LSMSA Students Learn about Specialized Topics During Special Projects Week

1/21/2024

Before regular classes start for the spring semester, Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) students have the opportunity to participate in Special Projects Week. The projects are offered by faculty members outside of the parameters of a typical class structure, and they focus on topics pertaining to careers, areas of interest and practical life skills.         

Special projects topics encompass a wide range of activities, including golf, film, chariot racing, TED Talks, lab safety, community service, aviation, knitting, and trips out of state.

Lecturer of English Dr. Jocelyn Donlon's special project was a survey of satirical literature and film alongside the production of a satirical newsletter. "We learned tools of satire and applied them in their writing," said Philip Voorhees ('24).

In another Special Projects class students learned about Grimms Fairy Tales with English Instructor Dr. Kristi Key. Students read original fairy tales and considered the Disneyfication of those tales and the post-modern retellings which return to the darker roots of the stories. "We read both from the Brothers Grimm and other versions of the same stories, contrasting and comparing the different versions of the stories, said Jillian Larimore ('26). "I genuinely enjoyed the project and the discussions with everyone were enjoyable."

Lecturer of History Dr. Casey Green and her mother Mary Green, an award-winning quilt artist, taught students the basics of quilting and Senior Lecturer of Biology Dr. Allison Landry taught students Needle Arts. "I loved this special project! We learned how to knit and purl and to cross stitch. We made dish rags and a cross stitch pattern while also watching videos on types of needle arts from different time periods," said Ally Yerby (’24).

Principal Lecturer of Art Chris King and Associate Lecturer of Visual Arts Marcus Journey took a group of students to Arkansas to visit DeGray Lake State Park Resort, and Hot Springs.

“LSMSA students tend to be cooped up in our studies and for me personally travel is usually never on the table,” said Brenley Murray (’24). “So, by attending this trip, I had time to go exploring and take photos in an environment I would have not been able! PS: freezing in Arkansas in a yurt with a group of people is a ton more fun than alone!”

Senior Lecturer of Physics Dr. Robert Dalling, Spanish instructor Dr. Telba Espinoza, and Chinese Instructor Shuxiang Li taught "Food and Culture from the Americas and Asia."

Students learned about people and cultures from around the world through film and cooking.

"I cooked delicious food throughout the week with my peers! Dr. Espinoza, Ms. Li, and Dr. Dalling were awesome,” said Peter Yu (’24).

Science Laboratory Technician Eadie Keenan led an Entomology class for Special Projects Week. Students learned about the structures, orders, life cycles, human interactions with, and the ecology of insects. The class consisted of lectures, a slideshow on the orders of insects, a session on viewing insects through microscopes, a Jeopardy session regarding students’ knowledge of insects, and an accuracy review on the movie “A Bug's Life.” On the last day, students went to the Alexandria Zoo.

“My favorite part about this Special Projects was the interesting tidbits and facts about insects that Ms. Eadie informed us about,” said Cam Magee (’24). “For instance, crane flies, also known as mosquito hawks, do not actually eat mosquitoes.”

Associate Lecturer of Mathematics Dr. Fadipe taught a special project in Web Programming. "We learned the basics of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and we used these skills to program countdowns, tip calculators and more!," said William Huguet ('24). "I now have the knowledge to design and program my own websites."

For more information about LSMSA, visit www.LSMSA.edu.

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Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) is the preeminent state-supported residential high school with competitive admissions for Louisiana's high-achieving, highly-motivated sophomores, juniors, and seniors. As a public school, there is no tuition to attend, and assistance from the LSMSA Foundation ensures the program is available to all qualifying students regardless of family financial need.