May 26, 2009
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Corporate Sponsor
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Celebrating twenty-four years of supporting area schools, the annual Adopt-A-School Breakfast Seminar scheduled for Thursday, July 30th will officially kickoff the 2009-10 Adopt-A-School Year. Boasting a new format this year, the program will be held at Shelton State Community College. A networking breakfast will provide a unique opportunity for school personnel in both the Tuscaloosa County System and the Tuscaloosa City System to meet together and network with community businesses and leaders. Additionally, educators and business leaders will have an opportunity to visit displays and learn about the Career Technical Programs offered at Shelton State.
Attending the seminar will be representatives from all 55 public schools in the Tuscaloosa City and County Systems, as well as, business leaders representing the business and professional organizations who have chosen to adopt area schools. Four partnerships that have just completed their twentieth year together will be recognized at the breakfast for their participation in the program. Bryce Hospital & Central High School; Tuscaloosa Music Club & Buhl Elementary School; Tuscaloosa Medical Society and Alliance & Alberta Elementary School; and Black Warrior Methane & Brookwood Elementary School have been partners since 1989. Additionally Geological Survey of Alabama and Westlawn Middle School have been partners since 1998 and will receive the Decade of Excellence Award. ZF Lemforder Corporation will also be recognized for their participation in the program for ten years.
For additional information contact Adopt-A-School Director, Loo Whitifield, 391-0563 or loo@tuscaloosachamber.com Registrations forms will be available in June. |
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Several area schools have requested additional adopters and one school scheduled to move to their new building needs a partner. South View Middle School will open in August in their new facility located near the intersection of Cypress Creek Road and New Jug Factory. The middle school currently is without an Adopt-A-School partner. Additionally, several schools, including, but not limited to, Lake View Elementary School, Northside Middle School and Walker Elementary School, have requested additional partners.
The Adopt-A-School program is not limited to one or two partners for each school. Particularly during this tough economic era, it is vital to the school systems that the business community continues to offer additional resources and support to the schools. Many businesses may feel intimidated with the daunting task of “adopting an entire school”. However, the “Adopt-A-School” program is designed to facilitate flexibility in allowing each business to provide whatever resources, skills and time they have available. Hence, one partner may choose to participate in two or three activities for the school and additional partners may choose another two or three activities. OR several partners may work together on one large project/activity for the school. 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!
We need you! Why not consider taking an active role as an Adopt-A-School partner? 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! |
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In March 2009, Premier Service Company, Inc., a local Electrical, Heating & Cooling, and Alarm Contractor became an Energy Star Partner. Energy Star is a program developed  through the Environmental Protection Agency to educate consumers and business owners about energy usage and conservation. Energy Star is most recognized by its blue logo found on many of today’s electronics, appliances and building materials signifying that product as being energy efficient.
In cooperation with the Energy Star program, Premier Service Company, Inc. is on a mission to educate citizens of West Alabama on how to conserve energy and save money on their utility bills. It is their belief that it is ever to early to learn about energy conservation and they have begun to take their message to the students of local elementary schools.
The first stop was on May 18, 2009, at Skyland Elementary School in Tuscaloosa. A total of 62 third grade students in four different classrooms received a fun filled educational presentation by Premier Service Company, Inc. on how they and their family can help save energy. Presentation materials consisted of an Energy Saving Guide featuring the much recognized and beloved, Horton the Elephant.  The guide listed very simple and affordable ways that all families can help in the effort to conserve our planet’s energy. Other materials included brochures on specific segments of energy conservation such as lighting, heating & cooling and electronics. The students became active participants in the presentation by asking and answering many questions on the subject of energy. Many students were familiar with some of the topics covered, such as recycling and turning off lights in an unused room. A special informational package designed for parents was sent home with each student.
Premier Service Company, Inc. hopes to continue this educational process by having additional presentations at other local schools during the 2009-2010 school year. For more information on how your school can participate, contact Jennifer Hamner at Premier Service Company, Inc. (752-6332) jrich@psc1202.com or Loo Whitfield (391-0563) loo@tuscaloosachamber.com |
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Maxwell Elementary students who have shown outstanding character were treated to a Good Character Breakfast by their Adopt-A-School Partner, Comfort Inn. Students who attended the breakfast were nominated by their teacher. One student per class was honored for being Respectful, Responsible, and Resourceful. Normally, students are honored each nine weeks, however, this year Comfort Inn hosted an additional breakfast in order to recognize all the students chosen by the faculty. The Comfort Inn staff works extra hard to make the event very special for all the students. |
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In May, West Alabama Bank attended the school assemby to recognize students that made all "A's" at Englewood Elementary School. The bank congratulated  students for their hard work all year long by presenting them with a gold coin and letter from William R. Finney, President and Chief Executive Officer for West Alabama Bank. A total of 218 students from grades 3-5 received this honor. “Englewood would like to thank West Alabama Bank for being an outstanding Adopt-a-School partner and for helping to recognize the success of our students,” commented Jaime Thompson, Library Medial Specialist for Englewood Elementary School. |
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Randall /Reilly Publishing recognized the April and May citizenship winners for "Student of the Month" on Monday morning, May 4th. Mike Reilly introduced each student and parent in attendance, and the employees applauded their accomplishments. The students recognized were Jheralynn Foster, Ashley Stines, Latoria Milligan, Michelle Hamilton, Rena Bell, Harvey Lee, Derrick Dean, and Maria Laister. They were presented plaques, certificates, goody bags filled with gifts. Reilly stated the importance of keeping a positive/winning attitude as he used the example of the horse that just won The Kentucky Derby. This horse was a 50 to 1 odds; therefore, no one expected him to be a winner, but the jockey riding this horse said that he could win. He encouraged the students to continue to be winners even when no one expects them to win.
In recognition of “National Teacher Appreciation Day”, Randall-Reilly employees served an appreciation lunch to the Central High School faculty and staff on May 6th. They enjoyed delicious Bar-B-Que, along with all the trimmings. The faculty and staff were not the only ones served by the Randall-Reilly group. Earlier in the semester, all the Central Juniors who attended all the days of the Graduation Exam were rewarded with a special pizza lunch. |
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On Thursday, May 21st the Junior League of Tuscaloosa participated in the fourth and final Reading Redemption of the  2008-09 School Year. One of the longest running partnership activities, Reading Redemption combines JLT's financial and volunteer resources to reward Holt students for reaching their goals in reading. At the redemption, students "redeem" reading points for brand new books, in part provided by the JLT. The Junior League of Tuscaloosa is so proud to participate in this wonderful opportunity to reward students with books of their choosing for their hard work and love of reading. |
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A wonderful, traditional part of the University Place Elementary School and Alabama Gas Corporation is the PRIDE Kid Program. The acronym PRIDE stands for: Positive, Respectful, Independent, Dependable, and Eager to learn. Students who exemplify these traits are chosen monthly either by their teacher or peers to receive this special recognition. Each month the students chosen are recognized during a school wide assembly. Parents and family members are invited to the assembly and each “PRIDE Kid” receives a ribbon, t-shirt and has the opportunity to have lunch with the principal, Dr. Cameron. This “pizza with the principal” lunch is a special time for the students and helps to influence other students to work hard to be recognized as a PRIDE Kid. Alabama Gas Company provides the ribbons, t-shirts, lunch and representatives from the company also attend the assembly to recognize the students. |
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Fourth graders at Englewood Elementary participated recently in a GLOBE (Global Learning and Observation to Benefit  the Environment) lesson at Shelton State. The students were learning about transect lines and turbidity as part of the GLOBE lessons from the AMSTI (Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative) curriculum. As part of the lessons students collected data from the pond at Shelton State and recorded the data by creating a transect map. Through the investigation, the students learned up close how our world is constantly changing. |
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Vulcan Materials and Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Adopt-A-School partners for Vance Elementary School, each  sponsored a “t-shirt” day for the Vance Elementary School students who traveled to Washington. Each day of the trip the 5th grade students wore a different color t-shirt and both Vulcan and Mercedes were able to help by purchasing t-shirts for the students. According to Vance Elementary School student Katie Jackson, the t-shirts were helpful in keeping the group together. “I loved going to New York and Washington, it was a great trip! I really enjoyed going to the Lincoln Memorial, it was my favorite part. I thought it was very cool that we had a set color shirts. It really helped our group stay with each other,” stated Katie. |
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 Publix #1075 in Northport has worked closely with Northside Middle School faculty to help meet some of the needs of the students. One particular project designed to benefit the entire school was a reading promotion program. During “Love Your Library Month” Ashley Shackleford, coordinator for Publix, spend time with several of the students. “Ashley’s visit with the students encouraged the students to continue their love for reading. It was exciting for the middle school students to hear this from someone other than their parents or teachers,” stated Renee Smith, Northside Middle School teacher.
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During the fall Myrtlewood Elementary School students were challen ged to read a certain number of books during the school year and were promised a special event if they met their goal. Tuscaloosa By-Pass, Adopt-A-School Partner for Myrtlewood agreed to help with the event. During the “Reading Kick Off” program, each student was given a red football, supplied by Tuscaloosa By-Pass, to remind them of their goal. Printed on each football was “Tuscaloosa By-Pass and Myrtlewood Elementary – Partners in Reading.” Later in the spring all students who met or exceeded their goal were rewarded with a trip to a Baron’s baseball game. Tuscaloosa By-Pass sponsored the special trip and Tommy Cleary and Marcus Hartley from Tuscaloosa By-Pass accompanied the students and faculty to the baseball game. |
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Twenty four students from Brookwood Middle School were honored by their Adopt-A-School partner, Alabama  Adventure Park for making great grades. On Thursday, May 14, the middle school students, who maintained all A’s during the school year, spent the day riding the rides and eating hamburgers and hot dogs at the park! Alabama Adventure also contributed to student motivation throughout the year by providing ice cream for each six weeks honor roll celebration and by awarding free tickets to students with perfect attendance during the first forty days of school.
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The students of Davis-Emerson Middle School were given an opportunity to learn about the Economics of Success in a fun way this May when they partnered with Junior Achievement for the 2nd Annual "JA DAY". This program allowed the entire student body of over 400 students to participate in a six lesson program which helped the students explore personal finance and students’ education and career options based on their skills, interests, and values. It also demonstrates the economic benefits of staying in school.
All six lessons were presented on May 6, 2009 by an army of JA volunteers who came and taught a different lesson during each of the school day's six periods. By the end of the day, every student had completed the entire JA curriculum and each received their own Certificate of Participation! There were approximately 20 volunteers from various community businesses who donated their time, talents, and energy to the project. The volunteers also participated in an on-site training the week prior to the program.
The students also spent the week prior to the program getting ready. They were given information about the day to help them be prepared, and were also encouraged to "Dress for Success" on JA DAY. Students were asked to dress up beyond their usual school attire! Those involved in the program feel this helped add to the learning experience for the students, and allowed the students to feel good about themselves during JA DAY.
Students, Teachers, and Community Volunteers at DEMS all think "JA Day" is a valuable learning experience for all involved. Nisha Warbington, counselor at DEMS, encourages all schools who are not currently involved in Junior Achievement to learn more! JA DAY is a great way to do this, but there are other ways as well. If you are involved with a school through, Adopt-A-School or other avenue, please check to see that they have the information needed to partner with JA! It is a great way to foster our young people!!!
For additional information about the JA Program, contact Rosemary Gustin (1-888-879-9310 x110) or Loo Whitfield loo@tuscaloosachamber.com |
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 For the nineteenth consecutive year, golfers will rally in September in support of the Adopt-A-School Program. Mark your calendars and plan to participate in the Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa Adopt-A-School Golf Tournament on Thursday, September 24th. The four man scramble golf tournament will be held at Tuscaloosa Country Club. Both 8:00AM and 1:00 PM shotgun starts will be available. Additional information concerning registration and sponsorship opportunities will be forthcoming.
For additional information, contact Loo Whitfield, loo@tuscaloosachamber.com or 391-0563. |
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