EPSB gains lesson in pétanque; recognizes FBLA winners

The Evangeline Parish School Board members received a lesson in pétanque during its Wednesday meeting from Ville Platte High French teacher Nicholas Jagneaux.
For the presentation, Jagneaux was accompanied by his French student Ryandracus Chapman, who recently won the award for being the youngest player at a pétanque tournament he attended with Jagneaux in Lafayette.
After introducing themselves to the board in French, the two gentlemen explained the game of pétanque and passed around pétanque equipment donated by pétanque world champion and promotional ambassador Bernard Champey. Champey donated two sets of pétanque balls, one of which Jagneaux said they plan to donate to Ville Platte Elementary’s French Immersion program with Champey’s approval.
Jagneaux explained the game consists of tossing a small ball, also known as a piglet or coshonnet, and then tossing two larger balls in an attempt to land them as close as possible to the piglet. The team who lands their balls closest earns points until one team is declared the winner.
Before completing his presentation, Jagneaux thanked School Superintendent Darwan Lazard for the continued support he has shown for VPHS through their efforts to learn more about the sport of pétanque.
The presentation to the school board came a day after Champey visited the Ville Platte High campus with the president of the Lafayette Pétanque Club Mike LeBlanc. “They came to do a clinic to work with the kids on proper techniques of how to throw the ball,” Jagneaux said after the meeting. “Bernard Champey was very happy with the way everything went. In fact, he wants to come back to Ville Platte next year.”
Jagneaux’s ultimate goal is to create a Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) sanctioned pétanque competition. But, the first step is to create interest. As Jagneaux said, “We can get Mamou and Pine Prairie involved and start an intraparish competition. From there, we could call Sacred Heart then Eunice and Opelousas, or we could get together with the schools in Lafayette who are already playing pétanque.
During the April 3, meeting, VPHS’s Mitzi Fontenot was also recognized for being named the Louisiana Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Sponsor of the Year.
While addressing the board, Fontenot not only expressed her gratitude for the honor, but she also recognized students who placed at the State FBLA Conference.
Those students are as follows: Moriah Veillon from Basile High, who placed fourth place in journalism and qualified for the leadership conference in San Antonio, Texas; Sylas Fontenot, Whittney Manuel and Wesley Marcantel from Mamou High, who placed third in 3D animation project; Toriance Fontenot from Mamou High, who placed fourth in business law; Kaitlyn Johnson from Mamou High, who placed second in introduction to business procedures; Olivia Mayeaux from Mamou High, who placed fourth in introduction to parliamentary procedures; Joseph Mabe from Mamou High, who placed seventh in accounting and sixth in personal finance; Lauren Soileau from Mamou High, who placed 10th in agribusiness; Abihaile Patrick and Kelsey Berzas from Mamou High, who placed fifth in website design project; Faith Fuller from Pine Prairie High, who placed seventh in introduction to FBLA and 10th place in intro to business procedures; Kayla Myers and Kaylee Ramsey from PPHS, who placed fourth in hospitality management and qualified for the National Leadership Conference; and Celiah Guillory from Ville Platte High, who placed fourth in business calculations and qualified for the National Leadership Conference.
At the school board’s bi-monthly meeting, it also adopted a Louisiana Municipal Association resolution opposing all proposed legislation that permits the legislature to remove the authority of local governments to administer and collect local sales and use taxes. This resolution is nearly the same the Evangeline Police Jury approved at its meeting last Monday.
Other items approved at the meeting:
•Acceptance of the low price quote in the amount of $6,725.00 from Jeanmard, Inc. for replacement of awning in special education area at Mamou High School using parish-wide maintenance funds.