By Dr. Ferrell Miller
JC Breakfast Optimist Club
On August 26, the guest speaker at the JC Breakfast Optimist Club meeting at the Hampton Inn was Marlies Gipson, Junction City Middle School Principal. Marlies is a graduate of Kansas State University, where in 2005-2006, she was named the Big 12 Conference Women’s Basketball Rookie of the Year.
Marlies taught fourth grade students at Seitz Elementary school on Fort Riley for eight years, fourth grade students at Washington Elementary School in Junction City and served as an Assistant Principal at Junction City Middle School for three years. She is now in her third year as the Principal of JCMS.
Optimists were told that JCMS current has about 900 students with approximately 300 students each in sixth, seventh and eighth grades. “Education is the key to their future. Our job is to prepare our students for their adult lives. They will make mistakes – as we all did in middle school”, she said. Marlies also said that “we listen to our students but also let them know there are times when we will disagree, but will guide them to make choices that will benefit them.”
She went on to explain that there is a framework in the school that is referred to as PBIS, which stands for Positive, Behavior Interventions and Supports. Within the framework are JCMS’ Guidelines for Success, which allows all students to receive a PRIDE card as an incentive for being Purposeful, Respectful, Inclusive, Dynamic, and Engaged. “Last year we took students to the Flint Hills Zoo as a reward for their achievement in meeting our attendance, behavior and grade expectations.”
The entire Optimist Club meeting may be viewed on the JC Breakfast Optimist Club Facebook page or on Youtube. Next week’s guest will be Frank Catalo, who will share information about the Silver Haired Legislature in Kansas