Students rewarded

Ledger photo by SCOTT POWELL Keyondre Edwards watches the path of his bowling ball Thursday while enjoying an outing with Communities in Schools at Westlane Bowl in Gaffney. Keyondre Edwards walked to the bowling lane Thursday afternoon and launched a bowling ball "granny style" at Westlane Bowl in Gaffney.

Edwards raised his arms to signal his bowling attempt was good as several pins fell down. While it wasn't artful or graceful, Edwards was clearly enjoying his first time inside a bowling alley.

Edwards was among 88 middle school students treated to an afternoon of free pizza and bowling by Communities in Schools of Cherokee County. Students qualified for the incentive based on improved grades on report cards and no discipline referrals over the past nine weeks.

"The bowling outing was done so these students could have fun and receive a reward for all the hard work they are putting in this school year," said Edward Surratt, who helps with Communities in Schools afterschool programs. "It was exciting to see all these kids in the bowling alley. This was the first time some of the kids had ever gone bowling."

Last summer, the state renewed the CIS grant for middle school afterschool programs for another four years. CIS will receive $168,000 annually to serve students at Blacksburg, Gaffney and Granard middle schools.

Students receive academic assistance from teachers after school, CIS Executive Director Teresa Morrow said. Enrichment activities focus on health, career education, teaching life skills and social skills, character education, team building activities and fine arts.

CIS is involved in education efforts to prevent teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. These services are provided through the Cherokee County Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.

"We are very proud of the students for their accomplishments," Morrow said.