MidState Medical Center - Adopt-a-Classroom

What is it?

MidState Medical Center formed a school-business partnership in 1995 with neighboring John Barry Elementary School. For 15 years, hospital departments visited their "adopted" classrooms each month with a variety of activities, projects geared to the specific age and grade, and nutritious refreshments.

In 2009, the MidState Medical Center Beacon Awards were created to recognize the school's core values of respect to self, respect to others, respect for the school, which were similar to the hospital's core values of respect, caring, and teamwork. Students (one boy and one girl) from each class are nominated by their peers to submit a statement about what teamwork means and how he/she demonstrated teamwork throughout the year. Teachers make collaborative statements. The hospital's Values/Behaviors & Recognition Team reviews entries and vote for one boy and one girl from each grade. At a special awards assembly in June, hospital representatives present certificates to each entrant, an inscribed medal to grade winners, and an inscribed trophy and $100 U.S. Savings Bond to the fifth-grade winners. The Beacon Awards are top honors that students receive; all grades are encouraged to aspire toward this achievement. The excitement and pride of the students is mirrored in the eyes of parents and families in attendance.

The hospital's Values/Behaviors & Recognition Team also serves as judges for the school's book writing contest, in conjunction with the Scholastic Book Fair. Children are given a kit from Scholastic and write and illustrate a story. Judging is on content, spelling, and illustrations based on grade level, with a prize for the top three entries.

The hospital also fills Halloween Safety Bags each October and provides recycled paper, folders, etc. The school reciprocates by making holiday paper placemats for patient trays.

Who is it for?

Students in pre-kindergarten to fifth grade at John Barry Elementary School in Meriden, Connecticut.

Why do they do it?

The students are from economically and socially challenged families and are greatly in need of positive influences.

Impact

Originally set up as part of the community benefit plan, the program has helped the hospital grow into a true community partner for the school, with the goal of preparing students to lead productive, healthy, and rewarding lives through special projects, awards, and recognition. An added benefit is students feel they have friends at the hospital, which makes it "not a scary place."

Contact: Betsey DuBois
Assistant to the President
Telephone: 203-694-8208
E-mail: bdubois@midstatemedical.org