Lusher Charter School students won 16 awards in the 2014 Louisiana Writes! competition, across ten categories in grades K-12. 

The awards included 1st place in 5th-6th non-fiction; 1st place in 5th-6th fiction; 1st and 3rd place in 7th-8th fiction; 1st and 2nd place in 7th-8th poetry; 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in 9th-10th poetry; 1st place in 9th-10th fiction; 1st place in 11th-12th poetry; and 1st place in 7th-12th senior division French poetry. The final tally included 8 first place awards! The students will be honored at an awards ceremony at the State Museum in November that will open the Louisiana Book Festival.  

The Lusher winners are: Kysah Khokher, 1st place, 5th - 6th Nonfiction; Madeleine LaCesne, 3rd place, 11th - 12th Nonfiction; Grace Morse, 1st place, 7th - 8th Poetry; Aja Becker, 2nd place, 7th - 8th Poetry; Madeline Sintes, 1st place, 9th - 10th Poetry; Alexandra Gulden, 2nd place, 9th - 10th Poetry; Sophie Evans; 3rd place, 9th - 10th Poetry; Madeleine LaCesne, 1st place, 11th - 12th Poetry; Keiffer Ary, 2nd place, K-2 Fiction; Joyce Zhao, 1st place, 5th - 6th Fiction; Benjamin Wilkins, 2nd place, 5th - 6th Fiction; Freda Sciarappa, 1st place, 7th - 8th Fiction; Zachary Arendt, 3rd place, 7th - 8th Fiction; Alexandra Gulden, 1st place, 9th - 10th Fiction; Madeleine LeCesne, 3rd place, 11th - 12th Fiction; Lizzette Toto, 1st place, 7th-12th Senior Division French Poetry.  

The Louisiana Writes! Youth Writing Contest is open to students in all grades from kindergarten to 12th grade in Louisiana schools.  Volunteer teachers from the National Writing Project manage the contest.  Each year these teachers from around the state gather to judge nearly 1000 entries in the areas of English or French fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.  Louisiana authors judge the finalists.

What: 
6th Annual Community Gala and Auction to benefit Morris Jeff Community School  

When: 
Thursday, October 9th 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM;  

Where: 
The New Orleans Fairgrounds Clubhouse, 4th Floor 1751 Gentilly Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70119  

Why: Support Morris Jeff Community School, the only International Baccalaureate elementary school in the state of Louisiana, as they host a night full of celebration, art, and local music and food.  

Food will be provided by more than a dozen local eateries, including MONDO, Dooky Chase Restaurant, The Ruby Slipper, Pagoda Café, Juan's Flying Burrito, Slice, The Lucky Rooster, and Canseco’s Markets.  

Dozens of items will be up for grabs in our silent auction (including a 1-week stay at Tranquility Bay Resort in Ambergris Caye, Belize!). Beverages will be provided by some of New Orleans’ favorite haunts.  

Live music will include sultry singer Michaela Harrison at 6:30pm followed by a new-school R&B performance from Soul Project NOLA at 8pm.  

General admission tickets are $50 /person, inclusive of music, food, drinks, and silent auction. Group tickets and event sponsorships can be purchased at www.morrisjeffschool.org.

The Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools (LAPCS) Executive Director Caroline Roemer Shirley today announced keynote speaker Tim King will be headlining the statewide organization’s conference this year, 7th Inning Stretch: Charters. Choice. Change.  

The conference will be held on Tuesday, October 21, Crowne Plaza Baton Rouge, 4728 Constitution Avenue.  A welcome reception will be held  Monday, October 20, from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m, Juban’s, 3739 Perkins Road.

WHAT:           
To celebrate Lake Forest Elementary Charter School’s nearly three decades of academic success, the school is hosting its annual “Cocktails and Blues” benefit.  Evening includes a patron party and dinner with the presentation of the Community Hero Award and continues with the city’s finest silent auction and entertainment by Stephanie Jordan and Michael Biagas.

WHEN:           
Saturday, October 11th, 8:00 pm
6-8pm Patron Party & Dinner
               
WHERE:           
New Orleans Lakefront Airport
The Terminal: Walnut Room & Atrium
6001 Stars & Stripes Blvd.
New Orleans, LA 70126

The Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools (LAPCS) and Louisiana Appleseed will unveil their new joint publication Louisiana Charter School Board Legal Handbook with a free Continuing Legal Education course Friday, September 26, 8 – 10 a.m., the Pan Am Life Conference Center, 701 Poydras St., New Orleans.  

Only 50 seats are available. Attendees must register by clicking here or by contacting Christy Kane, 504-561-7312 or ckane@appleseednetwork.org.  

While the informational guide is targeted specifically to charter board members, attorneys who attend the CLE will receive two credit hours towards the annual 12.5 hour professional development requirement.

The New Orleans launch of the book Acadie Then and Now: A People's History will be at the Downriver Festival, Saturday, September 13, 10am – 5pm, at the Old U.S. Mint, 400 Esplanade Ave.  

Book director Warren Perrin is available to do interviews! For media inquiries and interview requests, contact Jonathan Barnes, 504-897-6110, bcobarnes@aol.com or Warren Perrin, 337-501-3049 or 337-233-5832

What:  11th Annual Refrigerator Art Auction & Gala to benefit the International School of Louisiana (ISL)  
When:  Saturday, September 27, 6:00 PM to 10 PM; Patron Party starts at 6:00 PM and Gala begins at 7:00 PM  
Where:  Generations Hall, 310 Andrew Higgins Dr., New Orleans, LA 70130

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is condoning your teen’s late sleeping habits. A recent AAP study says adolescents who don’t get enough sleep often suffer physical and mental health problems, an increased risk of automobile accidents and a decline in academic performance.

So what’s a parent to do to get that teen to school on time?

Greg Noto is running to be the next Judge in the 34th Judicial District for St. Bernard Parish.

A decorated former police officer, Greg worked his way through Loyola University School of Law while at the same time raising a family.  For the past 10 years, Greg Noto has served the citizens of St. Bernard Parish as a Special Assistant to District Attorney Jack Rowley. Mr. Noto was the lead prosecutor for the DA’s office in felony trials.  He also has an extensive private practice with over 30 years experience in civil and criminal litigation.