A middle school orientation and transition program that tries to welcome all students and makes them feel comfortable throughout their school experience. Built on the belief that students can help students succeed, the program trains mentors from our 8th grade class to be Leaders. As positive role models, the Peace Maker Leaders are mentors and student leaders who guide the other students to discover what it takes to be successful during the transition to middle school and help facilitate 6th/7th grade success.

More and more studies show that if students have a positive experience their first year in middle school, their chances for success increase dramatically. Peace Makers provides the structure for middle school students to receive support and guidance from 8th graders who have been through the challenges that middle school poses and understand that the transition to a larger school can sometimes be overwhelming.

Peace Makers also acts as an anti-bullying program for our school by providing it with a cadre of student leaders who look for bullying behavior and help stop it. Peace Makers gives older students permission to be aware of and report any negative behavior they see, creating a safer school for everybody.

Peace Makers is a yearlong transition program with four components that contribute to its success:

• Middle School Orientation - Leaders and other students start building the mentor relationship and receive information about how to be successful in middle school
• Academic Follow Ups - Leaders support others' academic success and character development through classroom visits
• Social Follow Ups - Leaders and other students connect outside the classroom at social events to increase student engagement and promote positive school climate
• Leader Initiated Contacts - Leaders connect with younger students on a more individual basis