Ville Platte Rotary Club welcomes French Immersion Teachers Sept. 22, 2020 French Immersion Teachers from Ville Platte Elementary and Mamou Elementary were guests at Tuesday's noon meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club. Superintendent of Schools Darwan Lazard introduced Ville Platte Elementary Principal Katrina Ardoin and Mamou Elementary Principal Troy Fontenot. Both programs are beginning their fourth years with classes from Kindergarten through fourth grade. Lazard said it is important to support and preserve our French culture in Evangeline Parish. The immersion program was in danger of not having teachers this year because of tougher federal visa rules. President Donald Trump approved a J-1 Visa exemption for Louisiana's French Immersion teachers which permitted the needed seven new teachers to travel to Louisiana. Also speaking at the meeting was a long time supporter of the French Immersion program, Wanda Verrette of Mamou. Among the teachers who introduced themselves include: Sandrina Ndongo Toto from Camaroon, Cora Lee Feron from Belgium, Jessica Marie Capseta from France, Camille Robin from France, Marion Jacob from France, Melissa Wilmart from Belgium and Vincent Martin from France. The Rotary Club has collected some $1300 in donations from its members to help Southwest Louisiana residents who were impacted from Hurricane Laura in the Lake Charles area. The club will match individual club members donations up to $1500 to reach the over $3000 goal. The club plans to prepare some 70 boxes of gas cards and supplies.