JCALL MESSAGE

July 7, 2020

A transcript of the July 7, 2020 JCall to parents and students:

Beauregard Parish Parents and Students,

As we look forward to the 2020-2021 school year we do so with the same excitement as in previous years.  New challenges exist as our world faces a pandemic that has affected our entire way of life.

The Beauregard Parish School Board has worked hard since the necessary dismissal of school in late March to be ready to educate our students when they are able to return for the 20-21 school year.  As Mr. Cooley stated in his letter to the public we must prepare to educate your children in a non-traditional manner.  Our digital team has put in many hours of hard work combined with creativity and innovation.  We are prepared to meet these new challenges.  In recent years we have placed physical barriers to help protect our students in response to several national tragedies involving school safety.  In much the same way we will continue to work to ensure the safety of our students while providing the same quality education you as parents and students have come to expect.  Under the leadership of our instructional computer specialist we have partnered with Google Classroom to train our teachers in instruction of our students, no matter if that must be done traditionally (face to face), virtually, or in some combination.  Our technology team has also developed a plan to increase internet availability to our students when they are not physically at school.  We appreciate our district fire protection venues for their assistance with this plan.  The details of these plans will be presented to our board, local civic organizations, and school leaders will hold parent meetings as we move closer to the beginning of the school year.  

We continue to receive directives from the Louisiana Department of Education and state health officials.   We will comply with all mandates that are in place when school begins in the fall and feel confident that no matter the rules regarding facial coverings, social distancing, or required sanitation measures, we will progress forward educating the children of Beauregard Parish.  Please continue to visit your school website as we will communicate any policy or procedure that assists in opening school smoothly.  

The Beauregard Parish school system will be ready to provide our students with a quality education safely in the fall.

On April 15^th, Governor John Bel Edwards announced he has issued an executive order to keep all k-12 public school buildings in the state closed through the end of the current school year.  Learning opportunities will continue to be available on this website and through contact with your teachers.

Contact the Louisiana 211 Network by dialing 211, or text the keyword LACOVID to 898-211 for the most current information about the outbreak as it becomes available. The CDC COVID-19 website, as well as the Louisiana Department of Health website, are also helpful resources

Yes. Gov. John Bel Edwards signed a proclamation that, among other actions, closed all K-12 public schools statewide until at least April 30 to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the state. He then issued a statewide stay-at-home order until at least April 30.

The annual 63,720 instructional minute requirement has been suspended via the Governor’s proclamation.

The Beauregard Parish School Board website (www.beau.k12.la.us) will serve as the official communication tool during this school shutdown.

Visit this page or click the button labeled “Meal Information During Closure” on our homepage.

Final course grading procedures have been revised due to COVID-19 mandated school closure.  The first three grading periods were finalized prior to Governor Edwards closing schools on March 16, 2020.  This was the same day that the fourth quarter grading period began.  All grades earned by students through the first three grading periods, including grade recovery, will remain as assigned by their teacher.  The district will assign the maximum number of quality points per course for the fourth quarter grading period (grades 1^st – 12th).  The student’s final grade in a course will be determined by averaging all four grading periods.  Students in grades K – 8 who demonstrated academic concerns during the first three grading periods will be referred to the School Building Level Committee or Individual Education Plan Team (IEP) for promotion decisions.  Please contact your child’s principal if you have questions regarding grades or promotion decisions.

Completion of the FAFSA has been waived as a requirement for graduation.  HOWEVER, it must be completed in order to receive TOPS or financial aid.  If you plan to attend a 4-year or technical school you must complete the FAFSA online.

Graduation events are as follows:

Singer High School:  May 11^th at 6:00 pm: Drive up diploma and photo shoot

                                   July 10^th at 7:00 pm:  Graduation Ceremony 

DeRidder High School:  May 15^th at 10:00 am:  Parking Lot Virtual Senior Awards

                                         May 15^th at 2:00 pm:  Graduation Parade

                                         July 17^th at 7:30 pm:  Graduation Ceremony

South Beauregard High School:  May 15^th at 6:00 pm:  Parade

                                                       July 21^st at 7:00 pm:  Graduation Ceremony at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles

East Beauregard High School:  May 18^th at 7:00 pm:  Parade and Senior Awards

                                                     July 21^st at 4:00 pm:  Graduation Ceremony at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles

Merryville High School:  July 2^nd at 7:00 pm:  Senior Awards and Graduation

Senior supplies will be distributed during the week of April 20^th.  Your high school principal will be in contact with further details.  Please display your name in the front windshield of your vehicle so that we can be prepared to hand the supplies to you. DO NOT EXIT YOUR VEHICLE!  If you have an outstanding balance with Graduate Sales, please bring the balance with you at that time.

Contact your counselor or principal via email if you will be leaving the state or going into the military prior to the graduation ceremony so that we can make arrangements to have your diploma ready.

We encourage you to email your child's teacher with specific questions or set up a phone call or video conference using Google Hangout if you have internet access.  Teacher emails can be found on the school's webpage under the faculty directory.  If you have any problems with contacting teachers, please email your principal.

If you have not completed your DE courses, contact your principal immediately.

Continue working on DE courses through the university and follow any guidance you receive from them regarding completion dates.  College credit earned will be determined by the institution offering the class.  Contact those institutions with questions.  High school grades will be determined by your teacher of record at school in the same manner as other classes.

If you have questions about any BVP course you are taking, contact your principal immediately.  If you are working on a course through BVP (Beauregard Virtual Program), you should complete it as soon as possible. Your counselor will unlock your final exam so that you may take it at home. Contact your counselor via email if she needs to reset activities or tests. This is only for students that are currently taking BVP courses (were enrolled prior to the school closure).  If you are a BAP student or a full-time BVP student, contact Mr. Greene (mgreene@beau.k12.la.us) about your courses.

The College Board released information on Friday, March 20, 2020. The Department has reconciled a set of AP Assessment Updates and AP Exam FAQs.

AP tests will be given the week of May 11^th.  Contact your principal immediately if you have any questions.

Yes. The national administration of ACT has been rescheduled for June 13. All individuals who were registered to take the ACT in April will receive emails from ACT with directions for free rescheduling. Information is available on ACT’s website.

On March 20, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education approved Louisiana's waiver request of assessment, accountability, and reporting requirements under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act. This means Louisiana will not require standardized testing for the 2019-2020 school year. Moreover, since testing data is required to be used in accountability systems, like Louisiana's annual report cards, the state will also exclude testing data from performance measures for the current school year.

Contact your school’s principal/sponsor for details about upcoming tryouts.  School campuses are closed so other arrangements may have been made.   LHSAA has released that June 8^th summer rules will start.  Coaches will begin to contact athletes prior to this date.  Contact your coach or your school’s principal if you have questions.

Visit this link for the Louisiana Department of Education and this link for COVID-19 updates.