On May 11, Chalmette High School held their Junior/Senior Prom at the Hilton in New Orleans. Pictured above are the CHS School Prom King and Queen along with the Senior Prom Court. From left they are: Cody Estopinal, senior duke; Toni Chaupetta, senior maid; Sean Beckwith, King; Alana Rocha, Queen; Dane’sia Williams, senior maid; Baldwin Bioc, senior duke. The King, Queen and Court are chosen by a random drawing of members of the prom planning committee. Picture provided by Raymar Photography ….

State Representative Ray Garofalo (left) presents a Legislative Recognition Award to Arabi resident Brittaney
Smith (center) and her mother, Christina Williams, for being the first St. Bernard resident to graduate from the Louisiana National Guard Youth Challenge Program.

In August, 18-year-old Arabi resident Brittaney Smith’s future was anything but certain. After several years of rebellion and fights at school and at home, Smith was expelled less than a month into her Senior year at Chalmette High School. Her parents were fed up and exhausted.

“Brittaney had a track record of behavioral problems, that started really after we moved back after Katrina,” said her mother Christina Smith Williams. “She couldn’t handle anyone telling her what to do, and blew up at anyone who got in her way. Getting expelled was the last straw.”

As Brittaney was rapidly approaching her 18th birthday, Christina and her husband Leo Williams started to grow frantic at what they could do to help their daughter before she was legally an adult and free to venture out into the world with no parental guidance.

“I knew my time was running out with her,” said Christina. She began researching affordable intervention programs that could help her troubled daughter, and miraculously stumbled upon the Louisiana National Guard’s Youth Challenge Program.

The completely free, five-month long program takes in troubled 16 to 18-year-olds and gives them the opportunity to earn a GED in a structured military environment. It was hard work getting Brittaney on
board—the teens have to sign themselves in— but eventually she conceded.

“The first day my mom dropped me off, I saw the cadets lined up as soon as the drill sergeant blew his whistle,” recalled Brittaney. “I was nervous, but I got pretty used to it.”

A beaming Brittaney Smith after YCP graduation with her father, Leo Williams III.

Unsurprisingly, the first few months were rough for Brittaney and her family alike. Christina fielded nasty letters from her daughter for months, while telling herself that she was doing the right thing. Christina was doubtful about Brittaney’s progress until the first Family Day, when relatives are invited to their cadet’s campus to see them in action.

“We toured the barracks and saw how spotless everything was; their beds were perfectly made and their shoes were polished and neatly lined up,” recalled Christina.

“I remember thinking ‘This is not Brittaney!’”

Brittaney was also given the ability to take ownership of her education through YCP’s rigorous GED program. In her five months in the program, she went from a sixth to 11th grade reading level and passed both reading and the math portions of the test in March.

“It was a lot of teaching yourself,” said Brittaney. “It made me more independent and I think learning that way really gets you ready for college— you’re not always going to have a teacher over you telling you when to do homework and study.”

Brittaney graduated from YCP five days before her 18th Birthday, and is now back at home. Christina is thrilled at the change she’s seen in her daughter, and Brittaney is excited about her future.

“I definitely have more patience now,” said Brittaney.

This fall she’ll be attending Delgado Community College and is interested in pursuing a Veterinary Technician Degree. In a meeting at his office last week, State Rep. Ray Garofalo awarded Brittaney
with a certificate recognizing her hardwork, dedication and acheivement during the Youth Challenge Program. Garofalo said he hopes more youth will be inspired by Brittaney’s plight to make a change in
her life.

For more information on the Youth Challenge Program, call 1.800.226.7543 or go to the Louisiana National Guard website at www.ngycp.org/site/state/la. You can also contact Representative Garofalo’s office at 504.278.6599 or email garofalor@legis.la.gov for more information.

The St. Bernard Library Club recently held its annual Book Drive. Students brought in over 600 paperback and hardback books ranging in reading levels from early childhood to adult. All donations went to benefit the Community Center of St. Bernard. Pictured above, St. Bernard Middle Library Club Members count books and prepare them for delivery. Pictured, from left, are Jeffery Roderfeld, Janie Boteler, Kelsey Billiot, Stephen Schwarz, Madison Morales, Diamond Tate and Jeremy Moniz.

Pictured from left: Duke Connor Micheu, Maid Syndee Meyer, King Jack
Armstrong, Queen Olivia Pohlmann, Duke Auggie Lay and Maid Chloe Krey.

Our Lady of Prompt Succor School recently held their Annual Mardi Gras Parade. The parade was lead by Kindergarten students Queen Olivia Pohlmann and King Jack Armstrong. Pohlmann and Armstrong were followed by Dukes Connor Micheu and Auggie Lay. Micheu and Lay escorted Maids Sydnee Meyer and Chloe Krey. The OLPS School Royalty issued their Mardi Gras proclamation and offered a spirited toast
to their parents (Mr. and Mrs. Jack Armstrong and Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Pohlmann) as they exited the school grounds to parade through the neighborhood. Following the parade, the student body and their guests gathered in the school gym to view King Jack Armstrong and his Queen Olivia Pohlmann along with
their royal court as they promenaded through the gym.

The event was moderated by Joel Weibelt Smith, Bonny Loposser, Ellen Doody, and Cindy Reynolds.

Pictured from top row: Mrs. Charol Armand and Mrs. Brandi Aquilo; Row 5 is Cole Neyland, Jonah Smith, Keith Dejean, Jason Jeanfreau, Caiden Lai, Jacob Pham, Clayton Stevens; Row 4 is An Tran, Ryleigh Bertheaud, Tyler Turner, Kylie Munoz, Tina Tran, Madeleine Defraites, Olivia Patcheco, Claire Sandrock, Curstin Perez; Row 3 is Thien Tran, Gabriel Hernandez, Chad Alfonso, Jacob Labit, Landen Indovina, Evan Jacob, Gavin Briggs, Austin Alphonso; Row 2
is Natalie Albers, Londyn Melerine, Summer Tran, Grace Morel, Maci Randazzo, Gabrielle Landry, Sophia Majors, Riley Moran, Layla Fernandez; Front Row is Haleigh Martin, Mackenzie Schellinger, Mary Ready, Victoria Sanders, Ruston Breisacher, Ava Chalona, Kendall Meyer.

Students in grades Pre K, Kindergarten and First at Our Lady of Prompt Succor School enjoyed a day of Polar Express activities— based on characters and events in the treasured holiday classic by Chris Van Allsburg.

In the tale of one Christmas Eve many years ago, a boy lying in bed listening hard for the bells of Santa’s sleigh is instead invited by the conductor to board the Polar Express, a train filled with children in their pajamas on their way to the North Pole to visit Santa.

The students all dressed in pajamas as the characters in the story— gathered in the morning to have their tickets punched by Principal Sharon Coll. The classes engaged in age-appropriate activities, such as completing writing exercises prompted by the story and math activities involving sequencing and more.
The students enjoyed hot cocoa stirred with candy canes and received a special bell of their own so that they would always remember their special Polar Express day. The day culminated with the students watching the movie starring Tom Hanks as the conductor.

Congratulations to Cole Nicosia who was chosen as St. Bernard Middle School’s Student of the Year.  Cole is a well-rounded and involved student at St. Bernard Middle School.  He has been a member of the Eagle football team and baseball team.  He has also been involved in various clubs and other organizations at SBM such as the Jr. Beta Club, 4-H Club, Library Club, Spirit Club, a member of the senior band, an Academic Games competitor, and a PBIS Teen.  With his outgoing personality and responsible work ethics, Cole serves as a role model to his peers.  He is the son of Perry and Nicole Nicosia of the St. Bernard Community.

Pictured in the photo is Steve LeRouge, Maintenance Supervisor, Brittany Jacob, President Peralta and Kim Owens, President’s Assistant.

Chalmette High School Junior Brittany Jacob is enrolled in English IV Honors and had the opportunity
to take on a semester-long activity called Senior Project.

The Senior project consisted of a physical project, a research paper, a portfolio and a presentation.
For Brittany’s project she chose the topic of recycling. For her physical project, Brittany had three
recycle bins (Aluminum, paper and plastic) placed outside of the parish government building. Also,
in order to enhance the amount of trash that was collected for the recycle bins, Brittany hosted a clean-up day at community park, Torres Park and was able to fill each of the three bins in one week with no trouble.

Brittany plans to help enforce recycling in her home town of St. Bernard and looks forward to getting other locals involved in the process!

Parish President David Peralta said it’s good to see young residents taking an active role in helping to
improve the community.

Pictured are St. Bernard Middle School students showing off their
ties in support of the literary theme “Get Tied Up in a Good Book.”

During the week of October 15, St. Bernard Middle School along with libraries across the world, celebrated Teen Read Week. Teen Read Week is an initiative of the Young Adult Library Service Association (YALSA) which began in 1998. The purpose is to encourage teens to read for pleasure and to visit their libraries for free reading materials. SBM also held a Book Fair during the week to provide students with an opportunity to purchase books of their own.

Rayna Oggs and Matthew Cunha

Rayna Oggs, Grace Bartholomae, Sarah Borne, Ms. Stephanie Biscardi (Art Club Sponsor)

Rayna Oggs, Ms. Stephanie Biscardi (Sponsor), Rebecca Cunha, Matthew Cunha, Ashley Rodriguez

The Art Club at Davies Elementary created Pinwheels for Peace in celebration of International
Day of Peace. The club designed pinwheels, which illustrated the students’ personal version
of peace, and then planted the pinwheels on school grounds. The pinwheel project allowed
the students to work cooperatively, while brainstorming ways to solve conflicts peacefully.

Members which participated in the Pinwheels for Peace activity were Rayna Oggs, Matthew
Cunha, Rebecca Cunha, Kelani Gilmore, Ashley Rodriguez, Caio deOliviera, Sarah Borne, Leah
Abadie and Grace Bartholomae.

Fifth grade students Jy’Jay Johnson, Kiara Pendleton, and Travis Umfrey working in one of Chalmette Elementary’s many computer labs.

District C councilman Richie Lewis and District D councilman Casey Hunnicutt see what it’s like to sit at the Chalmette Elementary news desk.

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Superintendent of St. Bernard Public Schools Doris Voitier and Chalmette Elementary principal Elizabeth Winslow proudly showcased Chalmette Elementary School for a group of Chamber of Commerce members and guests.

To keep up with the parish’s population growth— there were over 900 Elementary students last year— the district added LaCoste Elementary to handle the boom in pre-K through 5th grade students.

“We’re bulging at the seams, especially at the pre-K through 5th grade level,” said Voitier.

Chalmette Elementary is a shining example of the district’s impressive post-Katrina rebuilding. Each classroom is equipped with a Promethean Board, an interactive white board that combines color, motion and interactive features with sound. The student-run morning show is broadcast daily on the classrooms’ boards, said Principal Winslow. Additionally, each classroom is equipped with 5 computers, a printer and a wireless network.

Voitier also discussed the new state legislation and how Acts 1 & 2 are going affect St. Bernard Parish schools.

“Traditional education is being painted with a broad brush [by state lawmakers],” explained Voitier.

The new legislation allows private and charter schools to be funded by the same Minimum Program Foundation formula, which in the past has solely been allocated for the state’s public schools. Since the MFP funding, comprised of local tax revenues and state tax revenues, will now include private and charter schools, there is significantly less funding for each school to go around. The St. Bernard Parish school district relies on 45 percent of its revenue from the MFP formula.

Voitier asserted that she believes local tax revenues should fund local schools. Additionally, she says the legislation moves control over from local school districts and parent to lawmakers in Baton Rouge.

“As long as we have local tax dollars, they should be going to local public schools,” said Voitier. “As a public school educator, I feel that if we don’t have strong, educated children in this community, then the community as a whole will suffer.”

Senator A.G. Crowe, who represents the St. Bernard school district and was in attendance for the Chamber Tour and Lunch, commented that some of the downsides of the education reform legislation, that he voted for, have “unintended consequences.” Crowe said he was drafting legislation to prohibit kindergarten students in A or B districts from being eligible for vouchers.