by Kenya Smith/Intern
kenya.smith@tidewaternews.com

FRANKLIN
The closing ceremony of the 21st Century Summer School Program was held at J.P. King Jr. Middle School’s auditorium on Thursday. The program helps students meet state and local standards in core academic subjects, such as reading an math.

Demetrious Gray, site director for S.P. Morton Elementary School, and Marilyn Lawrence, site director for J.P. King, commended the teachers, the students and the parents for their support and cooperation throughout the program. Then, students from grades 3-8, along with their teachers, gave a short presentation on what they had learned throughout the program.

The Rev. Dr. Jennell Riddick from First Baptist Church-Franklin was the guest speaker for the event, and she began by allowing some of the adults to participate in an interactive game. During her speech, she gave parents some helpful tips on how to help their kids become the people they are meant to be.

“Parents, please make sure to take care of yourself because I know that being a parent takes a lot of work,”  Riddick said, “Commit to constant growth, and model it back to your children. Lastly, continue to challenge and champion your child.”

After the presentation, the students set up their tables to showcase the projects they have created. Courtney Rheuark’s sixth grade class learned about story elements and point of view for reading. For math, they also learned about coordinate planes and budgeting. For the showcase, the students showed what they had learned to budget a dream vacation with only $4,000.

“Overall, they did a wonderful job,” said Rheuark.

Chanda Cofield and Lacey Ernst worked with the eighth grade students during the program.

“So far, they learned about equations and inequality which is something a lot of students have difficulty with,” said Cofield, “They also learned about scaling by creating their own amusement park display, which they had a really great time making it.”

To Lacey Ernst, the 21st Century program is a great way for students to be prepared for the upcoming school year.

“When these students come in for the first day of school, they will already know what they’re going to be learning,” she added.

The program also provides enrichment activities that can compliment their regular academic programs and offers educational services to the families of participating children.

For example, the students went on field trips every Friday in order to understand the concepts that they learned in class and to visit places that they have never before experienced.