GEMS Month Topics
Friendship Month
September's month topic. Led by Reyna Ngu ('22) and Lucía Valderrábano ('22).
Program Day: Friday, October 01 (4-5pm) in the VST Lobby
Details: We are so excited to be back in person! We have many fun ice-breaker activities to connect your daughter(s) with their MS peers and HS mentors! During our GEMS Program Day, we will discuss the elements of a true support system and how to embrace growth in a friendship throughout middle/high school.
Identity Month
November's month topic. Led by Kennedy Black ('22) and Adonai Ross ('23).
Program Day: Wednesday, November 03 (4-5pm) in the VST Lobby
Details: Girls guide girls about how our gender, body image, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, cultures, religion/beliefs, and age affect our identity and belonging.
Fullness Month
December's month topic. Led by Noa Granoff ('24) and Lily Harvey ('24).
Program Day: December 6, 2021 (4-5pm) in the TBD
Details: Stress Awareness. Stress is normal and natural, but too much of it is detrimental to well-being and growth. ‘Fullness’ encapsulates self-care and stress management, and at an academically rigorous school like St. John's, students often drown from academic pressures and practice less self-care. Our goal for this month is to debunk the myths that self-care is selfish or that it comes after everything else.
Healthy Outlets Month
January's month topic. Led by Veda Chilakapati ('23).
Program Day: Wednesday, January 12 (5-6pm) in the TBD
Details: Learning healthy outlets when coping with our experiences. We collectively will establish healthy coping mechanisms to deal with sadness, anger, stress, and more. This discussion is both informative and continuously emphasizes the support in the GEMS St. John’s community. This topic is extremely important to the mental and physical wellbeing of the students in our community.
Healthy Body Image Month
February's month topic. Led by Grace Perrin ('22).
Program Day: Monday, February 14 (5-6pm) in the TBD
Details: Learning how to "love the me I see." Debunk myths about different perspectives of ideal body image throughout MS and HS. Learn how social media’s expectations for appearances has affected our lives.
Family Month
March's month topic. Led by Lexie Leitner ('22).
Program Day: Wednesday, March 23 (5-6pm) in the TBD
Details: Exploring familial connections between siblings and parents and parental pressures/expectations from a student’s perspective. Finding alternate ways to address and improve familial relationships by learning our different love languages!
Compassion Month
April's month topic. Led by Sophia Chon ('24).
Program Day: Tuesday, April 19 (4-5pm) in the TBD
Details: Unpack the way that we treat other people and the way we treat ourselves. Emphasize that we cannot be compassionate with others if we are not compassionate with ourselves. In the end, we hope to begin the journey to improving outward compassion and inward compassion (developing a healthier relationship with ourselves).
Purpose Month
May's month topic. Led by Reyna Ngu ('22) and Lucía Valderrábano ('22).
Program Day: Wednesday, May 4 (4-5pm) in the TBD
Details: Discuss what our purposes are. Are we here to succeed or are we here to better ourselves? Sum up all the lessons we've learned this year.
Final Celebration Event
May's month topic. Led by Reyna Ngu ('22) and Lucía Valderrábano ('22).
Celebration Day: Tuesday, May 17 (4-5pm) in the TBD
Details: Come celebrate another successful year of GEMS with us!!
September's month topic. Led by Reyna Ngu ('22) and Lucía Valderrábano ('22).
Program Day: Friday, October 01 (4-5pm) in the VST Lobby
Details: We are so excited to be back in person! We have many fun ice-breaker activities to connect your daughter(s) with their MS peers and HS mentors! During our GEMS Program Day, we will discuss the elements of a true support system and how to embrace growth in a friendship throughout middle/high school.
Identity Month
November's month topic. Led by Kennedy Black ('22) and Adonai Ross ('23).
Program Day: Wednesday, November 03 (4-5pm) in the VST Lobby
Details: Girls guide girls about how our gender, body image, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, cultures, religion/beliefs, and age affect our identity and belonging.
Fullness Month
December's month topic. Led by Noa Granoff ('24) and Lily Harvey ('24).
Program Day: December 6, 2021 (4-5pm) in the TBD
Details: Stress Awareness. Stress is normal and natural, but too much of it is detrimental to well-being and growth. ‘Fullness’ encapsulates self-care and stress management, and at an academically rigorous school like St. John's, students often drown from academic pressures and practice less self-care. Our goal for this month is to debunk the myths that self-care is selfish or that it comes after everything else.
Healthy Outlets Month
January's month topic. Led by Veda Chilakapati ('23).
Program Day: Wednesday, January 12 (5-6pm) in the TBD
Details: Learning healthy outlets when coping with our experiences. We collectively will establish healthy coping mechanisms to deal with sadness, anger, stress, and more. This discussion is both informative and continuously emphasizes the support in the GEMS St. John’s community. This topic is extremely important to the mental and physical wellbeing of the students in our community.
Healthy Body Image Month
February's month topic. Led by Grace Perrin ('22).
Program Day: Monday, February 14 (5-6pm) in the TBD
Details: Learning how to "love the me I see." Debunk myths about different perspectives of ideal body image throughout MS and HS. Learn how social media’s expectations for appearances has affected our lives.
Family Month
March's month topic. Led by Lexie Leitner ('22).
Program Day: Wednesday, March 23 (5-6pm) in the TBD
Details: Exploring familial connections between siblings and parents and parental pressures/expectations from a student’s perspective. Finding alternate ways to address and improve familial relationships by learning our different love languages!
Compassion Month
April's month topic. Led by Sophia Chon ('24).
Program Day: Tuesday, April 19 (4-5pm) in the TBD
Details: Unpack the way that we treat other people and the way we treat ourselves. Emphasize that we cannot be compassionate with others if we are not compassionate with ourselves. In the end, we hope to begin the journey to improving outward compassion and inward compassion (developing a healthier relationship with ourselves).
Purpose Month
May's month topic. Led by Reyna Ngu ('22) and Lucía Valderrábano ('22).
Program Day: Wednesday, May 4 (4-5pm) in the TBD
Details: Discuss what our purposes are. Are we here to succeed or are we here to better ourselves? Sum up all the lessons we've learned this year.
Final Celebration Event
May's month topic. Led by Reyna Ngu ('22) and Lucía Valderrábano ('22).
Celebration Day: Tuesday, May 17 (4-5pm) in the TBD
Details: Come celebrate another successful year of GEMS with us!!
Commonly Asked Questions
How often are events?
There is at least one GEMS event a month. The program days are once a month from 5-6pm. Most program days will be held in the Fine Arts Annex (if that changes, we will let you know as soon as possible!) No meeting will be held without the presence of at least one counselor- Ms. LeGrange or Dr. Powell. Towards the end of each month, GEMS leaders might host a Girls Night for students to bond over movies and games.
There is at least one GEMS event a month. The program days are once a month from 5-6pm. Most program days will be held in the Fine Arts Annex (if that changes, we will let you know as soon as possible!) No meeting will be held without the presence of at least one counselor- Ms. LeGrange or Dr. Powell. Towards the end of each month, GEMS leaders might host a Girls Night for students to bond over movies and games.
What is the structure of an event?
GEMS Program Day: Half of the program is an activity, student speaker, video, etc. The other half is open discussion in groups divided based off the number of attendees and led by a month leader. This normally varies based off of the month topic.
GEMS Girls Night: Girls Nights will often consist of a movie or fun activity related to the month topic. The purpose of these Girls Nights are to establish a more tight-knit community and to extend our conversations about the month topic from the program day.
Click on "Month Topics" for more information.
GEMS Program Day: Half of the program is an activity, student speaker, video, etc. The other half is open discussion in groups divided based off the number of attendees and led by a month leader. This normally varies based off of the month topic.
GEMS Girls Night: Girls Nights will often consist of a movie or fun activity related to the month topic. The purpose of these Girls Nights are to establish a more tight-knit community and to extend our conversations about the month topic from the program day.
Click on "Month Topics" for more information.
Do I need to sign up? How do I get involved?
No! We will email and announce our next meeting as soon as possible, so you can put it on your calendar. If you would like to look ahead, please see the calendar attached to the website.
Come when convenient for you! We encourage coming to as many meetings as possible especially because each month is divided into different topics for discussion. Read more...
No! We will email and announce our next meeting as soon as possible, so you can put it on your calendar. If you would like to look ahead, please see the calendar attached to the website.
Come when convenient for you! We encourage coming to as many meetings as possible especially because each month is divided into different topics for discussion. Read more...