Building a stronger Erie County, one student at a time.
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Community School Connections
Quarter 4 2018 - 2019
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United Way Community Schools...
- Bring resources into the school building that address the specific barriers preventing students from being successful.
- Are Hubs rich with resources for students and their families.
- Represent a strategy, not a program.
- 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 which are East, Edison, McKinley, Pfeiffer-Burleigh and Strong Vincent. Additional community schools will begin adding to these numbers next school year.
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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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Community School Director: Katrina Byrd
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Thanks to a first-time collaboration with the Erie Yacht Club Foundation and United Way, six students from
Strong Vincent, a United Way community school, had the opportunity to attend the Learn to Sail program at the Erie Yacht Club's Reyburn Sailing School this summer.
Students who showed interest, had exemplary behavior throughout the school year and would benefit from the financial support were invited to apply to receive scholarships.
The mission of the Reyburn Sailing School (RSS) is to ignite a lifelong passion and excitement for the sport of sailing. The program teaches students the basics of boat handling, seamanship, and safety. The RSS strives to develop competence and confidence in young sailors in a safe and enjoyable learning environment. Annually, the Yacht Club Foundation provides Learn to Sail scholarships to promote sailing and other water activities on Lake Erie.
"Introducing Strong Vincent students who would otherwise not have the means to attend the Learn to Sail program is gratifying and something the Erie Yacht Club Foundation places a huge emphasis on. We are thrilled with this partnership," said Chris Grychowski, Reyburn Sailing School Director.
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Community School Director: Tami Krzeszewski-Conway
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Wabtec Open for Business to Edison Students
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A warm sunny day welcomed 26 children from
Edison Elementary, a United Way community school, and volunteers from the Boys & Girls Club who were taking part in Summer Camp.
Due to the success of previous field trips in years past, they decided to return with an energetic group of students to Wabtec, Edison's Corporate Partner, for an afternoon of fun exploring the field of STEM.
The day was filled with exciting activities for the students. Wabtec had employee volunteers who introduced and facilitated each project, and then gave helpful tips to how the students could be successful in the implementation. After a brief introduction of Wabtec and STEM, the students were challenged to make bottle rockets and participate in an egg drop. Both projects were very successful, with the students learning a lot. The egg drop finale especially had the kids excited, and all but one egg survived.
Jeff Sanford, a supplier quality engineer at Wabtec, was among the employees helping the kids with the projects. He enjoys supporting community schools and likes to see the kids get excited about science. “If it sparks a light in the mind of one kid, then we did our job today,” he said when asked about what he hopes the Edison kids get from this experience. Business operations specialist
Christine Breski agreed, especially in the case of the summer program since the camp encourages kids to get out and stay motivated while not in class during the summer months.
Partnerships like these are mutually beneficial. They provide an easy way for employees at Wabtec to get involved as a community school Corporate Partner and serve while empowering students. This inside look may give students the push they need to discover a potential interest in STEM. Finance manager and regular volunteer,
Maggie Gainer, summed it up best by saying they love working with the students and that they are always welcome at Wabtec. Their playful and creative attitudes are always sure to brighten the day.
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Community School Director: Meghan Easter
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YMCA of Greater Erie's Power Scholars Academy Continues
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Based on the positive results from last year, the
YMCA of Greater Erie's Power Scholars Academy is back for a third year at
Pfeiffer-Burleigh Elementary, a United Way community school!
This year,
60 students are enrolled in the 6-week evidence based summer-learning loss prevention program.
Power Scholars focuses on supporting academically at-risk students through both academic activities as well as fun and active social activities that make the summers so much fun! The program provides support in literacy, math, enrichment activities in STEM and the arts, along with a health curriculum.
The day includes classroom learning in the morning and hands-on enrichment learning in the afternoon. In addition to these activities, scholars have also had the opportunity to take swim lessons at the Y with a grant from
Erie Insurance.
The Y's Power Scholars Academy is directly addressing the summer slide for students at Pfeiffer-Burleigh. According to evaluation surveys, 100 percent of teachers reported an increase in the self-confidence of enrolled students, known as scholars, and 75 percent of parents reported their children having a better ability to overcome challenges. The impact of Power Scholars Academy reverberated through their circles of support as well. Surveys show 73 percent of parents say they are more involved in their child’s education and 100 percent of educators say the program helped them improve their professional skills.
The Y has been a great partner, and the Pfeiffer-Burleigh Leadership Team is actively pursuing any opportunity available to secure funding to be able to continue to support the program in the future.
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Community School Director: Amy Grande
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A bus trip made from inner-City Erie to the rural campus of Edinboro University has motivated and inspired more than 30 students from
McKinley Elementary, a United Way community school for five weeks this summer!
The experience is called
EU Summer Reading Camp, a program that pairs elementary students from McKinley and college students from Edinboro! Education major students have the opportunity to work closely with children in grades K-6 to enhance and maintain literacy skills over the summer months. The program runs for 5 weeks with the goal of developing empowered readers and writers. McKinley students receive breakfast, lunch and various snacks Monday - Friday when they are on campus as well as a learning toolkit that includes resources for at-home learning.
Transportation is generously provided by EMTA.
“Research shows that students who do not participate in summer learning activities are at risk of losing the reading proficiencies and knowledge they acquired during the school year,” said Dr. Erinn Lake, interim dean of Edinboro’s School of Education. “Improving literacy is key to overcoming the challenges of poverty and to helping these students be successful throughout their lives.”
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Community School Director: Jamilia Gates
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Feeling Supported Throughout the Summer
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When students feel supported with whatever issue they may be facing, they can succeed.
And, now students at
East, a United Way community school, will continue to benefit from support being available right at their school building as part of a 5-week anger management group program being offered for the first time this summer in the East community room.
Carolyn Colicchio (pictured right), a mobile therapist with
Safe Harbor Behavioral Health of UPMC Hamot, East's community school Lead Partner is heading up the program.
Referrals to the summer program were made at the conclusion of the 2018-2019 school year. Carolyn is excited the group program has started at East and is hopeful to expand and also have a transition to the school year for those enrolled.
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Meet Diehl Community School Director Karen Donnelly
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United Way and Erie's Public Schools in partnership with lead partner
Mercyhurst University and the Diehl corporate partner coalition (Accudyn Products, Inc., American Tinning & Galvanizing, Custom Engineering Company, Lincoln Recycling, McInnes Rolled Rings, Reddog Industries, Smith's Hotdogs and Team Hardinger Transportation and Warehouse) are pleased to announce that
Karen Donnelly has been named the Community School Director (CSD) at
Diehl Elementary School, a United Way community school.
Karen most recently was at Mercyhurst North East as an Academic Success Coach and Director of the Perkins Grant for the campus. She is a native Rhode Islander who has been in the Erie area for more than 30 years. Karen is most excited to join the team at Diehl because she is passionate about working with children and feels this role brings her career full circle. "This job is a culmination of all of the skills developed throughout my career," Karen stated.
Welcome, Karen!
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United Way's community school in collaboration with Girard School District is
Elk Valley Elementary.
Community School Director: Kim Ozimek
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Tropical Fish Enhance EVES Library
Thanks to Parent Partnership
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Grace Bierbower will begin first grade at
Elk Valley Elementary, a United Way community school, this Fall. And, thanks to her dad Ray, the whole school will be able to enjoy a tropical fish tank that has been installed in the library!
Ray's small tropical fish hatchery business,
Bierbower Aquatics, donated the 29 gallon tank and a variety of rare fish. He and Grace visit the tank weekly during the school year to clean and check on the fish. Mrs. Leonard, school librarian, feeds the fish daily and Mrs. Ozimek, community school director, maintains the tank and feeds the fish daily during the summer months.
Mrs. Leonard commented, "Our students just love the addition to our library space. They get very excited to stop by and see the fish and go over the species charts and descriptions that we have posted!"
Increased parent engagement is one very important aspect to the community schools model, that is why Ray's generosity and dedication to his daughter's school is helping not only Grace succeed but other students as well!
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United Way's community school in collaboration with Iroquois School District is Iroquois Elementary.
Community School Director: Kerrie Grande
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Entering kindergarten is serious business. That's why
Iroquois Elementary, a United Way community school, implemented a specially designed Bootcamp summer program for their in-coming Kindergarteners.
The 4-week intense emersion program is funded by United Way of Erie County and is open to any incoming Kindergarten student hoping to hone their readiness skills!
A record
41 children are enrolled this summer which equates to 50% of all incoming Kindergarteners. Soon-to-be students focus on the basics of attending school including how to walk in a formed line, number identification, each lunch in the cafeteria, hall etiquette and much more!
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