Lake Charles Charter Academy second graders help pack the classroom before leaving on summer break Wednesday. (Brad Puckett / American Press)
Westlake High School teacher Robbie Guillory and librarian Shanna Eggleston clean out classrooms on the last day of regular classes for Calcasieu Parish schools on Wednesday at Westlake High School. (Karen Wink / American Press)
Calcasieu public schools let out for summer
Last Modified: Thursday, May 24, 2012 4:59 PM
By Ashley Withers / American Press
It’s officially summer.
Calcasieu Parish public schools let out at noon yesterday, closing out the 2011-2012 school year. Students across the district cheered as they told the American Press about their favorite school year memories and summer vacation plans.
“Fifth grade was great and memorable, especially the dance,” said Kelai Bartie, student at Pearl Watson Elementary. “But this is just the beginning for me.”
“I liked my teachers and my friends,” said Michael Hebert, who just finished the first grade at Pearl Watson. “And I liked going to school with my brothers and sisters.”
For Claire Colley, finishing up the sixth grade at Moss Bluff Middle School was a relief, even though the transition to middle school wasn’t as hard as she thought it would be.
“I thought it would be really hard, but it wasn’t that bad. The teachers made it better,” Colley said.
Colley’s favorite memories of the school year were made on the volleyball court.
“Being volleyball manager was so much fun. I got to help out my favorite teacher and go to all of the games,” she said.
Anthony Cole, who just finished his junior year at Westlake High School, also made his favorite memories in athletics.
“My favorite moment was when we beat Richwood in football. It was a very close game,” Cole said. “It was our coach’s last
season and we all wanted to do something really big for him.”
Summer plans
“I’m excited to go swimming and to go see all of my friends,” said Dionjena Napoleon, who just finished fifth grade at Pearl Watson Elementary. “But the best part is just being free.”
“I’m excited to not be going to school, to not wake up early and to have no homework,” said Abby Harmon, a soon-to-be eighth grader at Moss Bluff Middle School.
“Just to be able to take off and let my brain rest, and sleeping in later,” Harmon’s friend Katy Nugent added.
Most of the students agree that the best part of summer break is the extra sleep and lack of homework, but some students have big plans for their summer vacation.
“I can’t wait to go on vacation,” Cole said. “I’m headed to Florida and New Orleans.”
“I will start high school basketball practice this summer,” said Tyrique Branche, who just finished the eighth grade at Moss Bluff Middle School. “I’m also going to visit my brother in Alabama.”
Looking Ahead
“I’m nervous and excited about high school,” Branche said. “Excited because it’s going to be a new school and I’ll get to meet new people, but I’m nervous because it’s my first year of high school and I don’t know what is going to happen.”
Bartie echoed his feelings of excitement for his own transition.
“I’m excited about middle school,” Bartie said. “I’m going to have more friends, great teachers and get a good education.”
Rodney Geyen, the principal at Bartie’s school, said that overall it was a good end to a great school year.
“We had a good year. We had a lot of programs that benefited students and our parents were involved in every activity,” Geyen said. “I’m looking forward to next year and am going to try to do an even better job next school year.”
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