Community School Connections
Quarter 3 2018-2019
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Building a stronger Erie County,
one student at a time.
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United Way's
community schools
model is a strategy (
not a program
) for organizing school and community resources around student success. A
community school
is both a place and set of partnerships that help address health, wellness and the social needs of its students, families and the surrounding neighborhood. Schools become centers of the community, open to everyone, all day, every day, evenings and weekends.
The community school model is collective impact at its best, and United Way is proud to serve as the
backbone organization
for this important work as a partner, facilitator, supporter, and administrator of the initiative county-wide.
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United Way's ten community schools in place throughout Erie County cumulatively make a HUGE impact on
more than 6,000
students and families!
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Note:
The above data is only representative of United Way's five pilot schools (East, Edison, McKinley, Pfeiffer-Burleigh and Strong Vincent) Additional community schools will begin adding to these numbers next school year.
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Community Schools Grow to Ten Strong
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United Way's community school model now includes ten schools throughout Erie County.
The Community Schools Partnership announced
Harding Elementary and
Perry Elementary will become the next two community schools at a press conference held Wednesday, May 8. Local company
Eriez Magnetics will serve as the Corporate Partner at each school.
United Way and Erie's Public Schools also announced the next step in the process of establishing the community schools model at each school will be to identify a Lead Partner. Organizations interested in serving as the Lead Partner at either school should visit
UnitedWayErie.org/RFQ and submit their response by
Wednesday, May 29.
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United Way's eight community schools in collaboration with Erie's Public Schools are Diehl Elementary, East, Edison Elementary, Harding Elementary, McKinley Elementary, Perry Elementary, Pfeiffer-Burleigh Elementary and Strong Vincent
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Pfeiffer-Burleigh Elementary
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Community School Director: Meghan Easter
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Finding Fellowship through Furniture Building
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More students are using their hands at
Pfeiffer-Burleigh, a United Way community school, thanks to the Furniture Fellowship program.
The program was developed by Pfeiffer-Burleigh Instructional Coach
Lisa Sinicki along with the help of her brother
Jeff Rossi, an employee of McInnes Rolled Rings. The idea for the program was envisioned by Jeff after he supported Pfeiffer-Burleigh through the summer ServErie project, and again with his involvement in National Night Out.
In its first year, the Fellowship has grown to have twelve students in grades 3-5! The team gathers together weekly to learn hand tool basics, measuring skills and team work and has completed dining room table sets that were then given to Pfeiffer-Burleigh families. The purpose of the program is not only to allow hands-on activity, but also to interact positively with others and to serve the community through donation of the finished products.
"It's fun and we get to make something, I really like that," said Annie, a third grader. A family recently received a finished table and it has become a centerpiece in their home. Materials for the program are purchased through Erie's Public Schools Gearing Up program. Pfeiffer-Burleigh community school director, Meghan Easter, is working with Lisa and Jeff to look at ways to continue to support the Furniture Fellowship program next year, potentially as a solo-standing club opportunity for students.
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Community School Director: Amy Grande
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The Yoga for Young Ladies after-school program at
McKinley Elementary, a United Way community school, has more than doubled participation since beginning earlier this school year. The group of 3rd - 5th grade female students is led by first grade teacher and certified kids yoga instructor,
Mrs. Molly Robinette along with Out-of-School-Time Coordinator
Miss Lori Pickens.
Students involved in yoga are interested in building self-esteem, participating in a group activity as well as cultivating creative ideas and dialogue through "chat and chew" time. The ladies discuss the importance of hygiene and how growing up requires us to change how we care for our bodies.
Community school lead partner provided yoga mats for the program! And, community school corporate partner,
LORD Corporation, has donated a "Yoga Spa Bag" for each practicing "yogi" which includes soap, body wash, toothbrushes, lotion and washcloths. During Yoga Spa Bag distribution days the group discusses how to speak more positively about yourself and our neighbors. Students are learning how to be more honest and truthful as well as up-lifting to those around us and our community.
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Community School Director: Katrina Byrd
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Dance through MLK Center Partnership
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In collaboration with the MLK Center, Erie Dance Theater's director Nate Johnson gathers a large group of students each week for After-School Dance at
Strong Vincent, a United Way community school. This is the first year for the program!
Students have been working with
Mr. Johnson on the basics of dance and learning creative movement through all forms of dance.
In addition to Mr. Johnson and the students, the group also includes 6th grade English Language Arts teacher
Mrs. Gina Sandberg and her five-year-old daughter Madgie!
In attendance every time the group meets are proud grandparents Jim and Zella Baldwin. The Baldwin's bring all of their grandchildren, some who attend other schools within Erie's Public Schools, each week and consider After-School Dance as family time!
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Community School Director: Tami Krzeszewski-Conway
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Gabe, a fourth grader at
Edison Elementary, a United Way community school, looks forward to going down the street to the Boys & Girls Club of Erie weekly.
Jamie Nevel, a Proposal Engineer at Wabtec, Edison's Corporate Partner, looks forward to going down the street to the Boys & Girls Club of Erie weekly too.
The pair have forged a strong bond which has translated to weekly one-on-one mentor sessions that include art, computer games and Gabe's favorite... Legos! Jamie first met Gabe when signing up to volunteer at Edison earlier this school year. Miss Tami, Edison community school director and Christine Breski, Wabtec employee liaison, approached Jamie to see if he may be interested in a more deliberate mentoring relationship with Gabe. And, after just a few short weeks, Gabe is already showing signs of engagement that his teachers and family have not seen before!
Jamie believes strongly in the community schools model and has emerged as advocate for student success through community resources, services and quality volunteer opportunities being aligned and offered right at the school building.
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Community School Director: Jamilia Gates
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Science Fair Draws More than 350 Attendees
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Students at
East, a United Way community school, presented their first science fair earlier this month!
The fair included demonstrations from more than 30 local companies, featured community leaders as guest judges, interactive exhibits, games, free raffles and more.
In addition, students proudly displayed their individual science projects and research in the cafeteria. Parents and the community at large were invited to attend the Fair which was held in the evening to maximize attendance! A total of 350 attendees joined in the activities including an unprecedented 127 parents, 195 students and 33 vendors!
Making the Science Fair possible was the Foundation for Erie's Public Schools and East's community school lead partner
Safe Harbor Behavioral Health of UPMC Hamot.
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Meet the Community School Director Soon!
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Diehl Elementary, a United Way community school has begun the initial planning process with identified lead partner
Mercyhurst University. Initial progress to develop
Diehl Elementary as a United Way community school continues including finalizing the hiring of a Community School Director.
Thank you to our corporate partners making this work possible!
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Community School Director: Kerrie Grande
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Female students like Erin Howe (pictured left) at
Iroquois Elementary, a United Way community school, are benefiting from the newly launched Girls Who Code program!
Girls Who Code is a pilot program being facilitated by Rhonda Longo and Sharon Steiner, two volunteers who are also in technology careers at Erie Insurance. The curriculum for the program is available through the national
Girls Who Code initiative.
As part of their learning, the group is building a website around women's empowerment.
Through this experience, female students showing an interest in technology are learning how to build a website from the ground up, including project management, software development and the technology life cycle.
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Community School Director: Kim Ozimek
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Families at
Elk Valley Elementary, a United Way community school, enjoyed a kingdom of sweet adventures as the school gymnasium was transformed into a magical life-size game of Candy Land for a first-ever Student Art Show! The event was presented in partnership with the Elk Valley Parent Teacher Organization.
Students and their families walked around the "game board" which features stations displaying art from grades K-4 all themed around delectable desserts! This event saw an unprecedented amount of collaboration and volunteerism with more than 20 volunteers assisted in setting up and running the Art Show, including student volunteers from Rice Avenue Middle School, Girard High School, support from the Lake City Police Department and Elk Valley Recreation Board who served ice cream to attendees!
Check out more photos from the event.
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