Latest news with #RalphWilson
American Press
02-08-2025
- General
- American Press
Ralph Wilson Center of Opportunities opens its doors
Friday marked a new beginning for a Calcasieu Parish school. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the newly-named Ralph Wilson Center of Opportunities. The building has been transformed from an elementary school into an education facility that will serve at-risk students from across the district. The Calcasieu Parish School Board unanimously approved the reconfiguration of Ralph Wilson and John J. Johnson II Elementary in April. Instead of two separate elementary schools, John J. Johnson is a kindergarten through fifth-grade school, and Ralph Wilson is an education center for students in grades sixth through 12 who are overage, undercredited or have any special circumstances that have hindered their education. Schools Superintendent Jason VanMetre said 'opportunity' is the key word. 'We want to be able to do in this place is create an opportunity for kids who may be passed through,' he said. 'Those kids who are overage, undercredited, to be able to give them an opportunity after high school. And the only way to do that is to give them an opportunity in high school.' The school will offer an alternative program that utilizes the Edgenuity program, a credit recovery course that adapts to each student. Students will receive academic support, career and technical education opportunities, and mentoring and counseling services, and a combination of face-to-face lessons and asynchronous virtual learning. CPSB Chief Academic Officer Ronnie Harvey said this not a 'cost-saving measure,' but a chance to optimize the resources that CPSB already has to benefit every student at every district school, from 'Starks to Bell City,' he said. 'We took a step and a leap of faith, and we put all our eggs in one basket,' he said. 'Here in Calcasieu, one of the gaps we've had is that we haven't used all our energy and all our resources to save all children. We constantly talk about saving the whole child. But we have to save the whole family and the whole community as well.' Principal Shaquana Thibodeaux was once an at-risk teen herself, she said. Now, she is ready to provide an opportunity to students who are in similar situations. 'I just wanted the opportunity to get out and do something different with myself,' she said. ' I thank God for him putting me in this position, traveling forward with me throughout my education, and I look to do the same thing with students in this school. All I ask is, like you said, support us in this mission, and we will move forward.' Ralph Wilson was named after Ralph F. Wilson, who served as principal of Opelousas Elementary School until he died at age 39 in 1975. Opelousas Elementary was renamed Ralph Wilson Elementary a month after his death. His widow, Phyllis, said the opening of the Ralph Wilson Center of Opportunities is a 'heartwarming' and emotional full-circle moment. 'The memories of my husband, and how he stood, the last day of his life, working for the children of Calcasieu Parish, the very last day of his life,' she said. 'And here we stand today, all of you, just to support the children of our city and of our parish.'
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Damascus business owners welcome customers back after Helene
DAMASCUS, Va. (WJHL)—Business owners who lost their facilities in Damascus, Virginia, are continuing to rebuild. Ralph Wilson owns four businesses in the town. His popular 'Damascus Diner' was filled with over three feet of water from Hurricane Helene. Since September, Wilson has been rebuilding the inside with new flooring and equipment. He's excited to reopen to residents and visitors, but the rebuilding process has been filled with ups and downs. Damascus rebuilding after floods with faith, donations and volunteers 'Well, to compare it with the roller coaster,' he said. 'When it first happened, I didn't even understand the gravity of it. I didn't even think about how bad it was. And then once that set in, that's pretty much a low point. But then you start digging out and you say, well, you know, with a little bit of help, you know, maybe I can get it back rolling.' Wilson said the task of rebuilding was too much for some. 'I get different attitude from different people,' he said. 'Some people were so frustrated. I mean, they just said, 'I'm gone,' you know, packed up and left. And then some people like me who are too stubborn say, 'You know, I'm going to make a go of it. ' And most people here are trying to make a go of it.' Wilson says rebuilding has allowed him to make changes to help his employees serve customers more efficiently. For more updates about the diner, visit its Facebook page here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
