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ONE AMAZING KID

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amazing kid

Last summer during the height of stayat-home orders, Caroline Simpson began her unique internship with the Baton Rouge Coroner’s Office, working for Dr. Beau Clark. A recent graduate of St. Michael the Archangel High School, Caroline’s focus on forensics began with reading. “In sixth grade, I read a book series that really got me interested in murder mysteries and crime,” I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga. “She’s really interested in stuff that not many people are,” says Natalie Simpson, Caroline’s mom. In ninth grade, Caroline was able to view her first autopsy when her dad, Bill Simpson, won a “Spend a Day with the Coroner” at an auction. “I was so worried–am I gonna throw up and pass out on the ground?” Caroline remembers. “But luckily, I went in and I was so fascinated. I could do this every day.” Now 18, Caroline was a leader in her school’s youth ministry and a soccer team captain her senior year. “Especially with a younger team, when you’re one of the older people…you’ve always got to be doing your best,” Caroline says. “I’m very thankful for the gifts and interests I have,” she says. “I think they make me very different than the average person. I am a little odd, but I absolutely love it.” Caroline has signed with Centenary College of Louisiana in Shreveport to play soccer. This amazing kid plans to major in pre-med with a goal to become a forensic pathologist. Win Wednesday weekly giveaways! Family-friendly events around town! Access to a digital version of Baton Rouge Parents Magazine! BRPARENTS.COM

LIVINGSTON TEACHER HONORED AS EXTRAORDINARY EDUCATOR

A sixth grade math teacher at Holden School in Livingston has been chosen as a 2021 Extraordinary Educator by Curriculum Associates. Tracie M. Porter is among 44 teachers from 26 states and Washington, DC, who were honored for how they used i-Ready and/or Ready educational materials in their daily instruction. “This group of Extraordinary Educators–like so many other educators across the country–has more than risen to the occasion,” says Rob Waldron, CEO of Curriculum Associates. “We are proud to recognize Tracie (Porter) for her hard work, dedication, and innovative best practices that continue to positively impact the students she serves.” ■ curriculumassociates.com

Things were a little messy but a lot of fun at LaSalle Elementary and Crestworth Elementary schools when PreK and Kindergarten students enjoyed a hands-on learning experience with Grant Gallegos. A member of LSU’s Alpha Epsilon Delta and Student Christian Medical Association and biology major, Gallegos worked with Volunteers in Public Schools to develop and present the lesson, which was based on the story, Sometimes Things Change. After reading the book to the students, the real fun began when Gallegos led the classes in a science experiment making slime. Using individually packaged sets of supplies, the students got to mix the ingredients and watch them change into a gooey slime that was pleasing to squish. Lower school students at Episcopal School of Baton Rouge flexed their green thumbs when they planted 3,500 seeds in the school’s hydroponic greenhouse. The pesticide- and insecticide-free greenhouse grows primarily lettuce and was made possible by the school’s parents’ guild. Hydroponic means the plants are grown in water without any soil, using a nutrient-film technique to provide soluble fertilizer and maintain a precise pH balance. Students from K-5th grade take part in maintaining the garden, learning about life cycles and pollination, and making healthy food choices. “We’re teaching kids something that they can do their whole life,” says QUEST Center Coordinator Dr. Elizabeth Lewis.

SQUISHY SCIENCE AT LASALLE AND CRESTWORTH SEMIFINALISTS FOR PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR

Each year, the Louisiana Department of Education honors the state’s top teachers and principals, and this year, two local principals are in the running. Jeremy Muse, EdD, principal of Lake Elementary School in St. Amant, and Claudette J. Perkins, PhD, principal of Audubon Elementary School in Baton Rouge, are semifinalists for Louisiana Principal of the Year. This is the sixth time in seven years that Ascension Public Schools has a principal in the running. Exceptional educators are honored each year by the department in partnership with Dream Teachers and the Louisiana Association of Principals. The winner will be announced and all the semifinalists will be honored at the 15th Annual Excellent Educators Awards Gala to be held virtually Friday, July 16.

GRAD BOUND FOR NAVAL ACADEMY

Hate has no place in any school, and the University Lab School works to make that part of its official stance. ULS has been designated as a “No Place for Hate” school for the 11th year in a row by the Anti-defamation League, a process that requires annual needs assessment, a committee, resolution of respect, and three anti-bias or bullying prevention activities. ADL’s No Place for Hate program helps stakeholders take the lead on improving and maintaining a safe school climate so all students thrive. Six ULS students placed at the state level in the 2021 No Place for Hate poetry and poster competition: Cecile Chabert, Abby Choate, Regan Archie, Julian Hartman, Audrey Williams and Justin Collins. ■ adl.org

Most high school seniors learn about their college acceptance online, but for St. Michael the Archangel High School’s Katherine Varnado, the news came via phone from Rep. Garret Graves. As the only female from Louisiana who was accepted into the United States Naval Academy this year, the accomplishment warranted the official call. Military service runs in Katherine’s family, with a grandfather and uncle who were officers. “I wanted to be the first girl in my family to become an officer too,” she says. “That is why getting in was so important to me. You are able to immediately become an officer after graduating.” This month, Katherine will start bootcamp before heading to Maryland as a biological engineering major this fall.

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4 Steps to Protect Yourself from

TICKS

BY EMILY DREZ

Summertime means your kids are likely going to spend more time outside, but are they protected against the outside?

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Insect bites are no fun, especially when they leave our skin feeling itchy. However, there is one critter you should really keep an eye on, more so when you venture into the woods. Without the proper precautions, children are susceptible to ticks–tiny, crawling, parasitic bugs that thrive in humid climates. Tick bites are not itchy, but they can cause dangerous diseases if not treated immediately, such as lyme disease. Don’t worry! There are several preventative measures you can take so you and your child can enjoy a worry-free summer.  Make sure you apply repellent after your sunscreen if you know your child is going to be outside all day, especially in the woods. The repellent should have 20- to 30-percent concentrations. Most experts like Dr. Laura Boudreaux, a pediatrician at The Baton Rouge Clinic, recommends using DEET on your skin and permethrin on your clothing. Insect repellent does not need to be reapplied as often as sunscreen, but carry your repellent around with you in the event you do need to reapply, which is about every 8-14 hours. Spraying permethrin on their socks, shoes, and clothing will not only keep the ticks away; it will also kill them if they jump on the areas you sprayed. “Your products should be U.S. EPA registered,” says Dr. Boudreaux. “It’s very important to follow the instructions on the can of insect repellent. Avoid your face and eyes, and make sure to wipe off or bathe after application at the end of the day.”  The way you dress can also be defense against ticks! Tuck your shirt into your long pants, and then, tuck your pants into your socks. As soon as you come back from your excursion, take off your clothes and throw them in a hot washer and dryer. Take a shower as soon as you can (within two hours of getting home) and check for ticks on your body, especially in the areas at the back of your knees, your groin, and your armpits.  If you find a tick, don’t panic. As long as you remove it within 36 hours, the tick will likely have not caused harm. To remove it, use fine-tipped tweezers to grab it as close to the skin’s surface as possible. Pull it up steadily–if you twist or jerk it, the tick’s mouth parts can break off and stay in your skin, which you will also have to remove. Once you get the tick out, clean the bite area thoroughly with rubbing alcohol or soap and water, and dispose of the tick by flushing it down the toilet, wrapping it tightly in tape, placing it in a sealed bag, or putting it in alcohol (do not crush the tick with your fingers!). If your child develops a fever or rash within a few weeks of removing the tick, see his or her pediatrician.  Another important step is to make your home tick-proof. You need to make your surroundings unappealing to ticks and any animals that carry them, especially mice and deer. That includes making sure your grass is no longer than three inches tall, trimming your shrubs, and clearing out brush piles. Tick tubes–small containers of cotton soaked with permethrin–are a handy tool you can spread around the perimeter of your yard. ■