M A R C H 2 0 2 0 V O L U M E 1 2 , I S S U E 8

`

INSIDE

THIS

ISSUE:

Hippity Hop

with a Cop

2

The

Imagination…

The Beginning of

Learning

4

Simple Ways to

Save Energy with

Lights & Ceiling

Fans

5

Set your child

up for studying

success

6

You still have a

large part to play

in your child’s

school success

6

EBR TV

News

Segments

7

Fresh Food

Hacks You

are Going to

Love

8

Life Hacks

for Parents

9

M A R C H 2 0 2 0 V O L U M E 1 2 , I S S U E 8

Free Tax Preparation Available

The Office of Social Services, in the City of Baton Rouge’s Division of Human

Development and Services, is pleased to announce free tax preparation through

its VITA Program. Certified tax preparers will provide free tax preparation in four

locations (see locations listed below) throughout East Baton Rouge Parish.

Please call the phone number associated with each site to schedule your

appointment to receive free tax preparation assistance. Eligible candidates must

meet the requirement of gross income under $55,000.

Power Parent

Division of Human Development and Services

4523 Plank Road

Baton Rouge, LA 70805

(225)358-4561

5:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Mondays & Wednesdays

9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Fridays by appointment

Charles R. Kelly Community Center

3535 Riley Street

Baton Rouge, LA 70805

(225)357-5013

9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Fridays by appointment

Chaneyville Community Center

13211 Jackson Road

Zachary, LA 70791

(225)658-9790

9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Fridays by appointment

Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center

4000 Gus Young Avenue

Baton Rouge, LA 70802

(225)389-7679 or (225)389-7625

9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Fridays by appointment

*The due date for filing your 2019 tax return is April 15, 2020

P A G E 2

The Imagination..The Beginning of Learning

P A G E 3

Albert Einstein still considered one of the great geniuses

of all time, believed, “Imagination is more important than

knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagina-

tion embraces the entire world, stimulating progress,

giving birth to evolution.”

The cultivation of the imagination can be one of the

greatest gifts you can give your children. In our

technology age, we have substituted good, old-fashioned

play for entertainment. We have allowed, even promoted,

the use of video games and hand-held devices as a

replacement for engagement of the imagination.

And the great irony is that a creative imagination isn’t just

found among artists, it’s the foundation of the brightest of

scientific minds. Columbus imagined a new world that

propelled him to cross the ocean. Aeronautical engineer-

ing was born out of a vision of a flying machine. All great

ideas were formulated from someone’s imagination…

from the center of their creativity- the heart.

And yet, we spend such little time giving our children

opportunities to dream, to think, to create.

With spring around the corner, it’s time to start fresh in a

new season with new ideas for cultivating your child’s

imagination!

Imagination is more important than knowledge. ~Albert Einstein

If we want our children to become all they were created

to be, we must engage their imaginations. Yes, it takes

knowledge to win a game of “MegaMan” on an Xbox and

skill to build a science project, but it is through the imagi-

nation that the game was created and the design of the

project was conceived.

Turn off the boxes and turn them on to something

better...real life!

3 Ways to Cultivate Your Child’s Imagination

1. Gather your Children for Family Time. When the

sun goes down, gather your family, light a candle or

two and share stories from your childhood with your

children. Share the ways you used to play and what

you did for fun. Sing songs. Play Go Fish. Or pickup

sticks or a Barrel of Monkeys. When was the last time

you built a house of cards?

2. Create an Imagination Station. Any big box will do,

but a plastic storage container works great, because

not only can your children store the supplies in it, but

they can also work on the top, if space is tight. Don’t

throw away old containers from the kitchen, such as

gallon jugs, oatmeal boxes, spice jars, odd-sized

empty boxes, and so on. Put them in your Imagination

Station. Toss in some old magazines, along with

some ordinary art supplies: glue, scissors, construc-

tion paper, felt, foam sheets, buttons, pipe cleaners,

yarn, markers, crayons, modeling clay, and anything

else you can think of. Don’t forget old grown-up

clothes for dress up.

Before you know it, your kids are:

• Turning oatmeal boxes into space rockets.

• Using photos from old magazines to illustrate original

stories

• Molding clay into creatures-come-to-life from their

Jill Garner, Founder/Executive Director 763 North Boulevard Baton Rouge, LA 70802 Office: (225)383-3235 Fax: (225)381-3090 mannersoftheheart.org https://mannersoftheheart.org/families/family-resources#newsletters

P A G E 4 V O L U M E 1 2 , I S S U E 8

The Imagination...The Beginning of Learning (continued)

imaginations.

• Transforming odd-sized boxes joined with pipe

cleaners into trains that can transport the clay

creatures.

• Turning old clothes into costumes they will use in an

original play about their heroes

• Creating funny farm animals out of empty milk

cartoons with a little yarn, felt, scissors, and glue.

The Imagination Station encourages your children to

create, not vegetate. It engages their minds and even

their hearts as they concoct stories and original plays.

3. Create an Art Gallery. Nothing encourages children

more than seeing their art masterpieces proudly

displayed in the window or on a wall of your home.

You can pick up a coloring book from Dollar Tree and

a box of crayons and give your children the opportuni-

ty to create an art gallery. You can draw a frame on a

piece of copy paper with a place to put the title of the

art. Let your children draw/color a picture within the

frame for hanging on the wall. Ask them to illustrate

their favorite story. You can hang the pictures in order

and let them tell you the story through their artwork!

When we treat children’s play as seriously as it deserves,

we are helping them feel the joy that’s to be found in the creative spirit. We’re helping ourselves stay

in touch with that spirit, too. It’s the things we play with and the people who

help us play that make a great difference in our lives.

~Fred Rogers Mr. Rogers Neighborhood

If we want our children to cure the diseases of the world one day or to create an invention that cuts our utility bills in half or to find a way to make this disrespectful world wholesome again, we must unlock their hearts. You hold the keys that will unlock those hearts. That’s why you must be willing to expend the energy, time, and effort to engage your children’s imaginations, rather than just of-fering entertainment to pacify their boredom.

You’ll find your imagination grows too when you encour-age your children to use their imaginations!

With all this said, I have two movie recommendations for you:

The Call of the Wild, starring Harrison Ford, for children over the age of six.

Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, starring Tom Hanks. This will feed your soul and fuel your desire to engage your children’s imagination in creative play!

https://mannersoftheheart.org/families/family-resources#newsletters

P A G E 5

We all have lights in our schools, homes and workplaces.

And many of us have ceiling fans. These are things we

probably seldom think about. But, did you know that the

way we operate these devices, as well as the type of

devices we use, can have a significant impact on our

utility bills? The average U.S. household could save over

$400 per year in electricity costs by making some minor

changes in the type of light bulbs and ceiling fans used

and how they are operated.

1. Turn off lights and ceiling fans when leaving an

unoccupied room.

Some of us “forget” to turn off lights when we leave a

room. You know who you are! But, this simple step

could save you over $4 per year for every 100 watt

incandescent light that you turn off for just an hour a

day. It adds up!

Turning off incandescent lights will also make a room

cooler, important during summer months, since these

lights give off almost 90% of their energy in heat.

Ceiling fans cool people, not a room. So, unless you

are in a room with a ceiling fan, turn off the fan.

2. Replace incandescent light bulbs with LED (Light-

Emitting Diode) bulbs.

According to ENERGY STAR(*) the average U.S.

household could save over $300 per year in electrici-

ty costs by replacing incandescent bulbs with LED.

Plus, LED bulbs last about 20 times longer than in-

candescents.

3. Buy light fixtures and ceiling fans with the

ENERGY STAR(*) logo.

Read more...

(*) ENERGY STAR is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency voluntary program that helps businesses and individuals save money and protect our climate through superior energy efficiency. Learn more about ENERGY STAR.

Simple Ways to Save Energy with Lights & Ceiling Fans

This energy conservation tip is provided by the

EBRPSS’s Aramark Energy Management Team.

For more information please contact us at

225-226-3723, or savoie-don@aramark.com.

Set your child up for studying success

To get the most out of education, your child needs to develop effective study skills. Here’s how:

• Designate a study area. It should be well lit and as free from distractions as possible. Your child will learn that going to this spot means it’s time to study.

• Help your child get organized. Encourage her to make a to-do list of homework tasks each day. Crossing tasks off as she completes them will make her feel capable.

• Put homework and studying before screen time. Electronics and TV are privileges that should come after priorities such as reading, homework and chores.

As your child studies, stay nearby and pay attention. Is she struggling with a subject? It’s OK to answer questions and guide her through problems. But don’t ever do her homework for her. If your child continues to have difficulty studying or completing homework, let the teacher know.

P A G E 6

You still have a large part to play in your child’s school success

You may be wondering how involved you need to be with

your child’s education now that he’s in middle school.

Can you really make a difference? The answer is yes!

Studies show that parents have a big effect on their

children’s academic achievement when they stay

involved throughout their school years. Parent engage-

ment leads to better test scores, higher graduation rates

and lower levels of drug and alcohol abuse. To play an

active role:

• Ask your child about what he’s learning. Show

your interest. Ask him to teach you about the after-

math of the Civil War, or how to find the slope in a

math problem. Make a point of giving him your

undivided attention when he talks about school.

• Set high, realistic expectations. Your child is more

likely to believe in himself if he knows you believe in

him. Talk to him about his goals, and cheer him on

as he strives to reach them.

• Be a role model. Inspire your child to keep trying by

displaying perseverance yourself. When solving a

problem, discuss a variety of ways to do it.

• Get involved at school. Join the parent-teacher

organization. Ask how you can help. Connecting

with teachers and other involved parents can help

you find resources and take action that will help your

child.

SOURCE: S.D. Sparks and A. Harwin, “How Parents

Widen—or Shrink—Achievement Gaps,” Education Week

P A G E 7

Please click on the links below to access EBR TV news segments:

“Bringing the students, programs and places of the

East Baton Rouge Parish School System into FOCUS”

SCHOOL/FEATURED NEWS SEGMENT LINKS

Forest Heights Academy of Excellence

Living History Museum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPoE7qfDPUA

MLK Day of Service Project by Ochsner and the

Foundation for EBRPSS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT8SUzdSKW0

BR FLAIM Celebrates Chinese New Year https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBqC0DOjsrw

Audubon Elementary Celebrates the 100th Day of School https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Or6wrZ5_l4I

Eric Alexander teaches Master Jazz Class to

EBR Students

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFF3leZwcOw

Highland Elementary Tree Dedication https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULREBXhxuuU&t=4s

White Hills Elementary partners with Taylor Porter Law

Firm: Read for Success Program

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PPqvyXUUhk&t=5s

EBR, help us to help you tell your story. Please click on the link

below to Request Media Coverage: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc9V6hm7O_qcwDpzOzBdxYSGHGF7Icx8fQGay6Xn_24ITIPEA/viewform

*Be courteous and provide at least 48 hours prior notification for your planned events

Often, individuals lack the time to prep fruits and veggies, which may reduce the amount of fruits and vegetables they eat in a day.

These Fruit and Veggie Hacks have always worked for me and I hope you can find a few new ones that you’ll try for yourself!

Shucking Corn on the Cob

Fresh corn on the cob in the peak of summer tastes so good! But if you’re like me, you get a bit frustrated with all the hairs when you remove the husk.

The easiest way to shuck corn without all the mess is to start by microwaving the corn on the cob (with the husk on) for 4 minutes. Tip: if you have 2 ears of corn, cook for 8 minutes in the microwave. Then, carefully cut off the root end. You can use a towel to help hold the corn, as it will be hot. Then, carefully slide your corn right out of the husk!

Speed up the Ripening Process

I love pears, but I often wish I didn’t have to wait as long for them to ripen. Instead I put them in a bowl on the counter next to bananas, which release ethylene gas, and in turn, causes the pears to ripen much faster. They are then ready to use for a simple snack, or you can pair them with your favorite cheese for an easy appetizer.

Store Cut Avocados with Onions to Prevent Browning

Speaking of onions, they can also help prevent your deliciously sliced avocados from browning! I love avocados, but sometimes I don’t eat

a whole one all at once. To help prevent my sliced avocado from browning, I pop it in an air tight container with some large slices of red onion. It keeps for 1-2 days.

P A G E 8

Promoting Healthy Living for EBR Families

Fresh Food Hacks You are Going to Love Meal Prep with Potatoes

After washing, cut potatoes and submerge them in water overnight to prevent them from browning. This way you can prepare your vegetables a day ahead of time!

Refresh your greens!

Does your lettuce or leafy greens wilt? Bring them back to life by filling a bucket (or your sink) with ice cold water. Fully submerge the lettuce into the water as much as possible for 15-20 minutes. This will allow the lettuce to absorb water and crisp up. Dry over towels or in a salad spinner.

Peeling butternut squash

We all love butternut squash, but we know it’s not the easiest thing to peel. Before peeling, cut the end off each side, then carefully poke holes throughout the squash with a fork.

Place in the microwave for 3-4 minutes. Let cool, it might be hot! Then, use your peeler or a knife to get the skin off- it will be much easier!

Chop and Freeze for easy Meal Starters

If you’re like me, you cry with the first slice into an onion, but I love the flavor they bring to so many dishes. Next time you’re cutting an onion, go at it and chop up more than you need and store the rest in a plastic freezer bag and pop into the freezer. If I’m feeling ahead of the game, I’ll freeze small bags of chopped onions, celery and carrots to have a perfect base for soup, pot pie, or a hot dish. You can even freeze onions and chopped bell pepper to add in with eggs for a quick breakfast omelet.

P A G E 9

LIFE HACKS FOR EBR PARENTS

A collection of life hacks, tips and tricks to optimize your life.

life·hack

ˈlīfˌhak/ Noun Informal noun: life hack 1. a strategy or technique adopted in order to manage one's time and daily activities in a more efficient way.

V O L U M E 1 2 , I S S U E 8 P A G E 1 0

• March 12th—End of 3rd Nine Weeks

• March 17th—ACT Testing / St. Patrick’s Day

• March 18th—Early Dismissal (Secondary 11:30 a.m.) (Elementary

12:45 p.m.)

March 2020 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31

End of

3rd Nine

Weeks

ACT

Testing

Early

Dismissal

P A G E 1 1

Parent Power is a publication of the

East Baton Rouge Parish School System

H. Warren Drake, Superintendent of Schools

wdrake@ebrschools.org

Marlon Cousin, Community Liaison

mcousin@ebrschools.org

The East Baton Rouge Parish School System and all of its entities (including Career and Technical

Education Programs) does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, national origin, disability or gender

in its educational programs and activities (including employment and application for employment), and it is prohibit-

ed from discriminating on the basis of gender by Title IX (20 USC 168) and on the basis of disability by Section

504 (42 USC 794). The Title IX Coordinator is Andrew Davis, Director of Risk Management

(ADavis6@ebrschools.org) - phone (225) 929-8705. The Section 504 Coordinator is Elizabeth Taylor Chapman,

Director of Exceptional Student Services (ETaylor@ebrschools.org) – phone (225) 929-8600. The Title II

Coordinator is Dr. Sandra Horton, Administrative Director of Federal Programs (SBHorton@ebrschools.org) –

phone (225) 922-5538.

All students have an opportunity to participate in Career & Technical Programs of Study including, but not limited

to, areas of Health Care, Construction Crafts & Trades, Automotive Technology, IT Computer Technology, IT

Computer Technology, Culinary Programs, Criminal Justice and Agriculture. Admission requirements for each

course can be found in the student course guide/schedule packet of the individual campus where the course is

being offered. Please contact the Guidance Counselor at the specific school site for additional information,

program requirements and/or any questions you may have.