DONALDSONVILLE • DUTCHTOWN • GEISMAR • GONZALES • PRAIRIEVILLE • ST. AMANT
THE ASCENSION
ADVOCATE T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
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W e d n e s d ay, M ay 6, 2026
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A student front flips into the water during the annual senior pond jump across the street from East Ascension High School on Aprill 29.
STAFF PHOTO BY JAVIER GALLEGOS
Jumping into their future EA students take part in pond jump tradition
ä More photos from the pond jump. PAGE 4G
swim rings. But the festivities must wait until their last exam is finished, usually around 9:30 a.m. When the school Community news report bell rings, the seniors dash to the front of the school Parents and friends arrived early to get a good seat to prepare for their chance to be a part of the pond for a high school senior tradition that’s been going on jump tradition. In the early days of the tradition, the event was almost since the inception of the high school. As the tradition goes, on their last day of school, not school-sanctioned and for many years, students East Ascension High School graduating seniors ar- were warned not to jump in the pond across the rive at school, many in swimsuits carrying floats and street from the high school.
But eventually, school officials and the owners of the property — first a public hospital and now Ascension Parish government — agreed to make it a safe event. Officers direct traffic, lifeguards attend and seniors are encouraged to wear swim shoes and stay safe on their swim. This year was no exception. A colorful parade of seniors made their way across the street, as employees from the parish governmental complex looked on. Parents, some who jumped and others who wished they had taken part in the ritual, stood on the banks, towels in hand, waiting to dry off their seniors.
Darlene Denstorff AROUND ASCENSION
Prayer breakfast set May 7 The Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast is at 7:30 a.m., May 7 at Lemann Memorial Center, 1100 Clay St., Donaldsonville.
Mother’s Day vendor pop-up Vendors will be on hand from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at SACS Supply and Outfitters in Gonzales to celebrate Mother’s Day.
Highway 621 Outdoor Market The Highway 621 Outdoor Market, 39275 La. 621, Gonzales, opens at 8 a.m. every Saturday until the end of July. Shop vendors’ booths and purchase locally grown produce.
Gospel in the Park Stop by Jambalaya Park at noon on May 9 for Gospel in the Park. The event will feature gospel groups, worship dancers and prayer.
ä See AROUND, page 2G
St. Amant High seniors dump water on each other in the early morning hours of April 29, their last day of high school.
PROVIDED PHOTO
St. Amant seniors celebrate last day of school with wet, wild fun Community news report
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by the St. Amant Volunteer Department. The St. Amant Gators Class of On the last day of school for seniors at St. Amant High, graduat- took part in water fights and ran 2026 on April 29 participated in ing seniors tossed water balloons, through walls of water provided the annual Water Day, a last day
of school early morning tradition. Students, many with water guns and hundreds of water balloons, take over the parking lot for Water Day festivities. Few leave dry.