OUR PROGRAMS
DATES
September - May
LOCATION
Mount Gilead Elementary School
100 S School St.
Mt Gilead, NC 27306
The Gator Good Guys (Triple G) is a mentoring group for young men (4th and 5th graders) focused on good behavior and making good choices. Mentors give students structure; help with attitude and behavior issues, as well as academics. Weekly progress is measured through reports from teachers including reports on homework, class work, and respect for teachers and other adults, respect for fellow students, appropriate dress and overall behavior. Recognition and rewards are given for improvement and to also show them that there are consequences for behavior and performance. “Our goal for all of them is a top shelf quality education.” says Mr. Leake, President of Friends In Focus.
DATES
October - May
LOCATION
Highland Community Center
131 Hoffman Rd.
Mt. Gilead, NC 27306
Saturday Academy is a tutoring program designed for those students who have been identified as functioning below grade level. These third through fifth graders, girls and guys, receive help in reading and math to help bridge the gap in grade proficiency. The program also addresses etiquette and how to be good citizens as well as good classmates.
This is a monthly program with a theme each month such as the value of reading, math, careers, student accountability and Black History and others. There is also a cultural field trip to a museum, exposing the students to art, history and science. In operation from October through May, there is a celebration at the end of the program recognizing student accomplishments.
DATES
May
Senior Day Awards Ceremony
LOCATION
Montgomery Central High School
700 Glenn Road
Troy, NC 27371
The value of a top shelf, quality college education cannot be underestimated and it improves the opportunity for success. The minority college age students in this country attend college 30 percent less than the majority. The Friends In Focus Scholarship Program was started to highlight this gap and to actively participate in encouraging minorities to attend college. On average, Friends In Focus awards seven scholarships annually.
In addition to the scholarships, the group also sponsors a parent/student college scholarship workshop for all students (minority and majority) providing college application assistance , scholarship information
and encouragement.
DATES
July
(3 week program)
LOCATION
Highland Community Center
131 Hoffman Rd.
Mt. Gilead, NC 27306
The Highland Summer Enrichment Program’s (aka HSEP) primary focus is literacy, helping students improve their reading skills. Each year 15 to 20 students are selected with the help of their schools, who are below grade level in reading. HSEP is designed to help those students achieve grade level reading proficiency and at minimal, not to lose over the summer what they have gained the previous 9 months.
HSEP is a rigorous 3 week program with certified instructors guiding the students through their assignments and exercises. On average, each year, students have shown improvement in their reading skills, verified by a pre and post reading assessment conducted at the beginning and ending of the program.
We have a daily exercise period and a fieldtrip to Discovery Place in Charlotte, NC, exposing the students to how science can be fun. The HSEP also coaches the students in behavior and the importance of good manners and proper etiquette.