CCSLA’s community engagement is grounded in the belief that education extends far beyond the classroom, it lives in families, neighborhoods, and the broader community. A key focus of CCSLA’s partnership and engagement is strengthening student and family relationships by hosting, attending, and participating in community events, information sessions, and collaborative activities. Through outreach, parents and guardians remain active participants in their child’s educational journey in and out-side of the classroom.

 

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“It takes a village”…

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Community Partners:

 

Ascension Public Schools

C.C. Smith Learning Academy (CCSLA) maintains a unique and collaborative relationship with local public educational structures and the broader Ascension Public Schools system. CCSLA bridges the gap between private innovation and public shared opportunities and resources.

Through this partnership, CCSLA students are integrated into the broader local educational community, allowing them to benefit from several key public school offerings:

• Extracurricular Participation: In accordance with Louisiana Act 715, eligible students may participate in extracurricular activities and interscholastic sports—including band and athletics—at the public school they are zoned to attend, provided CCSLA does not offer a similar program and with acceptance by the public school.

• State Testing & Assessments: Students have access to standardized testing through the local school system. For example, 4th and 8th-grade students may request to participate in LEAP testing through their local public school district.

• Academic Alignment: CCSLA follows a BESE-approved "curriculum of quality" that aligns with the standards set by the Louisiana Department of Education, ensuring smooth transitions should a student return to the public system.

• Specialized Support Services: The academy works alongside the district to implement IEP and RTI frameworks, serving as a focused alternative for students with exceptionalities who may benefit from a smaller setting while still maintaining a connection to state-mandated educational goals.

 

Ascension Parish Library

Through this partnership, CCSLA students leverage the library's state-of-the-art facilities and digital tools to support their individualized learning paths:

• Makerspace & Creative Technology: Students utilize the Donaldsonville Library Makerspace, gaining hands-on experience with equipment like 3D printers, laser cutters, and Cricut machines. This supports CCSLA’s mission of fostering creativity and hands-on learning.

• Digital Resource Integration: CCSLA students have access to the library’s extensive Online Learning tools, including Homework Louisiana for live tutoring and Learning Express Library for professional exam and career preparation.

• Support for Diverse Learners: The library’s quiet study areas and structured resource kits complement CCSLA’s specialized support services, providing a calm environment that aligns with the academy's focus on mental and behavioral health.

• Community Literacy & Research: By utilizing the library's physical collection and research databases, students develop the critical thinking skills necessary for academic excellence and future leadership. 

 

River Road African American Musuem

The partnership allows CCSLA students to engage with history as an active, ongoing narrative through several key initiatives:

• S.T.R.E.A.M. Collaboration: Students participate in the S.T.R.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, and Math) program, which combines historical context with modern skills like robot building and coding.

• Rosenwald School for Education: CCSLA leverages the museum’s restored historic Rosenwald School building as a modern space for exploring local history and participating in STEAM-based learning.

• Genealogical & Cultural Research: To support critical thinking and personal growth, students utilize the museum’s resources—including inventories of over 5,000 names—to research family history and local genealogy.

• Community & Leadership Development: By participating in events like the Annual MLK Day of Service, students practice the museum’s values of service and community care, preparing them to become the leaders of tomorrow.

• Freedom Garden & Nutrition: In alignment with CCSLA’s focus on health, students work in the RRAAM Community Freedom Garden to learn about agriculture, nutrition, and food security. 

 

 

Community Engagement:

 

Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office

C.C. Smith Learning Academy (CCSLA) maintains a foundational partnership with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office (APSO) Community Outreach Unit at the Hickley M. Waguespack Center (The Wag Center) in Donaldsonville. This collaboration provides students in grades 5th through 12th with a safe, resource-rich environment designed to foster leadership, academic growth, and positive community relationships.

 

TRELL Together Organization:

 We are excited to spotlight the meaningful partnership between CCSLA and Trell Together, a non-profit organization, a collaboration centered on education, services, and community care. Together the partnership carries forward the beautiful legacy of Datrell Johnson, whose life was defined by compassion, creativity, and an unwavering spirit of encouragement though faced with his own disabilities and challenges as a youth. He overcame his own challenges by encouraging others and giving back to the community he loved.

 

Trell Together is deeply committed to giving back to the community through acts of kindness and service. Their outreach efforts include providing fruit baskets, socks. etc. to nursing home residents, sharing Easter baskets with children, and preparing self-care and other items for students and families during back-to-school seasons. The intentional acts of generosity reflect a mission of compassion, dignity, and support for all ages.

 

We are proud to stand alongside Trell Together as we continue building pathways of service, learning, and lasting impact.