C O N N E C T E D
H E R K I M E R
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
Upcoming Events
Staff Q U A R T E R 1 2 0 2 5
CARNIVAL CARNIVAL
The Herkimer County Connected Districts came together this summer to host a county-wide family carnival at the Herkimer ARC Park. It was a day designed to bring families together for fun, connection, and access to community resources. Staff from all four Connected Districts (Herkimer, Mt. Markham, Central Valley, and Dolgeville) collaborated as one team to plan and carry out the event. Their efforts created a welcoming and inclusive space where families enjoyed free games, food, and entertainment.
The carnival also featured over 26 local agencies, each sharing valuable information and resources with attending families. The event was a great success, and plans are already in motion to make it an annual tradition!
July & August Recap
This summer, Connected Herkimer partnered with OHM BOCES and Herkimer Central School to support the Summer Food Program. The team helped families register at a June event and continued assisting throughout the summer—ensuring families received their food boxes, even when traditional pick-up wasn’t possible. This collaboration helped reduce barriers and connect more families with the resources they needed. Connected Herkimer is grateful to have supported such an impactful community initiative.
kimer offered a weekly walking group at the d a great opportunity for community members stay active in a relaxed, social setting.
The Herkimer Police Benevolent Association (PBA) and Herkimer Elementary PTA once again hosted the annual National Night Out, bringing families and the community together for an evening of fun, food, games, and giveaways For the third year in a row, Connected Herkimer joined the event to share resources and activities for childre d their annual Learn and Play Wellness Fair for Kids, promoting health, wellness, and community connection through fun, educational activities. Connected Herkimer and other county teams joined in, offering interactive activities and resources for families—a great day of learning, laughter, and community support!
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Herkimer County hosted its first-ever Energy and Wellness Expo, uniting families and community partners to explore health, energy efficiency, and overall well-being. Connected Herkimer, alongside other county teams, provided resources, information, and interactive activities for attendees helping support the Expo’s mission of promoting healthy, informed lifestyles while strengthening community connections.
Connected Herkimer recently hosted a Senior Picture Day for Herkimer High School seniors, providing a free opportunity for students to have their photos taken on campus. Site Coordinators Shae and Breanna captured memories for many students, ensuring everyone—regardless of financial barriers—could feel celebrated during this milestone. The event was full of excitement and pride, and Connected Herkimer looks forward to offering similar opportunities to continue supporting students in feeling seen and valued.
with Nathan Galinsky Apartments to host a Mobile Open HUB event, welco residents and community members to access local resources and services. Representatives from the Her County Office for the Aging and EFNEP were on hand provide information and support. The event was well attended, and plans are already in motion for future collaborations with Nathan Galinsky Apartments.
September Recap
ntary kicked off the school year with a lively K–5 Meet and Greet, giving families a chance to visit classrooms, meet teachers, and drop off supplies. Many also stopped by the HUB to pick up school supplies or clothing, while the Liberty Partnerships Program offered support and connected with families It was wonderful to see so many families engaging with staff and preparing for a fantastic school year!
We’re excited to share that Marina Bridgham, Community Wellness Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County’s Child Care Council, will be visiting the Herkimer Elementary and MS/HS HUBs monthly! This month, Marina led a fun activity on perspective for students in grades 3–5 during lunch. Using zoomed-in images, students guessed what the full picture might be was it a leaf or a cat’s ear? A basketball or the end of spaghetti? The activity sparked laughter, curiosity, and thoughtful discussions about how our perspectives can differ and change with new information.
During the school’s Open House, the HUB stayed open after hours, giving students and parents the opportunity to pick up school supplies, clothing, hygiene items, and even fresh vegetables. The Liberty Partnerships Program (LPP) also joined the event to help families get students signed up for their program, making it a valuable resource for the community.
Students learned about SMART goals and set a goal for themselves for the year. After they planned out their SMART goal, they made a vision board correlating with it!
Throughout September, students visited the HUB to enjoy lunch, play games, and connect with friends, while many new students were introduced to the space and its resources. From making cloud dough and creating art projects to playing Tetris and shooting hoops, the HUB was buzzing with activity. Students also used the space to check in during mornings and pick up needed items. All third-grade classes toured the HUB to learn about supports like clothing, hygiene products, and food The month ended with the return of the silent dance party headphones, a favorite that students are excited to enjoy again in October.
Herkimer Middle and High School kicked off the year with fun activities to welcome students and families. The first HUB Huddle served as a meet-and-greet with Site Coordinator Breanna and Youth Ambassador Coordinator Katie Baker, helping students connect with staff and each other. Throughout September, students enjoyed creative and community-building activities, including a coloring contest, vision boards, and perspective-taking games led by Marina Bridgham from Cornell Cooperative Extension.
Connected Connected
PARTNERS PARTNERS
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.
Family School Navigation continues to be a valued partner of Connected Herkimer. We are grateful for our continued collaboration with FSN and look forward to more opportunities to serve families together.
LPP held very successful summer camps over the summer! Kids from Connected Herkimer were able to attend and learn new skills and connect with students from other districts.
Eva Fuess has begun meeting with students and setting their goals for this upcoming year. We’re getting started with our after-school homework help through LPP, which runs every Wednesday during 10th period!
Enrolled Students: 30
Services Provided:
Academic Support
50 min
Assessments and PLP
325 Min
College Readiness
55 Min
Community Engagement
100 Min
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!
YouthAmbassadorCoordinator,KatiespendstimeineachoftheHerkimer CountyConnectedDistricts.Herscheduleisasfollows: Monday - Mount Markham Tuesday - Herkimer Wednesday - Central Valley Thursday - Herkimer Friday - Dolgeville
COLLABORATIONS & COLLABORATIONS & Contributions Con
July
& August
BOCES
Cornell Cooperative Extension
Herkimer ARC
Herkimer County Healthnet
Nathan Galinsky Apartments
Herkimer Police Benevolent Association (PBA)
Herkimer Elementary PTA
Steet Ponte
Liberty Partnerships Program
R4K
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County Child Care Council
Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency
Runaway and Homeless Youth, a Program of Catholic Charities of Herkimer County
Herkimer PTA
Herkimer BPA
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Herkimer County
FoodSense, a Program of Catholic Charities of Herkimer County
Fidelis Care
Frank J. Basloe Library
Mohawk Valley Health System
Working Solutions
that helps!We cannot do it without you!
September
School supplies from various community members and businesses
Clothing from various teachers, staff, and community members Community members donated to the Connected Visionary Awards for the Silent Auction portion of the evening.
LINK LINKTrendsTrends
Over the summer and into the new school year, Connected Herkimer has seen an increase in families needing support with basic necessities. During the summer, the district’s Summer Food Program provided weekly meal boxes, helping to alleviate some food insecurity, but families continued to need assistance with food, clothing, and back-to-school supplies. As the school year began, referrals for support have expanded to include safe, affordable housing, healthcare access, and other essential resources. Breanna and Shae continue to work closely with families and community partners, ensuring that everyone has the support they need to thrive.
Elementary
Silent Dance Party
Chocolate Milk Ghost Cups
Pen Pal Program with the MS/HS HUB
After School Events at the MS/HS
10/20 - Chocolate Milk Ghost Cups
10/27 - Pen Pal Mentoring
Project 10/28 - Cornell
Cooperative Extension 10/30 - Spooky Movie & Popcorn Hands
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.
INITIATIVE INITIATIVE
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.
ero 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.
