Student Inclusivity Conference Inspires Middle Schoolers
Nine middle schoolers learned about inclusivity and how to make Graland a more welcoming environment at an annual conference hosted by CIRCLE (Connecting Inclusive, Responsive Communities Leading Education).
STAMP, or Students Taking Action and Making Progress, is the student version of the organization’s leadership programming. Through a presentation by keynote speaker and cartoonist, Vishavjit Singh, and an assortment of breakout sessions, Graland students joined their peers from public and private schools to gain the tools and skills to make improvements to their school communities. Centered around the theme, “The Power of Unity Bringing Opportunity,” the conference goal was to explore ideas for inclusion, leadership, diversity, equity and togetherness.
Maddie Dennig (8) was impacted by a session called “The Power of the People” which was designed to dismantle systemic racism. “This session discussed issues such as race and ethnicity and how they affect American citizens every day,” she said. “One activity was a role-playing game where you could understand the struggles that certain groups face and the stereotypes placed upon them. I think it would be helpful if other Graland students got to experience similar activities as to what we experienced during the conference.”
After attending “Indefinite Identity: Gender and Sexuality in a Changing World,” Reese Chism (7) explored sexual orientation and gender identity. She would like to see Graland offer more training on modern vocabulary terms that show respect and acceptance of diverse identities.
The conference was facilitated by high school student leaders who were specially trained to work with middle schoolers and to communicate the ideas about inclusivity in a meaningful, interactive way. Middle School counselor, Tara Lavizzo, reflected: “The unique feature that I really enjoy about the STAMP conference is that our middle school students get the opportunity to learn from high school facilitators, not adults. The STAMP high school leaders do an amazing job of engaging students during the workshops, while also providing students with the spark to initiate student-led projects at their perspective schools. Our students returned to campus with intense energy and a variety of ideas about how to make our school more inclusive. I am eager to observe and support their next steps.”
STAMP was held at the History Colorado Center in Denver on Friday, Oct. 4.
Graland Country Day School
Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.
