The Community School at Red Bank High School will host a one-year celebration nextTuesday from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Students, teachers, community members and Hamilton County Superintendent Dr. Bryan Johnson will be in attendance to celebrate the successes of 2017. 

In early 2017, Northside Neighborhood House began a partnership with Red Bank High School to help pilot The Community School. An initiative of Chattanooga 2.0, Community Schools are designed to provide wrap around support services to meet the physical, social and emotional needs of the community where the school is located. Through Community School work, 325 students were served in 2017. 

“Red Bank High School is thrilled to be celebrating the one-year anniversary of The Community School,” says Elaine Harper, school principal. “This is a model of what can happen when a school and community organization form a strong partnership. The services provided extend the reach of the school and give students the support they need to meet their goals and achieve academic success.” 

One of the programs offered to students through The Community School is the LEOS (Leadership.Excellence.Opportunities.Scholars) Program, which provides out-of-school time support to students in grades nine-12. Afternoon activities consist of homework support, life skills activities, clubs and mentoring. The Community School Coordinator oversees this programming and works to coordinate with collaborative agencies to bring in programs focused on health and nutrition, college readiness, job preparedness and more.

“The Community School gives me a chance to meet new people and have a place to belong,” says a 10th grade student at Red Bank High School. “I love coming here every day after school.” 

A key component of the work being done at The Community School is collaboration. The YMCA Mobile Fit Program provides healthy food for students and Helen Ross McNabb has a counselor on-site every day to offer mental health services to students. 

“The Community School offers more than just resources for students and parents, we are there to support the entire community,” says Rachel Gammon, CEO of the Northside Neighborhood House, a Community School partner. “We work with nonprofits like La Paz to offer workshops on immigration and Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise to host Mini Money School. Our goal is to connect the Red Bank community to the school and provide a place where residents can access additional resources and come together to support each other.” 

For more information about The Community School or to RSVP to the one-year celebration, contact Rachel Gammon at rgammon@nnhouse.org.