Note: This program is free to elementary school who are dedicated to the belifes and ideology of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This program is a statewide program and serves both ubran and rural elememtray schools
Adopt-A-School Program (Background)
In 2004 The Utah Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Commission (MLK Commission) developed a statewide educational program aimed at teaching elementary students grades 3-6-about the importance of diversity. The name of the program is titled ADOPT-A-SCHOOL Program. Its objective is to focus on the importance of respect, acceptance, and understanding for all people.
The program runs for seven months starting in October - May. School presentations are excluded in January due to the MLK Commission’s programming, e.g., the Drum Major Awards Luncheon, opening day of the legislative session presentation, MLK & Salt Lake County Art, Essay and Poetry recognition celebration.
The program consist of one or two-35 minute presentations (as per agreed by the Adopt-A-School and the MLK Commission) given by volunteers from Utah’s ethnic community who are affiliated with the MLK commission. Presenters will discuss and provide information about their cultural/ethnic history & their personal challenges via group interaction, power-point presentation, displays or props.
The objective MLK Commission’s is to dis-mantel stereotypes and to assist students in understanding the importance of living in a multicultural, multi-ethnic, multi- racial world.
This year the MLK Commission has added a new component to our program, Anti-bullying which is intended to focus on Dr. King’s philosophy of non-violence.
Purpose
The purpose of this MOU is to provide a description of the program and partnership expectations between MLK Commission (Office of Ethnic Affairs) and our Adopt-A-School partners regarding the purpose, adjusting to unexpected schedules changes, and the participation in all components of the MLK Commission, i.e., the Art, Essay and Poetry Project along with the MLK Luncheon.
Adopt-A-School Participant Agreement:
Each School will assign an Adopt-A-School representative who will be the liaison for their school and the MLK Commission. Adopt-A-School representatives will keep teachers (whose students are participating in the program) informed regarding the monthly presentation topic/celebration, e.g., Hispanic/Latino; African American/Black; Pacific Islander; American Indian; Asian American and Anti -Bullying.
Each class or grade participating in the Adopt-A-School program will participate in the MLK “What’s Your Dream” Art, Essay & Poetry Contest. Students who have been recognized by their school representatives for their Art, Essay & Poetry project will have their work submitted to the MLK Commission in a timely manner enabling the commission to distribute awards and certificates to those students recognized by the MLK Commission.
Teachers whose students are participating in the program will inform students regarding the monthly presentation/celebration, e.g., Pacific Islander; American Indian/ Native American; African American/Black; Anti-Bullying; Asian American and Hispanic/Latino.
Schools will promote the Adopt-A-School Program by encouraging parental attendance at events in which their child is being recognized such as award ceremonies and/or the MLK Drum Major Awards Luncheon.
Adopt-A- Schools located in Salt Lake, Davis, Weber and Utah County, whose students have been recognized for demonstrating a high level of excellence in the MLK Commission’s “What’s Your Dream” Art, Poetry and Essay project Adopt-A-Schools will participate in the MLK Commission/Salt Lake County Annual awards celebration.
Schools will secure permission for photos taken by the MLK Commission of students to be displayed on the MLK Web site, brochures and/or letters.
Technical Task:
Schools will provide presenters with technical equipment such as IBM or Macintosh computers equipped with software to accommodate power point presentations, lamp, screen, CD player, cassette player, tape player, television, DVD or video cassette player(s).
Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission (Adopt-A-School Program) Delivery tasks:
One or two 35 minute presentations for grades 3-6 (MLK Commission and Adopt-A-School to decide on number of presentations).
One MLK presentation per month addressing the following:
Pacific Islander culture celebration
American Indian Native American culture celebration
African America/Black culture celebration
Asian culture celebration
Anti-Bullying
Hispanic/Latino culture celebration
One table for eight participants of each Adopt-A-School at he annul Drum Major Awards Luncheon on January 18, 2008 at the West Valley Cultural Celebration Center.
Tee shirts for classes/ students who have participated in the five month program
Recognition awards for students who have demonstrated a high level of excellence in the Art, Essay, Poetry and project.
Recognition Certificates for all students (grades 3-6) participating in the MLK Commission’s “What’s Your Dream” Art. Essay and Poetry project.
Provide grade level appropriate books with the subject matter pertaining to the monthly ethnic celebration.
Depending on our ability to obtain a sponsor, a savings account award will be presented to select students who have demonstrated a high level of excellence in the Art, Essay Poetry and project.
Special Circumstances and Adjustments made by Adopt-A-Schools
The MLK will have the option to adjust the Adopt-A-School Schedule for the following:
Unsafe weather conditions.
Presenter(s) unable to present for personal reasons such as an illness, family emergency, conflict regarding last minute scheduling.
Adjust the number of presentations based on the lack of participation.
Opportunity for the MLK Commission to partnership with another organization who has booked a high profile presenter and has offered their (presenter’s) services to the MLK Commission for use in the Adopt-A- School Program as a presenter causing the MLK Commission to request that our Adopt-A-School Partners adjust their schedule to accommodate such a high profile presenters.
Applications from both rural and urban
elementary schools will be accepted.
The program will run from September through April and concentrate on educating students about a different ethnicity and/or culture each month.The program will provide schools with community leaders and volunteers from different ethnicities and cultures who will act as role modes for students, teaching about the importance of acceptance, respect and understanding for all people. The presenters will focus on the importance of education.
Students will participate in the “What’s Your Dream” essay, poetry and art contest. The winner’s essay, poetry or art project will be displayed at the annual luncheon as well as the Salt Lake County Complex.
Adopt-A-School participants and awardees will be honored at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Commission Annual Luncheon.
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