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C O N N E C T E D
C A N A S T O T A N E W S L E T T E R
T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S
Connected District Bulletin
Connected Partners
Collaborations & Contributions
Training Highlights
Initiative Wide Highlights Staff
BACKTOSCHOOLHaircutNight
Back to School Haircut Night was a success! Over 30 students received a fresh look to start the school year, thanks to the generosity of our local stylists who donated their time.
With plenty of smiles all around, the event provided more than just haircuts—it helped students feel confident and ready for a great year ahead.
July & August Recap
During July and August, Denise and Will of the Connected Canastota Team hosted fun activities for students in the LEAP program, from lunchtime games to soccer and Geronimo. Students enjoyed getting to know the team while trying their best. Ms. Marina from CCE of Oneida County also visited 2nd–6th graders to discuss coping strategies, showing how hobbies and even time alone can help manage emotions. Students created “calm down jars” to explore and express their feelings—a handson way to combine fun, learning, and self-awareness.
CAMPCONNECTED CANASTOTAEDITION
Camp Connected was a blast! Our campers enjoyed “come-to-you” field trips with
special guests, including the YMCA, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and Reality Check. Each visit included a special snack, with some days featuring pizza and even a trip to Zem’s! We had a wonderful time holding our sessions at the Canastota Library and are grateful for their generosity in hosting us.
LUCKY DUCK LUCKY DUCK FISHING & MORE FISHING & MORE
at Cana-l-stota
Cana-l-stota brought together over 500 community members to celebrate the historic 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal! The Connected station featured large games, duck fishing, chalk drawing, and more, with small prizes for anyone who participated. We are grateful to the Recreation Commission for welcoming us to be part of this fantastic community event.
The 4th Annual Canastota Community Cookout brought together 700 community members for a free meal featuring pulled pork, salt potatoes, and ice cream from HP Hood! Attendees also enjoyed connecting with over 20 local community partners. It was a wonderful evening of togetherness, celebrating community spirit and kicking off the back-to-school season in style.
ac th kin k t ce e m us on Th he ye on d s me
It was a day of connection, celebration p g y th challenges.
September Recap
School is back, and we were thrilled to welcome students and families! The Connected Canastota Team participated in the district’s Back to School Night, showcasing our HUBs, playing games, and sharing with parents what it means to be a Connected District. It was wonderful to greet everyone in the building in such a fun and engaging way as the new school year gets underway.
Ms. Jocelyn joined us for Terrific Tuesdays, and students jumped into the fun of Minute to Win It games! It was wonderful to see them reconnect with old friends and make new ones while enjoying the activities together.
BINGO day for our Terrific Tuesday Connected RSMS students was full of fun and excitement! It was wonderful to see so many students participating with enthusiasm. With great prizes up for grabs, the afternoon was not only enjoyable but also provided an important opportunity for students to connect with peers, build social skills, and strengthen their sense of community.
In September, Ms. Val and Ms. Sam from Reality Check visited RSMS twice to talk with students about how tobacco impacts them and their community. During the visits, students tackled thought-provoking trivia questions and engaged in meaningful conversations—some answers even came as a surprise! At the end of the presentations, students had the opportunity to make a difference by joining the group. Ms. Val will return next month to create artwork with our RSMS Tuesday group, continuing the conversation in a creative way.
PantryRestock
This summer, Connected Canastota hosted three Pantry Restock events, giving families essential household and grocery items—including flood cleanup kits to aid ongoing recovery. These events play a vital role in supporting families and ensuring they have the resources they need.
HUB HUDDLES HUB HUDDLES
Mr. Will welcomed back Peterboro Students with a big smile! It is always nice to be able to spend time together outside while the weather is nice, and to be back in the school routine.One of this month’s highlights was building a puzzle together while utilizing our problem solving skills. Second grade students were able to work as a team to put the pieces together to solve the mystery of the galaxy. Great work everyone!
Connected SSES HUB Huddles are back in full swing! It’s wonderful to see students enjoying a space filled with fun and smiles. These sessions provide a great opportunity for students to make new friends, relax after lunch, and enjoy a game together.
Students come together in SSES HUB Huddles for games and activities that encourage social skills, teamwork, and a sense of community. These lively sessions give students a chance to relax, have fun, and form new friendships in a welcoming and supportive environment.
The HUB is buzzing with activity, and high school students are loving every minute! Uno remains a favorite, sparking friendly competition during lunches and Advisory Periods. The space also hosts lively debates, with the biggest question recently being, “What’s your favorite movie?” Scary movies took the lead this time, keeping the conversation—and excitement— going. There’s plenty more fun to come, so stay tuned for what’s next at The HUB!
COLLABORATIONS
COLLABORATIONS
July
& August
Madison County DSS
&
& Contributions Contributions
UMCOR
Your Nuhorizons
YMCA of Tri Valley
CCE of Oneida County
Madison County Oral Health
Madison County CAP
Canastota Library
PAWS of CNY
Canastota Recreation Commission
Reality Check
BRIDGES of Madison County
CCE of Chenango County
GLAS
AYSO
Clear Path for Veterans
Scouts of America
Girl Scouts
PSES/SSES PTA
Dollars for Scholars
Canastota Retired Teachers’ Association
COLLABORATIONS & COLLABORATIONS & Contributions Contributions September
CNYHHN
Opportunity Shop
Reality Check
Food Bank of CNY
Canastota Library
Madison County VOAD
Madison County Oral Health
Partnership
Your Nuhorizons
LINK LINKTrendsTrends
The summer flew by and before you knew it we were searching for school supplies to prepare for our return to school! This year we saw a large increase in families requesting this support from our Connected Team.
Denise and Will worked in tangent to get families’ lists a jump start as they began collecting items for their child
to have a successful start to the year. We continue to strive to be a resource for our community, and we look forward to helping wherever we are needed this school year.
We’d like to thank Dr. Modgil’s office for donating over 7,000 toothbrushes to our initiative! Dental hygiene remains at the forefront of our efforts to support our community, and this generous donation will go a long way to fulfilling those needs. We wish you the best as you enter retirement!
TRAINING TRAININGHighlights Highlights
Monthly Connected Partner Highlights are held virtually throughout the school year for staff to discover and build connections with various community partners. September kicked off the presentations for the '25-'26 school year. Melinda Robinson, a research coordinator at Bassett's Research Institute, presented to our staff on her role in cancer awareness, prevention, and education, noting her work with youth tobacco prevention using pigs' lungs as an educational tool. This tobacco prevention education is available for any of our Connected Districts, so our Site Coordinators can work with her to schedule her interactive presentation to schools, at no cost! The presentation, featuring healthy and damaged pigs' lungs, aims to deeply resonate with students about the consequences of tobacco use. For more information or if you are interested in bringing Melinda into your school, please connect with your Site Coordinator!
Learn how to support the mental health of young people in your community! This 6-hour interactive training is designed for anyone who wants to better understand youth mental health, recognize signs of concern, and connect youth with the right resources and supports. Gain practical skills, increase your confidence, and make a positive difference in the lives of young people.
INITIATIVE WIDE INITIATIVE WIDE
In August, we held our initiative-wide Back to School Bash in partnership with National Grid. 1,300 students from our Connected Districts were able to receive the school supplies needed according to their teachers’ lists. About 3,000 individuals were in attendance to learn about the Community Partner resources, have a meal, and enjoy a variety of activities alongside the school supply giveaway! Thanks to our partnership with National Grid, students were able to start
Our first annual Connected Visionary Awards: Not a School Night Celebration was a huge success! The award recipients included Colleen Fahy-Box, Jessica Lattimore, Jason Mitchell, Julia Thet, Karen Belcher on behalf of the Food Bank of CNY, Anne Lansing on behalf of Safe Schools Mohawk Valley, and Richelle Singer on behalf of Cornell Cooperative Extension. The Beeches was a fabulous location with amazing food. There was a silent auction, locker giveaway, painting, and more! We greatly appreciate our Connected Partners and are glad to give them the acknowledgement they deserve for supporting our Intiative.
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Awards ero Awards
OurCo-Leader,MelissaRoys,wastherecipientoftheHunger HeroAwardshostedbytheFoodBankofCentralNewYork duetotheworkdoneintheTheConnectedInitiativethrough back-to-backnaturaldisastersinCentralNewYork
TheConnectedInitiativeishonoredtocelebrateMelissa Roys,2025HungerHero,whilealsorecognizingthesteadfast leadershipofDanielleMartinandtheentireConnectedTeam fortheirtirelesscommitmenttofightinghunger, strengtheningfamilies,andbuildingresilientcommunities.
CoordinatorAppreciationWeekwasheldnationallySeptember 14th-20th Ourteamcelebratedtheonlywaythatmadesense–bycelebratingeachofourstaffandhighlightingthestrengths theybringtotheConnectedInitiative! Eachstaffmemberreceivedapersonalizedawardfortheunique contributionstheyoffer.
