Rome - June 2026 - Newsletter

JUNE 2026

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

Riding for a Purpose The 30th Anniversary of the Ride for Missing Children – Mohawk Valley was a memorable celebration of community, education, and child safety. Beautiful weather and an incredible turnout set the stage for an inspiring day as students lined the route with handmade signs, cowbells, cheers, and endless enthusiasm to welcome the riders into our communities. A special highlight was the dance party led by DJ Roscoe Red, bringing together students, educators, riders, volunteers, and supporters while celebrating the Ride's mission. Throughout the day, important child safety lessons shared during school presentations were reinforced, emphasizing the lasting impact of the program. During the closing ceremony, the Ride's educator shared that thanks to the dedication of riders and supporters, over 3,000 students, educators, family members, and community members, across more than 20 schools, participated in youth safety education over the past few months. While Ride Day has come to a close, the mission continues as every presentation, conversation, and safety lesson empowers children with the knowledge and confidence to stay safe. Thank you to everyone who helped make this milestone year such a meaningful success.

AT STROUGH Stephanie Markham from Jervis Public Library came for her final monthly HUB visit of the school year. She brought information on all things fun at the Library over the summer, as well as information on the summer reading program. She informed students of the awesome prizes they could win by participating in the reading program. And as always she brought free books and stickers for the students.

PEDALING TOWARD SAFETY Students at Connected Gansevoort met with Ride for Missing Children Mohawk Valley Education Coordinator Amanda Galindo to learn about the ABC’s of bike safety.

Amanda also discussed how a student could identify a trusted adult. Additionally, the students learned all about the mission and details of the Ride for Missing Children.

FINDING CALM THROUGH CREATIVITY Marina Bridgham from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County visited Connected Gansevoort to talk with students about the importance of developing coping skills. After her lesson, she guided students in creating calming jars that they can use in the future. The purpose of the calming jar is that by the time the glitter settles, the student should be feeling calmer. If not they can simply shake the jar and try again. This hands-on activity gave students a practical tool they can use anytime they need help resetting and calming down.

CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2026 Before embarking on their final Grad Walk through Rome City School District elementary schools, Connected Rome Free Academy (RFA) seniors gathered for their annual Senior Breakfast to celebrate their accomplishments and the exciting journey ahead. The Connected RFA team helped make the morning even more special by providing 20 cases of Chobani yogurt to complement the breakfast. Following the celebration, Connected Site Coordinator Shannon Faniglula and the Connected RFA Connectors assisted students as they donned their caps and gowns in preparation for the Grad Walk. Excitement filled the air as seniors reflected on their achievements, with smiles, cheers, and plenty of happy tears marking this memorable milestone.

BINGO, BIG GAMES & POPSICLES! Things were getting highly competitive at Connected Bellamy! On June 24, students were treated to a school wide Bellamy Game Day. Students enjoyed prizes provided

by Connected during their BINGO event. Other classes were able to take advantage of the big games available throughout the day! Popsicles were also distributed during lunch as a nice cooldown treat after a day of fun.

BUILDING A KINDER SCHOOL COMMUNITY During the Connected Denti 5th Grade Dance, parents had the opportunity to participate in a meaningful discussion on bullying prevention led by Jacqueline Hawkins from the Neighborhood Center.

Families shared their perspectives, voiced concerns, and engaged in thoughtful conversations about fostering school environments where every student feels safe, welcomed, and respected.

The evening provided a valuable opportunity for parents to connect, learn, and explore ways to encourage kindness, empathy, and positive relationships both in and out of the classroom.

Connected Rome Fun Day Highlights STROUGHFEST

BIG GAMES, BIG SMILES

Stroughfest 2026! What a funfilled day at Connected Strough!

Students had an amazing time participating in all the exciting activities offered during Stroughfest. Connected Site Coordinator Sarah kept the energy high with a Silent Disco party that wasn’t so silent - students could be heard singing along to every song!

Sarah also provided materials for students to create commemorative keychains, giving everyone a special keepsake to remember the day. From music and creativity to laughter and fun, Stroughfest was a fantastic way to celebrate the end of the school year and make lasting memories together.

Sixth graders at Connected Bellamy celebrated the end of the school year with a fun-filled blow-out event featuring oversized games and outdoor activities.

Students enjoyed some friendly competition with giant Jenga, while others spent time playing badminton and socializing with friends.

The beautiful weather made for the perfect backdrop as students relaxed, laughed, and created lasting memories together before the start of summer break.

Connected Rome Fun Day Highlights STOKES FUN DAY! Connected Stokes celebrated the end of the year with a day centered on fun, fun, fun and even more fun! Connected Site Coordinator Katlyne Wright was joined by SEALs Coordinator Gayle Tien and Resiliency Student Engagement Specialist Makenna Taylor for a host of additional fun activities to complement the bounce houses. The team helped make it a great day by scooping snow cones, applying temporary tattoos, leading students through the Big Games, and painting all the kids faces!

RIDGE MILLS FUN DAY Students at Connected Ridge Mills enjoyed a day of fun to celebrate another successful school year. The Ridge PTG arranged for water balloons, slip and slides, and bounce houses.

Connected Site Coordinator Katlyne was able to help by hosting large yard games for students who wanted a more relaxed or dry fun day.

Students also made sure Katlyne participated and got her with water balloons and squirt guns. It was a great way to end the year at Connected Ridge Mills Elementary School.

Connected Rome Fun Day Highlights DENTI FUN DAY What a fun day at Connected Denti! Kids had a wonderful time at the Connected Lemonade and Temporary Tattoos Table! We also had our special guest, Connected Mascot Coco come to visit with the kids and play fun games with them! It was a great day to wrap up the exciting school year with friends, faculty and staff!!

GANSEVOORT FUN DAY Connected Gansevoort celebrated the end of an amazing school year with a fun day carnival. Students went from booth to booth to win prizes while having the opportunity to play all the traditional fun carnival games. The Connected team provided sweet snow cone treats, face painting, and temporary tattoos as well.

Open HUB was held the Thursday before a long weekend in the Strough HUB. Families were welcomed into the HUB to shop for free groceries, speak with a Site Coordinator about any worries or struggles, and meet with our Community Partner.

This month’s community partner was National Grid. The representatives from National Grid provided information on how to balance summer cooling costs as well as looking ahead to help reduce winter heating expenses. The Connected Rome team was able to support 40 families at this event.

HUB HUDDLES HUB HUDDLES CONNECTED ROME ELEMENTARIES

CONNECTED BELLAMY

CONNECTED ROME

H UB

Students at the Connected Bellamy HUB celebrated the end of the school year by sharing their summer plans on sun-shaped cutouts, highlighting the exciting activities they are looking forward to over break. On the final day of school, students also came together to sign their names on the HUB shirt, creating a meaningful keepsake that captures the memories and connections built throughout the year.

CONNECTED RIDGE MILLS At Connected Ridge Mills students reflected on the upcoming school year by developing and sharing personal goals. These goals were written on large pieces of construction paper, creating a visual reminder they can revisit when they return in the fall. The activity encouraged students to think ahead, set intentions, and build excitement for continued growth and success.

CONNECTED STROUGH Students enjoyed spending time in the HUB throughout the month. As we approached the final weeks of school, they were excited to talk about summer vacation, as well as next year’s plans with some moving on to RFA. It was both a happy time and sad time to be leaving behind middle school.

CONNECTED ROME FREE ACADEMY At Connected Ridge Mills students reflected on the upcoming school year by developing and sharing personal goals. These goals were written on large pieces of construction paper, creating a visual reminder they can revisit when they return in the fall. The activity encouraged students to think ahead, set intentions, and build excitement for continued growth and success.

Connected PROJECTS The Connected SEALs project serves to support students and staff in navigating social emotional barriers to success in an academic setting. Our team members work in a highly collaborative manner with school counseling and social work teams to provide individual and group level student engagement to foster Social Emotional Learning (SEL) strengths like coping skills, conflict resolution strategies, and communicating emotional needs that allow students to regulate themselves and remain able to engage in their education. The team also works with building level staff to support them in building these skills with their students through modeling and working side by side in the classroom.

June was a whirlwind for all. The Rome Connected SEALs team spent a lot of time balancing emotional support and being present for a month full of celebrations. In June, the Connected Rome SEALs team supported 292 students and provided over 85 hours of direct student engagement time across the entire district. This month the two most utilized locations for SEALs engagement were the mindfulness spaces located in each building and the hallways. Students who were experiencing dysregulation or needed to practice calming/mindfulness strategies were able to use these spaces with SEALs support to successfully return to the classroom ready to reengage in the learning process. Additional trends across the district also showed that the greatest levels of support were provided at Connected Gansevoort and Denti Elementary schools, with additional needs targeting the second and third grades.

At the elementary grade levels, the focus was on transitions. While attending the summer-themed lunch bunches at Connected Gansevoort and Ridge Mills, students participated in a "summer bucket list" activity and engaged in checkins focused on the emotional impact of changing routines and social dynamics with Connected SEALs Coordinator, Ms. Alaia. Ms. Alaia also facilitated a dedicated 6th-grade girls group that emphasized self-esteem and the cultivation of positive peer relationships. During individual sessions, students created personalized emotional recognition tools and discussed healthy coping strategies for managing challenging emotions over the break.

A notable success story from this year involves a student who entered the academic term struggling significantly with emotional regulation and a lack of effective coping strategies.

After working with Ms. Alaia, the student developed greater emotional awareness and adopted several coping techniques by the end of the year. When reflecting on his progress, the student shared that the most important lesson he learned was "to be kind."

Connected PROJECTS At the Secondary school level, students continued to connect with SEALs Coordinator Ms. Michele about transitions and responsibilities as they move forward to their next steps. “Reflection” was the the theme this month, a very fitting for theme the end of the school year. The most popular strategy explored was listening to happy songs and sharing the memories they evoked.

As we think about “Reflection”, and look back upon the work done this year, The SEALs team would like to highlight an especially meaningful success story.

Over the past school year, the members of the SEALs team had the opportunity to work with a specific student at John Joy Elementary. When we met this student he displayed multiple behavioral challenges which disrupted not only his day of learning, but at time also his classmates’ day as well. At baseline, this student showed many emotional and academic strengths such as loving a good challenge and attention to details. His strengths assisted administrtors and support staff to understand the root causes for these daily disruptions.

With effort from the John Joy Administration, Counseling team, Teachers, and multiple Connected team members, multiple strategies were utilized to identify what would best address his needs. This student went from spending entire school days out of the classroom with with occasional suspensions, to 2.5 hours out of the classroom, then down to 2-3 15 minute breaks away from the classroom, and finally to being ready to transition right back to class right after lunch. This student began to properly utilize classroom calming corners instead of disrupting learning time for himself and others.

By implementing these SEL strategies, this student was able to further demonstrate his academic strengths and get back on track with classroom expectations. When reviewing progress with the parent, she shared significant behavioral changes in the home as well. This parent shared observations of easier transitions and emotional recovery times, as well as more displays of independent coping.

Although this now shining student has moved on from John Joy this summer, everyone involved with supporting him expressed the joy in witnessing the behavioral turn around he accomplished by the end of the school year. This student’s success story is a great example of SEALs impact at its best. A goal of the SEALs program is for a struggling student to demonstrate success not by “perfection” but through steady progress. By the end of the school year this student acheived this goal. All the interventions and support were provided through a collaboration with John Joy Elementary, Connected SEALs Staff, and the student’s family. Everone worked to not only build trust with the student, but within a determined partnership to see this student succeed.

If you would like to see your student build coping and regulation skills with the support of The Connected SEALs team and RCSD staff, please reach out to your Connected Site Coordinator, SEALs Coordinator, or Connected RCSD building teams to learn about how we can collaboratively support your student’s growth.

The Resiliency Project is a collaborative effort between Oneida County Department of Family and Children’s Services (DFCS), The Connected Initiative, and Safe Schools Mohawk Valley to provide support and bridge the gap between home and school for students and families at risk of entering the child protective services system. Our goal is to support families prior to this step, and avoid escalation of the struggles that impact children and families in a way that ensures positive and healthy familial relationships and allows families to thrive.

The Resiliency Team is intended to be an extension to your family, your child’s school and other supports that may already be in place to ensure that everyone can be successful, while bridging the gap between home, school and the community. The team can meet wherever you are most comfortable to provide support!

Go to the Connected LINK Referral form. This will connect you with your dedicated Connected Site Coordinator who can assist you with basic needs and to create a connection with the Resiliency Team! The Resiliency Team is available on site at the Connected IMPACT Center, 207 North James St. Rome on Tuesdays & Fridays from 10am-2pm, or by scheduled appointments. Need to make a LINK referral? Click here to get started.

Success Stories: A family was referred to Resiliency after the youth faced medical concerns, and a devastating house fire. The family found hope with the assistance of Resiliency. After a few months working with the family the youth ended up making gains with her medical problems and will start a plan over the summer months to ensure she is ready for school. The house fire took everything from the family, but with the help of the Resiliency Team and Oneida County DFCS they found a new home and were able to obtain items to clean and furnish that home.

A youth and his mother came into the Resiliency program due to altercations between the youth and his mother’s boyfriend. The youth was not attending school, misbehaving, and not being truthful about his school days. After a few months with Resiliency, the youth and his mother were supported with connections to mental health services and recieved tangible items. The youth relocated to stay with his uncle and then sarted attending school regularly. This resulted in the youth getting along better with his mother, improving his behavior, making the progress needed to focus on academics.

A youth and his family were referred to Resiliency after experiencing eviction. He and his family and were staying in a local motel temporarily. The family expressed relief and shared that they felt supported after being enrolled in the Resliency Project. Working with the Resiliency Team, the family was able to find a new home and obtain many of the needed household items to furnish their new residence. The youth's mother obtained new employment as well.

Connectors Connectors -- Trusted Trusted Adults Adults for for Many!

Many!

Connectors serve as guides and support within our secondary schools, providing a friendly face that students can rely on to ensure they are making it through high traffic and transition times in a safe and orderly manner throughout the day.

Whether it is in the cafeteria, auditorium, or in the hallways, the Connectors are additional trusted adults that the students can connect with if they need help or just want to share how their day is going. By promoting a safe and welcoming environment, the Connectors help every student be able to engage in their education by ensuring that students truly feel that Rome is Home.

CONNECTED RFA

-Connector Tiffany previously connected with a young lady during the 2024-2025 school year. Over this past year, Tiffany has watched her grow and mature in so many positive ways. During this school year the student began hanging out with friends who were smoking, vaping, and engaging in behaviors the student had previously chosen to avoid. Early in 2024, she had made a promise to her parents to make better choices, and now she found herself doing the exact opposite.

Connector Tiffany and the student had an honest conversation about the choices the student was making. Connector Tiffany asked her how she felt about herself now, how she viewed her friendships, and what she thought her parents reaction would be if they found out. Her responses were incredibly mature. The student recognized where she had gone wrong, understood what she needed to do to fix the situation, and realized that the hardest part was finding the courage to be honest with her parents.

Connector Tiffany offered to help the student rehearse the conversation, but at that moment, she politely declined. Some time had passed since Connector Tiffany had that interaction with the student. While passing the student in the hallway The student stopped to tell Tiffany that she had that difficult conversation with her parents. She hared that her parents were were disappointed, but they were also proud that she came to them and told the truth.

- Connector Paige had developed a positive relationship with a student. In March, that student shared with Paige that she finally got the job at a bakery that she had been pursuing. The student was so excited to start working. For quite a while, they just trained her on the register, but she wanted to do more. One morning the student approached Paige, with a doughnut in hand to give to her. The student told Paige it was special; it was the first doughnut she prepared herself. Paige felt so honored that the student chose her to give her “first” doughnut.

-Connector DeeAmbra joined the Connectors in May at RFA. Previously, DeeAmbra was a Connector at Strough and then a Connected Site Coordinator in Camden. Soon after, DeeAmbra was making meaningful connections with students at RFA. Students that she had connected with at Strough started noticing her and were extremely excited to have her at RFA. While at one of her posts, a student was walking by and shouted “Hey Miss DeeAmbra! What are you doing here? I am so excited to see someone I know!” The student turned out to be a student DeeAmbra had previously worked with in Camden and had recently moved to the Rome district where they hardly knew anyone.

-About half way through the year, Connector Tim connected with a student who expressed feelings that no one cared about him. One day, there was an incident that was escalating with this particular student. Within minutes, Connector Tim was called to the Assistant Principal’s office to try to calm him, since Connector Tim was one of the few adults that had any connection with the student. After that day, Connector Tim and the student developed a meaningful and impactful relationship, and the student realized that he could trust Tim. The student would occasionally come to see Tim during the day. After a few months of talking to him he became a regular face that Tim got to see and the student would come find Tim when he felt alone.

A few months ago, that student shared with Connector Tim the “he didn't have it in him to get back on track with his work and graduate”. So for the remainder of the school year, Connector Tim encouraged the student towards the goal of “getting back on track”. Tim offered to help by encouraging the student to reachout to his teachers regarding missed assignments. This student trusted Tim to help him and told him and that he no longer always felt alone or like no one really cares about him. Tim was overwhelmed with joy to know that this student would be graduating and walking across the stage with his classmates. Connector Tim made a significant impact in the education of this student by being the trusted adult for this student.

Collaborations Collaborations & & Contributions Contributions National GRID Rome Branch NAACP Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County YWCA of the Mohawk Valley YMCA of the Greater TRi-Vally Rome PD Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority PlayVs. Utica University Delta Lake State Park Chobani First Source Federal Credit Union Excellus Fidelis

Student

School Faculty/Staff

Conne cted Rome would lik thank everyo e to ne tha helps! t We ca n n o t it with do out yo u!

Connected Site Coordinator

Family

Services / Resources

Team Approach

Trends In the final month of the school year, similar to last month, we assisted a large number of families with transitions and planning for the summer and beyond. We had a number of secondary students reach out to us for help with summer jobs. One of the resources we have in house that multiple students have been referred to is our Growth Opportunities (GO) Program. This project has a focus on workforce development and job readiness, that provides six weeks of job coaching and readiness classes. Upon completion, the GO team works with students to locate paid internships in fields that students show interest. This year the GO team has successfully “graduated” over 20 students to paid internships, and is gearing up to begin the next cohort.

Rome Connected has also worked with a number of families this month to ensure students remain engaged and active over the summer in meaningful activities. Between our Esports summer camps, our Level Up Boot Camps for incoming Middle Schoolers and High Schoolers, and our Kindergarten readiness project at Connected Gansevoort, there are numerous opportunities to help students prepare for next school year. Our team has also coordinated regularly with Jervis Public Library and Rome CSD Food Services to ensure meaningful activities and engagement opportunities are occurring where the students are located.

UPCOMING

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TRAININGHighlights Highlights Strengthening Nonprofits Through Expert-Led Training

Divisional Director Katie Rockwell is participating in an 8-month training series designed to provide expert-led instruction, practical tools, and hands-on guidance for leaders in the nonprofit field. Each month focuses on a different operational area essential to building and sustaining a successful nonprofit organization, with sessions led by subject matter experts offering real-world strategies and resources. In June, Lara Pimentel, Owner of OSA Philanthropy, presented on fundraising strategies, including donor cultivation and stewardship. Participants gained actionable tools and insights to strengthen fundraising efforts and support long-term organizational sustainability.

Supporting Students and Strengthening Skills All Summer Long Connected Staff continue their work throughout the summer months by supporting families, helping facilitate summer programming and community events, and participating in professional learning opportunities. Alongside direct service and event support, staff also take part in the annual Summer Academy, a dedicated time for training, collaboration, and skill-building. This ongoing professional development helps ensure staff are prepared to continue providing strong, consistent support to students and families year-round.

INITIATIVE INITIATIVE WIDE WIDE Highlights Celebrating a Great Year, Together Connected staff came together for a fun and festive End-of-Year Celebration to wrap up a successful year of supporting students and families across the region. The gathering was filled with laughter, conversation, and time to relax and connect outside of daily program work. Staff took the opportunity to celebrate accomplishments from the 2025–2026 school year, reflect on the impact of their efforts, and enjoy time together as a team. The celebration was a positive way to close out the year and recognize the dedication, teamwork, and heart that each staff member brings to Connected every day.

Click here to see the yearbook!

INITIATIVE INITIATIVE WIDE WIDE Highlights A Community United for Child Safety The Ride for Missing Children – Mohawk Valley brought together riders, volunteers, students, families, and community partners for an unforgettable day of advocacy, awareness, and support. Throughout the Ride route, students from local schools enthusiastically welcomed riders with signs, cheers, and noisemakers, creating an incredible atmosphere of encouragement and community spirit. Stops at Jefferson Elementary and Seneca Street Elementary provided opportunities for riders and volunteers to connect with students, reinforce important safety lessons, and celebrate the shared mission of keeping children safe. Community partners, including Connected Community Schools and the Connected Cocoa, joined supporters along the route to cheer on participants as they traveled from Utica to New Hartford.

The day concluded with a closing ceremony celebrating the dedication of everyone involved and recognizing more than $82,000 raised to support child safety initiatives. During the ceremony, The Ride's Community Educator shared the impact of the program's safety education efforts, highlighting outreach to more than 3,000 students, educators, and families across over 20 schools in just the past few months. Ride Day served as a powerful reminder of what can be accomplished when a community comes together to support child safety, honor missing children, and create a safer future for all.

W H O A R E W E A N D W H AT D O W E D O ?

The Ride for Missing Children (RFMC) - Mohawk Valley is a community-driven organization dedicated to the prevention of child abduction and exploitation. While our mission is famously represented by our annual bicycle ride, our impact continues year-round through our dedicated Community Education program. In partnership with Connected Community Schools, we provide students and families with practical personal safety strategies, empowering the next generation with the tools they need to stay safe both online and in their everyday lives.

STUDENTS LEARN THE MISSION BEHIND THE RIDE As excitement built for The Ride for Missing Children, students at Watson Williams Elementary, Marcy Elementary, Seneca Street Elementary, Martin Luther King Elementary, and John F. Kennedy Middle School participated in engaging presentations focused on child safety and community awareness. Through interactive discussions and real-world examples, students explored important topics including bike safety, online safety, and personal safety while learning about the mission and impact of The Ride for Missing Children. Each presentation helped students understand the important role their school community plays in supporting child safety, making safe choices, and encouraging the riders as they travel through the community on Ride Day.

BUILDING SAFE CHOICES THROUGH FUN AND LEARNING Students at Gansevoort Elementary School and Stokes Elementary School strengthened their safety knowledge through engaging, interactive activities designed to build confidence and encourage smart decision-making. At Gansevoort, students explored bike safety, including the Bike ABCs, helmet safety, and safe practices for walking and riding near roadways.

They also learned the 4 Rules of Personal Safety and discussed internet safety, emphasizing the importance of protecting personal information, communicating with trusted adults, showing kindness online, and trusting their instincts when something feels wrong. Meanwhile, students at Stokes enjoyed a sunny lunchtime HUB Huddle featuring a lively game of Safety Jeopardy that reinforced personal and bike safety concepts through teamwork, discussion, and friendly competition. Together, these activities equipped students with valuable skills to help them stay safe both online and offline throughout the summer and beyond.

EMPOWERING STUDENTS T H R O U G H S A F E T Y E D U C AT I O N Seventh and eighth grade students at Vernon-VeronaSherrill Jr./Sr. High School participated in engaging safety presentations focused on bike safety, personal safety, and online safety. Students explored practical tools and strategies they can use to take an active role in their own safety while discussing topics such as trusted adults, personal boundaries, and situational awareness. Conversations about digital citizenship and digital footprints encouraged students to think critically about the lasting impact of their online actions and how to make safe, responsible choices in digital spaces.

R I D E R S I N S P I R E S A F E T Y AT C H E R R Y VA L L E Y - S P R I N G F I E L D Students at Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School welcomed Riders from The Ride for Missing Children as they arrived by bicycle before joining safety presentations focused on bike safety, personal safety, and online safety awareness.

Throughout the presentations, students learned valuable skills for staying safe both in their communities and online while gaining a deeper understanding of the mission of The Ride. The visit concluded with a bicycle helmet raffle, providing students with additional resources to help them ride safely and confidently.

F U N D AY B R I N G S S A F E T Y LESSONS TO LIFE Connected Mount Markham Elementary School's Fun Day combined excitement with valuable safety education as students learned alongside Riders from The Ride for Missing Children. Through interactive activities, participants reviewed the 4 Rules of Personal Safety, identified trusted adults, and practiced speaking up when something doesn't feel right. Riders also demonstrated proper helmet fit, bicycle sizing, and pre-ride safety checks. Thanks to the generosity of the Optimist Club and community supporters, students wrapped up the event with raffles for bicycle helmets, toys, and other prizes, making the day both educational and memorable.

C E L E B R AT I N G C O M M U N I T Y A N D S A F E T Y AT T H E P U R P L E FLAMINGO GRAND OPENING The Ride for Missing Children – Mohawk Valley was proud to participate in the Purple Flamingo Thrift & Gift Grand Opening by providing safety resources and interactive activities for families and community members. Visitors stopped by to explore safety handouts, complete activity pages, test their knowledge with a spin-the-wheel safety trivia game, and take home fun giveaways including stickers, pencils, and popcorn. The event provided a wonderful opportunity to connect with the community, share important safety information, and support a local organization dedicated to making a positive impact.

N E T S M A R T Z P R E S E N TAT I O N Students at Holland Patent Middle School participated in a Netsmartz internet safety presentation focused on building safe and responsible online habits. Through interactive discussions and real-world examples, students explored the concept of digital citizenship, learned about the lasting impact of their digital footprints, and identified warning signs that may arise when communicating with others online. Students also discussed the difference between being a bystander and an upstander, reinforcing the importance of speaking up, seeking help, and supporting others when they encounter unsafe or inappropriate situations online.

UPCOMINGEvents

July 15th - Fonda Youth Safety Day July 17th - Rome Connected Carnival July 23rd - Dolgeville Bike Rodeo July 30th - Herkimer Conected Carnival August 8th - Oneida County Community Health & Healing Day September 2nd - Willard Prior Back-to-School Open House

MEET AMANDA GALINDO As a Community Educator for The Ride For Missing Children - Mohawk Valley, Amanda dedicates her time to engaging with each of the Connected Districts as well as other districts.

Amanda can be reached at amandag@connectedcs.org.

RFMC COMMUNITY EDUCATOR

H O WHow C A can N I IH E L Pyou YO U TO D Amake Y AND help today and MAKE YO U R T O M O R R O W B E T your tomorrow better? T E R ?

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.

matthewh@connectedcs.org

YOUR STROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL SITE COORDINATOR 315-404-6021

Maya Nelson

YOUR DENTI ELEMENTARY SITE COORDINATOR

Katie Fountain

sarahr@connectedcs.org

YOUR GANSEVOORT ELEMENTARY SITE COORDINATOR

Shannon Faniglula

315-240-6012

YOUR ROME FREE ACADEMY SITE COORDINATOR

Chasity Cruz

DIRECTOR OF ROME PROJECTS and CLOUGH COORDINATOR

YOUR BELLAMY ELEMENTARY SITE COORDINATOR

315-795-6186

shannonf@connectedcs.org

315-360-1212

chasityc@connectedcs.org

YOUR JOHN E. JOY ELEMENTARY & MO BOCES SITE COORDINATOR

315-360-5337

mayan@connectedcs.org

315-749-8896

katherinef@connectedcs.org

Katlyne Wright

Sarah Renzi

Matthew Hartwell

Connected Rome Team

YOUR RIDGE MILLS & STOKES ELEMENTARY SITE COORDINATOR (315) 832-2549

katlynew@connectedcs.org

H O WHow C A can N I IH E L Pyou YO U TO D Amake Y AND help today and MAKE YO U R tomorrow T O M O R Rbetter?

OW BETTER? your

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.

315-939-3986

kinetriah@connectedcs.org

Gayle Tien

YOUR STOKES & DENTI SEALS COORDINATOR gaylet@connectedcs.org 315-525-3217

YOUR RIDGE MILLS/GANSEVOORT SEALS COORDINATOR 315-709-4959

alaiac@connectedcs.org

YOUR SECONDARY SEALS COORDINATOR

Michele Evans

YOUR SEALS PROJECT MANAGER

Alaia Cauthon

Kinetria Howard

Connected Rome SEALs Team

315-709-8524

michelee@connectedcs.org

Connected Rome Resiliency Team

Destiny Branfalt

Nicole Nardozza

Kelley Bennett

Makenna Taylor

Madison Bero-Nestle

RESILIENCY COORDINATOR

RESILIENCY COORDINATOR

DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OF COUNTY PROGRAMS

STUDENT ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST

STUDENT ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST

Melissa Roys

Danielle Martin

CO-EXECUTIVE LEADER

CO-EXECUTIVE LEADER

Connectors Connectors Veronica Baker DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Paige Taylor

Tiffany James

Sierra Brown

Micheal Harrison

Brittany Emery

Timothy Coleman

Corilynn Armstrong Michelle Jewell

DeeAmbra Bad Yellow Hair