MontCo ‘Community Cares’ Celebrates First Year of Collaborative Innovative Program
Rep. Joe Webster April 8, 2026 | 4:15 PM
EAGLEVILLE, April 8 – Methacton School District celebrated the completion of the pilot year of its peer mentorship and student-led prevention program, Community Cares, state Rep. Joe Webster, D-Montgomery, announced today. The program was recognized during a culminating event at Arcola Intermediate School.
Yesterday’s Community Cares Celebration brought together students, families, staff, community partners, and Webster to recognize the impact of the initiative. Methacton High School student mentors were honored for their leadership and spoke about how the program strengthened school culture and provided meaningful lessons on real-life challenges At the celebration, students reflected on their experiences with Community Cares, highlighting how the program strengthened school culture and provided meaningful lessons on real-life challenges many students face.
“What these high school students have done is excellent, and you could feel the energy in the room,” said Webster. “These high school students discovered so much more about safety, relationships and healthy communication by both learning and teaching it. They planted seeds that are so important in creating a respectful, safe and inclusive school environment, and we can already see them growing.”
??
Launched at the start of the 2025–26 school year in partnership with Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center and Webster’s office, Community Cares connects high school leaders with middle school students through peer mentorship. The program focuses on building character, strengthening relationships and teaching essential life skills such as conflict resolution and active listening.
Throughout the year, 11th and 12th grade mentors were trained by community partners on topics such as internet safety, diversity and inclusion, healthy relationships and the importance of being an “upstander.” The high schoolers then taught those same lessons monthly to 6th and 7th grade students at Arcola Intermediate School and Skyview Upper Elementary School.
By placing students at the front of the classroom, the model increases engagement and creates space for honest, peer-driven dialogue. The program helps normalize conversations that are often difficult to start, while reinforcing respect, awareness and personal responsibility. The approach not only delivers information, but also shapes school culture by empowering students to model safe and supportive behavior.
?
The celebration marked a significant milestone for Community Cares, highlighting its early success and the?strong foundation?in place for continued growth in the years ahead.?In addition to Mission Kids and Webster’s office, the Community Cares program is made possible thanks to partners including The Arc Alliance, the Montgomery County Commissioners’ Office, Montgomery County Victim Services, Laurel House and Dr. Meredith Frank of Montgomery County Community College.?The Methacton Education Foundation?provided key funding support.?
For more information, visit?www.Methacton.org/CommunityCares.?
###
EDITORS & ASSIGNMENT DESKS: Photos from the celebration are available here: Rep. Joe Webster | Photo Gallery
Video from the program is available here (for quotes/b-roll):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPWFN77DTpY