Lack of Money May Close the Doors Forever
For R.J. Reynolds-Funded Success Academy
B> VHRONICA CLEMONS
Chronicle Staff Writer
* Success Academy has almbst
everything it needs for another year.
Almost.
There are enough teachers and
volunteers and there are more than
enough students looking forward to
another year of the after-school pro
gram. What it lacks is money.*'
The $1 million donated by R.J.
Reynolds *at the program's inception
is gone and unless supporters can *
tmd another sponsor. thisVear could
be the last. (
"TfjTnot a good thing," said
Lavonne Cooper, a Kennedy Middle
School teacher who has been work
ing with the program for four years.
"If there's any way they can find the
funds to continue. I hope they do
that."
The program, which began in
1990. gives students a chance to
work on various subjects after
! school in a more relaxed' setting
r where teachers and Other volunteers
can help them in areas they need
assistance. Students primarily get
tutored in English and math. ,
Juanita Penn,' the program
director, said the' school attorney.
. Douglas Punger. will ask the Forsyth
County commissioners and the
citv/county school board for funds.
She added that applications have
been submitted to organizations that ?
help finance educational programs
like the Nancy Reagan fund.
Students have also done their
part by writing letters to commis
sioners and school-board members
asking (hem to help. With some
modifications to the program. Penn
said about $140,000 would fund the
-pro-gram tonanalher year . That _
would mean reducing the number of
teachers at each school from four to
three. The sites include each of the
12 middle schools, four public
hmmno communities and the Salva
tion Boys Club. If the number of
teachers are reduced to two, then the
cost could drop to about $100,000,
but two teachers at a site would be
hard-pressed to handle the number
of students who need assistance.
The program expanded this year
to include the public-housing com
munities and the Salvation Army
Boys Club as sites, in addition to the
schools. Some of the students at
Kennedy attend the site at Cleveland
Avenue Homes.
This school y?ar. the program
has served more than 400 students
I '
currently enrolled in middle school
and there were some on a waiting
list. Students may enter the program
at their own will or parents may sign
them up.
Brenda Gentry, w^io was
involved with the program for about
three years, said this is a good thing
for the program because students
can enter without any kipd of stigma
attached, which is a refreshing dif
ference from other after-school pro
grams.
The site expansionenabled the
program to serve more students who
needed help. Gentry said because of?
certain circumstances, some students
could not stay after school, so the
program went to the neighborhoods.
Cooper added that by the pro
gram being in the neighborhood she
could get to and where she knows
students and their families, allows
her to be more than a "one-to-one
tutor." She worked at the Cleveland
Avenue Homes site.
Supporters have until the next
academic year begins to come up
jwith-enough funds.
Kennedy Students Enjoy What May Have Been
Success Academy's Farewell Celebration
Taraika Oglesby, one of the R.J. Reynolds Sue*
cess Academy essay winners, said she enjoyed being
a part of the program. She had "fun teachers" and ft
was "fun learning."
"Steve Freeman, a Reynolds employee, said this
year as a volunteer was Just as enjoyable as the pfcct
three.
"We had a good time," he said. They were there
to learn and didn't mind being told what was wrong."
Volunteers and students ft Kennedy Middle
School celebrated the 4nd of another prosperous year
of Success Academy, an after-school program for
middle-school students sponsored by RJ. Reynolds. *
Some Kennedy students remained at school to
take part in the program while others, who could not
stay, participated at the satellite site at Cleveland
Avenue Homes. They worked on homework and also
got help with any subject they wanted.
Lavonne Cooper, one of the teachers vsaid in
addition to doing homework and getting helpTn spe
cific subjects, there would be reinforcement skills in
subjects such as reading and math.
The celebration included eating pizza and other
" treats, awards, drawings and praise trom teachers not
only for the students' participation but for their dedi
cation to the Success Academy program.
The essay question asked students where would
they be without Success Academy. Answers included
th*t they would be bored, their grades would be
worse and they wouldn't get the chance to meet new
and nice people like the volunteers.
Man Jo Queazi^ro the other essay Winner.
Teachers ami volunteers also said the program
was fun aadbffcaned to keep on volunteering.
This was Barbara Wright's first year but she said
ihe is looking forward to another year of Success
Academy. . " ; ?"./ ]
Some teachers went further than academics with
their involvement with the children. Cooper, who
worked at the Cleveland site with Vanessa Gist this
year, said getting involved with the children not only
Jmlpfid fhrrn academiotty, hut also with their behav
ior. Cooper added that parents were really interested
in how their children were doing. She said she often
went into homes and interacted with parents jis well
as children.
"1 got 100 percent cooperate from parents," she
said.
The fun of the celebration overshadowed the
possibility that the Kennedy celebration could be the
last for the program, which has used all of the $1 mil
lion donated by Reynolds for the program four years
ago.Suppdrttro^are searching for funds to keep the
program going*:;:- ~ - ~ * ?; ' ,?
"The program is at a crossroads right now, "
Kennedy Principal Norma Harbia said. "We hope
someone will commit to the funding."
- ? Veronica Clemons
'ytytxfifrtf, delated
^ctcUCec
/\t age 94 in 7 99-/...
still going strong
Charlie L. Wilson turned *>4 on
May 20, He was horn in 19(X) in
South Carolina: He. is the proud
father of 6 children, grandfather of
15. great-grandfather of 23 and great
great-grandfather of 4.
pP1jjff sat ivuu y ^
RCg S*M*L*XL
Now $29. (X)
Htlmi Oumi
Reg. $29.95 7 S*M*L
Now $22.00
MbmU Sfcfot Seta
Reg. $24.95
Now $19.95 /
rfwi5 at
BAGS, BAUBLES
& THREADS
PutfiitMli SluU)b(RQ Centex
426S K. VottmuL Aueniie
(mum |%a?t ? U Cetk'ft UtackaoAej
10 - 6 p.m.
661-9722
pi
i
Havoline
Add ^ ?
more bfe to
your car.
COMPLETE PROTECTION,
Heat stress. Starting friction. Engine deposits.
They're all covered by Havoline Formula ?
$115 ?
o . ^1 per quart
Auto Supply
Company , Inc.
'Auto Supply Co.. Inc
1007 South Marshall Street
Winston Salem. NC 27107
9I0-723-24R6
Auto Supply Reynolda Rd
^807 Reynolda Road
Wmstcn Salem. NC 27106
910-924-3334
" C??r f""> A"lb SW> O- knxm'lk
^21 BComiry Club Road ?J Botahinw Sw?
Winston Salem. NC 27104 wr ,,1B .
. ????? "ThZJ&T
Bennie
McBride
"See me, Bennie McBride,
for the best price and the
best service on any new
Chevy, Geo or used car."
4th & Broad St.
722-4191
i 20%'0'FF'I
ON ANY AMOUNT OF
DRY CLEANING
Present This C oupon When
Dropping OfT Your Dry
Cleaning And Receive 20%
2-f>ay Turnaround
Order must be pickcd up within 10
days of drop off to qualify for discount.
Excludes Wedding Dresses Kurt,
leathers. Suedes A Draperies.
COl'PON EXPIRES
JUNE 2, 1994
$=?adie s
^Dau
QidvuuaQh
Qaie
Thurs., Fri. & .Sat. 20-50% off
?Zz
Thru way C enter ? S. Stratford Rd.
725-8864
Community
How to Schedule Your Events: Send your information, concisely
and neatly printed or typed, to the Chronicle Calendar, 617 N.
Liberty St., Winston-Salem, N.C. 27102, before 5 p.m., the I
Monday preceding the week in which your event will occur
Our fax number is (910) 723-9173.
THURSDAY, MAY 26
? 9:30 aTm. ? Reynolda House Museum of
American Art will sponsor a city art tour led by
Marjorie Northrup. assistant director of pro
grams. The tour will include Diggs Gallery and
downtown galleries followed by a picnic in
Grace_ Court Park. The cost is- $22, which
includes the bus and lunch. Call 725-5325.
FRIDAY, MAY 27
? Winston-Salem Housing Authority and
Community Outreach will sponsor a "Unity
Vigil" in Happy Hill Gardens, 6 p.m. - 12 a.m.;
Piedmont Park, 6 p.m. - 12 a.m.; Cleveland
Avenue, 6 p.m. - 12 a.m.; and Kimberly Park, 6
p.m. - 6 a.m. There will be singing, praying,
preaching, testimonies and community walks. If
case of rain, vigil will be inside community
houses.
SATURDAY, MAY 28
- 10 a.m. ? The Piedmont Epilepsy Associa
tion will sponsor a "Chili Cookoff at Oak Hol
low Festival Park, Highway 68 (Eastchester
Drive), High Point, Proceeds will go to the
Epilepsy Medication Fund. The admission is $2
in advance, $3 at the gate. Children under 12 are
free. No pets, coolers, containers of any type.
Call 1-800-642-0500.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1
2 p.m. ? The city of Winston-Salem's
Neighborhood Government Service office, 2301
N. Patterson Ave., will host a seminar called
"Job Readiness." The seminar, led by James
Lucas of the city's Personnel Department, is
free. Call 727-2975. ;
ONGOING
? Senior Financial Care is offering a variety
of in-home^ services to older aduk* of Forsyth
County. They will help balance checkbooks.
"reconcile Bank statements, write monthly checks
and help with budget matters. Medical-insur
ance claims and drug charges will be filed and
monitored' to make sure all benefits have been
paid. Call 725-1972.
? Happy Hill Gardens Reunion Committee
will meet every Saturday at W.C. Sims Center
on Alder Street at 1 p.m. The meeting will dis
cuss the reunion of Happy Hill Gardens, Colum
bia Terrace. The Trot and Salem reunion on July
9th. Call William "Rock" Bitting at 650-0858 or
Ben Piggott aT72T^837.
UPCOMING
? The city of Winston-Salem's Neighbor
hood Government Service office, 2301 N. Pat
terson Ave., invites the public to the following
activities on Thursday, June 2:
12:30 p.m.- ? "Summer Programs in Film
making" by Steve Montal of N.C. School of the
Arts.
2 p.m. ? "Controlling Blood Pressure" by
Dr. Carlos Serrario of N.C. Baptist Hospital.
These activities are free. Call 727-2975.
? The city-of Winston-Salem's Neighbor
hood Government Service office will host a
seminar caled "Can 1 Afford To Buy A Home?"
on June 4 at 10a.m. The seminar will be dis
cussed by Jane Bodenhamer of First Union. The
program is free. Call 727-2975.
High School will meet in the Anrlprsnn Onter
on June 11 at 10 a.m. The meeting will discuss
the 20-year reunion in 1995. For more informa
tion, contact Jana Bristow.
? Neil and Camilla Wilcox will lead sum
mer sessions for young people in creative writ
ing and enrichment through art at Revnolda
House Museum of American Art. The two-week
long workshops for young writers in grades 5
10 will be June 13 and June 20 from 9 a.m. to
noon. American Arts Discovery for K-5 will be
on Julv 11 and Julv 18. Each session lasts one
. * . i ?
week and explores the Revnolda House art col
lection, gardens and grounds.
The coTt is $95 and early registration is rec
ommended. Call 725-5325.
? The Little Theatre of Winston-Salem will
hold summer acting clashes for children and
teen-agers who are rising kindergarten through
eighth-graders. The ACT summer classes will
consist of three two-week sessions, beginning
on July 5.
The tuition for each session is $95. For
more information, call Education Director
Charles Pnngle at 725-7793.
JAMES & JONES, P.L.L.C.
RANDOLPH M. JAMES
HOWARD C. JONES II
Attorneys at Law
633 West Fourth Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Auto Accidents ? PersonaHnjury ? Wrongful Death
Workman's Compensation ? Traffic/DWI Criminal and Civil Trials
FOB A FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION CALL 725-7531
E's SALON
First in Elegance \
& Hair Perfection .
Total Salon
^Appointmrnt Only
HUB Silas Crrck Parkway
Winston Salem, NC 27127
Edith Williams
Owner- Designer * (<*^)724-1681
NOW
ENROLLING
3 wks. ? 5 yrs Full Day
6 - 12 yrs. Before & after school
zna shift care also available
Call or stop by for Information
The Early Image
Child Care Center
New ^alkertown Rd.
Uinston Salem. NC
(910) 727 1252
State Licensed.
Black Health Section
of the
Winston-Salem
Chronicle
is Coming in June
Reserve your space
before June 13th
Copy Deadline is ?
June 15
Call Judy-Holcomb-Pack
Carol Daniel
or
Willie Wilson
722-8624
1