ONE AMAZING KID

A star is born in Hadley Rinaudo. The 14-year-old was selected to compete in the Louisiana Film Festival with a film she co-wrote and starred in, Bamboo House. The film began as a monologue that Jency Hogan, her acting coach, encouraged her to write. “Bamboo House is about my grandfather, our relationship, and the bamboo house we created as a family in my grandparents’ backyard. It started from just a monologue, and around that time of writing, he passed, so that’s what I ended up writing the monologue about,” shares Hadley. The Festival was her first, so while she was nervous, she was also excited. Hadley hopes to continue pursuing acting and writing, and she even plans to produce a short film with her acting group. Hadley knew that she wanted to dip her toes into acting after watching Margot Robbie in I, Tonya. Robbie’s performance inspired Hadley to look into her own performance, learning how to really develop characters. She’s currently watching Meryl Streep’s most iconic films and shares that her favorite show is The Crown. Hadley can be described as mature, understanding, and very self-aware, something she credits in part to acting. She says, “Through acting, our job is to analyze characters and be able to see through people, and I think acting has made me more self aware. Even if I can’t relate to what my friends are going through, I can sympathize a little bit. I’m able to figure people out, which is nice.” To us, Hadley is one amazing kid. ■

Students who have exceptional needs at Spanish Lake Primary recently received a space to help make public school not so overwhelming. The school’s new Sensory Room was provided by the Ascension Fund. The space provides the students a calm place for them to decompress and prepare for learning, and time in the room can be included in a student’s behavioral plan. Funds for the grant were provided by Vulcan Materials through the Ascension Fund. The Ascension Fund is a nonprofit established by the Gonzales Rotary Club as an instrument for private sector leaders to invest directly in the work of individual teachers and schools through grants for innovative ideas and programs in Ascension Parish public schools.

Livingston Parish Public Schools (LPPS) is partnering with the LSU Gordon A. Cain Center’s STEM Pathways Program to integrate STEM learning at the middle and elementary levels through a pilot program in the Denham Springs High School feeder system. The pilot program will target 12 schools in the parish–nine elementary schools, grades PreK-5, and three middle schools, grades 6-8. Instructional Supervisor Kelly LaBauve said school leaders began working with education consultants last summer to design courses and develop strategies for the grade levels. Two courses will be offered at the middle school level, and STEM learning will be embedded within the primary subject fields of learning at the elementary school grade levels. Cristo Rey Baton Rouge Franciscan High School streamed its fifth annual Draft Day via FaceBook this year. This annual event is held to reveal the students’ job placements in Cristo Rey’s Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP) for the 2021-2022 school year. Through the program, every Cristo Rey student takes a full course load of college preparatory coursework for four years, as he or she participates one day each week in a four-year CWSP to fund the majority of their tuition. Students work in job-sharing teams of four, and their academic schedules are structured so that students work without missing any classes. Cristo Rey students have the opportunity to work at over 40 different CWSP partners in the region.

Volunteers In Public Schools (VIPS) recently welcomed Mayor President Sharon Weston Broome as a school partner and First Day Helper at Buchanan Elementary. Each year, VIPS mobilizes volunteers and community entities to assist on the first day of school, greeting returning and new students, assisting parents in the carpool lane, escorting students to class, helping in the office, and making sure students see a lot of smiling faces on their first day. The event was also held at a variety of schools in the parish. VIPS is an independent nonprofit that fosters student success and builds support for public education. For those who are interested in becoming a volunteer, visit them online. ■ vipsbr.org

Students and faculty of St. Michael the Archangel High School gathered to celebrate the efforts and hard work of their student body by recognizing those who have excelled in the areas of service and academics. These students have dedicated themselves to their studies and, through diligence and hard work, have achieved a particular goal or reached a designated standard. Students who received top awards include Melinda Jones, The Woodmen of the World Award; Jerry Ostrander, Robert A. Bogan Award; Richard Dang, Greater Baton Rouge State Fair Scholarship; Julia Miller, Kay Rabalais Scholarship; Nicholas Johnson, Leadership Scholarship; and Caleb Wiese and Julia Coffey, Barefoot Pedals Scholarship.

Dineska McZeal has recently been named as an Assistant Principal of Donaldsonville High School. A native of Lutcher, McZeal is a former electrical engineer who worked at Lucent Technologies. She began her educational career as a mathematics teacher at Lutcher High School and continued to serve in the St. James Parish Public School System for six additional years at St. James High School. “Ms. McZeal is moving into a position of instructional leadership, administrative leadership, and organizational leadership as an assistant principal at Donaldsonville High School. We are so grateful for her courage and desire to serve as a school leader,” says Ascension Public Schools Superintendent David Alexander.

PODCAST

RSV Wave Starts Early BY DR. JAMES WAYNE JR. PEDIATRICS SECTION HEAD, OCHSNER BATON ROUGE R SV is a common respiratory virus that usually spikes in the cooler months of winter and early spring. This year has been somewhat unique with the spike starting in the summer.

Many healthcare providers believe the early start may be related to COVID-19 mitigation measures. While masks and social distancing slowed down RSV last winter, the virus returned earlier this year a few months ahead of the usual season. Most children who develop RSV infections recover uneventfully from what appears to be a common cold. However, RSV can be serious and require hospital admission in certain cases.

-Nasal congestion and discharge -Coughing -Increased effort to breathe -Wheezing (a high-pitched whistling sound made while breathing) -Poor eating and drinking -Fever -Lethargy -Irritability -Cyanosis, a bluish discoloration of the skin -Apnea, or cessation of breathing, in infants

Even healthy children can experience severe RSV infections. However, those most at risk are infants and those with a history of baseline lung disease–especially infants with chronic lung disease or prematurity–congenital heart disease, immunocompromised status, and neuromuscular disease.

RSV is highly contagious. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly all children have at least one infection before the age of

two. The virus spreads through coughing or sneezing. It can live on surfaces and on our hands, so it spreads when a person touches something contaminated and then touches their nose or eyes. Symptoms show up four to six days after exposure. It takes about three to eight days to get over the virus, though it can take significantly longer in some groups like infants and the immunosuppressed.

Diagnosis of RSV is usually based on symptoms and a physician’s examination. Nasal swab tests are used if needed. Currently, there are no medications that cure RSV–antibiotics are ineffective since RSV is a viral infection.

Instead, RSV is treated with symptom management like: -Fluids, possibly an IV, to prevent or treat dehydration -Nasal suctioning of secretions -Supplemental oxygen or more advanced respiratory support, if necessary

Proper handwashing is crucial, along with separating infected children from siblings and family members, crowds and, if possible, daycare settings. Secondhand smoke exposure should be eliminated as well. Palivizumab (Synagis) is an injection of immunoglobulin against RSV that can be given to certain high-risk populations to prevent severe RSV disease. This is given once per month from November to March. ■