Kaplan High School

CONNECT ENRICHMENT, WEEK 2! 🖤💛 Week 2 of CONNECT Enrichment is in the books, and once again, our classrooms looked a little different today! The goal of CONNECT is simple: put the screens away, slow down for a little while, and give our students and teachers an opportunity to connect, create, laugh, learn, and build relationships beyond the regular classroom lesson. And today, they did exactly that! We saw some serious competition during BINGO and Left Right Center, students getting creative while making clouds, future engineers putting their minds to work with construction challenges, and students finding out just how well they REALLY know the people who teach them during KHS Faculty Trivia! 😂 What we love most is that CONNECT Enrichment doesn’t have to look the same in every classroom. One room may be loud with laughter and competition, while another is filled with students creating, problem-solving, or simply talking with one another. Different activities. Different experiences. Same purpose: CONNECTION. These moments may seem simple, but they matter. When students feel connected to their school and the adults in it, we strengthen the relationships that help make KHS a place where students belong. Two weeks in, and we are loving what we’re seeing. CONNECT isn’t about filling time. It’s about making that time count. And judging by the smiles, laughter, creativity, and maybe just a little competitive spirit we saw today, we’d say Week 2 was a success! 🖤💛 Stay tuned. CONNECT Enrichment is just getting started at KHS! 🏴‍☠️

FUN FRIDAY: Creativity Has No Limits!

Today, our Pirates learned about Passion Works, an incredible art studio in Athens, Ohio, where artists of all abilities come together to create colorful, collaborative works of art.

The message behind Passion Works fits perfectly with what we want our students to experience during Fun Friday: everyone has something valuable to contribute. Creativity is for everyone, and sometimes the best things happen when we put aside differences, work together, and simply CREATE!

After learning about Passion Works, our students got creative themselves by making their own marble art! 🎨 The results were colorful, unique, and completely their own.

These are the moments we love seeing at KHS, students trying something different, expressing themselves, and connecting through a shared experience.

Another Fun Friday spent creating, connecting, and making memories together. 🏴‍☠️

Once a Pirate, Always a Pirate: Mary Pat Lachaussee Forty Years of Legacy at Kaplan High School As Vermilion Parish Schools mark 150 years of educating this community, the district set out to name the people who built that history, and Kaplan High School did not have to look far. Mary Pat Lachaussee holds a distinction no other current Vermilion Parish School Board employee can claim: more years of service than anyone in the parish, in a career that began at KHS and never left. To generations of students, she is simply "Mrs. Mary Pat,” the teacher, coach, and Testing Coordinator who has kept the building running and its kids cared for, for almost forty years. Her path here was not the plan. She graduated with a degree in English Education in December of 1984 and spent that spring substituting, mostly at Abbeville High School. It was there, filling in classroom after classroom, that she got her first real exposure to the wider landscape of a school. An offer soon arrived to start a self-contained special education class at Kaplan, a detour that meant going back to school, learning a new specialty, and starting over in a field she hadn't trained for. She said yes anyway. "When an opportunity to begin a self-contained class at KHS was offered to me, I grabbed it," she said. "It meant going back to school, but it was all worth it." Ask her now what she'd tell that young teacher, standing at the crossroads, and the answer comes without hesitation: "Take a chance on change." Nearly forty years later, she can measure her career in what has changed and what never has. "Many changes in the education and Special Education system have occurred in 39 years," she said, "but the one change that has evolved is technology, from handwriting my first IEPs to typing recent ones." What hasn't moved, she said, is simpler and more important: "Caring for our students should NEVER change. Each year, I refer to my students as 'my kids.' That will never change. They need to know that no matter what, someone has their back." That philosophy shapes how she defines success itself, a word she refuses to let a test score answer alone. "Success is a very broad word," she said. "In my opinion, success means that a student leaves my classroom and possesses skills to become productive in the community. It's not a pass or fail. It's coping in society." Her impact extends well past academics. For years she has coached Kaplan's Special Olympics athletes, a role "very close to my heart," she said, one that earned her Coach of the Year at the 2016 State Summer Games, an honor she talks about mostly in terms of the athletes who earned it alongside her. She measures that legacy less in trophies than in return visits: "I have former students who now have children who are Special Olympics athletes. They are so proud just as their parents were before them." That generational reach shows up everywhere in her story. Former students, now grown, regularly find their way back to thank her. "It is often I meet up with my students, and they mention how thankful they are that I was their self-contained/resource teacher," she said. "Pushing them to be their best, working hard towards better grades, and holding them accountable in all classrooms paid off far beyond the walls of Kaplan High School." She has also spent years as KHS's Testing Coordinator, a largely invisible job she has quietly kept running for the whole school. "I spend many extra hours making sure that all goes smoothly," she said. "It keeps my brain ticking." Asked how she hopes to be remembered, she answered as though repeating something she's already heard said about her: "Mrs. Mary Pat was firm, tough, but fair. Her loyalty for KHS was unwavering. She attended many out-of-school functions in support of students." It's a fitting self-portrait: an educator who never treated high expectations and genuine care as opposites. And her greatest legacy, after thirty-nine years in one building? Not a title. Not an award. Just one line on a resume that never needed updating. "My greatest legacy is remaining in the same and only job for close to 40 years," she said. "Many people have many jobs on their resumes. Mine, only one entry: teacher at Kaplan High School. Proud that I am the example of 'Once a Pirate, always a Pirate.'" This profile is the first in an ongoing series honoring the people who have shaped Vermilion Parish Schools across 150 years- teachers, coaches, and staff whose individual stories add up to the district's history. It's hard to imagine a better place to begin than with a teacher who found where she belonged on her first try, and simply never left. Once a Pirate, always a Pirate.

On Wednesday, Sept. 9th, we will be giving the Practice ACT at our school for all 9th, 10th, and 11th graders.

Any seniors who are interested in taking this test are free to do so, but all other seniors will participate in a Virtual Career Pathway Day. Seniors are asked to fill out the Google Form posted in their classrooms as of today.

Please share.

WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT, KAPLAN STILL SHINES! Today gave us one of those unexpected moments that reminds you exactly what kind of school community you have. When the power went out during lunch and we eventually had to dismiss early, our Pirates were absolutely INCREDIBLE. Our teachers could not stop talking about how well our students handled the situation. They were calm, respectful, patient, and beyond well-behaved. And our STAFF? They immediately stepped up. Teachers took the lead, kept students calm and accounted for, and made sure safety remained our number one priority. There was no panic. Everyone simply jumped in and did what needed to be done. A very special thank you to Ms. Lisa Stelly, who immediately went to work finding lights and getting them set up in the cafeteria so our students weren’t sitting in complete darkness. Thank you also to everyone from Central Office who jumped in to help us, especially Brooks David, and a huge thank you to our principal, Coach Shay Herpin, for quite literally leading us through the darkness today! Days like today aren’t planned, but they certainly reveal character. And today, our students and staff showed exactly what Kaplan High is made of. We can’t wait to have our Pirates back tomorrow. The power may have gone out today, but there was still plenty of light inside Kaplan High. LEGENDARY. 🏴‍☠️

⚠️ KHS POWER & PHONE OUTAGE ⚠️ Kaplan High School is currently experiencing a power outage, and our school phone lines are down at this time. We appreciate your patience and understanding while we wait for power and phone service to be restored. We will provide updates as they become available. Thank you for your understanding and continued support of KHS! 🏴‍☠️

You can now purchase your JamBOOlaya tickets online at: https://tinyurl.com/mw9j6u3b
We can't wait to feed YOU and your family on Halloween!

History came to life as our students followed the journey of Lewis and Clark through an engaging station activity in Mrs. Tori Broussard's U.S. History class!

At each stop, students analyzed maps, images, information, and primary sources to investigate the goals of the expedition, the challenges faced by the Corps of Discovery, their interactions with Native American tribes, the important role of Sacagawea, and what the journey revealed about the Louisiana Territory.

Our students did more than simply learn what happened. They worked like historians by examining evidence, making connections, discussing different perspectives, and developing a deeper understanding of the past.

This is LEGENDARY learning in action, filled with movement, meaningful discussion, and critical thinking! 🏴‍☠️

AUGUST SHIPMATES OF THE MONTH

At Kaplan High School, being a Shipmate means more than simply being part of our school. It means representing the qualities that make KHS such a special place: hard work, dedication, kindness, integrity, and a genuine love for Kaplan High School.

Each month, we recognize students and staff members who embody those qualities and help make our Pirate family stronger simply by the way they show up, treat others, and represent our school.

We are incredibly proud to announce our August Shipmates of the Month!

⭐ 9th Grade: Gracie Guidry
⭐ 10th Grade: Kloe Meaux
⭐ 11th Grade: Marlee Trahan
⭐ 12th Grade: Ayslee Hebert
⭐ Teacher: Angela Sistrunk

These five Shipmates remind us that being LEGENDARY is not always about one big moment. It is built through the choices we make every day: working hard, doing what is right, treating people well, and taking pride in the school we call home.

Congratulations to our August Shipmates of the Month! KHS is better because you are part of it! 🏴‍☠️

✨👗 YOUR DRESS COULD BECOME HER DREAM DRESS. 👗✨ Think about the formal dresses hanging in closets across our community right now. A homecoming dress worn once. A prom dress filled with memories. A bridesmaid dress you swore you’d wear again. 😉 Shoes, jewelry, and accessories that are still beautiful, but just aren’t being used anymore. Now imagine those same items helping one of our girls walk into a special night feeling beautiful, confident, and excited to be there. 💛 That’s what the KHS Dream Dress Drive is all about. We are collecting gently used: 👗 Formal dresses from homecomings, proms, Mardi Gras balls, weddings & more 👠 Dress shoes ✨ Jewelry 🎀 Hair accessories Every donation helps us build a collection where our girls can find something that makes them feel special, without the financial burden that can come with attending these events. Donate your dress treasure… help a Lady Pirate shine! ✨ 📅 Saturday, September 12 ⏰ 10:00 AM–12:00 PM 📍 Drop off at the KHS Office Please share! The more our community helps us spread the word, the more dreams we can help make possible. 💛

KHS PARENT NEWSLETTER: Aug. 31-4:
https://sites.google.com/vpsb.net/parentnewsletter2025-2026/aug-31-4

INTRODUCING: CONNECT ENRICHMENT!

Today at Kaplan High School, we tried something a little different, and the smiles were for MILES!

One of our most important goals this year is simple: CONNECTION. Our students spend so much of their lives looking at screens, so on Fridays during Enrichment, we are intentionally putting the devices away and creating time for something incredibly important: each other.

Welcome to CONNECT ENRICHMENT!

Our students want to be seen. They want to be heard. And they want to know their teachers as people who can laugh with them, listen to them, challenge them, and relate to them beyond the daily lesson.

Today, classrooms were filled with conversations, laughter, real-world life lessons, and some fun, out-of-the-box challenges. And yes, some of our students even discovered the lost art of writing their own names in cursive! 😂

There was no program to log into. No screen to stare at. Just teachers and students spending intentional time together, learning things that matter in everyday life and building relationships that make everything else we do at school stronger.

Because sometimes the most important thing we can give a student isn't another assignment.

It's our time. Our attention. Our connection.

This is CONNECT ENRICHMENT, and judging by the smiles we saw today, we think we're onto something pretty special.

At Kaplan High School, LEGENDS ARE MADE, and connection is part of how we make them. 🏴‍☠️

Save the date: Tuesday, Sept. 8th, we will be hosting our annual OPEN HOUSE. This is a wonderful opportunity for our community to meet the wind behind our sails and to get important classroom information from each of our LEGENDARY teachers.

We will follow up the evening with a Community Pep Rally at 6:35 pm.

We ask that anyone entering the school please enter through the front entrance of the building.

We will see you soon!

NATIONAL DOG DAY AT KAPLAN HIGH! 🐾 Today may have been National Dog Day, but at Kaplan High, it turned into a day filled with SMILES, LAUGHTER, and so much JOY! Our faculty and staff shared photos of their precious pups, and throughout the day, our students and staff got to check them all out and vote for their favorite. And let me tell you, they had an absolute BLAST! There was plenty of serious debate over who was the cutest, lots of “AWWWWs” in the hallways, and more than a few proud dog parents campaigning for their babies! Sometimes it’s the simplest things that bring people together, and today was one of those days. Seeing our kids laughing, talking, voting, and celebrating our furry family members brought such a fun energy to our campus. JOY was everywhere today! And now for our official winner... CONGRATULATIONS TO MRS. JAIME HEBERT! Her absolutely precious baby duo photo stole the hearts of our Pirates and earned FIRST PLACE in our National Dog Day photo contest! Thank you to everyone who shared their pups with us and helped make today another fun memory at Kaplan High School. We loved celebrating ALL of our adorable four-legged family members! Just another little moment that makes Kaplan High such a special place to be. Legends Are Made here, and apparently, some pretty legendary pups are raised here too! 🏴‍☠️

KHS Parent Newsletter: Aug. 24-28:
https://sites.google.com/vpsb.net/parentnewsletter2025-2026/aug-24-28

As we continue to beat the heat during August, our staff was treated to a LEMONADE STAND today to celebrate all their hard work since school began!

And after all, it IS National Lemonade Day;)

We love our little Pirate family.
Special thanks to Mrs. Katelyn Bares for setting up this precious stand for our teachers.

📌 IMPORTANT UNIFORM CLARIFICATION FOR KHS STUDENTS & FAMILIES We would like to provide an important clarification regarding KHS uniform shirts. Today, we became aware that some students were wearing shirts that closely resemble our approved KHS PBIS uniform shirts but are not approved KHS uniform shirts. Students wearing these shirts today were informed of the concern and given a warning so that students and families would have an opportunity to correct the issue. Please be aware that a shirt’s similarity in color, design, or appearance to an approved KHS PBIS shirt does not make it an approved uniform shirt. Students are expected to wear shirts that meet the uniform requirements established by Kaplan High School and Vermilion Parish School District policy. Beginning tomorrow, students wearing shirts that do not meet the established uniform requirements will be considered out of uniform. Any violations will be addressed in accordance with established school and district policies and procedures. Our final order of approved KHS uniform shirts has arrived, and we began distributing those shirts to students today. We appreciate the cooperation and support of our students and families as we work to ensure that uniform expectations are communicated and applied consistently. Thank you for your continued support of Kaplan High as we make this year LEGENDARY! 🏴

IT’S BAAAAACK! PIRATE JamBOOlaya IS RETURNING!

Kaplan High School is excited to announce the return of one of our favorite fundraisers, PIRATE JamBOOlaya, happening on HALLOWEEN DAY, October 31!

Chef Dylan Roussel is firing up the pots once again and serving some of the BEST jambalaya around! If you joined us last year, you already know this is one lunch you don't want to miss.

And since we're doing it on Halloween, expect a little extra fun! Stop by KHS and meet the little monsters, ghosts, and goblins who will be ready to serve you!

Our KHS Student Council is also getting in on the fun with some delicious baked goods, perfect for satisfying that sweet tooth before the trick-or-treating begins!

🎟️ TICKETS GO ON SALE THIS WEEK!

Mark your calendars, spread the word, and get ready for another great Halloween at Kaplan High School!

JamBOOlaya is BACK, Pirates! 🏴‍☠️
All proceeds go to student and teacher incentives.