On December 5^th, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held in the new Jim Walter Resource Conference Room at Brookwood High School.  "There was no place in our school for any type of meetings or teacher training," stated BHS Principal Laura McBride.  "We are so grateful and appreciative of this much needed space." 

 

The room became available for renovation when a ten room addition was completed earlier this year. Adopt-A-School partner, Jim Walter Resources supplied furniture, ceiling tiles, window blinds, paint, framed artwork and photos, a flat-screen television with DVD player and many other furnishings.  JWR CEO George Richmond was on hand for the ceremonies as well as Tuscaloosa County School Board Members and School Superintendent, Dr. Frank Costanzo and members of his administration.

 

Cutting the ribbon are Students of the Month, Cheryl Kitchens, Nick Shaver and BHS Teachers of the Month, Shelia Hocutt and Darlene Farris.

On Friday, November 9^th, BFGoodrich gave their adopted school, Cottondale Elementary, a special treat.  Several BFGoodrich employees visited Cottondale and shared their hobbies with fifth-grade students.  The students were excited and curious to learn what adults do for their hobbies.

 

BFGoodrich employees Grover Griffin, Bryant Bush, Archie Milligan, Audra Bynum, Robert Beams, Brent Smalley, and Wayne Smalley, delighted students with their Civil War re-enactment.  They showed students how cannons and guns were once cleaned. Each of seven men had a job - such as gunner or powder monkey.  These hobbyists participate in both Confederate and Union reenactments, so both uniforms were there to see. "America is the best country in the world," they told students, "and we are very fortunate to live here, so it is important to learn about our history!"

 

Orlando Harris and Deandrae Kimbrough shared their hobby, bass fishing.  "Fish cannot hear," Mr. Harris told students, "but they can feel our vibrations." He explained that he learns about fishing by reading and he purchases lures based on what he reads. Holding up live fish they had recently caught, they showed students the differences between spotted bass and large-mouth bass. Mr. Harris and Mr. Kimbrough encouraged the students to participate in a summer program, "Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs" and enticed the students to enjoy the sport of fishing by giving each student a free fishing lure.   

 

Beth Jordan and her father brought their little miniature horses and the students were delighted.  The horses were a matched team, named "Black" and "Beauty."  They were hitched to a lovely white carriage similar to the carriages made a century ago by the Amish craftsmen.  The students discovered that quick, sharp moves spook horses and learned to pet the horses gently and quietly.   

 

On Friday, December 7^th, the Pre-K Students at Martin Luther King Elementary School had the opportunity to make Christmas ornaments.  Pre-K teacher, Holly Glasgow submitted the following account of the "hands-on learning" activity.

 

Woodland Forrest Elementary School welcomed their new Adopt-A-School partner, RBC Centura Bank during a recent school assembly.  Robert Smith, Kim Payne, Joe Chambley, Nicole Nolen and Jack Wylie represented RBC Centura at the ceremony.    Representing Thompson Tractor Company at the ceremony were Mike Rooney, Buddy Fordham, Tracy Stith, and Jackie Mardis.  Thompson Tractor Company has served as an adopter for Woodland Forrest Elementary School since 2001. 

 

In recognition of achieving Adequate Yearly Progress for 2006-07 and in supporting efforts to continue to achieve AYP, Westlawn Middle School adopters are supporting new initiatives to keep the momentum alive.  Geological Survey of Alabama placed "Let's Do It Again" banners throughout the school.  The banners remind the students of the continued efforts needed to reach their goals.

 

WMS launched a new program called, "Positive Behavior Rewards".  This program will reward students for positive behaviors with rewards dollars that they can use in the school store.  Phifer Incorporated purchased a large number of small rewards for the program.  Students can also save their reward dollars for larger incentives.  Additionally Phifer provided teachers with school supplies and materials for bulletin boards and school projects. 

 

Another new initiative at Westlawn involves the "advisory" period where the students will focus on reading, creative writing, open conversation/open dialogue, character education activities, etc.  Phifer purchased over 50 books to use for this program.  With the help of their Adopt-A-School partners and with the focus on the new initiatives, Westlawn Middle School students are sure to continue to reach their Adequate Yearly Progress goals. 

Need to dispose of those old computer monitors, printers and other outdated electronic equipment?  If so, we have the perfect solution!  Adopt-A-School partners, sustainers and area schools are encouraged to participate in E-Cycling Day on Thursday, January 24^th from 8 AM until 5 PM.  The drop off site for the unwanted electronic equipment will be in the parking lot behind University Mall. 

 

E-Cycling Day is sponsored by the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce Technology Council and the Environmental Task Force.  The community is urged to drop off any old electronic equipment for safe reclamation, free of charge on E-Cycling Day.   Steel, glass, plastic and precious metals can be recovered, recycled and reused. Items will be transported to the ethical Electronic Recycling Services in Atlanta.

Acceptable items are: Laptop/desktop computers, computer monitors, mainframes/midranges, keyboards/input devices, printers/scanners, FAX machines/copy machines, digital cameras/camcorders, PDAs/handheld devices, video game systems, printer cartridges, cell phones/telephones, record players/8 tracks, typewriters, stereos/radios/CD players, projectors/VCRs, CB radios, network equipment, computer parts and cables and UPS/battery back-ups. Please note that TVs are NOT ACCEPTED.

Voluntary monetary donations to help defray expenses are welcome. Monetary donations from organizations dropping off more than the equivalent of ten computers or more are encouraged.

The Chamber plans to make E-Cycling Day an annual event. For details, please call 758-7588 and do your part to protect our environment by properly disposing of your old electronic equipment!

The City of Tuscaloosa Environmental Services Department will again be sponsoring the contest for phone book recycling this winter.  Schools can begin collecting phone books whenever feasible and Adopt-A-School adopters are encouraged to join their school partners in recycling the books.  New books are scheduled for delivery by AT&T in December and the contest will officially begin on December 11, 2007 and will be completed by January 31, 2008.  

If storage of books is a problem during the contest period, Environmental Services will provide interim pickups of the phone books; however, book counts must be verified by school officials for every pickup.  About 130,000 phone books will be distributed throughout the county this year, and the goal of the Tuscaloosa Environmental Service Department is to collect 25% of the books for recycling.   
 

Award money will be contributed by AT&T The RealYellow Pages and awards will be given to the four schools with the greatest number of phone books collected on a student enrollment basis.  Award checks will be presented at an appropriate School Board meeting in the spring.  Award amounts in the past have been $1,000, $500, $300, and $200.

Please do check out our online calendar at www.tuscaloosachamber.com to see what's going on in the area and remember to utilize the interactive feature to add your own listing.

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