Upper Dublin's Sandy Run Middle School Encourages Students to SpeakUp

On Thursday, February 27, Sandy Run Middle School hosted its annual SpeakUp! program, bringing together parents, guardians, staff members, and students in a powerful opportunity for open dialogue. For over a decade, SpeakUp! has provided a platform for students to share their perspectives and challenges in small group discussions with parenting and school adults.

The topics for discussion are chosen by a group of 60 seventh and eighth grade student leaders, who volunteer for three hours of after-school training to learn how to help facilitate meaningful conversations with compassion and empathy.

The program is guided and designed by SpeakUp!, a non-profit organization supporting young people as they navigate their journey to adulthood. Their work is designed to help adolescents talk about their worries and concerns with important adults in their lives, while positioning the adults to listen, guide, and support. When creating the small breakout groups, parents are intentionally not placed in the same room as their own children to alleviate pressures and to broaden perspectives.

“The feedback from this program has been overwhelmingly positive year after year. Families appreciate the chance to engage with students who are peers to their own children. The interest in expanding these discussions is always strong,” said school counselor Kathi Babin.

“I like SpeakUp! because it gives us the opportunity to explain to parents what their children are going through. I have seen parents learn and benefit from it,” said Sandy Run student Brandon Tweedy-Strong. “We find laughter and happiness in even dark topics, but we are still serious about them. As a student-leader, I have extremely benefited from building my leadership and public speaking skills. Thank you SpeakUp! for helping me and so many others grow.”

The program’s impact extends beyond students and families, benefiting staff as well. One staff member noted, “The students’ honesty and vulnerability as they shared their experiences helped me to think about how I, as an adult, can do better.”

This year’s program engaged nearly 200 Sandy Run students and adults in conversations around student-selected topics, including mental health, relationships, body image, and managing expectations/standards.

“We believe that supporting students’ overall wellness enhances their ability to learn,” said Sandy Run Principal Jennifer Nuskey. “This is why we are so supportive of hosting opportunities like this for our students, staff, and families.”