Sixth Graders Prepare for Middle School

COLTON>> Helping sixth-grade girls and boys to build the skills they need to successfully transition into middle school is the aim of a series of “Empowerment Summits” which will take place at Colton Joint Unified School District middle schools in the next few weeks. This is the second year CJUSD has held the summits, which are organized by the district’s elementary school counselors. A pilot Empowerment Summit program took place last year and was geared toward sixth-grade girls. This year, four summits for sixth-grade girls will be held at CJUSD middle schools. In addition, a pilot district-wide summit for sixth-grade boys also will take place this year. Summit dates for sixth-grade girls include: Monday, Jan. 30 from 9:45-11 a.m. at Terrace Hills Middle School; Friday, Feb. 3 from 10-11:30 a.m. at Ruth O. Harris Middle School; Thursday, Feb. 9 from 9:45-11 a.m. at Joe Baca Middle School and Friday, Feb. 10 from 9-10:30 a.m. at Colton Middle School. The summit date for sith-grade boys will be Friday, Feb. 17 from 9:45-11 a.m. at Terrace Hills Middle School. Each of the summits will have unique programming. Special guests will include motivational speakers Tamika Michelle and Jacqueline Patterson, and Terrance Stone, CEO of the San Bernardino-based Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy. Colton Police Officers Rico Carrillo and Todd Smith also support the program. The Empowerment Summits build on work that is being done throughout the year at district school sites. Sixth grade is a critical time of development for young people. Issues with bullying and lack of self-confidence can come to the forefront at this age, especially as students enter middle school. “The importance of the empowerment program is that it helps students to understand the importance of a healthy self-identity so that they have the tools they need to excel academically and are able to make healthy life choices,” Elementary Counselor Nina Torres said. “The program also teaches students to embrace the differences in others, thereby promoting safe and healthy school communities. Our ultimate goal is to help students uncover their greatness within so that they have the social and emotional tools they need to become the amazing adults that they were born to be. Key components of the program are community involvement, Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) strategies, and hands-on activities to help students learn the essential tools and skills they need for life success.”