More than 42,700 East Baton Rouge Parish School System students completed the 2010-2011 school year today. On the last day of school, School System Superintendent John Dilworth took the opportunity to thank students, teachers, principals, school staff, parents and the East Baton Rouge community for another great year.

 “I am very proud of the achievements made over the past year,” Dilworth said. “Over the past year, 78 percent of our schools showed growth with 37 meeting or exceeding average state growth in test scores. Our graduation rates increased by 3.2 percent to 60 percent for on-time graduates, and the drop-out rate decreased from 10.2 percent to 5 percent since May 2008. And today, we received news that our spring test scores increased.”

This year, Ryan Elementary joined the ranks of the district’s eight other Blue Ribbon Schools, which include Baton Rouge Magnet High School, Forest Heights Elementary, Glasgow Middle, McKinley Middle Magnet, Northeast Elementary, Shenandoah Elementary, Sherwood Middle Academic Magnet and Westdale Heights Academic Magnet schools.

Students are scheduled to begin the 2011-2012 school year on August 10.

9News Neighborhoods salutes Dwayne Grant. Grant graduated from Southern University with a mastser's degree in mass communications. He also interned at WAFB Channel 9. He plans to pursue a career as a news reporter.

His parents are Alfred and Elaine Grant. And he's from St. James. Congrats!

Governor Bobby Jindal has proclaimed May 22 through May 28 as Hurricane Preparedness Week. The governor's office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) is encouraging every Louisiana citizen to begin preparing for the 2011 hurricane season.

"GOHSEP urges everyone to get a game plan and be ready before the start of hurricane season. Currently, the state is heavily engaged in preparing for and responding to the Mississippi River flooding event, but we are also busy preparing for Louisiana’s biggest natural threat – hurricanes," said GOHSEP Director Mark Cooper. "We encourage everyone to have a plan for themselves, their families and their pets."

It is important for Louisiana residents to know the risk for the area in which they live. Hurricanes prone areas are not just along the gulf coast, inland areas are just as vulnerable to effects from hurricanes. Hurricane hazards can come in many forms, including storm surge, high winds, tornados, and flooding. By knowing your vulnerability and having a plan in place, you can reduce the effects of a hurricane.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predict the Atlantic basin is expected to see and above-normal hurricane season this year. Hurricane season begins on June 1st and last until November 30th. During this six month season predictions are that there will be anywhere from 12 to 18 named storms in 2011.