Duke Energy donates $50,000 to support Communities In Schools of Wake County's SMART Academy

RALEIGH, N.C., Aug. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- This spring, Communities In Schools of Wake County (CIS Wake) wrapped up its inaugural End of Grade (EOG) Camp, where over 150 students representing 66 schools in the Triangle participated in a five-week camp to strengthen their skills in reading and math in preparation for their end of grade testing.

In fact, because of Duke Energy's support, CIS Wake was able to launch its inaugural Science Scholars program this summer. Twenty students (16 Summer Science Scholars: rising 4th through 6th grad­ers; and 4 Junior Mentors: rising 7th through 9th grad­ers) participated in a special two-week summer camp (June 11 through June 21). Students were trained by North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences staff during a series of workshops, fieldtrips, and experiments held at W.B. Umstead Park, Yates Mill County Park and Prairie Ridge Ecostation designed to help students explore technology and the natural environment. In addition, Science Scholars and Junior Mentors were able to lead 84 K-6th grade students from around Wake County in group discus­sions and tours of the Museum. The Science Scholars completed their summer with a trip to the Outer Banks which included exploration of aquatic life in Oregon Inlet and the NC Aquarium and a visit to Roanoke Island Festival Park to learn more about the Lost Colony and NC's early history through forensic archeology.

"CIS Wake has demonstrated a deep commitment to developing students' skills in science and math," says Paul Newton, Duke Energy's state president – North Carolina. "The SMART Academy is the type of innova­tive approach that will help students develop the 21st century skills they will need to compete globally."

SMART stands for "students maximizing academic resources through technology." The SMART Academy offers year-round programs for academic development:

• SMART Summer Camp and SMART Track-Out Camps;
• SMART Beginning of Grade (BOG) Camp;
• SMART Weekend School;
• SMART End of Grade (EOG) Camp; and,
• SMART Evening School (on-line tutorial support).

"Our partnership with Duke Energy will allow us to build upon the successes we experienced in the spring with our EOG Camp and offer similar programs and services throughout the year," says Travis Mitchell, President, CIS Wake. "If the Triangle is to remain one of the best places to live, we will need to continue to help schools develop and fill the local pipeline with students today who possess the skills that area companies will need in their future employees and leaders."

The foundation of CIS Wake's SMART Academy is the SMART Weekend School, a rigorous 28-week program designed to strengthen stu­dents in grades 3 through 8 in math and reading. Beginning September 13, 2013, SMART Weekend will meet on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for three hours each session for intensive instruction. Par­ents will choose one day per weekend for their student(s).

For More Information Contact: Azizi Culpepper Email: [email protected] www.ciswake.org

SOURCE Communities In Schools of Wake County

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