From STAFF REPORTS

VIENNA — Parents are invited to “splash into summer with Ten80 education (STEMSA) and Turkey Creek Baptist Church (Families First) by enrolling their children in one of the Safe Schools/Healthy Students sponsored programs.

Both programs will begin activities on June 9 and will run for almost four weeks through July 3. Ten80’s summer program will be housed at the Dooly Middle School. These programs are available for children/students from Pre-K through 12th grade.

Ten80’s STEM Summer Adventures are based on science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The main purpose is to provide opportunities for exploration and non-threatening learning in a fun summer-experience setting. STEMSA builds teamwork and boosts confidence and skills.

The STEM Summer Adventure is packed with remote controlled racing action and other science and technology experience. This year’s summer program will also include racing, building, drumming, designing and community building. Field trips, prizes, and book design (about your life story) are all a part of the experience.

In addition to the high tech experiences and active learning experiences, participants will begin writing a book together that students will hopefully finish and publish in the 2008-09 school year.

The theme for Turkey Creek Baptist Church’s Families First Program for 2008 is ‘Live Long and Prosper!’

The goal will be to emphasize the link between physical activity and healthy living. The focus on graduation will highlight that education is the key to economic independence.

Various components of the program include decreasing the incidence of teen pregnancy; AIDS/HIV prevention; diabetes prevention and detection; cancer screening and prevention; heart disease; high blood pressure and stroke prevention; alcohol and drug abuse prevention; and childhood obesity.

Academic components include test preparation skills, and standardized testing skills for all ages. Additionally, high school and middle school students will be involved in a career exploration component and an opportunity to travel to Birmingham, AL for a youth conference in June.

Students will visit the Civil Rights Museum and other civil rights sites in downtown Birmingham. Free parenting classes and first aide/CPR classes will also be available.

Turkey Creek’s Families First will offer summer enrichment in three locations: First Beginnings Daycare in Vienna (pre-K through third grade); Turkey Creek Baptist Church in Lilly (fourth-eighth grade); and Roger Kingdom Foundation in Vienna (high school students).

For more information or to receive an application, interested persons should call Petronia Young at 273-1094 or Linda Lloyd at 706-202-0324.

To register for STEMSA, they may call Meredith at 268-6284. If there’s no answer, callers may leave a message for a return call.