Adams Elementary students spent the school year engaging in hands-on STEM learning, sustainability projects, creative activities, and family experiences through a partnership with the Angels Baseball Foundation and Orange County Waste & Recycling  as part of the Angels Adopt-a-School program. The yearlong partnership culminated with a special schoolwide assembly featuring Los Angeles Angels pitcher Mitch Farris. 

The Angels Adopt-a-School program partners with schools that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and environmental education while promoting literacy, STEAM learning, student wellness, and leadership development. 

“Our students have experienced a year full of opportunities to bring classroom learning into real-world experiences,” Principal Joe Erven said. “Whether they were writing, creating, problem solving, or attending a game with their families, students connected what they learned in the classroom beyond the school day.”

As part of the partnership, Adams Elementary received a $2,000 grant to support the school’s STEM initiatives, including the purchase of Project Lead the Way materials for engineering, biomedical science, computer science, and the school’s 3D Printing Club. 

Funding also supported teacher professional development through the Child Creativity Lab, where educators explored hands-on STEAM activities focused on collaboration, communication, and creativity to help engage students in new ways. 

Throughout the year, students participated in several learning experiences connected to the program. During Black History Month, students created original writing and artwork recognizing the contributions of Black baseball players. For the Earth Day Up-Cycle Challenge, students transformed recycled and repurposed materials into creative projects while learning about sustainability and design thinking.

The partnership also provided students and their families the opportunity to attend an Angels game at no cost.

During the culminating schoolwide assembly, Angels play-by-play announcer Trent Rush interviewed Mitch Farris and engaged students in a conversation about perseverance, teamwork, and balancing academics with athletics.

Farris shared how his parents encouraged him to explore different sports while growing up until he discovered his passion for baseball. He also emphasized the importance of education, explaining that his parents required him to complete his homework before attending practices, even if it occasionally meant missing time on the field.

“Once you find your passion, work really hard at it,” Farris told students. “Stay humble. Be able to work with other people, and you will be surprised how far you can go.”

The yearlong partnership reflected Adams Elementary’s focus on creating engaging, hands-on learning experiences that help students connect classroom learning to the world around them.