C O N N E C T E D
A D I R O N D A C K
N E W S L E T T E R
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Connected District Bulletin
Connected Partners
Collaborations & Contributions
Training Highlights
Initiative Wide Highlights Staff
DECEMBER 2025
Neighborhood Center Meet & Greet
We were grateful to welcome speakers from the Neighborhood Center to Adirondack High School to connect with middle school and high school students. Their visit included a meet-and-greet and meaningful conversations focused on building relationships, learning about student interests, and better understanding their school experiences. These interactions helped create a supportive environment where students felt heard and valued. We appreciate the Neighborhood Center’s continued partnership and look forward to future collaboration. Connected Site Coordinator Belle also added a festive touch by providing treats for students to frost and decorate with sprinkles, bringing smiles to the day.
On the last day before winter break, Connected Site Coordinator Belle hosted a burlap wreath-making activity for high school students to celebrate the season. Students worked at their own pace while enjoying a Christmas movie, creating a relaxed and festive environment that encouraged creativity, conversation, and positive peer interaction before the break.
Connected Adirondack joined in a surprise appreciation celebration for the middle school principal by providing a yogurt bar with a variety of yogurt flavors and toppings. Students had fun building their own parfaits and enjoying a game of BINGO together as part of the celebration.
Kevin from YWCA came to Connected Adirondack to promote “The Council”, a boys only group sessions he offers. Together they go through topics to promote boys’ safety and health development through all stages of life.
Together with Connected Site Coordinator Belle, students created holiday salt dough ornaments and used acrylic paint markers to decorate their designs. They completed their creations by adding festive string, transforming each piece into a personalized holiday ornament. The activity encouraged creativity, hands-on learning, and seasonal fun as students proudly finished their one-of-a-kind keepsakes.
Families were invited to visit the HUB to access needed items such as food, hygiene products, and clothing. During this Open HUB, Holiday Assistance was also distributed to families enrolled in the program, helping ensure additional support during the holiday season.
Holiday Assistance Holiday Assistance
This holiday season, Connected Site Coordinator Belle, Divisional Director Katie Rockwell, and Resiliency Worker Cara Greer helped provide Holiday Assistance to more than 40 families, reaching nearly 115 children. With the help of community partners and supporters such as Toys for Tots, Jane Egnaczyk’s Book Club, CJ Logging, the Boonville Police Department, and Adirondack School faculty and staff, gifts were shared and holiday cheer was brought to families throughout the community.
HUB HUDDLES HUB HUDDLES
Connected Boonville Elementary students embraced the festive spirit during HUB Huddles with a variety of creative and engaging holiday-themed activities. Students learned how to draw a clowder of festive cats and had fun expressing their thoughts by writing letters to the Grinch. Friendly competition filled the room during a holiday-themed game of Jeopardy, while winter-inspired charades brought plenty of laughter and teamwork. These activities created a joyful space for students to connect, build creativity, and celebrate the season together before winter break.
AtConnectedAdirondackMiddleandHighSchoolHUBHuddle, studentsenjoyedavarietyofengagingactivitiesalongsidetheir lunch.ConnectedSiteCoordinatorBelleguidedmiddleschool studentsindecoratingsaltdoughornamentsfortheholidayseason, encouragingcreativityandhands-onfun.Studentsalsoparticipated inaboardgamesday,competingingiantTicTacToe,Uno,and more,whilecartoonsplayedinthebackgroundforthosewho preferredtorelaxandsocialize.
TheHUBalsowelcomedAllisonandEdofromtheNeighborhoodCenterforaspecialmeet-and-greetfocusedon buildingrelationshipsandconnectingwithstudentsonapersonallevel Duringtheirvisit,theylistenedtostudents, learnedabouttheirinterests,anddiscussedtopicsimportanttothem,helpingcreateasupportiveenvironmentwhere studentsfeltheardandvalued.Middleschoolstudentsadditionallyparticipatedinafriendshipdiscussionexploring whatpositivefriendshipslooklike Toaddsomeextraholidaycheer,Bellebroughtinsweettreatsforstudentstofrost anddecoratewithfestivesprinkles.
Connected Connected
PARTNERS PARTNERS
Connected Site Coordinator, Belle has referred many students to RKA this month as this is an amazing in school counseling resource for the students.
TheResiliencyProjectproposesthatthekeytosuccesswithchildrenandtheirfamiliesisthroughacollaborative approachformingacaringandresponsiveTeamthatisdedicatedtoservingtheAdirondackCentralSchoolDistrict, CamdenCentralSchoolDistrict,HollandPatentCentralSchoolDistrictandRomeCitySchoolDistrict;creatingand strengtheningConnectionsintheHome,SchoolandCommunity.ThereisadedicatedResiliencyCoordinator,Safe SchoolEngagementSpecialistandOneidaCountyFamilyandCommunityServiceliaison,thatcollaborateoneachcase Unlessitisimminentrisk,priortocallingCPS,placeinaResiliencyreferralsowecanassist,"Support,Don'tReport".
ThisTeamisintendedtobeanextensiontoyourfamily,yourchild’sschoolandothersupportsthatmayalreadybein placetoensurethateveryonecanbesuccessful,whilebridgingthegapbetweenhome,schoolandthecommunity.The teamcanmeetwhereveryouaremostcomfortabletoprovidesupport!
GototheConnectedCommunitySchoolsCommunityLINKReferralform.Thiswillconnectyouwithyourdedicated CommunitySchoolsSiteCoordinatorwhocanassistyouwithbasicneedsandtocreateaconnectionwiththeResiliency Team!TheResiliencyTeamisavailableonsiteattheConnectedIMPACTCenteronTuesdays&Fridaysfrom10am-2pm, orbyscheduledappointments.
TrendsTrends
Food insecurity continues to be a challenge within our district and community. To help address this need, Connected Adirondack has hosted monthly Open HUB events, giving families access to essential items, and has provided food boxes as needed.
Supporting mental health is also a priority, as many students face ongoing challenges. SC Belle works with families and students to connect them with counseling services that best meet their needs, ensuring they have access to the support and resources necessary for their well-being.
COLLABORATIONS & COLLABORATIONS &
CJ Logging
Jane Egnaczyk and Book Club
Boonville Police Department
Adirondack Teachers and Staff
Kevin, YWCA
Allison and Edo, Neighborhood Center
Hot Cocoa Bar
Boards
Stay
Connected Elves Holiday Project 2025
Celebrating 8 Years of Community Impact
December 2025 marked the 8th successful year of the Connected Holiday Assistance Program, supporting students and families across our Connected Districts during the holiday season. What began as a small act of care has grown into a powerful community-wide effort spanning all 13 Connected districts, rooted in generosity, collaboration, and compassion
16 Stone Brewpub th
Affair with Hair
Agway Holland Patent
Alteri's Restaurant
Arizona Tacos
Artani's Pizza
Bassett Medical Offices
Big Jay's Pizzeria - Rome
Bliss Environmental
Boss's General Store
Boyz From Italy
Central NY Academy of Dance
Cianfrocco's Subs & Wings
Collis True Value Hardware
Community Bank, N.A.Camden
Community Bank, N.A.Rome
Franco's Pizza - Ilion
Full Lotis
Gehring Tricot
Grande's Pizzeria
Haven Salon and Lash
Studio
Home Outlet Utica
Jervis Library
Joey's Pizza
Kylie's Diner
La Roma Pizzeria
Matteson Hotel
MetLife Insurance
The Power of Community Partnerships
This year, over 40 local businesses partnered with Connected by hosting donation bins for new, unwrapped toys and gifts Their willingness to open their doors and rally their customers played a vital role in making this program possible.
We are grateful to the 40+ local businesses that served as donation sites and helped make Holiday Assistance possible.
Mister Mikes Gyros
NBT - Rome & Utica
New Hartford Public
Library
Nola’s of Clinton
Oneida County
Department of Comm.
Family Services
Petzotics
Remington Federal Credit Union
Rome First United Methodist Church
RT Federal Credit Union
Shook 40
Sorrento Pizzeria
Spresso’s Coffeehouse
Square One
Coating
State Farm Michael Collea
Stuff the Bus
Style on Main by Nikki Marie Tanners Insurance Agency
Toy for TOTS
Tucker Backyard Pools & Spas
Twin Rivers Paper Company
Woolner Family Eye Care
Connected Elves Holiday Project 2025
CONTINUED
Holiday Assistance Shopping by the Numbers & Gratitude
Through the collective efforts of donors, community partners, and dedicated volunteers, the Connected Holiday Assistance Program supported a total of 1,576 children during Holiday Assistance Shopping this season. With an estimated $59,000 in donated toys and gifts, this milestone reflects the generosity and commitment of our community-wide network, working together to ensure students across our Connected districts experienced the joy, care, and support they deserve during the holiday season.
Holiday Assistance would not be possible without the dedication of our volunteers, who generously gave their time to sort donations, support families, and assist throughout Holiday Assistance Shopping. Their compassion and commitment helped bring this program to life
We extend our heartfelt thanks to every business, donor, volunteer, and community partner who helped make this season brighter. Your generosity continues to strengthen our mission of supporting students and families during the holidays and all year long.
Together, we are Connected
TRAINING TRAININGHighlights Highlights
Mid York Library
Monthly Connected Partner Highlights are held virtually for staff to discover and build connections with various community partners. In December, Stephanie Markham and Diana Cassulus presented to our staff regarding what the Mid York Library has to offer. They detailed services such as the "Library of Things," through which people can borrow available items including snow shoes, games, and more! Library cards are free to apply for and can give access to the Library of Things as well as discounted museum and park passes, books, magazines, movies, and affordable in-building services like printing. They highlighted that libraries are safe spaces, resource hubs, providers of free, unfiltered computer access and paper tax forms, and hosts of free early literacy programs and events listed on the Mid-York website calendar. The Mid York Library is a great partner to our Connected schools and are eager to attend events with free books and tailored materials in Madison, Oneida, and Herkimer Counties!
