SEPTEMBER 2010 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

Our Mission is to assist young adolescents, grades six through eighth, who have been expelled from Jefferson’s public school system to learn appropriate academic and behavioral skills, enabling them to return as functioning, responsible participants to the public middle and high schools.

·        GETTING IT RIGHT! We achieved our MISSION goal! We are proud that every student who attended JCS in 2009-2010 was able to return to their district school for 2010-2011. We look forward to assisting new students as they experience issues in the district schools.

·         We are also pleased to announce that for the fifth year in a row 100% of our teaching staff has returned. This provides the continuity needed for an alternative school program to be successful. Teachers continue training in the use of the Promethean Technology. All are completing their GOLD LEVEL JPPSS Promethean certification this year.

·         CONGRATULATIONS to David Triche and Kenneth Triche, our Social Studies teachers. On the recent ILEAP tests, JCS 6^th and 7^th grade students exceeded both the JPPSS and State averages.

• CONGRATULATIONS to: Susan Block, Dawn Senac, Kerrie Slaton, Odessa Mayho, Patricia Hagmann and Verna Robertson who have earned their STUDY ISLAND Power User Certification. With STUDY ISLAND teachers build custom diagnostic and formative assessments where student results are automatically scored and recorded. Feedback on student writing and vocabulary skills and math are immediate. Students are then fully engaged during whole-group instruction and individualized instruction.

FAREWELL   Judge Andrea Janzen and Mrs. Pika Sdrougias will be leaving our Board of Directors. We thank them for their efforts on behalf of JCS.

WELCOME to Barron Burmaster of the District Attorney’s office, Harold Buchler, Attorney at law, and Dr. Leroy Kendrick of Delgado to our Coalition Board.  Lee Finkelstein of EJGH joins our Board of Directors.

Your involvement is crucial to student success at JCS.

On behalf of our students, we offer the following opportunities for your consideration and support:

• MENTORING     We hope to provide an adult mentor for each student. If you have mentored in the past, we need you to continue. If you have not been a mentor, please consider it. Call 504-836-0808 if you would like more information or to volunteer as a mentor.
• TECHNOLOGY    Hardware and software is expensive. We must continue to upgrade our aging equipment and purchase new student materials. We must continue to acquire digital learning materials which individualize student learning.
• BEAUTIFICATION     We would like to find a garden club or service organization or individuals who will assume ongoing care of these areas.
• STUDENT INCENTIVES     As we recognize the positive behavior of our students, we need items such as gift certificates, movie passes, and food coupons. We also need sponsors for our weekly reward program.
• DONATIONS     Of course, we can always use unrestricted donations for a variety of school needs. Please consider JCS if you donate to the United Way by naming us as the recipient of your donation. 
• SPECIAL EVENTS Our Classic Chef’s event needs food and prize sponsors as well as volunteers to help produce the event. Classic Chefs 2011 is scheduled for February 18.

Call 504-836-0808 if you would like more information about the school, to volunteer as a mentor, or to schedule a visit.

“Outstanding…You’re undeniably saving lives.”

US District Attorney Jim Letten     May 13, 2009

“Jefferson Community School does alternative education right.”

Louisiana State Superintendent Paul Pastorek      March 13, 2009