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C O N N E C T E D
C E N T R A L V A L L E Y N E W S L E T T E R
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Connected District Bulletin
TRUNK
Connected Partners
Collaborations & Contributions
Training Highlights
Initiative Wide Highlights Staff
Central Valley hosted its 3rd annual Trunk or Treat Family Event. Families enjoyed visiting trunks sponsored by community partners such as MVCAA, Herkimer County
Probation Dept, Upstate Spray Foam and HVAC, CVA PTO, CVA Foundation, Liberty Partnership Program (LPP), Jarvis Library staff, United Way, MOVAC Ambulance, UCP, Christopher Newtown Memorial and InsureOne. Families also enjoy apple cider donated by Hannaford. Families enjoyed receiving treats and resources from our community partners.
5th grade seminar students at Jarvis explored the HUB, learning about the resources available for students and families. They discussed the difference between wants and needs, sharing and respecting each other’s perspectives. In a “Want vs. Need Island” activity, students worked in groups to decide which items were essential for survival, practicing teamwork, critical thinking, and thoughtful decision-making
Val with Cornell Cooperative Extension EFNEP department came to Jarvis 5th grade seminar to talk to students about physical activity and reading food labels this month. Students got up and moved and showed their favorite exercise. They then learned how to read food labels and even got to try hummus as their snack. During another visit this month, students learned about grains. They identified grains and how to read them on food labels. They finished with popcorn as a snack.
Donna visit g y the students regarding positivity. Students started the class by completing a green ribbon to represent mental health awareness with a positive self comment or phrase. They also completed cards from Christopher Newtown Foundation that had them identify people that they can talk to and how they feel Students then walked around the classroom to write positive phrases about other students. This encouraged students to not only find a positive in themselves, but to see how others see them positively.
Tracy Lebert and Alexandra Hanna from Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) came to Barringer and Jarvis to speak with the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students about hygiene and its importance. The presentation covered topics such as showering, brushing teeth, lice prevention, and overall personal care The 5th grade presentation also talked about puberty.
Randy Phillips from the Oneida Indian Nation came to Barringer Elementary for a cultural programming experience Randy engaged the 4th-grade students with fascinating stories about traditional Native American life, including the games they played, the important role and strength of women, hunting practices, and the different types of clothing worn during the summer and winter seasons. He also taught the students several words and phrases from the Oneida language, such as
Students at Jarvis and Fisher Elementary explored coping skills and calm-down strategies during their monthly Mindful Monday lessons. They created calmdown jars and discussed how and when to use them to manage their emotions effectively The hands-on activity encouraged self-awareness, emotional regulation, and positive coping techniques.
The group also discussed the importance of respect, fostering collaboration, self-awareness, and positive social skills throughout their sessions. how to say “hi,” “bye,” “that is sweet,” and “how are you.” The students were excited and deeply interested throughout the presentation. It was an amazing and educational experience that gave them a greater appreciation for Native American culture and traditions
The AMEND Together Group continued at the CVA HUB this month, exploring topics like masculinity, role modeling, and leadership. Students participated in interactive activities, including a Jeopardy game and team exercises focused on communication skills
Xena, the therapy dog, visited the CVA HUB and Jarvis this month, delighting students with her calm and friendly personality
Students learned about how Xena is trained, the jobs she does, and where she visits, and had the opportunity to see her follow commands. The visit provided a fun and educational experience, encouraging positive interaction and teaching students about the important role of therapy dogs
The goal of this event is to teach freshmen about the HUB and the positive resource it could be Freshman Seminar teachers brought their classes down and Site Coordinator Indya spoke with the students about the resources available from the HUB along with how they can utilize the space in school. The students were then able to look around the HUB and play games with their class such as Connect Four and painting on the windows. Each student was given a handout about the HUB with contact information for their parents.
uring junior and senior lunch at the CVA HU , students explored the difference between financial wants and needs The discussion encouraged students to think critically about money management and make thoughtful financial decisions.
HUB HUDDLES HUB HUDDLES
Students at Barringer enjoyed a variety of engaging and fun activities this month Fourth graders created custom Chobani yogurt parfaits, choosing from toppings like fruit, granola, and pretzels, while learning to make healthy choices. Younger students participated in a Spooky Hub Huddle, making ghostthemed drinks and bat cookies in a festive, hands-on activity. Another Hub Huddle featured a “Dress the Mummy” teambuilding exercise, encouraging collaboration, communication, and positive peer interaction, with the winning group earning a Stewart’s gift card
HUB HUDDLES HUB HUDDLES
First grade students enjoyed a Spooky Hub Huddle filled with fun Halloween-themed activities. They made ghost-themed drinks with chocolate milk and fluff, baked bat cookies with Oreos, and listened to spooky music while engaging in the festive atmosphere Students also had the chance to relax and enjoy a Halloween movie during lunch in a calm and cozy setting
This month in the Jarvis HUB, students focused on Bullying Prevention Month and World Mental Health Day. They created green ribbons with positive words and phrases for mental health awareness, and designed bullying prevention posters with encouraging messages to display around the school Students also participated in outdoor activities like sidewalk chalk, lunch outside, and origami, practicing teamwork and following directions while creating paper airplanes Halloween week was celebrated with fun lunch group activities, including a “Dress the Mummy” challenge, where students worked together to transform their friends into mummies.
he HUB at CVA is a popular spot for students throughout the ay. During breakfast and lunch, they gather to eat, socialize, and play games. It’s also a welcoming space after school here students relax, enjoy snacks, and prepare for practice. During 1st and 4th period study halls, students use the HUB to work on assignments, connect with peers, and discuss what’s happening around school and in the community. For alloween, the HUB hosted festive activities where students
painted wooden pumpkins, colored pictures, and enjoyed treats together.
ATTENDANCE ATTENDANCETrendsTrends
The Site Coordinator at Fisher and Barringer has been working closely with families that have students with attendance concerns,focusingonbuildingpositiverelationshipsandprovidingongoingsupporttohelpimprovetheirattendance
At Jarvis, check ins are done with identified students as well as check ins with their families One constant struggle is transportation and many of the students missing the bus and the families lack transportation to bring their child to school Therefore, the student misses the entire day During conversations, we talk about being responsible to set an alarm and get themselves up so they do not miss the bus. The site coordinator has even helped a student walk through how to set an alarm on their phone to which the student showed her the next day that they had done it. Siblings are also showing responsibility by making sure their brothers and sisters are getting up and also getting to school. The conversations with many students is that they want to make perfect attendance and are trying really hard to do that The initial list of attendance that began in June has shownagreatstarttotheschoolyear
At CVA, students with attendance concerns are monitored with follow ups with parents when needed Many students are late duetotimemanagement Thishasbeenaddressedbytheschoolwithapolicythatdoesnotletthemparticipateinafterschool activities which has greatly improved things for attendance But for the students not in extracurriculars, positive praise to both the child and parent has helped with relationship building as well as improved attendance. Once the marking period is over the studentsworkinghardtoimprovetheirattendancewillbegiftedwitharewardfortheCVABistrotopurchaseitems.
Connected Connected
The Neighborhood Center continues to see students in school for their counseling needs. Referrals for students are discussed during LINK Meetings and through LINK referrals submitted by the LINK team.
Connected Community Schools continues to collaborate with Family School Navigation in connecting families with the family school navigator at Fisher elementary. Through conversations with families, these can be new connections or reconnecting them to this program. One mother was unable to attend the 3 and me program due to the time. Erica Johnson was able to reach out to the mom and talk to her and accommodate her so she could still bring her child to participate.
Supports and Services Provided: Enrolled Students: 49
Academic Support - 425 min
Assessments and PLP - 65 min
Structured Social Emotional Support/Civic Engagement - 415 min
Employment Prep - 50 min
College Readiness - 90 Min
Other - 140 Min
LINK LINKTrendsTrends
This month, outreach began to families for holiday assistance. Connected Community Schools will offer a place for families to shop for their children at two locations. Families can go to our Rome Impact Center or a Herkimer County location. This allows a more personal way for families to pick items for their child. In our elementary buildings, Gram Lorraine will help many families in need for the holidays and the site coordinator has been working with the Social Worker in each building to ensure families are on that list At Jarvis, families that are in need are referred to either Catholic Charities or Connected Community Schools to assist with their holiday needs. At CVA, families will be scheduled to shop at the Connected Community Schools holiday assistance day. Through outreach tothefamilies,otherneedsareidentifiedbythesitecoordinators
One of the struggles that was identified through these conversations was the increased need for food insecurity. Families identified that food insecurity and the uncertainty of their monthly SNAP benefits is something that is a concern. Site Coordinators are able to help families with food boxes while also supplying them with community resources such as emergency food pantry listings, free family dinners , SNAP assistance with Catholic Charities and Cornell Cooperative Extension program assistance that helps families learn about stretching their food dollars and recipes.
The SOC continues to collaborate with Connected Districts through engaging outreach and student support initiatives. For World Mental Health Day, the Youth Ambassador Coordinator tabled during CVA lunch periods with an interactive Mental Health Quiz, sharing resources like the 988 Helpline, peer support tips, and information about the Youth Advisory Board and Mother Daughter Circle—inviting students to get involved through a brief recruitment form.
The Youth Ambassador Coordinator also brought fun and connection to several community events this fall. At the Herkimer District Trunk or Treat and Utica Comets “Frights & Flights” Game, CoCo the Connected Bear made special appearances to greet families and hand out treats—joined by Leslie Nevills, Project Manager at Mount Markham, as CoCo’s handler. The fun continued at Central Valley’s Trunk or Treat, where the Coordinator teamed up with the CVA Connected team to serve apple cider and candy to all the ghosts and goblins! ����
Herkimer County Youth Summit - Youth Ambassador Coordinator had the opportunity to attend this day long event that was hosted and organized by Catholic Charities and partially funded by Herkimer County System of Care. Youth heard from keynote speaker Taes Leavitt, attended 3 breakout sessions and worked on and presented an action plan to bring back to their districts to increase mental health awareness, and work towards goals they felt could benefit their peers and improve the overall culture within their district for students and staff.
YouthAmbassadorCoordinator,KatiespendstimeineachoftheHerkimer CountyConnectedDistricts.Herscheduleisasfollows:
Monday - Mount Markham
Tuesday - Herkimer
Wednesday - Central Valley
Thursday - Herkimer
Friday - Dolgeville
Katiecanbereachedat315-360-4978orkatieb@connectedcs.org.
Hannaford
CentralValleywould liketothank everyonethathelps! Wecannotdoit withoutyou!
TRAINING TRAINING Highlights Highlights
Bruce Brodsky with the Utica Dollars for Scholars came to our October all-staff meeting in Rome to share with staff the scholarship opportunities available to many of the students we serve. The application for Utica Dollars for Scholars is open now through March of 2026 for students in Herkimer and Oneida Counties looking for funding for higher education Bruce identified that they want to get the word out to students and not only ensure they are aware of the opportunity, but also get support to follow through the full application process, as many start their application but don’t finish it. The presentation was very insightful for our staff who support high school students in the Herkimer and Oneica Counties, and hopefully we can get those students connected to the scholarship opportunities available.
Monthly Connected Partner Highlights are held virtually throughout the school year for staff to discover and build connections with various community partners. In the month of October, we had three different agencies present on some services they offer, including OnPoint for College, the Alzheimer’s Association, and Neighborhood Center’s COMHPS program
Earlier in the month, Anny Guerrero-Brown provided an overview of OnPoint for College, detailing its expansion beyond college access and success to include support for certificate programs, licenses, and trades, serving students in Herkimer, Madison, Onondaga, and Cayuga counties with broad eligibility criteria and individualized support across college access, college success, and career services. Jennifer Engram elaborated on career services, including advising, workshops, and internship opportunities. Anny concluded by emphasizing OnPoint for College's holistic, free, and continuous support, focusing on removing barriers to education and building strong relationships with students
Lisa McCarthy provided an overview of the Alzheimer's Association, discussing the financial and caregiving impact of dementia, the association's funding and research efforts, various types of dementia, warning signs, and strategies for brain health and prevention The Alzheimer’s Association is available to table at any events where we may want to share information on dementia and Alzheimer's support.
Paul Ukena introduced The Neighborhood Center's OMH grant-funded COMHPS (Community Mental Health Promotion and Support) program, outlining its focus on community mental health promotion and support, the Neighborhood Center's broader services, and the program's activities, including outreach, referrals, and emotional support, emphasizing its free and short-term nature. The COMHPS program offers Classroom Programming opportunities including interactive tabling and group content delivery using different activities to allow participants to express their creativity while promoting mental well-being The program is available in Oneida County, so if you are interested in bringing them into your classroom, contact your Site Coordinator!
INITIATIVE WIDE INITIATIVE WIDE
Connected is in full Holiday Assistance mode, working to ensure students and families have the support they need this season. Last year, we assisted over 2,000 students, and we’re once again committed to spreading warmth and joy throughout our communities. If you or someone you know could benefit from holiday assistance, please reach out to your Site Coordinator or a member of the LINK Team—we’re here to help.
If you’d like to help, donations are always welcome! Check out the Holiday Assistance bin map included on this flyer for convenient drop-off locations, or bring your donation to our main office at 207 North James Street, Rome, NY. Monetary contributions can also be made online at https://connectedcommunityschools.org/holiday-assistance/, and every gift helps make the season brighter for local families.
Connected Community Schools is kicking off the Connected Food Drive to help ensure families in our community have access to nutritious food this season. With the support of generous donors and community members, we aim to make a meaningful impact for local families in need.
Donations of non-perishable food items can be dropped off at any Connected Community Schools site or at our main office at 207 North James Street, Rome, NY. Monetary contributions can also be made online at https://connectedcommunityschools.org/donate-2/ Every gift helps nourish children and families across our community.
Click here to access the Holiday Assistance Bin Map!
UPCOMING UPCOMINGEvents Ev
