Partnership Press
Fall 2014
Newsletter of the Anchorage School Business Partnership Program • (907) 339-7278 • www.asdk12.org/depts/sbp
Banking partners: Elementary schools Aurora & First National Bank of Alaska, JBER Baxter & Denali Alaskan Federal Credit Union College Gate & First National Bank, Parkway Eagle Academy Charter & First National Bank, Eagle River Fairview & Northrim, Midtown Family Partnership & Credit Union 1 Fire Lake & Northrim, Eagle River Homestead & Wells Fargo, Eagle River Klatt & Wells Fargo, Huffman Mountain View & Credit Union 1 Muldoon & First National Bank of Alaska Rogers Park & Denali Alaska Federal Credit Union Sand Lake & Wells Fargo Tyson & Credit Union 1
Middle schools Clark & Credit Union 1, Mountain View Clark & Wells Fargo Mears & Wells Fargo, Sand Lake Central & Key Bank Romig & First National Bank of Alaska
High schools Bartlett & Denali Alaskan Federal Credit Union East & Wells Fargo, Russian Jack Whaley & First National Bank of Alaska West & Credit Union 1
Wells Fargo Seventeen Wells Fargo bankers took over teaching duties at North Star Elementary School during the sixth annual JA in a Day on April 22. The financial education outreach effort was part of the American Bankers Association Teach Children to Save Day.
“Our goal is to help young Alaskans learn how to save and spend money responsibly so they can make smart, confident personal financial decisions throughout their lives,” said Wells Fargo Alaska Region President Joe Everhart. “We hope North Star students develop life-long positive financial habits as a result of what they learn during JA in a Day.” Last year more than 400 North Star students learned important lessons about saving and budgeting through Junior Achievement’s civics and economics curriculum and Wells Fargo’s Hands on Banking program. Wells Fargo has maintained a school-business partnership for the last six years with North Star that began with the inaugural Wells Fargo JA in a Day and has expanded to include 14 volunteers reading to kindergarten and first-grade students every week as part of Wells Fargo’s Reading First program. These volunteers have read and then donated more than 240 books to hundreds of kids! Claudia Holmes and Josh Vandagriff with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage also volunteer as mentors for North Star students through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska. Continued on page 10
Executive Board of Directors Leverette Hoover, Co-Chair JJ Harrier, Co-Chair Sabra Million, Treasurer Dora Wilson, Secretary Michael Graham, ASD Representative Andrew Halcro, Chamber of Commerce Representative
Board of Directors Jan Abbott Melissa Bassham Jay Blury Kayla Craft Adele Daniels Heidi Embley Steve Halloran Phyllis Halverson James Kirkland
Diane Maples Karin Parker Laarni Power Jeff San Juan Brian Singleton Anita Stevens Marla Thompson Tim Thompson
Advisory Board Bobby Craig Judith Crotty Bettye Davis Nikki Giordano Natasha von Imhof David Kennedy Sheila Lomboy
Kathleen Plunkett Lynn Shaver David Springgate Tara Stevens Andie Stone Tim Sullivan Julie Vincek
Honorary Board Tam Agosti-Gisler James Blasingame Bob Dickson Ernie Hall Jeff Leonard Rich Owens
Mark Rhodes Sharon Sellens Barbara Stallone Jim Utter Chris Wilson
Executive Director Cheri Spink 339-7278 sbpartnerships@gmail.com
2
School House Rock kicks off the season This Halloween Night, Alaska Junior Theater is combining nostalgia, entertainment and seasonal fun to make the Atwood Concert Hall in downtown Anchorage the very best place for families to be for the holiday. The evening will begin with AJT’s Season 33 kickoff show, “Schoolhouse Rock Live!” at 7 p.m. A Childsplay production from Arizona, “Schoolhouse…” brings to the live stage the Emmy award winning songs of the 1970s animated show. Such numbers as “Conjunction Junction,” “I’m Just a Bill,” and “Interplanet Janet” continue to entertain, educate and thrill young audiences. After a fun-filled hour of song and dance, AJT will host its third annual Halloween Trick-or-Treat Party on all four lobby floors of the Atwood Concert Hall. Open to the public, everyone is encouraged to come in costume and trick-or-treat with AJTs supporters and friends. For more information on upcoming shows, or hosting a Halloween booth, call Alaska Junior Theater at 272-7546. For tickets visit akjt.org or call 263-ARTS.
Odom Corporation awards Bartlett with a grant The Odom Corporation which is the parent company for School Business Partner Aurora Vending, has awarded a grant of $80,000 to support improvements to the athletic sports complex at Bartlett High School. Funds will be used to install an electronic scoreboard and to make other improvements to the athletic sports complex. These improvements will make it possible for Bartlett to host varsity football and flag football games. This grant will directly benefit the 1,600 students at Bartlett as well as visiting students from other high schools. School Business Partnerships
Leverette Hoover and Siemens Industry employees pose with their Gold Pan award.
School business partners are winners of the coveted Chamber of Commerce Gold Pan awards Leverette Hoover of Siemens Industry Inc. and Michelle Tabler of the Better Business Bureau were honored at this year’s Anchorage Chamber of Commerce Gold Pan Awards. Selected from a host of businesses and volunteers, Hoover and Tabler were selected for their volunteer contributions to our community. Congratulations Leverette and Michelle!
Better Business Bureau corner
As in the recent Scholastic School Supply scam, con artists often use names that are similar to well-known businesses to make their cons seem legitimate. In this case, scammers used a name familiar to teachers and students-the legitimate business is Scholastic, Inc. The fake invoices-totaling $647.50 for textbooks that were never ordered or received were sent to schools throughout the country, including in Alaska. This con is similar to the well-known Yellow Pages scam where fake invoices are sent to businesses for a non-existent yellow pages ad. In 2013, unsuspecting office personnel paid the invoices, resulting in a $14 million loss to small businesses. Better Business Bureau urges schools and other organizations to be careful before paying any invoice. Centralize purchasing and billing so the person paying the invoices knows who the vendors are and what has been ordered. Check out the company that is sending the invoice by doing a basic Internet search.
Michelle Tabler and her Gold Pan Award.
Partnership Press
To learn more about common scams, check out BBB Scam Stopper www.bbb.org/council/bbb-scam-stopper. 3
United Way of Anchorage volunteers greet returning students and staff with colorful and positive messages to start the year. Chalk the Walk, an event organized by United Way of Anchorage brought a score of volunteers on a lovely sunny day to local public schools to chalk positive messages on the sidewalk entrances to the schools for the first day of school. “The volunteers were amazing and jumped right in and made some incredible pieces of art and chalked positive messages that will likely put smiles on the school children as they head back to school. There were at least 11 sites that were reported to us that folks adopted as their own and we are getting numerous Facebook posts floating in from community members that chalked their own sites. All around a success and we are already thinking about expanding the efforts for next year,” said Tim Flynn, Education Impact Coordinator, United Way of Anchorage.
Gladys Wood shows their appreciation to Tastee Freez Gladys Wood showed their appreciation to Rich Owens of Tastee Freez for his generosity and involvement with their school by “winterizing” the flower gardens at Tastee Freez. Armed with orange garbage bags, fifth-grade students from Mrs. Zorea’s class and parent volunteers cleaned out the beds and then created a photo collage to share with him. “Rich is such a wonderful person and a great School Business Partner. He gives so much and we give so little back.” Audrey Chapman, Gladys Wood Elementary. 4
School Business Partnerships
Scenic Park Elementary students perform at the Confucius Day Celebration UAA Confucius Institute hosted an evening of traditional Chinese Dance, Kung Fu, cultural music and performances to celebrate Confucius Day on September 23 at the UAA Fine Arts Building Recital Hall. Included in the ceremony were student performers from Scenic Park Elementary School. The UAA Confucius Institute shares its culture and language at Scenic Park and Bartlett High School. In the schools they organize Chinese celebrations, and mentoring. In the summer, the Confucious Institute has enabled high school students to travel to China. This school business partnership has broadened the experiences and cultural awareness of our students and through events like Confucius Day the students were provided an opportunity to give something in return.
Orthopedic Physicians of Anchorage keeping East High athletes safe Orthopedic Physicians of Anchorage (OPA) has been a huge part of East High’s healthier and successful football team for several years. OPA provides physical trainers to watch and care for East’s players during practice and games. The players feel more confident knowing they have professional help near by to assist them when needed and someone who can assist them with taping and bandaging to avoid injuries. The goal for trainers, coaches and players is injury prevention and education. OPA provides a tremendous service to the school and football program. Partnership Press
5
School Business Partners are treated to a concert from the Lake Otis chorus.
Lake Otis Elementary and their partners are off to a good start Principal Doug Grey and School Business Partner coordinator Jen Stoneburner hosted a gathering of business partners in October to talk about Lake Otis Elementary School goals, challenges and successes. They thanked the partners for their contributions of time and resources and treated them to a concert by the Lake Otis chorus and a student led tour of the school. Partners had a chance to share experiences and to make plans together for the coming year. In attendance were representatives from United Way of Anchorage, Midtown Family Connection, Lake Otis PTA, and YMCA of Anchorage.
The Husky Helpers (student leaders) gave very informative tours of the school to the School Business Partners. 6
School Business Partnerships
Dimond HS staff, PTSA, student government representatives and business partner representatives from Tastee Freez, Stantec, 3M, Haliburton, Dimond Alumni Foundation, Orthopedic Physicians Anchorage and Bagoys.
Dimond High School reaches out to partners Dimond High School invited their business partners for a lunch hosted by the School Business Partnership program and the PTSA on September 26 so they could meet the school’s new principal, Tina Johnson-Harris, the student government representatives, PTSA and key staff members to have a conversation about what is happening at Dimond this year. John Snead, School Business Partnership Coordinator said “This is the first time we have all met face to face. I talk to many of these partners often but never get a chance to meet them in person. “ Partners were given many ideas for ways they could
get involved with the school and were given a chance to share ideas for meaningful ways the school could reciprocate. Student leaders offered to send service clubs to help sweep, rake or plant flowers for the partners. “No tee-shirts or plaques” responded one of the guests. Other partners in the room nodded their heads in agreement. They all agreed that the best thank you were hand written personal notes. The business partners in attendance included Tastee Freez, Stantec, 3M, Halliburton, Dimond Alumni Foundation, Orthopedic Physicians Anchorage and Bagoys.
Thank You Great Harvest Bread Company “Sometimes the short weeks feel like the longest weeks. That’s what many felt the week after Labor Day when we, the Romig staff, dragged ourselves into the staff meeting after school. The mood in the library instantly brightened at the sight of the delicious bread and cookies donated on short notice by our wonderful School Business Partner, Great Harvest Bread Company. What a delightful and welcome surprise. It’s often small signs of appreciation like this that make a big difference to the Romig family who work so hard in the service of kids. Thank you to all who work at Great Harvest Bread.” Frances Lucas, Romig Middle School teacher. Partnership Press
North Star Elementary students let Great Harvest Bread Company owner Dirk Sisson know how much they appreciate his partnership with a surprise visit and a poster.
7
The year is off to a great start with military partners Air Force and Army representatives from JBER and principals met at the King Career Center to make plans for the new school year. Anchorage School District currently has 29 military unit partnerships and more in the workings. The partnerships are all unique to the individual schools and unit partners. Military partners have helped students rebuild planes, have organized after school programs, tutored students, helped with field days and special events and much more. This year at least one unit plans to communicate with their school partner via Skype when they are deployed. The students plan to send care packages and letters. These partnerships play a vital role in the lives and successes of thousands of students in the Anchorage School District.
8
School Business Partnerships
Troy Jarvis of Lithia Chrysler Jeep Dodge of South Anchorage, Mayor Dan Sullivan, Michael Miller, Food Bank of Alaska, and Andrew Halcro, president of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce gather at the Food Bank in honor of hunger awareness and school attendance month.
Hunger awareness and school attendance month Mayor Dan Sullivan, Michael Miller, Executive Director of the Food Bank, Anchorage Chamber of Commerce President Andrew Halcro and Troy Jarvis of Lithia Chrysler Jeep Dodge of South Anchorage gather at the food bank to recognize September as attendance and hunger awareness month.
According to the Food Bank of Alaska, 80,000 Alaskans go hungry every night. Each September, United Way organizes a food drive that includes schools and businesses in Anchorage to help fill the Food Bank pantry.
Troy Jarvis was present to represent the School Business Partners that have collectively stepped up to provide recognition to students with perfect attendance. The attendance recognition program takes place throughout the school year with awards given quarterly. The partners include GCI, IBEW, For Fun Alaska and Lithia Chrysler Jeep Dodge of South Anchorage and the prizes include airline miles, ultimate field days, iPads and a jeep. All grade levels are involved. The business partner sponsors want to encourage students to go to school every day so they can be successful and to learn how to become a reliable employee in the future. Romig Middle School students collected 2.074 items for the Food Bank in three days as part of the United Way Food Drive. Partnership Press
9
Banking partners
continued from page 1.
Wells Fargo continued “Our Wells Fargo readers love to visit the classrooms and share their love of reading with kids,” said Holmes. “One of our volunteer readers, Michelle Froehle, was at the grocery store when a kindergartner recognized her and exclaimed, ‘You read to me!’ and introduced Michelle to her mother. How fun is that?!”
10
“Our partners at Wells Fargo - Eagle River not only know their numbers, they know their letters too. Every year they graciously provide a judge for our school’s spelling bee.” —Barbara Nagengast, Homestead Elementary School
School Business Partnerships
Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union ‘Get Real’ Financial Reality Fair at Chugiak High School Cheri Spink accepts a $2500 donation from David Kennedy and Judith Crotty of Wells Fargo in support of Anchorage School Business Partnerships.
“East High School’s longest School Business Partner is Wells Fargo Bank. They have been active partners for 15 years. East High has a small Wells Fargo satellite within the school where students are able to open accounts, make deposits and withdrawals. The satellite is managed by teacher, Trudy Keller. In her marketing class, students are well trained in banking and complete student/customer transactions. Students benefit from the partnership by receiving hands-on training and on-the-job experiences. It also teaches students money management. Wells Fargo staff attend various East events including Freshmen Fair, College and Career Fair and Back to School night.” —Kim Liland, East High School
“Wells Fargo Bank provides an online Hands on Banking program which I use in the classroom. They also have helped with mock interviews and presentations.” —Lori Miller, Gruening Middle School
Partnership Press
Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union (MVFCU) hosted a ‘Get Real’ Financial Reality Fair at Chugiak High School. The fair was a success with nearly 45 young adults attending. Volunteers from MVFCU coached each of the students through an individual fictitious life scenario; helping them realize on their own the answer to the age old classroom question: Why do we have to learn this? Many were shocked at what it took to live on their own. Here are a few things students had to say:
“This was a fun way to get a reality check!”, “The Wheel of Reality showed us that you need to have a plan for unexpected expenses.” The fair made a huge difference for many students and most likely helped save some of them from costly mistakes in their future.
“Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union staff come out and put on a financial fair and are super speakers in our classes in addition to being at our career fairs.” —Valerie Ekberg-Brown, Chugiak High School
“First National Bank of Eagle River provides judges for various competitions, food for Breakfast, Blanket and a Book, donations for fundraising activities and volunteers read to students and talk to them about saving money.” —Kitty Logan, Eagle Academy Charter School 11
Northrim Bank Northrim Bank is an enthusiastic partner with Fairview Elementary. These are various activities that Northrim employees are involved with: Back to school BBQ A large group of volunteers helped set-up and then prepare and serve 400+ hotdogs to students and families. Chips, condiments and drinks were also provided. Math night Northrim employees helped run the Trail Mix Fractions table at this event. Students learned how to work with fractions in order to complete the trail mix recipe.
Fairview choirsings for customers The Fairview Chorus sang at several Northrim locations during Holiday Open House events. Teach children to save classes
Turkey raffle Northrim provided 50 turkeys to be raffled off to students during the week of thanksgiving. This was 10 more than the previous year. In addition to the turkeys, Northrim volunteers held a photo shoot to encourage the students to complete K-12 by posing with a sign showing their anticipated graduation year. Approximately 50 photos were printed, including group shots of friends and students with their families. The team also delivered two large boxes of warm weather gear collected through a clothing drive to help children who come to school ill-prepared for the weather. Alaska outdoors family night Northrim staff volunteered at this event to run booths, including one for making s’mores. Anchorage museum fieldtrip
Northrim employees participated in the 18th annual Teach Children to Save Day, a national campaign sponsored by the American Bankers Association during Financial Literacy Month (April). The volunteers taught lessons for 440 Kindergarten – sixth-grade students at Fairview Elementary and Denali Elementary’s Campfire Program. Each student who participated got a Northrim Kids Club pencil and a fun item to take home to remember the lessons learned. Dr. Seuss Family Night & Fur Rondy ice cream eating contest Fairview’s principal, Daniel Barker competed in the Northrim Ice Cream Eating Contest at Fur Rondy, just days after several employees volunteered at the school’s Dr. Seuss themed Family night. Achievement certificates Northrim prints the student achievement certificates each quarter for Fairview.
Northrim provided a contribution that allowed students in the Kindergarten and fourth-grade classes to make a trip to the Anchorage Museum. 12
School Business Partnerships
Credit Union 1 Through the Anchorage School Business Partnership program, Credit Union 1 enjoys strong relationships with West High School, Clark Middle School, William Tyson and Mountain View elementary schools. At West, they operate a CU1 Learning Lab, where students can stop by to learn about financial literacy – from the basics about checking accounts and budgeting to more involved topics such as credit scores and lending. Student participation is encouraged through The Project– a quarterly contest requiring the completion of assignments such as pop quizzes, budgeting booklets and essays on financial literacy – with the chance to earn major prizes such as an iPad, a PlayStation4 or gift cards. These learning opportunities are presented in a fun, engaging ways during events such as Popcorn Wednesday, where students stop by the lab to enjoy free popcorn every week. Each semester at Clark, various CU1 employees visit an Economic class weekly, teaching the students about checking and savings accounts, credit cards and loans, investing, fraud prevention, online security and jobreadiness skills such as how to create a resume, how to dress for success and interview skills. At the elementary schools, CU 1 participates in a variety of events; helping with open house nights, family nights, STEM nights, multicultural nights, community dinners, spelling bees, reading carnivals and more. Last spring, Glynn Cater, CU1’s programmer analyst, won the Executive Award at the Spirit of Tomorrow Award for his efforts to inspire Alaska’s youth to pursue their future goals and foster collaboration between local schools and businesses. Credit Union 1 is proud to be an adamant supporter of the next generation of leaders!
Partnership Press
13
2014 Executive Exchange Event The Anchorage School Business Partnership Executive Exchange will take place the months of October and November on a day that is mutually agreeable to both participants. THE GOAL OF THE EXECUTIVE EXCHANGE IS TO:
• Develop strategies for how our business and education communities can work together.
• Build stronger workforce relationships, understanding the successes and challenges of both worlds.
• Discuss the specific needs and demands for a quality education and a well-trained workforce in the 21st century.
HOW IT WORKS:
• Interested business and community leaders are paired with a school executive.
• The school executive will host the business or community leader for a half day.
• The business leader will host a school executive (and possibly a student) for one half day.
• An interested student may be selected to shadow during the business and school visits.
• Participants will give a 2-3 minute presentation on their exchange at the 2014 Executive Exchange luncheon.
The 2014 Executive Exchange Luncheon is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 2 at the King Career Center, located at 2650 E. Northern Lights Blvd. Lunch will be prepared and served by Culinary Art students. James Kirkland, Alaska VA Healthcare System and Cesslye Williams, Clark Middle School.
Sign up online at: www.asdk12.org/depts/sbp/ or fax the application on the following page to 742-4401.
14
School Business Partnerships
2014 Executive Exchange Event Application Name ______________________________________________________________________________ Title _______________________________________________ Business/Organization/School_ ___________________________________________________________ Mailing address _ _____________________________________________________________________ Zip ____________________ Email address ________________________________________________________________________ Phone number(s) ______________________________________________________________________ Is this your first time participating in this event? _______________ Do you have a school/business/organization with which you’d prefer to be matched? Circle: No or Yes If yes, which one? ____________________________________________________ Are you willing to have a student participate with the exchange? Circle: No or Yes We will connect you with an exchange partner so you can decide on a convenient time to meet. Please plan on attending the Executive Exchange luncheon Tuesday, December 2 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the King Career Center, 2650 E. Northern Lights Blvd. Sign up online: www.asdk12.org/depts/sbp or Fax to: 742-4401 For more information contact: Cheri Spink, Executive Director Phone: 339-7278 Email: sbpartnerships@gmail.com
Partnership Press
15
United Way of Anchorage Community Plus Schools needs volunteers United Way of Anchorage has been working on an innovative collaboration with the Anchorage School District, with focus on improving math proficiency and attendance by linking targeted supports to students and by increasing extracurricular STEM (science, technology education and math) activities. The four Plus schools are Airport Heights, College Gate and Lake Otis elementary schools and Wendler Middle School. The goals of the school business partnership are to foster positive working relationships with businesses, assist in employability and workforce development and build bridges of understanding between the educational institution and the community leading to better citizens and employees. As a business partner, there are a variety of ways you can partner with one of these schools. 1. Volunteer your time – allow employees to take a small amount of time from lunch or their workday to volunteer in the school, mentoring and tutoring students. Volunteers are needed during the school day, after school and at one-day events. No special training is required, just a willingness to help. 2. In-kind donations-merchandise and goods can be used by the school in a variety of ways, including as raffle prizes to encourage attendance at family nights, as incentives for students to show improvement in a wide range of ways at school, or to help teachers create new lessons. 3. Donate scholarship funding – money can go a long way in allowing students to access programs and activities they would otherwise be unable to attend. 4. Schools can get involved in events or sponsorships your business is already engaged in. Are employees collecting and donating food for Thanksgiving? Students can help track and chart quantities. Sponsoring a running race? Students might like to host an aid station or volunteer with staff. 5. Highlight your relationship with a local school at your business. Can you display winning student posters from a school-wide contest in your office or lobby? If you are interested in finding out how you can get involved in one of the United Way Community Plus Schools, contact Sarah at ssledge@ak.org.
Anchorage School Business Partnerships 5530 E. Northern Lights Blvd. Anchorage, AK 99504-3135 www.asdk12.org/depts/sbp/ www.facebook.com/AnchorageSBP