Staff writer
A group of Marion Middle School students is taking pride in their school.
The leadership group of 14 seventh and eighth graders, called PRIDE, is working on ways to make sure positive things are happening at MMS.
Teacher Chad Adkins is the sponsor of the group, and works with principal Tod Gordon to make sure the program runs smoothly.
The group meets at 8 a.m. each Wednesday during the school year to discuss what it can do to help the school.
“I want each one of you to take a leadership role and make an effort to accomplish something,” Adkins told the students at a recent retreat.
School spirit, community service, and the effects of bullying were among topics discussed by the students at the retreat.
The group members were elected by their peers to represent the school, and Gordon thinks they can make a difference.
“Do we want to take this to a new level?” he asked the students at the retreat.
Adkins is in his third year as sponsor, and thinks good things can come from this group.
“We expect a lot of you,” he told the group.
Gordon and Adkins said bullying is a major focus this year for the group.
Adkins told the students if someone said a put down to them, they were to call foul, and the offender must give the other student two “put ups.”
The overall message of the group is for the students to help their classmates focus on the positive aspects of school.
It may be choosing a theme for a school dance, helping tutor another student, or putting an end to someone being bullied.
Adkins knows the PRIDE students can meet the challenge put in front of them.
“I expect you to put in extra time, work hard, and not get in trouble,” he said.
It starts by taking PRIDE in MMS.