School Collaborations

Headwaters Partnerships: School Collaborations

Headwaters has a longstanding relationship with Rappahannock County Public Schools and offers support to many of their programs that enrich the lives of students. Here are a few of the ways we’ve fostered educational excellence within RCPS over the years:

Farm-to-Table

Launched in 2004, the Farm-to-Table Program was a partnership between Headwaters, Rappahannock County Public Schools, Rappahannock Farm Bureau, the Young Farmland Preservation Fund, and Sunnyside Institute. Through the generosity of the Young Family and the Young Farmland Farm Preservation Fund, Farm-to-Table was able to start an agriculture class at Rappahannock County Elementary School. This program worked to cultivate good stewards of the earth through classroom study of horticulture and nutrition, cultivation of school gardens, and hands-on experiences at local family farms. Today, Farm-to-Table continues to be a high school elective. Headwaters continues to manage the Farm-to-Table endowment and, in the summer of 2019, Farm-to-Table partnered with RappFlow to renovate the courtyard at Rappahannock County Elementary School.

FamilyFutures

FamilyFutures is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2019 serving Rappahannock County. Headwaters granted seed money to Family Futures to open MyFuture bank accounts for Kindergarteners at RCES. Headwaters has also provided additional funds to FamilyFutures for incentives to promote financial literacy in schools.

Profile of a Graduate

Next Step, one of the first programs of Headwaters, offered college prep, life skills, and career readiness to students at Rappahannock County High School. Over the last few years, our Next Step program evolved into the state-mandated Profile of Graduate program. Profile of a Graduate focuses on five keys areas: critical thinking, creative thinking, collaboration, communication and citizenship. Headwaters administers the endowed Next Step funds to cover 50% of an employee salary for the Profile of a Graduate Coordinator position at RCHS.

Agriculture Academy at RCHS

This new initiative from RCPS allows high school students to earn career certifications in Agriculture and related fields, including Certified Veterinary Assistant and Welding. Students who participate will be provided with workplace-related coursework and experience, resulting in career credentials and/or dual enrollment transferable college credit. Students may earn additional work-based, internship, or college experiences as a result of completing the academy, including real employment interviews.

Headwaters supports the Agriculture Academy by securing funds for their ongoing projects.