GM Strong Grant!

    funded by the Trawick Foundation

    GMStrong! Purpose

    GMStrong! is a holistic in-school and after-school program designed to impact all Gaithersburg Middle School students through strength messaging to increase connectedness and resiliency and tackle social and emotional issues.

    GMStrong! Goals

    1. Increase in student connectedness
    2. Increase in student engagement
    3. Increase in student well-being

    GMS Overview

    GMStrong! partner organizations

     

    GMStrong! programs

     
    NAMI - National Alliance on Mental Illness

    Sources of Strength (SOS): In school program for ALL GMS students

    • Evidence-based to prevent suicide, increase resiliency, connectedness, hope & well-being
    • 70 Peer Leaders
    • 15 Adult advisors
    • In-school positive messaging campaigns based on 8 "sources of strength"
    • Incorporated into every 8th Viking Time 
     
     2019 Project Change logo

    Project Change (PC)

    Project Change (PC) programs: After school programs for ALL GMS students

    • Youth Empowered Service Club will enable students to tap into their passions by working on service projects for causes that concern them.
    • You Have the Power! Bullying Prevention Peer Education Project will feature high school mentors working with middle school participants to raise awareness about the characteristics and consequences of bullying and how to be an ally to a target of bullying.
    • Team of Stars will combine a musical theater experience that utilizes improvisation, theater games, and acting instruction to address issues such as intolerance and bullying, as well as life skills including leadership, confidence, and problem solving.
    • Having fun singing, dancing & acting!  Join the Team of Stars Drama Club on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Starts on September 17.  Bring the registration to the first meeting.
    Retouch International Ministries

    Botvin LifeSkills Training: for GEMS

    • Targeting already-identified at-risk girls (GEMS)
    • 15-week evidence-based life skills activity plan
    • Intern/Mentoring Support as well as involvement from GHS Diamonds
    • 4 Field trips (i.e. Kennedy Center & Dinner, MD Ballet Theater of Arts & Movie Night)
    • Work on community service project with "Guys of GMS"
     

    You Have the Power!

    This video was conceived by the GMS You Have the Power! Club with an original song "Lost."  Lyrics and music written by the students.  Produced by Project Change and funded by the Trawick Foundation.

    Breaking My Heart

    This video called “Breaking My Heart” was made by GMS students in the Project Change You Have the Power Club. It was designed to create awareness around using words to cause students pain. All GMS students watched the video on 2/13/17 in additional to listening to a town hall that reviewed behavior expectations.