What Is Adopt-A-School?

The Adopt-A-School program, initiated in 1985, is an effective grassroots partnership between education and the business and private sectors of Tuscaloosa County. The purpose of the program is to utilize the vast amounts of human resources and talents of the business community to strengthen, enhance and enrich the quality of education in our 50 public schools of the Tuscaloosa County and City systems.

Now in it’s twenty-second year, Tuscaloosa’s Adopt-A-School program has become an expected part of our community’s educational fabric. We are fortunate to have the active involvement of seventy-eight businesses, industries and organizations that work directly with specific schools as adopters. This includes such groups as retailers, manufacturers, civic organizations, utility companies, small businesses, financial institutions, restaurants, and medical facilities.

Why Have An Adopt-A-School Program?

A strong public school system is basic to the health and growth of a community. Quality schools attract people to live in the area. New businesses locate there to provide services, jobs, and an increased tax base. The community is a good place to live because the schools are good schools. That is why a quality education is everyone’s business.

Adopt-A-School Needs You!

Have you ever wondered about involving your business as an adopter for a public school? Well, this is the perfect time to find out more about that possibility! Most schools have at least one Adopt-A-School partner. The schools that have only one adopter are in need of a co-adopter to work with their existing partner.

We need you! Why not consider taking an active role as an Adopt-A-School partner? The program is flexible. Each partnership develops its own goals and activities based on the resources of the adopter and the needs of the schools. The possibilities are unlimited!

Whether you prefer an elementary, middle or high school, there is a place for you. Call Loo Whitfield today at 391-0563 or email loo@tuscaloosachamber.com for more information. There’s no obligation, nothing to lose, and it could be the beginning of a very rewarding experience for you and your business as well as providing much-needed assistance for a public school in Tuscaloosa!

What Do Adopters Do?

Adopters initiate activities that encourage students and enrich their educational experiences. While developing strong person-to-person relationships, Adopt-A-School partners engage in a variety of projects in some of the following categories:

• Academic Enrichment/Career Awareness: Provide readers for classes; host job shadowing opportunities; conduct interview skills workshops; participate in career days; provide newspapers for classroom instruction; serve as resource speakers or tutors
  
• Student Incentives/Motivation: sponsor awards for bringing up grades, most improved student, perfect attendance; sponsor academic awards banquet, citizenship projects, students of the month; be a mentor for a student
  
• Cultural Enrichment: develop or sponsor arts festivals; sponsor visits by performing artists; provide scholarships to local cultural events
  
• Improving School Environment: donate equipment; assist with landscaping; participate in clean up days or beautification projects at school
  
• Faculty Support and Recognition: assist with classes in cafeteria during lunch; host a “Welcome Back” reception for teachers; award mini-grants for teachers or departments; recognize teachers during American Education Week or Teacher Appreciation Week
  
• Community Involvement: recycle phone books, newspaper, cans, soup labels; provide assistance for school in transporting recycled products; assist families in need; supplement clothes closet for school; furnish school supplies

WHAT IS REQUIRED TO BECOME AN ADOPTER FOR A SCHOOL?

Adopt-A-School is the commitment of time, energy, and expertise of a business or organization to an individual school. While the overall objectives of each partnership are flexible, a truly valuable partnership, like a friendship, does not happen through a single encounter. It must grow out of outstanding and mutual trust created through a climate of active involvement and interaction between the school and its adopter.

Therefore certain minimum standards are necessary to promote quality in existing partnerships. The following criteria are minimum standards for any business or organization serving as an adopter to a school:

• Effective 1995, new adopters must be Chamber of Commerce members with membership being maintained throughout the partnership, unless approved by the Chamber's Adopt-A-School Steering Committee. The addition of a new adopter must be agreeable to the school's principal and to any existing adopter(s) currently involved in that partnership.
  
  
• The adopter will appoint a coordinator and a planning committee each year to meet with the school on a regular basis during the year to plan and implement partnership programs and projects.
  
  
• The adopter and school will interact on a regular basis during the school year; monthly interaction is suggested. This should include a minimum of two face-to-face planning meetings that will address the educational needs of students.
  
  
• The adopter will submit an Annual Plan and an End-of-year Report to the program director by the program deadlines.
  
  
• The adopter will send a representative to the annual kickoff Adopt-A-School Breakfast and to at least one district-wide coordinator meeting per school year.

HOW CAN YOU ADOPT-A-SCHOOL?

It’s easy! Contact the Adopt-A-School office at 391-0563 or e-mail loo@tuscaloosachamber.com. The program director will meet with you to discuss the resources your business can offer to a select school whose needs are compatible with these resources. Keep in mind that the commitment from all partners at the highest level is essential.

ADOPT-A-SCHOOL EVENTS

Fall Golf & Tennis Tournaments Benefit Adopt-A-School

The Annual Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa Adopt-A-School Golf and Tennis Tournaments are traditionally held in late September. In addition to sponsoring teams, eagle sponsors, hole sponsors, court sponsors and donor opportunities are available to support these events.

The golf tournament is a four-man scramble. The flights begin at 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. with great prizes for both flights and an overall prize for both. The cost per player includes cart, lunch, and favors. Each year, four schools are eligible to win $500 in these categories: most players for an elementary school, most players for a secondary school, random drawing, and the winning team's school.

The Women's Doubles with 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, & 4.0+ Divisions begin play at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m. Prizes are awarded to 1st place and runner-up winners of each division. Prize drawings are also done during the tournament and you do not have to be present to win. The cost per player includes lunch and favors. Public schools represented are eligible to win $250 in prize money. Call 391-0563 to find out how you can be involved in this fun event.

Making a Shadow of a Difference!
Groundhog Job Shadow Day:
February 2

Every year, Groundhog Day February 2, is the designated date for the Annual National Groundhog Job Shadow Day. This is an initiative sponsored by national coalition partners America’s Promise, SCHOOL TO WORK Opportunities, Junior Achievement and American Society of Association Executives. On this date, over one million students will “shadow” a workplace mentor in the workplace as he or she goes through a normal day on the job.

What does job shadowing accomplish? This has proven to be an academically motivating educational activity dedicated to giving students an up-close look at the world of work, providing for students the link between academics and careers. As students observe on the worksite, they see first hand the importance of good math skills, communication skills, people skills and use of technology as important tools that are required at all levels of generally all occupations. Beginning with a nationwide kickoff every February 2nd, and continuing throughout the school year, students across America "shadow" workplace mentors as they go through a normal day on the job.

Many Adopt-A-School partnerships have previously provided time and places for students to observe mentors at work, and others have now incorporated this annual event into their plans for this year. While the official kickoff date is always February 2nd, job shadowing may be scheduled during any dates that best coincicd with participants' calendars.

We hope to see this opportunity continue to grow each year by including other businesses as hosts. To obtain additional information about hosting students on Groundhog Job Shadow Day, call Loo Whitfield at 391-0563 or log on to www.jobshadow.org.

Read Across America Promotes Literacy on Dr. Seuss' Birthday

Over the last few years, our Adopt-A-School partners have celebrated together what has become the largest one-day literacy celebration in the U.S.: Read Across America Day. Started in 1998 as a way to promote reading while celebrating Dr. Seuss's birthday on March 2, the National Education Association's "Read Across America Day" has become a national tradition that continues to grow with each passing year. Tuscaloosa area adopters have focused on spreading the word about the importance of literacy by reading to students, listening to students read, donating books to schools, or assisting older students in planning a literacy-based project.

Partnerships and other participants may celebrate on the day that best coincides with their calendars. See www.nea.org/readacross for more details. Be sure to check this site's link http://www.nea.org/readacross/volunteer/youthleaders.html for Youth Leaders for Literacy, which cites examples of literacy-based service projects for older students.

2007-2008 ADOPT-A-SCHOOL ADOPTERS

Thanks to each business and organization below for serving as an Adopt-A-School partner with a public school in the Tuscaloosa City or County school system.

ASSISTING AS AN ADOPT-A-SCHOOL SUSTAINER

Your firm or organization can now be involved in Adopt-A-School even if you cannot actually adopt a school. Your financial and moral support is vital to maintaining the effectiveness of the program and contributing to its future development. A Sustainer provides a donation of $250 or more to the West Alabama Chamber Foundation, Inc., an IRS approved 501(c)(3) charitable foundation. In exchange for this support, you will be recognized as an involved partner in the Adopt-A-School program.

2007-2008 ADOPT-A-SCHOOL SUSTAINERS

Thanks to the following businesses and organizations that provide financial support for the program:

BOARD

Ellis Architect, Inc.
Learning Experiences, Inc.
McGiffert & Associates, LLC
NHS Management, LLC
Planit Solutions, Inc.
Tuscaloosa Toyota

SUPERINTENDENT

TEACHER