APSBulletin - January 2023

SCHOOL BOARD

Honoray Lewis, Ward 1

Lee Meyer Jr, Ward 2

Andrea Barras, Ward 3

Electa Fletcher-Mickens, Ward 4

Joshua Hebert, Ward 5

Daniel Washington, Ward 6

Bambi Hood, Ward 7

Jessica Ourso, Ward 8

Doris Dugas, Ward 9

CALENDAR

Feb. 20-24 – Mardi Gras Holiday – NO CLASSES

Pierre Part Elementary students who earned exemplary scores on their science fair projects were rewarded with a field trip to the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), located in Livingston Parish. Teacher Misty Landry organized the activity, and students were able to interact with scientists and engineers doing real science, as well as experience hands-on science activities in the center’s interactive exhibit hall.
LIGO’s multi-kilometer-scale gravitational wave detectors use laser interferometry to measure the minute ripples in space-time caused by passing gravitational waves from cataclysmic cosmic events such as colliding neutron stars or black holes, or by supernovae.

Assumption Parish Schools Announces Principal & Teachers of the Year Winners

The district recently announced this school year’s top teachers and principal of the year nominees. They include Sarah Daigle, an elementary teacher at Labadieville Primary; Lucy Barbier, a middle school teacher at Belle Rose Middle School, Amy Boudreaux, a high school teacher at Assumption High School, and Kathi Aucoin, principal of Napoleonville Middle School.

These parish winners will advance to the state’s regional competition, which will determine this year’s state finalists.

Other district nominees included Rosarielle Jamison, Bayou L’Ourse Primary; Da’Quita Lucien, Belle Rose Primary; Alissa Clark, Labadieville Middle School; Dawn LeBlanc, Napoleonville Middle School; Pamela Tucker, Napoleonville Primary School and Christy Cavalier, Pierre Part Elementary. .

K-3 Teachers Learn About Science of Reading

Keys to Learning Trainer Donna Mastrovito, standing, laughs with a group of Assumption Parish educators who are sharing ideas on how to incorporate spelling into day-to-day instruction. Those instructors are, from left to right, Labadieville Principal Brandee Gros, Bayou L’Ourse Primary 2nd Grade Math Teacher Rose Jamison, and Bayou L’Ourse Primary 2nd Grade ELA Teacher Heather Bond.

K-3 teachers throughout Assumption Parish Schools gathered for a two-day workshop just before the start of the second semester, to continue their professional development in evidence-based practices that are grounded in the science of reading.

The effort is part of a Louisiana Department of Education initiative and in keeping with the district’s strategic plan to improve the academic performance of students, particularly through the improvement of student literacy outcomes.

“These workshops targeted our K-3 teachers and worked with them in enhancing beginning reading skills, which focuses on phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension,” Curriculum Director Rachel Dugas said. “This January workshop also has an emphasis on phonics and fluency.”

Dugas said the sessions were led by Keys to Literacy (KTL) consultants who are approved providers of Literacy Foundations Training to meet state requirements that K-3 teachers and administrators participate in a minimum of 52 hours of early literacy training based on the science of reading.

“This training requires a significant commitment from our teachers to learn these strategies and concepts and to effectively implement them in their classrooms within a two-year period,” Superintendent Dr. John Barthelemy said.

“This particular workshop addresses a key need identified in our strategic plan, and it is an important foundation for many other positive steps in the plan for the advancement of our district,” he said.

BayouSTEM Brings Hands-On Lessons to Middle School Science Teachers

BayouSTEM Director Christie Landry, standing, shows Napoleonville Middle School Science Teacher Jacelynn Landry the connection point for a piece to a battery operated pump kit that can be used by local teachers to enhance learning in their science classes.

BayouSTEM Director Christie Landry recently held a two-day workshop with middle school science teachers in Assumption Parish Schools, teaching them how to incorporate hands-on activities in their lesson plans – activities that help to visualize important science and engineering concepts.

In particular, Landry showed teachers how to construct a miniature pump jack and hydraulic fracking operator and provided them with kits for their students. Both projects include introductory lessons on engineering and physics concepts utilized by the working devices.

“By incorporating hands-on project into lessons, students become more engaged and more apt to understand the concepts,” Landry said.

“We also see the projects as a natural way to begin talking about the energy production industry in our state, and particularly in those components of the industry our region, giving students an introduction to some very good-paying and much-needed jobs in our state,” she said.

BayouSTEM is the LaSTEM program for Louisiana’s Region 3, which includes Assumption, Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes. It is partnered with Fletcher Technical Community College in Schriever, where BayouSTEM is part of an effort connect industry, the local workforce and education groups to grow awareness of career opportunities for skilled workers.

Pierre Part Middle School Science Teacher John Giambrone, who primarily teaches 7th and 8th graders, said he plans to incorporate the pump jack kit and discussion in his lessons on fluid dynamics and molecular structures.

Venessa LewisJanuary 24, 2023