A first look into Communities In Schools of the Midlands during the pandemic

Students learning from behind the screen at home, outdoors, and in classrooms

Lexington County School District Two has been a school district partner since its inception in 2016. Herbert A. Wood Elementary and Pine Ridge Middle School are two school sites that benefit from dropout prevention services and whole child supports from Communities In Schools of the Midlands (CISM).

From August 2019 – June 2020, Site Coordinators provided one-on-one case management services to a total of 98 students in grades 4K – 8th grade with a total of 4,250 service hours to keep students on track. They also located community resources for basic needs to include weekend meals, clothes, and school supplies.

Herbert A. Wood Elementary: total enrollment = 1000 students, CISM case-managed 47 students (4.7 % of the schools population)

Pine Ridge Middle: total enrollment = 435 students, CISM case-managed 51 students (10% of the schools population)

Tier services are temporary and long-term levels of services provided to support students success. Each level is scaled to decrease Early Warning Indicators of dropout and keep students on a pathway to grade promotion and graduation.

Since schools in Lexington School District Two reopened on September 8th, CISM Site Coordinators Amie Cooper and Susan Key have been in classrooms and behind the screen supporting school sites with resources for Hispanic families that lack childcare, assisted with food, clothing, delivering and setting up school hot spot at households, social emotional support for students attending hybrid and virtual learning, and virtual wellness check-ins.

First grade case managed student using music and movement for regulation during hybrid learning at Herbert A. Wood Elementary School.

Extended Day Coordinator Beth Strickland and social work interns meet students outside for tutoring and mentoring sessions at Pine Ridge Middle School.

Community partners stepped in to expand the capacity of Communities In Schools of the Midlands COVID-19 Emergency Response efforts since school closings in March 2020.

• Harvest Hope Food Bank
• The Scooter Scott Project
• Crossroads World Outreach
• Lexington United Methodist Church

Thank you Message from Dr. William B. James, Lexington School District Two Superintendent:

“Communities in Schools is an invaluable partner to Lexington Two. At Wood Elementary, CIS administers a resource closet with clothing, school supplies and hygiene products; works in partnership with several community organizations to provide 200 food packages weekly to students in need; and supports Sanford Harmony, an initiative for social/emotional learning that offers trauma informed care training for staff and parents. At Pine Ridge Middle, CIS has helped launch a girls chess club initiative to improve math and social skills; partnered on a program to boost student attendance (which saw a 1.3 percent increase in 2019-20); and partnered with Dominion Energy to launch a student-led environmental program to promote recycling and other such practices. These programs make a big difference in the lives of our students and families, and we are grateful for CIS’ support of Lexington Two.“

Lexington Two Superintendent Dr. William B. James Jr. announced his plans to retire at the end of the 2020-21 school year. Superintendent-Elect Nicolas Wade will become Superintendent on July 1, 2021 and we look forward to welcoming him to the CISM Family.

Source: Lexington School District Two

To read full article visit http://www.cism.org/a-first-look-into-cis-midlands-during-the-pandemic/