Principal's Message

Dear Parents,

Well it is Back to School time and that means it is time to start preparing for the start of the school year. This summer has been filled with activity on our campus and we can’t wait to tell you all about it at Parent Orientation.

Our staff will begin In-service on August 1st so our quite campus will begin to fill with activity and then we welcome all students and parents to the Back-To-School Bash on August 5th. It is going to be a great year and I can’t wait to see you all. Don’t forget to start adjusting your morning alarm, read your summer reading book, get your uniforms, and make your transportation plans to and from school.



Mrs. Fontenot

Please sign up to volunteer for the below listed school-wide activities by clicking HERE. Sign-up link will be closed, Monday, August 5, 2024.

• Room Parent - Please note if you are interested in being a Room Parent, you must complete the online form at the link provided in this email. 
• Cafeteria Angels
• Carpool Volunteer
• Copy Corp
• Donation Committee
• Fundraising Committee
• Library Committee
• Lost & Found Committee
• Performing Arts Committee
• Reception Committee 
• St. George Fair Basket Committee
• Vision & Hearing Screening

All volunteers are required to successfully complete the volunteer certification as mandated by the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Volunteer packets must be picked up in the main school office. The summer is a great time to complete the volunteer certification, including your background check. Contact Susan Giles (susan.giles@sgschoolbr.org) if you have any questions regarding volunteer certification.

Upon completion of the online volunteer sign up form you will receive a confirmation email. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please check your spam or junk email or complete the form again.

Thank you for sharing the gift of your time and talents! We wholeheartedly appreciate our volunteers!

IMMUNIZATION STATUS:

Every parent should review their child’s vaccination status with their child’s pediatrician. Every student’s immunization status should be up to date and submitted to the school by August 1, 2024.

For your convenience, you may upload student's updated certified records of immunization HERE.

Special note to INCOMING 6th graders: 

As mandated by state law, children 11 years old and entering the 6th grade need to provide proof of immunization against meningococcal disease. According to the American Board of Pediatrics, a second varicella vaccine (provides immunity against chicken pox) as well as another Tdap (tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis) may be recommended depending on your child’s vaccination history. 

If you have any questions about immunizations, please reach out to your child’s pediatrician as most questions can be answered by them.

HEALTH AND EMERGENCY FORMS:

All information should be reviewed and updated each summer. If your child has a medical condition that requires medication, please make sure that medication is also listed on the form under medication and the reason the child takes the medication is also listed. Find your child’s health and emergency form in your FACTS Family Portal under Web Forms / Family Demographic Form.

Parents' names and contact information must be included in the Emergency Contact section along with other listed contacts. 

Please visit the Child Nutrition Program website for information regarding meal prices, free/ reduced meals program, student meal accounts, and payment options.

August Lunch Menu is forthcoming.

Please note that according to the LA. School Food Service Policy Guidance Manual, outside restaurant food and soft drinks are not allowed in the school cafeteria. Your compliance is appreciated and necessary.

Our students performed above expectation on the Spring 2024 Terra Nova NEXT test and last year’s 3rd through 8th graders will receive their test results in the mail. This test measures student performance and provides comparison data of your child’s performance with the national norm group of same grade-level students who took the same test within the same testing window. Directions for reading your child’s scores can be found on the bottom of the test result page that is mailed home or you can find a more detailed explanation on the school website link “Beyond the Numbers”. Information regarding how St. George performed will be shared at Parent Orientation. These test results are used by our staff to determine what our curriculum strengths and areas of growth are and how we can help each student reach their potential.

Guide to Understanding the TerraNova Next Home Report

Please join us in welcoming our new faculty and staff members:

Alyce Bloss - 4th/5th grade Religion Teacher

Hi! I'm Alyce Bloss, the new 4th and 5th grade Religion teacher! I've been a teacher for 6 years and have taught 5th grade Math and ELAR as well as 2nd grade. I am originally from Thibodaux and graduated college from Louisiana State University. I began my teaching career in Texas where I taught in Fort Worth and then The Woodlands. My family recently moved back to Louisiana, and we are feeling so blessed to be home! My husband, Eric, and I have two children- Benjamin (4), and Adeline (14 months). Benjamin is proud to be a Pre-K St. George Dragon this year! When I am not teaching, I enjoy cooking, traveling, and spending time with family. I look forward to a wonderful year growing in Faith!

Margaret Cazenavette - Kindergarten Teacher

Hi! My name is Margaret Cazenavette (Ms. Caz for the littles:) and I’m the new K-2 teacher! I just graduated from LSU in May, with a degree in early childhood education (prek-3). I grew up in Mandeville, La with my parents and four siblings. I love being outdoors, traveling, reading, spending time with friends, and being on the water. I’m also a huge history nerd, and am always reading, researching, and learning new things. But above all, I’m extremely excited to begin my dream career as a St. George Dragon!! 

Kate Ferrara - Kindergarten Teacher

Hi, I am Kate Ferrara, the new K5 teacher! I am coming from a Catholic school where I taught 2nd grade for 7 years, and before that, I taught Pre-K for 1 year. I am looking forward to being a St. George Dragon and moving back down to teach the littles! I spent most of my childhood in Texas and attended college in San Antonio, although by association I am now a Tiger fan… Geaux Tigers! 

Out of school I enjoy spending time with my husband and our two boys Eli and Beau. We feel extremely blessed and look forward to welcoming our caboose in late July! My oldest will be in Pre-K this year and I am looking forward to being on campus with him and my other children in the future. On the weekends we enjoy LSU games and catching up with family and friends. 

I can’t wait to get to know my students and their families, and I am looking forward to making K5 my student’s home away from home!

Erin Hasslock - Spanish Teacher

¡Hola! Mi nombre es Señora Hasslock, and I am so excited to teach Spanish this year. As a St. George alumna, it is great to be back on campus. I have a passion for languages and hope to get my students excited about Spanish! I learned Spanish in Costa Rica, where I spent one semester doing a homestay with a Costa Rican family and one semester as an exchange student at the Universidad de Costa Rica. I have been teaching for over ten years: three years in the public school system and eight years in South Korea. Most recently, I worked in a Spanish-English dual language program. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my son, husband, two dogs, and cat. I like to exercise, travel, and read. ¡Nos vemos pronto!

Ashley Himpler - PreK2 Assistant

I am Ashley Himpler. Mother to 4 amazing children, 3 boys and 1 girl. All of our kids attend and attended St. George School. I have been a stay-at-home mom since 2012 and member of the St. George Community since 2017. From March 2022 to March 2024, I resided in Memphis, TN at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital with one of children fighting cancer. During that time I have homeschooled 3 of our children in PreK, K and 1st grade. I will be forever grateful to the SGS community for the love and support shown to our family during that difficult time and feel I am called to share that love and support to our early learners! I love little ones and am so excited to be a part of the PreK program! 

Madison Pittman - 4th grade Teacher

Hi! My name is Madison Pittman and I’m the new 4th grade teacher this year! I am a recent graduate of LSU in Elementary Education. As an alum of St. George, I am so excited to be back to teach the wonderful students and be a part of the welcoming community. I am a dog-lover, an avid reader, and a dance teacher. I love my Yorkie Gigi, getting book recommendations, and being the assistant coach of the SGS Dance Team. I can’t wait to get this year started and to shape the minds of my 4th graders!

Katie Say - 2nd grade Teacher

Hi! I’m Katie Say, the new 2nd grade teacher. I have taught for 6 years and am very excited to be joining St. George. I grew up in Baton Rouge and graduated college from Southeastern Louisiana University. I have a husband, Parker, and our dog, Beignet. We love spending time going on walks around the neighborhood and watching sports. I look forward to this year. Go Dragons!

In addition to these new employees, Mrs. Lynn Blanchard is moving from the CRE position to 3rd grade Teacher, Mrs. Lara Bettencourt is moving from Religion teacher to the CRE position, and Mrs. Melissa Brunet is moving from 4th grade to PE.  

*SAVE THE DATE*

SGS Music Ministry: Cantor Auditions  2024 - 2025 School Year Cantor Auditions (closed auditions) will be held on Wednesday, August 7, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the St. George Church.  

Audition Sign-Up HERE

Audition Info & Music  is available on the SGS Website/Student Life/Clubs and Activities.

Students in grades 7 and 8 are eligible to audition for SGS Cantor. Student Cantors should be willing to accept the responsibilities of serving as a music minister for liturgical celebrations at St. George Catholic School. Throughout the school year, they will work to develop their ministry with abundant faith while participating in the entire liturgical celebration, understanding that they are servants of the liturgy and members of the gathered assembly. Cantors should recognize their responsibility to be leading members of the singing assembly while in the congregation as well as when cantoring for liturgical celebrations.

For additional information regarding SGS Cantor Auditions, please email Mrs. Jan Dupre, jan.dupre@sgschoolbr.org