GEAR UP Program Helps Yakima Middle Schoolers Dream Big

Students from Yakima School District's four middle schools are getting a head start on their future thanks to the GEAR UP program. This year has been packed with exciting opportunities, from building rockets to visiting New York City.
 
In the summer, 43 GEAR UP students attended a week-long science camp hosted by NASA and Central Washington University's Northwest Earth and Space Program. Students got hands-on experience building bottle rockets, programming drones, and exploring other science activities. At the end of the week, they created presentations to share what they learned with their classmates and families during a gallery walk.

Twenty students from Franklin and Lewis & Clark also traveled to New York City for an unforgettable week. They toured Columbia University and other colleges to see what campus life is like. The group also visited famous landmarks, including museums, Grand Central Station, and Times Square. These experiences helped students imagine themselves as future college students.

This school year, GEAR UP continues to offer workshops, field trips, and special events. In the fall, the program celebrated National GEAR UP Week with guest speakers Josh Perez from Top School Speakers and Dr. Rizo from Cool Speak. Students and their families attended sessions where they learned to set personal and family goals and strengthen their relationships at home.
 

The program has more college tours, career field trips, workshops,STEM activities and family events planned throughout the year. GEAR UP currently serves all 8th graders at Franklin and Lewis & Clark Middle Schools, as well as all 6th & 7th graders across the Yakima School District's four middle schools.

For more information about GEAR UP, contact Site Coordinator Mrs. Noemi Barbosa at barbosa.noemi@ysd7.org or call (509) 574-8119.

This story aligns with Goal 3 of our Strategic Plan: to provide equitable opportunity to achieve core mastery & critical thinking. To learn more about our strategic plan, visit ysd7.org/strategicplan.