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Teacher of the District for 2009-2010 School Year

Janet Fiveash

After an extensive application and interview process, Janet Fiveash has been selected to represent the Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District as the Teacher of the Year for the 2009-2010 School Year. Ms. Fiveash, a kindergarten teacher, at North Bay Elementary School was chosen as the 2009-2010 Teacher of the Year for North Bay Elementary School and then went on to compete district-wide for District Teacher of the Year.

According to Dr. Rebecca Ladner, Superintendent of the Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District, “Ms. Fiveash is at all times enthusiastic and professional in her pursuit to provide creative and appropriate learning opportunities for her students. Ms. Fiveash has taught kindergarten and first grade at North Bay Elementary for 19 years. She has the respect and admiration of her colleagues, students and parents. Her love and dedication to her profession, our district, and our community is evident in the way she volunteers her time at school, district and community events. She has proven herself time and time again to possess the poise and energy to withstand a taxing schedule and always gives 100 percent.”

Teacher of the Year for 2009-2010 by Campus

Khrystal Boudreaux ~ BHS

Ellie Permiciaro ~ Bay Waveland Middle School

Angela Gill ~ Second Street Elementary School

Janet Fiveash ~ North Bay Elementary School

Gretchen Ross ~ Crossroads Learning Center

Bay High School Selected as one of America’s Best High Schools

U.S. News and World Report looked at thousands of public schools to identify the most outstanding.

Bay High School Received

Out of 245 high schools in the state of Mississippi, Bay High School was selected as one of forty to receive the highly coveted bronze award by US News and World Report.

This places Bay High School in the top 16.3% in the state. Areas that Bay High School was assessed on included college readiness, poverty performance index, state test performance index, and disadvantaged student’s performance gap.

Bay High School has approximately 500 students ranging from grades nine through twelve. Their minority enrollment is roughly 23% and their economically disadvantaged population is currently 100% of the student body.

For more information on how methodology of this study see the article below:

Methodology: America's Best High Schools

By Robert Morse

Posted December 9, 2009

The 2010 U.S.News & World Report Americas Best High Schools methodology, developed by School Evaluation Services, a K-12 education data research business run by Standard & Poor's, is based on the key principles that a great high school must serve all its students well, not just those who are college bound, and that it must be able to produce measurable academic outcomes to show the school is successfully educating its student body across a range of performance indicators.

We analyzed 21,786 public high schools in 48 states plus the District of Columbia. This is the total number of public high schools that had 12th-grade enrollment and sufficient data, primarily from the 2007-2008 school year, to analyze. (Nebraska and Oklahoma did not provide full data. Their schools were evaluated for honorable mention, but none met the criteria.)

A three-step process determined the best high schools. The first two steps ensured that the schools serve all their students well, using state proficiency standards as the benchmarks. For those schools that made it past the first two steps, a third step assessed the degree to which schools prepare students for college-level work.

Test performance. The first step determined whether each school's students were performing better than statistically expected for the average student in the state. We started by looking at reading and math results for all students on each state's high school test. We then factored in the percentage of economically disadvantaged students (who tend to score lower) enrolled at the school to identify the schools that were performing better than statistical expectations.

For those schools that made it past this first step, the second step determined whether the school's least-advantaged students (black, Hispanic, and low income) were performing better than average for similar students in the state. We compared each school's math and reading proficiency rates for disadvantaged students with the statewide results for these student groups and then selected schools that were performing better than this state average.

Schools that made it through the first two steps became eligible to be judged nationally on the final step, college-readiness performance, using Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate test data as the benchmarks for success, depending on which program was largest at the school. AP is a College Board program that offers college-level courses at high schools across the country. The International Baccalaureate program also offers a college-level curriculum. This third step measured which schools produced the best college-level achievement for the highest percentages of their students. This was done by computing a "college readiness index" based on the school's AP or IB participation rate (the number of 12th-grade students who took at least one AP or IB test before or during their senior year, divided by the number of 12th graders) and how well the students did on those tests. The latter part, called quality-adjusted AP or IB participation, is the number of 12th-grade students who took and passed (received an AP score of 3 or higher or an IB score of 4 or higher) at least one of the tests before or during their senior year, divided by the number of 12th graders at that school. For the college readiness index, the quality-adjusted participation rate was weighted 75 percent in the calculation, and 25 percent of the weight was placed on the simple AP or IB participation rate. Only schools that had values greater than 20 in their college readiness index scored high enough to meet this criterion for gold and silver medal selection. The minimum of 20 was used because it represents what it would take to have a "critical mass" of students gaining access to college-level coursework.

The top 100 high schools nationwide with the highest college readiness index scores were ranked numerically (ties were broken using first the participant passing rate and then the average number of AP and/or IB exams passed per test taker) and awarded gold medals. The next 461 top-performing high schools nationwide—based on their college readiness index scores—earned silver medals. An additional 1,189 high schools in 48 states plus the District of Columbia that passed the first two steps were awarded bronze medals. Thirty-seven more high schools in 12 states received an honorable mention medal if they would have scored high enough on the college readiness index to earn a gold medal but didn't fully meet Step 1 and Step 2.

Analysts from School Evaluation Services developed the methodology and compiled the analysis. AP is a trademark owned by the College Board, which was not involved in the production of and does not endorse this product.

BWSD wins $6.9M from FEMA in arbitration

The Sea Coast Echo
By J.R. Welsh
Feb 2, 2010, 17:21

Officials of the Bay-Waveland School District woke up Tuesday morning with nearly $7 million more in hand to finish renovating schools damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

In a David-and-Goliath victory, the small school district won out over FEMA Monday when a panel of arbitration judges ordered the federal agency to fund $6,988,360.59 for hurricane damage repairs at three schools. The funding had previously been denied by FEMA experts, who instead offered the school district only $176,407 for the disputed repairs.

The new money comes separately from more than $59 million already approved for the district by FEMA.

"We are surprised, shocked and pleased," said Rebecca Ladner, the district's superintendent of schools.

FEMA had offered the smaller amount on grounds that some district school buildings could be repaired in patchwork fashion, instead of completely replacing damaged roofs, windows and siding.

In deciding to enter arbitration over the dispute, the school district became the first local government entity in the nation to follow a new procedure instituted to shorten FEMA's normal appeal process.

At issue were repairs the district said were necessary to correct damages caused when Katrina battered Hancock County with peak wind gusts up to 140 miles per hour on Aug. 29, 2005. The disputed work included window damages at Bay Middle School and Waveland Elementary, roof damages at the middle school and Bay High School, and damage to siding at the high school and Bay High's Seymour Gym.

For the arbitration process, school officials, Board of Trustees President Sherry Ponder, former Superintendent Kim Stasny, and their attorneys traveled to Washington in January. They offered testimony and argued their case before an appointed, three-judge panel. The panel's decisions are binding.

The school district disputed some of FEMA's methods in calculating damages, and told the judges of the many frustrations they encountered in dealing with FEMA. The agency often changed teams of officials who came to determine school district damages, and different
FEMA representatives frequently issued conflicting opinions, school district witnesses testified.

During the arbitration hearing on Jan. 5 and 6, FEMA representatives contended the school district had waived its rights to the money by not identifying the roof, siding and window replacements in earlier FEMA project worksheets. "This argument is without merit," the judges concluded in their decision.

The district was represented in arbitration by Ronnie Artigues and Mark Garriga, lawyers with Butler, Snow, O'Mara, Stevens & Cannada. The judicial panel had 60 days in which to render a decision, but did so in only 26 days.

"I was relieved, and glad for the school district," Artigues said yesterday. "They desperately needed the work, and couldn't get it done without FEMA."

The next step is for FEMA to add the $6.9 million to the scope of work for the district.

Ladner said bids will be issued on the additional work as soon as possible, and the district hopes to have all repairs completed in time for the next school year.

"We will get the ball rolling immediately," Ladner said. "Everything is looking up from here."

Middle School Students Artwork Selected by MS DMR for the 2010 Information Calendar

Two Bay-Waveland Middle School students, Bess Baria and Holden Favre, have been selected as winners of the MS Department of Marine Resources 2010 Information Calendar art contest. Both Student submitted artwork in the "Preserving and Enjoying Mississippi's Coastal Resources" art contest were they competed against 1800 other students from throughout the state.

Bess Baria's artwork will appear for the month of July. And Holden Favre's Art work will appear for the month of August.

Teacher of the District for 2009-2010 School Year

Janet Fiveash

Teacher of the Year for 2009-2010 by Campus

Khrystal Boudreaux ~ BHS

Ellie Permiciaro ~ BWMS

Angela Gill ~ SSES

Janet Fiveash ~ NBE

Gretchen Ross ~ CLC

Resiliency Awards 2009 - 2010 School Year

Resiliency Awards for Youth: Kristian Lyons and Jordan Sutherlin

Resilient Citizen Award for Educators: Cindy Chandler, Andy Parker, Sharon Sutherlin and Toy Watts

21st Century Grant

Bay High School has been selected to receive a 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant of $250,000 in Year 1. This grant will fund an after school program for high school students that will include many "out of the box" opportunities for students. The Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District is one of only 32 educational and non-profit organizations to receive this grant this year in the state of Mississippi. The challenge from MDE was to reduce the dropout rate by targeting the high school level.

Dr. Rebecca Ladner interviewed by Weather Channel

Project Fit America Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Bay-Waveland Middle School

Bay-Waveland Middle School Students Help Out Goodwill

The following BWMS student Hunter Russell, Heath Sahuque, Clay Mitchell, Steven Metzger, Zach Carver, Tyce Lawler, Wendy Darda, Clarence Kennedy, Kimberly Summers gave a helping hand to Goodwill. Thank you students for all of your hardwork!

Bay-Waveland Middle School Received $60,000 in instruments
from Mr. Holland's Opus and the Gibson Foundation

Mr. Al Gunsch, Associate Band Director for Bay-Waveland School District spent many hours at his computer seeking grants to fund the purchase of needed instruments. Through the generosity of The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation and the Gibson Foundation/Music Rising, and www.donorschoose.org, the Bay High School and Bay-Waveland Middle School has received new band and percussion equipment, formal concert attire, a percussion storage cabinet, and 2 folio cabinets, among other smaller items such as cymbals and several pair of percussion mallets.

The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation (MHOF) was inspired by the acclaimed motion picture Mr. Holland’s Opus, the story of the profound effect a dedicated music teacher had on generations of students. The film's composer, Michael Kamen, founded MHOF in 1996 as his commitment to the future of music education. MHOF administered a grant funded by the Gibson Foundation/Music Rising in excess of $70,000 in instruments and percussion equipment to the band programs at Bay Middle and High School.

DonorsChoose.org grew out of a Bronx high school where teachers experienced first-hand the scarcity of learning materials in our public schools. Charles Best, then a social studies teacher, sensed that many people would like to help distressed public schools, but were frustrated by a lack of influence over their donations. He created DonorsChoose.org so that individuals could connect directly with classrooms in need. Since launching in 2000, DonorsChoose.org has empowered more than 200,000 teachers and citizen philanthropists to become change makers. Our vision is of a nation where students in every community have the resources they need to learn. Through Donorschoose.org, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has donated about $8,000.

Award-winning Librarian Adds to Honors in Reading Achievement

A local librarian has again received national recognition for outstanding support of reading education, Renaissance Learning announced today.

Vickie Walsh, who works at Bay High School, was awarded Reading Model Library by the Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, based company. Library recertification indicates that Walsh’s efforts to support teachers have resulted in measurable improvements in student performances at Bay High School.

"Vickie exemplifies the kind of commitment to the success of every student that is at the heart of effective schools," said Judi Paul, Chairman of the Board at Renaissance Learning.

Walsh was assisted in her recertification process by library assistant, Charlotte Garrett-Lewis, and volunteer, Ann Steinmetz.

To receive Renaissance Library recertification, librarians must document that their practices encourage student access to a wide variety of books as well as supporting reading practice and self-directed learning. In addition, the librarian must be actively working with individual students to meet Renaissance-recommended standards for reading achievement.

In addition to national recognition, Walsh will receive a certificate in recognition of this achievement, more opportunities for professional development, and other benefits to share with the school.

Happy Halloween from the Black Eyed Peas

Students Have a ROARING Good Time!

Tiger Pride Marching Band Scores All-Superiors

On October 17th the Tiger Pride Marching Band competed in the MGCCC Gold Medal Classic Marching Contest. The band and percussion, directed by Catchie Crider and Al Gunsch, both earned a score of Superior. Steven Baudin, Drum Major, earned a Superior rating at the competition as well as Best in Class Drum Major. The Bay High Color Guard, directed by Liz Cain, earned a superior rating, as well as the Bay High Steppers, directed by Priscilla Austin.

North Bay Elementary School Art Program Ranks Number 2 in the State!

Dale Pohl, art teacher at North Bay Elementary School deserves to take a step out of the art room and into the spotlight! Pohl has been recognized by Artsonia, the world’s largest online kid’s art museum, for outstanding leadership in the area of Arts Education at North Bay Elementary School. The school’s online art gallery, www.artsonia.com/schools/NorthBay2 , ranks number 2 in the state, according to Artsonia.

The Leadership Award presented to Dale Pohl honors teachers who go beyond the classroom walls to encourage family and community involvement in arts education. The award also recognizes significant achievement in the area of technology integration within the school arts program. State rankings are based on specific criteria, which demonstrate both aspects of the Leadership Award.

While teachers in more than 100 countries showcase their student artwork on Artsonia, Dale Pohl has created a school community deserving of recognition. During the 2008-09 school year, the North Bay Elementary School gallery showcased 2,756 pieces of artwork. This popular collection of art has been visited more than 18,159 times and has received 435 comments from friends and family. “Artsonia is a simple yet effective way to get parents and family members more involved in Art Education,” said Pohl, “and my students love it!”

In addition, family members can purchase keepsakes imprinted with the child’s artwork, with Artsonia donating 15 percent of their annual product revenue back to the school art program. This year, the art program raised more than $251.

Headquartered in Gurnee, Illinois, Artsonia is an online kid’s art museum providing free, educational resources for kids, families and schools. Founded in 2000, Artsonia continues to integrate technology in the classroom, develop multi-cultural understanding through art and increase family involvement in children’s education.

To find more, visit http://www.artsonia.com

Bay High's Hopgood is on the Right Track

Hopgood played at Bay High and USM

By JAMES JONES
Sun Herald
jkjones@sunherald.com

BAY ST. LOUIS—Jeff Hopgood always had the desire and dedication to coach high school football. Coaching at his alma mater, Bay High, is a bonus. In his first year, the Tigers are off to a 5-3 start. "I've always aspired to be a head coach, but not at Bay High," Hopgood said. "I'm lucky to have this opportunity. I'm at the school where I played and grew up. It's been real rewarding for me."

Strong Role Models

Hopgood had spent the last five years as an assistant under coach Brennan Compretta. When Compretta resigned during the spring, school officials chose Hopgood to succeed him. "Coach Compretta taught me how to treat people," Hopgood said. "He was great dealing with people." But there were other coaching influences on Hopgood — St. Patrick’s Rocky Gaudin and former Southern Miss coach Jeff Bower. Gaudin, who also coached at Mercy Cross, Bay High and Hancock, helped build Hopgood's foundation. He spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Hancock under Gaudin. "I learned a lot from coach Gaudin," Hopgood said. "His belief and philosophy helped to mold and shaped me." Bower, the winningest coach at Southern Miss, coached Hopgood during the 1990's. "I learned about discipline from Coach Bower," Hopgood said. "I learned that you can’t change offenses every week." Bay High junior High coach Joe Shaw was the other that played a pivotal role in Hopgood's life. "I learned both organization and how to manage the kids from Coach Shaw," Hopgood said.

A Solid Resume

Hopgood was a standout offensive/defensive lineman at Bay High from 1990 to 1993, under Gaudin. He signed a scholarship with Southern Miss in 1994 and was a letterman from 1995 to 1997. Bay High is not known for producing Division I talent over the years, with the exception of strong safety Tank Williams (Stanford) and punter Tim Wright (Hawaii). Williams spent almost a decade in the NFL. And Hopgood preaches that message to the Tigers that reaching D-I or the NFL can materialize. "By playing at USM, I tell the kids that if you work hard, you can achieve your dream,’" Hopgood said. "It doesn’t matter how big or fast you are. If you work hard, it can be done." The Tigers (2-2 Region 8-4A) are in a battle for the 4A state playoffs, but control their own destiny. If Bay High wins out, the Tigers will wrap up a third seed behind St. Stanislaus and Forrest County AHS. "This team is good enough to make the playoffs," Hopgood said. "We need to get breaks and work hard. "This senior class (of 17) has stayed together since they were freshmen."

Students Against Drunk Drivers Collects 102 Pints of Blood

Bay High School held its bi-annual blood drive on September 29, 2009 collecting 102 pints of blood. Students, teachers, and community members all waited patiently for their chance to donate. The student organization SADD, lead by Lis Bosarge, held the blood drive and was excited to exceed their original goal of 70 pints of blood. The club also beat their last record of 93 pints.

This year 16 year olds were permitted to donate with a special waiver. Mississippi Blood Services nurses all commented on the behavior and generosity of the students. Bay High School’s next blood drive will be this spring.

Bay High School Homecoming Parade

Bay High Shares Their Enthusiasm with North Bay

Bay High School shared their tiger pride and invited North Bay Elementary over for a pep rally on Wednesday. The students visited Bay High School in honor of homecoming week. Students watched the dance team, cheerleaders, and band perform. The students also heard from two seniors, Rainee Davis and E.J. Taylor, about the importance of a good education and school spirit.

The event allowed certain Bay High students the opportunity to interact with the elementary students. The elementary students were taught cheers and dances, and were given footballs from the cheerleaders. The students were enthused and excited as they stomped in the stands, yelling "We are… Tigers!"

The event was a success for all. The high school students enjoyed working with the North Bay students and giving them a chance to see their future at Bay High.

Bay High School and Second Street Elementary Pep Rally

Students at Second Street Elementary Recycle's

Second Street Elementary students are now in their second year of recycling. This past spring, Second Street Elementary was recognized for their outstanding work with the recycling program. The recycling program is part of Recycle Hancock.

Students are encouraged to bring recyclables from home to school where they are gathered by Recycle Hancock. Students are learning about the different types of recyclables are well as the valuable lesson of saving the earth.

We would like to encourage community members to use our campus as a recycle center, but encourage them to follow our guidelines.

Guideline for Second Street Elementary Recycling:

All items must be RINSED, PEELED, and CRUSHED.

Caps will need to be removed as well.

We only accept #1 plastic, #2 plastic and aluminum cans.

Please place the recyclables in the correctly labeled hoppers.

Third Grade Students Enjoy Reading the News Paper

Third grades students at Second Street Elementary are reading "The Sea Coast Echo" each Wednesday to learn about the latest news in our community. According to Tammy Raymond, third grade teachers at Second Street Elementary School, "Students enjoy reading and sharing articles and information from the paper."

Student Scores in Top 1% World-Wide in Math Olympiads

Sam Parkers gifted students, J. Frommeyer, scored in the top 1% world-wide in the Math Olympiads competition for 4th and 5th grade students! Frommeyer got 22 out of 25 problems correct, and received a trophy for being the highest scorer on his team.

Bay St. Louis-Waveland gifted students under the direction of Sam Parker and Allison Morrow placed in the top 20% nationally when compared to all other 4th and 5th grade teams in the nation.

All 28 of our fourth and fifth grade gifted students were among the nearly 150,000 students worldwide to participate last school year in the Math Olympiad program. These students participated in a series of five monthly contests of 5 problems each, from November to March.

All of the students responded well and will all be presented with certificates for their participation. The embroidered felt patch is awarded to all those students who were in the top 50% of all the participants worldwide and 16 of our 28 accomplished this goal. The silver pin is awarded to those students in the 90th to 97th percentiles and last year we had 3 students who achieved this honor. The gold pin is awarded to those students in at least the 98th percentile.

Last year, two students received this honor with scores of 19 and 22 our of a possible 25 total points.

Math Olympiads serves over 4500 teams and 100,000 students nationally and about 1800 teams and 45,000 students in 32 other countries. Since 1979, it has provided challenging, thought-provoking problems that stretch the abilities of students in grades 4 to 8 and has required them to know their mathematics well. Our children in the Bay-Waveland school district have responded to the challenge with eagerness and enthusiasm.

School Scores Improve
More students get higher marks on state tests

By MELISSA M. SCALLAN
Sun Herald
mmscallan@sunherald.com

Cherie LeBat is so pleased with her students’ scores on state tests, she’s rewarding them with a celebration.

This afternoon, students at Bay-Waveland Middle School will be recognized for their achievements on the Mississippi Curriculum Test 2 in language arts and math, a more rigorous test than was given in years past.

For years, the state has given tests to measure growth, but two years ago state officials made the test harder, and students were required to apply their knowledge, not just memorize facts.

Last year’s results were used as a baseline, and this year’s scores show how students’ knowledge has grown.

Based on their scores, students are assigned proficiency levels — minimal, basic, proficient and advanced. Education officials have mandated that by the year 2013-2014 all students be proficient or advanced in language arts and math.

The results of the MCT2 and several other tests were released today, and a higher percentage of students in South Mississippi scored in the proficient and advanced categories in language arts and math than last year.

For example, 39 percent of sixth graders at Bay-Waveland Middle were proficient last year in language arts. This year that number jumped to 51 percent.

"I think once teachers were given the task, they went in the classroom and did what they had to do," said LeBat, principal at Bay-Waveland Middle. "It says a lot about teachers, but it also says a lot about our students."

Students in third through eighth grades take tests each May in language arts and math. Fifth- and eighth-graders took standardized science tests for the first time last March. Middle and high school students take tests in different subjects that they must pass to graduate.

The results of all those tests are being released today and will be used to measure growth for state and federal accountability models.

Eddie Holmes, principal at Harper McCaughan Elementary in Long Beach, said he is pleased with students' progress, but he wants to see more improvement in some areas.

"I think we need to hone in on language arts, and the kids who are in minimal and basic,” he said. “We want to help them all move forward."

Barry Amacker, superintendent of the Jackson County School District, said he wants to see language arts scores improve at the middle school level.

"The increased rigor of the test is particularly apparent at the middle school," he said. "We don’t feel like we’re getting where we need to be fast enough."

Amacker said he doesn’t worry about No Child Left Behind, the federal accountability plan, or even the state's plan.

"I'm over all that,” he said. “I want to use the data to improve instruction for the kids. That’s what we’re all about."

Bay-Waveland Schools District focusing on Mind, Body & Spirit

By Meaghan Chapman
Sea Coast Echo
Aug 14, 2009

With a new school year under way, the Bay-Waveland School District is implementing a handful of new programs in hopes of nourishing both the minds and bodies of its students toward an overall state of well-being.

For its part, the Mind, Body, Spirit Foundation — spearheaded by four district employees — is reaching out to students to form a chapter on each campus in the district.

Child Nutrition Administrator Brad Barlow said the foundation is hoping the clubs will fill a void, serving as an additional outlet for health and wellness activities in the community.

"The Bay-Waveland community has always been health-centered," he said. But, "After Katrina, there has been a huge need for community activities that get people out and about."

Club members will participate in organized walks with faculty and staff — on the Bay of St. Louis Bridge each Monday after school — as well as in races and other activities that promote healthy living.

The Mind, Body, Spirit Foundation was founded by Bay Waveland School District Public Relations Coordinator Penny Rodrique, Bay High Principal Andy Parker, Bay-Waveland Middle School Principal Cherie Labat and Barlow.

In addition to promoting healthy bodies, Bay High also will be promoting a healthy state of mind with its upcoming "Challenge Day" program Aug. 25 to 27.

Seventy-five volunteer facilitators from the community will serve as role models for the youth during the three-day-program which addresses issues of teasing, violence, suicide, peer pressure, and alcohol and drug abuse, among others.

"The overall goals of the program are to increase personal power and self esteem, to shift dangerous peer pressure to positive peer support and to eliminate the acceptability of teasing, violence and all forms of oppression," Superintendent Becky Ladner told community members in a recent release. 100 students will benefit from the program, held at Bay-Waveland Middle School Gym, during each of the three days.

Rodrique said students will be challenged — by teachers, police officers, elected officials, church organizations and others — "to be the change they wish to see in their world."

The program, she said, is designed especially for schools to help kids feel safe, loved and celebrated.

On the nutrition front, the district is seeing an increase in the amount of student breakfast participation this year through offering a variety of healthy options and a later breakfast for some.

Barlow said North Bay Elementary School, in particular, has seen about an 11 percent increase of students eating breakfast so far this year — bringing the total to nearly 350 breakfasts served per day.

About 57 percent of elementary school students and 38 percent of secondary school students regularly ate breakfast during the last school year, he said.

To increase secondary school breakfast participation, Barlow said the district recently secured a $1,500 Action for Healthy Kids — School Breakfast Expansion grant through the Kellogg's corporation. The grant afforded Bay-Waveland Middle School the opportunity of purchasing a TV to display the day's menu and school announcements, in addition to "grab and go" disposable food containers and additional carts for students opting for a later breakfast.

Barlow said its important for kids to take advantage of the breakfast program on a daily basis to increase their "mental awareness and related academic achievement, but also to combat food insecurity or hunger."

The breakfasts — which includes items such as whole-grain pancakes, fresh fruit and reduced-fat milk — meet a quarter of the students' reference daily intake of calories, total fat, Iron, Calcium, Vitamin A and Vitamin C.

"For some students, this will be the first meal that they have eaten since lunch at school the day before," he said.
The district also receives federal and state reimbursement dollars due to higher breakfast participation at its schools. Schools in the Bay Waveland School District resumed session on Aug. 6.

Second Street kids get STARS treatment

SARAH CURE, SUN HERALD
August 7, 2009

BAY ST. LOUIS Instead of the conventional meet-and-greet on the first day of school, about 260 Second Street Elementary students were hailed as the stars of a red-carpet event by formal-clad faculty members Thursday morning.

We re having a ball, said Principal Myron Labat Sr., who donned a tuxedo. We are getting kids excited about education and the first day of school.

STARS Second Street Top Achievers Reach for Success is a new program at the Bay St. Louis school which aims to promote academics, behavior and daily attendance in the classroom. It s designed to inspire students to strive to become STARS in their own right.

School Counselor Gretchen Darby said she hopes the third-and-fourth graders get a sense of family and community that Second Street Elementary has.

We have high expectations for good behavior and academics here, Darby said. And we want them to know that learning can be fun.

Even though the school has been in temporary trailers since Hurricane Katrina, Darby said students and faculty don t let that get to them.

We are over the top in everything we do, she said. With STARS, we wanted to positively affect behavior and attendance.

Sam Parker, a gifted-education teacher for the Bay-Waveland School District, said STARS is great because it has a positive impact on students.

2009-2010 School Year News