Allentown, PA (February 18, 2016) On Thursday, February 25, South Mountain Middle School will host its Ninth Annual Family Fun Night from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. The event features free food, carnival games, face painting, Zumba, indoor sports games, Bingo, and various other family friendly activities. The event is Free and open to the community. South Mountain Middle School is located at 709 West Emaus Avenue, Allentown.
This year’s Family Fun Night will be an opportunity to inform families and the South Mountain community about the variety of programs and services available to them. In addition, community partners and other agencies will be on hand to offer information including: Allentown Police Department, KidsPeace, Allentown Health Bureau, Allentown Public Library, Center for Humanistic Change, Allentown Reengagement Center, Crime Victims Council, City of Allentown Department of Parks and Recreation, Valley Youth House, Migrant Education Program, and many more.
South Mountain Middle School is a United Way Community School. Since its inception as a Community School, South Mountain has hosted hundreds of programs before, during, and after school to serve its students, parents, and community members. These programs run in partnership with numerous local community organizations such as Air Products, Muhlenberg College, Second Harvest Food Bank, Community Bike Works, Muhlenberg College, Girl Scouts, Girls on the Run, the DaVinci Science Center, Emmanuel United Methodist Church, and Emmanuel Assemblies of God.
Through a collaborative partnership between the Allentown School District, Communities In Schools of the Lehigh Valley, and the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, South Mountain Middle School has become a vibrant, welcoming environment where parents, students, and the residents of South Allentown can work together to achieve and celebrate success.
About South Mountain Community Middle School and United Way Compass Community Schools
South Mountain Community Middle School is one of four middle schools in the Allentown School District. South Mountain Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 1,000 students. South Mountain has just completed its ninth full calendar year as a community school and was the first middle school in the Allentown School District to implement this model. Community Schools is a strategic partnership of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley’s Community Goal area of Youth Succeeding in School. United Way’s Community Schools includes government officials from two counties, parents, representatives from three school districts, corporate, foundation, and business partners and institutes of higher education. As the leader of the Lehigh Valley’s Community School initiative, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley provides funding, convenes partners to identify systems-level strategies to support youth succeeding in school, and assists with on-site coaching and training. For more information, go to www.unitedwayglv.org
About Communities In Schools
Communities In Schools role is as the Lead Partner and fiscal agent of the Community School model at South Mountain, as well as the employer of the Community School Coordinator and resource broker for South Mountain. A Lead Partner’s role is critical in the sustainability and strategic direction of a United Way Community School. The Community School Coordinator serves as a leader in the school and will help build a solid team of parents, community members, educators, and business partners who will assist in implementing the model. The Coordinator is responsible for creating an environment of quality education, positive youth development and effective collaboration while meeting basic student needs within a safe and supportive school. As a way to achieve this end, Community School Coordinators create after school programs and provides adult mentors and access to health and behavioral services. For more information, go to www.cislv.org.
About Allentown School District
ASD serves more than 16,000 students in a network of 22 early childhood, elementary, middle and high schools located throughout the City of Allentown, PA. The Allentown School District is the third largest urban school district out of 500 districts in the Commonwealth. A shared vision of the community, parents, guardians, staff and faculty focuses on “Empowering Students for Life,” providing ASD students with the skills and academics they need to realize their aspirations whether they be college, career or technical focus. ASD goals are aligned and compatible with the Pathways to Success Framework while providing a balanced education to all students. Allentown School District employs approximately 2,200 teachers, staff and administrators. The District, founded in 1866 and celebrating its Sesquicentennial throughout 2015-2016, serves students from 43 countries speaking 26 languages with nearly 90 percent of households qualifying as low income. ASD is committed to providing safe learning environments in which all students have equal access to education programs and resources. www.allentownsd.org
Information Provided By:
Kimberly Golden Benner
Director of Communications
Allentown School District
