12-6-22

PTSAByrdBlastByrd High School, Jackets in the News, PTSA Byrd Blast

Yellow Jacket Sports (December 5 – December 11)

12/6 Lady Jackets Varsity Soccer vs. Shreve | 6:00 pm
12/8 Lady Jackets Varsity Soccer vs. West Monroe | 5:30 pm

New Today

Track and Field Meeting TODAY

Congratulations to the Youth and Government members who attended the YMCA Youth Legislature Conference in Baton Rouge. Trey Deal and Landon Boykin had their bill passed, Kate Shaw was selected to serve on next year’s State Board as Secretary of State, Michael Burford served as a lobbyist, and JP Bartle served on the Supreme Court. Byrd also won 1st place in the trivia competition. Great job legislators!

Students – WorkKeys scores are available.  Students in the WorkKeys/ACT Prep class should have gotten their scores in class on December 1st.  Other students should pick up their scores in the counseling office.

Final Exam Schedule:

Thursday, December 15, 2022 – 2nd and 4th Period Exams

Friday, December 16, 2022 -1st and 3rd Period Exams

Monday, December 19, 2022 – 5th and 6th Period Exams

Tuesday, December 20, 2022 –Makeup Exams and 7th Period Exams

School will be released at 1:00 p.m. each of these days.

COVID – Schools are still required to report POSITIVE cases of COVID-19. If a Byrd student tests positive for COVID-19, please contact Lisa Walker Johnson, Assistant Principal for a return to school plan as per the current guidelines. You will need to report the day the student tested positive and the last day the student was on Byrd’s campus. Lisa Walker Johnson, Assistant Principal • lwjohnson@caddoschools.org or 318-364-5462


MORE INFORMATION

ASVAB Test – If your child would like to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Test (ASVAB) I need his/ her name by December 9, 2022. We are offering this to all 11th graders, and any 12th graders who indicate that they are interested. The test will be given on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, in the Learning Center.  Please encourage your students to sign up. This is a great way for them to find out what will benefit them most when they graduate from high school. This is the only time this test will be offered at Byrd this year.   If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Prothro at MProthro@caddoschools.org.

Track – All students interested in Indoor Track please contact Coach Plaza at jeplaza1932@gmail.com or (318) 272-1671.  First Practice is Monday, December 12th at the Byrd track.  In order to participate at the first practice session you must contact Coach Plaza prior to December 12.

College Visits – Army National Guard December 13

Astra Club – The baseball team has asked us once again to donate gift cards of any amount $5-$25 for their Buzz Bash coming up in early 2023.  Each $5 amount will count as a volunteer hour.  For example, a $5 gift card counts as one hour, a $25 gift card would count as 5 hours, etc.  Please bring them to Mrs. Prothro by December 16, 2022.  Thanks for your generosity to help another Byrd organization!  You are appreciated.

ACT Fee Waivers are available in the Counseling Office for juniors and seniors who meet the criteria for free/reduced lunch. Students are eligible for 4 fee waivers during their junior and senior years. When registering for the ACT with a fee waiver, students receive free ACT prep available through their ACT accounts. Please see your counselor if you have any questions.

Seniors – You must complete one of the following financial aid steps IN ORDER TO GRADUATE: 1)Complete the FAFSA (available at studentaid.gov) This is your TOPS application, as well as application for federal grants and student loans; 2) Complete the Louisiana TOPS form- if you are not completing the FAFSA (available at mylosfa.la.gov). If you choose this step, you must print a confirmation and bring it to the Counseling Office; 3) A parent or legal custodian, or a student legally emancipated or of the legal age of majority, may certify a waiver in writing to the LEA (See Mrs. Byrd for this form) . Only one step is required- you will not complete the FAFSA and the TOPS form. The FAFSA is also the TOPS application. The FAFSA application is available beginning October 1st. Students should complete the 2023-2024 FAFSA application using 2021 income tax information. The FAFSA Completion Guide is attached to this e-mail and is also available on the Class of 2023 Canvas page. CLICK HERE for FASFA Completion Guide.

March ACT – In March 2023, 10th, 11th, and a select group of qualifying 12th-grade students will have an opportunity to take the ACT here at school at no cost to the student.   If your student has an IAP, IEP, or ELL plan which includes classroom accommodations, a request can be submitted to ACT for approval to take the ACT with those same accommodations.  Parental consent is required before the request can be submitted.  A copy of the ‘Consent to Release Information to ACT’ form will be given to students on Monday 11/28 to take home to parents.  Contact Penny Eason at peason@caddoschools.org or call me at 318 364 – 5470 no later than Friday 12/9/2022 to give ‘Consent to Release Information to ACT’.

 


Support Your Fellow Jackets!

Byrd Baseball Booster Blanket Sales – Support your fellow jackets by purchasing a spirit blanket! These make great Christmas gifts and we have them in hand ready to deliver. CLICK HERE to order.

Join C.E. Byrd Choir at their Christmas Performance, “Carols and Cocoa” on Tuesday, December 13 in the courtyard next to the library. Admission and hot cocoa will be free! Come support the choir!


Student Opportunities:

StudentsAre you interested in participating in Film Prize Jr? If you have an idea for a short 3-10 minute live-action film, are interested in script writing, pre-production, editing, or filming, see Mrs. Smith in room S307 as soon as possible!

Students – If you have any interest in having your student’s interest and career potential assessed, the AIMS (Aptitude Inventory Measurement Service) test is hoping to come to Shreveport in January if there is enough interest.  CLICK HERE to read the attached letter and CLICK HERE for more information.

Astra Club – The baseball team has asked us once again to donate gift cards of any amount $5-$25 for their Buzz Bash coming up in early 2023.  Each $5 amount will count as a volunteer hour.  For example, a $5 gift card counts as one hour, a $25 gift card would count as 5 hours, etc.  Please bring them to Mrs. Prothro by Friday, December 16th.  Thanks for your generosity to help another Byrd organization!  You are appreciated.

 


Scholarships & Contests

Student of the Year – We are beginning the process of selecting our 2023 Student of the Year. The selection process and procedures for resolving issues and disputes related to the selection of candidates are attached. Please review this information and contact Amanda Byrd at asbyrd@caddoschools.org if you have any questions. CLICK HERE for Student of the Year Guidelines and Grievance Procedures

Students – If you are interested in entering any poster contests, please see your teacher or Mrs. Prothro. CLICK HERE for info.

Students 9-12 th grades – Do you have 100 or more volunteer hours from March, 2022 to March 1, 2023? If so, you are eligible for the Presidential Volunteer Service Award which is a national award to recognize people who are committed to community service to make our world a better place. Please bring your volunteer sheets with your total number of volunteer hours to Mrs. Prothro or email them to her at MProthro@caddoschools.org. If you have any questions, please call (364-5455) or email Mrs. Prothro. Any community service through school, nonprofit organizations and church activities can be counted toward your total number of community service hours. Attached is a volunteer log sheet if you would like to use it; however, you do not have to use this one. I will accept any log sheets that has the activities and hours listed. The deadline is March 1, 2023. CLICK HERE for log.

10 -12th Grade Students – The Jumpstart Summer Enrichment Program (JSEP) is sponsored by the Office of Diversity Affairs at Louisiana State University Health Shreveport. The program targets students interested in pursuing careers in Medicine, Dentistry, Biomedical Research or Allied Health Professions. The JSEP program allows area high school students, grades 10-12, the opportunity to participate in eight weeks of hands-on research activities mentored by faculty at LSU Health Shreveport. Students must be 16 years old by the start of the program (June 1, 2023). CLICK HERE to apply. The applications will open November 1st. The deadline to apply is January 20th.  Please see your counselor for more details.

Perspectives is now accepting entries for this year’s publication. Perspectives is C.E. Byrd’s literary magazine. We publish all types of creative writing and visual art created by current Byrd students. Selected entries are published in a beautiful, full-color magazine printed at the end of the school year. All students who are published in the magazine will receive a free copy to enjoy. Look for QR codes around the school or ask your English teacher for the entry form. Deadline: February 3. Use this link to submit your entry: https://forms.gle/hhxnF6bsF97LqBZPA

JuniorsThe Coolidge Scholarship is a full-ride, four-year, merit scholarship that may be used by recipients for undergraduate study at any accredited college or university in the United States.  Any high school junior who plans to enroll in college in the fall of 2024 and is an American citizen or legal permanent resident is eligible to apply.  Winners may use the scholarship to pursue any academic major. The scholarship application, along with additional information, can be assessed on the scholarship site: www.coolidgescholars.org.   More detailed information can also be found on the Class of 2024 Canvas page. The submission deadline is 5:00 p.m. eastern time, Thursday, February 23, 2023.

 

CLICK HERE for all scholarship opportunities.

CLICK HERE for a full list of community service opportunities.

CLICK HERE for a full list of contests.
CLICK HERE for printable Byrd Blast.