Our Vision
Our vision is to create a safe space and framework of support for all female-identifying Upper School and Middle School students to share their experiences, create bonds across grade levels, and as a result, learn about others and themselves. The St. John’s School Mission Statement states that “The School seeks to develop the whole person in preparation for a lifetime of personal fulfillment and contribution to society. In particular, it is dedicated to the enhancement and the expansion of future leadership for Houston and the country.” There is no doubt that St. John’s creates leaders of academic excellence; however, to a student at St. John’s, the challenge for academic accomplishment can be mentally draining. Because of this, we want to build up our community by helping prepare middle schoolers for a genuine high school experience to create strong individuals who are able to help themselves or others through discussion in a safe place. St. John’s should not just promise to guide the academic future leaders of the country, but also promise to educate and mold emotionally stable, healthy students. We want to be part of that change.
As upperclassmen, we have reflected on our middle school experiences. At the time, we felt we had no access to support due to the lack of a safe space to talk with peers who were available to guide us through our experiences. As a result, we did not know when to seek help for ourselves or others. We now hope that through this program, we can debunk these stigmas and myths and become the role models that we needed.
Our vision is to create a safe space and framework of support for all female-identifying Upper School and Middle School students to share their experiences, create bonds across grade levels, and as a result, learn about others and themselves. The St. John’s School Mission Statement states that “The School seeks to develop the whole person in preparation for a lifetime of personal fulfillment and contribution to society. In particular, it is dedicated to the enhancement and the expansion of future leadership for Houston and the country.” There is no doubt that St. John’s creates leaders of academic excellence; however, to a student at St. John’s, the challenge for academic accomplishment can be mentally draining. Because of this, we want to build up our community by helping prepare middle schoolers for a genuine high school experience to create strong individuals who are able to help themselves or others through discussion in a safe place. St. John’s should not just promise to guide the academic future leaders of the country, but also promise to educate and mold emotionally stable, healthy students. We want to be part of that change.
As upperclassmen, we have reflected on our middle school experiences. At the time, we felt we had no access to support due to the lack of a safe space to talk with peers who were available to guide us through our experiences. As a result, we did not know when to seek help for ourselves or others. We now hope that through this program, we can debunk these stigmas and myths and become the role models that we needed.
Our Mission
GEMS, Girls Empowering Minds, is an extension of the social and emotional learning that St. John’s provides. It is a student led program that aims to create bonds between female-identifying high school and middle school students by providing various outlets for support. GEMS will provide students with a trustworthy and safe environment to share their own experiences, to identify the need for help, and to have access to various outlets for professional help if necessary. Through this program, we will work to provide a healthy perspective on life for girls at St. John's by debunking myths about modern high school culture. As a community, we hope to set an example for how to navigate through St. John’s by empowering healthy and aware young women.
GEMS, Girls Empowering Minds, is an extension of the social and emotional learning that St. John’s provides. It is a student led program that aims to create bonds between female-identifying high school and middle school students by providing various outlets for support. GEMS will provide students with a trustworthy and safe environment to share their own experiences, to identify the need for help, and to have access to various outlets for professional help if necessary. Through this program, we will work to provide a healthy perspective on life for girls at St. John's by debunking myths about modern high school culture. As a community, we hope to set an example for how to navigate through St. John’s by empowering healthy and aware young women.