Back to school: What's different in Bossier Schools for the '24-'25 school year
Plus — Barksdale AFB honors Global Power 94-7. Bossier traffic hassles.
Beyond Bossier
Back to school: What's different in Bossier Schools for the '24-'25 school year
A new school year begins this week in Bossier Parish. (Yeah, we heard your kids groan.) The 2024-2025 academic year begins August 8 for students in grades first through twelfth. Kindergarten students will start a week later, on August 15, and Pre-K students will begin on August 22.
What's different this school year?
For one thing, there have been updates to the Pupil Progression Plan, which outlines procedures for student promotion and placement within Bossier Parish Schools.
If you’re interested in assessment dates, you can refer to the Louisiana Assessment Calendar for the 2024-2025 academic year. It’s essential for tracking standardized testing schedules. Additionally, the Advanced Placement (AP) Exam Dates for 2025 are available for high school students preparing for AP courses.
Cell phone policy
One big change that's been discussed extensively is the cell phone policy. Here are the changes in a nutshell.
Cell phones must be turned off and put away during instructional time, including from the time students get on/off the bus or in/out of a personal vehicle while on campus;
Electronic communication devices, including but not limited to personal computers, laptops, electronic instruments, iPads, iPods, tablet devices, e-readers or similar devices, must be powered off and put away for the duration of the school day.
Each violation will result in the collection of the cell phone or electronic device. School handbooks provide more information regarding disciplinary action.
However, the revised policy does not apply to students who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP)/Individualized Accommodation Plan (IAP), Section 504 plan or Individualized Health Plan that requires the use of an electronic telecommunication device.
Home school students and extracurricular activities
Another change: students enrolled in an approved home study program can now try out or apply for extracurricular activities and/or interscholastic athletics at the public school in which they are zoned.
Requirements include:
Two proofs of residence of the legal parent or guardian. These proofs must meet the requirements outlined in the Bossier Schools registration process.
A copy of the student’s LDOE approval of admittance into an LDOE-approved Home Study Program.
The most recent official student transcript of the student applying for participation.
A completed Homeschool Waiver and Participation form
For an interscholastic athletics team, you must complete an LHSAA Athletic Participation Form and meet all requirements outlined within the form:
Students seeking participation on an interscholastic athletic team must meet all guidelines and requirements outlined in the Eligibility Section of the official LHSAA handbook.
Homeschool students seeking to participate on an interscholastic athletic team should complete and meet all requirements outlined in Section 1.21 of the Eligibility Section of the official LHSAA handbook. This includes providing a written request by the legal guardian to the principal for student participation no later than the first 11 days of the school year.
Homeschool students accepted into a club must meet and adhere to all requirements of that club unless otherwise noted.
Once accepted and approved for participation in a club or interscholastic team, students may only participate in before- or after-school activities by reporting to the school principal at the location and time set forth. Activities during the instructional day are reserved for enrolled students only.
Any homeschool student accepted and approved to participate in an interscholastic athletic team must provide proof of private health insurance and reimburse Bossier Parish Schools $15 for participation in the scheduled secondary benefit Student Accident coverage purchased by Bossier Parish Schools as detailed at: https://www.bossierschools.org/page/student-accident-insurance.
Homeschool students will be required to follow the same equipment or activity fee schedule as public school students.
For off-campus events or games, the same transportation protocol will be expected of homeschooled students, whether that be the district’s bus transportation or private transportation. Bossier Schools is only responsible for supervising the student from the start of the activity or departure until the end of the activity or arrival at the school facility. Failure to drop off or pick up the student can result in discipline, up to and including removal from the club or team.
Home school students are expected to follow the school's discipline policy and procedures. Failure to comply can lead to discipline, up to and including removal from the club or team.
Third-grade literacy standards go into effect
Louisiana law now mandates that students in public schools meet specific literacy proficiency standards to be promoted to the fourth grade. The third-grade literacy proficiency flier details what is required for third-grade promotion and how students will be assessed.
New Bossier Schools app
Finally, Bossier Parish Schools has a new mobile app. The app allows users to access documents, events, news updates, and emergency notifications. It also features a new parent-teacher chat with classroom announcements. Watch this introductory video here: Welcome to Parent-Teacher Chat!
Download the app for Android: https://aptg.co/kztMjY. Download for iPhone: https://aptg.co/VkpbJC
Inside Barksdale AFB: 30th-anniversary celebration of Global Power 94-7
Barksdale Air Force Base commemorated the 30th anniversary of Global Power 94-7 with a ceremony on Friday, August 2, 2024, honoring the record-setting mission of two B-52s, the Lucky Lady IV and the Laissez le Bon Temps Roulez.
On August 1, 1994, these aircraft completed a 47-hour nonstop flight around the world, marking the first time bombs were dropped in conjunction with circumnavigating the globe.
Ten former crew members and their families attended the event, along with Lt. Col. Matthew Dougherty, commander of the 96th Bomb Squadron, and members of the Barksdale community.
The ceremony included remarks from former crew members and a commemorative presentation.
Benton Road lane closure
Beginning on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, the southbound outside (right) lane of LA 3 (Benton Road) will be closed from Montgomery Lane to Shed Road in Bossier City.
Continued lane closures are necessary to allow the contractor for the ongoing Walter O. Bigby Carriageway project to work on Shed Road near the intersection with Benton Road.
This lane closure is anticipated to last approximately four weeks.
Partial road closure in Princeton
The Bossier Parish Highway Department will close a section of Princeton Road for repairs beginning today, Monday, August 5, to Tuesday, August 6.
The work crew will replace the culvert on Princeton Road, 1.7 miles north of Hwy 80 and 1.1 miles west of Hwy 157, just north of the intersection of Winfield Road.
Residents whose homes are between 100 and 1000 Princeton Road can be accessed from Hwy 80, while addresses between 1045 and 1500 can be accessed from Hwy 157.
The roadway is expected to reopen for regular traffic on Wednesday, August 7.
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