Latest news with #LeahHarrison
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
To help students struggling with poverty, trauma, Milton school looks to community partners
W.H. Rhodes Elementary School is one step closer to becoming Santa Rosa County District Schools' first Community Partnership School. Leah Harrison, executive director of the Children's Home Society of Florida, said the organization wants to partner with the Milton school in the Panhandle region, which stretches from Escambia County to Jackson County. 'We have identified six to eight high-needs schools statewide, including Rhodes Elementary. We have met with the team there. They are incredible, and we're so excited about the potential partnership,' Harrison said. Community Partnership Schools funding for the 2025-2026 academic year was awaiting approval from the state legislature, which extended its session through early June. Schools can apply for CPS grants beginning July 14. Rhodes Elementary opportunity: Community Partnership School changed lives in Pensacola. Can it do the same in Milton? The Santa Rosa School Board has not approved the measure, but Superintendent Karen Barber said the district will apply for a CPS grant as soon as possible. 'We have been in close communication with Children's Home Society and will be prepared to apply shortly after the grant window opens in July,' she said. If Rhodes Elementary is selected a CPS, Harrison said the first year an $80,000 planning grant will be used to hire a director this fall to work with the University of West Florida on a needs assessment for the school. During the first three to five years (after the planning year), the school will receive about $270,000 in grants, annually from the state. After five years, the grants will drop to $120,000 annually. 'We count on a lift from our community partners as the state funding decreases,' Harrison said, adding the director will also establish relationships with Rhodes Elementary teachers and students during that planning year. If Rhodes Elementary becomes a CPS, it would be the fourth one in this area. Escambia County Public Schools' C.A. Weis Elementary, Bellview Middle and Pine Forest High are all Community Partnership Schools. Initiated in partnership with Children's Home Society, the University of Central Florida and community organizations to address educational and social challenges in underserved areas, the CPS model offers mentoring, after-school programs, continuing education and health services to students, their families, teachers and community residents. Community Partnership Schools also benefit from a 25-year agreement and collaboration with four core partners – the lead nonprofit agency (the Children's Home Society, which oversees 31 of the state's 44 CPS programs), a local school district, a secondary education partner (UWF), and a healthcare provider (Community Health of Northwest Florida). In April, Kacie Reaves, Rhodes Elementary principal, said the school becoming a CPS will be lifechanging for students and parents. 'Around 80% of our kids live at or below poverty level. We have a lot of kids who have been through trauma. We have a lot of foster families. We have a lot of single-parent homes,' she said. During the 2024-2025 school year, Rhodes Elementary had 740 pre-K through fifth graders, with 626 or 87.2% of those students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. Barber added the Santa Rosa County school district is dedicated to prioritizing student well-being as well as academic success. 'We understand that meeting the basic needs of our students is the critical first step in fostering meaningful learning and growth,' she said. 'By addressing this, we aim to provide a supportive foundation that empowers our students and families to achieve their full potential. Our goal is to have this opportunity available in Santa Rosa County District Schools, as we know this would be a great resource for our students and families.' This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: W.H. Rhodes Elementary prospective Community Partnership School
Metro
24-04-2025
- Metro
Girl, 10, suffocated after being swept away in mudslide on school trip
A girl was trapped in a flash mudslide during a school trip while crossing a stream, an inquest into her death has heard. The circumstances that led to the death of Leah Harrison, 10, from Darlington, County Durham, have been revealed after an inquest opened into the 'tragic accident' on May 22 last year. Leah was swept off her feet by a torrent of mud when she was out on a walk with fellow Year 6 pupils and an instructor. The mudslide, which struck after rainy weather at Carlton Bank near the North York Moors south of Middlesbrough, carried her 20 feet down the stream, leaving Leah face-down in thick mud. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Leah's grieving mother Michelle Harrison had considered not letting her daughter go on the three-day residential trip from Mount Pleasant Primary School to the Carlton Adventure centre, she told the inquest opening at Teesside Magistrates' Court today. But, Leah was 'so excited' to go on the trip when she was dropped off, Ms Harrison said. 'In the days leading up to the tragic accident on May 22, Leah had been poorly with tonsillitis … I was undecided as to whether I should let her go, with her being poorly, but she seemed to pick up by the afternoon. 'I gave her the biggest kiss and cuddle and told her to have the best time. That was the last time I saw my daughter alive,' she said. Leah's school's headteacher, Joanne Blackham, told the inquest the mudslide 'came out of nowhere' and 'just took (Leah) away,' adding that 'we didn't hear it, we couldn't see it.' She insisted that previous, regular trips to the centre, which is run by Hartlepool Borough Council, had gone on without 'so much as a broken toe.' The school and staff at the centre didn't have concerns about the weather as it was 'just a rainy day.' A Met Office yellow weather warning was in force in the area on the day of the accident. Paul Godwin, a senior activities officer at the centre, said the weather was 'misty and drizzly,' but he was not concerned as 'countless groups have gone out to do that activity in similar conditions if not worse.' He said the weather warning meant 'everything should be okay but obviously, a bit of caution, and keep away from low lying areas.' There was 'no prior indication any such risk (of mudslides) might ever arise in the area,' he said. Mr Godwin said in a statement: 'I have seen these conditions countless times so it was of no real concern. 'It is my opinion on that particular day, on that particular activity, what happened to Leah could not be predicted and could not be avoided. There was no difference in conditions from identical times this activity has been carried out safely.' Assistant coroner Paul Appleton said Leah was crossing the stream when the mudslide crashed into her, making her 'submerged in thick mud' and helpers were unable to release her from it at first. After Leah was swept away, she died from traumatic asphyxiation after coming to rest face-down in thick mud. While she didn't inhale any mud, her waterproof coat blocked her airways as it pressed against her nose and mouth. The 10-year-old was taken to hospital, where she was confirmed dead. Leah's mum said she loved football and her dream was to play for England in the future. More Trending She said Leah was 'a king, loving, caring, considerate girl' with 'the most gorgeous, infectious smile.' The headteacher, who was on the trip, said she had gotten to know Leah well on the first day and was 'really impressed with her resilience and her character.' 'She was absolutely loving the time at Carlton, she really pushed herself out of her comfort zone,' she said. The inquest continues. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Mum who watched son die of sepsis wants doctors to learn from family tragedy MORE: Student died after slipping while using weights machine at the gym
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Pensacola donates $100K to help homeless youths
PENSACOLA, Fla. (WKRG) — The City of Pensacola has donated $100,000 to support the Children's Home Society of Florida's Hand Up for Youth Program. The program addresses the rising number of homeless youths and provides resources to help them become independent. In Escambia County, the Florida Department of Education reported 1,913 homeless youths during the last school year, an 11% increase since last year. 'This funding allows CHS to expand its services and create long-term solutions for young local people experiencing homelessness,' said Leah Harrison, the society's executive director. The Hand Up for Youth Program focuses on two key areas: supportive permanent housing for 18- to 23-year-olds and host homes for 16- to 17-year-olds. This first program provides financial assistance for up to six months of rent, up to 18 months of case management, and a transition plan to help achieve independence. The second program recruits and supports host families to provide safe, short-term housing. 'Solving homelessness isn't a one-size-fits-all problem, and there are many facets to consider,' Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves said. 'Our partnership with the Children's Home Society of Florida reflects the city's commitment to exploring diverse solutions, including addressing the needs of our area's 'invisible youth.' 'To improve our residents' quality of life and reduce homelessness, we need local community leaders, businesses, and charities to unite for a real chance at making lasting change.' For more information about the Hand Up for Youth Program, contact Kelli Foster, director of Homeless Youth Programming, at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
