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Newspaper Page Text
4
July 11, 1996
NYSP offers valuable lessons
By Danielle Robinson
AUGUSTA FOCUS News Intern
Whether they arrive by a Rich
mond County school bus or by
their parents’ vehicles, by 8:00
a.m. Carter gymnasium is bus
tling with 400 kids from every
corner of the CSRA.
Decked out in gray-and-purple
T-shirts, the large group of camp
ers break into smaller peer groups
of about 15 and filter onto the
Paine College campus.
For five weeks during the sum
mer, the National Youth Sports
Program (NYSP), funded by the
National Collegiate Athletic As
sociation (NCAA), offers valuable
lessons in sports, health knowl
edge and career planning to local
students ages 10-15.
By 11 a.m., only a few students
remain inthe gym perfecting their
layups.
Some are learning how to im
prove their grammar skills. Some
are learning about the dangers of
drugs and alcohol. Some are re
ceiving helpful tips on tennis and
volleyball by trained athletes and
coaches. Others board a bus des
tined for nearby Jones Pool as
some students are returning from
swimming lessons.
Formerly the Augusta Summer
Program, NYSP hasbeen in exist
ence for six years. Though the
program offers education on vari
ous subjects, it is specifically de
signed to help participants im
prove their athletic skills.
Activity director Kevin Kenny
says many of the younger partici
pants are receiving training in
sports such as volleyball, that are
not offered in the schools.
Piccola Smith, assistant activi
ty director, says the program also
enhances the students’ social
skills.
“Allthese students come togeth
er as a group and are exposed to
other kids from other communi
ties,” says Smith. She also says it
is interesting to see the same kids
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Top: Basketball is one of the activities offered at NYSP. Bottom:
A counselor takes a breather after a long day. Photos: Derick Wells
play against each other on the
football field or basketball court at
high-school games.
NYSP is more than just a sum
mer sports camp. For the partic
Thanks To You, Nearly One And A Half Billion Dollars Have Becn Contributed To Thése Programs:
v/ HOPE Scholarship ¢ Pre-Kindergarten
v Computers And School Facilities
People/Events
ipants and administrators, NYSP
is a family.
“I enjoy getting to know the kids
year after year,” says Coach
Kenny, as the kids call him. “Ev-
ery summer you see how they’'ve
grown and matured.”
Robert Francis hasbeen attend
ing NYSP since he was 10. Now,
at age 15, he works as a volunteer
for the camp with hopes of becom
ing a counselor next summer.
“I like helping people out,” says
the rising eighth-grader. “It is
better to come here than be in the
streets.”
Robert says NYSP helps him
prepare for the upcoming sport
ing events. He is a member of
Sego Middle School’s football and
basketball team.
Robert is fond of Coach Kenny
and Mrs. Smith and vice versa.
“They are like parents: They look
after me.” !
In April, NYSP begins accept
ing applications on a first come,
first serve basis. For more infor
mation contact James Hinton at
(706) 821-8200.
Local teacher recognized
Mrs. Heather Zachow
Nicholson was recognized as the
only teacher in the CSRA to com
plete the one-year study in the
Montessori method of education
by the Pan American Montessori
Society on June 22 in Atlanta.
These courses on the master’s
degree level were completed af
ter extensive study and work in
developing hand-made materi
als and manuals in the areas of
language, math, practical life,
sensorial, science and social stud
ies for the young child. Only 66
tedchers throughout the state of
Georgia received this certifica
tion. This was the first graduat
ing class for pre-K teachers in
the Montessori method.
Mrs. Nicholson works with
Walden Hall Christian
Montessori, located on Old Pe
tersburg Rd. in Martinez. This
Walden Hall location has been
named one of the best in the
state of Georgia. The pre-school
program emphasizes a small
teacher-child ratio, individual
izing attention in each child and
a hands-on approach to teach
ing. Phonics are introduced at
the age of three and many of the
children read at age four. Math
Yolanda King to perform on
opening night of Olympics
ATLANTA
The King Center, Higher
Ground Productions, Achip and
IPM Products present an Olym
picexperience with Yolanda King.
“Achieving the Dream with
Yolanda King” will be presented
July 26-28 with a reception open
ing night.
This theatrical journey engages
audiences with storytelling poet
ry and scenes from her one-wom
an production “TRACKS: - A Cel
ebration of the Triumph and Spir
it of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”
Ms. King challenges and moti
vates her viewers withinsightand
intelligence using humor and her
I .
Heather Zachow Nicholson
concepts are taught with con
crete materials and the young
child can progress into addition
and subtraction skills. The chil¢
dren learn French at age three.
Music, arts and crafts, field trips
and gymnastics are part of this
program. A
Students completing K-5 kin;
dergarten score in the top 10
percent of the nation on their
achievement tests. Upon leaving
this program, children advance
into first grade with self-confi
dence and a love of learning. |
warm personal style that encour-.
age audiences to achieve the
dream. :
Co-sponsored by WVEE (V 103
and WCLK radio stations there:
will be five performances, suit
able for all ages, July 26 at 8 p.m..
(with a reception following the.
performance) and July 27 and 28
at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Ms. King is a seasoned actress
whose stage and movie roles re
flect her interest in social change
and include portrayals of Rosa
Parks in the NBC-TV movie King
with Paul Winfield and Howard
Rollins, and of Dr. Betty Shabazz,
in the film Death of a Prophet.
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GEORGIA
