5-18-23
Yellow Jacket Sports (May 15 – May 22)
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New Today
REMINDER – STUDENTS ARE NOT TO BRING ANY TYPE OF BACKPACK OR LARGE BAG/PURSE TO SCHOOL THIS WEEK.
CLICK HERE for 2023 Graduation Information and Special Instructions
Students – There will be an ACT Boot Camp for the June ACT test on Saturday, May 20th, from 9:00 until noon in the Learning Center. Please contact Sherri Moss @ 318-572-5507 to register.
Congratulations to the Astra Club 2023-2024 Officers – President – Lily Blaylock, Vice President – Kate Simon, Corresponding Secretary – Camille Hannigan, Recording Secretary – Emilija Majstorovic, Activities Chairmen – Morgan Means and Hudson Roberts, Historian – Jenna Key, Junior Representatives – Emma Ardoin, Emma Doyal, Briley Webb, Caroline Wood, Senior Representatives – Sophia DeLeon, Eli Gilmer, Addison Pratt, Riley Quinlan, Sophomore Representatives – Elizabeth Briery and Sally McKenzie, Service Chairmen – Caitlin Miller and Mary Sistrunk, Treasurer – Claire Flurry, and Officers At Large – Kaleigh Gordon, Nadia Prestopine, Morgan Ashley Spradling, Regan Jordan and Sophia Vekovius.
Congratulations to Lola Guzman! Her mixed-media art piece titled “Golden Lane” has been selected as a finalist in ArtEffect, an international art competition put on by the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes. Her work helps tell the story of Emily Newell Blair, an American suffragist and journalist who fought to expand the right to vote for women in the early 20th century. https://www.lowellmilkencenter.org/competitions/arteffect/entry/golden-lane-hero-emily-newell-blair
Congratulations to the following students who participated in the Louisiana State Social Studies Fair in Lake Charles on Friday, April 21! Every project from Byrd placed in the State Fair! Nick Carr and Garrett Stroud: First Place in Economics- Group, Caroline Bartle, Josephine Comerford, Krista Cates: First Place in Sociology- Group, Kate Shaw and Kalli Cosse: First Place in Political Science- Group, Madeline O’Neal and Seth Walker: Fourth Place in Geography- Group, Anna Ferguson: Fourth Place in Anthropology- Individual, and Emilja Majstorovic: Third Place in Geography- Individual.
New NHS Members – Please accept the Canvas invitation to join the class that was sent to you this week. You will need to be in the Canvas course in order to vote for officers! Voting ends TONIGHT at midnight.
Softball Tryouts will be help Monday, May 22nd, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the softball field here at Byrd. Bring your glove and plenty of water. You may also bring a bat or other softball equipment that you may have.
Pepsquad Fitting Dates: June 5 from 9:00-10:00 am in the Learning Center
Students – Extra yearbooks are on sale NOW and you may purchase them on payschoolscentral for $75.00.
Attention Seniors and Senior Parents!! Convention Center Rules for Graduation
We will no longer process checkouts after 3:15 with the exception of extreme emergencies.
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
Free opportunities at LSUS:
Free Cyber Summer Camp (Grades 9 through 11) LSUS Continuing Education is offering free cyber summer camps that will begin on June 5th, 2023. These 7-week camps will be in-person and live-online for 9th (those rising into 9th) through 11th graders. These high-level introductory camps will help students understand the terminology commonly used in cybersecurity, cybersecurity activities, methods, methodologies, technologies, and procedures. Space is limited.
LSUS Digital Arts Academy Are you passionate about art? Have you always wanted to learn more about Digital Arts? How about Graphic Design? If so, LSUS is running a Digital Arts Academy this summer. Participants will learn graphic design and digital arts: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Augmented Reality, and more. The camp will run from June 5th to June 30th from 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM (Lunch provided.), with a showcase/graduation event where you can show your family and friends the digital art you created! (More information about the demonstration/graduation event to come!)
Students – Are you interested in traveling to Spain next May? If so, contact Mrs. Smith at elsmith@caddoschools.org or Ms. Springer at SSpringer@caddoschools.org for more information. Sign up now with a $50 deposit to hold your spot! You don’t want to miss this trip! CLICK HERE for more information.
High School Transcripts: Final transcripts will not be available before mid-June. If a graduate will attend an out of state college or private college in Louisiana, the final transcript must be mailed. It cannot be submitted electronically. You will need to complete the Final Transcript Request for that will be posted to your Canvas account, or on cebyrd.com. We will need the complete name and address of the college/university. Final transcripts are $5.00 each. You must pay on locallevelevents.com. Transcripts will be mailed as soon as they are available. All public colleges and universities in Louisiana have access the final transcripts through the Student Transcript System. They will be able to download transcripts when they are available after mid-June. Students attending public college and universities in Louisiana do not have to submit a final transcript request.
College Transcripts: Records for college credit hours are not available at Byrd. You will need to request final transcripts from the registrar at the college attended (Louisiana Tech, LSU-S). You may view/print unofficial transcripts from your mylsus or BOSS (LaTech) accounts. You will need the student ID/pin provided by the college to access these accounts.
Boss.latech.edu
Compass.lsus.edu
AP and CLEP scores should be sent from your account accessed through collegeboard.org. I recommend you print unofficial transcripts for college credits and take these with you to orientation.
Lyle Leaders – 10th and 11th graders – Are you interested in attending the Louisiana Youth Seminar? I have some scholarships available on a first come, first serve basis. The 2023 Louisiana Youth Seminar is an exciting opportunity for high school juniors and seniors to participate. The 2023 seminar will be returning in person this year at the LSU Baton Rouge campus. Look up louisianayouthseminar.org for more information. See Mrs. Prothro ASAP if you are interested.
Students – Interested in traveling to London and Paris in 2024, check out this tour Mr. Williams is taking. Go to www.explorica.com/Williams-5779 or stop by Mr. Williams’ room for information and to sign up.
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.
Student Leaders 9th – 11th Grades – Byrd High has four scholarships for students to attend this outstanding leadership conference in Baton Rouge, LA, this summer. The dates are 53rd Louisiana Youth Seminar: July 16-21, 2023. The cost is $550 paid for by a scholarship. The cost is free to students as we have 4 scholarships available. It is first come, first serve. See Mrs. Prothro or call her at 364-5455 for more information. This is a phenomenal opportunity for our students. Registration Information (subject to change):
- LYS tuition is $550 (LYS is a non-profit organization. 100% of the tuition is used to cover food, housing and operating costs.)
- Registration is limited to 225 students total.
- After LYS reaches capacity, registration is accepted on a first come, first served basis.
Support Your Fellow Jackets!
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Student Opportunities:
Students – The 2022 Fall LEAP 2025 testing window is now open. This administration will be for those students who have previously been unsuccessful on parts of the LEAP 2025 exam. Only select students are eligible for the retest. Eligible students will be given individual notices of the dates and times they are scheduled to test. Contact Mrs. Johnson if you have questions and/or concerns. lwjohnson@caddoschools.org or 318-364-5462
Scholarships & Contests
The South Side Rydaz Motorcycle Club is offering academic scholarships to deserving high school graduates from Caddo and Bossier School Districts. The application is available on the Class of 2023 Canvas page. In addition to application requirements, students must submit a two-page essay answering: What are your future career goals and how will the scholarship help you to achieve them? You Must be a graduating senior, Actively participating in community support activities, High overall cumulative gpa, Acceptance letter from the college you will be attending, Completion of two-page essay, 12th grade transcript. Deadline to apply is June 6th.
Senior Information
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.
Seniors – Transcripts are now available. Each senior will receive a copy of his or her transcript during orientation. All public colleges/universities in Louisiana have access to your transcript through the Student Transcript System and we do not have to mail them. If you are applying to an out of state or private college/ university, your transcript must be mailed. You must pay for the transcript on locallevelevents.com and record your receipt number on the transcript request form. **If you are applying through the Common App, you do not have to mail your transcript. These will be sent electronically.
Seniors – A financial aid step must be completed in order to graduate. If you need assistance completing your FAFSA, please let Mrs. Byrd in the Counseling Office know.
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 full printable Byrd Blast.