Celebrating twenty-two years of supporting area schools, the annual Adopt-A-School Breakfast Seminar officially kicked off the 2007-2008 Adopt-A-School Year.   More than 270 individuals representing forty-eight area schools and 80 businesses and community organizations gathered at University Church of Christ for the annual event.  "Year of the Arts: Tuscaloosa's Hidden Treasures" was the theme for the seminar and a variety of artful centerpieces created by Bryant, Northridge and Tuscaloosa County High School students, as well as, paper placemats adorned with crayon drawings compliments of Verner and Cottondale Elementary students decorated each table.   Bama Dining/Classic Fare Catering prepared a delicious breakfast buffet to start the morning.  The seminar provided a unique opportunity for Tuscaloosa City School personnel, Tuscaloosa County School personnel and the representatives from the business community to meet and prepare for the upcoming school year.  Dr. David Thompson presented the keynote address and encouraged all those present to "live a life that matters and make ripples". 

 

After the opening session, school and business coordinators had the opportunity attend a panel discussion on program development and learned how to incorporate suggested programs in their partnerships.  A variety of new programs and several established activities were presented and discussed during the panel presentations.  In keeping with the theme of "Celebrating the Arts", the Westervelt Warner Museum and the Arts Council of Tuscaloosa informed adopters about their programs available for students.  Also included in the panel presentation was information about a fire safety program available for area students; the new START program sponsored by the American Heart Association; the Junior Achievement Program; and the Character First Program designed to build positive character traits in students.  Finally, Dennis Hall from Jim Walter Resources and John Merrill from the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education shared ideas for increasing partnership visibility in the community and in the school.  Concurrently, most partnerships met and finalized plans for the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year.  Additionally, new Adopt-A-School Coordinators attended a training program concerning the coordinator responsibilities. 

 

For the seventeenth consecutive year, golfers will rally on September 27^th in support of the Adopt-A-School Program.  Honorary Chairpersons Sarah and David Patterson invite you to mark your calendars and plan to participate in the Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa Adopt-A-School Golf Tournament, scheduled for Thursday, September 27^th.    The four man scramble tournament will be held at Tuscaloosa Country Club.  Both 8:00AM and 1:00 PM shotgun starts will be available and registration fees include green fees, cart and lunch. 

 

The tournament is the annual fundraising event to benefit the coordination and administration of the Adopt-A-School program.  Proceeds from the tournament benefit every public school in our community and the golf tournament provides critical funding for the coordination and administration of the Adopt-A-School program for the Tuscaloosa City and Tuscaloosa County School Systems. 

 

Davis-Emerson Middle School welcomed their new Adopt-A-School partner, Realty South, during the recent Davis-Emerson Open House.  Mrs. Marie Lawrence, Mrs. Geneva Murray, and the Realty South mascot, Rosie the Raccoon, were present to sign the certificate of adoption for Realty South.  Brett Whitehead was also present to sign the certificate of re-adoption for Whitehead and Associates.  Whitehead and Associates has served as an adopter since Davis-Emerson opened in 2003.

 

The official adoption ceremony took place on Tuesday, evening August 21, 2007.  Dr. Walter Davie, Principal of Davis-Emerson Middle School presided over the activities.  Dr. Davie welcomed parents, teachers, students, adopters, Dr. Frank Costanzo, Superintendent of Education in the Tuscaloosa County School System, Mrs. Loo Whitfield, Adopt-A-School Coordinator for the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, and Mrs. Don Reita Nelson, Davis-Emerson Adopt-A-School Coordinator to the adoption ceremonies.

 

The first Adopt-A-School Tennis Tournament took place in the fall of 1994 and was part of the annual golf tournament.  As the tennis community has grown and developed in the Tuscaloosa area, the interest and participation in the Adopt-A-School Tournament has grown as well.  Over the past fourteen years, the Adopt-A-School Tennis Tournament has outgrown its original venue at Tuscaloosa Country Club and is currently held at Indian Hills Country Club. 

 

As a result of the increased participation and the change in venue, this fall the Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa Adopt-A-School Tennis Tournament will on a date other than the Golf Tournament date.  On October 18^th area tennis players will compete in a doubles tournament and proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Adopt-A-School Program.  The women's doubles tournament participants will compete in 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0+ divisions.  The cost is $45 per player and all schools with players representing them are eligible to win cash prizes.  Registration forms will be available in September. 

 

Northridge High School will host "Frederick Douglass from Slavery to Freedom: the Journey to New York City," a traveling museum exhibit sponsored by the New York City-based Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, from November 26^th until December 19^th.  The exhibit traces Douglass' life under slavery and his daring journey to freedom based upon selected excerpts from Douglass' autobiography. It highlights the role of literacy in enabling Douglass to resist bondage and, once free, to champion civil rights for all Americans. 

 

The exhibit will be open to the public from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. on the evenings of December 3^rd, 10^th, and 17^th.  In addition, school groups may visit the exhibit by appointment during selected hours on selected dates.  Admission is free.  Contact Elizabeth Kincaid ekincaid@tusc.k12.al.us  or call 759-3590 for additional information and to schedule a school visit.