Clark Prep Boy's Basketball wins District Championship!

Clark Prep Boy's Basketball team wins District 10-3A Championship, their first district championship since 1986. The team finished the season 17 and 12 and will be heading to the regional round next week to face-off against the winner of No. 16 Union Parish and No. 17 North Websters.

A big congrats to coach Marcell Fisher and all the guys on the team! We wish you the best of luck in your upcoming games.

To read more about the championship on Nola.com, please click here.

To help support the Clark Prep basketball team, along with other Clark Prep enrichment programs, come to the 2nd Annual Treme Day 5K Run/Walk and Health & Wellness Fest. All proceeds from race registration will go directly to Clark Prep's Athletic and Enrichment programs. The event is Saturday March 29th at 9AM.

LHA Families Write a Book!

The authors and illustrators of What the Sleepy Animals Do at the Audubon Zoo visited Langston Hughes Academy during Prime Time Family Reading Time. The groups led families in an exciting shared writing experience to create Biscuit Burning for Hair on the Bayou.

Families worked to incorporate all elements of a story, including characters, setting, problem, and solution. Please see below excerpts from their story.

Mardi Gras Safety Tips

As we approach the Mardi Gras holiday, we want to ensure the safety of our students. On Thursday, January 30, 2014, NOPD Crime Prevention Officers John Dobard and Clarence Cornelius presented and discussed Mardi Gras safety tips with our very own Clark Prep 11th and 12th graders. Our students and teachers welcomed the tips and we think it is important to pass that information along!

Mardi Gras Safety Tips:

• Don't keep your money out for any longer than is necessary. You don't want to make yourself the victim of a professional pickpocket.
• Don't park in front of driveways, fire hydrants, or anywhere you would not normally be allowed to park. And be sure to lock your vehicle!
• Keep your children (or little brothers, sisters or cousins) close, and don't let them wander off. Be sure that they know to stay behind the parade barricades.
• The Neutral Ground (median) is public property, and it is illegal to block off areas for private use.
• Glass containers are prohibited along parade routes.
• If your children are in ladders to view the parade, be sure that they are placed as many feet behind the street curb as the ladder is high.

Happy Mardi Gras everyone!

NOLA Tech students visit The Laitram Corporation!

On Friday, January 31st,  NOLA Tech students visited The Laitram Corporation. Laitram is a global manufacturing company that has been part of the Louisiana business landscape for more than 50 years. The company is comprised of four operating divisions - Intralox L.L.C., Laitram Machinery, Inc., Lapeyre Stair, Inc., and Laitram Machine Shop L.L.C. and employs over 1,700 people worldwide.

Students toured the facility and learned about job opportunities including Welding, Machining, Electrical-Electronics Engineering Technology, Assembly, and Customer Service. Venturing through the 1 million square foot facility students were able to tour Laitram Machinery, Intralock, and the Laitram Machine shop. Students got a first-hand look at product manufacturing, processing, and shipping, while also learning about Laitram customer service standards and what it takes to succeed at one of the top global manufacturing companies.

After touring the facility students enjoyed a delicious conference style lunch provided by Laitram. As students sat to enjoy their food at the large executive style conference table they were met by Laitram's Treasurer and Human Resources Coordinator. During lunch students had the opportunity to discuss key employment factors such as internship and job opportunities, starting pay scale, and the Laitram culture.

At the end of the visit students were energized and excited about their visit and many of them intended on applying for internship opportunities.

STAND UP at LHA

STAND University for Parents or STAND UP began this week at Langston Hughes Academy. The program works with parents and guardians to help develop college-ready students. According to studies, children whose families are involved in their education are more likely to succeed in school and in life than children whose families are less engaged.

The program began with a kick-off on Wednesday February 5th and will run through the end of April. Throughout this period parents and guardians will participate in eight academic classes focused on actionable steps parents can immediately take to hope put their children on track to college.  Graduation is April 25, 2014.

FirstLine is excited to be participating in the program, and would like to wish all of our families good luck in their first week of STAND UP Classes!