Program Name: Adopt-A-Class
Nominator's Name: Dr. Diane Steinmetz
Nominator's Title: Principal
Nominator's Address: 625 Clifton Avenue, Lakewood, New Jersey 08701
Nominator's Telephone Number: 732-905-3656
Organization Name: Clifton Avenue Grade School
Organization Address: 625 Clifton Avenue, Lakewood, New Jersey 08701
List of Community Partners: Permacel, DPT Labs, Atlantic Mills, SS White Burs, Inc., Town & Country Living, Spherion, Commerce Bank, UBS/Paine Webber, Harold Imports Co., Mr. & Mrs. Gottesman, Mr. Michael Inzelbuch, Gusmer Corp, UACR
The nominated program focuses on the following grade level or area: Elementary School
District: Lakewood
County: Ocean
Address: 625 Clifton Avenue, Lakewood, New Jersey 08701
District Superintendent: Dr. Ernest J. Cannava
District Telephone Number: 732-905-3633
Date of Program Initiation: September, 1999

Area 1: Goals:

This program supports student achievement through its alignment with the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards (NJCCCS) by making learning in the areas of language arts, mathematics and science more relevant. Through our Adopt-A-Class Program all of our students in grades kindergarten through grade six are given the opportunity to meet local business people and hear first hand what these people are doing in our community. At a recent luncheon hosted by our fifth grade students, sponsors spoke of the products their company produced e.g. dental drills and other sophisticated equipment.

The students asked questions and gained insight into all of the needed components that create a successful product and business. Sponsors also shared the characteristics that they look for in their employees. Coupled with good writing skills and math knowledge, the students heard how employers are looking for people who also know and model the pillarsof character education - responsibility, fairness, citizenship, caring, trustworthiness and respect.

Opportunities like this enable our students to understand how important each facet of their curricula is and how it is all interrelated and necessary for achieving an education that will enable them to pursue successful career choices. While NJCCCS identify specific elements of learning, our program will heighten student ability to effectively synthesize and apply what they have learned to achieve life long goals and dreams.

Area 2: Activities:

Currently there are thirteen sponsors in the Adopt-A-Class Program. While they are diverse in background, they all share a common interest in their goal for student achievement. Following are the ten large company sponsors: Permacel, DPT Labs, Atlantic Mills, SS White Burs, Inc., Town and Country Living, Spherion, Commerce Bank, UBS/Paine Webber, Harold Imports Company and Gusmer Corporation. Individual sponsors include Michael Inzelbuch Esq., Mr. and Mrs. Gottesman and the United Adult Communities Residents(UACR) of Lakewood. All of our seven hundred eighty two students participate in the program.

Our sponsors have communicated with our students via letters of introduction and visits to their classrooms. They have come with seasonal treats and wishes to read to the students and thereby get to know them better. Several of the sponsors have participated in our annual Read Across America Project and happily told of what fun it was. Our annual field day is another enjoyable time to get together.

Area 3: Outside Resources:

Each sponsor contributes an average of four hundred dollars to the program. Of that, three hundred dollars is put toward grade level events and the other hundred dollars is held in reserve to purchase field day shirts. One sponsor, Town and Country Living sponsored four classes! Another sponsor, UACR, raised their sponsorship funds by selling chances on a handmade crocheted afghan that was donated by one of its members. This year's contributions totaled seven thousand one hundred and seventy dollars! Of that, sixteen hundred and fifty dollars will go towards the purchase of our field day shirts.

The balance of money needed for the shirts will be paid out of PTO or school budget funds. District funds will pay the transportation costs for the program's grade level trips since these costs far exceed the funding made available by our sponsors.

In addition to PTO and district financial assistance, our sixth grade students help to earn
needed funds for their graduation trip/activities. This Valentine's Day they sold fresh roses and candy roses that were supplied by the PTO . They profited one thousand thirteen dollars and seventy cents which will be applied to their trip costs.

Area 4: Evaluation:

Our students have a new appreciation for community. They realize that people in the community care about them and want to share in their educational experience. Instead of the negative events that are published in the daily news, our sponsors learn first hand the positive things that occur daily in our school.

Our PTO has been inspired by this community support and encouraged to offer further assistance. Our teachers feel supported and happy to share their successes with the community.

Area 5: Stability:

The Adopt-A-Class Program is currently in its fifth year of operation. Six of the thirteen sponsors have been with us since its conception during the 1999-2000 school year. Two others have been with us for three years - the others for one or two years.

Recruiting has been primarily done via one sponsor, Spherion. The contact person, Mr. Richard Darby, actively seeks the continued support of our sponsors. He contacts each sponsor each Fall and also seeks new sponsors. Initially he was a guest reader at our Read Across America Program. He enjoyed the experience and decided that he wanted to do more for our students.

Together we orchestrated the program. Classroom teachers were asked to write a proposal of what they would like to do with the funding. Classes were selected and then added as sponsors increased. Each May our sponsors are invited to a Board of Education Meeting at which time they are presented with a certificate and sincere thanks for their interest and dedication to our students. Each sponsor's name is also printed on the back of every field day shirt. This gives our sponsors additional advertising that is extended throughout the year since our students wear their shirts year round. An article entitled, Help Needed - Want to Adopt A Class that recognized our program, was published in Educational Viewpoints in 2002.

Area 6: Endorsements:

The following are three of the major stakeholders in the school-community partnership program:

"The Adopt-A-Class Program at Clifton Avenue Grade School has provided financial assistance that has helped to provide additional trips and experiences for the students. While this is a great thing far more important is the connection that has been established between the students, teachers, parents and business community. So many good things that occur daily in our schools never receive the attention they deserve. Hopefully, this program will continue to grow and bring more and more neighboring businesses in to work with us and enjoy our successes."

Mr. Joseph Attardi, Assistant Superintendent of Schools

"As the teacher of a class that has been "adopted", I can tell you based on personal, first-hand experience the wonderful opportunity that this program has given to so many students. not only does it give students of lower socioeconomic background a chance to be a part of something that would not be readily available to them, but it provides all involved with an enriched, educational exchange between teacher, student, and the business community. Without the Adopt-A-Class Program, these experiences would not be possible to the children who receive the invaluable lessons and enhanced knowledge that is given to them, These exchanges are beneficial to both the students and the businesses that give back to the community. This is truly a hand-in-hand experience!"

Mrs. Linda Schenck, Teacher

"Each year our class gets adopted by very generous, kind and loving people. I am very thankful each year for others who stop what they're doing to make our lives better. So far I went to the zoo in kindergarten, to the Franklin Institute in 5th grade and now we are planning to go to Medieval Times. Now we kids in Clifton Avenue Grade School have something exciting to look forward to. We should really thank our sponsors because without them where would we be, no trips, no field day either, just sitting in our seats, getting a bundle of work. Therefore, we should really be grateful for having a great school, and even greater sponsors."

Victor Gonzalez, Sixth Grade Student

Steinmetz, D. (2002). Help Needed - Want to Adopt A Class. Educational Viewpoints,
Vol. 22 No. 2, 27-28.