Communities in Schools of Chesterfield Express Tour Preview

Hello - thanks for joining us for CIS Express! I’m Ashley Hall, the Executive Director of Communities In Schools of Chesterfield - or CIS for short. I am so glad you are here to enjoy our tour and learn more about how we are supporting 11,000 K-12 students in Chesterfield schools. While you are here at our first stop - Woodlake United Methodist Church, I encourage you to find a spot in the parking lot to enjoy the lights, so I can tell you more about our work and what is in store this evening.

First, I want to fill you in on how the tour will work. Everything is set up in the STQRY app, including audio directions to each of the stops along the way. The tour works best if you follow the app - that way you won’t miss any of the great houses or impactful stories. I encourage you to drive slowly and be sure to pause at each stop along the way. Make sure to check out the scavenger hunt in your tour package, and keep your eyes peeled and ears open so you can submit your answers for a chance to win fun prizes!

Second, I want to share more about what we do. Our mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Our school-based Site Coordinators work every day identifying the needs of students and connecting the necessary resources, supports, and interventions to address them. We take a whole-child approach, meaning we factor in all of what can influence a child’s success in school. For our students, who come to school with the burdens of poverty, trauma, and other challenges, this means they need more than just academic support. We work to fill the non-academic needs so that our students can truly focus on learning!

Once you have taken in the lights here at Woodlake, make your way out of the church parking lot. I will then help guide you through the neighborhood to see other wonderfully decorated homes, and along the way, you will hear from our 11 incredible Site Coordinators. Let’s go!

At the intersection take a right on to Hampton Park Drive and continue for approximately half a mile until you reach a traffic circle.

As you make your way to the second stop, I want to tell you about the CIS 5 Basics. These basics are the essentials that we believe every child needs to succeed. first) a one-on-one relationship with a caring adult; second) a safe place to learn and grow; third) a healthy start and healthy future; fourth) a marketable skill to use upon graduation; and fifth) a chance to give back to peers and community. The services provided at each of our schools are rooted in delivering on these Five Basics. Throughout the tour, you will hear from our Site Coordinators, who will share examples of how they are providing services at their schools that support one of the 5 Basics. From here, keep driving straight for approximately .3 miles. Make sure to enjoy the other decorated houses between stops!

Please note, if you miss a turn or get lost, you can click on a pin marker on the map and then hit the directional icon to get directions from your location to the selected pin marker.

If you’re hearing me again, it means you’ve missed your exit! Continue back around the traffic circle and take the third exit on to Hampton Park Drive.

Continue for approximately .1 miles - you will turn at the first street where you can make a left.

Coming up, take a left on Hampton Meadows Lane.

You will arrive at the second stop after one more turn. This stop represents our first basic, one-on-one relationship with a caring adult. Many of the students we serve do not have a traditional family unit, or if they do, both parents are working full time. They may live with a grandparent or in foster care. No matter the circumstances, we know all our parents and guardians want to provide everything for their child - but no one can do it alone - as the saying goes, it takes a village! CIS provides the first Basic by connecting students with mentors and other caring adults, who serve as positive role models. Of course, that caring adult is also their Site Coordinator, which you will hear about in the next two audio clips!

At the next street, take a right on Hampton Meadows Terrace. I know there’s a super festive house on your left, but don’t stop yet - I promise we’ll be back!

Please note, if you miss a turn or get lost, you can click on a pin marker on the map and then hit the directional icon to get directions from your location to the selected pin marker.

At the intersection take a right on to Hampton Meadows Lane. Then continue straight for approximately .3 miles. Next you will hear from Mary Thompson, our Site Coordinator at Carver Academy!

Mary is one of our veteran Site Coordinators and is a real pro at establishing relationships of trust with her students! Next, you will turn right at the upcoming intersection on Hampton Glen Drive. Followed by an immediate right turn on to Hampton Springs Road.

Turn right on Hampton Springs Road. Next, you will learn about our second basic, a safe place to learn and grow. For some students we serve, safety and stability are not always a given. They might live in neighborhoods where violence, drugs, and multigenerational poverty is the norm. Oftentimes, that means that school is their reprieve from these environments. CIS is dedicated to ensuring that every student has a safe, appropriate place in which to learn and achieve their potential. At the next stop, you will hear from Chereese Harrison at Falling Creek Elementary, and one of her amazing students, Annabet.The third stop is straight ahead at the next intersection - look for our sign in the yard!

Please note, if you miss a turn or get lost, you can click on a pin marker on the map and then hit the directional icon to get directions from your location to the selected pin marker.

Make your Uturn here and return to Hampton Springs Road where you will take a right.

Turn right on Hampton Springs Road.

Turn left on Hampton Green Drive and then an immediate left on Hampton Meadows Lane.

Turn right on Hampton Valley Drive - we’ll be looping back to see the house on your left in just a minute. Now drive slowly to hear from Tonika!

Tonika’s work with Boys to Men is a great example of the partnerships we establish to bring additional resources to our schools! You will hear more about other partners in a later clip!

Turn left on Hampton Valley Terrace.

As you reach the end of the cul-de-sac, you will be arriving at our next stop, which represents the third basic, a healthy start and a healthy future. The house will be on your left - look for the CIS Express sign in the yard! Children can’t concentrate on schoolwork if they are hungry, in need of medical care, or have trouble seeing the white board. Basic health is essential for every child. When families are themselves in need (and often unsure about how to get help from the labyrinth of public agencies), it’s up to the community to step in. CIS provides the third Basic by connecting students and families with health care, vision and dental exams, food programs, mental health services, teen parenting resources, and much more. Now you will hear from Kimberly Reynolds, our Site Coordinator at Manchester Middle, who has a great example of delivering on the third basic. Her clip will be followed by Wendy Lively, with another example of “a healthy start and a healthy future” at Ettrick Elementary.

At the intersection, turn right on Hampton Valley Drive and continue straight. The next stop will be the house facing you when you reach Hampton Glen Lane.

You are now reaching Hampton Glen Lane and the fifth stop of the tour. Take a left onto Hampton Glen Lane and pull up next to the house where you see our CIS EXPRESS sign. Hang tight at this stop - you will hear from our next Site Coordinator before you begin driving again!

This stop represents our fourth basic, a marketable skill to use upon graduation. While our work focuses on the time our students are in elementary, middle, and high school, we know that what they are gaining throughout these years is what will set them up for success beyond graduation. Our Site Coordinators integrate things like career and college readiness programming, job exploration, and leadership skills training. Beyond that, we are also mindful of the soft skills necessary for life after high school - Site Coordinators are daily working with students on problem-solving skills, adaptability, self-management, and analytical thinking. Our next Site Coordinator has a great example of this kind of support - Talaya Oxendine works with her students at Bird High School to prepare for and get excited about their post-secondary endeavors.

Coming up, take a right on Hampton Meadows Lane and hear from our Meadowbrook High School Site Coordinator.

Please note, if you miss a turn or get lost, you can click on a pin marker on the map and then hit the directional icon to get directions from your location to the selected pin marker.

Please note, if you miss a turn or get lost, you can click on a pin marker on the map and then hit the directional icon to get directions from your location to the selected pin marker.

At the next intersection turn right on Hampton Park Drive. Then continue straight through the traffic circle to continue on Hampton Park Drive.

Elizabeth’s example is one that hits all of our 5 Basics. It’s in our name, we bring the community into the school to ensure success for our students! Our partners are instrumental to our work and help us bridge the gaps for our families!

This concludes our tour - the next big intersection with a traffic light will be Hull Street Road - from here, rely on your own map or Rudolph’s red nose.

On behalf of our students, families, and the schools we serve, I want to thank you for taking the time to join us aboard the CIS EXPRESS! I hope it got you in the festive spirit and that you learned something too. There are so many ways to support CIS. We are always looking for volunteers, mentors, supply donations, and financial contributions. Every dollar donated goes to our work and students. To learn more about volunteering or donating, visit our website at cisofchesterfield.org. You will also receive an email after the 23rd with links to our site and other follow-up information. Thank you again - happy holidays!