Baton Rouge Moms

Casas for CASA – Speaking up for abused and neglected children

August 1, 2018 by Baton Rouge Moms

The 24th annual Casas for CASA playhouse fundraiser which generates public awareness and funding to support the work of Capital Area CASA Association is officially underway!

Casas for CASA

Be sure to stop by the center court at the Mall of Louisiana to take a peek at the gorgeous Magnolia Estate playhouse. The playhouse will be on display through Aug. 19 and $5 raffle tickets can be purchased at www.casabr.org, at the mall or at the CASA office, 848 Louisiana Ave. The playhouse winner will be drawn at 5 p.m. Aug. 19, and the winner does not need to be present to win.

What is CASA?

CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. Capital Area CASA Association serves East Baton Rouge Parish and trains volunteers to advocate for these children. Children need to do more than survive; they need to thrive in the safety and love of a family. CASA volunteers do not provide legal representation, nor do they replace social workers. A CASA volunteer is an independent voice speaking solely for the best interests of the child with the ultimate goal being a safe, permanent home.

CASA volunteers get to know the child and talk with everyone involved in the child’s life to gather facts about the child’s history and current situation. Using this information, the volunteer submits recommendations in a report to the juvenile court judge. Since most CASA recommendations are accepted by the court, children with CASA volunteers are more likely to find permanent homes and spend less time in foster care. CASA volunteers also ensure that children’s needs are being met while in state custody.

All proceeds from the Casas for CASA playhouse fundraiser benefit Capital Area CASA Association in its mission to help abused and neglected children find safe, permanent homes.

CASA will deliver the playhouse to the winner within 60 miles of the Mall of Louisiana. Click here to purchase raffle tickets. The last day to purchase raffle tickets is August 19.

For more information on orientation dates and additional information visit www.casabr.org or email volunteer@casabr.org.

You can also visit CASA on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Fourth of July Celebrations in Baton Rouge and Beyond

June 22, 2018 by Baton Rouge Moms

Get out your red, white and blue and celebrate America’s Independence! Here is a guide to fireworks shows, parades and other Fourth of July Celebrations in Baton Rouge and beyond! Enjoy some family time at these family-friendly events to celebrate America’s Independence with food, fun, family, fireworks and most importantly, honoring those who have served and continue to serve.

Baton Rouge Moms will always bring you the best in Family Friendly events in and around the Baton Rouge area, we have gathered the latest list of Family Friendly events for 4th of July festivities, thanks to our sponsor, BASIS.ed!

Fourth of July Celebrations in Baton Rouge and Beyond:

Kenilworth Independence Day Parade
Monday, July 3^rd at 6:30 pm

The theme of this year’s parade is “LIVING IN AMERICA” – Grand Marshal – Mike Manning, President & CEO of the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. This is one of the largest events in Louisiana celebrating our nation’s independence. The annual parade is a Baton Rouge tradition, and this year will mark the 45th time we gather to celebrate our great nation! The 2017 parade is scheduled to roll at 6:30 pm on Monday, July 3rd. It lasts about an hour and rolls as long as weather permits. The route begins and ends at Kenilworth Science & Technology School on Boone Drive.

USS KIDD’s 4th of July Spectacular!
Tuesday, July 4, 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM

The USS KIDD has been hosting a 4th of July celebration in the downtown Baton Rouge area for over two decades. In that time, it has developed into an incredible family event that celebrates our nation’s freedom. The evening culminates with WBRZ’s Fireworks on the Mississippi River sponsored by the USS KIDD!

Over the past five years, the KIDD’s 4th of July Spectacular has become synonymous with the patriotic activities that attract thousands of families from across Louisiana and the southern United States. According to the Downtown Development District, the Baton Rouge 4th of July Fireworks Celebration brings in between 75,000 – 100,000 visitors per year. The celebration is made possible in part by the USS KIDD Veterans Museum, WBRZ News 2, the City of Baton Rouge, community partners, area sponsors and volunteers.

We look forward to celebrating our nation’s independence with YOU, Tuesday, July 4, 2016 from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM

West Baton Rouge Parish

4th Fest
Tuesday, July 4th 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM

The 4th Fest is great fun for the whole family from 4-11pm! There will be plenty of great food, kids activities, spacewalks, water slides, magic shows and face painting, this year we were able to buy a shirt printing machine from http://heatpressmachineguide.com/best-t-shirt-printing-machine/ so we can give a customize shirt to everyone who attends. With music by Geno Delafolse from 5-8pm and Foret Tradition from 8-11pm. And, of course, Fireworks on the River at 9pm! Sponsored by WBRZ and The Advocate.

Come enjoy this FREE 4th of July event on the Westside!

Walker

Old Fashioned Family Day Celebration:
Tuesday, July 4 10:00 AM – 9:00 PMFloyd Brown Band will be performing at the Walker 4th of July celebration from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4th at Sidney Hutchinson Park. All games, festivities and events are free, bring your own food and drinks (no alcoholic beverages allowed) or purchase refreshments at the park. Come Join the FUN, FOOD, & FESTIVITIES! FREE ADMISSION, FREE EVENTS, FREE RIDES!Don’t forget your lawn chairs, blankets, sunscreen and bug spray!!! No alcohol is permitted in the park.

Donaldsonville

July Fireworks:
Monday, July 3rd 2:00pm-10:00pm

Singing Competiton, 3-5pm Michael Foster Project,
5-7pm Hello McFly, 7-9pm Artemis, & 9:15pm – Fireworks, Fun, & Fun for Everyone

Iberville Parish

17th Annual July 4th Hometown Celebration:
Tuesday, July 4 – 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Bayou Plaquemine Waterfront Park. Plaquemine Lock SHS will be open for tours and demonstrations, free admission. Friends of the Lock will be sponsoring putt-putt boat rides beginning at noon. The Iberville Museum will also open at noon and admission is free. 3:00-9:00 p.m. Mouth watering food will be served from the Waterfront Park (please no ice chest, pets or tents). 3:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Veterans Boat Parade – theme decorated boats are welcome. 6:00 p.m. Dancin’ on the boardwalk until the Firework Display at 9:00 p.m.! Phone: 225-687-3116 Website: www.plaquemine.org

Pointe Coupee Parish

False River Annual 4th of July Boat Parade :
Monday, July 3rd 1:00pm to 10:00pm

New Roads Presents the 4th of July Boat Parade and Music Festival, July 3 For More Information Contact: (225) 638-5360

St. Mary Parish

Party in the Park – Morgan City’s Independence Day Celebration.
Tuesday, July 4th, 4:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Lawrence Park.

Join us for our July 4th Party in the Park! There will be live music by Driftwood & Groovy 7, BBQ dinners by the Tillman BBQ Team, fair hamburgers by X-Treme Sports, Immanuel Christian Church will have a soft drink and water booth and Morgan City Main Street will be selling beer on tap! Finish off the night with fireworks over the Atchafalaya River!
Please refrain from bringing ice chests to this event! Purchasing from these vendors supports this event and future events!

There’s something for everyone to celebrate this year’s Independence Day! We hope you have a fun, safe and Happy Fourth of July with your families!

*Dates and schedules subject to change. Please confirm with local convention and visitors bureaus before making your trip.

A big thanks to our sponsor, BASIS.ed!

BASIS Baton Rouge is opening in Fall 2018! They look forward to providing Baton Rouge families with the opportunity to experience a truly world-class education. We are proud to partner with Woman’s Hospital for this first BASIS campus in Baton Rouge. Interested in learning more about what a BASIS school will offer your student? Join them for an information session to learn from experienced BASIS school leaders about our academic model and get details on how to apply! http://basisschools.org/batonrouge

Baton Rouge Garden Fest 2018 – A Family Friendly Day of Fun

June 3, 2018 by Baton Rouge Moms

With summer break just around the corner, now is the time to start planning for fun outdoor excursions and enjoying the bounty of locally grown goodness our Louisiana climate offers. One such event is Baton Rouge Garden Fest at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at the Burden Center on Essen at I-10. The Botanic Gardens are the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Baton Rouge Garden Fest

Garden Fest is a family-friendly festival in the middle of Baton Rouge, enjoy an early morning of omelets provided by the Louisiana Egg Commission, fresh Bloody Mary samples by Mason’s Grill, fun hayrides for kids and adults alike, educational programs, Bayou Goulas petting zoo, Touch-A-Tractor and it’s summer so… water slides! There will be vegetable tastings, plant advice, and answers to your burning plant questions. Geaux Cuban, Kona Ice, and City Gelato vendors will be present for lunch, snacks, and a refreshing dessert!

Tickets are $5 for ages 4 and up and free for ages 3 and below, we hope to see you there! Please bring your swimsuits and beach towels for a mini-vacation right here in the heart of Baton Rouge!

WHEN: Saturday, June 16, 2018 – 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
WHERE: LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens, 4560 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70809
TICKETS: Admission is at the door for $5 per person and free for children ages 3 and under.

Be sure to follow LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens on Instagram and Facebook and enter our giveaway for tickets on the Baton Rouge Moms Facebook and Instagram pages!

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30 Things To Do in Baton Rouge & Beyond #BRMSummer

June 1, 2018 by Baton Rouge Moms

Summer break is just around the corner, time to relax and enjoy the lazy days of summer… but tell that to kids who are bouncing off the walls or singing the boredom blues. As parents, we want each summer to be more memorable than the last, and with that comes the need for a few new ideas, especially if your child is too young to go to a summer camp. Here are 30 Things To Do in Baton Rouge and beyond that are sure to keep you busy all summer long!

30 Things To Do in Baton Rouge & Beyond This Summer

LSU Lakes – Bike, Picnic, Splash Pad – Between feeding the ducks, the great little bike path, the kids playground, and a little splash pad behind the art gallery this is such a fun little day to have with the kiddos.
Tiki Tubing – Just a hop skip and jump away down the Amite. While you’re there grab some grub at Day’s Smokehouse & Specialty Meats
Blueberry Picking – There are an abundance of places to do this around the area. Sooner the better before they are all picked over. We love to make Blueberry Scones with a Lemon Glaze with our fresh crop.
Pottery Painting – Brushfire Studios – This is a quaint little studio in downtown Denham Springs. Perfect place to bring the kids. Bonus – they offer some
Water Balloon Fight – This is a summer classic. Want to make it more fun? Add a little food coloring to the balloons and put the kids in white shirts. Just get ready to hose them down.
Young Chefs Academy – This is one of my oldest’s favorite places. They have summer programs and fun little classes.
Overtones Music Class – I am so excited about this. We are enrolling the oldest in a lesson and the toddler will start a little class in August.
Blackwater Conservation
Tunica Falls – Okay if I am being honest, I am a bit dubious of this one. This seems like a “Am I in good enough shape for this?!” But I supposed there’s one way to find out, but if the girls and I disappear, we are probably stuck somewhere hiking…
Louisiana Peach Festival – Okay so maybe this isn’t quote the day trip, but it’s totally worth the drive to the home of my Alma Mata, Louisiana Tech University (Can I get a “How ‘bout them dawgs?” from my peeps?). Happening June 23-24, 2017 in Ruston, Louisiana. Peach ice cream and some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet.
Delcambre Shrimp Festival – While we are on the festival beat, this is totally a day trip. You haven’t gone Cajun till you go Acadiana. A bit later in the summer this happens August 16-20, 2017. Bring your dancing shoes.
Old State Capitol – This is one of those things I am embarrassed I haven’t taken the girls to yet. While you’re downtown hit up the Louisiana Art and Science Museum.
Global Wildlife – This is one of the most underrated experiences of my childhood. Letting a giraffe eat out of your hand might be the highlight of your kids summer, and who am I kidding, your’s as well.
Myrtles Plantation Tour – My oldest is very into mystery and more. One day her and I will have a slumber party here, but till then a day tour is on the agenda. On your way home do yourself a favor and stop at Chloe’s in Zachary for a snowball.
WWII Museum – I don’t really know that this needs much introduction or a reason why. Pair this with
Louisiana Children’s Museum – Until Baton Rouge opens up their fabulous place this is one of my fondest childhood memories.
Audubon Zoo / Cool Zoo – I will spare you the song, but they do all “ax for you.” So don’t let those animals down. When you’re there, it’s totally worth the “pop” bracelet that gets you admission into the Cool Zoo and unlimited rides on the train and carousel.
Audubon Aquarium of America’s & Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium – What kid doesn’t want to touch a urchin and eat crickets.
Write and Illustrate a Children’s Book – Because after all these big adventures you are going to need some time at home.
T-Shirt Totes at EBRL – The East Baton Rouge Parish Library has so many little classes and fun projects for all ages. Check out their event calendar and enjoy!
Michael’s – Michael’s has some amazing little classes and fun summer programs for kids and adults of all ages. Cost of supplies and you are good to go!
Dinosaur Park Henderson – I have heard amazing things and this summer we intend to find out for ourselves, they sat that this park uses amusement park management system so I have big expectations!
Livingston Parish Library – Just a little hop next door and there are so many fun programs form Spingeneering to Toddler Dance (wiggle) classes.
Baton Rouge Ballet is touring around the parishes to a library near you!
Dig a Garden – There is no greater joy than watching my kiddos play in the dirt. It´s pretty much like teaching a class of gardening for beginners, except it´s very fun with your kids. I am quite positive my plumbing pipes do not agree, but it doesn´t matter, I have to install new pipes with Watertite Plumbing & Heating Bristol so they can have all the fun the want. Letting the kiddos grown and harvest their own veggies is the best way to inspire them to eat them.
Make a Nana recipe from scratch – No box mixes here, just some love, wooden spoons, and old family recipes.
Lemonade Stand – The earliest form of entrepreneurship at its south Louisiana finest.
Barnhill Preserve in Ethel – (sloths…nuff said) hands-on animal encounters and programs!
Aqua Pards Water Park –One can never get enough water fun during the summer heat!
Cajun Pride Swamp Tour – take a unique and educational journey back to the early days of Louisiana bayou and swamp explorations on this authentic Louisiana swamp eco-tour.

#BRMSummer

You can follow our Summer adventures on Instagram just search #BRMSummer for more Things To Do in Baton Rouge. Use the hashtag to share your summer adventures and have a chance at winning Gift Cards and prizes throughout the summer!! Each Friday we will do a #BRMSummer roundup on Instagram to share what other moms are doing in to keep the boredom blues at bay!

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Baton Rouge Summer of Amazing – Monday Funday and Kid’s Fest

June 1, 2018 by Baton Rouge Moms

It’s that time of year! Join Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital for another fun Baton Rouge Summer of Amazing! All are welcome to this FREE, fun, educational month-long event at the Mall of Louisiana for children and their families to learn more about good health and wellness.

Monday Fundays (previously known as Mommy & Me and Daddy too!) and Kids’ Healthy Fun Fest are jampacked with games, giveaways, free carousel rides and important health information for the whole family!

Baton Rouge Summer of Amazing Calendar:

Monday Funday on Monday, June 4 at 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. for Learning & Development Week
Monday Funday on Monday, June 11 at 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. for Behavioral & Emotional Health Week
Monday Funday on Monday, June 18 at 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. for Exercise & Nutrition Week
Kids’ Healthy Fun Fest on Saturday, June 23 at 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Get all the details and be sure to preregister HERE to be entered to win a $250 mall gift card! It’s a fun few hours of games, giveaways, activities and important wellness and health information for the whole family!

Popular New Orleans restaurant Dat Dog is coming to LSU

March 14, 2018 by Baton Rouge Moms

Dat Dog, the popular hot dog franchise based out of New Orleans, is coming to Baton Rouge just in time for football season! Hot dogs, toppings and more… oh my!

The Advocate reports two franchisees of the immensely popular ‘Dat Dog’ in New Orleans have signed a lease to open the chain’s first Baton Rouge location.

The report says the plan is for the eatery to open in the Arlington Marketplace near LSU, next door to a brand new Rouses, in time for the college football season. The franchisees, two New Orleans attorneys, say they also hope to have a Dat Dog food truck open for tailgates, catering and other events.

Dat Dog Baton Rouge

Dat Dog’s menu spans traditional and unusual franks, like kielbasa, bratwurst, alligator, crawfish, and duck. With 30 toppings and several different sausages, the combinations are endless at Dat Dog. They even serve vegan and vegetarian hot dogs, something for everyone! The buns are notably vegan, and there are lettuce wrap options for the gluten-free.

From the folks at Dat Dog…

Dat Dog is a place where amazing and affordable food, fun-loving staff, and bright colors provide you with a sanctuary of joy from the moment you cross its threshold. Combining the soul of Louisiana with the sophistication of Europe, Dat Dog’s artfully crafted cuisine of Hot Dogs, sausages (including vegetarian, vegan and fish), burgers and chicken (fried, grilled or tossed in buffalo sauce) are a thing of beauty. The over 30 toppings available at no extra charge allow you to create your very own “jazz improvisation in a bun”.

This is one comfort food many of us find hard to give up but if hot dogs are not your thing, the restaurant also branches out beyond just hot dogs, with burgers, chicken sandwiches, and fries. The Baton Rouge location may offer some Baton Rouge-specific items as well.

Best Baton Rouge King Cake 2018 – voted by YOU!

January 26, 2018 by Baton Rouge Moms

It’s good to be a Louisianan! We took our third annual king cake poll to find out what YOU choose as this year’s BEST King Cake and the results are in! King Cake may be the demise of many New Year’s resolutions, but how can we resist this buttery danish pastry, sweetened with dusted sugar, icing and a plethora of flavored fillings? We can’t! Here are the best Baton Rouge king cakes according to YOU, Baton Rouge moms! Enjoy this trail of delicious king cakes, try them all to decide the best for yourself.

Best Baton Rouge King Cake – 2018

Thee Heavenly Donut – For the SECOND year in a row, Thee Heavenly Donut takes the prize of BEST King Cake according to Baton Rouge moms!! Home of the BOUDIN kingcake and Pecan praline, Banana Foster, Turtle, LA Cajun Mud, Strawberry and famous Fried King Cakes! Thee Heavenly Donut’s mission is to offer the Best, Freshest (made daily), Handmade Donuts, Kolaches, King Cakes, Cupcakes and Specialty Cakes– all year round. Owners Kara and Shane Castille have a passion for Great Customer Service and treating their customers like family. Their products are like no other in the greater Baton Rouge area and truly believe in the quality and deliciousness of these products.
BONUS: Thee Heavenly Donut also has King Cake donuts!!
Oak Point Fresh Market –Home of the Chantilly king cake and the Oreo Cream king cake, Oak Point Fresh Market is a family owned and operated full-service supermarket. They offer a wide variety of King Cakes baked fresh daily! Flavors include banana, Bavarian cream, Orange Dreamsicle, Pecan Praline and many more!
Ralph’s Market -A locally owned business, Ralph’s Market offers a large selection of fresh, high-quality products that includes many grown right here in Louisiana! Also voted Best King Cake in Ascension with over 50 flavors of king cakes!!
Calandro’s King Cake– With over 50 flavors, you’re sure to find the perfect King Cake at Calandro’s, learn more in the video below! Also 4th but not in Baton Rouge… Randazzo’s King Cake!
Ambrosia – There are many options when it comes to The Ambrosia King Cake! The Traditional King Cake (shown here for an “In-Store Pickup”) has cinnamon and sugar inside of our family secret King Cake dough. Purchase a “Mardi Gras King Cake Kit” and take your King Cake home for the kids to decorate and have a Mardi Gras Party!

Honorable Mention:

Rouses – Rouses oval-shaped king cakes are made with their exclusive gourmet cinnamon dough, iced, and sprinkled with decorative sugars in the carnival colors of purple (for justice), green (for faith), and gold (for power). Your choice of traditional or one of their tasty fillings.

More Baton Rouge Area locations to get your king cake fix:

Baums – www.baumspastries.com
Blue Rose Cafe – www.thebluerosebr.com
Gambino’s Bakery – www.gambinos.com
Harvest Market in Prairieville – www.harvestsupermarket.com/
Les Amis Bakery Shoppe – www.lesamisbakeshoppe.com
Tiger Deaux-nuts – www.tigerdeaux-nuts.com

Baton Rouge Photography Session – Giveaway – Ashley Landry Photography

January 19, 2018 by Baton Rouge Moms

It’s GIVEAWAY TIME! Baton Rouge Moms has partnered with Ashley of Ashley Landry Photography to host a giveaway for a 1-Hour Maternity or Family Baton Rouge photography session at an outdoor location of your choosing! The session can be redeemed any time prior to December 1, 2018.

First, we would love for you to get to know Ashley and a learn a little more about her photography business…

Hi, I am Ashley, an old-school lover of film, a finance nerd, and a newlywed as of six months ago! I am a lifestyle photographer in Baton Rouge by day, and spend my spare time cooking new recipes for my husband, playing with our two dogs, and organizing anything in sight. I incorporate a timeless photography style in my work by photographing with both film and digital mediums. I love photographing expectant mothers, sweet newborns at home, and candid moments with families.

I believe in serving my clients the same way I would want to be served. I believe in timeless photographs that can be shared with future generations. And, I believe in documenting life. So, if you see a girl with two cameras strapped to each side, that’s me! I have found that photographing expectant mothers, those early days of parenthood, and silly family moments are my sweet spot! Give me babies and families any day! If you would love to learn more about photography services, check out www.ashley-landry.com for more information!

Baton Rouge Photography GIVEAWAY – Ashley Landry Photography

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Louisiana School Finder – find, evaluate schools and child care centers

November 3, 2017 by Baton Rouge Moms

Searching for and evaluating schools in Baton Rouge will soon be easier to do with the Louisiana School Finder. A new user-friendly platform able to host a wide array of information on school and center quality has been created for families in Louisiana.

The following is a news release from the Louisiana Department of Education:

The Louisiana Department of Education today announced the creation of the Louisiana School Finder, an interactive online tool designed to help families more easily locate and evaluate schools and child care centers across the state. The tool, which hosts detailed information about each site’s offerings and academic performance, will be unveiled November 7 with the release of the annual school performance scores and the first-ever early childhood performance profiles.

“Louisiana students deserve a high-quality education, and families deserve a system that allows them to find a school or center that best fits their unique child’s needs or to evaluate the learning environment of the school or center in which their child is enrolled,” said State Superintendent John White. “The Louisiana School Finder makes that possible. We look forward to launching the tool next week and to continuing to collaborate with families, education and community leaders, and partners to ensure its success.”

Louisiana School Finder

The Louisiana Department of Education is committed to helping families find the right school or early childhood center for their children, and providing them with helpful information about Louisiana’s schools. The Louisiana School Finder is an interactive, online tool that provides families with:

School performance scores and early childhood performance ratings to show how well schools and centers are preparing students for the next grade-level.
Basic information about schools and centers such as their address, website, hours of operation, and principal or director’s name.
Listings of course oerings, clubs, enrichment and extracurricular activities.

The school profiles will include the overall performance scores and traditionally reported metrics like assessment results, graduation rates and college enrollment. In addition, for the first time, data regarding teacher workforce, student discipline, and student attendance will also be included. In subsequent years, the Louisiana School Finder will expand to provide information on student progress and include an interests and opportunities index indicating how schools fare in offering enriching activities to their students.

Early childhood performance profiles are also a new feature this year. The overall performance ratings are derived from an observation-based evaluation system and reported in four categories–Excellent, Proficient, Approaching Proficient and Unsatisfactory. In addition to the overall rating, the performance profiles provide a snapshot of each center’s educator workforce, student-to-teacher ratios, and curriculum quality.

The upcoming launch of the Louisiana School Finder comes after more than a year of public discussion and planning. With the implementation of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, Louisiana seized the opportunity to collaborate with educators, parents, business and community leaders statewide to create and report on an improved education system that provides all students with equal access and opportunity to high-quality learning.

“With some of the sites out there, finding and comparing information about schools is very frustrating. You get the idea that they were built for system insiders, not parents,” Daly said. “Louisiana has taken a big step forward by launching a school finder tool that was clearly built with parents in mind. It offers simple, useful information that will help more families understand how schools are doing and make the critical decisions that lead to their children’s educational success.”

But report cards are only as good as the conversations that go along with them, added Annie Morrison, the Department’s Director of Family and Educator Communication. “In partnership with schools across the state, we are prepared to continue conversations with leaders, advocates, and families about what these data mean.”

To help schools and early childhood centers facilitate these conversations, the Department released a School Finder toolkit for school systems and principals containing a customizable parent night presentation, promotional flyer and animated videos to help educate families on how school performance scores and early childhood ratings are developed.

To access the Louisiana School Finder, visit www.louisianaschools.com starting November 7, 2017.

To access the information and resources on how to use the Louisiana School Finder, visit the “School and Center Performance” page on the Department’s website.

Mistletoe Market Shopping Extravaganza – Giveaway

October 31, 2017 by Baton Rouge Moms

Eighteen years ago, two women entrepreneurs were on a mission to develop a market where local vendors could create a memorable shopping experience and it has grown to be more than they could have ever imagined! What started with 10 vendors, has now grown to over 120 vendors, and from just a handful of shoppers to now an expected 6,000 shoppers at Mistletoe Market!

Shoppers will have access to a multitude of vendors from boutiques, to chefs, to hand crafted work. Mistletoe Market always strives to provide the best shopping experience by creating a child-friendly environment with wide aisles for ease of shopping. Make sure to stop by the Kids Zone at Mistletoe Market to meet everyone’s favorite Snow Queen and her friends! They will be available at different times for meet and greets and pictures free of cost!

Baton Rouge Moms is excited to partner with Mistletoe Market for the third year as a premier media sponsor! We will host a Mistletoe Red Carpet for some photo fun at this year’s Mistletoe in the Morning VIP Shopping Experience – Saturday Nov. 11th!!

Purchase a VIP Shopping Pass for just $15 and receive discounts, FREE premiere parking, sweets & treats and fun in a relaxed, comfortable shopping atmosphere.

What is included with the VIP Shopping Pass?

VIP Shopping from 8am to 10am
Premiere Parking {FREE & close}
Princess Greeting
Royal Shopping with complimentary orange juice in champagne glasses and sweets and treats at the Baton Rouge Moms table
Exclusive discounts! (Receive 20% off select popular retailers from 8am to 10am)
Photo fun on our Mistletoe Red Carpet hosted by Baton Rouge Moms
Get your shopping done early, before the crowds, in a fun comfortable atmosphere!

Learn more and purchase tickets —> http://bit.ly/MistletoeVIP

Join Mistletoe Market of BR and Be Our Guest for our once upon an island tea party. The island princess will share some of her traditions, songs and dances with all of your princesses and princes. The snow sisters will also be attending for the first time in forever and cannot wait to sing and dance the evening with you. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Everyone is required to purchase a ticket. Children 1 and under get in free. Purchase tickets HERE!

Why Mistletoe Market?

Mistletoe Market is a firm believer in giving back to the community. Each year, Mistletoe Market chooses a local charity, involved with children who have terminal illnesses, and donates a portion of admission prices. Last year, Mistletoe Market was able to raise over $5,000!

This year’s chosen charity is Cheering for Breanna Foundation, a local organization that makes dreams come true for children with a terminal illness, from electronics to family trips.

Don’t delay, get your VIP shopping pass today and we’ll see you at the Mistletoe Market!

Mistletoe Market Giveaway: Enter to win FOUR tickets to Mistletoe Market!!