STEPPING IT UP AND STOMPING OUT BULLYING

  Parkway High's teachers and staff are on a mission -- to raise awareness about bullying -- and they are doing it one step at a time.

  The faculty was provided pedometers, divided into teams and challenged to take at least 2.7 million steps by the end of the school year, each step representing the approximate 2.7 million students bullied each year. Not surprisingly, Parkway's faculty and staff have gone above and beyond.

  Bossier Parish School Nurse Lori Rayborn came up with the idea as part of a combined wellness initiative and professional growth and development plan. With Principal Dr. Nichole Bourgeois' blessing, Rayborn ran with it -- literally.

  She says teachers have found creative ways to accumulate steps. Library staff implemented "library laps" into their daily routine. Teachers are walking around the classroom more than ever to monitor student progress and activities. Others are running around the copy machine when making copies, and outside of school hours, they have joined exercise programs and fitness centers. Even spouses and families have joined in the effort and fun for their own friendly competition.

  Of course taking it all in are the students, who have enjoyed not only watching the competition, but seeing educators take a stance to step out against bullying. 

GOING BACK IN TIME AT KIDS FEST

  Romans were going about their day in togas, passengers were eating a meal aboard the Titanic, and girls in poodle skirts were hula hooping to 50's music. It was a walk through time at Bossier Civic Center, where hundreds of Bossier Parish Gifted and Talented students showed their creative sides.

  The Gifted and Talented Kids Fest is a showcase of talent and creativity that gets better each year. The Cotton Club, a speakeasy from the days of Prohibition, was a main attraction. Inside, young ladies strolled around in their flapper dresses while 'bartenders' served up root beer and ginger ale.

  The Titanic also set sail at Kids Fest. Passengers who answered trivia questions correctly got to sample barley soup and a cheddar biscuit, reminiscent of what was served to second class passengers aboard the doomed ship.

  There were also outstanding displays of art and a stage graced by talented singers and musicians.

  No question about it, Bossier Parish has no shortage of creative and talented students.

  WALLER TEACHERS TAKE STUDENTS ON A TRIP AROUND THE WORLD

    It's been a whirlwind trip this week at Waller Elementary, where students and teachers have visited the Fiji Islands, Italy, Australia and Mexico without ever actually leaving school.

  For the last few weeks students have learned about these countries and what makes them unique, from their geography and native animals to landmarks and languages. Then it really got fun this week. As part of Teachers Appreciation Week, each hallway was themed around a particular country.

  A walk down the fifth grade hall took you to the Fiji Islands, where you smelled whiffs of coconut, enjoyed the beach and saw scenic palm trees and a volcano. Teacher Michele Irvine had her students design travel brochures after learning about the country, a place they may never have known about before.

  Visitors were taken to the Outback on the second and third grade hall and transported to Mexico down another.

  Fourth graders showed their amore for Italy. That means love, of course, in Italian. They created their own interpretations of the Mona Lisa, gondolas drifted down the hallway and tables were set up with spaghetti on the menu as Italian music played in the background.

  The real fun, though, was how the teachers got into it. Each day they dressed in costumes according to the country they were celebrating and let's just say they definitely got creative! The PTO made it extra special by catering lunch each day. Olive Garden was on the menu for Italy's day and a big hit.

  What a way to celebrate Teachers Appreciation Week, get kids excited about learning geography 'and' have fun -- all at the same time!

  GETTING FIT FOR LIFE

  Imagine thousands of fifth graders from three parishes gathering on a football field to move and groove.

  That was the scene Wednesday at Independence Stadium at the State Fairgrounds in Shreveport, where more than 1,600 Bossier Parish students participated for the first time in "Fit For Life." The annual event, the brainchild of fitness guru Robert "Superman" Blount, centers around the importance of exercise and adopting healthy habits.

  With the music cranked up, Patrick Moseley with Moseley's Movements, got the kids' hearts pumping as he led them in aerobic dance. Lifted In Faith inspired students as they demonstrated feats of strength. Several children showed off their fencing moves while others did a karate and self defense demo to the sounds of "Footloose," the point being it doesn't matter how you exercise as long as you do it -- and do it for a lifetime.

  Students on Benton Elementary's Archery Team were also put in the spotlight for their outstanding showing at the state archery tournament. Again, a sport that is another form of exercise. 

 The student version of "Fit For Life" is a precursor to another big event this weekend at the Shreveport Convention Center. For more information on that, just click on this link. http://www.bfitforlife.org

  In the meantime, get outside and get fit this summer. That goes for moms and dads, too! And if it's too hot to be outdoors, you can still break a sweat 'inside' by getting the body moving and the heart pumping.

  HAVING A BLAST AT 4-H FUN DAY

  They cheered. They danced. They shopped.

   More than 350 members of Bossier Parish 4-H, from elementary to high school, had a ball at 4-H Fun Day at the Bossier Civic Center. They were kept busy competing in club cheers, line dancing, playing Internet Safety Bingo and creating 4-H recruitment banners. Students were divided into groups to design banners to hang at their schools to recruit future 4-H members.

  Another highlight? Spending their Clover Bucks. Throughout the year, 4-H members receive Clover Bucks in exchange for doing demonstrations at club meetings, leading the pledges, entering contests and a number of other things. At 4-H Fun Day, they got to redeem those bucks for goodies like ring pops and candy, hats, bracelets and other trinkets.

  The Bossier Parish 4-H program has the largest number of members out of the 13-parish Northwest region and is the eighth largest in the state, according to 4-H Parish Leader Jeannie Crnkovic.

  The members in attendance at Fun Day were just a few of the many enrolled in Bossier's program. Those in attendance were extended a special invitation for the day of fun after completing at least three community service projects and a project book.

  Of course 4-H fun doesn't end when school lets out. Coming soon? 4-H Camp at Camp Grant Walker for those students who scored well on their project books. 

  If you want in on the 4-H fun, or want your child to enroll, you can learn more at http://www.lsuagcenter.com/bossier.

  CENTRAL PARK ELEMENTARY NAMED GRAND CHAMPIONS IN ROBOTICS

  Talk about earning bragging rights for a year!

  Over the weekend the fourth and final tournament was held in the 2011-12 Regional Autonomous Robotics Circuit Competition and Central Park was named Elementary Overall Grand Champions.

  Their win was the result of a cumulative score from all four tournaments held this year. This time, though, all of the participating teams were on their own with no adults or coaches in the practice areas of Competition 4.

 There were three challenges revealed at three various times during the day. Each team had 30 minutes to program and practice after each challenge was revealed. Each time the bots had to be parked in the designated parking lot in the competition area before the challenge began.

  In the end, Central Park came out victorious, winning the grand championship.

  Stockwell Place Elementary's Robotics Members also did exceptionally well. Team 1 came in third place; Team 5 grabbed second place; and Team 4 captured first place honors.

  Way to go to all of our Robotics Team members and coaches! 

  ATHLETES SHINE AT NORTHWEST SPECIAL OLYMPICS

  The sun was shining down on the Special Olympics Track & Field Games held Friday at Elm Grove Middle/Parkway High football stadium and track. But hundreds of athletes representing their respective schools across Bossier Parish didn't let the heat stop them for a moment. They were all smiles and full of enthusiasm, ready to take on the track and field events. 

  The student athletes, ranging from elementary to high school age, had been working hard and looking forward to this day. Their Adapted Physical Education teachers in Bossier Parish prepared them for the field events and races that day. There were plenty of people on hand to cheer them on, too.

  Of course everyone left a winner -- and with big smiles after a busy, but fun day.

  GOOGLE NAMES HAUGHTON STUDENT STATE WINNER

ETHAN PEASE GOES TO NATIONAL COMPETITION

  If Ethan Pease ever wondered what it was like to be a rock star, he got a good idea Wednesday afternoon.

  The eighth grader was the center of attention at Haughton Middle School, where representatives from Google traveled from San Francisco to make a big announcement. Ethan won the state competition in the Internet search company's "Doodle 4 Google" artwork contest. Making his win even more impressive, Ethan's artistic rendition of the Google logo was one of 114,000 entries.

  His mom, Terri Pease, was on cloud nine. "We're very excited," she said. "It's so humbling to see how other people are recognizing his accomplishments. Ethan has been drawing since he was three. He has a phenomenal gift."

  During the student assembly, Ethan was quick to give credit where credit was due. "I love drawing. I love art. And I can do all things through Christ," he told the audience and his peers. 

  The theme of this year's contest is, "If I could travel in time, I'd visit ..."  Accompanying his entry, he wrote, "If I could travel in time, I'd visit the Italian Renaissance. I would meet masters of art such as Da Vinci and Michelangelo. Enjoy the Tower of Pisa before it leaned. I might see the Carnevale and enjoy the fireworks at night or visit Galileo and look at the stars."

  Ethan's design incorporates the Mona Lisa, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Galileo, an artist's palette and pizza. He explained to the crowd, "I chose Italy because it's the birthplace of art and there is no better time than the Italian Renaissance."

  One of the Google representatives called it "one of the coolest doodles I've seen."

  Now, it's up to the public to help Ethan Pease win the national finals. On-line voting is taking place now through May 10. The highest ranking doodler will be named at an awards ceremony May 17 in New York City, and Ethan and his parents will be there.

  The winner's design will be featured on the Google.com home page and the Crayola 64 crayon boxes. The winner will also receive a $30,000 college scholarship, computer equipment and a $5,000 technology stipend and be given $45,000 to donate to a public school or library in their community.

  Let's all help Ethan win. Go to www.google.com/doodle4google. Click on 'state finalists' and then the 8-9 category. Look for Ethan P. -- LA and vote.

  Good luck, Ethan, and congratulations for already being a winner!

  CELEBRATING LOUISIANA'S BICENTENNIAL

  Bossier Parish students celebrated Louisiana's 200th year of statehood in grand style, from beignets and dancing to crawfish races and playing spoons.

  A number of schools observed the Bicentennial in various ways. At Stockwell Elementary, students got up close and personal with a baby alligator -- its mouth taped shut, of course. They ate gumbo, sampled crawfish and devoured jambalaya and red beans and rice. Then they polished it off with something sweet, in this case king cake and beignets reminiscent of Cafe' du Monde in New Orleans. Another first for most of the kids was chewing on sugar cane. State Representative Jeff Thompson also came for the celebration, presenting Principal Rhonda Schnell with a Louisiana flag that had flown over the state capitol the day before.

  At Haughton Middle School, teachers got in on the fun by racing crawfish. To the delight of the student body, teachers faced off against their colleagues, banging on the metal table to make their crawfish scoot across the finish line. The kids also enjoyed birthday cake in their Louisiana Studies classes. 

  Curtis Elementary School got in on the lagniappe, too. Students rotated to various stations and classrooms where they played home-made washboards with spoons as they sang "You Are My Sunshine." They learned a few Cajun dance steps, participated in a Poverty Point archaeological dig and learned to peel crawfish. For a fourth grader named Jeremiah, the grimacing look on his face after trying the boiled crustacean was priceless. "I like to eat crab legs!" he declared. That one crawfish tail was enough for him.

  Yes, Bossier students had a grand time learning about the state they call home. After all, everyone loves a good party -- Louisianans especially!

  GIVE ME A BREAK -- ARTBREAK 2012!

  It's billed as the largest annual student arts festival in the South and Bossier Parish students play a starring role in it.

  ArtBreak 2012 is celebrating its 28th year and thanks to the Shreveport Regional Arts Council, keeps getting bigger and better. Bossier Parish 3rd graders spent Tuesday at the Shreveport Convention Center, proudly picking out the works of art they contributed to the gallery. Each school had its own section to showcase students' handiwork and artistic achievements.

  ArtBreak serves as a week-long showcase for more than 2,500 original visual and literary artworks created by students in K-12. Students especially look forward to the field trip. Third graders go to see ArtBreak while 2nd graders went Wednesday to Celebrate Education, which is hosted by KTBS TV 3 and the Shreve Memorial Library.

  Celebrate Education puts an emphasis on reading -- particularly through the summer when children are out of school and run the risk of regressing if they don't keep reading and learning. Second graders participated in fun activities centered around reading. They were also encouraged to visit their local library over the summer to check out books and complete a book log in exchange for a prize.

  ArtBreak is a free public festival at the Shreveport Convention Center that continues through the weekend. There are plenty of hands-on activities to keep kids busy. Hours are Friday, April 27, from 4-9 p.m. Saturday's hours are from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and there will be a special performance at 7 p.m. by singer/song writer Jason Castro, who many people will recognize as a favorite contestant from "American Idol." Then, ArtBreak runs Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

  It's a great place to take the kids, admire Bossier students' creativity and foster a love for the arts.

  (Photos by Kassie Richardson)

  A GREAT BIG THANK YOU!

  The next 10 years will be especially exciting for Bossier Schools, thanks to voters approving the largest bond proposal in our school system's history.

  The citizens of Bossier Parish gave Bossier Schools their vote of confidence to build three new schools and renovate and add on to existing ones in response to growth and to construct a technical school to serve all high school students. We readily accept the challenge.

  "The School Board understands the responsibility and trust that has been placed in us and we will now implement our plan to address critical needs," said Tammy Smith, President of the Bossier Parish School Board. "With your approval we now will begin plans to construct a new state-of-the-art technical school, a new elementary school in North Bossier/Benton, a new middle school in Haughton, undertake a major renovation of Airline High School and build a new high school in Benton."

  Smith went further to say, "These and other improvements will have a great impact on the educational environment of children in our parish. Thank you to the voters who exercised their right to show support for our school system. I believe a community that invests in children will be richly rewarded. You were the voice for the children of Bossier Parish and they are the ones who won!"

  40 STUDENTS INDUCTED INTO NATIONAL TECHNICAL HONOR SOCIETY 

PRINCIPAL TALKS ABOUT CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION CHANGES

  Career and technical education has come a long way over the years and today's students reflect that in the courses they are pursuing and the excitement they show in their chosen courses of study at Bossier Technical School.

  Tuesday 40 students marched across the stage to accept a handshake and congratulatory wishes from principal Carol Jean Johnston, as well as a certificate and pin in recognition of their induction into the National Technical Honor Society. This is a big honor given the criteria students must meet to be considered. Emphasis is placed not only on technical and career education, but also academics. Students must maintain a 3.0 overall GPA, have no failing grade in any class and be recommended by their instructor. 

 "The kids I have here are because they want to be," Johnston said. "The courses they take are not required, but interest them." 

  Courses run the gamut at Bossier Technical School, from welding and graphic arts to computer networking and health sciences. If the Bossier School construction bond issue passes April 21, Johnston said the new, state-of-the-art technical school to be built in Bossier Parish would enable them to expand their course offerings. 

  "We'll have twice as many classes and increase the size of some of the more popular classes like welding, nursing, graphic arts, those in the health occupational field," Johnston said. Some students wanting to pursue some of those courses have had to be turned away, Johnston added, because of the current facility's lack of space.

  The Bossier Technical School's principal of 15 years is also anticipating the expansion of the program if voters approve the bond issue. Johnston hopes to add courses in oil and gas, TV/filmmaking, Cyber Security/Information and others, offering students an even more diverse education and the business industry a more highly skilled workforce.

  "People are beginning to understand how technical education has changed as the world's technology changes," she said. "Career and technical education is no longer looked at as for the 'non college-bound.' It's now about technology and advanced learning, preparing students for a more technical world, which is essential for the workforce and economy."  

  The students inducted into Bossier Technical School's 10th National Technical Honor Society class, no doubt, offer promise to the future workforce. For now, though, they are focused on learning all they can and applying for $1,000 scholarships being offered because of their inductee status to further their efforts. Congratulations to all 40 of you!

  PARKWAY'S ROBOTIC TEAM TO COMPETE IN WASHINGTON D.C.

  Robots took over the Bossier Civic Center this past Saturday and many of the masterminds behind them were Bossier Parish students.

   Some 93 teams in all competed in the Regional Autonomous Robotics Circuit (RARC), Competition III, as well as the regional Mini-Urban Challenge. And by the end of the day, Parkway High School's Robotics Team emerged as the winner in the overall competition, proving that LEGOs are not just for child's play.

  The regional Mini-Urban Challenge required high school students to design and operate a robotic car, then program it to navigate a LEGO city. Throughout the event, teams utilized their skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). They also demonstrated their understanding of STEM skills and robotics during oral presentations.

  After racking up the most points, Parkway High School was awarded a $500 check, a trophy and the honor of representing our area on May 26 at the 2012 National Competition at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. The Mini-Urban Challenge is sponsored by The Institute of Navigation and the United States Air Force Research Laboratory.

  Elementary and middle school teams also competed. The RARC, Competition III required students in grades 4-12 to build on the skills they learned from the first two competitions and to demonstrate their problem-solving skills and creativity. For this competition, teams were allowed to construct their robot using the basic kit and accessories. Team then had to program their robot to autonomously navigate an obstacle course while avoiding traffic markers, crossing speed bumps and getting past other barriers.

   The Eagles from Elm Grove placed second in the middle school division. In the elementary division, Team Sparks from Central Park Elementary won first place and Stockwell Team 4 finished third. When the final competition is held in May, grand champions in each division will be named based on the accumulation of points from all four competitions. Those teams will then be awarded trophies and technology awards for their schools.

  G.B. Cazes, Director of the Cyber Innovation Center's Academic and Workforce Development Program, was pleased that both competitions were such a success.

  "With each competition we see the number of participating schools grow," Cazes said. "The feedback from parents, teachers and students indicate that STEM programs are not just needed but desired at every grade level. The CIC will continue to develop new and innovative programs to meet this need."

  BOSSIER SCHOOLS AND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PARTNER WITH MILITARY CHILD EDUCATION COALITION

  Barksdale Air Force Base plays a special role in our school family and community. We trust the men and women stationed there to protect our freedoms and they trust us to educate and support their school-age children's needs.

  Now, Bossier Schools and the Bossier Chamber of Commerce are working together with the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) to better meet the needs often unique to military families -- from relocation and parental deployment to trauma and the loss of life.

  Thanks to the Chamber of Commerce's sponsorship, the Bossier School Board has become a member of MCEC and will be provided with a Military Student Transition Consultant at no cost to the school system. The MCEC is the nation's only non-profit organization that serves around the world as an advocate for military children.

  The Military Student Transition Consultant, who is a member of MCEC, will work with military families, students, counselors and school registrars in dealing with a multitude of issues surrounding transfer of credits, various state-to-state testing requirements, differing graduation requirements, scheduling configurations and other changes they may encounter. 

  Bossier will be the first Air Force community utilizing the program. The new position will be open to the public and the MCEC hopes to hire that individual over the summer.  To learn more about MCEC, visit www.militarychild.org.

DOZENS OF YOUNG MARINES GRADUATE IN BOSSIER

Sixty-two recruits from Class 23 graduated this week from the Bossier Sheriff Young Marines program. It was the largest class of recruits to graduate. ...more

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