Post Messenger Recorder -

With the onset of Homecoming activities in Belleville last week the school year is truly in full swing, which means there will be many opportunities for the community at large to enjoy what it means to have a vibrant school district at work in its midst. The chance to take in a school parade during Homecoming Week, view a special sporting event, attend theater and concert offerings, or even have access to information about safety instruction that could affect the town's traffic, have had staff at the School District of Belleville hard at work to find better ways to get information out to those who do not have a student enrolled in the public schools here.

The District Technology Director Christopher Armstrong, Communications Director Marie Perry, and District Administrator Nate Perry put their heads together to find a way to respond to the informational needs of the Belleville Community and found a solution. Belleville, as a community, is uniquely positioned to have a special relationship with its schools because of its small-town atmosphere, so the opportunity is here to foster growth and connection between its youth and its senior population through meaningful interaction. We all have so much to learn from one other, but for engagement to take place, pertinent school information has to have a pipeline to the larger Belleville populace.

"The School District of Belleville has recently set up a community messenger service called 'Community Connect' to better engage with our community members who do not have students enrolled in the public schools here in Belleville. It will provide information about key happenings throughout the school year such as parades, theater and concert offerings, and even events such as safety drills that might affect traffic patterns in Belleville," says District Administrator Nate Perry.

To this end, residents who do not have a student enrolled in the Belleville Public Schools who would like to receive information about school-related events, can sign-up for this new communication service. Interested members of the community are invited to simply create their own contact preference profile to opt-in for these messages using this link: https://bit.ly/sdbconnect. Those who elect to enroll in "Community Connect'' will receive informational notifications that affect the public on a timely basis.

The School District of Belleville hopes that by offering this new informational resource for Belleville's residents, it will open some wonderful opportunities for engagement for the public for school events they are hosting. The Belleville Schools also look forward to a deeper connection and fostering partnerships with the community members with which it shares common goals. So, when Homecoming 2023 rolls around next year, they hope to see an even larger turn out for those who want to take in the Belleville High School's parade and soak in the hometown pride the Wildcats have for their community – something special all Belleville residents can share!