Catalyst Rocks the Block at Their Open House

Catlyst Circle Rock knows how to kick off the school year in style!

Their annual Open House Block Party event took place on Friday, August 21. The event featured a DJ, petting zoo, bounce house, tumbling tutorials, lemonade stand, and plenty of community partners to support students returning to school.

Lionel Wilson, a 3rd grade instructional aide, was all smiles as he encouraged students to carefully feed small grass pellets to brown and white goats at the petting zoo. “It’s super fun. This is our 20th year of being open, so seeing the kids all interact with each other after a long summer is bringing me a lot of joy… I went here from kindergarten to eighth grade, so for me, coming back to work here is just a full-circle moment, and it just brings me joy being able to help kids and see them grow.”

Volunteers from The Neighborhood Bridge (TNB) couldn’t wait to meet Catalyst Circle Rock families, learn about their needs, and offer both help & partnered problem-solving in navigating and accessing essential services. Dan Doody, TNB Board President, and Lenise Arnold, TNB Volunteer Coordinator, greeted families and explained offerings throughout the afternoon.

“I’m happy to tell you that I was here last year, before we began offering services, and it’s a completely different vibe,” Doody shared. “We have families coming up to us, telling us they know about us. This year, we’re looking forward to helping more people in need. For everyone who knocks on our door, [we want] to show them dignity and make their situation a little better tomorrow than it was today.”

Earlier in the day, parents had time to meet their children’s teachers and hear about the school’s goals and expectations for the year at the Back-to-School assembly. Parents and guardians also learned about school partners, like The Neighborhood Bridge, that support student success. Afterward, the community turned up the fun at the Open House Block Party outside.

Tameshia Glass, Puerto Rican Arts Alliance FSCS Program Lead, coordinated raffle entries for a sneaker giveaway and promoted the school’s Parent Teacher Association. When asked what makes the school special, she shared, “The community of the school is amazing. You can tell the teachers, partners, and families, everyone loves each other and everyone knows how important it is to get kids educated.”

To learn more about this vibrant and loving community, go to Catalyst Circle Rock: Teaching Minds and Touching Hearts

 To learn about volunteer opportunities with The Neighborhood Bridge, visit our Volunteer page.

*Note: Music used for Reel: Positive Pop Vibes by AurosonMusic. Source: Free Music Archive. License: CC BY