Fifteen members of the Central Intermediate School 2012-2013 Jr. Beta Club partook in an educational field trip to Williamsburg, VA, Jamestown, VA, and Washington, D.C. on April 27-30, 2013.  They were accompanied by three CIS faculty members and five parent chaperons. Student participants included: Anthony Dupont, Madilyn Woosley, Camille Dean, Myrissa Eisworth, Raylee Browning, Sierra Hymel, D’Lanie Stevens, Payton Limbers, Aubri Watts, Alissa Clemmons, Brayden Posey, Reonardo Frost, Connor Rushing, Krystina Johnson, and Dayna Thomas.  CIS chaperons were Karen Hill and Ava Ellis, 5^th grade teachers, and Julie Stevens, Assistant Principal.  Parent chaperons were Stacy Davis, Falisha Johnson, Margaret Eichelberger, Brandon Dupont, and Robert Woosley. 

     The fifth graders were taken back to the 18^th century beginning with a walking ghost tour through the mystical streets of Colonial Williamsburg.  Students were captivated by the interpretations of a colonial-attired wig maker and silversmith, and were able to observe the conditions of a colonial prison.  However, what seemed to be the highlight of the students’ visit to Williamsburg was a dining experience in the cafeteria at the historical College of William and Mary. 

     The next stop in their travels was Jamestown, Virginia, where many hands-on activities were available to the students as they watched the pages of their history books come to life.  The boys and girls were able to encounter colonial life as they learned to garden like a Powhatan, cook over an open fire, tie knots like a sailor, and carve a canoe out of the hollow of a tree.  One student was even able to stand in the pulpit of a replica of an early American church building and deliver a sermon to all her friends.  The finale of their visit to Jamestown was a demonstration of a British soldier loading and firing a musket. 

     The final stop of the four-day tour was Washington, D.C. which began with a guided tour of the Capitol where students and chaperons walked through the Rotunda and Statuary Hall.  Each one had to take a turn standing on “point zero,” the compass stone in the Capitol floor that is the geographic center of Washington, D.C.  In two days’ time, the whole crew from Central viewed the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., FDR, Jefferson, World War II, Lincoln, Korean, and Vietnam Memorials. They also visited two Smithsonian Museums—the Natural History Museum and the Air and Space Museum, Mt. Vernon (historical home of George Washington), the Ford Theatre, and Arlington Cemetery, where they attended the solemn ceremony of the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  Though they were unable to tour the White House, they did take a group picture in front of the White House lawn.

     The trip would not have been possible without the support of the Central Community School System School Board, CIS principal, Rhonda Taylor, and the professional team from World Strides based in Charlotte, NC.  The students and Ms. Ellis and Mrs. Hill would like to thank the CCSS School Board, our principal, Rhonda Taylor, the parents who financed their trip, and the parents who chaperoned for providing us this chance-of-a-lifetime opportunity.  We came back with new friendships and memories that will last our lifetimes!
 

    Two young parents, Gwen and Paul Lambert, were looking for a quality education for their pre-school girls, Kim Lambert-Cummings and Larissia Gail Lambert. All roads pointed to Central and both were enrolled in Starkey Academy in 1985. The expense of private education taxed the income of this young couple, but like most parents they struggled to keep their daughters in a good school environment. Both of the children went from Starkey to Central Middle, to commencement from Central High School. Kim is now a substitute teacher in the Watson school district, where she resides with her husband and two fine children. Larissa, the subject of this article, has never left her lifelong home town.

    Larissa entered JRROTC while in high school and earned a BA in Mass Communications from Southeastern in Hammond. Larissa had already enlisted in the Louisiana Air National Guard after graduation from Central High, thereby paying her way through school. She studied martial arts at Jackson Park at age six and is now a fourth degree Master teaching Central’s youth the discipline martial arts brings to a young mind. As a result of her efforts my autistic grandson, Brandon, is a black belt teacher, one of his students is my granddaughter, Rebekah, she has acquired the rank of red belt and will one day be a black belt as well.

    Larissa trained with the 159th Tactical Fighter Wing in Belle Chase at the Joint Military training base. She is an Aerospace Propulsion Mechanic on Louisiana’s premier fighter aircraft the F15 Eagle. In addition, she found the time to attain a supervisory rating in the Air Guard’s Aerospace Communications program.

    Larissa had not reached her full potential with these accomplishments. Lara’s dream, flying the F15 was not to be. Less than perfect vision took that dream away. Undaunted, Larissa applied for and was accepted to the Officer Training School at Maxwell AFB in Alabama, completing the required course of study, she was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Louisiana Guard on March 8, 2013, and her first salute was rendered by her proud, retired, enlisted Father.

    Larissa’s story continues as she makes plans for study to attain her Master’s Degree to enhance her further advancement in the Louisiana Air Guard.

    Larissa is now assigned to the 159th Force Support Squadron, Operational Readiness Officer. Larissa was called to active duty for the 9/11 Twin Tower attack, during hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and has been assigned to the Governor’s Office of Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security. She has served in this capacity under two governors.

    Selected from among 300,000 entrants, Central Intermediate School was the grand prize winner of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation's "Healthy Playground Makeover Sweepstakes".  CIS music teacher Johanna Benton entered the school in the contest.

    Susan Ralston of the Foundation presented CIS with a check for $15,000 in cash, $15,000 in sporting goods and a commitment to have Playworld Systems install playground equipment valued at another $20,000.  Central's Treynor McAdams owns of Planet Recess and will be designing and installing the equipment.

    CIS Principal Rhonda Taylor was excited about the good fortune and thankful to the Foundation.  She explains that this will be a great start in meeting the playground equipment needs of the school.  Other efforts are currently being pursued by the School System and the community to fund and build  the balance of the equipment needed.  

    All Pro Dads of Central held its last breakfast for this school year with an amazing turn-out of parents and children at the Central Intermediate School. Parents came to school early to have breakfast with their children and to participate in an interactive program in which they are encourged to spend time with their children and to affirm them in front of others. We would like to thank this month’s sponsors:  Zoe’s Pizza Buffet, Carter Hill Construction & Central Church.  

    Pastor Donnie Shaffer of Central Church is thankful that we live in a community that supports family principles.  He and his staff look forward to continuing serving the community through these breakfasts again next school year.  For more information go to centralchurch.co

    The Central Community School District is participating in the Summer Food Service Program.  Meals will be provided to all children without charge.  Acceptance and participating requirements for the program and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.  Meals will be provided at the sites and times as follows:

Site & Address: Central Middle School, 12656 Sullivan Rd, Baton Rouge   LA, 70818         

    Operating Dates & Day: 5/29/2013  to  6/27/2013 Monday – Thursday         Meals & Times Served: Breakfast 7:00 AM – 7:30 AM, Lunch 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM 

    Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against in any USDA-related activity should write or call immediately to:

USDA

Director, Office of Adjudication

1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.

Washington, DC 20250-9410

(866) 632-9992 (Voice)

(800) 877-8339 (TTD)

(800) 845-6136 (Spanish)

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

    Among our local graduates is Kristy Pearson Simmons, who was awarded her Master of Science in Nursing degree from Southeastern Louisiana University on Saturday, May 18 2013. A 1977 Central High graduate, Kristy earned her initial nursing diploma from OLOL School of Nursing in 1981.  After raising 4 children and establishing her career as a surgery nurse at Woman’s Hospital, she went back for her BSN from Loyola University in 2010, and now has her Master’s.  

    Kristy has been a leader in her community and profession for many years, serving in her nursing organizations and volunteering in the local schools, such as establishing and mentoring the Future Nurse Club at Central Middle School. Kristy has been an inspiration to her colleagues and area students through her enthusiastic promotion of her profession, encouraging many young people to consider a career in nursing, including her daughter Elizabeth and several other family members and friends.  Congratulations to Kristy for her achievements and for making a difference by serving others.   

    Through the establishment of a self-perpetuating memorial, the family and friends of Robert J Aertker, Sr., former teacher, principal, coach, and superintendent in East Baton Rouge Parish from 1937-1976 provides a scholarship opportunity for a senior of a public high school in East Baton Rouge Parish, including the Baker City School System, Central Community School District, and the Zachary Community School System. The scholarship is for the college/university of that student’s choice.

    The student chosen for this honor must display high personal integrity and good citizenship in his/her school and his/her community. They must exhibit strong leadership and sound scholarship. The student must also have a 3.0 GPA average and be pursuing a degree in education. The selection committee is made up of 5 to 6 former East Baton Rouge Parish educators and the committee chairperson will present the award to the student chosen.

    This year’s recipient of the Robert J. Aertker, Sr. Memorial Scholarship was Thomas Eddlemon of Central High School. Thomas is a fine man of integrity, he displays the heart to teach and work with others. We would like to congratulate Thomas on this great honor. Mr. Jerry Boudreaux, who's teaching, coaching, and long time principalship spanned over 40 years, presented the scholarship to Thomas at Central High School.

    Thomas will be attending Hendrix College, in Conway, Arkansas to pursue a degree in Mathematics and Secondary Education. He will also continue his athletic career on the football field playing for Coach Buck Buchanan, former coach of 12 years at Louisiana College.