Business and Education Partnerships in Action

Carver students show their appreciation to AMSEC

Carver Elementary School music teacher Mary Merritt took her students on a field trip of thanks to Northrop Grumman’s AMSEC division last December. Many of the needy families at Carver received Angel Tree gifts for the holidays. Some of the presents included dolls, bikes, clothes, toy cars, walkmans, footballs and jackets.

Carol Davis, AMSEC’s business contact sent a note of thanks to Jeff Armstrong, assistant principal of Carver. She said, “Mary Merritt and her team did a great job coordinating the music program.”

According to Davis, “The crowd was large and the employees were incredibly appreciative of the effort made and talent of the kids.” Many AMSEC employees said that Carver’s presentation was the best elementary performance that they had ever seen.

Jeff Armstrong, Carver Assistant Principal, and AMSEC representatives Carol Davis, Kinsey Hall, and Pam Ponton

View video of Carver students caroling (13 min. program)

View School Board highlights video featuring Passage's REMAX business partnership (Get Quicktime)

Passage Middle School flying high with REMAX

Passage Middle School recently celebrated their students’ rising achievement in attendance, reading and math, with a chance to go even higher. Nik Long of Channel 47’s School Board Spotlight said, “Things are really taking off here at Passage Middle School – the new home of the International Baccalaureate program. Students and staff are flying high with excitement.”

Realtor Lynn Grimsley agreed to bring the REMAX balloon to coordinate with the school’s annual theme of “Around the World in 80 Days.” Grimsley said, “Any time we have an opportunity to get the balloon to a school we always try to take it.” The balloon theme and how it works, explained Principal Kipp Rogers, was tied into the everyday instruction at Passage.

A few students were fortunate enough to ride in the balloon, with selection based on reading an advanced book and being tested on it, perfect attendance and math grades.

“Education is the way for kids to achieve. To reward the kids for their reading and educational achievements is over the top for me,” said Grimsley.

Rogers said he “was sure that the balloon would be the source of discussion around the dinner table. That’s what we want – kids to be excited about coming to school.”

View School Board highlights video featuring Dozier's partnerships with Luigi's Restaurant and Hall Ford (Get Quicktime)

Luigi's Restaurant and Hall Ford reward Dozier students with perfect attendance

The formula for success at Dozier Middle School comes from small gestures from faculty and staff, plus help from the community to equal perfect attendance.

Felicia Barnett, Principal at Dozier, said “the students with perfect attendance are always recognized in a special ceremony, but this year we wanted to step it up a notch and do something extra special.” All 432 students who achieved perfect attendance for the first marking period, had their names placed in a hat, she explained. Five names were chosen from each grade level so that 15 students received a special lunch.

The community was eager to get involved to celebrate the students. Math teacher Mike Bussey spoke with Luigi’s co-owner, Sonny Chiarello, who was glad to help.

Chiarello said, “A person being in business knows not every employee has perfect attendance. But, these kids have gone to school every day and have done the work. So, as a business owner in the area, I want to be sure that these kids get recognized, so they are getting to have lunch here at Luigi’s.”

Barnett said that she is excited to have another venture with the school’s business partners. “Luigi’s donated the lunches and Hall Ford donated the transportation with courtesy vans. Seeing the community partnering with our schools to do what is right for kids really makes a difference.”

Become a partner today! Educating tomorrow’s work force is everybody’s business!