Herkimer - March 2026 - Newsletter

MARCH 2026

CONNECTED HERKIMER NEWSLETTER TABLE OF CONTENTS Connected District Bulletin Connected Partners Collaborations & Contributions

n w o d m Cal s e i g e t a Str With

Training Highlights Initiative Wide Highlights Upcoming Events Staff

Ms. Marina from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County’s Child Care Council came to the Elementary HUB and focused on calming strategies by creating calm down jars with the students. Students created their own jar and learned that if they shake the jars with all of the sparkles inside, they can take deep breaths while watching the sparkles settle. Students love creating them and even remark on how they have kept ones made prior.

PARP Connected Herkimer Elementary School hosted their annual PARP event and it was full of vibrant decor and activities.

The school embraces PARP and creates an interactive event as they decorate the entire school. The Connected Herkimer Team was present at the event providing information, resources, and giving away items to everyone attending the event!

It was such a great night, full of people excited about reading.

READERS IN ACTION Throughout March, the 3rd grade students involved in Readers in Action continued to be a help to the community all while improving their literacy. The students began each group by eating a snack while listening to a book being read to them. Sometimes, they even got involved with the various sound effects! In March, students made inspirational artwork. Prior to it being donated to help brighten some peoples day, they are being hung outside the HUB while all Readers in Action groups complete the project! They have also designed pin wheels in honor of Child Abuse Awareness Month in April!

NUTRITION PROGRAM Students participated in an engaging program focused on understanding nutrition facts and appropriate portion sizes.

Through this learning experience, they built valuable skills to support healthier choices. Upon completing the course, students were awarded certificates recognizing their dedication and achievement.

WORKING SOLUTIONS Working Solutions has opened applications for its Summer Youth Employment opportunities. Herkimer had a representative table in the cafeteria to spread the word and the applications to our students!

CONNECTED HERKIMER

This month during open HUB on March 24th, 18 individuals attended.

We were able to offer food, clothing, hygiene items, school supplies and more. Open HUB was held at the Middle/High School as it is more accessible to families and community members.

HUB HUDDLES HUB HUDDLES CONNECTED HERKIMER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

The Connected Herkimer Elementary HUB was vibrant with activity throughout March. Students learned how to make friendship bracelets, had silent dance parties that were not always silent, competed in Minute to Win it games, made crafts with one another, played many games, and participated in Foodie Fridays. Students often identify things they want to do in the HUB and then it is brought to life. Some students love pickles and found out classmates had never had any, which led to the HUB Pickle Party planned for April 2nd! Or we have 5th graders who want an alternative recess space and come to the HUB to participate in different activities and games with Connected Project Manager Shae.

HUB HUDDLES

CONNECTED HERKIMER MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL This month was a busy month for our middle and high schoolers! Valerie from CCE has been coming in to finish up her nutrition program with our lunch groups, and she is set to present the last two weeks in April. Site Coordinator Breanna and System of Care staff Katie Baker also collaborated on several events, such as “Cheese Doodles & Doodling,” which featured creative coloring, and “Pot of Gold Scavenger Hunt,” where students had to solve riddles to find the clues around the room to find the missing golden coins!

Pi Day was also celebrated in the HUB where students were challenged to answer Pi Day-related trivia questions to win an apple pie. Another popular food event is Legos & Eggos, which features students assembling Lego sets while eating delicious Eggo waffles.

Connected PARTNERS

Community Health & Behavioral Services serves district students as a satellite clinic. This is an asset to the district as collaborations and support to students built into their schedules during the school day has many benefits. School counseling staff are in direct contact with the 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.

FSN- Family School Navigation remains a vital partner in Connected Herkimer's mission to support local families. We have started our series of family-friendly events happening with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County's Child Care Council, Healthy Families of Herkimer County, Herkimer Health Net and Help Me Grow at the Frank Basloe Library. The goal of these events are to provide valuable resources while engaging parents, caregivers and children.

The Liberty Partnerships Program was established in 1988 under Section 612 Subdivision 6 of Education Law to address the significant dropout rate and promote positive outcomes of post-graduation among New York State Youth. One of 52 collegiate programs, SUNY Polytechnic Institute was awarded the Liberty Partnership Program Grant in Fall of 2022. The SUNY Poly Liberty Partnership Program team strives to provide academic support, career and employment preparation as well as social emotional skill building for 5th - 12th grade students within six Herkimer County school districts: Central Valley, Dolgeville, Frankfort-Schuyler, Herkimer, Little Falls, and Mount Markham.

The SUNY Polytechnic Institute Liberty Partnerships Program currently serves over 200 students providing a series of engaging and supportive programs to aid in individual goal achievement and positive outcomes.

Supports and Services include: Individual Academic Support Meetings Social Emotional Assessments Personalized Learning Plans Career Exploration Employment Preparation School-based academic support programs Summer Programs

WHO ARE WE AND WHAT DO WE DO? Herkimer County has teamed up with Connected Community Schools as part of the Herkimer County System of Care Initiative in order to provide Mental Health support and connections to Herkimer County Youth. The Youth Ambassador Coordinator will work with school administration, school staff and Connected Community Schools staff to identify students who could benefit from serving as an ambassador within their school district and community.

The Youth Ambassador Coordinator will organize and facilitate Youth Ambassador Councils across Herkimer County School districts and within the community. Monthly meetings will be held in order to organize and implement activities, events and programming related to Mental Health support and awareness. Youth Ambassadors may also have opportunities to coordinate with Youth Ambassador Councils across Herkimer County including the Annual Youth Summit.

Mother DaughterCircle Mother Daughter Circle Daughter Circle

The first cohort of the Mother Daughter Circle concluded successfully this month. Hosted by the Central Valley Academy HUB, this eight-week program brought mothers and daughters together to strengthen their bonds, build empathy, and develop healthy communication strategies. Through a supportive group setting and guided activities, participants were able to connect more deeply while navigating their evolving relationships.

H T U O Y ASSADOR

B M A COUNCIL

Outreach activities for the Youth Ambassador Council continued in March. We have received referrals for students interested in the Youth Ambassador Council.

We are working on outreach to parents and are planning our first meeting in April!

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING Herkimer Connected HUB has been hosting Herkimer County System of Care’s after school drop in programming on Thursdays with structured activities for students. This month students celebrated National Cheez Doodle Day & doodled together about what they enjoy about their connected hub and how they like to spend their time. Students took part in answering questions that encourage positive interactions in 3 categories: Presence, Possibility and Play, in which group challenges got students up and moving. Spring break kicked off in The Hub with “Egg-cellent Fun” where students were challenged to many silly games using Easter Eggs.

SOC AT CONNECTED CENTRAL VALLEY BUNNY TRAIL Youth Ambassador Coordinator assisted the Central Valley Connected Team at their annual Bunny Trail held at Barringer Road Elementary. The Silent Disco was a huge hit at this event and Youth Ambassador Coordinator kept students dancing and smiling.

UPCOMINGEvents Events

CONNECTED MOUNT MARKHAM WELLNESS FAIR

Mt Markham High School hosted a Wellness Fair for students. Herkimer County System of Care, Community Engagement Supervisor, MJ and Youth Ambassador Coordinator teamed up to quiz students on their knowledge of issues today's teens are challenged with in the areas of mental health, substance abuse issues and teen social media use.

The questions lead to great open dialogue among students and offered opportunities to gauge the understanding youth have in these important, complex issues.

After-school Programming

Herkimer

Central Valley

Dolgeville

in the Middle School/High School HUB.

in the CVA HUB.

in the Middle School/High School HUB.

Every Tuesday beginning April 14th.

Every Wednesday beginning April 22nd.

Every Thursday beginning April 22nd.

UPCOMING MOTHER DAUGHTER CIRCLE Mother Daughter Circles Groups are starting again in April! We are gauging interest in the community to see where the next location of the groups will be.

Please click this link or reach out to Katie to sign up.

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 Katie can be reached at 315-360-4978 Tuesday - Herkimer or katieb@connectedcs.org.

Wednesday - Central Valley Thursday - Herkimer Herkimer County System of Care is funded by Friday - Dolgeville

COLLABORATIONS COLLABORATIONS & & Contributions cted e Conne uld lik o w r me one Herki every k n a e to th ps! W l e h t t tha ithou w t i t do canno you!

Valerie Pettingill from Herkimer County Cornell Cooperative Extension Marina Bridgeham from Oneida County Cornell Cooperative Extension Nicole Myers from Working Solutions Eva Fuess with LPP Katie Baker with SOC

FSN Herkimer PTA Herkimer Health Net Help Me Grow Program Frank J. Basloe Library Family School Navigation NBT Bank

Trends

TThere has been an increased need for food, clothing, hygiene items and housing support. Open HUB helps to combat some of these struggles as there is direct access for families along with resource informtion around continued support for food. The Connected Herkimer Team continues to canvas the area for housing resources, financial support and navigation of the housing system for families.

UPCOMING HERKIMER OPEN HUB DATES

UPCOMINGEvents Events

Herkimer Elementary Spring Carnival

April 18

th

UPCOMING HUB Huddles & Programming HUB Huddles & Programming ELEMENTARY

National Gummy Bear Day April 27th

National Jelly Bean Day April 22nd

May the Fourth Be with You

Cinco de Mayo

May 4th

May 5th

MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL

De-Stress Spring Coloring

April 14

th

Broadway Silent Disco

April 27

th

Cornell Cooperative Extension

April 28th Trust Building

TRAININGHighlights Highlights

Guiding the Way We recently explored an exciting new programming opportunity available to all Connected districts—and our team got a firsthand look. At a recent all-staff event, we welcomed Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. to the Impact Center for an engaging training experience.

Through their unique “Hometown Training™” model, they provide guide dogs at no cost to individuals in the Eastern U.S. who are legally blind and may also have additional physical challenges. This approach allows clients to receive support and companionship from a guide dog while continuing their daily routines at home and, in many cases, in the workplace.

This opportunity not only offers meaningful educational programming for students—highlighting the importance and impact of guide dogs—but also serves as a valuable resource for community members who may benefit from these life-changing services.

Youth Mental Health First Aid Training – Free & Open to All! Did you know that Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) Training is available at no cost?

This valuable program is designed to help faculty, staff, and community members recognize the signs of mental health challenges in young people, provide support, and connect them with appropriate resources.

By participating, you’ll gain practical skills to respond confidently to students in crisis, foster a supportive environment, and make a real difference in the lives of youth in our community.

Who can attend: All faculty, staff, and community members Cost: FREE Registration: Registration link Empower yourself with the knowledge to support youth mental health—because every student deserves to be seen, heard, and supported.

INITIATIVEHighlights Highlights Celebrating Excellence & Leadership WOMEN OF DISTINCTION We are proud to share that our Co-Leader, Melissa Roys, was recognized by Assemblywoman Maryann Buttenschon as a Woman of Distinction this March. Melissa’s tireless dedication to connecting our community and ensuring every individual feels seen continues to make a lasting impact.

Congratulations, Melissa!

WOMEN IN STEAM Co-Leader Danielle Martin was thrilled to lead the Education, Mentorship & Community Impact Hub alongside of Dr. Patricia Washing, Director from On Point and Sarah Gomex, Principal at MO BOCES. They all shared their career journeys, highlighing the importance of learning from the obstacles in life, importance of networking, advocating and never giving up! More than 200 students, educators, and regional leaders were in attendance.

INITIATIVEHighlights Highlights Strengthening Child Safety Through Partnership Connected is excited to announce a collaboration with the Ride for Missing Children and our new Ride for Missing Children Educator, Amanda Galindo. Connected plays a vital role in advancing the mission of The Ride for Missing Children-Mohawk Valley to promote child safety and support the prevention of child abduction and exploitation.

We deliver engaging, age-appropriate safety education programs foster awareness of the Ride for Missing Children initiative create meaningful connections between students, educators, and the broader community.

AMANDA GALINDO

RFMC COMMUNITY EDUCATOR amandag@connectedcs.org

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 KALI KAELYNN ALEXIS FOUNTAIN BARBER TOWNE DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR DELIVERY TEAM OF IMPACT

NORA BAJOHR

DUSTIN TROTZ

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.