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SAGA Club

Mason Middle School

SAGA ClubMason Middle School

Dear Families,

This newsletter will provide more information about what SAGA is, how to get involved and where to get more information.


Sincerely,

MMS SAGA Advisors

What is SAGA

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WHEN

Monthly meetings on Tuesdays. Listen to announcements or check with Mrs. Henfling or Ms. Lenneman for the next meeting date (late bus available). Meetings are from 2:45-3:45
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WHO

SAGA is open to any student or staff at Mason Middle School and there is no requirement for attendance.
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WHAT

SAGA is a student led organization. The main objective is to create a space where all students feel welcome and to focus on ideas and activities around "Social", "Support", and "Advocacy" that can impact our school and community.

MMS SAGA

  • The SAGA at MMS was born when a group of students requested to have a GSA (Gender and sexuality alliance) club. MPS club policy states students have to find an Advisor and apply for recognition as a school club. MMS has other clubs as well that had to follow the same process. (Board Policy po5840) MHS has a GSA as well.
  • SAGA stands for Sexuality and Gender Alliance
  • Social GSAs are generally helpful for youth trying to meet other LGBTQ & Ally students and make friends • Support GSAs are for students who are trying to create safe spaces to talk about the various issues they face • Activist GSAs are for those youth who are actively working to improve their school climate. MMS SAGA aims to focus on all three aspects.
  • SAGA gives club members opportunity to practice and foster skills in: organizing, social justice, facilitating, inter-group dialogue, conflict resolution, interpersonal intelligence, event planning, public speaking, etc.
  • GSAs and clubs like SAGA are supported by Mason Public Schools under Board Policy po5720, po5840, po5850, and po2260.
  • GSAs and clubs like SAGA are also supported by the ACLU as the Federal Equal Access Act says that if a public school permits non-curricular clubs, then it must allow students to form a GSA if they want to and the school has to treat it the same way as it does the other clubs.
  • There is empirical data to support the need for GSAs in schools and the positive impact these clubs can have.
    GLSEN 2017 data for Michigan
    GLSEN 2017 National School Climate Survey
    Human Rights Campaign 2018 LGBTQ Youth Report
  • Common arguments against GSAs and why they are wrong

Additional Parent/Family Resources

Salus Center: Lansing's only LGBTQ+ community center for adults with teen programs. info@saluscenter.org

Michigan Organization of Adolescent Sexual Health: Sexual health services, consent and gender-based discrimination, expectant and parenting youth, sex education and sexual orientation/attractionalites and gender identity programs. ​517-318-1414 info@moash.org

Michigan LGBTQ Resources