Mar 8, 2017
Woodlawn High School is proud to announce that they are partnering with Neighbors Federal Credit Union to offer a Woodlawn High School Mascot Card.
Neighbors continues the tradition of supporting local schools through the Mascot Card, a customized debit card program. The Mascot Card serves as a perpetual fundraiser for schools enrolled in the program. Members enjoy all the benefits of a traditional checking account with the added benefit of earning money for their school with each swipe of their Mascot Card. With every debit card purchase you make, Neighbors will make a monetary donation to Woodlawn High School.
It’s easy to begin supporting Woodlawn High School by using the Mascot Card. Current Neighbors members can visit your nearest local branch and switch your debit card to a Woodlawn High Mascot Card, or new members need to simply visit a local branch and open an account. Additional features on this account include no monthly service charges or per check fees for cardholders under 25 years of age, free online banking and bill-pay, free Audio Response service, and automatic overdraft protection is available after the cardholder is 18 years old.
Minors are also invited to open an account. In order to do this, a minor needs two forms of identification: one primary form, such as a state issued ID or driver’s license, and one secondary form, such as a school ID, social security card, or insurance card. The parent has to be joint owner on the account, so they should be with the student when opening the account. If the parents are not a member, they will need a state issued ID or driver’s license as well as a secondary form of identification.
Neighbors offers a full range of products, services and benefits to meet every banking need. Neighbors is 100% local and dedicated to personal service while still offering the best in contemporary, leading-edge technology.
For more information, please contact our office at (225) 819-2178 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. to speak with a Call Center Representative. Those interested may also apply by clicking here.
Mar 6, 2017
Yusra Chabayta, ’18
On February 24, 2017, Woodlawn High School presented Blurred Lines, a Black History Program for Black History Month. Black History Month, or National African American History Month, is an annual celebration of achievements by black Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of African Americans in United States history.
Diamond-Alexis Craig and Troy Pierre II opened the program as the “Master and Mistress of Ceremony.” The first performance was called “The Cypher’s Corner” performed by Jeroderick Allen, Cody Coleman, Trevon Hardnet, Treyln Miller, Alton Morgan, and Keon Simmons. It was amazing!
Woodlawn’s Finest Ladies, the “Alluring Queens Step Team,” performed next, followed by Woodlawn’s Finest Males, the “Suave Kings Step Team.” Miss Woodlawn, Nakavia Chapman, Jeroderick Allen, and Mr. Woodlawn, Devin Whiting, performed “The Night Before the Storm” next.
The other performances included the Decades Fashion Show, from Civil Rights Period to the New Millennium, performed by the Culture Club, The Komplexion by Kerrington Hill and CyTierrione Williams, Fences Monologue by Destiny Hall, an Original Poem by Derwinisha Alford, Black Royalty by Da’Shona Woods, and a Theatrical Poem called “Black Child/ I am A Women” by Paris Hishaw and Nitiqua Johnson.
I thought this program was amazing and beautiful; Woodlawn High School has some very talented students. I would like to thank Coach Kenner and Ms. Hawkins for sponsoring this amazing program, and also thank our principal, Mr. Stevens, for letting us do something like this for the first time ever.
Mar 6, 2017
Ashley Martin, ’17
EBR recently hosted their first annual “Float Your Boat” challenge. The premise of the challenge was to create a boat strictly out of cardboard and packing tape to float two people for one minute. Spending around a week designing and building, Woodlawn created about six boats for the challenge.
Upon arrival to the LSU campus’ dock, Woodlawn immediately began unloading their boats and checking for any damage that may have occurred during the ride. Each team met with the judges of the event and proceeded to place their boat in the water.
Most boats were able to hold two people for one minute, leading to the second part of the challenge. Now each boat was to hold three people for one minute and add another person to be held for an extra minute until the boat sank. Woodlawn was the school that created the boat that held the most people for the longest- ten people for an extra 10.79 seconds. At the end of the event, Woodlawn was designated the Performance Award for the boat holding that magnitude for such a length of time.
Mar 6, 2017
Cheering has been a passion for Brysten Jacob for much of her life. She began cheering as a seven year old for her cousin’s little league team in her home town of New Iberia, Louisiana. Ever since then, the nineteen year old freshman has relished the opportunity to cheer on her school’s athletic programs. She cheered as a seventh and eighth grader at Woodlawn Middle, and all four years at Woodlawn High. Jacob served as the team’s captain her junior and senior years.
Ashley Montgomery poses for a picture before a Southern University basketball game.
Ashley Montgomery took a different route to cheer. She grew up taking dance classes, beginning at the age of seven. As a sophomore at Woodlawn High, Montgomery knew that she wanted to get involved with extracurricular activities. She decided to give cheerleading a try. Her dance background made her a natural, and she fell in love with the sport immediately.
Jacob and Montgomery enrolled at Southern University in August after graduating from Woodlawn in May of 2016. Once the girls entered college, they made the decision to try out for the Small Co-Ed Cheerleading team together. With over fifty participants at tryouts in October, the girls were both selected to the team of fourteen cheerleaders. The Small Co-Ed team cheers on the Southern University women’s basketball team at all home games.
Both girls plan to continue cheering with the Small Co-Ed team through their sophomore years. At the end of their sophomore years, the girls plan to try out for the Large Co-Ed Cheerleading team. This team cheers at football games and men’s basketball games. The girls plan to take tumbling classes in order to better prepare them for the Large Co-Ed team.
Both girls gushed when asked about the affect that the cheer program at Southern has had on their lives.
“The experience we have had so far at Southern has been great. We have met lots of people that we wouldn’t have the opportunity to meet,” explained Montgomery.
“Being on the cheer team has pushed me to continue to do my work and keep on top of my work because I like cheer, and I’ve been cheering for my school since middle school,” said Jacob. “I don’t want to stop doing it because I’m getting off track with my academics. So it keeps me focused.”
Brysten Jacob has continued her career as a cheerleader at Southern University this year.
Both girls maintained the necessary GPA to remain on the cheer team. Jacob is majoring in Biology. She plans to pursue a career as a physical therapist. Montgomery is majoring in Elementary Education, and plans on teaching once her time at Southern is over.
Jacob and Montgomery recently joined Cheer Phi Leader, a sorority-type group of cheerleaders. Cheer Phi is made up of cheerleaders from many of the HBCUs.
“Cheer Phi Leader has helped us become better cheerleaders because of the process you go through to join,” explained Jacob. “We worked together as a team, and the team has become closer because of this.”
The girls both agreed that cheering at Woodlawn High helped prepare them for this portion of their cheering lives.
“Cheering at football games and basketball games helped me to be more confidant in myself, and I am comfortable with doing it now,” said Jacob. “I learned how to perform.”
Mar 6, 2017
The house was packed as families, friends and district representatives attended the arts showcase hosted by Woodlawn High School’s Fine Arts Department on Tuesday, February 21, 2017 in the WHS Auditorium. The showcase, entitled “All the World’s a Stage” after Shakespeare’s play by the same name, featured visual art displays, musical numbers, theatrical scenes and performance art pieces.
While browsing a visual arts exhibit before the show, guests were invited to enjoy jambalaya prepared by parent, Samantha Jett. The visual arts exhibit featured displays from students enrolled in Art I, Art III, AP Studio Art: 2D Design, and Talented Visual Art courses. Favorite pieces were a 3D portrait created by Art III student Abdulkhaleq Hussain and Cubism-inspired self-portrait by Talented Art student, Elijah Sykes.
The talent exhibited in the visual arts displays was echoed by an orchestra trio featuring Advanced Orchestra student, Christopher Breaud; Talented Music student, Joshua “Drew” Garon Jr.; and orchestra teacher, Ms. Falco. Drew Garon performed a solo composed by Vivaldi on the violin later in the showcase.
Talented theatre student Trinh Nguyen introduces Lost N’ Sound at All the World’s a Stage.
After a brief welcome and introduction by Talented theatre student, Trinh Nguyen, Lost N’ Sound, the WHS Pop A Cappello Choir took the floor, performing popular pieces such as Stitches by Shaun Mendez and Somebody I Used to Know by Goyte. With standout vocalists Jaylyn James and Shaun McCray singing, it was not long before the cameras were flashing and the crowd was singing along.
The Suave King Panthers, led by Jeroderick Allen Jr. and the Alluring Queens, under the direction of Nakavia Chapman, were next up on stage. The WHS Step Team really “stepped it up” for this performance with both whole group and separate team routines that captivated the audience with their in-sync movements and hand-foot coordination.
The WHS Jazz Ensemble, The Smooth Purple Groove, played equally engaging rhythms with songs such as I Feel Good by James Brown and Night and Day, arranged by EBR Talented Music teacher, Mike Esneault. Performers such as Kyle Monic, Mason Stubbs, and Brennan Burleigh took turns showing off their talent as they played jazz solos throughout the pieces. Evan Earl, Joshua Hayden, Christopher Jones, Javin Leggett, Blaine van Stock, and Invie Williams played multiple selections that showcased their talent as part of the Talented Music Ensemble, under the direction of EBR Talented Music teacher, BJ McGibney.
The showcase would not be complete without the dramatic performances of our theatre students and drama club. Members of the Theatre IV class and drama club performed in multiple scenes from classic television shows including Pet Shop, a Monty Python sketch performed by McKenzie Martin and Kennedy Sorrell and Who’s on First by Abbott and Costello, performed by Dominic Messina and Mitchell Maclean. The drama club did not forget the literary classics when Madisyn McAlister portrayed a lead role in a scene from Lord Byron’s Love Letter by Tennessee Williams.
Students who participated in All the World’s a Stage receive cheers from the crowd and pose for pictures after the performance.
In the last performance of the night, The Bully Pulpit by Dwayne Hartford, the Talented Theatre students used their skills to highlight a common concern among school age students, bullying. With comedic relief throughout the performance, they were able to portray what bullying is and how it affects those involved. The showcase concluded with a curtain call featuring the entire company with a special recognition to the key players behind the scenes, Javier Allen, John Grayson Barrett, Laila Fisher, Keveyon Franklin, Matthew Jobborn, and Caleb Massarek.
The company would like you remember that “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players,” and without the support of some key players, this would not be possible. The company would like to thank Mr. Sorenson for directing the arts showcase, Ms. Samantha Jett for preparing the jambalaya, Ms. Washington for capturing the performances on camera, all program sponsors for their guidance, and family and friends that attended for their support. Also, they would like to extend a special thanks to the district representatives that attended, including School Board Representative, Jill Dyason; Executive Director of High Schools, Benjamin Necaise; Director of Fine Arts, Wayne Talbot; and Supervisor of Gifted and Talented Programs, Babs Stapleton.
