THE ZACHA Y
ADVOCATE& T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
Leila Pitchford AROUND ZACHARY
School system updates calendar after snowstorm Revisions were made to the 2024-25 school calendar to compensate for the lost required instructional minutes due to recent weather-related closures. Visit https://zacharyschools.org/ to see the changes. Some specifics to watch for: n Feb. 14, originally a professional development day, is now an in-person school day for all staff and students. n March 5 was revised to a remote learning day for students. Specific grade-level appropriate learning packets will be sent home. n May 23 will have no students, no paraprofessionals and no cafeteria staff. The Zachary Community School District School Board approved the updated 2025-26 school calendar during the Feb. 4 board meeting.
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W e d n e s d ay, F e b r u a ry 12, 2025
School Board honors achievers
BY OLIVIA McCLURE Contributing writer
At its Feb. 4 meeting, the Zachary Community School Board recognized students, teachers and others for recent achievements. Schools Superintendent Ben Necaise praised each of the board’s nine members for completing annual trainings. He also acknowledged January as School Board Member Appreciation Month. School Board members Gaynell Young and Crystal London were honored for earning the designation of
certified school board members in 2024. Jessica Brister, director of early childhood and elementary programs, recognized members of the Zachary Early Childhood Network who achieved high performance marks. The network is made up of 11 early learning centers, 10 community child care centers and the Zachary Early Learning Center. Organizations honored included ZELC, St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School, Universal Children’s Learning Academy, Kidz Carousel, Bright Beginnings, Early Steps
Learning and Rising Starz. Sa’Lynn Woodside, a Zachary High School student who won the April Dunn Youth of the Year Award, was recognized for her work as an advocate for the blind and visually impaired. She has led awareness activities at her school. The board recognized Regena Beard, a Copper Mill Elementary School teacher who won a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. She was nominated for the award four years
ä See ACHIEVERS, page 2G
Race for the dogs The Krewe of McKey Fitness 5k race is March 4, starting and ending at HugYourPeople Park in Zachary. Entry is $30. A T-shirt is $10. The kids fun run starts at 8 a.m. and the 5K at 8:30 a.m. Some of the proceeds will be donated to Must Luv Dogs and to the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. A post-race party will have food trucks and live music, and Bark in the Park and the Must Luv Dogs parade follows.
Dog parade set Must Luv Dogs will hold Pawdi Gras 2025 on March 4 in downtown Zachary. The theme is “Space Paws.” Bark in the Park is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The parade rolls at 2 p.m. For information or to register for the parade, costume contest or as a vendor, visit www.mustluvdogs.org.
Ag Spring Fest is coming The Zachary High Ag Spring Fest is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 15. The Easter Bunny will be available for photos from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and a shop will be in the school greenhouse. Attendees can expect games, a petting zoo, face painting, ag crafts, Easter egg hunts and more. Concessions will be sold. Cost is $5 a person. Under age 2 is free.
Bunny Hop coming The Zachary Rotary Club is hosting the Rotary Bunny Hop 2025 on March 22 near Lee and Virginia streets. The 1-mile run/walk is at 8 a.m. and the 5K run/walk starts at 8:30 a.m. Register at runsignup.com/ Race/LA/Zachary/ZacharyRotaryBunnyHop.
ä See AROUND, page 2G
PROVIDED BY PHOTO BY MANDY BRADLEY
School Board members Crystal London, from left, and Gaynell Young, with Zachary schools Superintendent Ben Necaise, are honored at a Feb. 4 meeting for earning the designation of certified school board members.
Lagniappe Historic Dance and Pastime Society members of all ages line up for a dance.
Twirl
back time
ABOVE: Four pairs of Lagniappe Historic Dance and Pastime Society members demonstrate a dance from the Regency Period at a Jane Austen event recently at the Audubon Commemorative Site. RIGHT: Visitors join the members for a lesson on the dance floor.
Group shares passion for dancing styles of years past with classes, educational events
BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL Contributing writer
PHOTOS BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL
Dancing is fun — good for the body and soul — and shows courage? Studies show that physical exercise, like dancing, is beneficial as is the accompanying mental exertion for the brain, like learning and remembering the steps. Then there’s simply the chance for romance. Some agree with Jane Austen (whose 250th birthday will be celebrated this year), who says in “Pride and Prejudice,” “To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love.” Look at the popularity of recent period movies and the series “Sanditon” and “Bridgerton” — with scenes of dance and romance — for example. As for the courage mentioned above, dance mistress Roxanne Struppeck said it is needed for the
Register for baseball Spring baseball registration is Feb. 17 to March 13. The fee is $75. Practices are March 31 to April 24, and games are April 28 to June 5. Divisions include T-ball ages 4-6 and coaches’ pitch 6-8, 10 under, 12 under and 14 under. April 30 is cut off date for age determination. Register at www.zacharyyouthpark.org. Also, coaches and assistant coaches are needed.
11TH YEAR, NO. 18
$1.00N
ABOVE: Members of the Lagniappe Historic Dance and Pastime Society teach guests to dance. RIGHT: Roxanne Struppeck, dance mistress, invites visitors to be brave enough to get on the dance floor.
ä See DANCING, page 2G
Zachary plants crape myrtles with KLB grant
Zachary Elementary fourth grader Attilio Romero helps fill a hole after planting trees recently on Mount Pleasant Road. PROVIDED PHOTO
Community news report Zachary has been awarded a $10,000 beautification grant to support a tree-planting initiative aimed at enhancing public spaces, a news release announced. As part of this project, a highly visible section of Mount Pleasant Road was selected for beautification. Recently, 32 12-foot Natchez white crape myrtles — a Louisiana native species — were planted in the medians. The grant was made possible through funding from Louisiana
and the Office of Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser. “We sincerely thank Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser for choosing Zachary for this beautification initiative,” said Zachary Mayor David McDavid. Keep Louisiana Beautiful Executive Director Susan Russell said the grants allow the group to empower “local communities to take pride in their surroundings, working together to protect and enhance our Sportsman’s Paradise.”
ä See MYRTLES, page 2G