| On February 21, the Students, Parents, Staff, and Rotary Club donated a day for work maintenance work at Adams Elementary School; projects included painting the railings, and handball courts, installing handprint tiles outside the office, and planting the front of the school. The Students, Staff and PTA honored the Rotary Club with Thank You posters, and letters from the students. Approximately 20 Teachers, Parents, and Students attended the meeting. Mrs. Kathy Escobar, third Grade Teacher stated “This has been a 20 year partnership with Rotary, and has benefited the Teachers, Parents, and Students.” |  |
| Before We Started | |
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| Working the Soil | Cleaning the Bank |
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| Painting the Backboard | The Final Product |
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| Kate and Kathy Bring the Students to Our Meeting | A Big Thanks From Adams |
ROTARY CLUB OF SANTA BARBARA NORTH CELEBRATES 19 YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH ADAMS SCHOOL
In 1989 a Rotarian from Santa Barbara North (Ken Compton) and his wife (Ellie Compton) a Teacher at Adams Elementary School in Santa Barbara suggested a “Partner in Education” program between the Rotary Club, and Adams Elementary School (This was prior to the County Program). The Program began with Rotary Volunteers helping to Tutor some of the students that needed extra help with reading, Math, Language and other subjects. The Program has 1st , continued for 18 years, and 2nd branched out to involve assistance in many areas of the school activities.
One of the Teachers at Adams Kathy Escobar (Paul Harris Fellow) chose to succeed Ellie Compton, and Rotarian Dennis Waid succeeded Ken Compton in continuing the program for the balance of the 18 years.
Adams Elementary School is a school in the Santa Barbara City School System, it was opened in 1954 for 250 students grades K-6. Today’s demographics are:
| Students | ~600 |
| Title I Students (low income - reduced lunch price) | 74% |
| English Language Learners | 53% |
| Students with Disabilities | 16% |
| Hispanic | 74% |
| White | 14$ |
| African American | 14% |
| Asian | 2% |
Rotary’s involvement over the years has included:
- In Class Tutoring
- Contributing Computers for Kids
- Books for rewards program
- Rotary EarlyAct (First in the District)
- Support a Chalk Art Square for the kids for Memorial Day at the Santa Barbara Mission
- Assist in purchasing Library Books
- Trees for the Campus
- School Site Council
- Trees and Benches for the Rotary Centennial Celebration
- Approximately $30,000 in Cash Grants
- RI Matching Grant for $16,000 of Playground Equipment.
Most of the Santa Barbara North members have been involved; Dennis Waid Perk Darlington, Joe Lanza, Vanessa Baily Joan Young, Terry Straehley, Rey Alcero, Dick Raymond, Finn Sundheim, Suzie Swenson, Joe Dobbs Dale Morgan and others. At least one Rotary Club meeting per year is scheduled on the Campus, so that the Club members, Teachers, Staff, and Students can interact.
Through Rotary efforts, every student 4th Grade and above who cannot afford a home computer, and with the Parents' consent has received a free home computer. Also through Rotary Grants, every student that reads so many words, or pages, certified by a parent or teacher receives free books from the library.
During the summer of 2005 the State Safety standards changed and all of Adams Playground Equipment was removed with no budget or plans for replacement. Rotary has completed a matching Grant for $16,000 to help with the replacement. The playground equipment was installed in March of 2008, and dedicated in June of 2008.
This program has benefited the Community, the School, and Rotary; and will continue into the future.
