Chataignier Beta Club excels

By: HEATHER
BOGARD
Associate Editor

Chataignier Elementary achieved the high honor of National Beta School of Distinction for the 2021-2022 school year. “This national award speaks highly of (sponsor) Mrs. Sherelene Johnson’s commitment to academic excellence and illustrates her dedication to preparing students for their future,” said school librarian Tonya Ortego.
Johnson’s experience as Beta Club sponsor has spanned 23 years, five years in Calcasieu Parish and 18 years in Evangeline Parish. She shared the main impact on students in the Beta Club is to “create confident leaders for the future.” Johnson recalls,’ When I first came to Chataignier, they were not involved in Beta Club to this degree. I wanted to expose the youth to the phenomenal opportunities available to them. I am from Chataignier and I wanted to give back to the school.” She said currently, the club has around 30 members.
Principal Sarah Lafleur and Assistant Principal Leslie DesHotels stated, “We are extremely proud of our Beta members and the fantastic work Mrs. Johnson has done with these students for the betterment of our school and community.”
Johnson said, “The National Beta Club School of Distinction is an award for Beta chapters striving toward academic achievement, exemplary character, demonstrated leadership, and service to others. With an ongoing quest to instill these qualities in school, this honor is bestowed upon us for showing an increase in membership.”
Johnson noted this is the third time the Chataignier Beta Club has received this prestigious honor. The first two times were under the leadership of Principal Peggy Edwards in 2015-16 and 2017-18. In addition, in 2017, Shaylin Soileau was the first student from Chataignier Elementary to ever qualify and made it to Nationals in Orlando, Florida, which was a big accomplishment for the school.
This year, under the leadership of Principal Sarah Lafleur, the club has excelled once again during the 2012-22 school year. When word was received of the honor, Johnson says, “I was beyond excited because this was the second time this happened in our little village school. I immediately sent pictures of the banners to the administration and our awesome school librarian Tonya Ortego. In turn, assistant principal Leslie DesHotels called the club members to the library for a photo to mark the occasion.”
To achieve the honor, Johnson said the school is very committed to promoting academic excellence in grades four-eight, with elementary Beta grades four-five, and Jr. Beta grades six-eight. A big part of the club is recruitment, member induction, participation and competing in various competitions such as apparel design, book battle, quiz bowl, speech, two dimensional design, engineering, performing arts, academic and engineering, just to name a few.
Johnson noted that due to Covid, the Beta Club academic competitions have been held virtually for the past couple of years, and she thanks the community for going above and beyond to raise funds to help the students attend competitions.
Christina Fontenot, a Beta Club parent for nine years proclaimed of Johnson’s accomplishment, “She is a sponsor who advocates for her Junior Beta students and encourages student participation for both district and state competitions. Without Mrs. Johnson, my children would not have had the opportunities and experiences she has exposed them to with the Junior Beta Club. I have witnessed her building strong community partnerships as well. She demonstrates expertise in both math and as the Junior Beta sponsor. She is able to connect with all of her students, which impacts all students’ growth and learning.”
Fontenot’s son, Noah, decided to become involved in the Beta Club in fifth grade because his mom had fun as a member when she was in school and she wanted him to have the same experience. Fontenot’s daughter, Annalise, said she decided to get involved in fourth grade after having Johnson as one of her teachers.
National Beta Club is the largest independent non-profit educational youth organization in America. For more than 80 years, it has prepared today’s students to become tomorrow’s leaders. Beta expands your horizons, whether through local service projects, state conventions, leadership summits, summer leadership opportunities or the national convention, members have the opportunity to get out and make a difference. It provides students with an ideal environment in which to grow, and there is no better way to see new places.