Beau Chene High School

Beau Chêne High School is a public secondary school located in southeastern St. Landry Parish between the communities of Grand Coteau and Arnaudville in the state of Louisiana. The school was founded in 1991 when Sunset, Leonville, and Arnaudville High Schools were consolidated to form one centralized high school. The school serves the communities of Sunset, Grand Coteau, Cankton, Arnaudville, Leonville.

Beau Chêne is accredited by the State of Louisiana's Department of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

History

The idea of Beau Chêne High School was conceived in the early-1980's when the St. Landry Parish School Board began considering consolidating the parish's small rural high schools to form three large centrally-located high schools. The plan was later approved and implemented, forcing Arnaudville High School, Leonville High School, and Sunset High School to close and merge with each other. In 1989, construction on Beau Chêne began on property in the unincorporated community of Prarie Basse. At the front of the property were--and still are--several large oak trees which inspired the name "Beau Chêne." It has been said that the school was supposed to be called "Southeastern High School," keeping with the geographical naming style the St. Landry Parish School Board used to name the other two consolidated high schools (Northwest High School and North Central High School). Someone (reportedly Lanny Moreau, former St. Landry Parish Superintendent, who at the time was Arnaudville High School's principal) suggested that the school be name "Beau Chêne," which is French for "beautiful oak." The idea was approved by the school board and the name stuck. Classes commenced at Beau Chêne on August 19, 1991. The school is now in its seventeenth year of operation.

Academics

Beau Chêne High School offers a wide variety of courses for its students. In keeping with its missions to "provide the individual with rich and varied experiences appropriate to meet his present and future needs" and to "develop in the student an appreciation of literature, art, music and the beauty of nature," Beau Chêne offers classes in English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, art, music, Spanish language arts, French language arts, agricultural science, business, family and consumer science, and computer science. Upperclassmen may opt to take trade and vocational educational courses at the Washington Career and Technical Center.

Students are required to complete four units of English, three units of mathematics, three units of science, three units of social studies, one-and-one-half units of physical education, and one-half unit of health. Students wanting to attend college follow a college preparatory curriculum which follows Louisiana's TOPS scholarship requirements, which includes four units of English, four units of mathematics, four units of science, four units of social studies, two units of a foreign language, one unit of fine arts, and a half-credit in a technology class.

Athletics and Extracurricular Activities

Beau Chêne High School is classified by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association as a Class 4-A school (Division II in volleyball and soccer) and competes in that division's District 5 (District 2 in volleyball; District 4, soccer). Football, volleyball, cross country, basketball, soccer, baseball, fast-pitch softball, and track and field (indoor and outdoor), cheerleading, dancing, and color guard are the sports Beau Chêne offers its students.

Beau Chêne owns three state championships. Those are the 1993 Class 2-A Powerlifting Championship (prior to 1995, the LHSAA classified Beau Chêne as a 2-A school), the 1995 Class 4-A Girls' Cross-Country Championship, and the 2005 Class 4-A Boys' Track and Field Championship. In addition to these state titles, Beau Chêne also lays claim to district championships in boy's basketball, volleyball, cross-country, baseball, softball, and track and field. The boys' basketball team has 2 state semi-finals appearances (1992 and 1993) and boys' soccer has one (2008).

In addition to its athletic program, Beau Chêne offers a host of clubs and organizations students can join. Those organizations are 4-H; FFA; Beta Club; National Honor Society; Spanish Club; Fellowship of Christian Athletes; Student Council; Peer Leaders; Academic Talent Search; Upward Bound; Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America; Governor's Program on Abstinence; Future Business Leaders of America; and Beau Chêne Quiz Bowl.

Beau Chêne is renowned in the state of Louisiana for its participation in many of these organizations. The school's FFA, GPA, FCCLA and FBLA chapters are among the most active in the state, and their members often represent Louisiana and compete at their organizations' respective national conferences. Beau Chêne Quiz Bowl is a two-time regional champion and, in 2006, competed at the NAQT High School National Championship Tournament.

Mascot and Colors

Beau Chêne's mascot is the gator. The school colors are navy blue, burnt orange, and gray.

Alma Mater

The lyrics of Beau Chêne High School's alma mater are as follows:

Come walk by my side through the doors of Beau Chêne High School
And our dear memories we will recall
Gators strong and true--Orange and Blue
We will never forget you.

Come walk by my side down the halls of Beau Chêne High School
As we enjoy our high school days.
Teachers and friends, laughter and fun
One for all, and all for one.

Beau Chêne High, hail to you
Altogether, friends old and new
Beau Chêne High, go big blue
Proudly we honor you.

Come walk by my side out the doors of Beau Chêne High School
Under the spreading live oak trees.
Our old friend until the end
Dear alma mater Beau Chêne High.

It should be noted that when sung, the words "memories" (first verse) and "until" (final verse) are truncated to fit the rhythm of the music. In addition, students (particularly graduating seniors) traditionally shout the words "Go Big Blue" (third verse) as opposed to merely singing that line.

Fight Song

The lyrics of the fight song are as follows:

Stand together, Beau Chêne Gators, we all cheer for you.
Fight on to victory, fame, and glory for the orange and blue.
Like majestic oak trees boldly reaching for the sky,
With pride and honor win it all for Beau Chêne High.

When sung, students traditionally shout "BCH" between the second and third lines of the song.

Principals

Ronnie Daigle, 1991-1995
J. Larry Stelly, 1995-2002
Robert Lanclos, 2002-2006
Keith James, 2006-Present

External links

[http://www.beauchenehigh.slp.k12.la.us Beau Chêne High School's Website]

* [http://www.slp.k12.la.us St. Landry Parish School Board Website]