NOVEMBER 2025
CONNECTED HERKIMER NEWSLETTER TABLE OF CONTENTS Connected District Bulletin Connected Partners Collaborations & Contributions
FAMILY
GAME NIGHT CONNECTED HERKIMER
Training Highlights Initiative Wide Highlights Upcoming Events Staff
Connected Herkimer kicked off November with an uplifting Family Game Night that brought nearly 80 community members together. With support from the Cornell Cooperative Extension Child Care Council, families enjoyed dinner and connected through board games, card games, and lawn games. Herkimer’s Girl Scout Unit 262 also joined us, sharing resources and jumping into the fun. It was a heartwarming reminder of the power of community and time spent together.
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County’s Child Care Council visited the elementary HUB this month to explore the theme of gratitude. Each student received a “pretend gift” and was challenged to compliment it and explain how it could be useful, even if it was not something they wanted. One student who unwrapped a bag with a broken pencil shared, “This is actually a great gift because now there are two pencils, and one is even double-sided!” This activity encouraged students to practice appreciation, positive communication, and finding the good in any situation.
Several families came and grabbed some food before the Thanksgiving holiday. From turkeys to potatoes to gravy, all of the goods were covered for the day.
During parent/teacher conferences, the HUB provided a safe and engaging space for children to play and participate in activities. Families were also able to explore a variety of resources available at the HUB.
Readers in Action kicked off in November with our first group of 3rd graders. Students enjoyed two read-alouds, one about a silly dog and another centered on gratitude and gift-giving. After discussing what it means to give back, the group began their first service project: creating ornaments and decorations for residents of the Nathan Galinsky Apartments. The conversations were meaningful and set a wonderful tone for the season, reminding students of the joy that comes from giving to others.
In the Middle/High School HUB, students took part in Kindness Day Bingo, completing acts of kindness from a 16-square card and earning prizes for finishing a row —or the whole board. Connected also partnered with NBT Bank to bring in a guest speaker who taught students practical budgeting skills. We closed out the month with Puzzles & Pancakes, a light-hearted morning event where students enjoyed warm pancakes while tackling puzzles together, a perfect blend of comfort and creativity.
Connected PARTNERS PARTNERS
Connected
CHBS operates a satellite clinic within the district. This collaboration allows for seamless access to mental health support, as school counseling staff are in direct contact with the on-site CHBS clinician.
We are proud to continue our meaningful collaboration with Family School Navigation (FSN), formerly known as R4K. FSN remains a vital partner in Connected Herkimer’s mission to support local families. We are currently collaborating to plan a series of family-friendly events in partnership with the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County’s Child Care Council, Healthy Families, and the Frank Basloe Library. These events will provide valuable resources for parents and caregivers, along with fun and engaging activities for children. We are excited about what’s ahead and thankful for the opportunity to serve families side-byside with such dedicated partners.
Supports and Services: Minutes Spent: Academic Support: 425 Min Assessments: 130 Min
Career Readiness: 0 College Preparation: 0 Structured Social Emotional Support: 95 Other: 15 Total: 665 Min
Enrolled Students: 34
Trends
Trends
LINK is a single point of access embedded within every Connected school. It brings together school staff and community partners to identify student and family needs and connect them with appropriate supports, services, and local resources to promote student success. November brought an increased number of LINK families in need of food support. Thanks to our resources and partnerships, we were able to provide food boxes to every family, helping them stay afloat during the government shutdown and the temporary pause in SNAP benefits. We also hosted two Open HUBs, one early in the month and another right before Thanksgiving, where LINK families received a full-sized turkey and potatoes, ensuring they could enjoy a warm, nourishing holiday meal despite challenging circumstances. As the holiday season continues, we are seeing a significant rise in requests for assistance, with many families relying on every available resource to get through this difficult period.
COLLABORATIONS COLLABORATIONS & & Contributions Contributions
cted e Conne uld lik er wo im e k r n He eryo nk ev to tha We lp e s! t that h ithou o it w d t o cann you!
Cornell Cooperative Extension Liberty Partnership Program NJHS Student Volunteers Steet Ponte Chevrolet Herkimer SOC Herkimer NHS
Herkimer BPA Herkimer PTA Coats Warm clothing (hats, gloves, mittens) Turkeys and potatoes from the Compassion Coalition Thanksgiving baskets full of sides for 2 families from Girl
Silence The Stigma - Hear The Thunder - Central Valley Academy Sports Psychology & Sports Management faculty faced off in a game of Hoops against First Responders to raise awareness and help to silence the stigma associated with mental health. Youth Ambassador Coordinator was present and provided information and giveaways to attendees. This event was hosted by CVA and all proceeds from this event were donated to The Christopher Newtown Memorial Foundation.
Youth Ambassador Coordinator, Katie has been meeting with district social workers and counselors in order to educate and outreach potential students for Youth Ambassador Council as well as Mother-Daughter Circles groups.
Katie joined the Connected Herkimer Team in November to help with Family Game Night. Katie took this opportunity to engage and build rapport with students and families in the Connected Herkimer District.
MEET KATIE BAKER
Youth Ambassador Coordinator, Katie spends time in each of the Herkimer County Connected Districts. Her schedule is as follows:
Monday - Mount Markham Tuesday - Herkimer Wednesday - Central Valley Thursday - Herkimer Friday - Dolgeville Katie can be reached at 315-360-4978 or katieb@connectedcs.org.
UPCOMING UPCOMINGEvents Events
TRAINING TRAININGHighlights Highlights November Advisory Board
During the month of November, we hosted our quarterly Advisory Board meeting. For this meeting, we had two agencies present on the programs they offer. The first agency to present was CNY Fair Housing, located in Syracuse, New York. Tysha Martin shared with the group that the primary goal of CNY Fair Housing is to fight discrimination in housing for protected classes. They cover 13 counties in Central and Northern New York. Not only do they investigate and fight for tenants, but they also educate landlords and community providers on tenant rights. The presentation was very informative and a great resource to connect appropriate families that we work with. The second presentation was by the Utica Center for Development. This agency provides a variety of services specifically aimed towards veterans and their families including assistance with tangible items as well as mental health support. One of their programs, called the Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Program, works with veterans who have PTSD and other mental health struggles. This is an essential resource for veterans and their families we may work with.
Connected Partner Highlights: Monthly Connected Partner Highlights are held virtually throughout the school year for staff to discover and build connections with various community partners. During the month of November, we had three different agencies present on the services they offer. One program, the Cornell Cooperative Extension Child Care Council, shared that they offer Classroom Programming opportunities focused on social emotional learning. The Child Care Council has been a great partner of Connected and is frequently booked to come into our schools. They also offer assistance in obtaining child care and financial assistance to pay for child care in Oneida, Herkimer, and Madison Counties. Our second presenter was the Madison Community Action Partnership’s Permanency Resources Program. This state-funded program, which evolved from kinship caregiver programs, provides comprehensive support to kinship caregivers, adoptive families, and families going through legal guardianship or adoption processes, in partnership with the Neighborhood Center in Oneida County. This specific program is available in Oneida and Chenango Counties, but there are similar programs throughout the state. Last but not least, we also had Indium Corporation present to our staff on the Classroom Programming that they can offer. Indium can go into local schools and teach students about what Indium does, considerations for career exploration with Indium, and learning about the manufacturing process along with some STEMrelated education. This is a great opportunity that many of our staff only just discovered during this Partner Highlight. If you are interested in bringing Indium into your school, please reach out to your Connected Site Coordinator!
INITIATIVE INITIATIVEHighlights Highlights Holiday Assistance
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. Click here to access the Holiday Assistance Bin Map!
Now Open: Connected Purple Flamingo Thrift & Gift Store The Connected Purple Flamingo Thrift and Gift Store is now open! Bright, quirky, and full of character, the store offers a wide variety of thrifted and new items for sale. All proceeds benefit the Connected Initiative, making every purchase a way to support the community. If you haven’t visited yet, it’s definitely worth checking out!
Connected Community Spaghetti Dinner On November 19 in collaboration between The Connected initiative, Oneida County, and the Connected Rome CSD; the very first Connected County Spaghetti Dinner was held at Connected Strough middle school. The true strength of our communities in the Mohawk Valley is the spirit of resilience and collaboration to come together to support one another in the face of current and ongoing struggles. With the support of our volunteers from Oneida County, student volunteers, and Rome, CSD nutrition services staff we were able to distribute approximately 300 eat in and take out meals to anyone who was able to attend regardless of school district or home address. This event was proof that local action can have a wide impact.
Connected Herkimer Team
Breanna Stiefvater
Shae-Leigh Voorhees
YOUR HERKIMER SITE COORDINATOR
YOUR HERKIMER PROJECT MANAGER
315-983-7347
315-868-8959
315-717-9748
breannas@connectedcs.org
shae-leighv@connectedcs.org
katier@connectedcs.org
Katie Rockwell YOUR CONNECTED COMMUNITY SCHOOLS DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR
CENTRAL HUB TEAM ALEXIS TOWNE
RAIN RIDGNER
KALI FOUNTAIN
KAELYNN BARBER
DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OF IMPACT
DELIVERY TEAM
NORA BAJOHR
SASHA MILLER
HOW CAN I HELP YOU TODAY AND MAKE YOUR TOMORROW BETTER?
How can I help you today and make your tomorrow better?
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.