Summer Learning and Enrichment Keep Students Connected Beyond the School Year
Across Erie Public Schools, United Way Community Schools continued supporting students and families after the traditional
school year ended by helping coordinate summer enrichment, hands-on learning opportunities, and meaningful partner
involvement. These summer efforts help students stay connected to school, build confidence, explore new interests, and continue
learning in engaging ways.
At East Middle School, Summer SAIL enrichment included support from four outside partners: Bayfront Maritime Center, Erie
Zoo, Asbury Woods, and Junior Achievement. These partners worked alongside the enrichment teacher and students to provide
engaging summer learning experiences. The East Community School Director also collaborated with the enrichment teacher to
host an end-of-summer SAIL picnic for staff and students.
Wilson Middle School also expanded Summer SAIL enrichment through coordinated support from community partners. In addition
to activities planned by Wilson’s enrichment teacher, the Community School Director helped bring in Junior Achievement, Asbury
Woods, Erie Zoo, and National Fuel to provide additional opportunities for students.
At Erie High, the Garden Club launched for special education students participating in summer school. Community School
Directors provided soil, raised garden beds, a trellis, seeds, a storage shed, and gardening tools to ensure students were properly
equipped for lessons in sustainability, gardening, and growing fruits and vegetables.
Aligns with Community School Pillars:
Expanded Learning and Extracurricular Activities | Positive Environment for Wellness and Learning | Community and
Neighborhood Partnerships
Kindergarten Readiness and School Transitions Help Students and Families Start Strong
United Way Community Schools supported several transition-focused activities designed to help students and families feel more
comfortable, confident, and connected as they prepare for a new grade, new school, or new stage of learning. These efforts help
reduce anxiety, build relationships, and set students up for success before the first day of school.
At JoAnna Connell, the school held its first Kinder Camp for 16 incoming students. Students practiced writing, color recognition, letter
recognition, shape recognition, walking through the school in line, tying their shoes, and opening their own snacks. Each student also
took home a new book bag with supplies to continue practicing skills at home.
Pfeiffer-Burleigh planned and hosted four “Get Ready for Kindergarten” workshops for incoming students and their families.
Community partners including Erie Zoo, Metz, Asbury Woods, and the Children’s Museum presented themed activities focused on
math, wellness, science, and cooperative play. Families also toured the school, participated in a Q&A with school staff, shared a snack
in the cafeteria, and received welcome bags with school T-shirts, books, supplies, and at-home learning resources.
Harding prepared to host its 5th annual Kindergarten Kick Off event, welcoming incoming Kindergarten students and families to the
school. The event is designed to build relationships, ease the transition into a new school, and help families understand the importance
of Kindergarten attendance and engagement.
Aligns with Community School Pillars:
Family Engagement and Support | Integrated Student Supports | Positive Environment for Wellness and Learning
Community Partnerships Strengthen Supports for the Year Ahead
Several July and August efforts focused on preparing schools, strengthening partnerships, and building the systems needed to support
students and families throughout the upcoming school year. These behind-the-scenes efforts reflect the Community School Model’s
emphasis on coordination, collaboration, and removing barriers before they grow.
At McKinley, the Achievement Center successfully completed its state inspection with OMHSAS (Office of Mental Health and
Substance Abuse Services). This milestone means McKinley will be able to launch the Outpatient Therapy Satellite Program at the
beginning of the school year, expanding access to mental health supports for students and families.
At JoAnna Connell, Community School Director Leann Sestak and Jeanette Craig from United Way of Erie County presented to
teachers, staff, and administrators to share information about the Safer Routes to School project and it’s implementation. The
presentation also highlighted how JoAnna Connell learned from the pilot and successfully implemented two Walking School Bus routes
during the previous school year.
At Lincoln, volunteers from Family Services of NWPA helped clean out and reorganize the school’s gym closet. The project created a
cleaner, more organized space that will better support student physical education when students return in August.
Aligns with Community School Pillars:
Integrated Student Supports | Community and Neighborhood Partnerships | Positive Environment for Wellness and Learning
Other Notable Highlights
Below is a snapshot of additional activities happening across Erie Public Schools through the Community School Model.
These efforts are funded and/or coordinated by Community School Directors in partnership with school teams and
community partners. This is just a glimpse of the work we do each and every month!
Diehl: Diehl held two events to celebrate grade-level transitions. Grade 5 students participated in an awards and celebration
event that recognized student accomplishments and included families. Students also had an opportunity to celebrate
with a photo booth activity. Diehl Pre-K students celebrated the completion of the year by welcoming parents and families to an event in the
school’s newly renovated outdoor space. Students received completion certificates and sang songs they had learned
for the event. Pre-K staff coordinated the event and provided refreshments for families.
East: East Middle School’s Community School Director collaborated with the Summer SAIL enrichment teacher to host an
end-of-summer picnic. United Way supported the event by helping with picnic setup and grilling food and for staff and
students who participated in Summer SAIL.
Edison: Edison Elementary celebrated their 5th graders on June 4th with a "Clap Out." This celebration invited families to
recognize their student's accomplishments in a fun and inviting atmosphere. This was particularly exciting as this was
the first Clap Out for Edison—a request that came directly from parent input.
Erie High: On June 1, Erie High staff and Community School Directors collaborated to host a field day for students to celebrate the
end of the school year. CSDs provided music and purchased Rita’s Italian Ice for 300 students in attendance. The event
promoted school pride and served as a celebration for students.
Grover Cleveland: Grover Cleveland hosted two grade transition celebrations. Fifth grade students ended the year with a “Clap Out,” where
they were cheered on by students and staff inside the building and families and community members outside. The
celebration ended with an ice cream truck visit from Alsies.
Grover Cleveland Kindergarten students and their families celebrated the end of the year with popsicles on the front lawn.
Harding: Harding wrapped up the 2025-2026 school year with several exciting events, including the 5th grade clap out on the last
day of school. Students, staff, and families cheered on 5th grade students as they left Harding for the final time and
prepared to move on to middle school.
Jefferson Elementary: Jefferson wrapped up the school year with several events celebrating students transitioning from one grade, or one school, to another. Families were welcomed to a Pre-K Moving On Ceremony on June 3. United Way funding also sponsored a 5th grade celebration where students received special “Bronco for Life” shirts and had the opportunity to autograph their classmates’ shirts during a fun last-day event.
JoAnna Connell:JoAnna Connell held its first annual carnival to bring students and families together at the end of the school year. Activities
included big trucks, face painting, games, balloons from the Brown Clowns, and classic carnival foods.
Lincoln: Lincoln spent the summer planning after-school enrichment for the upcoming school year. Programming will be reorganized
into a trimester framework to better align with the middle and high school schedule. As part of the new structure, Lincoln plans to offer six programs during each six-week programming session. New partners include Marquette Savings Bank, which will provide financial literacy programming for students in grades 3-5, and PLAYtime through the Erie Playhouse, which will offer a board game creation program for students in grades 1-2.
McKinley: McKinley spent the summer planning new family opportunities based on data and feedback from the school’s Family
Impact Team. Planned efforts include a program for men in the school community to connect, engage, learn, and access
resources, as well as a partnership with the Achievement Center to offer family programming throughout the year for Pre-K
and Kindergarten families.
Perry: Perry’s Honor Banquet celebrated student achievement alongside family members, staff, and district leadership. Awards
were presented for honor roll all four quarters, perfect attendance all year, Darn Nice Kid awards, Reading Rockstars, Eriez
student leadership, and the 4th and 5th grade basketball champions. Perry also kicked off its summer reading challenge for students. Every Wednesday from 11 AM to 1 PM, students were invited to the Perry library to read aloud two books to an adult. Students who read at least two books received an incentive, and students with perfect attendance at every session had the opportunity to win an overnight family stay at Splash Lagoon, donated by Scott Enterprises through the Perry Page Tuners Reading Club.
Pfeiffer-Burleigh: Pfeiffer-Burleigh launched a pilot of the Meet Your Neighborhood walking tour on June 17. The event was designed to help
families feel safe and comfortable in the school’s surrounding neighborhood while learning about nearby community resources. Twenty-four people from five families walked with United Way staff along the Safer Walking Routes and visited Emmaus Food Pantry, Neighborhood Art House, UK Market, and Erie Bank on Parade Street. Families received mini tours of each location, learned fun facts along the way, and ended the tour at Denny’s for ice cream.
Strong Vincent Middle School: Strong Vincent welcomed 18 incoming 6th grade students for its annual 6th Grade Boot Camp from July 14-16. Over three days, students explored their new school, built relationships with peers, and participated in activities designed to help them
feel more confident and prepared for the transition to middle school. Students completed a building-wide scavenger hunt, practiced opening lockers, and took part in team-building activities focused on collaboration and communication. Each participating student received a clear bookbag, Strong Vincent T-shirt, school supplies, and additional items to help them start the school year feeling prepared and excited to become Colonels.
Wilson Middle School: On June 1, Wilson hosted its annual send-off for the class of 2030. All 8th grade students and staff gathered in the auditorium for their final class meeting, shirt distribution, and awards ceremony before heading to the field for a Color Blast Dance. The
event was made possible through United Way funding.