A few years ago Dade County lost a very special child.
Christopher Harmon was a child who demonstrated strength and courage as he moved through life threatening disabilities and persevered with a tenacity and love that was contagious. So contagious in fact, that it has motivated county administration to begin a new initiative called project Christopher.
Project Christopher is a mentoring program between high school and middle school students. Monthly and possibly bi-monthly, high school students will come to the middle school and share with our 8th graders on a variety of topics relevant to adolescents and education. Juniors and seniors will share first- hand accounts about the successes and failures they lived through as they transitioned from middle school to high school. Our goal is for quality relationships to develop as our 8th grade students are given the proper tools to navigate the waters of high school. Christopher was an audacious young man who boldly served others. He had a wonderful saying "if I don't mind, it don't matter" which translates to, “I am not afraid of anyone's opinion of me… I am me and if I don't mind doing something then someone’s opinion of me don't matter.” We want to harness this courage and self-respect and infuse it into the mindset of our students and integrate it into the culture of Dade Middle School.
Along with Project Christopher, we will launch our house system this month. The house system involves sorting our entire school into small groups for team building activities and competitions. Students will be in core groups of 8-10 and will meet weekly to cultivate positive relationships in an organized manner.
Our ultimate goal with these programs is to give our students a voice, implementing their ideas when possible and building self confidence as we live in a culture free of bullying. We want our students to own their learning, to set their own goals and to see those goals accomplished. Our school will only be as successful as our students are willing to make it and we must give them the structure to support this.
Would you come along side us as a supporter of these student culture initiatives? The sheriff's department and Lake Region have already agreed to support us financially. If you also would like to contribute financially to help us purchase student resources for this endeavor please contact DMS administration.
Christopher Harmon was a child who demonstrated strength and courage as he moved through life threatening disabilities and persevered with a tenacity and love that was contagious. So contagious in fact, that it has motivated county administration to begin a new initiative called project Christopher.
Project Christopher is a mentoring program between high school and middle school students. Monthly and possibly bi-monthly, high school students will come to the middle school and share with our 8th graders on a variety of topics relevant to adolescents and education. Juniors and seniors will share first- hand accounts about the successes and failures they lived through as they transitioned from middle school to high school. Our goal is for quality relationships to develop as our 8th grade students are given the proper tools to navigate the waters of high school. Christopher was an audacious young man who boldly served others. He had a wonderful saying "if I don't mind, it don't matter" which translates to, “I am not afraid of anyone's opinion of me… I am me and if I don't mind doing something then someone’s opinion of me don't matter.” We want to harness this courage and self-respect and infuse it into the mindset of our students and integrate it into the culture of Dade Middle School.
Along with Project Christopher, we will launch our house system this month. The house system involves sorting our entire school into small groups for team building activities and competitions. Students will be in core groups of 8-10 and will meet weekly to cultivate positive relationships in an organized manner.
Our ultimate goal with these programs is to give our students a voice, implementing their ideas when possible and building self confidence as we live in a culture free of bullying. We want our students to own their learning, to set their own goals and to see those goals accomplished. Our school will only be as successful as our students are willing to make it and we must give them the structure to support this.
Would you come along side us as a supporter of these student culture initiatives? The sheriff's department and Lake Region have already agreed to support us financially. If you also would like to contribute financially to help us purchase student resources for this endeavor please contact DMS administration.