COMMITTEE SPOTLIGHT

Adopt-a-School Committee:
Enriching the Lives and Education of the Children at B.C. Elmore

By Gary Alfred

The Adopt-a-School Committee was established 17 year ago and currently consists of 13 members brought together by the common goal of helping school children in need of educational stimulus and mentoring. Committee co-chairs Gary Alfred and Philip Sellers, along with the rest of the committee and a host of volunteers, provide tutoring and mentoring for the middle school students at B.C. Elmore.

Each year the HBA and the Adopt-a-School Committee organize a long list of programs and opportunities for these children. Not only does the committee provide tutoring in reading and math, but they also host reading incentive parties for the children who read a required number of books, field trips including the Museum of Natural Science, and help to accumulate entries for a school newsletter. The HBA staff works with B.C. Elmore’s administration office to coordinate a program called I.D.E.A., an interactive discussion between the HBA, Harris County doctors, and the 6th grade students on the legal and medical consequences of drug abuse. The committee also organizes a mock trial program for the 8th grade students and a courthouse art installation, where the HBA will work with the art teacher to put art by a B.C. Elmore student on public display at the Civil Courthouse and the Family Law Center. The committee oversees a school supply donation, provides an in-school performance by the Young Audiences of Houston, organizes a book donation, arranges a career day, and hosts a day of etiquette training.

This year the Adopt-a-School Committee plans to “raise the bar” in terms of the commitment to the students and with regard to what is expected of the students. “Exposure” and “expectation” are two themes for the year. The co-chairs are excited to increase the students’ level of exposure to their HBA tutors and mentors, to cultural programming around the city, and to other local professionals (including the possible participation of local professional athletes to provide additional exposure opportunities for the students).

In addition, the Adopt-a-School Committee is planning more off-campus field trips as increased reading incentives. To obtain these incentives the students are expected to work harder, to challenge themselves, and to clearly step up as leaders in their classrooms and communities. The committee will assist the students with developing more efficient time-management, organizational, and work skills in both the academic and interpersonal areas. In sum, the committee is seeking to help the “total” student. With that, they are confident the students will learn to set goals, apply themselves, and expect more of themselves to achieve those goals.

There is no doubt, 2009-2010 will be an exciting year for both the Adopt-A-School Committee and the kids at B.C. Elmore.

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