L’Observateur / April 16, 1998

LAPLACE – Ascension of our Lord School has received national recognition from the American Heart Association for the school’s recent participation in “Jump Rope for Heart.” According to Zina Catoire, community manager for the Greater New Orleans Area, “Ascension of our Lord School has been very supportive in their community work by hosting this program. This is the firstyear Ascension has held the event and for not being one of the largest schools in the area, Ascension leads the parish in money raised.” The Jump Rope for Heart event at Ascension of our Lord raised $15OO. This money will enable the American Heart Association tocontinue to develop and promote educational programs that teach the importance of a healthy heart and cardiovascular system.

A new program that will be incorporated into the parish DARE Program is called TATU or Teens Against Tobacco Use. It is a peer-to-peer program where adults are trained to work with teens on educating the dangers of tobacco.

Education will be expressed through songs, skits and discussion. Bydeveloping this program the goal of the American Heart Association is to encourage teens to lead a smoke free life by the year 2OOO.

Before the Jump Rope for Heart, physical education teacher Coach Mike Pecoraro encouraged the students to gather pledges and to participate in the event by stressing the importance of exercising and eating right for a healthy heart.

Top jumpers for the school who received trophies were Sarah Babin, first place, division I; Meghan Pecoraro, second place, division I; John Paul Abbate, first place, division II; and Jamie Lynn Roussel, second place, division II.

Receiving a cash award for collecting the most pledges was fifth- grader Ben Sellars.

The school continues to support the Have a Heart program, this year the school donated $134 to the American Heart Association.

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