1HE (JHROI _ _
Vol. xxxvil No. 47 WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. THURSDAY, July 21, 2011
James
Blake to
play in
W-S Open
-See Paxe BH
Grad rates
are up at
local high
schools
-See Page A7
Free
camp
pushes
fitness
?See Pa
Under New
Management
National company taking
over Downtown Middle
BY LAYLA FARMER
THE CHRONICLE
Some big changes are on
the horizon for Downtown
Middle School.
Mosaica Education, a for
profit company that manages
more than 70 schools world
wide, took over management
responsibilities at the charter
school earlier this month.
The school
was lounoeu in
1997 by Dr.
Constance
Brown, a former
principal of
Winston
Salem/Forsyth
County's
Downtown
Elementary, and
Deborah Hall as
an answer to par
ents' demand for
a IlllULilC MIKHH
component to the popular
magnet elementary,
explained DTMS Financial
Director Gail Duggins. who
has been with the DTMS
since its inception.
But since it opened its
doors, the school has seen
several shifts in curriculum
themes and focuses. The
changes have also included a
parade of at least six different
administrators over the
course of the school's 14
year history. Duggins is
hopeful that Mosaica
Education will be the answer
for DTMS.
"I have very high hopes,"
said the mother of two.
"I've been very impressed
with the Mosaica people that
I've met, and I think it will
be a good thing for the
school."
Under Mosaica's leader
ship, DTMS will utilize
Mosaica's patented
"Paragon" curriculum, which
emphasizes hands-on learn
ing and pairing real world
experiences with classroom
lessons, and adopt a STEAM
(science, technology, engi
neering, arts and math)
theme, according
to Mosaica
Regional Vice
President Melvin
Brown, who is
overseeing the
transition.
"We have a
proven curricu
lum that pro
vides global per
spective and has
been very suc
cessful," noted
the rather ot two,
"The curriculum gives stu
dents a chance to see that
education is relevant."
Brown, a former public
school educator and adminis
trator, believes the STEAM
curriculum will jibe well
with the artistic and techno
logical entities that already
exist in Winston-Salem.
"We'd like to capitalize
on the industry that's there,"
he stated. "We want to pool
those resources into the
school so the kids see the
relevance of what they do on
a daily basis."
DTMS, which has tenta
tively been renamed STEAM
Academy of Winston-Salem
at the Downtown Middle
See DTMS on A2
Full-figured women walk the runway at the Fourth Annual Sista Big Bone Fashion Show.
Photo by Todd Luck
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Fashion show gives full-size ladies a chance to shine
BY TODD LUCK
THE CHRONICLE _____
The Fourth Annual Sista
Big Bone Fashion Show
proved that beauty and glam
our comes in all shapes and
sizes.
Ahmad Johnson watched
proudly as full-figured mod
els took to the runway at the
Benton Convention Center
on Saturday.
Johnson was inspired to
create the fashion event after
taking note of how confident
and fashionable his full-fig
ured friends were.
His first Sista Big Bone
Fashion Show was a small
affair held at Glenn High
School. The audience was
made up mostly of family
members and friends of the
models. Word of mouth
helped the event's popularity
grow quickly. His most
recent shows have drawn
crowds of hundreds, and full
figured women across the
city and beyond are jockey
ing to take part. Johnson,
who has garnered the nick
name "Mr. Big Bone," now
has to hold auditions in order
to pick the 15-20 ladies that
model in the shows.
Johnson, a case manager
at Youth Opportunities, says
that seeing the models gain
even more self-confidence by
taking part in the shows is a
See Big Bone on A8
Ahmad Johnson
Davenport takes future engineer under his wing
BY LAYLA FARMER
THE CHRONICLE
Since embarking on his high school career four years ago,
Portsmouth, Va. native James Doran has ^
Photos by Layla Farmer
James Doran stands outside of Davenport
Transportation Consultants' downtown office.
1
had his sights set on his career goal.
So while his twin brother attended
Glenn High School, Doran. who was an
aspiring architect at the time, chose to go
his own route and enroll at Atkins
Academic and Technology High School,
whose programs are designed for students
who want to pursue competitive, lucrative
careers.
"Everybody expected me to go to Davenport
Glenn, but I said I need to see if this is for
See Davenport on A 7
Fun relived at 50th anniversary reunion
Pholo by Todd Luck
The Atkins Class of 1961 Reunion Committee members pose at
Friday's opening reception.
BY TODD LUCK
THE CHRONICLE
Members of Atkins High
School Class of 1961 came from
near and far last week to mark
their 50th Anniversary Reunion.
Held at the Hilton Garden Inn
off of Hanes Mall Boulevard, the
three-day, weekend gathering
included a banquet, a dance and a
picnic. Each event gave members
of the class the chance to laugh,
catch-up and recall their high
school memories.
Reunion President Edna Smith
said the reunions become more
important as the class gets older.
The Reunion used to be held every
five years. They are now held
See Atkins on A6
Dancing All the Way to the Bank
UNCSA Photo by Donald Dietz
UNCSA students Lauren Haug, Gabriel A rant, Shannon
Sollars-White and Leslie Williams perform earlier this
year in the school's production of "Oklahoma!" UNCSA
officials announced last week that the production
grossed more than $1 million in ticket sales. A large
portion of that money will be used for scholarship pro
grams. Read more on page A5.
Spend it here.
Keep it here.
BUY LOCAL FIRST! 1
- ?_ ? AJind Fofjysmess