“Sometimes when you’re in middle school you can feel isolated and you can feel like you’re by yourself, especially at a new school,” said Noah Macias, Nimitz 8th grader. “I think it’s good to have a group you can trust, so if you need to tell them something or talk to them you can.”
Students from Bush, Nimitz, Jackson, Lopez, Ed White and Garner Middle Schools filled Piper Bass Memorial Student Center on Thursday, March 7. The inaugural Middle School Unity Conference brought together students from across North East ISD together to spark conversations about inclusion and acceptance.
“We’ve done some activities that get us to meet new people like finding someone we’ve never met before and coming up with a weird handshake,” said Caragan Hestilow, Nimitz 8th grader. “So, we’re learning how to get comfortable with people, and introducing people we know to people we just met.”
The theme for the first Unity Conference was “Accepting All.” Students discussed and brainstormed different ways to promote unity, acceptance, and inclusion at their home campuses through group activities and discussions.
“My biggest takeaway is that I shouldn’t be afraid to go up to people and say hey, this is my name would you like to come sit with me at lunch,” said Hestilow.
“I learned all the wonderful things that just one kind word can do,” said Temira Sherrod, Garner 7th grader. “It has been such an awesome experience to open up to people and just take a look at what they have to offer.”
Counselors from across NEISD coordinated the event and will help implement what they learned at the conference at their home campuses.
Posted on 3-8-19
