Community Partners - at the Heart of Horizons
Posted on by Bill Hansen, Development and Communications Manager
We’ve just wrapped up our eighth—and truly awesome—summer of joyful learning! Each year, we welcome a new cohort of kindergarten students, and with that steady growth comes added complexity. Our days are filled with moving parts: dynamic curriculum, math and reading specialists circulating through classrooms, community partners, field trips, swim instruction, meals, and so much more.
Partnerships are vital to Horizons. They strengthen program quality, connect us with community expertise, and enrich the learning experience for every student. Strong partnerships mean greater access to opportunities, stronger alignment between school and out-of-school learning, deeper family and community engagement, and more effective use of resources.
This summer, we were fortunate to collaborate with an incredible group of partners. Some brought programming directly to our classrooms, others welcomed students on field trips, and several played a core role in our Summer Academy. A few highlights stand out:
- Riverlink transformed a classroom into an interactive watershed with a portable water table complete with flowing water, sand, and riverbanks. Students became stream ecologists and river stewards, deepening their understanding of local waterways, and awareness of the impact of Hurricane Helene on local waterways. This hands-on experience was a powerful addition to our summer STEAM programming.
- Wind Horse Farm invited students into the world of equine-assisted learning. By connecting with horses - with feet firmly on the ground—students practiced self-regulation, attunement, and building healthy relationships. This experience beautifully complemented our social-emotional learning curriculum.
- Save the Children became a vital partner in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Responding to the emotional trauma felt by families and students, they provided parent and staff workshops, grant support, and essential back-to-school supplies. Their grant funding also allowed us to expand the presence of Family and Community Support Specialists in our Super STEAM Saturday program, further strengthening our social-emotional learning initiatives.
These are just a few of the partners who made this summer extraordinary. With their support, core academics were enriched, opportunities expanded, and our students’ horizons—both literal and figurative—continued to grow.