Ritenour’s First Back-to-School Resource Fair Brings Community Together

More than 1,200 Ritenour students and family members filled Ritenour High School on Aug. 9 for the district’s first Back-to-School Resource Fair, an event that far exceeded expectations and connected families with critical resources ahead of the new school year.

The fair was held in conjunction with the district’s annual immunization clinic, where nurses from the Visiting Nurses Association provided a record 400 school-required immunizations to Ritenour students.

During the three-hour fair, students and their families could visit 31 booths staffed by community partners representing mental health, medical care, social services, youth and community organizations and Ritenour-specific programs. Families also received school supplies, backpacks and information to help them prepare for a strong start to the academic year.

Superintendent Dr. Chris Kilbride said the turnout and support highlighted the strength of the Ritenour community. 

“This event showed just how much our community cares about our students and families,” Dr. Kilbride said. “It was inspiring to see so many partners come together to support families and make sure they feel prepared and welcomed as the new school year begins.”

The event was bolstered by the generosity of SSM Health-DePaul Hospital and the Ritenour High School Class of 2005, which donated backpacks and hundreds of school supplies to students.

In addition to booths hosted by the Ritenour Board of Education, and the district’s IT department, communications department and the Ritenour School for Early Childhood Education, the following organizations and businesses were represented at the fair: Community Action Agency of St. Louis County, Ritenour Co-Care Food Pantry, St. Louis ARC, Capable Kids and Families of St. Louis ARC, Girl Scouts, Scouting USA, Presentation Arts Center, the Magic House, Moose Lodge, Mid County YMCA, Washington University School of Medicine, Behavioral Response, Specialty Medical Group, Soothing Souls Therapeutic Services, UMSL Optometry, Buder Elementary PTO, Ritenour Pride & Promise Foundation, Youth in Need, Husky Health Center–CareSTL Health, Annie’s Hope, PreventEd, Mattingly’s Embroidery, Kona Ice and the Community Fire Department.

Based on the support from the community and response from families, the district already is working on a larger fair for next August.