
'Top of the Middle' Program Highlights Importance of Role Models at Ramblewood Middle School! By Gregg Havass was originally posted on March 2, 2016.
The positive influences of role models was the featured topic during in-class Top of the Middle Program presentations conducted last week at Ramblewood Middle School (RMS) in Coral Springs, FL. My students and I discussed how the actions, words and/or accomplishments of role models have the ability to empower, inspire and enable us to achieve our goals in life.
I'm pleased to report that every student, without exception, offered up examples of positive role models, and most of the students cited one or both parents as the most influential role models in their lives. This was closely followed by grandparents, siblings, and aunts, uncles and cousins. Additional role models included U.S. soldiers, best friends, God, entertainers, sports figures, civil rights leaders, and luminaries in the technology industry, among others. It was truly heartwarming to hear examples of the many ways in which the students' role models inspired them (especially when the role model was a family member), and this was clearly evident by the smiles on their faces. Just beautiful!
During the presentation, my students and I also discussed how they themselves serve as role models for their younger siblings, who are often likely to follow in the footsteps of their older siblings in terms of their own actions, education, behavior and the company they keep. Since many of my students have younger siblings, I reminded them of the significant influence they had on their impressionable brothers and sisters, and stressed the importance of setting a good example by being positive role models for them.
As parents and educators, it's easy to understand how serving as positive role models for our children and students, especially those who are at-risk, goes a long way towards helping them maximize their intelligence, talent and potential...and develop into the fine young men and women we've always hoped they'd be. Let us not forget this important message, as their future, and ours, may very well depend on it!
Once again, I'd like to thank three wonderful participating teachers, Jill Carolan, Anna Dawson and Michelle Vero, for supporting the Top of the Middle Program at RMS, along with the education and well-being of their students. All have told me they learned a lot about their students during last week's presentations...and so did I! :)
Originally created for my own son, now a top student at Monarch High School in Coconut Creek, FL, Battalion Commander of its JROTC Program, college scholarship recipient and West Point applicant, the Top of the Middle Program successfully combines goal-setting, mentoring, motivation, instruction, personal and social development, and studying and time management skills to help empower at-risk and under-performing students with the ability to:
-- Improve their grades.
-- Improve their in-class behavior and participation.
-- Improve their relationships with friends, family and teachers.
-- Set and achieve goals.
-- Become independent thinkers.
-- Make sound decisions regarding their most vital teen issues.
-- Become more self-aware and accountable for their actions.
-- Take control of their lives and future.
-- Identify, accept and overcome the effects of adversity.
-- Demonstrate greater empathy and compassion toward others.
-- Realize their true potential in terms of their intelligence, talent and future.
If you are a superintendent, administrator, principal, vice principal, department chair, counselor, and/or teacher in Dade, Broward or Palm Beach County Schools, I invite you to contact me at (954) 675-3967 or [email protected] for more information about the Top of the Middle Program, its merits and testimonials, and/or to make arrangements to offer it at your school during the 2016-17 school year.
As a 13-year Broward County Schools volunteer, 3rd-year Substitute Teacher, creator of the Top of the Middle Program and devoted parent, I am committed to doing everything within my power to aid all students, especially those most in-need of assistance. With your support, we can work together to vastly improve the grades, behavior and self-esteem of your at-risk and under-performing students, and help them take control of their lives and future!
I thank you all for your time and consideration, and look forward to working with you soon!
The positive influences of role models was the featured topic during in-class Top of the Middle Program presentations conducted last week at Ramblewood Middle School (RMS) in Coral Springs, FL. My students and I discussed how the actions, words and/or accomplishments of role models have the ability to empower, inspire and enable us to achieve our goals in life.
I'm pleased to report that every student, without exception, offered up examples of positive role models, and most of the students cited one or both parents as the most influential role models in their lives. This was closely followed by grandparents, siblings, and aunts, uncles and cousins. Additional role models included U.S. soldiers, best friends, God, entertainers, sports figures, civil rights leaders, and luminaries in the technology industry, among others. It was truly heartwarming to hear examples of the many ways in which the students' role models inspired them (especially when the role model was a family member), and this was clearly evident by the smiles on their faces. Just beautiful!
During the presentation, my students and I also discussed how they themselves serve as role models for their younger siblings, who are often likely to follow in the footsteps of their older siblings in terms of their own actions, education, behavior and the company they keep. Since many of my students have younger siblings, I reminded them of the significant influence they had on their impressionable brothers and sisters, and stressed the importance of setting a good example by being positive role models for them.
As parents and educators, it's easy to understand how serving as positive role models for our children and students, especially those who are at-risk, goes a long way towards helping them maximize their intelligence, talent and potential...and develop into the fine young men and women we've always hoped they'd be. Let us not forget this important message, as their future, and ours, may very well depend on it!
Once again, I'd like to thank three wonderful participating teachers, Jill Carolan, Anna Dawson and Michelle Vero, for supporting the Top of the Middle Program at RMS, along with the education and well-being of their students. All have told me they learned a lot about their students during last week's presentations...and so did I! :)
Originally created for my own son, now a top student at Monarch High School in Coconut Creek, FL, Battalion Commander of its JROTC Program, college scholarship recipient and West Point applicant, the Top of the Middle Program successfully combines goal-setting, mentoring, motivation, instruction, personal and social development, and studying and time management skills to help empower at-risk and under-performing students with the ability to:
-- Improve their grades.
-- Improve their in-class behavior and participation.
-- Improve their relationships with friends, family and teachers.
-- Set and achieve goals.
-- Become independent thinkers.
-- Make sound decisions regarding their most vital teen issues.
-- Become more self-aware and accountable for their actions.
-- Take control of their lives and future.
-- Identify, accept and overcome the effects of adversity.
-- Demonstrate greater empathy and compassion toward others.
-- Realize their true potential in terms of their intelligence, talent and future.
If you are a superintendent, administrator, principal, vice principal, department chair, counselor, and/or teacher in Dade, Broward or Palm Beach County Schools, I invite you to contact me at (954) 675-3967 or [email protected] for more information about the Top of the Middle Program, its merits and testimonials, and/or to make arrangements to offer it at your school during the 2016-17 school year.
As a 13-year Broward County Schools volunteer, 3rd-year Substitute Teacher, creator of the Top of the Middle Program and devoted parent, I am committed to doing everything within my power to aid all students, especially those most in-need of assistance. With your support, we can work together to vastly improve the grades, behavior and self-esteem of your at-risk and under-performing students, and help them take control of their lives and future!
I thank you all for your time and consideration, and look forward to working with you soon!