January 30, 2009
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Corporate Sponsor
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Adopt-A-School Week 2009 will be celebrated February 27 - March 7, 2009. This week highlights the partnerships that exist between the 54 public schools in the Tuscaloosa City and County systems and 86 area businesses and community organizations that serve as adopters for the schools. The purpose of Adopt-A-School Week is two-fold: to express appreciation to all Adopt-A-School partners and to inform the community of the many projects and activities that are provided to schools through Adopt-A-School.
Using the theme "Partnerships: Opening Doors to the Future” creative and informative displays depicting the value of each public school's Adopt-A-School Partnership will line the corridors of University Mall.  These displays will demonstrate the extensive relationships that develop between the partnerships. The public is invited to view the many displays at University Mall and to participate in selecting this year's "People's Choice Awards". Anyone viewing the displays will be eligible to vote for the partnership exhibit that best illustrated each of the following categories: Most Creative Display; Most Informative about the Partnership; and Best Theme-Related Display.
In addition to displays at University Mall, schools and adopters will celebrate their own Adopt-A-School partnerships on-site at schools and places of business. Specifically, "Banner Day", Monday, March 2nd, businesses and schools will display banners saluting their partnership. On Wednesday, March 4th, special activities will be planned for "Honor Your Partner Day" in which the schools participate in activities honoring their adopters. Furthermore, many partnerships have planned special activities that include sending letters of appreciation to adopters, constructing banners to salute the adopters, distributing flyers and letters to parents informing them of the partnership activities, planning partnership-appreciation luncheons and additional activities designed to celebrate each unique partnership.
Adopt-A-School is a business-education partnership program sponsored by the Tuscaloosa City and County Schools and the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama. For more information about becoming and adopter, contact Loo Whitfield 391-0563 or loo@tuscaloosachamber.com |
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According to the National Education Association, "motivating children to read is an important factor in student achievement and creating lifelong successful readers." The NEA annually sponsors "Read Across America" which is a read ing motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on Dr. Seuss's birthday, March 2nd.
Celebrating "Read Across America Day" is one vehicle through which Adopt-A-School partners support reading programs and challenge students to make reading a lifelong habit. Members of the business community, volunteers and educators are encouraged to participate in special activities on March 2nd designed to promote a love for reading and celebrate “Read Across America Day”. |
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The faculty and staff at Northport Elementary and the instructors at Bailey's TaeKwonDo-Northport are working hard to e ncourage "Super Character" in the students at Northport Elementary. Each week a different character word in presented and taught to the students. Students are chosen weekly based on their use of that character trait in their behavior. Each nine-week grading period one student is chosen from each homeroom, for being the "Super Character" student for those nine weeks. Northport TaeKwonDo presents each student with a "Super Character" T-shirt and a certificate.
Pictured are the winning students for the last nine week period of 2008 along with Northport TaeKwonDo's chief instructor, Michael Holt. |
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The last Friday of each month is a special day for selected students and employees at Duncanville Middle School. Each  month, two students from each grade are recognized as outstanding “Students of the Month” and one employee is selected as “Employee of the Month.” The selected students and employee enjoy a special lunch brought to the school complete with an individualized personal cake and receive a t-shirt designating their award provided by Adopt-A-School Partner, The Legacy Connection. The student’s pictures are displayed in a special case for the entire month. Additionally, Adopt-A-School partner, James Bailey TaeKwonDo recognizes the selected Employee of the Month and has donated a plaque with a name plate added to it each month for the Employee of the Month. |
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Brookwood Middle School’s newest Adopt-A-School partner, Alabama Adventure provided ice cream treats to all honor roll students for the 2nd six weeks grading period. All students who received all A’s or all A’s and B’s attended the celebration of academic success. Students enjoyed frozen treats in the courtyard as a reward for their hard work. |
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The second group of LEADER Awards was presented to Woodland Forrest Elementa ry Students on December 5th. Students selected demonstrate important traits of success: Learner, Eager, Accepting, Dependable, Enthusiastic, and Respectful. Adopt-A-School Partners RBC Bank and Thompson Tractor Company help recognize the students by presenting them with a certificate and a “Woodland Forrest LEADER” hat.
On December 17, approximately fifty students from Woodland Forrest Elementary School visited their Adopt-A-School partner Thompson Tractor Company. The students performed Christmas Carols for the employees. After the mini concert, the students and employees enjoyed hot chocolate, candy canes and other refreshments. Each year the students visit Thompson Tractor to spread a little Christmas Cheer and to thank their Adopt-A-School partner for all they do for Woodland Forrest. |
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After recognizing a need to increase attendance at Westwood Elementary, both Hudson-Poole Fine Jewelers and Arts and Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa teamed together to provide two free bikes and helmets for winners of the “Perfect  Attendance Drawings.” Two drawings are held each year during the months of December and May. At the Westwood Singers Christmas and End-of the Year Programs, students with perfect attendance for the current semester of school stand up in front of their classmates to receive a certificate and prize. The students stand in anticipation as one of their classmates is named the winner of a free bike and helmet. Prizes, certificates, bike and helmet are provided by Hudson-Poole Fine Jewelers for the first semester and by the Arts and Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa for the second semester. As a result of the program, students have shown more enthusiasm for achieving perfect attendance at school.
Pictured is the winner of the December Bike Drawing Contest for Perfect Attendance
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Each nine weeks grading period selected students from Maxwell Elementary School who have demonstrated positive character traits and are chosen as STAR students visit their Adopt-A-School partner, Comfort Inn. On Thursday, December 4th the STAR students arrived at Comfort Inn and had a special surprise….Santa was vis iting the Comfort Inn and had breakfast with the students. Each student spent some time talking with Santa and then everyone enjoyed a delicious breakfast of eggs, waffles, biscuits, gravy, pastries and many other breakfast delights.
After breakfast the students decorated the Christmas tree with ornaments made by Maxwell Elementary School students. Each student received a certificate and they were commended for their good character and behavior. Comfort Inn employees Judy Barton, Elizabeth French, Tony Harper and Sandy Barlow attended the breakfast and gave special treats to each of the students.
"We enjoyed our breakfast with Santa and the children at Maxwell Elementary. We look forward to making this an annual event,” stated Judy Barton, General Manager for Comfort Inn. |
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In keeping with the spirit of the Christmas season, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority sponsored an appreciation luncheon for the faculty and staff of Westlawn Middle School. The event was held in the faculty's lounge at Westlawn on December 17, 2008. Many delectable edibles, including caramel cake, fruit, chicken, and other delicious entrees, were provided by the Zetas. The luncheon was greatly enjoyed and appreciated by everyone. |
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On Thursday, December 18, Adopt-A-School partners from Hilton Garden Inn played Santa for many Skyland students. Hilton employees  brought pre-wrapped gifts with name tags and stocking stuffers to ensure that chosen students had a very Merry Christmas. The students who received gifts were chosen by the Skyland Elementary School counselor. Parents were able to pick up the donated gifts on Friday, December 19th so that Santa could place them under the tree for Christmas morning. Students who received the gifts were all smiles. Thank you Hilton for granting Christmas wishes! |
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Davis-Emerson Middle School has a great partnership with Realty South and with Brett Whitehead & Associates. Both partners treated the teachers at Davis-Emerson to a special “Thank You” celebration. During the special celebration, students chose strips of paper with adjectives written on them tha t described teacher characteristics. Each teacher had a bag with his/her name and Realty South personnel helped the students place the “adjective” into a teacher’s bag. The strips of paper said things like “a good listener,” “patient,” “funny” and the favorite “smart.” The teachers enjoyed reading the encouraging thoughts from the students and appreciate the partners making the time very special. Additionally, Realty South sponsored a Student-of-the-Month luncheon in December. All of the students, faculty, and staff that were chosen as Student, Faculty or Staff Member of the Month during the first semester were invited to attend the hour-long pizza party. Participants enjoyed holiday music, drinks, pizza and dessert. |
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We Have the Best Community Calendar Around
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.
Hit Your “Forward” Button to Share Chamber News
All employees and associates of Chamber-member firms are members, too. So, please simply hit your forward button to share this issue with all team members in your business/organization. Thanks a lot! |
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