Creating Stronger Communities

 

Horizons programs are deeply embedded in the communities they serve. Each site brings together students, families, teachers, host institution staff, local school district members, community leaders, businesses, funders, and volunteers to form a truly localized and collaborative learning ecosystem that strengthens students and communities year-round.

Teachers return to their school-year roles reenergized by their summer experiences, bringing fresh ideas and renewed creativity into their schools. Host institution communities often engage as volunteers, fundraisers, and even program staff, while local businesses and community members contribute time, space, and expertise through enrichment activities, field trips, and special events.

Throughout the Network, participants refer to the program as “the Horizons Family.” These long-standing relationships, strengthened by high rates of return among students, families, and educators, help Horizons become a trusted, permanent part of the local educational landscape.

For the four of us, four private schools doing something together in a community, that's pretty amazing. Because of the way a private school operates, we are each trying to get students in our schools. And so it naturally pits you against each other... But what Horizons actually does is it allows our four schools to share a kind of a common mission. So we can look at our community and say, this is how the independent schools are making our broader Savannah better.

-  Chris Harmon, Head of School, Savannah Christian Preparatory School