About Community Country Day School
CCDS provides a blend of academic and mental health services for students in a loving environment tailored to meet the unique needs of each child.
Our Approach to Education
Community Country Day School educates the whole child – academically, physically, emotionally, and socially. We are a no restraint facility that works hard to teach and model healthy boundaries, compassion and love for the students who attend, regardless of their situation.
Rev. Charles and Dr. Betty Kennedy founded Community Country Day School when Mother Kennedy realized that the students who needed the most support and love were getting pushed aside – literally and figuratively excluded from the classrooms that they needed to be in. The Kennedys believed then – and we still believe today – that by introducing the right supports and a “Lead With Love” approach to education, all students can thrive.
We also believe students who don’t require additional academic or emotional supports can also benefit from the education CCDS offers. Students who are doing well emotionally and academically provide a positive peer influence to those who are struggling and all students learn empathy, compassion and a trauma-informed mindset. Every student is taught to Lead With Love – to lead themselves, their peers, their families and their communities.
Our Programs and Services
Click on each to learn more.
- Private Education (Grades 1-12)
- Special Education (Grades 1-12)
- Emotional Support Programming
- Partial Hospitalization
- Transition Program
(for students who need support in regular education, but do not qualify for partial hospitalization.)
Mission Statement
CCDS provides a blend of academic and mental health services for students in a loving environment tailored to meet the unique needs of each child.
History of CCDS
Community Country Day School was founded by the Rev. and Mrs. Charles Kennedy in September 1968 because they wanted to provide a place where students could learn in a happy and warm setting. Dr. Kennedy was working as a substitute teacher in the Erie School District when she became concerned about the children who spent their days sitting in the hall, instead of learning. She spent 1967 trying to get people to fix this problem. Everybody agreed it was a problem. Dr. Kennedy acted on her concern to help solve the problem.
Mr. Don Mountjoy donated his services as a general contractor to construct the main building. It took over a year with mainly volunteer labor.
Over the years the school received increasing support from the community and other concerned leaders and business owners.
Reverend Kennedy and Dr. Kennedy, co-founders, served the school since its beginnings. They served in various roles. They lived their life in service to God and others and truly wanted to make a difference in the lives of many. Their passion was to help those that society might not otherwise have invested in. They did this in numerous ways:
Agency Referral
School Districts, counselors and other appropriate referral agencies can use this application to make a referral. To refer a student to the Partial Hospitalization Program, please use the PHP Referral Form.
Partial Hospitalization Program Referral
Referrals to the Partial Hospitalization Program must come from a mental health provider and require additional criteria to be met. If you are an appropriate referrer and wish to refer your client to the CCDS PHP, please use this form.