Madison - February 2026 - Newsletter

FEBRUARY 2026

CONNECTED MADISON NEWSLETTER TABLE OF CONTENTS Connected District Bulletin Connected Partners Collaborations & Contributions Training Highlights Initiative Wide Highlights Staff

Discovery Expo and Community Dinner Connected Madison held its annual Discovery Expo and Community Dinner right before February break! Students were able to create a presentation board about their interests and then talk with other students and families about their interests. A fabulous Chili and Mac and Cheese dinner was provided by Ms. Chelsea and the reviews were fantastic . A great educational opportunity mixed with fun and yum!! Congrats to all the students that participated and special thanks to Mrs. Blake, Mr. Drake, and Mrs. Denton for their help with the evening!

Connected Madison welcomed our friend Ms. Carol from CCE SNAP-Ed for the monthly water day! About 300 students enjoyed a refreshing pineapple strawberry water and many requested seconds!!

Re-think your drink education continues to show students healthier and delicious options.

Connected Madison offered two Open Gym and Lunch opportunities to help students and families break up the winter recess. Participants enjoyed basketball, flag football, kickball, and a variety of recreational games, providing a fun and active way to connect with friends. Lunch was served on both days, with tacos offered on Tuesday and pizza on Thursday. It was wonderful to see so many students and parents take part in the activities.

Special thanks to Ms. Chelsea for her assistance with food preparation and to Ms. Carlee for serving as an additional supportive adult during the events.

The monthly Three & Me group met for its monthly meeting at Connected Madison! Future students and their caregivers were able to have open free play time , hear a great story about new friends, make a crown , and enjoy a snack together. Caregivers and students are building new friendships and strengthening existing relationships in advance of the new school year!!

Connected Madison Elementary celebrated love and puppies during the monthly Positivity Project Assembly! Our friend and Puppy Advisor, Becky Rowling, with Freedom Guide Dogs and Arlo joined us as we recognized students who demonstrated the character traits of Social Intelligence, Forgiveness, and Love. We learned all about Freedom Guide Dogs and how our traits tie directly into raising a puppy!!

Thank you Becky and Arlo for all the snuggles and information!!

Connected Madison welcomed our friends Ms. Jaime and Ms. Stephanie from Madison County Rural Health for the annual dental education program, Cavity Free Kids! Grades pre-k through 5th were able to listen to valuable information about dental care and each student was able to bring home a dental kit! What a great way to end National Children’s Dental Health Month!!

Students in both High School and Middle School continue to utilize the Lunch Bunch Groups on a daily basis to have a quiet space to gather with friends, enjoy lunch, enjoy games, talk in small groups about questions of the day, and build skills including collaboration, volunteering, and what it means to be a community.

Connected PARTNERS PARTNERS

Connected

Ms. Tubbs and Ms. Bowen continue to collaborate and support families and students as a unified partnership. Joint meetings, email communication, and in-person review allows for families and individual students to be supported in the best way possible.

Ms. Terrier and Ms. Bowen collaborate together on LINK referrals for mental health needs.

Students are moved through the LINK and County system promptly to ensure mental health needs are being met and positive relationships are created. Thank you to Ms. Terrier for her willingness to collaborate in the HUB space and engage with students together with Ms. Bowen!

Trends

Trends

Mental Health support continues to be the top request via the LINK system at Connected Madison Central. This is in part due to the counseling office and Ms. Bowen meets regularly to identify students that are seen frequently that could use additional support outside of in-school concerns. As students are identified, the counseling staff is reaching out to caregivers to encourage a LINK referral and Ms. Bowen is working closely with caregivers and Madison County Mental Health to fill slots in the school building at the remote office. This in-school support saves lost time in education, lost time at work for caregivers, transportation concerns, and more.

COLLABORATIONS COLLABORATIONS & & Contributions Contributions Best of the Best Luncheon Ms. Cheryl Darrow ICAN Meeting Connected Admin Meeting Madison County Rural Health Diabetes Prevention Meeting College and Career Fair Planning Meeting New Teacher Meeting cted Conne ike ould l w n o e Madis eryon v e k n e to tha elps! W ut that h o it with o d t canno you!

UPCOMING UPCOMINGEvents Events MARCH 16TH - 20TH AGRICULTURE LITERACY WEEK WITH MADISON COUNTY CCE

MARCH 17TH REALITY CHECK WITH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL 10:55 AM

MARCH 19TH

MARCH 19TH THREE & ME

MID-SUMMER NIGHTS DREAM PLAY WITH 5TH GRADE

5:30-6:15 PM

1 PM

MARCH 25

MARCH 25TH

T H

CCE MADISON COUNTY FARMING IN A GLOVE

WATER WEDNESDAY WITH SNAP-ED

8:30 AM

10:45 AM

MARCH 31

MARCH 31ST

S T

POSITIVITY PROJECT ASSEMBLY

CCE ONEIDA COUNTY PERSPECTIVE TRAINING

8:15 AM

8:30 AM

MARCH 31ST PJ’S & PANCAKES LITERACY NIGHT 6PM

UPCOMING UPCOMINGEvents Events APRIL 14TH CCE MADISON COUNTY FARMING IN A GLOVE 8:30 AM

APRIL 16TH THREE & ME

5:30-6:15 PM

APRIL 16TH REALITY CHECK WITH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL 10:55 AM

APRIL 23RD BRIDGES YOUTH LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 8:30 AM

APRIL 28TH POSITIVITY PROJECT ASSEMBLY 8:15 AM

MAY 19TH COLLEGE & CAREER FAIR 1 - 4 PM

INITIATIVE INITIATIVE WIDE WIDEHighlights Highlights Advocating for Students and Families in Albany

On Feb. 10, Nora Bajhor, Director of Impact, and Daniel Turk, Project Manager of Quality Assurance, traveled to Albany to meet with state legislators to advocate for funding for Community Schools that support students, families, and communities across New York State.

The day began with a powerful video highlighting the realities of childhood poverty across New York, which set the tone for the conversations ahead. The video was both moving and impactful, and several colleagues from the Connected initiative were featured in the presentation. After the video Nora presented as a panelist representing Connected.

Throughout the day, the group met with legislators to discuss the importance of sustained support for programs that address the barriers many students and families face.

One highlight of the day was an impromptu meeting with a local Assembly representative, who graciously took time to speak with Dan’s group. The conversation was encouraging as he has three Connected school districts in his legislative district, there is hope that he will support the proposed legislation should it move forward to a full Assembly vote.

The day provided an important opportunity to highlight the impact of Community Schools and ensure that the voices of students, families and communities are part of the conversation shaping policies across New York.

Click here to watch the 1 in 5: Confronting Childhood Poverty in New York Video.

TRAINING TRAININGHighlights

Highlights

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.

HOW CAN I HELP YOU TODAY AND

How can I help you today and make MAKE YOUR TOMORROW BETTER? 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.

Connected Madison Team Michele Bowen YOUR MADISON PROJECT MANAGER

Colleen Matthews DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OF CONNECTED COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

315-271-8848 micheleb@connectedcs.org

CENTRAL HUB TEAM ALEXIS TOWNE

RAIN RIDGNER

KALI FOUNTAIN

DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OF IMPACT

NORA BAJOHR

KAELYNN BARBER

DELIVERY TEAM

DUSTIN TROTZ