When the 2009-2010 school year starts August 7, the East Baton Rouge Parish School System will be opening two new elementary schools -- the long anticipated revamped The Dufrocq School, 330 S. 19th St. off Government Street, and Woodlawn Elementary School, 8160 Antioch Road at the rear of Woodlawn High School.

With an expansion of course offerings including Montessori and academic magnet programs, The Dufrocq School’s students who will be in grades K-5 in this attendance zone are encouraged to apply for the school’s academic Magnet Program now through July 6 at the school site.  There are limited seats available in the academic component of the Magnet Program only. 

Built in the 1920s, the site has been undergoing a $20 million renovation and expansion for about two years now.  The school has a total 77,347 square feet.  The old and the new have been married at the site to create a larger and better school site.  Bricks are matched with the same wire-cut style, even though some are old and some new.  The newest part of the school is one floor, unlike the original two floors – but it is disguised by a taller exterior. 

“The Dufrocq School has a state-of-the-art multi-media center, wireless capabilities, spacious classrooms and an outdoor garden,” said Principal Mary Robvais.  “The school will provide an academically challenging curriculum that nurtures a genuine love for learning and develops the creative and intellectual abilities of our students.”  She said the rigorous course offerings of The Dufrocq School ultimately “will cultivate minds, develop character and prepare students to be participants in the conversation of life.”

To apply for the school’s Magnet Program, call (225) 922-5443.  Applications also are available online at www.ebrschools.org under Magnet Programs.

At the new Woodlawn Elementary School, the cement’s been poured, and the wiring’s being installed.  With the new school year fast approaching, now’s the time for students to register to attend the new Woodlawn Elementary School.  Registration for the elementary school already has begun at Woodlawn High School, 15755 Jefferson Highway, and will continue throughout the summer.  The phone number is (225) 753-1200.  In addition to regular classes, string instrument instruction also will be offered two days a week.

Woodlawn Elementary’s newly created attendance zone will include reassigning students from four other elementary schools:  294 from Jefferson Terrace, 155 from Parkview, 34 from Wildwood and 25 from Wedgewood.  Those changes, in turn, affect attendance assignments to some extent due to overcrowding or uneven enrollments at sites like Broadmoor, LaSalle, Magnolia Woods and Mayfair elementary schools – 12 schools in all and about 1,510 students.

Susan Kornuta, former principal at Audubon Elementary School, has been named Woodlawn Elementary’s principal.  In addition to the physical needs of the facility, she’s also seeing to its personnel needs in preparing the school for its first year of operation. 

Woodlawn Elementary School has been built by Woodrow Wilson Construction of Baton Rouge for about $17.2 million.  It is a new school rather than a replacement for an old site.  The school will house about 508 students initially but has the capacity for 660 students.  Enrollment is quickly growing in the area.  It has a total of about 75,000 square feet of space.