What happens when students of color from the Lower/Middle School join students from various affinity groups at the High School? Magic! For the past several years the Black Student Union (BSU) has held a Thanksgiving dinner, inviting all of the High School affinity groups to join them. It is an amazing event in and of itself. However, over the last three years those students at the Lower/Middle School who identify as a student of color and participates in the students of color mentoring program have also been invited to join in the festivities. This year’s LMS participants were so excited as we gathered in the gym to begin our trip over to the HS. Many of them were hoping to see some of their friends who graduated from the LMS the year before, some were excited to connect with their older siblings who are already at the HS, and many were just thrilled to have been invited to an event at the HS!
When we arrived we had a chance to help with some of the setup and people began to quickly file in and get settled into their seats. We were warmly greeted by the BSU board and were invited to eat first, which the kids really enjoyed. It was just such an amazing feeling to see so many students from different grade levels and affinity groups gathered together in one place enjoying a great meal and great company. As a teacher, it was exciting for me to catch up with some of my former students, and I was in awe at who they have become as young adults and leaders in the GDS community. I can only imagine how many more joint events we will be able to have once the campus unification is complete. Here’s to One GDS!