The Louisiana Department of Education, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is offering families assistance in purchasing food to help offset school meals missed during the COVID-19 closures. The emergency food benefit is available to ALL children who would normally receive free or reduced meals at school and to ALL students who attend a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school. 

St. Mary Parish CEP schools include the following:

• Aucoin Elementary
• B. Edward Boudreaux Middle
• Bayou Vista Elementary
• Berwick Elementary
• Centerville High
• Foster Elementary
• Franklin High
• Franklin Jr. High
• Hattie Watts Elementary
• LaGrange Elementary
• Maitland Elementary
• Morgan City High
• Morgan City Jr. High
• Norman Elementary
• Patterson High
• Patterson Jr. High
• Raintree Elementary
• West St. Mary High
• Wyandotte Elementary

Therefore, a parent whose child attends any one of these schools is eligible to apply, as well as any parent whose child is eligible for free/reduced meals at Berwick High and Berwick Jr. High

This is an incredible opportunity for families to obtain assistance in a quick and easy process. The portal for applying opens on Monday, May 18th. Applications are due by June 8, 2020.

More information about the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program can be accessed through the state's digital flyer. The flyer includes links to the application portal and frequently-asked questions (FAQs) about the program. 

Round 1 PreK registration opened on Thursday, May 7, and will close on May 21, 2020.   Parents/guardians who missed the initial registration day should contact the attendance zone school by phone to schedule a registration appointment. If there is no answer at the school's phone number, Ms. Fryou at the district office (337-836-6050) can assist in scheduling a registration time. 

Parents can expect to receive calls about acceptance on Friday, May 22, 2020.  

St. Mary Parish Schools will hold registration of PreK students and any new students enrolling in Kindergarten and 1st Grade on May 7, 2020, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. 

Parents/Guardians are reminded to bring the following information:

• Child's birth certificate
• Social Security card
• Immunization record
• Proof of address (electric/utility bill in parent/guardian's name, state ID card, lease or mortgage statement) 
• Proof of income (2 current check stubs, current SNAP benefit letter with student's name)

For safety, we ask that only one parent with a mask come to register the child. No children are allowed on campus at this time.  Additional information can be obtained by calling the school in your attendance zone. 

From Ms. Claire Guarisco, Supervisor of Child Nutrition:

The Meals-To-You program has been extended until June 30 for any student that enrolled during our open enrollment period (March 26 - March 31).

(Update) Parents/guardians with problems with damaged boxes should email support@mealstoyou.org for assistance.  All other questions and/or problems should be emailed to info@mealstoyou.org. 

In a press release dated April 24, 2020, the St. Mary Parish School System has shared its plans for ending the school year and finalizing grades. These plans were prepared in response to the governor's extension of school closures.

• Students will continue to complete grade-appropriate instructional programs in order to receive credit for courses and meet promotion guidelines.
  
  
• Course completion will be determined by earning 3 quality points instead of the traditional 4 quality points.
   
• Completion of instructional packets or high school credit recovery programs will be used to determine promotion or course credit for some students. The deadline for completing this supplemental work is May 8, 2020. 
  
  
• Schools may communicate with parents through teleconferencing or phone calls to discuss promotional decisions.
  
  
• Summer learning opportunities using AR360, Edgenuity, and Clever applications are being planned. 
  
  
• Information about retrieving personal items from classrooms and lockers will be announced as updates to the stay-at-home order are received. 
  
  
• Several high schools have held senior spotlight nights to recognize the Class of 2020. Preparations for formal graduation ceremonies are ongoing and are dependent on the state's re-opening of public areas. 

Read the entire press release.  

St. Mary Parish Public Schools will begin registration for pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and first grade students at area schools.  In accordance with the age guidelines set by the Louisiana Department of Education, all pre-kindergarten students must be four (4) years old and all kindergarten students must be five (5) years old on or before September 30, 2020, for the 2020-2021 school session.  Any student entering first grade in the fall and not currently enrolled in a public school kindergarten should register on the designated registration days.   

Parents and guardians are asked to attend registration at the school in their attendance zone. Registration for elementary schools in St. Mary Parish will be held from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM on Thursday May 7, 2020.  This may change if the Stay-at- Home order is extended.  We will set up registration outside and have chairs set up six feet apart in order to keep everyone safe. 

Early registration is essential as it enables the school system to plan accordingly for personnel and teaching materials, thereby ensuring a successful start to the new school year.  The deadline for the first round of registrations is May 21.  Students who register after the initial deadline will be placed on the round two list and will be assigned to a class based on availability.   

 Parents are asked to bring copies of the information listed below on the day of registration:  

•  Birth certificate
• Immunization record
• Social security card
• Allergy information
• Proof of residency
• Proof of income (pre-kindergarten students only)

Anyone needing additional information can contact Mrs. Niki Fryou at the Central Office Complex in Centerville at 337-836-9661or nfryou@stmaryk12.net or contact the school in your residential area.

From Dr. Teresa Bagwell, Superintendent of St. Mary Parish Schools:

Governor John Bel Edwards has announced that schools will remain closed for the remainder of the academic year. Students in St. Mary Parish Schools will continue their educational studies through the use of school-issued instructional resource packets and online options presented on the Learn-at-Home page on the district's website. 

Parents can expect continued communication from schools and announcements from the district as the school year draws to a close. Information about important areas such as graduation, promotion, and summer programs will be immediately released as decisions are made. St. Mary Parish schools fully intend to make every effort in sustaining learning for students throughout this time and will continue to provide resources for parents in order to fulfill that commitment. 

Read the official press release (dated April 17, 2020).

From Dr. Bagwell, Superintendent of St. Mary Parish Schools:

Governor John Bel Edwards has officially closed all schools until April 30. The continued closure emphasizes the need for students and parents to take advantage of the district’s “Learning from Home” resources. The expanded list of grade level and content area online content can be found at:  https://www.stmaryk12.net/learnathome. 

Additionally, schools have contacted parents to collect a second phase of learning packets in printed format. All schools will be distributing this important set of learning materials early next week. These instructional materials are critically vital for students to complete as they aid in the continued learning necessary for grade level or course completion. Any parent who is unable to collect the materials at the scheduled time should email their child’s teacher or contact the school.

 At this crucial time in public education, we must work together as educators and parents to ensure that our kids are safe and learning. St. Mary Parish Schools strives to provide all necessary instructional access to aid families in this unparalleled time. We deeply appreciate the ongoing work of teachers, parents and principals as we endeavor to maintain a child’s connection to school in a time of necessary social distancing safeguards.

Maitland Elementary is participating in the U. S. Census Bureau's Statistics in Schools (SIS) program to unite schools around the country in an effort to count every child in the 2020 Census. 

The national census is conducted every 10 years. Data from this census is used to determine funding for many programs including special education, classroom technology, teacher training, after-school programs, and school lunch assistance. 

In mid-March, your family should begin receiving official Census 2020 mail with instructions on how to respond. By April 1, 2020, every home should receive an invitation to participate in the 2020 Census. You will have three options for responding:

• Online.
• By phone.
• By mail.

Maitland Elementary urges every family to participate. The Statistics in Schools flyer in English (link the word English to the appropriate document) and Spanish (link the word Spanish to the appropriate document) can provide you with additional information for this important upcoming event. You can also find these flyers in our Peachjar E-Flyers area. 

St. Mary Parish has been recognized by Project Tomorrow for its participation and commitment to engaging our stakeholders in local decisions on education issues. The district has earned the Speak Up District of Student Empowerment national distinction for our participation in the Speak Up Research Initiative in October 2019. 

If you missed the first opportunity to contribute your thoughts to Speak Up, it's not too late. The survey links were reopened on February 1, 2020, and will remain open until May 1 for students in grades 3-12, parents (in English or Spanish), school employees, and community members. 

Use this link to contribute your ideas and opinions about educational technology, career exploration, and schools of the future:https://speakup.tomorrow.org/SchoolStart