The Middle School experience is challenging to say the very least. Not only for middle school students, but challenging also for middle school staff, parents, and administrators. Ms. Clark, social worker at Global Communications Academy welcomes the challenge and is always in search of intentionally designing and implementing interactive initiatives to educate, advocate, challenge, and validate her students while keeping their social, emotional and mental health needs the number one priority.
Enjoy this pictorial showcase which highlights a variety of experiences and extends my sincere thank you to my students, parents, staff, administrators, and community for supporting our Global Communications Academy middle school students.
Welcome to “Pause” – A Calm and quiet safe space to Pause, Relax, Reflect, Reset and Return
Mindfulness – Students engage in mindfulness routines to effectively discuss and maintain awareness and discipline over their thoughts, emotions, decisions and actions
“Developing the Whole Athlete” a student and parent workshop with M-Pact Training, Inc. founder Chris Prescott where parent and child teams learn that a rigorous and disciplined work ethic in academic performance, character and community involvement is essential to securing a successful athlete profile.
Middle School Incentive Assembly where students present original poems on social, educational and racial injustices and perform dances representative of the African Diaspora
Podcast With Promotion just one week away, 8th grade student leaders worked to fulfill their goal of leaving a legacy of leadership and entrepreneurship with the launching of Global’s “Let’s Talk” podcast program.
African Market – Students serve as hosts and performers at this annual community event where local artisans and entrepreneurs showcase their skills in jewelry, painting, health and hair care, clothing, handbags, sculpting, books, etc.
Middle School students take the lead in working with Ms. Clark to host the 1) Musical Book Mobile, where students select free culturally relevant books; 2) "Creative Designs", the Design and Production of T-shirts; 3) our "Life Situations" Production, where students perform a variety of original poems and skits on Standing for What is Right, Bullying, Covid, Justice, The Power of Images, Loss and Grief. Self Identity and Relationships; our 4) "Flash Mob Eyes on You" character and academic recognition celebration; and 5) "Board Game Competitions"
“Fathers Matter” support group - Dads, Stepdads, Granddads and Family Men discuss connections between their personal childhood stories and parenting their own children while viewing the testimonies of some of our GCA’s students and GCA male staff who volunteered to participate in a videotaped “Relationship With My Dad” interview.
A special thank you to Global Communications Academy and UCONN alumni and a Hartford Promise recipient, Ms. Chereece Burrell who models competence, compassion and connection. To demonstrate her gratitude for the relationships developed and the high quality of instruction, exposure and mentoring she received while attending Global, Ms. Burrell relentlessly volunteered to come to Global every week to pour into students in the same manner Global staff poured into her.
Thank you to Global's security, custodians and community organizations for taking the time to pour into lives of our youth.
If you have questions, please contact:
Merline. Clark, LCSW
Social Worker, Global Communication Academy