As part of its December 14, 2017, regular meeting, the St. Mary Parish School Board recognized and congratulated the following individuals:

• Student of the Month: Claire Crochet, 5th Grade (J. S. Aucoin Elementary School)
• Student of the Month: Benjamin Robicheaux, 5th Grade (LaGrange Elementary School)
• Student of the Month: Ruston Bertrand, 12th Grade (Franklin High School)
  
  

• Employee of the Month: Ms. Sarah Elrhanjaoui, 5th Grade ELA Teacher (J. S. Aucoin Elementary School)
• Employee of the Month: Ms. Adrienne Minor, Special Education Teacher (LaGrange Elementary School)
• Employee of the Month: Ms. Bridget Madison, School Counselor (Franklin High School)

Congratulations to these outstanding St. Mary Parish students and employees.

Mr. Pete Boudreaux, Human Resource Director, has released the names of the district teachers who have been selected as St. Mary Parish Teachers of the Year. The individuals will compete for regional and state recognition during the 2018-19 school year.

Congratulations to the following outstanding educators:

Elementary Teacher of the Year: Becky Wiggins (Norman Elementary School)

Junior High Teacher of the Year: Hollis Wilson-Davis (Franklin Junior High School)

High School Teacher of the Yearr: Jody Crout (Centerville High School)

Your professionalism and dedication to the students of St. Mary Parish is appreciated.

As part of its November 9, 2017, regular meeting, the St. Mary Parish School Board recognized and congratulated the following individuals:

• Student of the Month: Kenan Jones, 12th Grade (Berwick High School)
• Student of the Month: Aubree Hebert, 11th Grade (Centerville High School)
• Student of the Month: James Montgomery, 8th Grade (Morgan City Junior High School)
  
  

• Employee of the Month: Ms. Kimberly Vasquez, Librarian (Berwick High School)
• Employee of the Month: Ms. Christine Spiese, Business Teacher (Centerville High School)
• Employee of the Month: Ms. Misleydis Almeida-de la Cruz, ELL Paraprofessional (Morgan City Junior High School)

Congratulations to these outstanding St. Mary Parish students and employees.

District and school performance scores were released by the Louisiana Department of Education today detailing academic achievements that continue to rank St. Mary Schools as the highest “B” rated school district in the state. In 2017, St. Mary’s district performance score rose .5 points bringing the school system to within .3 points of attaining the distinction of an “A” district. St. Mary Parish received a district performance score of 99.7, a respectable gain from the 2016 DPS of 99.2. Additionally, St. Mary continued to outpace the state whose performance score increased from 83 in 2016 to 86.8 in 2017.

In a press release dated Nov. 7, the St. Mary Pairsh School Board commends seven schools for achieving the "A" status:

• Berwick High
• Wyandotte Elementary
• Bayou Vista Elementary
• Berwick Junior High
• Norman Elementary,
• Morgan City High
• Patterson High

Superintendent Leonard Armato issued a statement of commendation to all schools for their daily commitment to the educational accomplishments of each student. “I am exceptionally proud of the district’s dedication to academic excellence. St. Mary has clearly shown its ability to sustain exceptional growth and remain a top-performing school district in the state. The efforts of teachers, students, administrators, and instructional staff are noteworthy and clearly illustrate a deep commitment to public education and the drive to prioritize success. The release of 2017 performance data offers additional evidence of the devotion seen in each classroom every day.”

Congratulations to the Red Ribbon Week Parade of Schools winners and to all participating schools:

Red Ribbon T-Shirt Sales Winner - Wyandotte Elementary

Parade of Schools Cheer Competition Elementary Division

• 1st Place – Bayou Vista Elementary
• 2nd Place – Hattie A. Watts Elementary
• 3rd Place – LaGrange Elementary
• Honorable Mention – Foster Elementary

Parade of Schools Banner Competition Elementary Division

• 1st Place – J. S. Aucoin Elementary
• 2nd Place – Wyandotte Elementary
• 3rd Place – M. E. Norman Elementary
• Honorable Mention – Foster Elementary

Parade of Schools Cheer Competition Junior High Division

• 1st Place – Morgan City Junior High
• 2nd Place – Patterson Junior High
• 3rd Place – Berwick Junior High

Parade of Schools Banner Competition Junior High Division

• 1st Place – Morgan City Junior High
• 2nd Place – Berwick Junior High
• 3rd Place – Patterson Junior High

Parade of Schools Participants

Elementary Division                                                         

• LaGrange Elementary                                       
• W. P. Foster Elementary 
• Hattie A. Watts Elementary                              
• Bayou Vista Elementary
• M. E. Norman Elementary
• Wyandotte Elementary
• J. S. Aucoin Elementary

Junior High Division

• Berwick Junior High
• Patterson Junior High
• Morgan City Junior High

Ms. Gidget Everitt, SMP's At-Risk Interventionist, has released the event schedule for the upcoming Red Ribbon Week (October 21-29). All activities will focus on this year's theme:  "Lead the way to a Drug-Free USA! Be Drug-Free!"

• Friday, Oct. 20:  Decorate Day and Newspaper Tabloid
• Saturday, Oct. 21: Motorcade "Operation Red Light" - Convoy of emergency vehicles to travel from Amelia (9:00 AM) to Glencoe Charter.
• Sunday, Oct. 22: Day of Prayer
• Monday, Oct. 23:  Wear Orange on Bully-Free Day
• Tuesday, Oct. 24: Character Counts! Day
• Wednesday, Oct. 25: Wear Red on DARE Day
• Thursday, Oct. 26: Tobacco-Free Day
• Friday, Oct. 27: Wear Purple for Domestic Violence Awareness Day
• Saturday, Oct. 28: Parade of Schools and "Zoo to Boo" Family Fun Day @ Morgan City Petting Zoo 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
• Sunday, Oct. 29:  Day of Prayer

As part of its October 12, 2017, regular meeting, the St. Mary Parish School Board recognized and congratulated the following individuals:

• Student of the Month: 
  • Da’Jha Boutte, 5th Grade, W. P. Foster Elementary
  • Ryly Aucoin, 5th Grade, J. B. Maitland Elementary
• Employee of the Month: 
  • Ms. Chastity Polk, 1st Grade Teacher, W. P. Foster Elementary
  • Ms. Monica Governale, 1st Grade Teacher and Technology Lead Teacher, J. B. Maitland Elementary

In a press release dated Sept. 28, Superintendent Leonard J. Armato announced that Bayou Vista Elementary has been named a 2017 Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. The distinction was earned based on the school’s documented commitment to academic performance and closing the achievement gap among subgroups of students. 

Current principal Ms. Carmen Lagarde and former principal Ms. Carol St. Germain noted that the recognition was an incredible accomplishment as it validates the school’s complete commitment to preparing all students for educational success. The achievement of Blue Ribbon status was the clear result of a school-wide collaborative effort to persevere through instructional changes and challenges to ensure that all students experience academic growth. The teachers and staff of Bayou Vista Elementary have made a genuine and conscientious effort to implement effective learning strategies with the highest degree of fidelity in order to impact all students.

The St. Mary Parish School Board approved the following proclamations at its regular meeting on Sept. 14, 2018:

• School Bus Safety Week (October 16-20)
• Red Ribbon Week (October 20-29)
• National School Lunch Week (October 9-13)

As part of its Sept. 14, 2017, regular meeting, the St. Mary Parish School Board recognized and congratulated the following individuals from Berwick Junior High School: 

• Student of the Month: Gweneth Dohmann, 8th Grade 
• Employee of the Month: Ms. Mary "Susie" Butler, Bookkeeper