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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
Connected Partners
Collaborations & Contributions
Training Highlights
Initiative Wide Highlights
Staff
SILENT SILENT
As part of Franco’s Summer Lunch Program, Connected Central Valley brought fun and resources to families. While enjoying free lunches, students danced and sang at a Silent Disco, reconnecting with friends. Catholic Charities, the Neighborhood Center, and Excellus provided valuable family resources.
The team also hosted an Open HUB event, where families received food and hygiene items and connected with site coordinators. Community partners, including Remington Federal Credit Union, Bassett Healthcare, MVCAA, and Bridges Council, shared helpful resources. A special thank you to Franco’s for feeding our students and supporting these community events!
July & August Recap
During the summer, Connected Site Coordinators provided opportunities for students and families to connect, share, and access support. Students met with Jarvis Site Coordinator to discuss concerns for the upcoming school year, reflect on highlights from the previous year, and explore ways to make the new year even better One student and parent even painted tiles together, combining creative expression with meaningful conversation.
Meanwhile, Site Coordin giving families a chance any challenges, and con unable to attend in pe Donna conducted outre needs such as food, sch care. These summer ev families had support and
g with Herkimer Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield and Cornell Cooperative E (CCE) visited with students and families in the Ilion Heigh Children enjoyed popsicles and played games with the sit coordinators Our community partners supplied fun activ as beach balls, bracelets and frisbees. Cornell Cooperativ Extension supplied a delicious snack for families to try al
The Central Valley Connected Community Schools team brought a Mobile HUB event to Colonial Manor Apartments, providing families with food, hygiene items, and valuable connections with site coordinators Community partners, including Excellus, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency (MVCAA), and RCIL, were on hand to provide resources and answer questions about available services.
Children enjoyed sidewalk chalk, snacks, and giveaway items such as sunglasses, fanny packs, and backpacks from our partners. This event ensured that families who face transportation challenges could still access HUB resources, meet their district site coordinators, and learn about the wide range of support available in the community.
Connected Central Valley partnered with Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency (MVCAA) to help district families with their laundry needs. Colonial Laundromat hosted this event and families were able to receive laundry supplies from Connected Central Valley and monetary assistance from MVCAA This event helped families that struggle with completing laundry and also connected them with other family
Back-to-School Haircut Event at Barringer Elementary! A huge THANK YOU to Honey Locs and B’s Barbershop for donating your time and talent to give our kids fresh haircuts We are also so grateful for the amazing community support from Herkimer ARC, Life Plan, and RCIL for coming out to connect with families and offer resources.
The HUB at Jarvis has been open during summer school, giving students access to needed items and a chance to check in with their Jarvis and CVA site coordinators.
New this year, Teacher POD boxes provide easy access to Connected Community School resources, event flyers, programming updates, and student snacks helping UB in person.
September Recap
The Central Valley Connected Team was invited by Herkimer County Office for the Aging to attend an event for our adult community Adults were able to get resources from the Office for the Aging, Veggie Van and Cornell Cooperative Extension. Connected Community Schools had food bags available for families. This gave us a great opportunity to connect with the adults in the community and teach them about what Connected can do for them
Reality Check, part of Bridges Council, was at CVA this month during lunch periods to meet with students. Reality Check empowers youth to become leaders in the community and discusses the marketing tactics of the tobacco industry. They played Jeopardy with the students regarding tobacco facts Students became very engaged and had positive discussions
en from the Runaway and Homeless Youth Program at olic Charities of Herkimer County visited our 5th grade nar classes to kick off an engaging series on Life Skills ughout the year, Carmen will continue working with students mportant topics such as communication skills, coping egies, and more.
from RHYP tabled at CVA during lunch. Tiera visits CVA hly and provides inform ams
This month, Jarvis students had engaging seminar sessions covering a variety of topics. Deb and Rachel from First Source Federal Credit Union visited the 5th grade seminar to teach students about coins and bills Students practiced identifying money and completed an activity adding amounts to “purchase” items, building practical math and financial skills.
Students also participated in wellness and nutrition programming Marina began her monthly Mindful Monday visits with 7th grade classes and 5th grade seminars, discussing perception and the importance of understanding and accepting that people can see things differently. Val from Cornell Cooperative Extension’s EFNEP program visited the 5th grade seminar to explore nutrition and exercise Students completed a survey about their eating and activity habits, learned about different fruits and vegetables, and ended the session with a tasty Cowboy Caviar snack made with beans, tomatoes, and corn
Duwayne with YWCA came to PE classes at CVA to talk about healthy relationships. They utilized cards for questions and scenarios. Using red or green flags, students waved their flag when they felt a situation was good or bad This was a very interactive group that the students became very engaged in.
for the first time with her therapy dog at lunch time. The students were so excited to meet them and enjoyed getting to know them. Many were able to give the dog belly rubs as he seemed excited to meet them too. They were able to ask questions about the dogs training and learn the uses of a therapy dog
HUB HUDDLES HUB HUDDLES
The Barringer Site Coordinator helped make the first day of school memorable by encouraging students to take photos throughout the day, capturing special moments and fostering a welcoming, positive atmosphere These memories are now showcased in a digital picture frame in the HUB for everyone to enjoy.
To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, students participated in a lively Spanish Bingo activity during a HUB Huddle, learning new Spanish words while playing for sweet treats. Another HUB Huddle offered a relaxing lunch event where students enjoyed popcorn and a movie, providing a fun and comfortable space to unwind and connect with friends.
HUB H DD S HUB DD
The Fisher Site Coordinator helped make the first day of school special by encouraging students to take photos throughout the day, capturing memorable moments and fostering a warm, welcoming school environment. She has also been introducing first grade students to the HUB, taking time to explain what Connected Community Schools is and how the HUB can support them Students have been excited about the experience and love spending time in
To start the school year, students shared why they are awesome, sparking positive conversations about self-confidence and celebrating one another’s strengths. During Open House, families toured the HUB, learned about Connected Central Val joined students for games and fun.
Students continue to use the HUB during b Coordinator and each other building frien
The CVA HUB kicked off the school year with a positive activity where students wrote “I am awesome because...” on the HUB’s back window, sparking collaboration, compliments, and new friendships During Superintendent’s Conference Days, Project Manager Donna and Site Coordinator Indya provided faculty with an overview of Connected Central Valley, highlighting how the HUB supports students, facilitates collaboration with staff, and connects families to resources. The HUB was also open during Open House, giving students a chance to proudly show their families the space and learn more about its purpose
Throughout the day, students use the HUB during breakfast, lunch, and after school to eat, socialize, play games, and unwind before practice making it a welcoming space for connection and support.
July & August September
Lunch for Regional Summer School Regents
Review and Regents Week
Steet Ponte
Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE)
Dollar Tree
Resource Center for Independent Living (RCIL)
Weller Library
Connected Connected
Central Valley Faculty
PARTNERS PARTNERS
Currently, one student is receiving support at the Neighborhood Center Satellite Clinic in Barringer, with referrals processed by the social worker. At Jarvis, seven students are being seen, and Central Valley Academy has one student receiving services. Guidance counselors and social workers collaborate closely with site coordinators to process referrals for students who could benefit from inschool counseling options.
During the summer and during family engagements, families have been identified to benefit from help from the Ready for Kindergarten (R4K) program. These referrals are sent to the Family Navigator for outreach.
Throughout July, LPP welcomed students to SUNY Polytechnic for summer camps in arts, sciences, engineering, 3D printing, and nursing. Staff also connected with students during weekly summer school visits at Jarvis Middle School, providing academic support and resources. A special thank you to Central Valley CCS Program Manager and Jarvis Site Coordinator Donna Senko for hosting LPP in her HUB on Tuesday mornings
In the month of September LPP met with students to support them in making their 2025-2026 school year a success Listed are some of the ways LPP has engaged with enrolled students CVCSD
The Herkimer County System of Care hosted Chalk the Walk in August, giving children and families the chance to connect with local resources and support services. The event featured fun, engaging activities to get kids excited for the new school year. Thanks to Katie Baker, Joanne from Stella Salon was on hand to provide free haircuts to children, adding an extra special touch to the day!
The Out of the Darkness Walk for suicide awareness and prevention was recently hosted by Catholic Charities, providing a meaningful opportunity for Youth Ambassador Coordinators to engage with young people affected by suicide, either directly or indirectly Attendees were able to access important mental health resources and referrals from Herkimer County System of Care, as well as information about the Mother Daughter Circle and the Youth Advisory Council.
Exciting news! Katie is now trained to facilitate Mother-Daughter Circle and Girls Circle Groups. These programs give girls and their mothers—or female-identifying caregivers —opportunities to connect, build strong relationships, and support positive growth. The Mother-Daughter Circle (ages 11–18) strengthens bonds during the transition to young womanhood, while the Girls Circle (ages 9–18) fosters self-expression, resiliency, and healthy relationships in a trauma-informed setting. Opportunities to join will be launching soon—stay tuned for details!
LINK LINKTrendsTrends
This summer, school supplies were one of the top needs for district families and students. Through our family engagement efforts, many families reached out directly for support Thanks to generous donations from RCIL, Dollar Tree, and Steet Ponte, students received essential supplies before the school year began. Families also attended the Back to School Bash at the Rome Impact Center, where they gathered resources, received supplies, andenjoyedfunactivitiestogether
During September, LINK referrals increased, with many focused on school supplies and attendance needs. Care managers and case workers have reached out to site coordinators to support district families, with school supplies being the greatest need as students began the year. Thanks to several large donations, our HUBs were well stocked, allowing site coordinators to connect with families, agency partners, and teachers to ensure students had what theyneededtostarttheschoolyearsuccessfully.
Attendance-related LINK referrals also rose in September. At CVA, a referral is submitted to Indya once a student reaches ten absences, and attendance concerns are reviewed during LINK meetings Ongoing outreach to students andfamiliescontinuesasConnectedCentralValleyworkstoaddressattendancechallengesacrossallbuildings.
ATTENDANCE ATTENDANCE
Outreach efforts continue across all buildings to support families identified as struggling with attendance. Throughout the summer, families met with Site Coordinators to prepare for the upcoming school year and discuss attendance goals Site Coordinators also developed plans for student attendance incentives, particularly before and after school breaks. Through these conversations, many families acknowledged attendance challenges and collaborated on strategies for improvement. In addition, several families shared other needs such as food assistance, mental health support, and access to local healthcare providers and Connected Central Valley was able tohelpconnectthemwiththeseessentialresources.
Attendance remains a key focus for Connected Central Valley across all buildings. At Jarvis, Donna checks in with students each morning during breakfast, providing HUB coupons and positive note cards to those present. Students can also visit the HUB for special snacks and yogurt Donna reaches out directly to parents when students are absentandmeetswithfamiliesintheHUBtooffersupport.
Site Coordinators have been working closely with students at Fisher and Barringer, building strong relationships with families from the summer through the start of the school year These efforts foster meaningful connections, encourageregularattendance,andhelpstudentsenjoycomingtoschool.
At Central Valley Academy, Indya continues to connect with parents and students regarding attendance LINK referralsaresubmittedwhenastudentreachestenabsences,ensuringtimelyoutreachandsupportforfamilies
UPCOMING UPCOMINGEvents
TRAINING TRAINING
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.
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
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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OurCo-Leader,MelissaRoys,wastherecipientoftheHunger HeroAwardshostedbytheFoodBankofCentralNewYork duetotheworkdoneintheTheConnectedInitiativethrough back-to-backnaturaldisastersinCentralNewYork TheConnectedInitiativeishonoredtocelebrateMelissa Roys,2025HungerHero,whilealsorecognizingthesteadfast leadershipofDanielleMartinandtheentireConnectedTeam fortheirtirelesscommitmenttofightinghunger, strengtheningfamilies,andbuildingresilientcommunities. Coordinator Appreciation Week
CoordinatorAppreciationWeekwasheldnationallySeptember 14th-20th Ourteamcelebratedtheonlywaythatmadesense–bycelebratingeachofourstaffandhighlightingthestrengths theybringtotheConnectedInitiative! Eachstaffmemberreceivedapersonalizedawardfortheunique contributionstheyoffer.
Connected Central Valley Team Connected Central Valley Team
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If you know someone that may need help, our LINK system is here to assist with any struggle, worries, or needs that may arise. If you see someone in need of help (whether it's tangible items, assistance with housing, mental health, primary care, or anything) please contact one of us.
