St. John senior citizens learn net-surfing

Published 12:00 am Saturday, April 28, 2001

AMY SZPARA

PHOTO: SURFING THE NET, Connie Davis uses a computer for the first time at a training session given by LaPlace Elementary “Girls With A Good Attitude Club” members Thursday. From left , Lorell Martin, Davis, Ariana McGee and Lynzee Anthony. The fourth- and fifth-grade girls taught seniors Internet use as a club project that helped the St. John Council on Aging. (Staff Photo by Amy Szpara) LAPLACE – Some senior citizens in St. John Parish discovered the wonders of Cyberland Thursday morning, when students at LaPlace Elementary coached them on using the Internet. Fourth- and fifth-grade girls in the Girls With a Good Attitude Club hosted an Internet training course for the St. John Parish Council on Aging at the school’s computer lab. Some seniors experienced using a computer for the first time in the class. “We showed them how to use the computer. We showed them how to work the mouse and the keyboard and how to get on the Internet,” said Lynzee Anthony, who joined the girls’ club to improve her attitude. She and several other girls assisted a group of elderly community members who surfed the Net for recipes, sports scores and gardening tips. “This is my first time using the Internet,” said Connie Davis. “I was looking how to make pies and gumbo. Then I was looking at making some hamburgers. I got me three helpers,” she said. Along with Anthony, Ariana McGee and Lorell Martin helped Davis find recipes online. “We’re hosting this for our senior citizens for today to honor them,” said Laurie Francois, sponsor of the club and computer teacher at LaPlace Elementary. “Senior citizens are a very important part of our community. I’m trying to get the girls to give back to the community.” Girls With a Good Attitude started in February 2000 to help girls with problem attitudes develop positive outlooks. “No matter how negative the surrounding, you need to be positive,” said Francois. “These girls have made vast improvements. I get comments from their teachers all the time. We try to teach them self-respect and to encourage one another, to have self- esteem.” Francois said that some girls who did not have problems with their attitudes joined the club as well. “Some of the girls have beautiful attitudes, and they help the others.” “I know in my heart, I won’t reach everybody, but I just want to touch their lives. That’s enough. It’s not good enough to just see a bad situation and do nothing about it,” she said. “I’m really proud of these girls.” The girls floated from senior to senior, helping them find what they were looking for on the computer. They helped them print out the items they were interested in to take home with them. Each senior was given a certificate for completing the training.