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Pottery, Drumming, Golf, Art
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By Kim Underwood
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools
JULY 19, 2021 – Principal Sara Crater likes to greet students as they arrive each morning for the Summer Enrichment Program at Whitaker Elementary.
So, on the morning of Thursday July 15, she was standing outside the door as Jennifer Bowman dropped off her sons Jayce and Brody.
Bowman parked so she could come back and visit a bit with Crater. This is the fourth summer that Jayce and Brody have participated in the program, and, over the years, Bowman has become a big fan of Summer Enrichment.
“It’s a great program,” Bowman said. “My kids are doing things they wouldn’t normally have done in any other program.”
African drumming, golf and aerodynamics are just a few of the things they have explored, she said.
“It enriches them and it really pushes them to try something.”
Bowman said that, because of her enthusiastic endorsement of the program, two of her friends were inspired to enroll their children in the program.
As Bowman headed back to her SUV, camper William Oates, who will be in the fourth grade at Whitaker, came up and Crater greeted him.
William said he likes it all – MineCraft, chess. His favorite part of the day is third period because of everyone in the class.
“My third-period class is all of my friends,” he said.
Summer Enrichment welcomes students from kindergarten through sixth grade not only from Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools but also from other schools, as well as students who are home schooled.
Karen Medrano – who will be in the third grade at The Arts Based School, a charter school in Winston-Salem – arrived next.
Karen likes the subjects she is taking – art, drumming, pottery.
Her favorite part of Summer Enrichment?
Looking at Crater, Karen said, “How all of you guys are nice.”
Jamari Wilson is a rising fifth-grader at Kimberley Park Elementary. One day, he plans on being a running back or quarter back for an NFL team.
Asked what he likes about the camp, he said, “You get to learn new things.”
For Crater, who also serves as the school system’s Dance Education Administrator, Summer Enrichment is a way for students to be introduced to engaging new activities that could become hobbies or more. For some, it may start them down the path to a career.
“I hope that students find enjoyment in learning skills,” she said.
Inside the building, classes were getting underway. In addition to the activities Bowman and the students mentioned, classes include digital photography, acoustic guitar, piano, dance, “Forensic Science Detective,” “Reader’s Theatre” and robotics.
Blake Creason, who will be in the sixth grade at Clemmons Middle, has enjoyed learning about robots. He knows that, these days, some robots can detect colors, and, one day, he envisions becoming a robotics engineer.
Sandy Holt, who is the IT Facilitator at Northwest Middle, teaches the robotics class.
“All of these kids are great,” Holt said. “Coding and robotics opportunities help students learn how to solve complex problems, design step-by-step processes and develop rea-world skills.”
“Students learn engineering concepts, work in collaborative teams and develop communication skills that help them become leaders and explorers.”
“In our robotics class at the WS/FCS Summer Enrichment, students have a variety of opportunities to create, program and code Lego machines to follow instructions and solve potential real-world problems, like delivering packages in a factory.”
“We love that our students can be creators, collaborators and have fun in our classes.”
In his class, Jayce Bowman was working on a rocket.
“I like all of the classes,” said Jayce, who will be in the seventh grade at Hanes Magnet Middle.
“They are all good classes.”
Along with making rockets, he has particularly enjoyed piano and pottery.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Summer Enrichment Program was not held last year.
“It’s nice to be back in person,” said Andrew Craft, the Director of the Summer Enrichment Program.
“We are excited our students are able to experience the many opportunities we are able to give them in this program.”
The Summer Enrichment teachers include:
Sandy Holt
Micheal Chamis
Kevin Cornell
Natsha Young
Sara Young
Danisha Wiggins
Lisa Morris
David Kidd
Ryan Peller
Shanice McKinney
Joel Peddle
Amanda Holcomb
Ashley Smith
Sara Phillips
Mark Underwood
Chris Garmon
Nicole Chandler