New Year, New Me: How GPS Helps Students Complete Popular New Year’s Resolutions

.The start of a new year often brings a wave of renewed energy and a desire for self-improvement. Many people make ambitious New Year's resolutions, but unfortunately, these resolutions often fade away within a few weeks. However, Gilbert Public Schools (GPS) is committed to supporting students in achieving their goals, even beyond the classroom. Through a variety of programs and initiatives, GPS empowers students to make positive changes and build lasting healthy habits, aligning with some of the most common New Year's resolutions.

1: Students Save More Money with the Personal Finance Diploma Seal

"Save money" is regularly at the top of many New Year's resolutions lists, and Gilbert Public Schools works to equip students with the essential financial literacy skills to achieve this goal. GPS offers comprehensive programs that allow students to work towards earning an Arizona State diploma seal in Personal Finance.

This program recognizes high school students who have demonstrated a high level of proficiency in financial concepts like stock trading, credit card usage, completing the FAFSA, and more. To earn this seal, students must complete tasks in the following four key categories:

• Curriculum: Students complete approved personal finance courses where they learn about budgeting, saving, investing, credit, and other essential financial concepts.
• Co-Curriculum/Extra-Curricular Activity: Students engage in relevant activities, such as participating in financial literacy clubs or volunteering with organizations focused on financial education.
• Written Reflection: Students complete a reflective essay on college and career readiness, considering financial factors and how their personal finance knowledge will contribute to their future success.
• Assessment: Students successfully pass a standardized assessment to demonstrate their understanding of key personal finance concepts

In addition to completing these four categories, students must also maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average in their social studies courses.

The Arizona State diploma seal in Personal Finance is available to high school seniors at Campo Verde High, Desert Ridge High, Gilbert High, Highland High, and Mesquite High. In the 2023-2024 school year, 607 students across Gilbert Public Schools earned a Personal Finance diploma seal. To learn more about the various diploma seals offered at GPS, visit GilbertSchools.net/Teaching-Learning/Academic-Programs. 

 

2: Students Eat Healthier with Support from our GPS Nutrition Services Team

Consistently among the top New Year’s resolutions is the goal to eat healthier. GPS recognizes the vital role nutrition plays in student success inside and outside of the classroom. To ensure students have access to healthy and delicious meals, GPS Nutrition Services offers a wide variety of appealing options each including five key components: whole grains, protein, fruits, vegetables, and milk. Going beyond nutritional value, GPS Nutrition Services also works diligently to offer students high-quality meals. The department follows a rigorous quality control process that ensures each meal students receive contains the freshest and highest-quality ingredients.

Furthermore, GPS prioritizes student input in menu planning. Students participate in taste tests, providing valuable feedback on new menu items. This ultimately helps to provide meals that are not only nutritious but also appealing to young palates.

All school meals follow federal guidelines to provide safe, healthy meals to students. GPS also publishes a local wellness policy that includes the role of nutrition in the overall health of the students, staff, and the community. To learn more about menus, meal applications, food allergy ingredients, calories and carbohydrate counts, and more, visit GilbertSchools.net/Families/Nutrition-Services. 
 

3: Students Exercise More with Weight Training Elective at Junior High

Alongside eating healthier, most people have exercising more or going to the gym as one of their main New Year’s resolutions. At GPS, many programs that focus on exercise and strength are available to students across multiple grade levels. At Highland Junior High School, the weight training class provides a structured environment for students to develop strength, improve fitness, and learn proper lifting techniques.   

The class emphasizes foundational skills, including weight room safety, proper form for exercises like squats and hip hinges, and the importance of mobility and flexibility. Students participate in a variety of activities, including strength training, cardio workouts, and plyometrics. Throughout the year, students track their progress and set unique fitness goals.

The class also fosters a positive and supportive learning environment. Students learn from each other, provide encouragement, and celebrate each other's successes, creating a sense of community that motivates students to continue their fitness journey all year long.

Junior high-level weight training courses are available at Desert Ridge Junior High, Greenfield Junior High, Highland Junior High, Mesquite Junior High, and South Valley Junior High.
 

4: Students Spend More Time with Family and Friends at School Events

Spending more time with family and friends is always among the top resolutions for people starting the new year. How does GPS help students achieve this? Through afterschool programs like Carol Rae Ranch Elementary’s weekly fun run! This event, which takes place on campus every week on Fridays, brings together students, parents, and even pets for a fun and active afternoon.

The fun runs provide a unique opportunity for families to spend quality time together while promoting healthy lifestyles. Parents and children run together, relax and talk with other families, and enjoy some nice refreshments that help raise funds for the school. Beyond the physical activity, the fun runs create a strong sense of community within the school. Each fun run has a unique theme such as a "Tie-Dye 80s Run" and "Super Bowl Run," which adds an element of excitement and encourages participation. These events have become a beloved tradition at Carol Rae Ranch, demonstrating how schools can play a vital role in fostering strong family bonds and creating a supportive community environment.

5: Students Learn New Skills and Hobbies at School Clubs

Another popular resolution involves learning a new skill or adopting a new hobby. Beyond classroom curriculum, GPS offers students the opportunity to learn new things and take on new hobbies through various clubs and activities like the World Explorers' Club at Highland Park Elementary. Offered to students in grades K-6, the World Explorers’ Club ignites curiosity and sparks a passion for discovery by encouraging students to explore different cultures. Here students learn about unique customs, traditions, and different ways of life by sampling traditional foods, learning about clothing styles from around the world, and immersing themselves in the rhythms and dances of different countries. The club also features guest speakers who share their lived experiences, providing students with firsthand accounts of diverse cultures and allowing them to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for the world around them. The World Explorers' Club gives students the opportunity to develop a love for lifelong learning. By igniting curiosity and fostering a global perspective, this program empowers students to become well-rounded individuals with a passion for exploration and discovery. 

If you are interested in being a presenter and sharing your culture with students in the World Explorers' Club at Highland Park Elementary, please reach out to highlandparkinfo@gilbertschools.net. To learn more about the different clubs and activities offered throughout Gilbert Public Schools, visit your local school’s website at GilbertSchools.net/Our-Schools. 

From financial literacy programs to after-school activities that promote family bonding, Gilbert Public Schools goes beyond academics to equip students with the skills they need to succeed in life. By offering a variety of programs that target different areas of self-improvement, GPS empowers students to not only set goals but also achieve them. To learn more about the many programs and resources available to students across the district, visit GilbertSchools.net.