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This program is intentionally designed to meet students where they are, helping them build community while learning foundational concepts of equity, inclusion, and belonging. Throughout the day, students will engage in reflective activities to better understand who they are and what matters to them, and collaborate with peers as they learn. The program includes icebreakers and team-building activities led by Harker's middle school Student Belonging Board members, as well as interactive sessions led by Dr. Abigail Joseph, Angela Fisher, and Preston Pollard. Through these experiences, students will explore identity, empathy, and belonging, and consider the impact they hope to have in their communities. The program concludes with opportunities for students to reflect on their learning and how they can apply it both in their school communities and beyond.
The Schedule
8:15-8:55 a.m.
Breakfast and registration table open at 8:15 am in the Donor Plaza just outside the RPAC lobby.
9:00-10:00 a.m.
Firestarter featuring Goss Twins, keynote message featuring Dr. Walter Greason in the RPAC
10:15-11:00 a.m.
Ice breaker and Team Building activities in the RPAC lobby
11:15 - 12:00 p.m.
Dr. Abigail Joseph will guide students through a workshop titled Finding Your Voice: Identity and Impact.
Students will explore identity, values, and purpose through reflection and creative activities. Through guided reflection, participants will design and create something that communicates who they are, what matters to them, and the impact they hope to have in their communities.
This session encourages students to see their personal stories as a source of strength and possibility while imagining how their ideas, passions, and actions can contribute to positive change. Middle school students will work in small groups, providing an opportunity to connect with peers from other schools. The session will conclude with a gallery walk, where students can share and view one another’s work.
12:00-1:00 p.m.
12:30-1:00 p.m.
Lunch in Manzanita
Optional Activities during lunch
The Harker School's Student Belonging Board members will provide a space for students to play board games, draw, and/ or mingle and chit chat during lunch.
MS GSA meet-up is for any students in Grades 6-8 who want to explore LBGTQ+ identities and topics. It will be a casual, low-pressure way to meet others, make connections, and receive affirmation. All MS students attending SDLG are welcome to join, and we hope to see you there.
1:15-2:00 p.m.
Angela Fisher will work with middle school students to explore the impact of humor, build empathy, and examine the line between joking and harm in her workshop, Just Joking.
Through practice, reflection, and discussion, students will develop tools for fostering more respectful and inclusive interactions.
2:00 -2:15 p.m.
Break
2:15 -3:00 p.m.
Preston Pollard will share his story as a professional skateboarder and guide students through the Belonging Challenge. Students will hear how he overcame adversity through skateboarding and discovered confidence, identity, and purpose. Using his story as a bridge, students will explore how small, intentional actions can make a meaningful difference in helping others feel seen and included.
The Belonging Action Plan
Notice: Who at our school might feel left out, invisible, or disconnected?
Act: What is one simple action we could take this week to help someone feel like they belong?
Lead: How can we invite others to join us in creating a more welcoming school?
3:00-3:20 pm
Students meet with their school groups to debrief the day.
3:30-4:15 pm
Return to the RPAC where all participants will gather together for a closing message and activity
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