The Calcasieu Parish School Board has unanimously approved the 2024-25 school calendar, deciding on an earlier start from the summer break for students.

The proposed calendar was first presented at the Curriculum and Instruction Committee Meeting on Jan. 30. The first day for students in the 2024-25 school year is Friday, Aug. 9, and the last is May 21, 2025.

The start day for the 2024-25 school year is two days earlier than the 2023-24 school year. On CPSB’s Facebook page, they stated the calendar committee — composed of district leaders, teachers and parents — aims to end each school year before Memorial Day in May. With Memorial Day falling earlier in the year in 2025, the first day of school was moved up.

When developing the district calendar, CPSB is required by the state to include 182 teacher work days and 171 instructional days. Three emergency days are included in the calendar. For a smooth transition into the new year and to ensure state requirements are met, teachers will have two virtual professional development days the first week of August.

“With a district as large as ours, there is a delicate balance of developing a calendar that meets all state requirements, works well for our employees, while also putting students’ education first. This is a task that is very important to us, and we work hard to put forth our best efforts each and every year.”

Power Play 2023 Student Recognition

Thirty students were recognized at the board meeting for their participation in Power Play 2023. For this event, the students honored acted as young entrepreneurs and created small businesses. After taking out a “small loan” from their parents, the students designed and created a product to sell to the public.

After the event closed out, students paid back their parents and kept the profits. To simulate the reality of paying taxes, students took at least 10 percent of their earnings and donated it to a charity of their choice.

The students were deemed CPSB Student Ambassadors and were each given a pin and a sign to display in their yard.

Westwood Elementary Gifted Center: Allen Keyes, Drew Reeves.

Moss Bluff Elementary Gifted Center: Hazel Bolton, Maggie Brown, David Cardoso, Andrew Chantlin, Jake Davis, Blake Deville, Brock Deville, Conlee Ezell, Mya Grisson, Abigail Guillory, Jillian Harper, Shane LeBleu, Eli Leger, Emmy LeLeux, Kennedi Matt, Adelyn Price, Londyn Royer, Elijah Savoie, Dylan Shortt, Caleb Stevenson, Lydian Story, Jasper Summers.

Prien Lake Elementary Gifted Center: Austin Boudoin, Jacques LeDoux, Philip Maricle, Everett Oakley, Liam Schei, Vanessa Thibodeaux.