Reaching new heights

By: TONY MARKS
Editor

As school doors open across Evangeline Parish signifying the start of a new school year, last year’s 6th grade students at James Stephens Montessori will pass through the same doors as they did last year now that the school has expanded to offer 7th grade. Eighth grade will then be offered beginning with the new school year.
Both principal Melanie Bordelon and Superintendent Darwan Lazard called the move huge and exciting. Bordelon said, “It’s something (the students have) been asking for a few years now. They’re excited to get to stay until 8th grade.”
Superintendent Lazard added, “It’s a dream come true. It’s something that we’ve been wanting to do, and I’m grateful for the leadership over here at James Stephens for embracing that and being willing to try to provide educational services for students in 7th and 8th grade that they would ordinarily have to get somewhere else before they go to high school. That way they can complete their entire elementary program right here at James Stephens Montessori, so this is pretty exciting for us.”
The addition of the junior high grades was made possible by state funding secured by State Representative Rhonda Butler.
Representative Butler announced, during a school board meeting earlier this year, she had procured $500 thousand to add the grades.
“I love the type of Montessori teaching,” she said. “I like the smaller classrooms and the fact that it’s in such a poverty area and that it’s growing and so many children gain so much knowledge and rewards that are not based on race, age, or religion. They do so well at that school.”
Representative Butler went on to say, “I’m so excited for our kids. Let’s give them some more opportunity to grow and to do something here.”
For Superintendent Lazard, a former student, teacher, and principal at James Stephens, adding junior high “gives me a lot of joy to see such a viable program here in this school.”
The addition of 7th and 8th grades at James Stephens Montessori is nothing new for Bordelon, who is entering her seventh year as school principal. During her first year in the position, the school added 5th grade.
“It was part of the transition from coming from the classroom to principal,” Bordelon said. “It was just part of the job. It was good to be able to do it, and that was nice to get them to stay with us. It’s some transition, but it’s pretty smooth.”
As the superintendent explained, the plan is to move a modular building on the eastern side of the existing campus. “We’re looking to have a building that would have six classrooms and a restroom facility so that students who matriculate in that building would not have to leave,” he said. “Students and the people who work along with them could do everything in that particular building.”
If remaining funds are available, Superintendent Lazard and Bordelon plan on using that money on other areas of the campus.
“The gym has been a big focus,” said the superintendent, “so we want to do all we can to make that a good space for our students, the people who work with them, and, ultimately, the community because there are some community activities in that facility.”
Adding 7th and 8th grades at James Stephens Montessori also allows the school to expand its Leader in Me program, which introduces students to the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. The program began last school year at JSM.
Bordelon said last year was “baby steps introducing the seven habits to the students.”
She went on to say, “We started a lighthouse team with some of our staff members to get some ideas. We are really focusing on trying to improve the culture and get some more leadership roles for the students. Our project for this coming year is working on more leadership roles for the students campus wide and in the classrooms. It just helps focus us on how to be good people.”
Superintendent Lazard explained Leader in Me began at four schools in the parish and is expanding to two more schools this year. “We’re going to continue to go to the different parts of the parish,” he said. “It’s a very good program that gives students the opportunity to be responsible and to be involved in what’s going on in the campus. They are ambassadors for their schools. They get to go out and greet the guests. They get to lead them around the campus.”
He continued, “We’re excited to be on that journey and can hardly wait to see where we are going to be in the next three to four years with students who have had it every year. James Stephens will be a great place because, from Pre-K and Kindergarten up until 8th grade, they’ll be able to have that. Wherever they go to high school, they’ll be able to carry that with them.”
Even with all the changes going on at James Stephens Montessori, Superintendent Lazard remains hopeful for a level of normalcy and consistency on all campuses across the school district.
“We’re looking forward to hopefully having a more normal school year than we have had the past two years,” the superintendent said. “It’s been a real challenge for students and for the people who work with them, but we’re hopeful this will be a better year, a more normal year with a lot fewer interruptions, and a year where we can continue with the business of education at all of our schools.”