Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / March 17, 2016, edition 1 / Page 20
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Two students show off their brand new Kindle Fire HD devices from Amazon. Amazon also donated $lflOO in books, learning applications and other content. March is National Reading Month. Photos provided by kglobal An Amazon associate helps students start a Kindle Fire HD device. Amazon is a longtime supporter of STEM education, literacy and the local communities where its employees live and work. Kernersville Elementary on Fire for reading BY KIM UNDERWOOD WINSTON-SALEM/FORSYTH COUNTY SCHOOLS When Kemersville Elemental^ stu dents headed to the media center this morning, all they knew was that a surprise awaited them. And quite a surprise it turned out to be. Representatives from Amazon were there with a table loaded with Amazon boxes. When students were invited to open the boxes and see what was inside, they found one Kindle Fire HD tablet after another - 75 of them by the time all the boxes were opened. A Kindle is Amazon's hand-held device for reading books. Each of the Kindles was loaded with Dr. Seuss' "Oh, the Places You'll Go!," and, after a Kindle was .given to each student, the Amazon representatives gathered with small groups of students and read the book to them. "I think it was really nice of them to give us 75 Kindles," said fifth-grader Anyrah White. "I'm going to play a game and read a Bible," said fourth-grader Christian Nesbitt. "It's nice," said fourth-grader Janeice Harper, who plans to grow up to become President of the United States. In the meantime, she enjoys reading about such celebrities as Taylor Swift. Dana Routh, the school's lead financial secretary, said, "I am overwhelmed by their generosity for our students." "I just want to thank Amazon for the opportunities they are bestowing on our students," said Principal Shane O'Neal. The Kindles are for the use of students in the school's Exceptional Children (EC) program. The gift includes $1,200 in books, learning applications and other content for the tablets. Amanda Ip, a spokesperson for Amazon who flew in from Seattle for the presentation, said that with National Reading Month coming up in March, they thought it would be a good time to make the donation. 'To kick off National Reading Month, we are very proud to be donating these Kindle tablets to really help enhance the learning experience for these exceptional children and ignite their love of reading," Ip said. EC teacher Sharyn Prescott said she thinks that the Kindles will help students become more enthusiastic about reading. "This is one more way to engage them," said EC teacher assistant Christie Vandervelde. "Kids are all about their devices." Those on hand for the announcement also included Dana Caudill Jones, the chair of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth Board of Education; A. L. "Buddy" Collins, a former WS/FC school board member who now serves on the N.C. State Board of Education; and Dawn Morgan, the mayor of Kernersville. "This is fantastic for the community - a wonderful opportunity," Jones said. "We are very thankful to Amazon and their partnership with Kernersville Elementary School." Collins sees it as a wonderful example of a business, community and school working together for the benefit of chil dren and he hopes to see more such exam ples across the state. "I'm excited about the opportunity for these students to use the latest technolo gies to learn and to improve their reading," Morgan said. "I'm grateful that Amazon is taking this interest in the education of these students. Morgan also talked about how won derful reading is. "When you pick up a book, you can go to an imaginary world," she said. Reading can also teach you all about the world and help you acquire the skills you need to find a satisfactory job, she said. Kernersville Elementary is the only school in North Carolina receiving such a gift. It was chosen in part because of the diversity of its student body and in part because it serves stifdents with special needs, Ip said. The connection with Kernersville Elementary was made through Brad Stanbery, a site leader for Amazon in North Carolina. "We believe it's important to give back to the community we live in," Stanbery said when he spoke before the students opened the boxes. His wife, Becky,, is a kindergarten teacher assistant at the school, and their daughter, Larkin, is in third grade there. "I love everything about this school," Becky Stanbery said. "Everybody is so friendly and outgoing. I love the diversi ty." Larkin, who blows that she wants a career that enables her to work with babies when she grows up, likes going to Kernersville Elementary. "All the people who work here are really nice," Larkin said. "When you are having trouble with something, they try to help you." ? Saturday, March 19 ? 2-4pm B Charlotte, N.C. ? Rocky River High School I Saturday, April 2 ? 2-4pm I Wilson, N.C. ? Wilson Hunt High School I Saturday, April 9 ? 1 pm I for the official Spring Football Game! I Atkins High School, Old Greensboro Rd., Winston-Salem There will be prizes, giveaways and games. Bring 2 canned goods for entry and in support of the Second Harvest Food Bank. Wac^I AWARDS CELEBRATION OF EXCELLENCE Monday, April 25,2016 ? 6pm K.R. Williams | Semi-formal/Formal attire $10.001WSSU Students with Valid Identification are FREE The WSSU Department of Athletics ^ is now accepting nominations for THE CLARENCE E. I "BIG HOUSE" GAINES ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME T Nomination forms can be found at www.wssurams.com under "Inside Athletics/' nominations must be submitted by Friday, April 1,2016. ^ For more information contact the WSSU Department of Athletics (336) 750-2141. L , H J ; 1 , I
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