November 2023 - Our Blueprint in Action: Student Voice in the South Gwinnett Cluster

Join us as we examine Student Voice in our South Gwinnett Cluster.

In GCPS, we strongly believe that Student Voice is essential to transforming our district's culture and supporting each and every student. When students are supported and encouraged to share thoughts, experiences, and ideas about mental health and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging – they are empowered to positively impact and change the culture within their schools, and the district.

Throughout the South Gwinnett Cluster, elevating Student Voice means students have the power to impact change within their schools, communities, and collective futures.

Students at Britt Elementary start the day using their voice in “morning meetings” in Miss Hendrix’s class. Seated in a circle, they share thoughts and feelings on various topics together daily. The South Gwinnett Cluster finds ways to weave Student Voice into our Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS).

Norton Elementary engages student participation through its Student Council, giving students a safe space to express their feelings about their school environment. Together they discuss strategies to improve and support their Comet Community.

Snellville Middle’s Principal Student Advisory Council brings decisions to the student body. Sharon W., an 8th grade council member, says that all grades deserve to have a say in school improvements. “What I have learned from my participation on the Snellville MS Principal Student Advisory Council is that 8th graders are not the only grade that has struggles throughout the school and all grades have something that they want to change in their school for the better.”

Those changes are taking place through opportunities for students like 6th grade Anime Club, sponsored by Mr. Kyle Haynes. The club helps students bridge their love for fictional writing and storytelling with a unique media source. “In truth, while the club allows many students to collaborate with content they love on anime/manga related pieces, the club does a great job in its broader acceptance.” Mr. Haynes also expressed that hosting a club that connects students on different attributes is a fundamental building block in bridging community.

At Magill Elementary students are using classroom skills, like coding and programming, for self-expression in their projects and work, and in other areas of the school, providing feedback to elevate their voices.

In Mr. Fraga and Mr. Price’s Computer Science class, students participated in an “All About Me!” project that allowed them to share information about themselves in a unique way. Skills learned from previous lessons empowered students to express themselves through coding and personalization with changing colors, music, and animation.

Magill Elementary Media Specialist Jared Hamby supports student agency and interests through relevant and interactive learning activities that reinforce the curriculum, and encouraging a passion for reading with book holds, and most importantly, student feedback. Jacueline, a Magill 5th grader, feels heard and that her voice is important when she requests a book at the media center and gets confirmation that it will be added to the collection.

“The books in our library should reflect student interests and support the curriculum. I want students to read when they don’t have to read," says Mr. Hamby.

Mr. Hamby believes that gathering feedback from students to elevate their voices and help curate the collection of books in the media center is one of the most important things he can do. Students know that their input is valuable and wanted.

“It makes me feel happy [to request books] and I’m excited for the books that I love to be brought in,” says Mamadou, an avid reader and 5th grader.

From robotics tournaments to fine arts performances, student association events, and opportunities to engage with local business leaders, South Gwinnett High “Comets” are gaining skills and experiences that ensure they are equipped for future success. And when it comes to highlighting those opportunities and sharing opinions, news, visions, and stories of the Comet Experience, pick up the most recent copy of “Voices of South.”

The “Voices of South” (VOS) Magazine aims to amplify student voices by gathering their input on school topics and highlighting individual students for their achievements. Through articles that showcase student businesses and clubs, the magazine uplifts and encourages the student body. Journalism students are responsible for writing and publishing the magazine, allowing it to truly function as an editorial staff rather than a traditional class.

Zeniya, 12th grader and one of the co-editors-in-chief, explains, "Being part of the magazine's editorial team has allowed me to freely express my opinions on various issues."

The VOS editorial team feels it's most important to address topics that teens think about and can relate to. They tackle topics like evaluating the flaws in using AI to complete coursework, lending an opinion on state laws that affect students, and reviewing school news like changes in administrative policies at South Gwinnett High.

South Gwinnett 10th grader and Arts and Entertainment Editor Ebony states, “Our team responds to the issues and topics that happen in our everyday lives from a teen’s perspective. The magazine and student voices help adults better understand our various viewpoints by demonstrating that without adult input, we can effectively come together to passionately write about what we believe the student body holds important.”

As for selecting topics, a monthly editorial meeting is held in which staff members have a multi-thread discussion about topics that have circulated recently. The editorial team takes into consideration the number of sources and details provided with each topic to select the one with the most appropriate information.

News Section Editor Sallyma, 10th grader, says, “During the editorial meeting everyone shares ideas and gets feedback from their fellow writers. We’re all given the opportunity to have our idea in the final draft.”

When thinking about the future, the editorial team believes the magazine provides an opportunity to have an interactive workplace that helps develop a variety of competencies that they can apply to their careers. Journalism class not only caters to Journalism-based careers, but also teaches proficiency in universal employability skills such as professionalism, punctuality, and collaboration.

  

Paris, 10th grader and staff writer and podcast host, adds, “My end goal is to pursue digital marketing, so when it comes to designing our pages for VOS, I get to experience that, with creative freedom. Being a part of VOS has strengthened my collaboration skills and I’ve learned how to articulate my words according to my audience.”

In addition to personal growth and development, the VOS magazine offers students at South Gwinnett High the opportunity to talk about topics that they wouldn’t have discussed otherwise, sparking fruitful conversations among students, teachers, and staff.

Throughout the South Gwinnett Cluster, Student Voice is recognized through hands-on experiences, support, perseverance, and feedback. When students are empowered through self-expression and relationship building, the impact on each school community means improvement and success for all.