G r a c e
Volume 44 Issue 1
Upcoming
Events
September 20 Voting for Homecoming Court
September 22 Voting for Homecoming Court King and Queen
September 24 Grace King vs. Reed @ Yenni 7:00 p.m.
September 30 Grace King vs. Springfield @ Yenni Stadium 7:00 p.m.
September 30 Homecoming Pep Rally
September 26 Homecoming Week
September 29 First day of Rosh Hashannah
K i n g
H i g h
Turnaround: school officials shed light on process By William Weisler News Editor
With the start of the new school year, the term Turnaround Program has been thrown around by students without much clarity on what it really means. Every school is given benchmarks by the state that they must reach, measured by a School Performance Score (SPS). A school’s SPS is a gauge of it’s potential based heavily on their End of Course and GEE test scores, as well as Graduation Rate Index, a grade given to a high school based on it’s ability to graduate a student in four years. Due to King’s inability to progress as rapidly as expected in achieving these benchmarks, it was subsequently selected by the school board to participate in the Turnaround Program in order to facilitate overall school improvement. School Board President Michael Delesdernier said, “I came to know some of the students and faculty at King. These students and faculty were aware that King could and should be doing better. I wanted King to have a chance to reach it’s potentional and I did not want to wait.” The program was designed by parish principals and leadership teams utilizing University of Virginia sanctioned coursework and instruction, tailor-made to accommodate the specific needs of Grace King. The program is designed to keep students in the classroom, reduce test anxiety, and eliminate distractions that prove detrimental to learning. There is also an effort being made to improve the connection between staff and student to create a feeling of familiarity and support between the two. “I need to focus on positive student-teacher relationships,” said Principal Meg Griffon, “how to foster students having at least one adult on campus they can go to.” There are also measures being taken to cater to the individual student within the classroom by encouraging teachers
to consider projects and assignments designed with the student’s unique interests in mind. “I think the environment for learning has improved greatly this year.” science teacher Sharon Johnston said when asked what she felt about this year’s changes. The ultimate goal of these improvements is to keep students in school, improve their learning environment, and encourage a timely graduation. Included in the program’s criteria was the need to hire a turnaround officer, the replacement of 15 percent of Grace King’s staff prior to the start of this school year, and the establishment of sanctions and incentives designed to create dramatic positive changes in the school within 2-3 years. Gary Barras, a former Nicholas de la Torre principal at Ehret and Principal Meg Griffon consults with Dean of Students Stephanie Scott during state education official, has lunch on Sept. 13. been appointed turnaround officer overseeing the improvement of the four high the country, directed specifically towards 5000 low schools, Bonnabel, West Jefferson, and John Ehret performing schools in the nation, according to the University of Virginia’s model. in addition to King. Despite initial resistance from students, school According to the Louisiana Department of administrators are confident that King is making Education, Grace King’s baseline SPS in 20072009 was 85.2 points, with a goal of 91.5 for the great strides towards significant improvements. 2009-2010 school year. Despite expectations of “We’re going to come out on top of this,” said growth, King’s SPS that year was 82.1, a loss of 3.1 Griffon, “and it’s because of the students that we’re points. Similar turnarounds are taking place across going to succeed.”
Beloved student’s organs provide hope to seven strangers By Eric Sheu
Homecoming dance
Layout Edttor
October 6 King vs. Riverdale @ King 4:00 p.m.
October 11 King vs. Cabrini @ King 4:00 p.m.
Talent show tryouts
Report cards issued
4301 Grace King Place, Metairie, LA 70002
Friday, September 23, 2011
October 1
October 21
S c h o o l
Courtesy of Shawn Lawler
A young Salvatore celebrates a birthday at home with his family.
As many King students are now aware, Salvatore Nami’s life was cut short just weeks before school started. He will be missed by many students and faculty. His mother agreed to speak with us in an effort to pay tribute to his memory. As an organ donar, Salvatore Nami has, in all likelihood saved the lives of seven people. His liver saved the lives of an eight-month old girl and an elderly man. He left behind his beloved family of mother, Shawn Lawler; step-father, Sal Lawler; older brother, Anthony Nami; brother, Miguel Nami; and sister, Juliana Lawler. Shawn Lawler, reminisces about how compassionate and sociable her son was. His brother Miguel jokes about how his brother was
always just the slightest bit cocky. “Sal was a great brother and he was always there for me,” said Miguel Nami, Sal’s younger b r o t h e r, “Whenever there was a situation he would be there to help me. Now it’s hard to believe that he’s gone, and it’s a lot more different.” Either way, the family enjoys sharing in the memories they had with Salvatore. Not only has Salvatore left behind precious memories for his family, he has also made his mark in the lives of Grace King students as well. “Sal’s humor
was something I looked forward to laughing at every day. I’m so lucky to have ever known someone so alive and so real,” said senior Jen Smith. Fellow senior Crystal Hebert said “He’s a good person. He was very open minded. If he was happy, everyone was happy.” The Chick-fil-A restaurant at Lakeside Mall, where Sal had worked, was recently accepting donations. They offered a free milkshake with any donation of one dollar or more. All proceeds went to Sal’s family to help with his burial. “Arguments were nothing because we would always be fine two hours later,” said Miguel, “I miss him.”