A new program has recently been established at GEMS called Golden Sierra. Golden Sierra is designed for students who have recurring behavior issues. To participate, a parent or guardian must attend with the student. The program takes place on Wednesdays in Mr. McAdams’ room, and students from Twelve Bridges Middle School also attend.
Parents and students work together to discuss strategies for improving behavior. If a parent does not attend, the student receives a suspension.
Mrs. Fernandez first considered bringing Golden Sierra to GEMS after learning about its success at Lincoln High from other district administrators. The creator of the program has had a strong track record in helping students.
“It’s really to help students who are not making the best choices,” Mrs. Fernandez explained. Staff members are committed to supporting students who struggle with behavior.
Students who are noticed for poor behavior will typically be assigned Monday School (since there is no longer Friday School). If the behavior is recurring rather than a one-time incident, they may be recommended for Golden Sierra.
“If a student did something that’s a suspendable act, but on the minor end of those ed-codes, we might recommend Golden Sierra before suspension,” Mrs. Fernandez said.
Golden Sierra sessions can last anywhere from 1 to 6 weeks. Facilitators provide updates on the student’s progress. If improvement is not shown, suspension may follow.
“They do a lot of activities to let students see things from a different lens,” Mrs. Fernandez noted. Activities include group discussions, self-reflection, and worksheets tailored to each class.
Mrs. Fernandez also encourages students to collaborate with classmates and support each other. She hopes the program will positively impact school culture, extend peer support beyond Golden Sierra, and help parents learn strategies for managing behavior at home.
One of the biggest challenges in bringing Golden Sierra to GEMS was finding funding. Multiple schools contributed financially to make the program possible. During the sessions, teachers recommend strategies to students based on their behavior.
Topics covered in Golden Sierra include making choices, anger management, communication, conflict resolution, taking responsibility, drugs and alcohol, respect, fighting, empowerment, bullying, and truancy. Lessons are designed for both students and parents to address behavior patterns and provide tools for improvement.
Administrators observe sessions and record student progress in PowerSchool.
“I really like to contact parents whenever I have a student with me that I’m discussing some discipline stuff with,” said Mr. Roman. One of his favorite approaches is to call parents and place them on speaker so the student hears the conversation as well.
The hope is that Golden Sierra will reduce behavior issues and create a safer, more supportive learning environment at GEMS.