A P R I L 2 0 1 8 V O L U M E 1 0 , I S S U E 9

`

INSIDE

THIS

ISSUE:

Music in Our

Schools Benefit

Concert

2

Grandparents

Raising

Grandchildren

Annual

Conference

3

Fruit and

Vegetable Safety

4

Kids and

Mobile Phones

5

Early Childhood

Education

Corner

6

National

Garden Month:

Can You Dig It!

7

Energy Tips

for Daylight

Savings Time

8

Broadmoor

High School in

the News

9

A P R I L 2 0 1 8 V O L U M E 1 0 , I S S U E 9

Putting a Stop to Bullying: What Can You Do?

Parents play a key role in preventing and responding to bullying. If you know or suspect that your child is involved in bullying, there are several resources that may help.

• Recognize the warning signs that your child is involved in bullying. They could be being bullied, bullying others, or witnessing bullying. Although these signs could signal other issues, you should talk to your child if they display any sort of behavioral or emotional changes. Many times kids won’t ask for help, so it is important to know what to look for. If your child is at immediate risk of harming himself or others, get help right away.

• Learn what bullying is and what it is not. Understanding what bullying is is the first step in forming a plan to prevent or respond to bullying with your child. Many behaviors that look like bullying may be just as serious, but may require different response strategies.

• Cyberbullying often requires different strat-egies than in-person bullying. Learn how to work with your kids to prevent cyberbul-lying and how to respond when it occurs.

• Utilize tips and tools to talk to your child about bullying. Opening lines of

Power Parent

communication before your child is involved in bullying makes it easier for them to tell you when something happens. It is also important to work with a school to help prevent bullying before it starts.

• If you know or suspect bullying has occurred, learn how to find out what has happened with your child. Understanding what has happened can also help in communicating with school or community officials about the situation.

• If you have determined bullying has occurred, learn how you and school or community officials can work together to support your child, whether they were bullied, bullied others, or witnessed bully-ing. Learn also about considerations for specific groups.

• If bullying is occurring at school, learn about what your state requires schools to do in your state’s anti-bullying law. Learn also about federal laws that require schools to address harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex, and disabilities and ways to report situations that have not been adequately addressed to the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice.

If you have worked with your child and your school and need additional assistance, find resources to help address the situation.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit www.stopbullying.gov

Help Your Child Become a Reading Superstar new words, and if necessary, look them up in a

paper or internet dictionary.

• Read to your child every night. Read her books on

subjects she has a genuine interest in. Ask her to

read parts of these book to you. Ask leading

questions such as, “What do you think is going to

happen next?” Or, “How do you like this book so

far?” “Why do you feel that way?”

• Start a “Word Collection Journal” of difficult words

and their (brief) definitions from both homework

assignments and nighttime reading. Review these

words on a regular basis, until your child is very

familiar with them.

A midyear meeting with your child’s teacher will let you

know your child’s current reading level. If your child is

falling behind her classmates, the teacher will offer

specific suggestions for additional reading help. If she is

ahead of her classmates, the teacher can suggest some

exciting and age-appropriate books to challenge her.

P A G E 2

The start of Spring is a

great time to reinvigor-

ate your efforts to help

in your child’s reading

development. From

now through the end of

the school year,

diligently practice the

simple tips found below at home. These efforts will help

your young student become a reading superstar.

• Make up silly rhymes when you are alone with your

child. For example, “Since we don’t have a car, we

can’t go very far. But your face has a glow, from

playing in the snow.” Rhyming books can also be

borrowed from local libraries for various grade levels.

Rhyming prepares your child for learning letter

sounds and for decoding words. The more your child

can hear and understand the nature of rhymes, the

easier she will find reading.

• Help him with his reading homework by showing

enthusiastic interest in every assignment. Ask him

questions about his homework and praise him when

can discuss why his class was given this assign-

ment. Ask if there are any “new words” that are

causing him concern. Explain the definition of the

P A G E 3

School Bus Safety Teach your child to follow these practices to make school

bus transportation safer:

Safety Starts at the Bus Stop

Your child should arrive at the bus stop at least five

minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. Visit the

bus stop and show your child where to wait for the bus:

at least three giant steps (six feet) away from the curb.

Remind your child that the bus stop is not a place to run

or play.

Get On and Off Safely

When the school bus arrives, your child should wait until

the bus comes to a complete stop, the door opens, and

the driver says it’s okay before approaching the bus

door. Your child should use the handrails to avoid falling.

Use Caution Around the Bus

Your child should never walk behind a school bus. If your

child must cross the street in front of the bus, tell him/her

to walk on a sidewalk or along the side of the street to a

place at least five giant steps (10 feet) in front of the bus

before crossing. Your child should also make eye contact

with the bus driver before crossing to make sure the driv-

er can see him/her. If your child drops something near

the school bus, like a ball or book, the safest thing is for

your child to tell the bus driver right away. Your child

should not try to pick up the item, because the driver

might not be able to see him/her.

Exit Door on Bus

All Buses have exit doors at the back of bus. In case of

an emergency, the bus driver will direct students to this

door to exit. Please make note that student will exit or-

derly and quietly, taking directives from the bus driver

after exiting the bus.

Resource: www.nhtsa.gov

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Annual Conference The Grandparents Raising

Grandchildren Information

Center of La will hold its

21st annual conference on

Friday, April 20, 2018 at

Holiday Inn South, 9940

Airline Hwy, Baton Rouge,

La. To register for the

conference please call

225.810.3555. The theme

for this year is:

Grandparents Rock.

There will be 8 Education-

al Workshops, as well as

over 40 Exhibitors with a

wealth of Information for

grandparents/Caregivers

raising children not their own. In addition, a legal work-

shop with Attorneys and a Judge with free legal advice.

According to Generations United, there were 57,000

Children living with no parent present. 142,269 children

under 18 live in homes with grandparents or other

relatives. Louisiana rates 3rd in the nation with

grandparents headed households.

The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Information

Center of La, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to

offering both information and support to grandparents

raising grandchildren and other relatives serving as

parents to children who are not their own. They partner

with other agencies and organizations to help empower

grandparents and kinship caregivers.

Fruit and Vegetable Safety Eating a diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables

provides important health benefits, but it’s important

that you select and prepare them safely.

Fruits and vegetables add nutrients to your diet that help

protect you from heart disease, stroke, and

some cancers. In addition, choosing vegetables, fruits,

nuts, and other produce over high-calorie foods can help

you manage your weight.

But sometimes raw fruits and vegetables contain harmful

germs, such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria, that can

make you and your family sick. In the United States,

nearly half of foodborne illnesses are caused by germs

on fresh produce.

The safest produce is cooked; the next safest is washed.

Enjoy uncooked fruits and vegetables while taking steps

to avoid foodborne illness, also known as food poisoning.

Cook sprouts thoroughly

to reduce the risk of

illness. Sprouts are a

particular concern because

the warm, humid conditions

needed to grow sprouts also

are ideal for germs to multi-

ply. Therefore, eating raw or

lightly cooked sprouts may

lead to food poisoning. It’s

especially important to avoid

raw sprouts if you are in a

group more likely to get seriously sick from food poison-

ing: pregnant women, young children, older adults, and

people with weakened immune systems.

At the store or market:

• Choose produce that isn’t bruised or damaged.

• Keep precuts fruits and vegetables cold by choosing produce that is refrigerated or kept on ice.

• Separate fruits and vegetables from raw meat, poul-try, and seafood in your shopping cart and in your grocery bags.

At home:

• Wash your hands, kitchen utensils, and food prepa-ration surfaces, including chopping boards and countertops, before and after preparing fruits and vegetables.

• Clean fruits and vegetables before eating, cutting, or cooking, unless the package says the contents have been washed.

• Wash or scrub fruits and vegetables under running water—even if you do not plan to eat the peel—so dirt and germs on the surface do not get inside when you cut.

• Cut away any damaged or bruised areas before pre-paring or eating.

• Dry fruit or vegetables with a clean paper towel.

• Keep fruits and vegetables separate from raw foods from animals, such as meat, poultry, and seafood.

• Refrigerate fruits and vegetables you have cut, peeled, or cooked within 2 hours (or 1 hour if the out-side temperature is 90°or warmer). Chill them at 40°F or colder in a clean container.

Groups with a higher chance of food poisoning

Anyone can get a foodborne illness, but people in certain

groups are more likely to get sick and to have a more

serious illness. These groups are:

• Young children

• Pregnant women

• Adults aged 65 and older

• People with weakened immune systems

If you or someone you care for has a greater chance of

foodborne illness, it’s especially important to take steps

to prevent it.

P A G E 4

Promoting Healthy Living for EBR Families

P A G E 5

Kids and Mobile Phones What age is appropriate for a kid to have a mobile

phone? That's something for you and your family to

decide. Consider your child’s age, personality, and

maturity, and your family's circumstances. Is your child

responsible enough to follow rules set by you and the

school?

When you decide your children are ready for a mobile

phone, teach them to think about safety and

responsibility.

Phones, Features, and Options

Decide on options and features for your kid's phone.

Your mobile phone company and the phone itself should

give you some choices for privacy settings and child

safety controls. Most carriers allow parents to turn off

features, like web access, texting, or downloading. Some

cell phones are made especially for children. They're

designed to be easy to use, and have features like

limited internet access, minute management, number

privacy, and emergency buttons.

Be smart about smart phones.

Many phones offer web access and mobile apps. If your

children are going to use a phone and you're concerned

about what they might find online, you can choose a

phone with limited internet access, or you can turn on

web filtering.

Get familiar with social mapping.

Many mobile phones now have GPS technology

installed: kids with these phones can pinpoint where their

friends are — and be pinpointed by their friends. Advise

your kids to use these features only with friends they

know in person and trust, and not to broadcast their

location to the world, 24-7. In addition, some carriers

offer GPS services that let parents map their kid's

location.

Develop Cell Phone Rules

Explain what you expect.

Talk to your kids about when and where it's appropriate

to use their cell phones. You also may want to establish

rules for responsible use. Do you allow calls or texting at

the dinner table? Do you have rules about cell phone use

at night? Should they give you their cell phones while

they're doing homework, or when they're supposed to be

sleeping?

Don't stand for mobile bullying.

Kids can use mobile phones to bully or harass others.

Talk to your kids about treating others the same way they

want to be treated. The manners and ethics you've

taught them apply on phones, too.

Set an example.

It's illegal to drive while texting or surfing or talking on the

phone without a hands-free device in many states, but

it's dangerous everywhere. Set an example for your kids.

Talk to them about the dangers and consequences of

distracted driving.

Mobile Sharing and Networking

Networking and sharing on-the-go can present unique

opportunities and challenges. These tools can foster cre-

ativity and fun, but they could cause problems related to

personal reputation and safety.

Use care when sharing photos and videos.

Most mobile phones now have camera and video

capability, making it easy for teens to capture and share

every moment. Encourage your teens to think about their

privacy and that of others before they share photos and

videos via cell phone. Get the okay of the photographer

or the person in the shot before posting videos or photos.

It could be embarrassing and even unsafe. It's easier to

be smart upfront about what media they share at the out-

set than to do damage control later.

Use good judgment with mobile social networking.

Many social networking sites have a feature that allows

users to check their profiles and post comments from

their phones, allowing access from

anywhere. Filters you've installed on

your home computer won't limit what

kids can do on a phone. If your

teens are using a mobile phone, talk

to them about using good sense

when they're social networking from

it.

P A G E 6 V O L U M E 1 0 , I S S U E 9

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CORNER

4 Simple, Fun Activities for Parents and Preschoolers to do Together

When you're playing with your preschooler, even favorite

games can lose their appeal after a while – for both of

you. Here are some easy activities to try when the old

standbys become a little ho-hum.

1. Create "scrap boxes" for favorite places

On an outing to a favorite place – a park or another place

you like to visit – gather things particular to that spot, like

shiny rocks or acorns. Take photos of mementos that

won't last, like colorful leaves.

Once you're home, help your child decorate a box to

store your collection. For example, have her draw a

picture (or print out a photo) of the place and glue it to

the box top. Then let her color and embellish it any way

she'd like. Make a different box for each of your favorite

places.

Then on those days you need to stay inside, you can

snuggle up with your child and relive your favorite

outings as you sift through the treasures you've

collected.

2. Build a simple bird feeder

To attract more

feathered friends to

your yard, here are two

quick ideas for DIY bird

feeders. You'll need

birdseed, peanut

butter, empty toilet

paper rolls or cut-up

empty paper towel

rolls, an orange or a

grapefruit, and twine.

To make the first

feeder, sprinkle bird-

seed on a container

that has a rim, like

plate or pie tin. Help

your child spread a thin

layer of peanut butter

on the outside of the

paper rolls, then have him roll the peanut butter coating

in the birdseed until it's well covered.

Slip the feeders right over tree branches or use twine to

hang them up.

You can make two feeders from an orange. (You can

also use a grapefruit.)

Parent prepwork: Cut the fruit in half and carefully scoop

out the fruit, leaving plenty of thick rind. Use a skewer to

poke a small hole in opposite sides of each orange half,

about a half inch from the top. Then thread a long piece

of twine through both holes, and knot the ends of the

twine together to make a hanger.

Help your child combine the peanut butter and birdseed

and spoon the mixture into each orange half. Hang it up

outside.

3. Make bubbles

Make your own bubble solution by mixing one part dish-

washing detergent with 10 parts water and adding a little

glycerin or corn syrup to make the bubbles hold. Your

child can use almost any open-ended object to make

bubbles, like the rings from a six-pack of soda. Try

making bigger and bigger bubbles!

4. Arrange food art

Raid the refrigerator and fruit bowl for "art supplies" that

you and your child can arrange into pictures on a large

plate. Cut up carrots, cucumbers, grapes, or other

colorful fruits and vegetables for inspiration. The two of

you can create anything from a clown or train to a

beautiful piece of abstract art. Use olives for eyes, round

crackers for wheels, slices of cheese as windows – the

possibilities are endless.

And then the real fun begins: Eating your masterpiece!

P A G E 7 V O L U M E 1 0 , I S S U E 9

National Garden Month: Can You Dig It! It’s April, and that means it’s officially National Garden

Month. So naturally, we thought it would be appropriate

to shed a little light (pun intended) on the topic.

Adding a garden to your home doesn’t just improve the

aesthetics of your yard; it also increases your home’s

property value. Whether you’re wanting to go all out

with a vegetable garden or to simply add a little curb

appeal with some colorful flowers, find out what you

need to know about designing the perfect garden —

and how to make the most of your garden, for that

matter — this month.

Getting Started: Garden Design Ideas

First rule of green thumb: Make a plan. Fruits or vegeta-

bles. Flowers or shrubs. Regardless of what you grow,

a successful garden starts with a design plan.

Vegetable Garden Ideas

• Build raised beds. One of the best vegetable

gardening tips for beginners is to consider creating

a raised-bed garden. You don’t have to struggle

with your home’s existing soil. Watering and

harvesting are more efficient, and you don’t have to

waste as much time battling weeds.

• Consider containers. If you would rather start on a

smaller scale, take advantage of the flexibility that

comes with container planting, including hanging

baskets and upside-down planters. The only catch?

They require more watering and fertilizing than

in-ground gardens.

• Plan around growing habits. Base your garden’s

design on the growing habits of the plants you

choose. For example, if you want to plant some-

thing that spreads (like cucumbers), avoid planting

it in an area where it may hinder the growth of other

plants.

Small Garden Ideas

• Reach for the sky. Literally. The sky is the limit

when it comes to a shortage on outdoor space.

Take advantage of tall trees and mix fixtures, like

trellises and arches, with climbing plants.

• Use tiered planters. Add depth, as well as a unique

touch, to your garden by including tiered planters.

Let your creativity show; there are no rules when it

comes to what the planters look like.

• Incorporate mirrors. Create the illusion of a larger

space with a few strategically placed mirrors.

Keeping it Going:

Tips for Gardening at Home

Once you’ve successfully designed your garden and

started reaping the benefits — whether in the form of a

relaxing backyard oasis or food that you feel good

about feeding your family — it’s time to ensure the ben-

efits keep coming. Consider these tips:

• Practice succession planting. Yield three or even

four crops from a single area by planting different

fast-maturing transplants — plants that are already

a month or so old — after each harvest. Simply add

one-fourth to one-half an inch of compost to the soil

each time you replant. This is especially beneficial

when you’re short on garden space.

• Extend your growing season. Stretch out the end of

the season by a few weeks (or get an early start

next year) by keeping the air around your plants

warm.

• Don’t be afraid of change. The beauty of gardening

is that the possibilities are endless. Don’t be afraid

to experiment with your garden’s design or switch

your plants up occasionally.

Knowing how to design the perfect garden is the first

step. Then it’s all about knowing how to make the most

of your garden.

P A G E 8

Energy Tips for Daylight Savings Time

As the days get longer and the weather gets warmer,

your energy bill gets bigger. Take advantage of these

tips to reduce the energy consumed in your home as

spring and summer approach.

Daylight Saving Time is here! With it comes longer,

hotter days that can drastically affect your energy bill.

Here are some creative tips to help you save money for

the spring and summer months ahead.

Take Advantage of the Extra Sun

Natural light is a great way to reduce your energy costs.

Instead of hiding behind closed blinds, open them up

and let the sunlight brighten your home. When your air

conditioner is on, keep your blinds closed during the

day to lower the temperature of your home.

Keep Your Cool

Find your threshold for cool air and set the temperature

accordingly. As a basis, 78˚ when you’re at home and

85˚ when you’re not is a good way to lower costs. Also,

to maximize the effectiveness of your unit, don’t forget

to change your air filters and clear any vent blockages.

Turn Down the Heat

Water heaters account for about 18% of your home

energy costs. Lowering the temperature on your unit to

around 120˚ will help reduce how much energy it

consumes.

Fans Are Your Friends

One of the biggest contributors to your energy bill is

your air conditioner. Turn it off completely and cool

down your home with window, ceiling and whole-house

fans for big savings.

Seal Your House

Weather stripping, caulking windows and sealing air

leaks will keep the cold air in and the hot air out. This

trick will benefit your heating costs in the cold winter

months as well.

Strategically Run Your Appliances

Running the dishwasher and dryer during the day

increases the temperature of your home. Wait until the

sun goes down to do the dishes and laundry so your air

conditioner won’t have to work as hard to cool your

home. Washing your clothes in cold water helps lower

costs, as does unplugging electronics when they aren’t

in use.

Fire Up the Grill

Need an excuse to spend more time manning the BBQ?

Grilling outdoors, as opposed to using your oven, also

reduces the heat of your home.

Sources: Pacific Power & Energy.Gov

BROADMOOR HIGH AND JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT

For months now, Dr. Debra Wilkerson’s principles of

business class has been afforded the opportunity to work

with Mr. Layne McDaniel, our Junior Achievement (JA)

volunteer, President/CEO of Noesis Data LLC; president/

CEO of Innovative Analytics LLC; and president of the

Credit Bureau of Baton Rouge Foundation. For weeks at

a time, students learned all about developing business

plans, target markets, competition, variable and fixed

costs, break-even analysis and much more. The

culminating activity was to compete in the JA Big Pitch

Event on March 14, 2018 at Baton Rouge Community

College. Students developed the TopC TurV 2-in-1travel

mug and won 1st place. The presenters were M. Stewart,

J. Nash and L. Abuhajah. Presenters received $5,000 to

be split among them in continuing education funds.

Congratulations to Mr. T. Boatner, principal,

Dr. Wilkerson, her students and a special thank you to

Junior Achievement and Mr. Layne McDaniel.

Broadmoor High School in the News

P A G E 9

BROADMOOR HIGH GOES TO FESTIVAL

The Broadmoor High School Choir performed in the

LMEA District IV Large Ensemble Festival on March 15,

2018 at the First Baptist Church in downtown Baton

Rouge. Students participating in the festival range from

9th-12th grade. These choir students received a plaque

for successfully earning a Superior rating in Concert.

They proved that ‘Practice Makes Perfect”.

Congratulation to Ms. A. Jackson and her choir students.

BROADMOOR HIGH CAREER AND TECHNICAL

EDUCATION BUSINESS PARTNERS

On Friday, March 16, 2018, the Broadmoor High School

Career and Technical Education Department held its first

meeting of business partners to potentially devise an

advisory council to advise, assist, and advocate. The

meeting started promptly at 8:00 a.m. Breakfast was

provided, participation was great and discussions were

awesome. CTE teachers are D. Duncan, O. Grant. J.

Jones, V. Langley, E. Odom, A. Queret, and

D. Wilkerson.

*Articles courtesy of Dr. Debra Wilkerson

P A G E 1 0

V O L U M E 1 0 , I S S U E 9 P A G E 1 2

• April 2nd—6th: SPRING/EASTER BREAK (No School)

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

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Spring Break

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P A G E 1 2

Parent Power is a publication of the

East Baton Rouge Parish School System

H. Warren Drake, Superintendent of Schools

wdrake@ebrschools.org

Marlon Cousin, Community Liaison

mcousin@ebrschools.org

The East Baton Rouge Parish School System and all of its entities (including Career and Technical

Education Programs) does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, national origin, disability or gender

in its educational programs and activities (including employment and application for employment), and it is prohibit-

ed from discriminating on the basis of gender by Title IX (20 USC 168) and on the basis of disability by Section

504 (42 USC 794). The Title IX Coordinator is Andrew Davis, Director of Risk Management

(ADavis6@ebrschools.org) - phone (225) 929-8705. The Section 504 Coordinator is Elizabeth Taylor Chapman,

Director of Exceptional Student Services (ETaylor@ebrschools.org) – phone (225) 929-8600. The Title II

Coordinator is Dr. Sandra Horton, Administrative Director of Federal Programs (SBHorton@ebrschools.org) –

phone (225) 922-5538.

All students have an opportunity to participate in Career & Technical Programs of Study including, but not limited

to, areas of Health Care, Construction Crafts & Trades, Automotive Technology, IT Computer Technology, IT

Computer Technology, Culinary Programs, Criminal Justice and Agriculture. Admission requirements for each

course can be found in the student course guide/schedule packet of the individual campus where the course is

being offered. Please contact the Guidance Counselor at the specific school site for additional information,

program requirements and/or any questions you may have.