Second grade students from Fifth Ward Elementary and Sixth Ward Elementary schools received dictionaries on November 30, 2011 from Ms. Joann Burns and Dr. Josephine Allen Oubre in loving memory of their mother, Mrs. Daisy C. Allen.  The dictionaries were given to the second graders on Mrs. Allen’s birthday.  

     Mrs. Daisy C. Allen was an educator in St. James Parish for 30 years touching the lives of many as she prepared her students for a lifetime of learning.  She spent most of her years teaching students in second grade at Magnolia Elementary School, Fifth Ward Elementary School, and Sixth Ward Elementary School.

     Mrs. Allen loved teaching her students to read and write. In her legacy, she would want children to love reading and writing as much as she did.  Her legacy of literacy will continue!  The Allen family would like to wish all students in St. James Parish the best as they complete their academic journeys as they travel in the 21^st century.  Missing from the photo are her daughters, Mrs. Marlene Johnson and Mrs. Consuella Jarreau.

Pictured left to right are the students for August (back row):  Gregory Rounds, Kierra Johnson, Brenaiya Francis and Charity Cooper.  Front row: Jakayla Johnson and Joel Cooper  (Not pictured:  Tyshawn Hatfield)

     Mrs. Clara Harris, the principal of Fifth Ward Elementary, noted that the celebration “allows the entire community to celebrate the opening of a new school year, which reminds everyone how important learning is.” Pastor Claudette Aubert explained that this will be the “I Can” year. Pastor Herbert Harris explained that we hold the key to success.  Dr. Josephine Oubre, Director of School Improvement, discussed the Accelerated Reader Program and the school-wide goal of reading 1 million pages for the school year. Mr. Steve Koontz, the plant manager of Chevron, encouraged all of the students and raffled a book sack donated by the company. The district manager of Plains Marketing, LP, also uplifted the children and explained that the company would host parties for the reading program and donate an IPOD for the student with the highest amount of points. Mrs. Patricia Schexnayder, the 5^th district board member, gave some motivational words and explained that she will do her best as she supports the children and the school. Mrs. Bessie Francis Judson, a former student of Fifth Ward, encouraged parents to be an integral part of their child's education. The teachers of Fifth Ward gave an energetic presentation and sang the song, “Smile” by Kirk Franklin. Mrs. Jaye Moll and Mrs. Cassandra Ratcliff were the leaders and everyone in the building participated, as students were reminded that they could “SMILE” no matter what happened because they will overcome any obstacle.

     After all was said and done, the community was presented with a challenge. A challenge that encouraged them to come to our school and “smile” with the students as they invest their time.

Fifth Ward Elementary is determined to bridge the gap between the school and the community because studies prove that effective school-community relations raise student persistence and achievement. So “SMILE” St. James because Fifth Ward Elementary and our community is on the road to success.