With less school disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Bernard Parish Public Schools were able to offer students more opportunities for social and extra-curricular activities throughout the 2021-22 school year.

The St. Bernard Parish Public School Performing Arts Academy reopened for the 2021-22 school year, with students performing in their spring show, The Sound of Music.Photo courtesy of St. Bernard Parish Public Schools

“We are very focused on creating well-rounded individuals who maximize their potential and have every opportunity to grow academically, socially, emotionally, artistically and athletically. said Voitier, now in her 18th year as SBPPS superintendent. “While it has been difficult to achieve this goal over the past two years, we have felt a return to a more normal school year with increased interaction on campus, reunited communities, and bridged the social gaps created by the pandemic. I have.”

There are 8,500 Chromebooks in use across the district, with a 1:1 student-to-computer ratio in grades 3-12. There are a total of 555 Prometheus boards in the district. Charmet has 12 computer labs, two in each primary school and three in each secondary school. “Our investment in technology is understated. We are well prepared with our online learning management system in case a pandemic or hurricane disrupts us again,” he said. Voitier said.

Prior to the 2021-22 school year, the SBPPS surveyed all 12 schools affected by Hurricane Katrina (7,746 students in 7 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 1 replacement school, and 1 high school) for 13 years, Completed a $300 million rebuild. With state-of-the-art modern facilities, Voitier said the system will be able to focus more on creating and improving “high-quality, research-based curricula, instruction, programs and assessments that prepare pre-primary education.” He said that he became like this. Through high school students for college and careers. ”

SBPPS Career and Technical Education (CTE) program double enrolls Chalmette High School students with 30 career courses including 3D printing in aerospace, engineering, welding, HVAC and TV studio (Adobe Premiere Pro) Offer credits or industry-based certifications. a bit. CHS offers Jump Start Diploma Pathway programs in Business Administration, Entertainment Technology, Health Sciences, Hospitality/Culinary Arts, Information Technology and Manufacturing/Carpentry. The 2022 CHS class – 531 alumni – has earned him over $13 million in college scholarships, earned 1,008 industry-based certifications, and graduated with over 50% college credits. did. “Learning is best when it’s done face-to-face. Our high school students performed well this year in our after-school career preparation programs,” he said.

Opportunities for social activities taper off until K-8. High school has 30 copies, junior high school has 15 copies, and elementary school has 10 copies. All sophomores take swimming lessons at the CHS Swimming Pool during the school year. All K-5 students take Art and Music.

The Instrumental Music Academy allows students in grades 4-7 to learn to play an instrument with professional musicians and high school students. For more than 20 years, the St. Bernard Parish Board of Education has partnered with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra to bring performances to students. Free ballet classes are offered through a partnership between the New Orleans Ballet Association, New Orleans Arts Council, Charmette Refining, and the St. Bernard Parish Board of Education.

Last year, the Meraux Foundation and Valero donated $20,000 to the CHS Cultural Arts Center. Chalmette Refining donated $20,000 to SBPPS to fund a new initiative, the Power Up Program. This program rewards students for their efforts in reading, respect and responsibility in each elementary school. “Our St. Bernard community partners are a big reason why we provide young people with great opportunities,” he said.

The Maumus Center is the science facility and planetarium of the system. Students visit the center each year as part of the science curriculum, where he hosts a summer STEM camp for 100 students. The St. Bernard Parish Public Schools Early Childhood Program serves over 500 preschool students and is one of the few universal, tuition-free preschool programs in the state.

Recruiting and retaining teachers is one of the biggest challenges facing the SBPPS for the 2022-23 school year, Voitier said. SBPPS fills these gaps through Teach St. Bernard: Alternative Certification. Candidates with a college degree can be accredited. Tuition through the program is paid with her three-year commitment to teach within the system. In three years, the program has had her 148 participants, 103 of whom are still teaching at her SBPPS today.

“We have great needs in math, science, and special education, and the nationwide labor shortage is driving demand in other areas,” Voitier said. “We have established a comprehensive model for teacher recruitment and are passionate about creating pathways for educators.”

School safety remains a concern for Voitier. Under the guidance of the LSU Stephenson Disaster Management Institute, through a joint effort of the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Department, St. Bernard Parish Fire Department, Parish Homeland Security Agency, Parish Ambulance Service, and St. Bernard Parish Government, the SBPPS has developed a crisis response . Plan an active shooter at each school site.

The plan includes designated and secure single entrances within all schools, high-quality video surveillance on all school premises, and action procedures to notify all school staff in the event of an incident. will be “We are working with LSU to pilot what crisis and disaster responses at the state level should look like across the school system,” he said.