PowerPoint Presentation with notes * Presentation Videos * Get our - - PDF document

PowerPoint Presentation with notes * Presentation Videos * Get our Swag for it

PowerPoint Presentation Notes

Slide 1 - 2 - The Golden Gate Movement is a series of Clubs and Initiatives designed to create pro-social learning and work environments. Our goal is to provide a place of refuge where every student feels welcomed, valued, accepted, included, and has the opportunity to build lasting

• friendships. Our aim is to provide social opportunities, build social and soft skills, promote and

teach pro-social behaviors, and teach the value of selfless service to others. Slide 3 - Pro-social is defined as behavior that is positive, helpful, and intended to promote social acceptance, friendship and inclusion. Golden Gate Movement’s pro-social clubs and initiatives cultivate these altruistic behaviors with the intent to curb undesirable social behaviors and establish environments that are beneficial and safe for the well-being of students and society. Slide 4 - It boils down to a note left behind by an unknown man who took his life at the Golden Gate Bridge. Found in his bare apartment, the note said, “I'm going to walk to the bridge. If one person smiles at me on the way, I will not jump.” The Golden Gate Bridge is an iconic symbol of connection. It was built to connect a community. It was devastating to the engineer when he learned people were starting to take their lives. Our goal in Golden Gate is to foster authentic social connections and become the bridge builders who will help others over life’s

• bstacles. A single smile could have saved a life. Perhaps organized smiles coming together

will be the change in our schools, work places, homes and communities. Administrators often take calls from worried parents asking that someone reach out to their

• child. It was after one of these calls that a student by the name of Savanah Vigil was the one

asked to reach out to this student. Savanah was a legally blind cheerleader at Bingham High School, and despite her disability, would always come in to her Administrator, Michael Hughes, and ask who needed a friend and to whom she could reach out. Savanah’s disability left her alone many times because she could not see her friends. Following that incident a hall monitor, she prefers hall mom by the name of Jolynne Ward, the kids call her Momma Jo, suggested that a crew be formed to do what Savanah did. She as well noticed many students who were alone and had no one to reach out to them. Together these three started what became The Golden Gate Club. An email from this worried parent later confirmed that Savanah had saved her life. (Video #1) Savanah’s Story Slide 5 - In meetings with school officials, the consensus seems to be that anti-bullying, suicide- prevention, and various ambassador programs do not always address the need in helping students make connections to school and peers. When students are unable to make authentic social connections they may turn to negative outlets for their pain. Slide 6 - It is easy to overlook students who sit in the corners or who blend in with the tapestry

• f the school. Golden Gate creates awareness for all to make conscious efforts to look for

students who go unnoticed, who seem alone and need someone to reach out to them. Students

• ften bury themselves in social media, because they find a community there. However, the

social media community is virtual and fake. Golden Gate creates a physical authentic community for students to belong.

A student by the name of Carly painted this picture; she was a new student at Bingham High School in 2011. Her picture hung outside the office of the Administrator who helped Momma Jo

• rganize the Club in 2016. After the club had been organized for about 7 months, Jo happened

to be in Mike’s office at which time he said, “Jo! Look at that picture hanging in the hall outside my door!” Jo replied, “WOW! Someone painted the future!” It took Momma Jo a year to find the student who painted the picture. When she finally reached her, Carly said that the Golden Gate Bridge came to her as a symbol of better days ahead and she had chosen to paint it for her art

• project. Carly too, had no friends and was afraid to reach out. Carly became so isolated that she

attempted suicide and survived. VIDEO #2 Carly’s Story / Golden Gate Story Slide 7 - Studies show that lack of social interaction, negative communication towards another and lack of social connections can damage mental health. A young person’s social life is critical at their age. “People who feel more connected to others have lower levels of anxiety and

• depression. Moreover, studies show they also have higher self-esteem, greater empathy for
• thers, are more trusting and cooperative and, as a consequence, others are more open to

trusting and cooperating with them”. Slide 8 “Social connectedness generates a positive feedback loop of social, emotional and physical well-being. Societal decline in social connectedness may help to explain recent increases in reports of loneliness, isolation and alienation, and may be why loneliness has become a leading reason people seek psychological counseling. Sociological research revealed that more than 25 percent of Americans had no one to confide in. They lacked a close friend with whom they felt comfortable sharing a personal problem.” (The Happiness Track, PhD. Emma Seppala) (www.nytimes.com/2017/06/12/well/live/having-friends-is-good-for-you.html) As conditions like this increase, especially with today’s youth, it could very well explain why students turn to negative outlets for their pain. Slide 9 - The club or initiative gives students a reason to reach out, whereas doing it on their

• wn might seem to awkward for them. (We conducted an experiment with one of our club
• members. We had him walk and linger down a hall alone. This is what we witnessed; as

evidenced in the photo, no one looked beyond his or her own little cliques) Slide 10 - This was a combined activity with two participating high schools. Upon one golden gate member coming to this activity, she later reported she had connected with someone who is now her best friend. Slide 11 - Club members wear our club shirts; the wearer of these shirts send a message to

• ther students that this person is approachable and will be a genuine friend to connect with.

Slide 12 - In the club, we challenge students to smile and say hi and make eye contact when they walk through the halls. Slide 13 - One Administrator shared that she remembered the day a simple smile and a hello how are you altered the course of her life. Slide 14 - Virtually every class of student is represented in the Golden Gate Club. Prospective members do not have to be an amazing athlete, popular or have a certain GPA to be a part of it. In fact, they are finding that everyone brings his or her own talents and ideas to the club. The

club provides a platform for each student to reach out, make a difference and shine in their own unique ways. It is perfect for exposing talents of students who would otherwise go unnoticed throughout middle or high school. However, students from all sports and clubs are represented in Golden Gate. Slide 15 - The climate, culture and feeling of unity at your school is only as good as the school employees who are willing to be trained properly to promote it. The more employees you have

• n board, the more likely you will see improvements in the emotional well-being of your school.

Since students and staff members spend a third of their lives in these institutions, pro-social connections are paramount to a healthy environment. Our Golden Gate Tool Kit will help you implement our program effectively. Slide 16 - Golden Gate Students can often be heard saying, “Why Am I So Happy?” We tell them it is because they are looking away from their problems to see whom they can elevate. Slide 17 - Kick off assemblies motivate the students to get involved. Copper Mountain Middle School had 1409 students take the pledge following an assembly. Pictured here is Golden Gate Leadership from four different schools who came to support the new middle school bringing in Golden Gate. Our Assembly materials are available at goldengatemovement.org. Slide 18 - Schools representing the club or initiative choose a day of the week to wear the club shirt because it sends a powerful message throughout their school. One school’s administration and faculty wear the shirts every Friday and hold High-Five Fridays as well. They greet the students at the doors in the morning and give them high fives as they enter. Slide 19 - Teachers and Club Advisors take time out of a class periods, club and leadership meetings for our Golden Moments. Supplemental Training Resources that are social and soft skill-related to help students gain confidence in themselves, and to communicate better with their peers. These materials are to be used at the teacher’s discretion. Slide 20 - The more students and faculty members who participate in our Golden Moments Program, the more likely it will create a culture in your classroom where negative behaviors are not supported or tolerated by the students, where it is cool to be kind. Slide 21 - If every teacher did this, so many students would be helped. At some participating high schools and middle schools, teachers, counselors and administrators are continually on the lookout for students who may need Golden Gate’s outreach. Names are then passed to Golden Gate leadership. Slide 22 - Students and staff who join the Club or Initiative sign a pledge when they join. The Pledge is to himself or herself, not to the Club or its leadership; it is a personal honor code to live by. Once signed, the student receives his or her own copy of the Pledge to review and

• consider. Over 5000 students to date have signed the Pledge.

Slide 23 - Students and Faculty who sign the golden gate pledge commit to never exclude, bully, cyber-bully, spread rumors or gossip. Teachers watch for these negative behaviors in their classrooms and in the halls and look to Golden Gate leadership to reach out to disenfranchised students. Slide 24 – For more information on bringing in Golden Gate to your school, reach out at goldengatemovement.org #3 FINALE VIDEO