Schools
New Manchester High Media Center Transforming Lives
Parents, teachers and students donate clothing and volunteer time to make a meaningful contribution to New Manchester High students.
DOUGLASVILLE, GA –The newly operational Jaguars Achieving Greatness, or JAG, Center, located inside the New Manchester High School media center, is quietly transforming the lives of students in the community.
The student organization is the brainchild of New Manchester High School social worker Dannielle Gardner, who observed the lack of a coordinated program at NMHS specifically targeting student needs not addressed by current academic programs. NMHS joined forces with the Research Department at The University of West Georgia to help determine the most critical student needs that the JAG center could address in the school and community. After analyzing survey data, the UWG researchers concluded that over half of students indicated a need for a hygiene products pantry, but not food. Social worker Gardner explained to students that in a home on a tight budget, hygiene products are sometimes considered a luxury.
In addition to the hygiene products pantry, the JAG Center has four initiatives. These initiatives include a clothing closet, groups, and coursework relating to healthy social and emotional behaviors, alternative career resources (not requiring college), and a financial literacy component.
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Parents, teachers, and students are donating clothing and volunteering their time to help the JAG Center make a meaningful contribution to New Manchester students.
Find out what's happening in Douglasvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The group has also invited community sponsors, guest speakers, and donations to help with any of these five areas. In the fall of 2017, web-based fundraiser, DonorsChoose.org was successfully used to raise $819 to purchase toiletries and hygiene products, and the CTAE department of NMHS conducted a drive to collect products.
Those interested in giving are asked to contact the NMHS media center at 770-651-2790 for more information or to become a sponsor.
Photos courtesy Douglas County School System
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