For their final project for Seedfolks, called GMSFolks, the 6th grade wrote creatively in groups to get to know the folks who make GMS special. Working in teams of three, students interviewed a member of the GMS staff and then worked together to write a vignette in the voice of that staff member. These stories were then combined with illustrations and ‘published’ in our main hallway, to share the girls’ work and the GMSFolks stories as a way to build our community “garden.”

 

The results of the project were nothing short of spectacular. The entire school was impressed at how well the 6th grade got into the character of different staff members, and it has been a treat to get to share our stories as a group. To give you a taste of our community garden, here is a little bit about our Business Associate Basil Kondos, as written by three 6th graders:

 

“When I was thirty-two years old, I came to America. I found The Girls' Middle School when I was looking for jobs.  I was very excited to discover an opportunity to work here. Now I work in the business office with Barbara Kefentse. I enjoy working with Barbara because she was very helpful to me as I started my new job. I gained an important lesson from GMS. I learned to accept others and their differences because this is a very diverse school. I feel accepted even though I am the only Egyptian here.  When I think about my life in Egypt, America, and at GMS, my life has changed very much for the better.”