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The Legal Communique
March 8, 2021 | Issue #7 | ------------------------------------"March Madness" Edition

Enrollment is OPEN!
Phase II opened on enrollbr.org
February 12, 2021

Upcoming Events

See what's happening this month.
About Us


Link to About Us.
Legal Spotlight
Charles Hamilton Houston

See Legal Spotlight below.
Helix Legal Academy offers unique pathways to opportunity that do not exist elsewhere in the city. The instructional vision of the legal academy is built around the five essential legal competencies: advocacy, argumentation, critical thinking, research, and negotiation. These competencies are reinforced throughout the school year in all subjects. This emphasis on legal competencies is in addition to, rather than in place of, the legal academy’s focus on STEAM education. While students develop key legal competencies, engage with legal professionals, and immerse themselves in all three branches of government prominent in downtown Baton Rouge, they will also have a chance to develop STEAM-related skills through an elective that follows the Project Lead The Way curriculum. 
Helix Legal Academy will open with a 6th-grade class in the 2021-22 school year in downtown Baton Rouge. The following year, the legal academy will add a 7th grade and will complete its expansion as a middle school in the 2023-24 school year. 
Principal's Message
Greetings Gladiators,

March Madness has been one of my favorite times of the year since 7th grade. My English and Reading teacher, Mrs. Davison, allowed our class to participate in a NCAA tournament bracket. We would each fill one out and hope that our picks were the winners. Every single year, a “Cinderella” team would rise to the top and compete in a way that struck fear into even the most talented teams. They defied the odds and refused to let their circumstances or what others said they were capable of sway their confidence in their own abilities.

When I think about my students I have had the privilege and pleasure of teaching over the years, I consider how sometimes other people had written them off, and felt they were unable to achieve at high levels. According to The New Teacher Project (TNTP), for students who were behind grade level academically, the most impactful factor that affected their performance was their teacher’s belief in their abilities. That belief alone resulted in filling in almost eight months of learning gaps. Against all odds like those Cinderella teams in the March Madness tournaments, I believe in each one of my students. I know that their dreams matter, and genuinely being confident in their dreams can make a world of difference. We are excited about being a part of your student and family’s dreams coming true and helping each Gladiator reach their full potential. This is what makes the work meaningful, and I am so honored to be a part of it. Best to you and your families!

In service,
Chastity J. George
Our Vision and Mission
HELIX LEGAL ACADEMY TENETS
At Helix Legal Academy,
We Set the BAR!!
LEGAL SPOTLIGHT
Charles Hamilton Houston
Charles Hamilton Houston
"The Man Who Killed Jim Crow"
As the Vice Dean of Howard Law School, Houston engineered the multi-year legal strategy that led to the unanimous 1954 Supreme Court decision, Brown v. Board of Education, repudiating the doctrine of “separate but equal” schools for black and white children. By facilitating continuous dialogue between practitioners and scholars, he ensured that legal scholarship would resonate outside the academy, and that new legal strategies would be immediately incorporated into the training and practice of lawyers.
Enrollment is OPEN!
Phase II opened on enrollbr.org
February 12, 2021
We have limited seating for our first 6th-grade class. They will be special because they will be our first graduating class in May of 2028 as we reach our full range of being the only Legal Academy for middle schoolers in the state. 

You can now enroll on our website.
Just Click Below . . .
Upcoming Events
HLA Downtown Playground School Tour
Wednesday, March 10, 2021
4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Helix Community Schools STEAM Saturdays
Saturday, March 27, 2021
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
HCS Virtual
5th Grade Family Night
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Helix Community Schools Movie Night
Friday, April 9, 2021
7 p.m.
Let's Have Fun!!!
ADDENDUM

According to Law.Com, an addendum is an addition to a completed written document. Most commonly this is a proposed change or explanation (such as a list of goods to be included) in a contract or some point that has been the subject of negotiation after the contract was originally proposed by one party.
BAKED GAME DAY NACHOS
Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 lb. ground beef (chicken, turkey, or plant-based ground)*
  • 1 packet taco seasoning (Or, sub 3 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning)
  • 3 tablespoons water
Nachos + Toppings:

  • 6 servings tortilla chips (of choice)
  • 1 large green pepper, diced
  • 1/2 medium red onion, diced
  • 1 can beans (black or pinto), drained and rinsed
  • 1/2 cup sweet corn
  • 1/2 cup Mexican shredded cheese (or more)
Optional Toppings:

  • Greek yogurt
  • lime juice
  • fresh cilantro
  • slice avocado
Preparation:

  1. First, prepare your ground beef by heating 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium/high heat in a large skillet.
  2. Then, add ground beef and saute until fully cooked. Add taco seasoning and water and let simmer for 5 minutes.
  3. Prepare nachos by lining a baking sheet with tin foil and preheating the oven to 400ºF.
  4. Then add half of the chips and sprinkle on 1/2 of the toppings including the cooked meat. Then, do one more layer of chips and one more layer of toppings.
  5. Place baking sheet in the oven at 400ºF for 10 minutes or until cheese fully melts. Then, broil for 1-2 minutes.
  6. Serve with your favorite optional toppings such as Greek yogurt, lime juice, avocado, and fresh cilantro.

ENJOY!!!
"Evident"-ly Funny
(Legal Cartoons and Quotes)
Legal Briefs
(A new game, mini activity, or mini-lesson in Law each newsletter)

Do you want to try your hand at running your own county government? In Counties Work, you can! You will need to stay on top of resident requests as you develop the local community, make important budgeting decisions, and solve crises that pop-up along the way. 

In Counties Work, you will:
  • Work to keep citizens happy and evaluate requests
  • See what county departments have solutions 
  • Maintain a balanced budget by lowering or raising taxes
  • Work to keep your citizens safe when crisis strikes
Play and Enjoy! See you in the Fall!
Attorney Healthy Lifestyle Habits
Why Lawyers Fear Seeing Therapists and Why We Should Do It Anyway!
Wellness isn’t just about having a lack of illness. According to the World Health Organization, mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.
Virtual Learning Parental Tip/Strategy
Virtual Teaching Tips/Strategy
for Educators
Allow your student to take a break. This will help them to stay focused and maximize their students. Students need breaks to refuel. Schedule the breaks ahead of time, use a timer, and have your student honor the beginning or end of their brain breaks.

Teachers, show your face during your virtual classes. Research has shown that lecture videos that show instructors’ faces are more effective than simple narrated slideshows. Intersperse your slides with a video of yourself. 
Helix Legal Academy Upcoming Events
  • Tuesday, March 9, 2021 | Helix Community Schools Virtual 5th Grade Family Night | 6 pm - 7 pm
  • Wednesday, March 10, 2021 | Helix Legal Academy Downtown Playground School Tour | 4 pm - 6 pm
  • Saturday, March 27, 2021 | STEAM Saturday at Helix Community Schools | 11 am - 2 pm
  • Friday, April 9, 2021 | Helix Community Schools Movie Night | 7 pm
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We hope you enjoyed this issue and look forward to seeing you with our next newsletter on March 31st.

As always, you will receive updates straight to your inbox, but you can also check out our previous issues below.
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Feel Free learn more about our school by visiting any of these sites. If necessary, you can also reach out to us at anytime with questions or concerns.
See You Soon!
(225) 346-5180