In the News

Alum Spotlight: Caroline’s Cookies

Caroline’s Cookies was created by our very own Blue Gator Alum, Caroline Merryman (‘20).

Loaded AES Blue Gators off to an encouraging start to 2021 campaign

YOUNGSVILLE — Coach Lonny Landry has the Ascension Episcopal baseball team playing excellent baseball as District 7-2A action begins this week.

AES (15-2), which is ranked No. 5 in the LHSAA's unofficial power rankings for Division III, is averaging 8.4 runs with a lineup that doesn't have any weak spots.

Karissa Sorrell helping students embrace their creativity and potential at Ascension Episcopal School

Karissa is focused on student success, but she defines that success as encompassing more than what can be measured in the classroom. Karissa is the kind of teacher we recommend new teachers observe. She is organized, thoughtful, passionate, and always eager to improve. She seeks constructive feedback and cares deeply for her students.

Ascension Episcopal student named state winner of DAR scholarship

A student at Ascension Episcopal School in Lafayette has been named the state winner of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Louisiana State Good Citizens Essay Contest.

Ascension Episcopal Students Learn Confidence and Compassion through Etiquette Classes

​"I wish I had learned those skills when I was in middle school!" is often the response when others hear of Ascension Episcopal School's new class, THRIVE: Building Confidence in any Setting.

Ascension Episcopal student council member leads donation project to feed local families

Lilly Sheets has emerged as a young leader at Ascension Episcopal School. Sheets, a sixth-grade student, leads the school’s virtual morning announcements. She is also the Student Council secretary and a member of the AES cross country team. In addition, Lilly has spent more time in recent months focusing on how to help others.

Ascension’s Charlie Mahana Named National Merit Scholar

​Ascension's National Merit semifinalist, Charlie Mahana, has been named a 2020-2021 National Merit Scholar!

Anna Hicks Serves as a Delegate to the Congress of Future Medical Leaders

Anna Hicks, an Ascension Episcopal School 8th grader, is serving as Delegate to the Congress of Future Medical Leaders on March 20th and 21st, 2021.

Eli Ortego and Jay Mendell Win Sam Burns Junior Four-Ball Championship

For the third consecutive year, a playoff has decided the Champions of the Sam Burns Junior Four-Ball at Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant, Louisiana. Eli Ortego of Broussard, Louisiana and Jay Mendell of Lafayette, Louisiana bested Luke Haskew of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Holden Webb of Shreveport, Louisiana, after both teams finished at 10-under par 134.

12-year-old animal lover Audrey Dupuie raises funds for Safe Haven Animal Rescue

Audrey Dupuie is a born animal lover. When she’s riding her bike, she moves bugs out of the way. When a mouse got into her home, she insisted her parents bring it to safety. Her drawings are usually animal-related. ...

Lafayette schools navigate coronavirus vaccine landscape as teachers, others eligible for doses

Novel coronavirus vaccination appointments opened to Louisiana K-12 educators and school support staff on Monday, and public and private school leaders in Lafayette are working to help interested educators get access to doses.

Ascension Episcopal girls reach quarterfinals for first time with playoff win

Going into Monday's Division III girls basketball regional playoff game, Ascension Episcopal coach Alyssa Credeur had one thing on her mind: slowing down St. Mary's Academy senior Tomyree Thompson.

The 5-foot-9 shooting guard and UNO signee has a well-deserved reputation as a prolific scorer, but the Lady Blue Gators kept Thompson in check long enough to secure a 41-29 win, which sends AES into the quarterfinals for the first time in school history.

COVID nor Cold Could Stop Blue Gator Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras parades and parties around town were canceled because of COVID restrictions and safety precautions. Then, the approaching historic winter storm Uri sealed the 2021 Mardi Gras season’s fate.

8th Grader Advances in MATHCOUNTS Competition

A huge congratulations to all! Our top mathlete, Trey Daly, is advancing to the invitational competition after ranking 8th in the competition.

COVID Restrictions Fuel Creativity

This year, students have faced many challenges due to Covid guidelines and have been required to go about “normal” activities in the most abnormal ways.

Teachers Use Escape Rooms to Educate

Escape rooms have become a popular attraction over the past several years. Teachers at Ascension use the same concepts that draw people to escape rooms to draw their students into deeper learning. Leveraging their curiosity and primal urge for discovery, these teachers brought learning to a new level of fun.

Dr. Keith Rice named Associate Head of School for Curriculum & Academics

After an extensive search that began over a year ago, Ascension Episcopal School Administration is pleased to announce that Dr. Keith Rice has accepted the opportunity to serve as our Associate Head of School for Curriculum and Academics beginning July 1, 2021. Dr. Rice will oversee all aspects of our curriculum, including our PK3 - 12th-grade academic program. His responsibilities will involve ensuring vertical alignment and curriculum mapping, and appropriate scope and sequencing of all three campuses' courses. He will also contribute to other critical areas such as faculty professional development, student and faculty scheduling, and standardized testing.

Ascension Episcopal rolls to first-round playoff win over Lafayette Christian

With the season on the line, Britt Campbell took charge for Ascension Episcopal in Friday's Division IV boys soccer first-round playoff game against Lafayette Christian.

PK4 Classes Welcome Special Visitors

​PK4 classes welcomed special visitors as they learned about the letters P and R.

Ascension Episcopal fends off Delcambre to take thrilling district win on the road

The Ascension Episcopal Blue Gators held off the Delcambre Panthers to post a 59-55 District matchup Friday night.

KATC's Senior Spotlight: Ascension Episcopal's Lily Dore

Ascension Episcopal girls soccer is what some might call a Cinderella story. From losing their opening match to going on a 6 game winning spree.

Spirit of Acadiana: Middle School Football Returns

LAFAYETTE, La. — Last fall, a number of principals and athletics directors with Acadiana’s private middle schools decided to swap a number of fall sports with the winter and spring sports, and vice versa.

Upper School Students Help Clean Downtown Lafayette

On Saturday, January 23, nine upper school students participated in Parish Proud's "New Year, New Parish Cleanup" in downtown Lafayette. Students joined hundreds of volunteers in beautifying the community through trash and debris pickup. Ascension students cleaned along University Avenue as well as the downtown campus and its surrounding neighborhood.

Ascension Episcopal's Maxie Baudoin sees recruiting profile rise

In less than a week, Maxie Baudoin IV's recruitment skyrocketed at an amazing pace.

Student Council Member Raises Money for Animal Rescue

Student Council executive ambassador, Audrey D., raised $650 for Safe Haven Animal Rescue. The Ascension 7th grader comments, “It was really hard work achieving this goal, but it was worth it seeing the look on Cleo’s little puppy face!!”

Preschool Students Create Using Technology

At Ascension’s preschool campus (grades PK3-K), teachers utilize technology to enhance learning and engagement even with our youngest Blue Gators. During their daily Innovation Lab visits, students experiment, design, create, build, and explore with technology adding to the excitement.

Student Council Collects Donations for Local Food Pantry

Student Council secretary, Lily Sheets, led a campus-wide initiative to collect food donations for a local food pantry, Second Harvest. “I was inspired by people who don’t have enough food. I wanted to help provide meals for families in Lafayette,” says Lily.

Ashley Gill Named Swimmer of the Year

Gill was named the swimmer of the meet at the Division IV State Championship. She won the 50-yard freestyle and 100 butterfly, and was also part of two first-place relays.

Movement, Music, and Math: Ascension Takes Part in Hour of Code for 5th Year

The annual International Hour of Code exceeded a billion coders in 2020, and we are thrilled that Ascension students were part of the record-breaking event. For the 5th consecutive year, students on all three of our campuses explored age-appropriate computer science activities throughout Hour of Code Week.

Ascension Episcopal’s Matthew Remondet Improves Stock After Monstrous Senior Season

Ascension Episcopal High School senior tight end/defensive end Matthew Remondet was one of the Blue Gators’ best players from the 2021 season. Matthew made 1st Team All-District at not only tight end, but defensive end as well.

Ascension Episcopal students put creativity, problem-solving into action with class project

Twelve juniors and seniors at Ascension Episcopal Upper School were tasked with identifying a passion and bringing it to life with an original design at the end of the fall semester. ...

Maxie Baudoin IV is the hottest prospect in the 2022 class

It took a while for college coaches to find Maxie Baudoin IV, but it doesn’t take a long film watch of the 6-foot-6, 290-pound force at the point of attack to float a scholarship his way. ...

Ascension Episcopal Girls Soccer off to Blazing Start Heading into District Play

Ascension Episcopal has had some solid girls soccer teams in recent seasons, but this year’s squad just might be its best yet.

The Blue Gators are ranked No. 1 in Division IV after a 6-1-1 start in which they’ve scored 24 goals while allowing only four, pitching shutouts in all six wins. ...

GMA Cool Schools: Ascension Episcopal Upper School Sharing Their Passion Through Artwork

Learning isn't about having all the answers; it's knowing what questions to ask. Ascension Episcopal School art teacher Jeni Guidry, challenged Upper School makerspace students to identify a passion and bring it to life with an original design. ...

Empowered Student Leaders Continue to Make a Positive Impact in 2020

Imagine being a 7th grader and called into the principal’s office, only you aren’t in trouble. You are about to propose your idea for a campus-wide Christmas gift shop and candy gram event spanning seven grade levels during a global pandemic. This is just what two Ascension students did this school year.

Teacher of the Week Rev. Palmer Kennedy inspires and challenges at Ascension Episcopal

Rev. Kennedy is innovative, invested, and energetic. He challenges his students to engage in discovery and meaningful discourse, and with a conference-based approach to essays, he helps his students to become more evolved writers. Because he’s genuine and fair, students know he has their best interests in mind. ...

Clay Ancelet Commits To McNeese

A local prep football standout has apparently decided to play his future college football at a state school, which are members of the Southland Conference.

Clay Ancelet, who currently attends Ascension Episcopal High School, shared on social media on Thursday he has verbally committed to McNeese St. ...

GMA Cool Schools: Ascension Episcopal School

From live-streamed daily chapel and morning announcements to virtual group work and escape rooms, Ascension Episcopal School's Downtown campus students and faculty are finding creative ways to use technology to stay connected and keep kids engaged during COVID 19. ...

Shocking Everyone, Ascension Episcopal School Girl’s Soccer Team Takes Home the 2020 Copa Cup

While the varsity girl's soccer team of Ascension Episcopal School was waitlisted and did not initially obtain an invitation to the large Copa Acadiana Invitational, they gained entry and won the coveted Copa cup after 3 days of competition.

Art Lesson Inspires Creativity in Quarantined Students

To recreate famous portraits using everyday objects found at home, students use their imagination, detective-like observation, and improvisation skills. These tableaus, sprinkled with a bit of technology, required students to concentrate on props, posing, and lighting.

Expanding Digital Media Education In The Classroom With Livestreaming

Brad Williams, Digital Media Specialist for the Ascension Episcopal School, has been a dedicated technology educator for over 20 years. In his current position, Mr. Williams is expanding the role live-streaming plays in his students’ curriculum and how the school connects to community members. By recruiting both student and staff volunteers, Mr. Williams has streamed numerous important student events such as Ascension’s graduation ceremony, athletic events, morning announcements, and much more.

St. Nicholas Visits Our Blue Gators

Father Joseph Daly shared the story of St. Nicholas with River Ranch students during chapel. Students were then treated with a visit from St. Nicholas himself! Loaded with candy canes (shepherd's staffs) and air hugs,  St. Nicholas brought joy to our littlest Blue Gators.

Louisiana Junior Golf Spotlight: Eli Ortego

The Louisiana Junior Golf Tour member spotlight is a monthly article highlighting the strong talent in our state. Our December junior golfer to be featured is Eli Ortego of Broussard.

Expanding Media Literacy In Schools Through Creative Video Projects And Assignments

Heather Gros, Middle School Media Literacy and Innovation Technology Educator at Ascension Episcopal School in Lafayette, Louisiana, is dedicated to expanding media literacy and spreading positivity with video.

Ascension Episcopal claims second LHSAA Division IV girls swim title in three years

Best two out of the three? It certainly was for the Ascension Episcopal girls, who claimed their second Division IV title in three years on the first day of the LHSAA State Swim meet.

Volleyball Roundup: Ascension Episcopal stuns top seed Parkview Baptist in Division IV

Ascension Episcopal knew who it was up against.

Parkview Baptist was the No. 1 seed in Division IV. The Eagles were 23-3 going into the quarterfinals of the state tournament.

Four Ascension Athletes Sign National Letters of Intent

On November 11, 2020, several Blue Gators signed National Letters of Intent to continue their athletic careers on the collegiate level.

Prep Notebook: Matt Remondet Getting it Done in all Three Phases for Ascension Episcopal

Whenever a player can contribute on offense, defense, and special teams, they're a valuable asset to any football team.

Ascension Episcopal cruises past Northeast in volleyball playoff opener; Dunham next

During coach Jill Braun's tenure as Ascension Episcopal volleyball coach, the Blue Gators have had tremendous success.

Ascension’s Upper School Campus Received Security Upgrade

A big thank you to our 2019 PTO Auction efforts as our Ascension’s Sugar Mill Pond Campus received an upgrade in security over the past few months.

Ascension Episcopal quarterback Cole Simon improving his game while stepping up as senior leader

Not too many quarterbacks in the Acadiana area have more experience than Ascension Episcopal's Cole Simon.

Ascension Episcopal, Catholic High of New Iberia battle for early control in District 7-2A race

When the dust settles Friday night in New Iberia, the Ascension Episcopal/Catholic of New Iberia winner will have the inside track in District 7-2A football title.

Ascension Episcopal's livestreamed events open new door to learning -- in more ways than one

Ascension Episcopal School in Lafayette has embraced live streaming in the coronavirus era, opening a virtual door for parents and students away from campus to participate while creating an avenue for students to learn new skills.

Junior at Ascension Uses His Passion to Help Others

​As a junior or senior, students at Ascension Episcopal School have the opportunity to enroll in an elective independent study course to learn more about technology and assist the technology team.

Ascension Episcopal Preview: Blue Gators look to extend trend as consistent winner

Ascension has quietly built a powerful program that is 49-12 over the past five years.

Student-Created News Report Aired in Belgium

Ascension media teacher, Heather Gros, was contacted by a representative of the US Embassy in Belgium.

Ascension Episcopal’s AP Scores Exceed State and National Average

Many of our 2019-2020 juniors and seniors at Ascension chose to take AP examinations last spring, in spite of difficult COVID-19 circumstances.

Ascension Students Share God’s Love With Neighbors

​Hurricane Laura struck Louisiana on August 27th, 2020, at 1 AM. “Laura was the strongest hurricane to strike Southwest Louisiana since records began in 1851,” according to weather.com. With winds peaking 150mph and landfall in the Lake Charles area, our westerly neighbors sustained the most damage and were most in need of assistance.

Charlie Mahana Named 2021 National Merit Semifinalist

​Charlie Mahana, senior at Ascension Episcopal School, has been named as a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist.

Ascension Honors Mr. Charles Hines with Lifetime Press Pass

​A decade ago, our school family was lucky enough to have a very special photographer come our way.

Class of 2021 Honored at Class Ring Ceremony

​Each year, Junior Ring Ceremony marks the moment at Ascension when our juniors officially become seniors. Usually, this ceremony occurs during the students’ junior year, but COVID restrictions postponed the ceremony.

Ascension Families, Faculty, and Students Gather Virtually to Kick-off a New Year

​The 2020 - 2021 school year is like no other. Rather than gathering in-person as a school community, students and families remotely gathered for the All-School Opening Convocation to kick-off Ascension’s 61st school year.

Ascension Episcopal students, staff navigate 'new normal' as they head back to school this week

While Lafayette Parish public schools have postponed opening because of novel coronavirus concerns, several Lafayette private schools including Ascension Episcopal School welcomed students back this week and are navigating new protocols prompted by the pandemic.

Students Return to Ascension Episcopal School

Ascension Episcopal School welcomed students back to its campuses today. School leaders spent all summer preparing for this moment, making sure internet infrastructure, cameras and microphones were ready so all of their students could receive instruction.

Summer Football Practice at Ascension Episcopal School

Summer football practice continues at Ascension Episcopal School. The Daily Advertiser visited the field to capture action shots of our Blue Gators.

​Student Leaders Plan for the New Year During Prefect Retreat

The 2020 - 2021 Sugar Mill Pond Prefect leaders attended their annual retreat earlier this summer. According to Mrs. Robert, Prefect advisor, “they came in with spirits and hearts afire!” Students participated in team-building activities and devoted many hours to preparing for the new school year. Mrs. Robert says, “They were mature, creative, supportive, open-minded, excited, and overall dedicated to making our next Ascension school year a special one.”

Broussard's Ortego proud of runner-up finish at Louisiana State Amateur

Eli Ortego didn’t have a frame of reference last weekend in his second appearance in the Louisiana Golf Association’s State Amateur Championship.

The Broussard product and rising senior at Ascension Episcopal High had played in the 2019 edition of the state’s premier amateur golf event and was hovering near the top 10 after 74-72 opening rounds at Baton Rouge Country Club. That’s before the wheels came off over the weekend when Ortego struggled to a 76-82 finish and wound up 37th.

“I struggled on the weekend last year,” he said, “so this year wasn’t quite the same as last year.”

Two Ascension Teams Place in State STEM Competition

How can we provide 3rd world countries with a safe, efficient, and cheap way to filter unclean drinking water? How can we boost plant growth for a more productive corn crop?  


Two 8th grade teams in Mrs. Rachael Futch’s Biology 1 accelerate honors class decided to solve these problems utilizing the engineering design process in eCYBERMISSION’s annual competition. According to their website, “eCYBERMISSION is a web-based science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) competition for students in grades six through nine that promotes self-discovery and enables all students to recognize the real-life applications of STEM.”

William Brien Named 2019-2020 National Merit Scholar

Ascension's National Merit semifinalist, William Brien, has been named a 2019-2020 National Merit Scholar.

Upper School Choir Performs "A House is Not a Home" Virtually

​While social distancing has proven to be a powerful force in mitigating the outbreak of COVID-19, its stifling effect has not been void of creating some unintentional consequences. Take, for instance, the areas of team sports and performing arts where social distancing has all but extinguished any participation. Yet, during these unprecedented times, it is fascinating to observe how a little creative ingenuity, in some ways, has mitigated the outbreak of social distancing. One such place is in the advent of “virtual choirs."

Gym class heroes: AES Teachers taking PE to students

With a few honks, and calls on a megaphone, gym class gets underway at a Broussard home. Gym teachers at Ascension Episcopal are taking class from house to house with school closed for the year.

Ascension students appear on National Geographic Education Live

​Seventh grade Blue Gators appeared on National Geographic Education Live during a session on Protecting Sharks! Click below to read more!

Melinda Mangham, longtime Lafayette educator, remembered for her 'steel and softness'

Melinda Mangham, a larger than life Lafayette educator who championed students and teachers with undeniable passion for decades, has died.

The love and respect of her students was clear at the end of her life. Elizabeth Mangham said her mother's former students sent a flood of letters to the elder Mangham that her daughter read at her bedside. Seeing that outpouring of affection was cathartic and deeply comforting, Elizabeth Mangham said.

With each letter, the elder Mangham regaled her daughter with stories about the writer. She was thinking of her students until the very end, she said.

“She was a remarkable woman. I am so thankful that we had the opportunity to share her with so many people. She never ever made any of us feel like we weren’t the only person she was focused on at that moment,” her daughter said.

Professional Actor Visits Ascension Theatre Students

​Last week, Mr. Brian Maillard visited with Ascension’s theatre students. His diverse career spans film, television, commercials (including a Super Bowl commercial!), - Broadway, voice-overs, directing, composing, and writing. Currently, he voices Disney’s animated character Leopold Loggle in Amphibia and is featured in Amazon's Tales from the Loop. With over 20 years of experience in the business, Mr. Maillard's knowledge and expertise served invaluable to Ascension students. The following are a few key take-aways:

Ascension Alumni Receives Army National Guard Award for Outstanding Performance

​The Bravo Company 31st Engineer Battalion has awarded Ascension Episcopal School’s alumni, PVT Brooks Whittington, with the Association of the United States Army Award. This award is presented to “a soldier whose outstanding qualities of leadership best expresses the American spirit, honor, initiative, and high standards to their comrades in arms.” Brooks was chosen for this honor, usually presented to a marine or active duty soldier, amongst 900 other soldiers.

American Journal of French Studies Awards Ascension Episcopal Senior Third Place Honor

The American Journal of French Studies awarded Emery Doga’s essay, La Contrefaçon Cajun, third place amongst over 1000 applications spanning the United States. The AJFS challenged high school and college students to submit writing covering one of three topics: transportation in the future, why you chose to study French, or how coronavirus has affected your life.

Sports Illustrated: Louisiana's No. 1 Ranked High School Tennis Player Commits to Wyoming

LARAMIE – Wyoming women’s tennis head coach Dean Clower has announced the addition of Alyse Cormier to the Cowgirl signing class that will be joining the UW tennis team beginning in the fall.

The Lafayette, La., native attended Ascension Episcopal in Youngsville, La. She compiled 23 wins during her senior season and was the number one ranked tennis prep in the state. Cormier said she chose Wyoming “Because of the perfect combination of facilities, team atmosphere and academics.”

Ascension Epsicopal's Clay Ancelet Receives First Offer (ESPN1420)

A local prep football standout has received his first collegiate offer, from an Ivy League school.

Clay Ancelet, who currently attends Ascension Episcopal High School, was extended an offer by Yale over the weekend.

Ascension Baseball Team Trying to Make the Best of Downtime (Daily Advertiser)

The Ascension Episcopal Blue Gators baseball lost several talented seniors from last season's Division III state runner-up team, including ace pitcher Sean Michael Brady.
However, the Blue Gators came out of the gate strong with a young group that featured only one senior in the starting lineup, and compiled an 8-1 record.
But their promising season — along with every other spring sports team in the area — was suspended due to COVID-19.

H.O.M.E. Method: Emotional Wellness and Distance Learning

"As you care for your physical health by social distancing and staying at home, I encourage you to make a daily habit of caring for your emotional and mental health, as well. A simple way to incorporate self-care while we practice distance learning is to remember the acronym H.O.M.E." says Caitlin Neal-Jones.

Ascension Technology Team Offers Inspiration to ULL Preservice Teachers

Dr. Douglas Williams, Director of CILAT and a professor of instructional technology in the College of Education, invited members of Ascension's technology team to speak to his preservice teachers about their success with distance learning.

Distance Learning Showcase

Although Ascension, along with the rest of the country, has been thrown into uncharted territory, our faculty, staff, parents, and students have come together to continue our mission: educational excellence in a Christian environment.

Our distance learning goal is to give students structure, provide educational material to nurture their minds, and stay connected as a school family. We hope you enjoy these images from our first week of distance learning! Click on the link below the photo to see a comprehensive update from all three campuses.

KLFY NEWS - Senior Stories: Ascension’s Blake Pearson adjusting to shortened senior season

“It was difficult walking off the field, but it is what it is.”
Ascension Episcopal Senior Blake Pearson always gave his all when he was on the baseball field.

Downtown Campus Director Announced

Following an extensive search process that included numerous applications and several on-campus interviews, we are pleased to announce that Liz Tremblay will serve as our Ascension Episcopal School Downtown Campus Director beginning at the conclusion of this school year.

Anatomy and Physiology Students Tour Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital

Ascension Episcopal School's human anatomy & physiology students toured Our Lady of Lourdes hospital today to learn about different career opportunities that exist in the medical field. The tour included visiting some of the specialty floors (ICU, oncology, burn unit) and talking with staff about their daily tasks. Students also viewed the OR suites and received their very own scrubs to wear while learning. Lastly, students participated in a panel discussion with hospital personnel from multiple departments (physical/occupational therapy, Human Resources, Pharmaceuticals, physician group administration). The students were able to ask questions and gain insight from these professionals on what their jobs entail and how they pursued their careers.

Emmie Gage comments, "I'm more excited than ever to pursue a career in medicine! I want to be a surgeon, but it was an eye-opening experience to see the various professions it takes to run a hospital."

This unique partnership with Our Lady of Lourdes offers students an opportunity to be curious and excited about learning in real-world environments. Thank you to each medical professional who shared their time and expertise with our students during this invaluable experience. And thank you, Byron Daigle, for organizing this event each year and inspiring students to explore a career in the medical field.

Mardi Gras in the Classroom (KATC:Cool Schools)

Today's Cool School is Ascension Episcopal School here in Lafayette. There's a lot going on during Mardi Gras, and students at Ascension took those events and studied them in the classroom!

Encouraging a Positive School Climate One Initiative at a Time

Ascension Episcopal School tackles the topic of bullying and school climate with love, education, and empathy. Over the course of this year, Downtown Campus teacher Heather Gros has directed several initiatives with the assistance of the middle student council, chapel council, media students, and downtown teachers via advisory lessons.

Heather Gros reports, "During February, student leaders explored Ascension's school climate by completing a School Climate Walkthrough and School Climate Report Card survey. In the past six years, we (Student Council, Advisory, Blue Gator Buzz) have hosted positive initiatives like Bucket Filling, care cards, Shout-outs, and community chalkboards. Our students have also participated in nation-wide campaigns such as Random Acts of Kindness Week, Stand Up to Bullying/Take a Stand, Beyond Differences' Know Your Classmates Day, No One Eats Alone Day, and Be Kind Online Day!"

Ascension's Varsity Golf Team Sets New School Record

Ascension’s varsity golf team broke their low 9-hole record on February 12, 2020 in tough conditions playing in Cade at Eagle Ridge. They won their second straight match this season & as a team shot -3 (141) beating their team low by 3 shots.

Ascension’s First Annual Box Car Derby Teaches 6th graders about Math, Science, Art, History, and English

How do you make learning formulas, calculating equations, and writing fun? The 6th-grade team of teachers at Ascension Episcopal school has an answer to get students across the finish line, engaged and inspired!

With its first annual Box Car Derby on Friday, February 7, 2020, Ascension’s cross-curricular project allowed 6th graders to understand and apply knowledge from many disciplines. Ascension Episcopal School middle school math teacher, Lauren Daly, adapted this creative Box Car Derby project from Clark’s Creative Education to engage her students in hands-on learning. "My biggest joy in teaching comes from watching the students participate in hands-on, real-world activities that make the walls of the classroom disappear.”

Prior to the Derby, students began by learning the origins and history of Box Car Derbies in history class. In math, students reviewed and manipulated formulas for acceleration, force, and velocity to achieve their desired goal. In art, students experimented with topics like wheels and axles, weight balance, friction, aerodynamics, and more. Next, they worked with partners to brainstorm, draft a design, and devise a plan to build their boxcars.

Students constructed their cars during six class periods over two days. Through collaboration and communication, teams built their cars with supplies like bottle caps, CD's, food boxes, duct tape, hot glue, pipe cleaners, rubber bands, and additional items. During test runs, students embraced failure, adapted designs, and encouraged each other not to give up.

When race day finally arrived, students assumed roles to measure, collect, and analyze data from three runs. Then, students brought the data back to their science class to calculate and analyze the measurements obtained. The fastest car, the car with the most force, and the car that traveled the farthest from each class were named winners.

Students documented their experience in english class by journaling about the design process, recording field notes, reflecting on relationships between velocity and force, and composing a newspaper article piece to summarize the Box Car Derby.

“Through this Box Car Derby project, students saw formulas come to life and experienced a safe space for risk-taking while cars were built. The students put tremendous effort into building their boxcars, yet some found, they had to make several adjustments, for some that meant rebuilding. I loved seeing the creativity that was encouraged through this project,” Daly shared.

John-Michael Charbonnet Qualifies for State Math Counts Competition

Congratulations to our Ascension mathletes! 6th grader John-Michael Charbonnet was recognized for ranking 5th in the Math Counts competition this past Friday.  John-Michael, along with five other local students, has been invited to compete at the state level in March.

Also, out of 100 top mathletes in our area, half of our Ascension team (7 out of 14) ranked in the top 30%!
 
Math Counts exposes students to a deep level of thinking, improves team-building skills, and creates a network between the top 100 math and science students in our area.

Congratulations to all who participated and represented our school generously and bravely! We are so proud of you and are rooting for you, John-Michael!

Allie Chng Named Member of South Regional Middle School Honor Orchestra

Allie Chan, Ascension 5th grader, was selected to play in the prestigious South Regional Middle School Honor Orchestra. Congratulations, Allie on your accomplishment!

Ascension Episcopal's Matt Remondet named Male Athlete of the Week

Middle School Student Council Travels to State Convention

Eight Middle School Student Council members traveled to Pineville High School this weekend for the 70th annual Louisiana Association of Student Councils Convention: United We Stand. Students voted for LASC's State Offices, listened and learned from guest speakers, networked with student leaders from all around Louisiana, and collaborated with their local council to share ideas and inspiration! They participated in several contests (essay, poster, photography, and school flag) and were awarded for celebrating Student Council Week on our downtown campus!

Here are a few of their takeaways:
Be brave
Dream it; Do it
Let you be you
Celebrate and use your gifts
Share your gifts with others
Don't compare
QTIP - Quit Taking It Personally
EGO - Edging God Out
We are all "better than good"
Count our blessings & help others

Thank you to our Middle School Student Council for representing Ascension and Acadiana's District V so strongly. And a big thank you to Student Council sponsor, Heather Gros, and cosponsors Danielle Bacque and Neekee McDonald. You are a great example of leadership to our students!

Fourth Graders Create Businesses to Learn about Economics

Running a business takes much organization, collaboration, critical thinking, time-management, and creativity. Under the direction of Anna Napier, Kelly Duplantis, and Amy Billeaudeaux, Ascension fourth graders learned how much work is involved!

While studying a unit on economics, teachers tasked students with selling a product to their peers during recess. As a class, students collaborated to decide what to sell. Teachers then grouped students in one of four roles: finance, sales, production, and advertising. For their business, students decided what supplies they needed. The young entrepreneurs researched their costs on Walmart.com, applied for loans to cover the expenses, set price points, and made commercials and flyers using various apps. Ultimately, "Hyper Hot Chocolate" sold hot chocolate with toppings like marshmallows and peppermints. "Make & Bake Cookies and Milk" tempted students with a variety of home-made cookies and cups of milk. And "Happy Krispies" made mouths water with Rice Krispies treats.

With the goal of raising money for Miles Perrett Cancer Services, students were highly motivated to succeed. Sydney Lafluer commented, "The important thing is that it wasn't a competition between the other classes. It's that we made money for Miles Perrett." All three 4th grade classes sold out of their products, raising a total of $302.13!

Thank you, teachers, for organizing this fantastic learning opportunity for your students each year. Congratulations to the 4th-grade class for their hard work and positive attitude to support the Miles Perrett Center and its cause!

Congressional App Challenge

Innovation + Technology students won the "Community Connector" award for their Geaux Alert app, a part of the Congressional App Challenge presented to them by Mayor-President Joel Robideaux. Ascension's middle school team, directed by Morgan Vondenstein, consisted of Noah J., Samantha M, Clara N., and Braxton G. Their team was one of 11 teams in the state competing. The Congressional App Challenge is a district-wide challenge hosted by members of our U.S. House of Representatives to encourage middle and high school students to learn to code and inspire them to pursue careers in computer science. We are so very proud of our students' commitment, perseverance, and growth through this project.

To learn more about the Congressional App Challenge, visit https://www.congressionalappchallenge.us/

Experience Ascension 2019

While our website may provide a glimpse of what life is like at Ascension, the only way to truly experience the school is to see us in action. For that reason, we offer campus tours throughout the year, and we invite you to tour all three campuses to learn how each age-appropriate campus contributes to building educational excellence in a Christian environment.