Community Partners List
The School District of University City partners with many local nonprofit and civic organizations to enrich the learning experience of students and encourage community involvement. Please click on the organization's name to go directly to their website to learn more about them. Our District is very fortunate to have such wonderful partners!
American Field Services (AFS) partners with the District to help provide travel abroad experiences for thousands of high school students who might not otherwise be able to go, through the Quest Scholarship Fund. The Quest Scholarship Fund continues to support this foreign-exchange program and even allowed a student from Brazil to attend University City High School this past school year.
Arts & Education Council enriches the vibrancy of the St. Louis community by investing in arts organizations and growing the base of local arts supporters. Arts are among our community’s greatest assets. Whether it’s music, dance, theatre, film, literary or visual arts; the arts teach us, inspire us and make us smile. The Arts and Education Council is a dynamic collaboration of businesses, individuals and community partners who work to raise funds and enhance the quality and variety of arts experiences throughout the 16-county, bi-state St. Louis region.
Alive and Well STL is a community-wide effort focused on reducing the impact of toxic stress and trauma on our health and wellbeing.
Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) provides support to children of all ages through individual mentoring relationships. At UCHS, Regions Bank sponsors the BBBS' ABCToday Schools initiative focused on improving student Attendance, Behavior and Course performance in reading and math.
Center of Creative Arts (COCA) has been providing meaningful arts experiences to St. Louisans and their families for two decades. COCA has become the largest multidisciplinary arts institution and one of the most valuable community assets in the St. Louis metropolitan area.
The Challenger Learning Center - St. Louis is part of a worldwide network that was founded by the families of the astronauts tragically lost during the 1986 Challenger space shuttle mission. The Center engages people of all ages in space mission simulations, STEM education programs, and team-building experiences.
The City of University City continues to be a strong partner for the school district. The University City Police Department partners with the District on our annual Back to School/National Night Out Rally. The City provides resources to support various initiatives at our schools, including public relations support on the city's message boards, ROARS and the mayor's newsletter.
Connections to Success partnered with Man of Valor, Inc., for an initiative to provide suits for the young men participating in the Man of Valor program. Connections provides a comprehensive network of services and support to help people living in poverty become economically self-sufficient. The organization's model, with lifelong mentoring at its core, delivers evidence-based results and impacts all areas of a person’s life.
Craft Alliance Center of Art + Design is non-profit art center that enriches and empowers the community to experience the craft of our time by exhibiting artists' work, educating all levels of students and offering classes and family programs. It also includes a gallery shop featuring the work of national and regional artists. Needs-based scholarships for tuition assistance is available for both children and adults for all classes and workshops.
Gateway Greening educates and empowers people to strengthen their communities through gardening and urban agriculture.
Girls Inc. of St. Louis provides educational and cultural programs in safe environments to girls, which enable them to raise their aspirations; realize their potential and be strong, smart and bold. Programs give girls the information, skills, and strategies and resources they need to make good decisions, solve problems, meet their own needs and lead others as they grow to understand their options, accept new responsibilities and face new challenges.
Girls on the Run is a life-changing non-profit program for girls in the 3rd through 8th grade. Our mission is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. The 20-lesson Girls on the Run curriculum combines training for a 5K (3.1 miles) running event with lessons that inspire girls to become independent thinkers, enhance their problem-solving skills and make healthy decisions. All of this is accomplished through an active collaboration with girls and their parents, schools, volunteers, staff and the community.
The Green Center is an arts and environmental education organization dedicated to helping people understand the natural world through hands-on experiences by restoring native habitats and encouraging artistic expression inspired by nature. The Green Center offers science field experiences for fourth and fifth-grade students in the District, as well as science professional development opportunities for District staff.
Josh Seidel Memorial Foundation funds college scholarships, STEM programs and much more. It awarded the Institute for School Partnership at Washington University in St. Louis (click here for WUSTL story) funds to support the creation of mobile makerspace kits to be used in classrooms across the District.
The Kennedy Center promotes the empowerment of consumers with diverse abilities, disabilities, and experiences toward optimal participation and inclusion in the community. The District's primary Kennedy Center partnership is through the COCA.
Lions Against Litter is a newly-developed, citizen-led effort to beautify University City, offering opportunities for community volunteers to get to know neighbors while encouraging citizens to take pride in their community and help pick up trash in their neighborhood. Click here for additional updates.
The Loop Business Association is affiliated with the Delmar Loop, University City's premier shopping and dining destination. Recognized as one of the 10 Best Streets in America by the American Planning Association, this incredible business district features a diverse array of restaurants as well as retail options including music, clothing, art and much more. If you’re looking for a great place to hang out, the Loop has everything you could ask for!
Man of Valor, Inc. works with youth in the district through its MARS Youth Development Program and DSW (Determined Strong Women) mentoring program for young ladies. The MARS (math, art, reading and science) Youth Development and Education Program's, mission is to prepare young minds to be ready to face today's challenges and pioneer tomorrow's future. Click here for UCHS Man of Valor website page. (Click here for video)
Magic House @ MADE (a kid maker-space) engages all children with hands-on learning experiences that spark imagination, pique curiosity, enhance creativity and develop problem-solving skills within a place of beauty, wonder, joy and magic. Specific supports for U. City Schools include educator meet-ups, field trips and camps for students, free admission tickets for U. City families and more.
Missouri Botanical Gardens: JGECEC is pleased to work with Missouri Botanical Gardens (MoBOT) to create a new naturescape on school grounds funded by PNC Bank. MoBot will lead the endeavor by providing design leadership, professional learning, and community outreach.
Project MEGSSS puts the M in STEM - especially for middle school students in U. City Schools.
PNC Bank Foundation collaborates with Julia Goldstein Early Childhood Education Center designed to help increase the vocabulary of our youngest learners. The two-year, $1 million effort, called "Mind Full of Words", is managed by Webster University. Participants in the collaborative include Webster University, The St. Louis Teachers Recycling Center, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, Gateway Media Literacy Partners, The St. Louis Public Library and Julia Goldstein Early Childhood Education Center. PNC also constructed a state-of-the-art playground at Julia Goldstein to support language development.
JGECEC is honored to continue working with PNC Bank on our newest naturescape project. PNC is committed to early childhood programming and the overall development of young children. With their financial support, they continue demonstrating this commitment in the School District of University City. PNC Bank is funding the new naturescape on the grounds of Julia Goldstein ECEC. The natural play space will stimulate our children's curiosity while fostering creativity, imagination, and problem-solving skills. We greatly appreciate PNC's generosity.
Project Restore is a $1.2 million grant from St. Louis County and the Department of Health that U. City Schools will share for the purposes of implementing restorative practices to support trauma and mental health of students, teachers and families.
Ready Readers expands literacy for young children through high-quality books, strong relationships, and literacy related experiences. JGECEC has welcomed a partnership with Ready Readers for many years. They have put many fabulous books in the hands of our youngest learners.
Real Talk, Inc. is a comprehensive, award-winning gang violence prevention and mentoring initiative. Founded by a former gang member and now motivational speaker Sultan Muhammad, Real Talk Inc. serves students at Brittany Woods Middle School and University City High School. The Real Talk, Inc. High Alpha Project teaches youth meditation, leadership, communications skills, human relations skills and entrepreneurial skills.
Regions Bank supports University City High School's student participation in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri's ABCToday initiative by providing the high school a generous check. Regions Bank executives presented a check of $20,000 to further help the program.
Royal Banks of MO supports National Merit Scholarship competitors from University City High School with a savings bond in recognition of their academic dedication and accomplishments. Royal Banks provides commended scholars with a $100 savings bond and the National Merit Scholar receives a $500 savings bond.
St.Louis Children's Zoo provides students and educators with a wide variety of content-rich offerings in life science and conservation with field trips and customized professional development for topics including living systems, ecology, conservation and scientific inquiry.
STEMpact believes that teachers are in the best position to inspire and prepare students for STEM success. To meet the growing demand for integrating STEM topics into all subjects, ground-breaking professional development programs are targeted to educators, schools and districts to support growth of student achievement as they become critical thinkers and problem solvers.
How do we overcome this deficit? STLPRograms publishes a variety of programs for neighborhoods and organizations including the U. City Community Directory, updated each summer and featuring U. City Schools.
U City in Bloom, a non-profit organization, maintains gardens planted throughout University City, Missouri. University City’s public gardens are important to its economic and civic life. Plantings in urban neighborhoods are a symbol of care for the community. Our gardens are located in every area of University City: around Civic Plaza, City Hall, the Library, Centennial Commons, along with the business and entertainment area of the Delmar Loop, at all of our public schools, in parks, along with major streets, and tucked into the quiet neighborhoods throughout the city. Each of the schools in the District, as well as District offices, have flower gardens to welcome visitors. Elementary schools have vegetable gardens used for student learning. U City in Bloom coordinates planting, watering and upkeep of these flower and vegetable beds, through the generosity of community volunteers and funded in large part by donations through the following fundraising events.
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U City in Bloom Spring Plant Sale - last weekend in April
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U City in Bloom Garden Tour - fourth weekend in September
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U City in Bloom Fall Bulb Sale - second weekend in October
University City Chamber of Commerce is a local business network and teams with the UC PTO Council for the annual U City Day at the Cardinals' Game.
The University City Municipal Commission on Arts & Letters mission is to act in an advisory capacity to the City Council on artistic, cultural and scholarly programs within University City. The Commission is dedicated to promoting the arts and making art publicly visible and accessible to a broad and diverse community audience. Funded primarily by the City of University City, the Commission supports numerous activities including a much-loved annual photography competition, a public art sculpture series collaboration with Washington University, the Returning Artist program for our school children and community, a series of free outdoor summer concerts and public lectures and presentations.
The University City Education Foundation (formally established as The University City Public Schools Education Foundation, Inc.) was established in 1996 to enhance the educational program in the School District of University City. By involving the community and attracting private funds to supplement state, federal, and local revenues, the Foundation provides support for the development of enrichment programs and services which can help make the difference between a very good education and an excellent one. The Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation organized under the laws of the state of Missouri as a method of providing a long-term, self-sustaining program to enhance University City public schools beyond the limits of normal tax support. It is governed by a self-perpetuating Board comprised of private citizens who are not involved in the day-to-day operations of the District. The Ira Herskowitz UCHS Alumni Teacher Recognition Award is administered by the UCEF. (Click here for information regarding 2017 Memorandum of Agreement.)
The University City Public Library prides itself on service to children and young adults as a high priority. The youth services department is staffed with professional librarians and paraprofessional trained to work with young people. A strong book collection is paired with a very active series of story hours; special programs; summer reading clubs and activities; and outreach to the public, private and pre-schools in University City. Taking as their theme "Children who read, succeed," our youth services department strives to make a difference in the lives of our youngest citizens.
Washington University in St. Louis believes good neighbors lead to strong communities. A prime example is a partnership between Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) and the School District of University City. These two organizations work closely together to improve educational opportunities and community resources for students. The multifaceted and flourishing partnership includes support in social work, science outreach, professional development, student reading programs, tutoring, visiting teachers for various courses and much more.
The partnership began informally through various departments working with the District, but it became a formal partnership in 2009 when the organizations expanded it to a formal 25-year commitment of working together to improve educational opportunities for students. The current community school focus for Brittany Woods (Project Elev8) was created in partnership with community, school and university leaders. In collaboration with the District's Department of Curriculum and Instruction and building leadership, Washington University supports professional development for teachers at the elementary, middle and high schools; along with districtwide support through MySci and Math 314.
Visit WUSTL's Institute for School Partnership for more details on the history of the partnership.
WUSTL's Transformational Leadership Initiative is an ambitious, multi-year effort by WUSTL designed to improve the academic performance and the overall learning environment for students in the St. Louis region.
Webster University works closely with the District mathematics committee and has developed coursework to support University City mathematics teachers. Webster also provides reduced tuition rates for all certified and educational support staff. Webster also supports the "Mind Full of Words" initiative, a $1 million collaborative with PNC Bank to help build vocabulary in pre-school students at the Julia Goldstein Early Childhood Education Center.
WE Schools strives for students to gain greater knowledge of local and global issues through research, up-to-date statistics and campaigns. One of WE Schools campaigns, Walk for Water, aims to depict that all over the world, women must walk hours for access to clean water. The WE Schools Walk for Water campaign was adopted by University City High School and received positively in the 2017-18 school year.
Women In Charge is committed to giving women in crisis the skills to take charge of their lives. The mission of Women In Charge is to heal the spirit, build confidence, and educate women in need so that they may provide a better life for themselves and their children. This organization partners with the University City Adult Education & Literacy Program as well as a number of our schools. (Click here for promotional video)
Wyman Center partners with the District to offer programs such as the Wyman Teen Leadership Program and Wyman Teen Outreach Program each year. (Click here for January 2018 District News story regarding new partnership agreement funded by a $500,000, three-year grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health)