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• • Welcome Aboard McAlister's Deli
• • Adopt-A-School Needs You!
• • 2010 Adopt-A-School Steering Committee Begins New Year
• • January Is School Board Recognition Month
• • Dr. John Hinton Named 2009 Alabama All-State School Board Member
• • Spring Semester Adopt-A-School Coordinator Meetings
• • United Way and Adopt-A-School Partner to Promote "Read Across America Day 2010"
• • Educator Appreciation Week at Barnes and Noble
• • Adopt-A-School Partners Serve as Judges for Magnet School Spelling Bee
• • Partners Work Together for Phonebook Recycling Program
• • Black Warrior Methane Provides Christmas for Several Brookwood Elementary Students
• • Taylorville Primary, First United Security Bank and Bailey's TaeKwonDo Celebrate Christmas
• • Christmas Celebrations at Vance Elementary School
• • Recycle Old Phone Books Now
• • PLEASE REMEMBER...

Welcome to our newest Adopt-A-School Partner – McAlister’s Deli!  McAlister’s Deli and Lake View Elementary School will have an “Adoption Celebration” on Tuesday, January 26^th at McAlister’s Deli in Colonial Promenade in McCalla.  The event, scheduled for 6:00-8:00 pm, will kick off the new partnership between McAlister’s Deli and Lake View Elementary School. 

Both the McAlister’s Deli in McCalla and the McAlister’s Deli on 15^th Street will partner with Lake View. To celebrate the new partnership, 20% of all sales on January 26^th (5:00 - 10:00 p.m.)  placed at either McAlister’s location will benefit Lake View Elementary.  The 20% incentive is in addition to the “kids eat free” promotion currently in effect for the month of January.  So give your kitchen a break and dine in or take out, but support our latest partnership and purchase your meal anytime between 5:00 –10:00 p.m. at McAlister’s on 15^th Street or McAlister’s in McCalla on Tuesday, January 26^th. 

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Have you ever wondered about involving your business as a partner with 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. Several schools that have only one partner are in need of another partner.

Also, additional partners are needed for Tuscaloosa Center for Technology.   TCT is a unique because students from area high schools attend the school for one or two periods each day. We're looking for business partners to adopt specific career clusters within the school like these:  Transportation, Distribution and Logistics Career Cluster (includes Automotive Technology); Agri-Construction Career Cluster (includes carpentry and landscape); Cosmetology Career Cluster; Architecture and Construction Career Cluster (includes drafting design and architecture); Electrical Technology Career Cluster; Arts, Audio, Video Technology and Communications Career Cluster (includes TV production and digital design); Masonry; Welding; Health Science Career Cluster.

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!

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The Adopt-A-School program is a division of the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce and was developed through a partnership with the Tuscaloosa City and County School Systems.  The purpose of the program is to utilize the human resources and talents of the business community to strengthen, enhance and enrich the quality of education in our public schools.  The Adopt-A-School Steering Committee is responsible for the overall program and particularly for establishing the goals and long range needs for the program; drafting the annual budget; acquiring the necessary funding; recommending policy; and working with the Adopt-A-School Director to ensure implementation of policies and programs as approved. 

The Adopt-A-School Steering Committee consists of volunteers representing both the business community and the education arena.  Each committee member serves a three-year term and in addition to serving on the steering committee, members are also asked to work on at least one subcommittee.  The education representatives are selected by the City and County Superintendents and business representatives are chosen from the businesses that support the Adopt-A-School program as an adopter or sustainer. 

 
Joel Lake of JamisonMoneyFarmer, PC serves as chairman of the committee for 2010.  Chamber and business representatives for 2010 are: Dr. Camille Cochrane; Dr. Peggy Collins; Ms. Amanda Entrekin; Ms. Carolyn Fritz; Ms. Nicole Henderson; Mr. Chris Hope; Ms. Dawn House; Ms. Judi Howell; Ms. Kathleen Hughes; Ms. Gloria Lamon; Ms. Ginny Lee; Dr. Polly Moore; Ms. Sherri Phillips; Mr. Tom Scroggins; Ms. Rhesha Smith and Mr. Morrow Thomley.  Representing the school systems on the committee are:  Dr. Zachary Barnes; Ms. Ingrid Edwards; Dr. Isaac Espy; Ms. Vertis Giles-Brown; Ms. Gwen Harper; Ms. Kathleen Hughston; Ms. Shelly McGee; Ms. Jacqueline McNealey; Mr. John Merrill; Mr. Marlon Murray; Ms. Brenda Parker; Mr. Mark Patterson; Ms. Kaye Ridgeway; Dr. Barbara Spencer; Ms. Tiffany Spencer; Ms. Missy Stephens; and Ms. Shelia Stromberg.

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Distinguished service has earned Dr. John Hinton, a member of the Tuscaloosa County school board, the Alabama Association of School Boards’ highest honor.  Hinton has been named a 2009 Alabama All-State School Board Member and he was honored with a plaque and special recognition during the AASB Convention in December.

Dr. Hinton has actively participated in the AASB School Board Member Academy, an ongoing school for school board members that features four achievement levels.  As president of the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education, he serves more than 17,800 students and nearly 2,100 empolyees on 32 campuses and at the central office.  Since his election to the board, the State Department of Education has consistently ranked the system as one of the most efficient in the state and notes the system’s continued increase in standardized test scores. 

In his nomination letter, Dr. Frank Costanzo noted, “As a former classroom teacher, supervisor, principal, assistant superintendent and current board member, Dr. Hinton is recognized throughout Tuscaloosa County as one of the most knowledgeable and well respected educators in all of west Alabama. 

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The final two Coordinator Meetings are scheduled for February 11^th at the Bank of Tuscaloosa Main Branch and March 9^th place to be determined.  Topics for the February meeting will be “Roundtable Discussions & Literacy Activities.” This meeting is a perfect opportunity to “share and steal” partnership ideas through the roundtable information exchange.  Additionally, ideas for literacy activities and “National Read Across America” ideas will be discussed. 

The meeting in March will focus on ideas for “Partnership Appreciation Week”.  Information concerning “Partnership Appreciation Week” and ideas for celebrating twenty-five years of the Adopt-A-School Program will be explored.   

Reserve your spot at least two days prior to each meeting.  Click Here to register.

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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 Day" which is a reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on Dr. Seuss's birthday, March 2^nd.

Celebrating "Read Across America Day" is one vehicle through which many Adopt-A-School partners support reading programs and challenge students to make reading a lifelong habit.  The “Day of Action” volunteer program sponsored by the United Way of West Alabama placed several hundred volunteer readers in area schools last spring.  This year in a joint effort to raise community awareness about literacy issues in our area, the United Way of West Alabama and the Adopt-A-School program will work together to place volunteer readers in every elementary school in our area on March 2, 2010. 

Save the date and plan to participate.  Volunteers from across the area are encouraged to participate.  Information regarding the registration process will be forthcoming.  For additional information, contact Adopt-A-School Director, Loo Whitfield or United Way Director of Public Relations, Rusty Smith. 

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Hurry before it’s too late!  Educator Appreciation Week ends Sunday, January24th.  Teachers receive a 25% discount on books and gift items and 10% off DVD’s and CD’s.  Teachers must have a Barnes & Noble educator discount card or a valid school staff ID to take advantage of the offer.  For additional information contact Rhesha Smith, Barnes & Noble Community Relations Manager (205-345-0872).

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The Tuscaloosa Magnet Middle and Elementary School Spelling Bees were held on December 15 and 16, respectively.  Laura Hendrix, Librarian for the Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools, was the coordinator and correctly annunciated the words during the competition. The Judges were Alice Hinds, Dr. Lea Yerby and Thomas Struthwolf of The University of Alabama's College of Community Health Sciences, Adopt-A-School Partner for Tuscaloosa Magnet School.  Six middle school students competed, and Quentin Savage, a 7th grader, was pronounced the winner after sixteen rounds. In the elementary school there were fifteen spellers including children from first through fifth grade. Sayumi Mahawanniarachchi, a 3rd grader, won with "palatable," a word from the ninth grade study list!  Sayumi and Quentin will go on to represent TMS at the county level spelling bee on February 1, 2010. We wish them the best of luck!

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Skyland Elementary School and their Adopt-A-School partner, Hilton Garden Inn are working together to collect phonebooks for the “Phonebook Recycling Program” during the month January. The recycling program is sponsored by AT&T and several schools throughout the city and county school systems participate.

Schools that collect the most recycled phonebooks win cash prizes. Individual students that collect the largest number of phonebooks also receive awards.  Hilton representative Jeremy Upton and Skyland coordinator Sonya Henley appeared on WVUA Weekly Highlight segment on January 14^th to promote the recycling event and encourage the community to participate. 

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On Monday, December 21^st, several Brookwood Elementary School Students visited their Adopt-A-School partner, Black Warrior Methane, for the annual Christmas party.  Students selected by the school staff, traveled to the BWM Field office and were greeted there by Santa Claus and several of his helpers.  Carolyn Willard, Santa's primary helper and Adopt-A-School coordinator, organized the event for the Brookwood students.  Santa personally distributed gifts to the students and not only did the students receive lots of toys, each student also received a new coat and a new pair of shoes.  The Christmas party has become an annual event and because of the generosity of the employees of Black Warrior Methane, many students from Brookwood Elementary School had a very Merry Christmas.

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On December 17, 2009 Adopt-A-School partners, First United Security Bank and Bailey’s TaeKwonDo provided Christmas joy for six students from Taylorville Primary School.  Each partner adopted three children from Taylorville Primary and hosted a Christmas Party for the children and their parents.   Subway provided sandwiches, chips, cookies and drinks for the event and Mary Smith, Krista Collins and Brandee Curry all from First United were on hand to help with the meal.  A surprise visit from Santa Claus made the celebration complete. Each student had the opportunity to talk to Santa and have a photo taken with him. 

After the excitement with Santa Claus and lunch, Chris Jackson, Adrian Holliman, and Justin Hubbard all from James Bailey’s demonstrated a variety of TaeKwonDo moves and skills.  The students cheered as they watched Mr. Hubbard break boards using very special TaeKwonDo moves and each child received an autographed broken board.  “It was a blessing for each of us and our businesses to take part in a small way to help make the holiday season more meaningful and special for these students from Taylorville Primary,” stated Mary S. Smith, Adopt-A-School coordinator for First United Security Bank

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Due to the difficult times in our economy many families are struggling and the holidays could be dreaded time of year. But thanks to Vulcan Materials, Southland International Trucks, and Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, the holidays were more enjoyable for some in the Vance Community.  Each Adopt-A-School partner provided gift cards, funds and gifts for some needy children from Vance Elementary.  Not only was the counselor’s office overflowing with gifts purchased for selected students, some students participated in a shopping trip in Tuscaloosa, where they shopped for many needed and wanted items.  The students enjoyed lunch after their shopping excursion. 

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Tuscaloosa City and County Schools are collecting phone books for their 2010 Phone Book Recycling Competition.  The annual event sponsored by the City of Tuscaloosa Environmental Services Department and AT&T ends on January 31^st.  Schools compete for a share of $4000 in cash donated by AT&T.  Winners are chosen by the most books collected and by the number of students enrolled in the school.  Any type phone book is accepted and donated books should be dropped off at any participating school.  According to Stacy Pugh, associate director of the City of Tuscaloosa Environmental Services, the goal of the program is to collect 25 percent of the phone books that are distributed in Tuscaloosa. 

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