WS Chronicle

Elementary School Academy wrapped up a successful first year at a recent graduation ceremony at Cook Elementary School.

(pictured above: Elementary School Academy grads pose with school leaders.)

Winston-Salem Police Chief Barry Rountree offered words of wisdom to the school’s inaugural graduating class of fifth graders. He told them that if they made wise decisions it would lead to success in life and offered several helpful strategies to the rising middle school students.

“You are going to be confronted with a lot of new challenges,” he said. “I have a son in middle school, and I can remember some of the things he told me when he first got there. For one thing, you will have a locker. That’s something that none of you have now.”

Roundtree encouraged the students to develop their own circle of friends and not let others influence them into making bad decisions.

“Middle school is going to be a new experience,” he said. “Go into it with open eyes, but realize that some of the decisions you make can stick with you for a lifetime and influence you in a negative or a positive way. Take things slow and think through the decisions you make. Don’t make hasty decisions that will come back to haunt you later.”

The Elementary School Academy, which in the past was called Crest Choice, reached several important milestones in its first year. Among them was the founding of the Gentleman’s Quorum, a male minority mentoring program that has received praise from several notable leaders and the production of its first yearbook, under the leadership of sponsor Sam Davis and editor Lauren Barnes.