Celebrating Excellence: Recognizing Outstanding Educators at Woodlawn

Celebrating Excellence: Recognizing Outstanding Educators at Woodlawn

The impact of dedicated teachers and mentors cannot be overstated. At Woodlawn High, the Mentoring Matters program stands as a testament to the value of support and guidance for first and second-year educators. This year, the program has seen remarkable success, with notable achievements from both new teachers and seasoned mentors.

One standout figure among the first-year teachers is Mrs. LaGrange, whose passion and proficiency in Media Arts have left an indelible mark on Woodlawn High. Her innovative approaches have not only enriched classroom experiences but have also influenced the aesthetic fabric of the school itself. It comes as no surprise that Mrs. LaGrange was rightfully recognized as the East Baton Rouge Parish New Teacher of the Year. Her dedication and impact are emblematic of the excellence that Woodlawn High School strives to foster.

Equally deserving of acknowledgment is Mr. Lopez, who received a Certificate of Recognition for his commendable performance as a new teacher. His commitment to his students and his craft is praiseworthy, and his recognition is a testament to his hard work and dedication.

Mr. Lopez and Ms. LaGrange are all smiles as they show off their prestigious awards.

Behind every successful teacher stands a supportive mentor, and WHS is fortunate to have such exemplary figures in Mrs. Singletary and Mrs. Governale. Their guidance and mentorship have been instrumental in shaping the next generation of educators. Their receipt of the Certificate of Recognition for Mentor of the Year is a well-deserved honor, reflecting their tireless efforts in nurturing and empowering their mentees.

As we celebrate these achievements, we also look ahead with anticipation to the future endeavors of Mrs. LaGrange, Mr. Lopez, Mrs. Singletary, Mrs. Governale, and all educators at WHS. Their collective contributions form the foundation of excellence upon which the school community thrives.

Magnet Mania at Woodlawn High!

Magnet Mania at Woodlawn High!

Magnet Programs were developed to create exciting learning experiences to promote academic achievement for students with specific educational needs.

With over 28 competitive programs in the district, these specialized programs offer students a quality education based on their learning style, skills, and special interests. The district offers dynamic, specialized magnet programs, such as the visual & performing arts, digital arts, academic, STEM, and pre-engineering themes. These programs are designed based on the specific learning needs of each student.

Magnet Programs have no tuition fees and offer the following:

  • Advanced courses of study
  • Expanded elective offerings
  • Free transportation
  • Lower student/teacher ratios

Some of our students were recently interviewed about the Magnet Program at Woodlawn High. See what they have to say about their time here at Woodlawn High School and the Academic STEM Magnet Program. Also, check out the video showing the school grounds shot using a drone through our newest Magnet STEM class: Intro to Remote Vehicles, where students can earn their FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot License.

The videos can be found on our Woodlawn High YouTube channel or by clicking on the following links:

Jamarion

Mikaela

Drone Video

 

Panther Football Loaded with Talent

Panther Football Loaded with Talent

The Woodlawn Panther Football team had a shortened season last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Panthers were only able to play four regular season games due to cancellations. The coaching staff and players are excited about the likelihood of a full season.

The Panthers finished the short season with a 2-3 overall record, but bring back talent at many positions on both sides of the ball.

The offense will be led by Junior Rickie Collins. The four star quarterback is a two-year starter with plenty of weapons to get the ball to offensively. Senior running back Amani Givens, Senior wide receiver Jaylon Henry, and Senior wide receiver Kyle Jones are looking to build upon last season’s success. Junior wide receiver Clayton Adams will be a weapon on offense as well as special teams.

Collins will be protected this year by Seniors Tylan Day and Jeron Lewis, along with Junior Roy Brackins.

Defensively, the Panthers return players at all three levels, and look for production from all of them. Junior defensive lineman and Senior linebacker Mason Watson look to be leaders in the box for the Panthers. In the secondary, Senior Marcus Stewart and Juniors Dezaray Delmore and Jordan Matthews are expected to continue their stellar play from last season.

Newcomers Lawrence Hillard and Deshawn Flowers are expected to push for starting positions on the offensive line and in the linebacking core, respectivley.

Coach Randall stressed that the goal of this year’s Panther team is to win district and improve on last year’s first round playoff defeat.

“With the veterans we have returning, we look to build off of last year’s season,” said Randall. “We feel that we have the talent to compete for the district championship and advance past the first round of the playoffs.”

The Panthers will begin the season with a scrimmage at Denham Springs on August 19th. The jamboree will be played at home versus Madison Prep on August 27th, before hosting Jesuit in the season opener on September 3rd. Weeks 4 and 5 pit the Panthers against two traditional 5A powers in West Monroe and Zachary, followed by the gauntlet that is District 5-5A.

Medine Twins Claim Regional Championship, Aucoin & Bertrand Qualify for State

Medine Twins Claim Regional Championship, Aucoin & Bertrand Qualify for State

Like in all sports, experience in tennis is often the difference between a win and a loss. The mental aspect of the game of tennis is often overlooked as most players do not think much about what they are doing on the court. In big matches, nerves often creep in and overshadow any strategy that players worked on before the match.

Halle Medine experienced these nerves at this week’s Division II, Region 3 Tournament. Luckily, she leaned on her twin sister, Leah, for support when the stakes got high.

Leah has felt Regional pressure before. She was the Division II, Region 3 Girls Singles Runner-Up her freshman year and won the title of Regional Champion her sophomore year. Both years, Leah finished as a State Quarterfinalist.

“Leah has more experience in big matches than Halle,” said Head Coach Brent Broussard. “Halle had some nerves early in a few of the matches, but she was able to settle down as the matches went on. Leah having that experience certainly helped settle Halle.”

The Medines were given the number one seed by the coaches at the tournament seeding meeting which was held before the tournament. This ensured that they would not have to face another seeded team on the first day of the tournament and also gave them a first round bye.

After a slow start in their first match, the twins finished strong, moving to the quarterfinals of the tournament with a 6-2, 6-0 victory. The victory also booked their ticket to the State Tournament. Their second match of the day ended with the exact same score to send them to the Semifinals.

Day two of the tournament started with Halle and Leah facing the fourth seeded team in the tournament. The girls moved onto the finals with a 6-1, 6-1 victory.

In the finals, nerves slowed the path to victory, but could not stop it. After a shaky start, the Medines were down 3-2 in the first set. Halle and Leah won ten of the next eleven games to claim the championship with a 6-3, 6-1 victory.

Sophomores Dylan Aucoin and Brady Bertrand qualified for the 2021 Divison II State Tennis Tournament.

In the boys doubles draw, the second court team consisting of Dylan Aucoin and Brady Bertrand qualified for the State Tournament by advancing to the Quarterfinals of Regionals with two wins. The boys rolled through their first round match with a 6-0, 6-0.

The second round match, with a trip to the State Tournament on the line, was much more difficult. The Panthers dropped the first set 4-6, before storming back to win the second set 6-1. The third set tiebreaker came down to the wire, with Dylan and Brady coming away with the 10-8 win.

Other top performers from Woodlawn’s Tennis program were Christian Jones and Miriam Lindsay, who finished the tournament with a 1-1 record and fell just short of qualifying for the State Tournament, and Maxwell Bayles, who played an exciting two hour match before bowing out by the score 7-6 (4), 7-5.

Panthers Build Foundation for Future Success

Panthers Build Foundation for Future Success

In his two seasons as the Head Coach at Woodlawn High, Brad Voight has focused on building the foundation of the program. Coach Voight has stressed to his players that this includes excelling both on and off the court.

“We believe we are starting to set a very solid and sustainable foundation both on the court and in the classroom,” said Voight. “We will return three players who were recognized with All-District Honors. Our returning student-athletes have also done a great job in the classroom and are right at the 3.0 team GPA that was set as a goal before the season!”

Rickie Collins and Kyle Jones were each named to the District 5-5A All-District First Team for the 2020-2021 season. Collins, who was also named to the 2019-2020 team, looks to be in the mix for the District MVP next season. Collins averaged 17 points and 9 rebounds per game, and his shot blocking ability around the basket paid huge dividends for the Panthers this season.

Clayton Adams and Bryan Sledge were named to the District 5-5A Honorable Mention team. Sledge, who is a senior, average 11 points and 7 rebounds per game. His play on both ends of the court will be missed.

“Kyle Jones and Clayton Adams both return with Rickie, and both should have much improved seasons next year,” added Voight. “We will look to Clayton and Kyle to score more next year to make up for the loss of our seniors.”

The 2020-2021 season was marked by quarantines and streaks for the Panthers. After they opened their season with a win over St. Thomas Aquinas, Woodlawn was quickly placed on quarantine due to contact tracing and missed their next four games.

The Panthers returned to action to win their next five games, before suffering their first defeat of the season. Another five game win streak in early January, marked by a big win over Jehovah-Jireh, had Woodlawn poised to make a run at the district championship.

However, Covid-19 forced the Panthers to sit through another quarantine. When they were finally able to return to the court in early February, the team went 1-2 before being shut down again for two weeks leading into the playoffs.

Despite the roller coaster season, Woodlawn finished the season with a 17-7 record and were named the #20 seed in the LHSAA Class 5A State Tournament. The Panthers traveled to Gonzales to face the #13 seeded East Ascension Spartans, and fell in a close contest. Despite the season ending before the team wished, there were many bright spots to the season.

“We fill that we have that foundation built now,” concluded Voight. “We have kids working hard in the classroom and on the court. We have kids who expect to make the playoffs each year. We have kids that are looking forward to summer league. It’s an exciting time to be a Panther.”

Teams interested in joining the Woodlawn High Summer League should email Coach Voight at [email protected].