For Southside Elementary teacher and Summerfield Farms resident Jean Marie Dickey, creating meaningful experiences for her students is a mission she carries with pride. This December she brought that passion to life through a special seventh grade ice skating trip, made possible through Southside’s dedicated staff and Stroll Summerfield Farms’ participation in N2GIVES Day.

The trip, held on December 10, gave students a joyful, hands-on experience many had never had before. “I wanted them to glide across the ice, learn balance and teamwork, and simply have fun,” Jean Marie said. “For many of my students, opportunities like this are rare. I hoped it would be a day filled with laughter, encouragement, and confidence-building moments.”

Jean Marie has spent 25 years with the Buffalo Board of Education, teaching Family and Consumer Sciences to seventh and eighth graders. Her classes focus on practical life skills students can use every day. Cooking, nutrition, sewing, financial literacy, communication, and working cooperatively all play a role in helping students grow. “My students take a lot of pride in learning skills that matter,” she shared. “They especially love following recipes and seeing their hard work turn into something real.”

Experiences like the skating trip help students connect classroom lessons to the world around them. “These opportunities allow them to explore new places, practice social and life skills, and build memories. I want every student to feel valued and capable.”

Jean Marie hopes more people understand just how courageous her students are. “They face challenges that would overwhelm many adults,” she explained. “Housing instability, food insecurity, neighborhood violence, family responsibilities. Yet they show up. They try. They rise. Their resilience is truly their superpower.”

What they want most is a fair chance and adults who believe in them. “When given meaningful opportunities they do more than show up. They excel.”

Jean Marie credits Southside’s seventh grade team and administration for helping make the trip successful. She also shared her gratitude for Pamela Pace of Stroll Summerfield Farms for sponsoring the event in honor of N2GIVES Day, an initiative by The N2 Company focused on supporting vulnerable populations and fighting human trafficking. This year that mission made an impact right here in Buffalo by giving students access to an uplifting and confidence building experience.

Jean Marie has lived in Summerfield Farms for five years with her husband Bob, who works for the Erie County Water Authority, her son Bobby, a first year student at Canisius University and USA Hockey referee, and their beloved dog Denali. She believes the community values she sees in her own neighborhood guide the work she does with her students. “A strong family foundation and a caring community make all the difference for young people.”