Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / May 23, 1991, edition 1 / Page 9
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New computer programs Continued from page A1 t school personnel should become Involved in helping the students out side of the classrooms and schools. All of the kids who work on the computers at the center are African ' American, but Brown says "if a white kid lived in this neighborhood, " V he'd be free to come in here too, but my target is for African- American kids." She adds that any child who lives in the area is free to use the center when it's open. , Brown isn't the only school employee working at the center. Project '91 Continued from page A1 tickets are sold in the schools to seniors, and seniors can buy a ticket for themselves and a ticket for a guest," said Stromski. She added that *it's in the schools because they know best when they sell them to their class mates, who's a senior, .and if we sold them at the gate, we would have no idea who it was, so we just don't do that" Stromski also says that even though only senior are allowed, their guest does not have to be a senior as well. - . ?? During Project Graduation '91, various types of activities will be pro vided for the graduates including musical entertainment from local iadio DJs and live bands, including national recording artists The Rude Boys, Riff and Nikki D, and local bands such as Act of Artists Produc tion, Phase Band and others; movies, arcade games, street dances, exhibi tions, contests, and amusement rides. One lucky senior will also drive away in a new 1991 Geo Storm if he or she wins in a drawing that will be held at 3 ajn. To ensure that the event is drug and alcohol free, Stromski says about 50 Winston-Salem police officers will be on hand for security, as well as searching all entrants of weapons with metal detectors at the gate. Because this is such a large event, Stromski says a lot of work went into planning the occasion with the help of volun teers q&la&l organizations. "There are about a hundred peo ? * pie in the commumjfy that get together I ? fend do all the work in bringing in all : ? (he activities in the program, and the : ? &rts, the foods, the prizes and all the logistical set-up. And then, we proba ; I ^ t>ly have at least 60 businesses that -:^onateand-give^omethtng iiHcind j : ? services. It cost about $55,000 in ? : j money, and then we have about anoth ;> $40 to $50,000 that's contributed in Xfc"*! services. Thousands of dollars in 'foods are donated," said Stromski. ;>T SAFE Initiative began Project '^Graduation last year with some com munity leaders, who then coordinated ? ;^with the county commissioners and > J$e Qty of Winston-Salem, to provide ? ; some drug free activities for the stu r dent, after hearing about other states ? ; >tfcat had been doing it for years. "It ? .' Started about 10 years ago when 18 > ; $gh school students died in two grad > Ration years. Graduation night kills students all over the United States qvery year... it's statistically, the high : fatality rate night for high school : * y*9** Mid Stromski. However, last ;^Tcar? ^ere in Forsyth County, there were not any drug or alcohol related ? * deaths among seniors on graduation :? I -night and Stromski says she believes - ^r^oject Graduation '90 should be ? ; Erectly credited for that. "We had : : $JMQ seniors and their guests, and we > >iad no incidents of drugs, no incidents >; <rf alcojiol, no weapons at the gate. ,? * Jjow that's phenomenal when you get > 3&000 kids together," she said. ****** This year, Stromski says she < expects closer to 4,000 seniors and > i^eir guests to attend Project Gradua ? * 5?" hccmwe !? **igh schools will ^:?e participating, including North ~;?tokes and South Stokes High Schools. She also says that "next year hope to even branch out more into the other counties that are around us that have a low population. We want ~ them to join in with us." Parents and other members of the community are also showing support, Stromski says the event will have about 400 to 500 volunteers, serving food, and helping with the entertain ment Corporations are also support ing the event. The Crosby and Forsyth County are the presenting sponsors, gold sponsors include the City of Winston-Salem, RJ Reynolds, Wachovia and the Winston Salem/Forsyth County School Sys tem. The program activities are being produced by the Urban Arts of the Arts Council. Gwendolyn Jones, a teacher and computer specialist at Easton Ele mentary School works as a tutor for the students, and says she is very excited about her involvement in helping the kids. "One of the first things we did was ask 'in what way may we service you?' Most of the students want to do papers. It's that time of year where they Have papers that they must have done a certain time," she said. Jones >idded that teaching the kids to write term papers on the computer wasn't the primary focus, rather than teach ing them also to produce good work. "We concentrated on trying to get a quality product. We work in a draft form first, and after we get our draft form, we let them look it over and they saw how easy it was to print it out, and get that draft form, then go back and make a finished product. And we're very excited about the word processing aspect." poth Jones and Brown say they enjoy working with the students not only on a professional level, but also personally. Brown comments that . . the young man Shawn, when he first came in, had no sense about keyboarding. And when young kids go out and look for jobs at McDon ald's and places like that, they've got to know keyboarding. He didn't know keyboarding. Now he can do it. And the machine showed him how many keys he had learned. So I get a joy out of helping kids, and see ing them grow." The kids also seem to enjoy working at the center and they say their grades have improved because of it. Melinda Pace, a 10th grader at RJ Reynolds High School says "I've improved my grades a lot. 1 used to make C's, now I'm making A's and B's.M She also says her teachers have noticed her improvement, and say the center is indeed making a differ ence. Shawn Staggers, also a 1 0th grader at RJ Reynolds, says his teachers have also noticed the change. He says "They have sent home notes and gave me good com pliments about my grades." Chiffon Pace, an eighth grader at Hanes Middle School alio says coming to the center has helped her improve her school performance. She says she is now making B's in her social studies class, where before she was making Cs. The majority of other students who go to the center are also experi encing better grades, and Brown says although she has not yet contacted the school guidance counselors to see just how well the students are doing, she says the kids are coming in excit ed about their grades. She adds that there are days when the students have to be pried away from the computers at closing time. mon WED 2.17 Your Choice Your Choice Snacks. Salted or unsalted dry-roasted peanuts; or cock tail peanuts. 16-oz. net wt. Mfr may vary Lay's potato chips; sour cream/onion, barbecue, cheddar, or regular flavors. 6 5- to 8-oat. nat wt. 17.97 Your Choice Steam/dry irons. Black & Decker Light 'n Easy? steam/dry, Sunbeam spray/mist or Proctor model with self-cleaning action. F393WH (Black & Decker) 12651 (Sunbeam) 12402 (Proctor) 5 Rolls $3 Coronet 2-ply paper towsls offer a selec tion of decorative solid colors and prints; 90 sheets per roll. Great for quick cleanups. Your TJhoice Picnic necessities. 100, 9' white paper plates*; or 140, 1-ply paper napkins. ?Mfr. may vary 2 For *5 Nestea iced tea mix; 3-oz.* reg., 3. 3-oz.* sugar-free; 26.5 oz.* iced tea mix with sugar. ?Net wt Your Cholci Swivel Scrub broom, or O'l ttr needs > corner mop. ?foro* liquid bleec *s3???5!?? ^?.hdaV helpers. ... ? , , - r?. 135' ~'pa.ck c'othesline. or woocfen clofh,.spins May 25 * AW Stow VTLLE K MART
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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May 23, 1991, edition 1
9
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