Gage Middle School: A Sense of Belonging for All

At Gage Middle School, the focus of their student voice work throughout the fall of 2021 was to help all students develop a sense of Belonging and a connection with the school, staff, and peers. Students participated in Start With Hello, a Sandy Hook Promise violence prevention program. This program teaches students how to recognize when another student is alone, suggests ways to reach out and help lonely or socially isolated students, and provides strategies for connecting with other students to build a socially inclusive school community where everyone knows they belong. Start With Hello kicked off a Spirit Week which included student volunteers greeting their peers in the morning at entrance gates and lunchtime activities inviting students to contribute to a community banner displaying ideas on how to show kindness. Classes also met outside in the morning for get-to-know-you activities to help students and staff build relationships and further establish a sense of Belonging for all.

Students and staff continued to collaborate throughout the semester to provide the entire school community with opportunities to work together for the good of the whole. Students planned a Character Counts assembly highlighting the six pillars of character to raise awareness and build connections. Leadership students followed up by creating a video demonstrating various ways the six pillars of character can be acted upon in school (click here to view the video). The school community also rallied together to participate in a canned food drive, Thanksgiving Trot, and a Christmas Toy Drive. This spring, a student club will promote empowering students to continue to take a proactive role in shaping their school’s culture and further cultivate a sense of Belonging for all students at Gage Middle.