Latest news with #CalcasieuParishSchoolBoard
American Press
07-07-2025
- General
- American Press
LEAP scores show Calcasieu one of the top-growing academic districts in the state
(American Press Archives) The Calcasieu Parish School Board is one of the top-growing academic districts in the state, according to the Louisiana Department of Education's newest batch of LEAP test score data. The department released its annual Louisiana Educational Assessment Program test scores for the 2024-25 school year last week. Results were mixed statewide with young students showing a slight improvement in scores but high school-aged students experiencing a decline. Statewide, the number of third- through eighth-graders scoring overall mastery and above (Mastery+) improved by one percentage point to 35 percent. Thirty-five percent of high school students also scored mastery or above, but this is one percentage point lower than the 2023-24 school year. In Calcasieu Parish, the overall Mastery+ percentage for grades third through eighth — which includes ELA, math and science — improved by one percentage point. For grades third through 12th, 40 percent scored Mastery+, which is two points higher than last year. The top-growing schools in Calcasieu Parish were R.W. Vincent Elementary, Vinton High School and DeQuincy Middle School. These scores are a sign of the 'work and commitment' of CPSB students, teachers and staff, said Superintendent Jason VanMetre in a news release. 'Our students are succeeding because our teachers and staff are passionate about their profession and the success of students,' he said. 'We take pride in celebrating our schools, and today is a day of celebration for all of our people. We're grateful to have this data as we prepare for the year ahead and work toward an even higher performance in the 2025-2026 school year.' Statewide growth varied by subject. While ELA scores dipped in several grades, the percentage for Mastery+ stayed the same. Fourth grade improved by two percentage points and sixth by one percentage point, while third, fifth, seventh and eighth grades decreased. Overall, Louisiana students earning Mastery+ in math increased by two percentage points. The only grade level that decreased was fifth grade. Science scores increased overall, with only the third grade scores decreasing. Statewide high school scores decreased by one percentage point. For third through 12th grade, 25 school districts improved, 26 maintained and 18 declined. Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley said in a news release that 'while today's results show continued movement in the right direction, they also underscore the challenges ahead.' 'We must accelerate efforts to support educators, raise expectations for students, and maintain our laser focus on academic achievement.' The 2025-26 school year LEAP data will be calculated by the LDOE's revised system, 'Grow. Achieve. Thrive.' These standards are designed to 'be a catalyst for academic growth,' Brumley said.
American Press
30-06-2025
- Science
- American Press
Mobile ‘Makerspace' provides students tools to create, inspire
1/4 Swipe or click to see more Technology Facilitator Meredith Boullion assists students Monday in the Mobile Makerspace Bus. (Emily Burleigh / American Press) 2/4 Swipe or click to see more (Emily Burleigh / American Press) 3/4 Swipe or click to see more (Emily Burleigh / American Press) 4/4 Swipe or click to see more (Emily Burleigh / American Press) The Mobile Makerspace is making sure Calcasieu Parish students have access to STEM education all summer long. The Calcasieu Parish School Board Mobile Makerspace Bus is a repurposed school bus that has been retrofitted with lab space to bring STEM education directly to students. The bus is decked out with technology and resources used to introduce students to high-tech tools and foundational STEM skills. The Mobile Makerspace made a stop at the Donald Ray Stevens Community Center on Monday morning. This stop was the third in a series of stops the Makerspace is making this summer in collaboration with EPIC Adventures by the city of Lake Charles Recreation and Parks Department, an eight-week summer camp hosted by the city. Each week, EPIC Adventures presents campers with a new theme, and this week's theme is 'Party in the USA.' The activity in the Makerspace is tailored to this theme, said Technology Facilitator Meredith Boullion. On Monday, students were tasked to direct a KaiBot — a small coding robot that uses Blockly or Python coding — to different landmarks in the United States with cards that represent blocks of code. This is a form of offline coding, which doesn't require technology like an iPad or computer. By solidifying their understanding of the pre-coding skills through tactile engagement, the students become more equipped to understand more advanced coding techniques and languages. 'If you were to do block coding, the block is just like a sentence in a language. The cards represent the block coding, so they understand sequencing,' she explained. 'They understand the process of coding devices — loops, conditionals, all the things that they need. The language is built into the cards.' The Mobile Makerspace was created last year after five years of planning by Calcasieu Parish School Board Chief Technology Officer Kim Leblanc with the goal to enhance teachers' curriculum with hands-on, tech-integrated lessons. 'Connecting to the curriculum is key,' Bouillon said. Teachers can request a bus visit or plan field trips to the technology labs for Makerspace experiences that are customized to their lesson plans, which are often already integrated with technology skills. The Makerspace provides additional support that prompts coding, critical thinking, collaboration and communication skills, she said. The Makerspace is mobile and available to every grade level to increase students' accessibility to technology education, because coding is a skillset that is becoming more and more necessary. Coding became a language recognized by the Louisiana Department of Education in 2022, and as artificial intelligence (AI) integrates into daily life, students must gain a fundamental understanding of coding, she said. The dynamic hands-on STEM activities engage the students, and the facilitators on the Mobile Makerspace are no strangers to a lightbulb moment. 'Ultimately, if you walked around right now, there'd be a couple kids who just get it and they just run with it. And it's so exciting to us because we see it,' she said. 'It's a spark that's lit, and that's really what we wanted to do. We wanted to light the spark.' Gillis Extended Day and Dolby Extended Day were visited earlier this month, and the Makerspace will stop by the Henry Heights Community Center on Thursday, July 3. It will also be at Vinton Middle STEM Camp on July 22 and E.K. Key Extended Day on July 24.
American Press
23-05-2025
- General
- American Press
Kelly Rae Elliott Boudoin
Kelly Rae Elliott Boudoin, born in Lake Charles on July 21, 1968, daughter of Jimmy and Mary Elliott, passed away surrounded by her loving family on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at the age of 56. A graduate of Barbe High School, Kelly worked as cafeteria manager for the Calcasieu Parish School Board. She enjoyed Mardi Gras, being with her family, loved spending time with her grandchildren, and going to the beach any chance she had. Kelly loved to get her graduating class of 1986 together for mini reunions. Left to cherish wonderful memories are her husband of 38 years, Gil Boudoin; mother, Mary Elliott; daughters, Victoria Rae Boudoin and Anna Jewel Boudoin; grandchildren, Kohen, Riggin, and Bellamie Boudoin; sister, Katie Elliott Diamond, and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her father, Jimmy Elliott Funeral services will be in Johnson & Brown Funeral Home of Iowa on Sunday, May 25, 2025 at 1 p.m. The Rev. Roland Vaughn will officiate. Burial will follow in Pine Hill Cemetery under the direction of Johnson & Brown Funeral Home of Iowa. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. in the funeral home, with a rosary recited at 12:30 p.m. Pallbearers assisting in her service are Jacob Boudoin, Clark Diamond, Jude Broussard, Jaxon Moreaux, Marvin Cradeur, Thell Gillis, and Kohen Boudoin.
