Buffalo City School’s Southside Elementary:
Where Community School Innovation Thrives

Topics:
Expanded, Enriched Learning Opportunities, Culture of Belonging and Care, Powerful Student and Family Engagement

Southside Elementary BPS #93 is a shining example of what Community Schools in Buffalo can be. The collaboration between Principal Patricia Brucz, Community School Navigator Ashley Weaver, and community-based organization BestSelf has led to a year full of innovative and impactful connections with families.

Like all Community Schools in Buffalo, Southside offers Saturday Academies throughout the year for its students, families, and the surrounding neighborhood. In its six Academies so far, Southside has welcomed over 880 attendees, averaging about 150 guests per event. With one more Academy to go for the school year, they will likely surpass 1,000 attendees for the year. All of this occurs outside of the regular school day!

While all Academies offer a range of activities, what sets Southside apart is the team’s imaginative approach to programming. Their most recent Academy on April 26th transformed the school into something resembling an escape room, where attendees played detective to solve the mysterious case of missing eggs. With clues around the building and several interactive stations, including fingerprinting, participants used deductive reasoning and logic to crack the case.

Looking ahead to Southside’s May Academy, the team is collaborating with the Erie County Parks Department to offer a nature walk showcasing the neighborhood’s natural landscape. This experience will include exploring bluebird boxes along the Buffalo River.

Beyond Saturday Academies, the Southside team truly embodies a Community School’s values. Navigator Ashley Weaver is deeply involved in day-to-day student support, running over 100 lunch bunches, providing frequent referrals to community resources, and mentoring students one-on-one. As one of Buffalo’s initial 13 Community Schools and once the largest elementary school in the District, Southside remains a pillar of the initiative and a model to emulate as the program has expanded to 23 Community Schools.

Check out pics of the mystery-themed Saturday Academy below!