Inside Our Schools: SSMV at Work
Each month, Safe Schools’ staff lead engaging activities designed to build connection, strengthen social–emotional skills, and support students in meaningful ways. Check out some of the projects and lessons happening inside our partner schools.
Melanie Adams, Deputy Chief Program Officer at SSMV, read to kindergarteners at General Herkimer School’s Community Reader Day.
All SSMV students created holiday placements that were presented to a Utica-area nursing home for residents to use this Christmas season.
Oh, what fun it was making gingerbread houses with kindergarteners at General Herkimer Elementary.
SSMV partnered with English students in the Frankfort-Schuyler School District to write notecards with positive and encouraging phrases to share with other students or staff throughout the day, spreading positivity!
SSMV Youth Case Manager Jovonna Torres organized a Kindness Shout-Out project for students at Albany Street Elementary to recognize each other and staff for positive behavior. Shout-outs were displayed on a bulletin board and read during daily announcements.
SSMV Youth Case Manager Daisy Cruz (pictured left) planned a Friendsgiving with 2nd-grade teachers for students at MLK Elementary.
SSMV Youth Case Manager Adrian Alesandro organized a ‘5-Finger Kindness Challenge’ with students at Conkling Elementary for World Kindness Day. Students reflected on how these acts of kindness help build a positive school community.
SSMV Youth Case Manager Ashley Brunet at Whitesboro Middle School grew a ‘gratitude tree’ for students to display what they are thankful for this year. The tree was overflowing with words of thankfulness.
Shining a Light on Homelessness
In November, we partnered with Donovan and JFK Middle Schools for a special Homelessness Awareness Event. Our goal was simple and powerful: help students understand what homelessness can look like, highlight supports available in our community, and inspire kindness in their everyday interactions.
Students took part in a reflective activity, describing what ‘home’ means to them. Students also signed a Kindness Pledge—promising to treat others with compassion, and stand up for classmates who may feel left out or alone. SSMV staff were on site throughout the event to share information about our services and supports available to students and families.
Student Outcomes
Students improved their school engagement (including attendance, tardiness, skipping classes, etc.)
Students improved their school behavior as measured by classroom behavior, ODR, ISS, and OSS.
6 out of 10
More than half of the students we worked with saw an improvement in their GPA.
Student outcomes reported from the 2024-2025 academic year.
