Q&A WITH OUR CLASSROOM OF THE MONTH AT ROLLINS PLACE ELEMENTARY
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ADVOCATE&
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2015 H
P R O U D LY O W N E D I N L O U I S I A N A THEADVOCATE.COM
Stacy Gill AROUND ZACHARY
St.Patrick’s expands,doubles capacity BY STACY GILL
sgill@theadvocate.com SGILL@ THEADVOCATE.COM
Live life like it’s your last day on Earth I attended three funerals last week. Not to be too depressing, but when faced with your own mortality or the mortality of others, the thought really propels you into a state of appreciation for life and living each day to its fullest. Though it can be difficult if not impossible to change our habits or routines overnight, the thought of “the end” has a way of making us prioritize the really important people and things in our lives instead of sweating the small stuff, getting mad or spending time doing something you really dislike as opposed to something you love or that you haven’t done in a while. I mean, do you really want to be folding clothes knowing it might be your last day on the planet instead of calling your loved ones and telling them you’re thinking of them? Or what about writing a letter to an old friend, enjoying a fabulous meal with your family instead of spending mind-numbing time on social media or watching television? Personally, I’d rather be outside, not inside; running, skipping or riding, not standing in line; laughing, not arguing or crying; and loving, not hating. (I really hate to use the hate word.) I’m not saying we should all go out, go nuts and to heck with the consequences, but prioritizing certain aspects of our lives, if only for today, might be worth paying a few things forward. So, here’s to today, not next week or next month. Today. How will you spend it? In the meantime, around Zachary ... äSee AROUND, page 2G
INSIDE Sports .......................1H Arrests.......................2H
Renovation work and expansion of the historic St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church in Zachary began about 13 months ago and started as a fairly good-sized project, said the Rev. Chad Jones, rector of St. Patrick’s since 2008. “We raised all the money we thought we’d need ahead of time,” Jones said. Shortly after demolition crews began working, the discovery of termites was unearthed as well as years and years of near-catastrophic structural damage. “At first glance, it seemed
like minor damage isolated to one corner, but upon further inspection, it was discovered the damage was more extensive than first believed,” Jones said. The termite issue set the project back about six months and around $250,000, Jones said. Repairs to the floor, wall structures, balcony and steeple support were needed. The church was reframed from the inside and new floor and ceiling joists were added. A side chapel, which was to house the church’s new Phoenix digital organ as well as its choir and a columbarium, was crossed off the work order to offset some of the costs associated with the termite repair
work. Mary Hergert, who has a Ph.D from the LSU School of Music in harp performance, has been the parish organist for more than a decade and now plays the new organ at the back of the church. Plans are to add a columbarium later to the western side of the back of the church, St. Patrick officials said. “The acoustics in here are amazing,” said Deacon Camille Wood. Fabric walls have been added to the top levels of the aft and forward-facing walls of the church to disguise its many äSee ST. PATRICK’S, page 4G
Advocate staff photo by STACY GILL
Deacon Camille Wood and the Rev. Chad Jones, rector since 2008, inside the newly renovated St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church in Zachary.
TRACK TO VICTORY
Students, volunteers come together for Time Trials BY STACY GILL
sgill@theadvocate.com
BY STACY GILL
About 78 students jumped, ran and competed in an array of events Friday at Bronco Stadium in Zachary as part of the fifth annual Special Olympics time trials. First- through 12th-graders from Rollins Place, Zachary and Copper Mill Elementary schools, Northwestern Middle and Zachary High took part in hopes of recording entry scores into the Capital Area Special Olympics. Debra Toney, an adapted physical education teacher who organizes the event each year and who is a member of the Capital Area Special Olympics management team, said Friday was her last Time Trials event, as she will be retiring in May. “I truly hope someone will take over organizing this wonderful event for our students,” Toney said. “I’ll miss teaching and coaching the athletes and working with äSee TIME TRIALS, page 7G
Four area school districts part of Jump Start team sgill@theadvocate.com
Advocate staff photo by STACY GILL
Volunteer Mike Alu cheers on Ajuani Banguel along with Debra Toney, an adapted P.E. teacher, as Ajuani competes in a slalom race Friday at the Zachary Time Trials. About 78 special needs students hoping to gain entry scores into the Capital Area Special Olympics competed in running, jumping and throwing events.
According to Louisiana Department of Education statistics, only 28 percent of Louisiana high school students end up with a four-year or two-year college degree. The department says too few young adults have the skills and credentials to assume high-wage jobs offered in Louisiana’s economy. Enter the Jump Start program, the Education Department’s initiative that launched in the 2014-15 school year for school districts, colleges and businesses to collaborate by providing career courses and workplace experiences to high school students, certifying them for the career fields most likely to lead to high-wage jobs. The program is in various stages of implementation around the state and includes 12 regional teams representing 52 school districts, most of which applied for Jump Start grant funding. In October, $645,000 was awarded to regional teams and subteams, with each having the option of using the money for one of two goals: increasing career counseling or developing regional portfolios of workplace experiences for students, Education Department officials said. The Capital Region team includes 11 school districts that received funding — Ascension, East and West Baton Rouge, East and West Feliciana, Central, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, äSee JUMP START, page 6G
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