A story of Inclusion – Judson Middle School

Meet Judson’s Student Peer Leaders

At Judson Middle School, inclusion is more than a belief. It is a student-led effort to ensure every student feels welcomed and connected.

For many middle schoolers, lunchtime can be a challenging moment of the day. The simple act of choosing where to sit can feel intimidating or isolating. Recognizing this, Judson’s Sources of Strength team, led by student peer leaders, took action to make the lunchroom a place where every student feels they belong.

Student leaders launched the “You Can Sit With Us” campaign, an initiative focused on expanding social connections and promoting inclusion during lunch. The goal was simple but meaningful: Every student deserves to feel seen and accepted.

The campaign encouraged students to step outside their comfort zones and connect with peers beyond their usual friend groups. On Friday, November 21, students and staff were invited to wear pink as a visible sign of participation. Wearing pink communicated one of two messages: “I am willing to host a peer at my table,” or “I am a safe peer looking to sit with someone new.”

 

Community Support for Student Ideas

Judson’s student leaders took ownership of the campaign by creating promotional signs, producing a video for Advisory classes, and sharing school-wide announcements to build awareness and excitement.

When students suggested pink bracelets as an additional symbol of the campaign, the Judson community responded quickly. With no dedicated budget, School Counselor Ms. Miranda and School Social Worker Ms. Squires partnered with the Judson Parent Club. Within a single day, parents met, heard the student pitch, and sponsored the purchase of pink ribbon bracelets, reinforcing the importance of student voice and inclusion.

On the day of the event, Judson was filled with pink. Students and staff signed pledges committing to sit with someone new, and members of the Sources of Strength team distributed more than 200 bracelets. Throughout lunch, peer leaders intentionally invited others to join them, turning simple gestures into moments of connection.

"Sources of Strengths has been one of my favorite projects that I have worked on as a school counselor. It gives me a time to focus on the positives we have going on in the building and create new opportunities for our students to come together. It has been amazing to see all of our hard work early that Lisa Squires and I put in to get things up and running with our sources of strength team pay off in a very short period of time. These students are so invested in our community and want to see change. I am honored to come along side them and support their campaigns."
Megan Miranda, School Counselor, Judson Middle School

The impact of the campaign reflects years of intentional work. Judson has been growing its Sources of Strength team for the past three years, and the results are showing. In the most recent Panorama survey, student-reported sense of belonging reached its highest level since 2018—an increase of approximately six percent from the previous year. Judson students are increasingly recognized as supportive, caring, and approachable– thanks in large part to student-led initiatives like this one.

 

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