Woodlawn Knights Insights
Week of February 9, 2026 ~ Edition #2
Dear Families and Community Members,
As we enter February, I want to highlight the important role regular attendance plays in student success. When students are present and engaged each day, they build stronger academic skills, form meaningful relationships with peers and teachers, and develop habits that prepare them for life after high school.
Please remember:
Arriving on time and attending every school day supports consistent learning and reduces gaps that are hard to close later.
Even short absences add up. Missing just a few days each month can significantly affect course mastery and credit accumulation.
If your student must miss school, notify the attendance office promptly and work with teachers to make a plan for missed learning.
We know barriers to attendance exist—transportation, health, and family needs can make it difficult. If your family is facing challenges, our counseling team, VOA site coordinators, and attendance coordinator are ready to help connect you with resources and solutions. Reach out so we can partner to keep your student engaged.
Thank you for your continued support. Together we can make every school day count and help our students reach their full potential.
Sincerely,
Dr. Grady Smith, Principal
Woodlawn High School
February 10: Band - Bethune/Oak Park Parade
February 12: ASVAB (juniors and seniors only)
February 13-16: No school - Winter Break
February 14: Battle of the Boot Basketball Tournament (more info. included below )
February 14: Band - Krewe of Gemini Parade
February 24-26: Work Keys Testing
February 27: WHS Black History Program (Theme: "The Evolution of Black Culture")
February 28: Band - Marshall, TX Black History Parade
Varsity Girls and Boys (Girls' games begin at 6:00 pm; boys' games begin at 7:30 pm)
Feb.12: vs. BTW (Away)
Feb. 14: Battle of the Boot (see info below)
Feb.20: Lafayette Renaissance (Varsity Boys) (Away)
9th Grade and JV Boys
Feb.20: Lafayette Renaissance (JV) (Away) at 6:00 pm
The 2026 Black History Month theme is "A Century of Black History Commemorations," honoring 100 years since Dr. Carter G. Woodson first launched Negro History Week in 1926. This theme, announced by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), focuses on the evolution of Black history studies and the 100-year effort to preserve and honor African American contributions.
Black History Month gives our school community a chance to learn about the deep, wide, and living history of Black people in the United States and beyond. It’s more than a calendar event — it’s a moment to connect past struggles and achievements with the present and imagine a more just future.
What Black History Month honors
Celebration of achievements: From artists, athletes, and scientists to activists, writers, and everyday community leaders, Black History Month highlights contributions that have shaped culture, knowledge, and civic life.
Historical memory: This month encourages learning about lesser-known chapters of history — the inventors, local leaders, and untold narratives that don’t always appear in standard textbooks.
Ongoing struggle and resilience: It’s also a time to recognize the long fight for civil rights, equity, and access, and to reflect on how those struggles continue today.
Here are some lesser-known Black inventors to feature during Black History Month, with a brief note of their invention and impact:
Granville T. Woods — multiplex telegraph system (improved railway communication)
Sarah E. Goode — folding cabinet bed (early space‑saving furniture patent)
Garrett Morgan — traffic signal safety hood, early gas mask, and a three‑position traffic signal
Lewis Latimer — carbon filament for light bulbs (improved electric lighting manufacturing)
Elijah McCoy — automatic lubricator for steam engines (“the real McCoy”)
Frederick Jones — portable refrigeration units for trucks (refrigerated transport)
Jan Ernst Matzeliger — shoe lasting machine (mass‑produced footwear)
Patricia Bath — laser probe for cataract treatment (ophthalmic surgery tool)
Otis Boykin — improved electrical resistors used in computers and pacemakers
Lonnie G. Johnson — high‑pressure heat pump and the Super Soaker water gun
Marion Donovan — waterproof diaper cover and improvements in disposable diapers
Henry Sampson — gamma-electric cell and early work related to video technology
Alice H. Parker — central heating furnace design using natural gas
James E. West — co‑inventor of the microphone (used in phones, hearing aids)
Marie Van Brittan Brown — home security system (forerunner to modern CCTV/alarms)
Thomas L. Jennings — dry‑cleaning process (first African American to receive a U.S. patent)
Benjamin Banneker — wooden clock and surveying work on Washington, D.C. (astronomical almanac contributions)
Norbert Rillieux — multiple‑effect evaporator (revolutionized sugar refining)
(Information gathered from Google)
Students who are present daily and on time Feb.2-27 will be entered into a raffle. Also, students without referrals will be entered into a drawing.
The Knights Insights Staff would like to spotlight the Book Club and its advisor, Mrs. Taylor. This interview was conducted by staff reporters Aviana Cooley and Chad Shaw .
Q: How long have you been a librarian?
A: I have been a librarian for six years.
Q: What college(s) did you attend?
A: I attended ULM for Elementary Education, and I took library courses at Northwestern State University.
Q: What are some pros and cons of being a librarian?
A: Some pros are the different genres and diversity of the books we have. A con would be the inability to make kids excited to read.
Q: What is the next book the Book Club is reading?
A: Find Him Where You Left Him Dead by Kristen Simmons
Q: What is the Battle of the Books? When is it? How will Woodlawn participate?
A: This is a competition where students answer questions and complete activities about five pre-chosen Louisiana Young Readers Choice (LYRC) nominated books. We have assembled our top six readers to compete. Last year, we came in 5th place, thanks to Aviana Cooley and Jas'Erica King.
Q: How many books have you read this school year?
A: 10-15 books
Q: What is your favorite book of all time?
A: Of all time, not sure. But my recent favorite is The Chosen One by Echo Brown. This book speaks on what it's like being a first generation Black college student.
Q: Which book did you judge too quickly before you started reading it? Tell me why.
A: Rez Ball by Byron Graves. I'm ashamed to admit it. I judged the book by its cover. I thought it was going to simply be about a Native American overcoming poverty through basketball. Instead, it was so much more! It was about loss, economic disparity, and cultural expectations, to say the least. It's a great read!
Q:List all the Book club books for this school year, please.
A: Promise Boys, Reggie and Delilah's Year of Falling, Rez Ball, Find Him Where You Left Him Dead, and Wrath Becomes Her.
Below are some interview tips for you as you prepare to job hunt:
Understand the company's mission and values, and the specific role/program.
Rehearse answers to common questions like "Tell me about yourself," "Strengths/Weaknesses," and "Why here?".
Connect your school projects, extracurriculars, and skills (time management, communication) to the opportunity.
Know your availability (days/hours) and how you'll get there.
Have a list of references ready.
Arrive 5-10 minutes early.
Dress neatly and professionally; it's better to be slightly overdressed.
Do not eat or chew gum during the interview.
Offer a firm handshake, make eye contact, sit up straight, and avoid slouching or playing with your phone.
Be polite, positive, avoid slang, and speak clearly; it's a conversation, not a test.
Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for examples; it's okay to pause to think.
Prepare 2-3 thoughtful questions about the role, team, or next steps (don't ask about pay/benefits initially).
Good luck! You've got this!
Information researched by Makayla Bush, Newsletter Staff Reporter
