TROUP COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM
100 North Davis Road, Building C ● LaGrange, Georgia 30241
Yolanda Stephen, Director of Public Relations
Office: 706-812-7900 ● Fax: 706-812-7915
E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.troup.org
Good for You Story Submission
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Junior University Enrichment Camp Ignites Learning
LaGrange, Ga., June 10, 2015 – Over the past two weeks, rising 6th thru 12th graders roamed
the halls of LaGrange High School and experimented at West Georgia Technical College as
they learned about advanced studies through hands-on experimentation during the Junior
University summer enrichment camp.
The enrichment experience, led by Troup County School System employees, fosters collegial
support for students who are pursuing a more rigorous course of study throughout the regular
school year. The curriculum focus this year is science, technology and robotics, engineering,
math and foreign language.
“Many students use what they learn here in preparation for the next year. They tend to take
higher level classes and Junior University prepares them for what they will see the next school
year,” said Ms. Ann Rhodes, Site Director for Junior University Phase I. She is also a 5th grade
teacher at Hillcrest Elementary School. “When they return to their home schools, they can share
what they learned with other students in the classes.”
The experiments allow participants to have a better understanding of how mechanisms work
together and how they apply to everyday life. Rhodes continued, “When people think of
technology, we think of robotics. When people think of math, we think of building bridges. We
want the students to think outside of the box and apply what they learn.”
When campers arrive at their morning drop-off location they spread in different directions
because they are eager to get to the next lesson. In one room Charlie, the resident hamster, is
learning how to eat through a room service feeder. The students have to create a series of
‘triggers’ that allow for food to be deposited directly into Charlie’s hamster cage so he can eat.
In another corner of the room, students actively work to assemble a zip-line obstacle course so
Barbie can safely propel to the bottom using the attached pulley cable. While on a different day,
those same students may prepare ice cream using simple ingredients or visit THINC College
and Career Academy located on the campus of West Georgia Technical College.
In another classroom on campus, Ms. Veleka Battle and eighth grade student’s role play to
learn about the phases of matter. This exercise provides a visual aid of matter changing into a
solid, liquid or gas form. Providing experiences that can help visual and kinesthetic learners is
important at Junior University, “While we are providing an accelerated curriculum, it is important
to provide programs that the students will remember and use,” said Rhodes.
Later this week, middle school students will embark on visits to Point University, THINC College
and Career Academy, LaGrange College and West Georgia Technical College so they can see
the future possibilities.
High school students enjoy Junior University Phase II while at West Georgia Technical College.
They work with teacher, Ms. Marie Whitfield, while researching recyclable items such as
newspaper, plastic, cardboard and aluminum versus tin cans. In addition, they are able to bring
in some online learning as part of the instruction on waste management. Ms. Whitfield can be
seen allowing the students to work in groups, research and use data as they draw various
conclusions. The purpose of the lesson is to foster a connection between recycling and what it
means for the future, how recycling – even if it starts off small – impacts the city, state and
country, and to stimulate discussion on how landfills impact the Earth.
After the enrichment camp concludes in the middle of June, Rhodes looks to see students
influenced by what they learned at Junior University for years to come. “We have students who
tell us they learned so much here and are now interested in robotics and engineering when they
go off to college. It’s always good to see that you helped make a difference in that type of
decision.”
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