By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

EDGARD – An inspirational evening at West St. John High School got a large crowd fired up about the upcoming school year when the West Bank civic group Girls in Action hosted its first Back to School Summit in the gymnasium.

Following an uplifting, soulful tune, sung a cappella by Ariel Pierre, Judge Madeline Jasmine talked about the power of education.

“There is nothing you can do without an education,” she said.

She spoke of earlier times when getting good grades and being involved in one’s school were things to be proud of.

Said Jasmine, “It is times like these when we need to empower each other.”

Other featured speakers included West St. John Elementary Principal Serina Singleton, West St. John High Principal Erica Merrick, Superintendent Courtney Millet and Parish President Natalie Robottom, who summed up the general mood of the room with the words, “We’re here to support you.”

Finally, Girls in Action member Krishell Thomas, who spearheaded the event, thanked the evening’s sponsors before setting the crowd loose on the sponsor tables from local organizations set up around the gym’s perimeter.

As the students made their way from table to table, they gathered free school supplies, bags and assorted treats, all the while feasting on complimentary jambalaya and soft drinks. The table sponsored by the St. John Parish School Board even offered the chance to win books from the summer reading list for the procrastinators out there.

Thomas said she was pleased with the turnout and looked forward to holding the event for years to come.

Merrick concurred. “I think that this is wonderful. It’s a positive way to start school,” she said. “We’re going to do this every year.”

West Bank School Board representative Russell Jack said he was pleased but not surprised by the strong turnout.

“You can see how the people respond,” he said. “This community has always been good with jumping in for the kids.”

Girls in Action, which aims to provide positive support and activities for the area’s young women and helped send girls to the inauguration of President Barack Obama, already has another community-building event in the works. The group is sponsoring a clothing drive on Saturday, Aug. 7, from 8 to 11 a.m. at Ruth Plaza on Louisiana Highway 18 in Edgard.