A Journey Through Summit

A Journey Throught Summit

Stoller's Youth Summit group helps Stoller students overcome gossip, bullies, rumors and negative peer pressure.



Youth Summit, that group of 16 J.A.G Leaders who signed up to take on a huge, school wide project. The group of 16 divided into two groups, Peer Pressure and Bully Police. Peer Pressure has been focusing on peer pressure, rumor spreading and gossip. Bully Police has been working on bullying.
The two groups began their journey October 21st when the group, along with Mrs. Baas, went to the Washington County Youth Summit meeting. There, the group heard from multiple speakers who taught them about both, physical and mental health. The group then started brainstorming on what they could do to help their very own, Stoller Middle School. They returned to school later that day, their minds filled with endless ideas. The two groups began meeting two times a week to start narrowing down all of their ideas.

Peer Pressure named them selves as they did because peer pressure is their main target. Bully Police's name came from their main target as well, bullying. Peer Pressure began designing "Telephone Posters" to put up in the halls to teach the students of Stoller how rumors are spread. Peer Pressure also began making "Tip of the Week" videos that contained helpful tips and hints on how to handle peer pressure, gossip and rumor spreading situations. The videos aired weekly over JNN. The groups joined together to start setting up meetings about starting to plan their cumulative assembly. Mrs. Richey, one of Youth Summit's biggest supporters, was so pleased with all of their ideas and approved them all. The group and Mrs. Baas began writing down assembly ideas.

While planning the assembly, Peer Pressure members were asking questions over the "Telephone Posters". It was in the form of a call-in contest. The winning class won Frankie, the Youth Summit stuffed animal dog mascot and candy.

With all of the previous activities such a success all around, it put a smile on the group's face to know that people were participating. The group continued planning for the assembly. The two groups took a few days off from all of their classes to continue planning the assembly, thanks to Mrs. Baas and Mrs. Richey!

Before the group knew it, there were two days before the assembly. The group finished the assembly schedule and most of the details. With the stress building, a few wise words from Mrs. Baas helped ease their minds, "Don't rush. It will all pull together." The group sat down for a brief meeting to see how they could get more time. The alternative, come in at eight o' clock the next morning. Summit members walked into the school, some cheerful, other not fully awake and relying on their Starbucks. They set up their obstacle course and some students volunteered to help them practice. They spent the last bit of time setting up signs, bleachers, technology and everything else thy needed.

Then, the time came. It was time to start the sixth grade assembly. Kids led by their teachers began to come into the gym. The kids sat down on the bleachers, according to their hall. The kids settled down, the emcee introduced the two groups.

During the assembly, Bully Police preformed two skits, showed some statistics and talked a little about their topics. Peer Pressure played a game of Telephone to show how rumors change when they are spread, they did three raffles and talked a little about their topics as well. The groups then joined together toward the end for the obstacle course. The obstacle course was when the groups picked volunteers from the audience to participate. The obstacle course had oral questions at each station asked by Summit members that had to be answered in order to move to the next station and complete the activity. If the question was answered incorrectly, they received a "mark", a five second penalty that would be added to their team's time, on their tags. Each group was being timed and that was how the winner was found. The obstacle course was obviously a huge success.

The groups had the kids all stand up and recite the Youth Summit Pledge. Next, the groups joined together for their closing. They all lined up and said their closing line and kept passing the microphone down the line. Staff and students were all thanked, especially Mrs. Baas. The Summit members all pitched in a few dollars and bought Mrs. Baas a bouquet of flowers and they all signed a homemade card. As all of the students were leaving, they were all asked to sign a banner. The banners are going to get hung up in the school. While the kids were signing the banner, some members sang "We Are the World" to keep the positive ideas in their minds. When all the students left the gym, the group cheered at their success.

They had a few hours before their next assembly. The group got a Subway lunch donation. After they ate, some relaxed, others listened to music through the speakers and sang along in the microphones. Some played with the gym equipments.

Before the group knew it, it was time for the next assembly. This time, they knew exactly what to do. When the assembly ended, the group was in a mad rush to clean up. They only had a few minutes before the final bell was going to ring. Bus riders headed upstairs. Whether it was walking through the halls or to their bus, Summit members were showered in hugs and compliments from students. More compliments came from teachers and staff.

During the next Summit meeting, the group got the idea to perform a version of their assembly for the fifth graders of Jacob Wismer. The group then contacted the principal of Jacob Wismer to ask if she like the idea. She did and gave the group permission. The group began planning a shorter, more age appropriate version of their assembly. They were given half an hour to do the whole assembly.

The group also had to get their documentary together to show at the Washington County Cumulative Event. Katelyn showed the documentary to the group and they all enjoyed watching it. A few days later, it was time to go to the cumulative event at the Beaverton Four Square Church. The group even brought Frankie along, the mascot. The group listened and watched the other schools present their documentaries and their speeches. Every school got a certificate to show their achievement. Ms. Nader even surprised the group and came for a little while.

The group returned to school and continued planning for Jacob Wismer. They also had a little ice cream party. Mrs. Richey came in and she talked to the group about a display case for Frankie, their certificate and two Youth Summit shirts the group had designed. Frankie is now located in the display case in the upper forum on the Red Hall side for all to enjoy. The group had a difficult time getting Frankie to fit in the case but in the end it all worked out.

The group had a great experience and Mrs. Baas and Mrs. Richey even invited them back next year to help next year's Youth Summit group.

By: Mikayla E.