they planned on using.

According to Teacher Margret Atkinson, the students are learning skills other than virtual world building. “Working on a team, they have to communicate with each other. I teach most of the students, and I have been interested to hear how they would communicate with each other outside of a classroom setting. The students certainly felt some creative tension early in the process, but they have completely worked it out, through their own means and under the guidance of the lab leader. The students are learning how to organize their thoughts and research the relevant points to support their arguments. The students are also learning how to manage time and pace themselves, as they have daily tasks they have to complete.”

The students' presentation of their work from the Digital Workforce Intensive to industry experts will begin at 2 p.m. on Friday. This will be followed with discussions with experts on a variety of topics including a presentation on The Impact of Games & Digital Media on Louisiana’s Social & Economic Future.

Saturday’s activities include more discussions with the experts and panels culminating in a keynote by Education Futurist James Brazell.

ZHS Mock Trial State Runner Up

noreply@blogger.com (Zachary Webmaster) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:58:00 +0000

The Zachary High School Blue Mock Trial Team finished as the State Runner Up in the 2009 Louisiana State Bar Association Mock Trial Competition. The team won the Region 5 championship in Baton Rouge and then defeated Caddo Magnet and Haynes in the state competition before losing to Jesuit in the state finals. Team members are: Micah Scott, Maggie Joyner, Amanda McGilvray, Randyl Bouley, Macy Lagarde, and Lydia Gantz.

Zachary High Student Wins National Endowment for the Arts Louisiana Poetry Out Loud Competition

noreply@blogger.com (Zachary Webmaster) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:47:00 +0000

Zachary High Student Jasmine Haynes recently competed in and won the Louisiana Poetry Out Loud competition. The State Finals were held earlier this month at the Louisiana State Museum in downtown Baton Rouge. A nationwide program created by the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Poetry Foundation, Poetry Out Loud encourages youth to learn and perform famous poems for competition against other teens, first in school finals, then in city finals and then in the state final competition. As the winner of the state finals, Jasmine has won the opportunity to advance to the national competition to be held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC where she will be competing in April, 2009. Award-winning actress Tyne Daly, Prairie Home Companion's Garrison Keillor, and poet Luis Rodriguez, among others, will judge the fourth annual Poetry Out Loud National Finals on April 28, 2009, in Washington, DC.