TJ GEMS

GIRLS IN ENGINEERING, MATH, & SCIENCE

 

 

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Mission:

 

To increase female interest and participation in engineering, math, and science.  Since many girls lose confidence or interest in these fields during middle school, we show them that they can be successful in these areas and encourage them to pursue math, science, and technology in higher education and careers.  As positive role models and mentors, we provide weekly tutoring and hands-on science activities for girls at Glasgow Middle School. 

 

Meetings:

 

We visit Glasgow Middle School every Wednesday, A & B blocks, and have organizational meetings twice a month on Fridays, B block.  We have two teams of TJ girls who alternate the Wednesday Glasgow visits. 

 

Responsibilities:

 

You are welcome to come every Wednesday, but you are not obligated to do so.  We understand that our members have commitments to academics, sports, music, and other clubs.  Unlike tutoring, there is no mandatory time commitment.  Come to as many Glasgow visits as you can, but be sure to sign up!  (We would like to have a consistent number of girls each week.) 

 

History

 

GEMS was founded in 2001, with the dedicated leadership of Kelly Geoghegan, Rachel Klet, Julia Snyder, and others.  Glasgow Middle School had contacted TJ’s Guidance Department about starting a mentoring program for girls in science, and Mrs. Connelly volunteered to be our sponsor. 

 

Over the years, we have sponsored several educational field trips and special events in addition to our Glasgow mentoring. 

 

In 2002, we visited the Challenger Space Center with the Glasgow girls to participate in the Voyage to Mars simulation.  We practiced hands-on space exploration techniques and role-playing in teams such as Navigation, Communications, and Life Support.  The same year, we invited the Glasgow girls to visit TJ for science activities and a tour of the school.  After experiencing the student life and classes, many girls found that TJ was more interesting and less intimidating than they had previously thought.  We also began our annual tradition of participating in King’s Dominion’s Math and Science Day, an event with experiments, demonstrations, lectures, and lots of science in action!

 

The next year, we joined TWIST, WISE, CORE, and Keyettes (the other women’s groups at TJ) in the first Techstravaganza, a science and technology carnival for 6th to 8th grade girls.  We designed and managed activity booths throughout the school, in an effort to encourage more girls to apply to TJ and pursue math and science.

 

In 2004, we toured the Naval Research Laboratory, where we interacted with scientists and observed their research in engineering, chemistry, and nanotechnology.  The same year, we were honored to receive recognition from the Virginia Mathematics and Science Coalition for our mentoring efforts. 

 

Additionally, we increased awareness of gender stereotypes with our innovative game show Gender Feud.  Based on the popular Family Feud, the show asked teams of students and faculty “How much do you know about the opposite sex?”  We surveyed TJ students and staff with questions such as “What is your dream occupation?” and asked the contestants to guess how the opposite sex responded.  Between the laughs, the audience learned that many of society’s gender stereotypes are not indeed true.  

 

Goals for 2004:

 

-          Increase one-on-one mentoring with the girls

-          Have a consistent number of TJ and Glasgow girls each Wednesday

-          Organize two teams of TJ girls that would each visit Glasgow every other week

-          Expand the number of girls we tutor

-          Organize bonding activities with the Glasgow girls and within TJ

-          Hold fundraisers, including a fall car wash, t-shirt sales, and a J-Day booth

-          Organize fun and educational field trips

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEBMASTER: CHARLOTTE SEID

LAST UPDATED: JULY 21, 2004