WS Chronicle

In above photo: Sharon Frazier gives out prizes to students during the Amazing Summer Escape Grand Finale at Hanes Mall on Saturday, Aug. 15. (Photo by Tevin Stinson)

By Tevin Stinson

The Chronicle

Students from a number of schools in Forsyth County gathered at Hanes Mall on Saturday, Aug. 15, to wrap up an “Amazing” summer of learning and fun.

To mark the start of the 2015 school year, the Amazing Summer Escape Challenge held a school supply giveaway and celebration for the participants in the summer program for students.

The Amazing Summer Escape Challenge is a program designed to encourage students and families to participate in summer learning activities within their communities.

Each student enrolled in the program was to complete a journal of summer learning as well as a passport documenting their summer activities.

Different learning packets were distributed to students from pre-K to sixth grade.

Packets had to be completed before the start of the 2015 school year.

A summer fun checklist was also given to each student.

On the checklist were a number of activities the students had to complete to add to their passports.

The activities ranged from having a picnic, to catching lightning bugs and everything in between.

During the grand finale of the program, students with completed passports were entered into a drawing to win $500.

Activities also included a back-to-school fashion show, student performances and informational exhibits.

Students were also asked trivia questions to win surprises.

Many of the parents and students who stayed through the majority of the event won drawstring bags for participating.

Sharon Frazier, district and Title I parent involvement coordinator for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, spoke with students about the upcoming school year and about the importance of summer learning.

“The students in the program have really been working hard on their passports and learning packets,” Frazier  said. “This program really helps keep the kids’ minds sharp so they are ready for a new school year.”

Before enrolling in the program, students had to pledge to learn strong and stay active and safe all summer long.

Frazier said she believes the program really helps the kids stay on track for the next year.

“It is important the kids stay on track during the summer. It makes the start of a new school year less stressful,” she said.

Many parents who were completing their school shopping stopped by to find out more on the ASE program and seem interested in the program for next summer.

Jasmine Williams of Winston-Salem said she had never heard about the program.

“Now that I know, I will enroll my son in the program next year,” she said.

For more information on the summer program, call the ASE hotline at 336-703-4294.

The first day of school for students in Forsyth County is Monday, Aug. 24.