BACK TO SCHOOL
Mayor Allen Joints speaks during Ike second annual AKA Community Day at
Carver High School. Joints read a proclamation declaring Aug. 15 AKA Day in
Winston-Salem.
Photos by Terin Stimton
Students and parents wait for the start of AKA Community Day outside Carver
High School on Saturday, Aug. 15. '
Mayor proclaims Aug. 15 AKA Day during community event
BY TEV1N ST1NSON
THE CHRONICLE
Both gymnasiums on the campus of Carver High
School were filled with pink and green on Saturday, Aug.
15 for the second annual AKA Community Day. ?
This years event, sponsored by the Phi Omega Chapter
of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., featured vision
and dental screenings for school-age children, the WSSU
Mobile Heath Unit, Financial Pathways Mobile, educa
tional displays, cultural exhibits, crafts, games and face
painting.
The AKA Community Day also included performanc
es from the Carver High School Cheerleaders, the
Emmanuel Baptist Church Mime Team, African dancers,
as well as a number of musical selections and other per
formances.
School supplies and backpacks were also given away.
Before receiving the backpacks students had to go to each
exhibit and receive a sticker.
At the start of the event. Mayor Allen Joines read a
proclamation from the city declaring Aug. IS AKA Day in
Winston-Salem. Joines applauded the Phi Omega Chapter
for its dedication to community service.
"The city of Winston-Salem would like to thank the
AKAs for all they do in the community," said Joines. "The
AKAs are known for their community work, and I'm glad
that we have a chance recognize the organization for all
they do."
Kenyetta Richmond, chapter president, also spoke dur
ing the event and was surprised with the turnout. Before
the event started, a line was wrapped around the gymnasi
um.
"We had a amazing turnout this year. The line started
to form almost a hour before the event was set to begin,"
Richmond said.
According to Richmond, close to 300 backpacks were
given away during the community day.
"I'm very proud of what we were able to do today for
this community," said Richmond. "Community service is
very important to this organization."
Deanna Taylor, member of the Winston-Salem Forsyth
County Board of Education, was impressed with the
event.
"I'm very impressed," said Taylor. "It just gives me a
good feeling to know that someone cares so much about
our community and our children."
"The AKAs do an amazing job of giving back to the
community, and we are truly grateful for all they do."
Taylor, who has been with the Board of Education for
almost a year, said even in her short time on the board she
can see a change in the community support of the youth
and schools in the community.
"It's a beautiful thing to see our community come
together," said Taylor. "Even in my short time being here
I can see how the community has come together and ral
lied behind its youth."
The Phi Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha
Sorority Inc. was founded in the early 1920s for members
of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority who wanted to remain
active in the communities in the Triad area.
A representative from
the PTA speaks with
students and parents
during the Amazing
Summer Escape Grand
Finale event on
Saturday, Aug. 15.
Photos by TeviH Stinson
Sharon Frazier gives out prizes to students during the Amazing Summer Escape
Grand Finale at Hanes Mall on Saturday, Aug. 15.
WS/FCS students
wrap up Amazing
Summer Challenge
BY TEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
Students from a number of schools in
Forsyth County gathered at Hanes Mall on
Saturday, Aug. 15, to wrap up an
"Amazing" summer of learning and fun.
To mark the start of the 2015 school
year, the Amazing Summer Escape
Challenge held a school supply giveaway
and celebration for the participants in the
summer program for students.
The Amazing Summer Escape
Challenge is a program designed to
encourage students and families to partici
pate in summer learning activities within
their communities. Each student enrolled
in the program was to complete a journal
of summer learning as well as a passport
documenting their summer activities.
Different learning packets were distrib
uted to students from pre-K to sixth grade.
Packets had to be completed before the
start of the 2015 school year. A summer
fun checklist was also given to each stu
dent.
On the checklist were a number of
activities the students had to complete to
add to their passports. The activities
ranged from having a picnic, to catching
lightning bugs and everything in between.
During the grand finale of the program,
students with completed passports were
entered into a drawing to win $500.
Activities also included a back-to-school
fashion show, student performances and
informational exhibits.
Students were also asked trivia ques
ts
tions to win surprises. Many of the parents
and students who stayed through the
majority of the event won drawstring bags
for participating.
Sharon Frazier, district and Title I par
ent involvement coordinator for Winston
Salem/Forsyth County Schools, spoke
with students about the upcoming school
year and about the importance of summer
learning.
"The students in the program have
really been working hard on their passports
and learning packets," Frazier said. "This
program really helps keep the kids' minds
sharp so they are ready for a new school
year."
Before enrolling in the program, stu
dents had to pledge to learn strong and stay
active and safe all summer long. Frazier
said she believes the program really helps
the kids stay on track for the next year.
"It is important the kids stay on track
during the summer. It makes the start of a
new school year less stressful," she said.
Many parents who were completing
their school shopping stopped by to find
out more on the ASE program and seem
interested in the program for next summer.
Jasmine Williams of Winston-Salem
said she had never heard about the pro
gram.
"Now that I know, I will enroll my son
in the program next year," she said.
For more information on the summer
program, call the ASE hotline at 336-703
4294 The first day of school for students in
Forsyth County is Monday, Aug. 24.
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