I am a current student at Gum Spring Middle School, a name that many of us agree is outdated and holds limited relevance to our lives and education experience. Our aspiration is to freshen up our school's identity and make it more substantial to us as learners and citizens of the local community. Therefore, we propose renaming our school as Mercer Middle School.

Our choice of 'Mercer' is not random or negligent, but rather a manifestation of profound thought and a sense of ownership. We believe that the proposed new name will bring a sense of familiarity and close-knit community atmosphere among students, faculty, and local inhabitants.

Although no specific research points towards the effects of school names on student performance, literature from various sources suggests that students who feel a sense of belonging and connection to their school tend to be more involved and perform better academically. By renaming the school with a familiar and cherished local title, we hope to instill this sense of attachment, increasing student connection and performance.

Join us in this campaign to make our school more significant and personalized to our experience. Sign this petition to support the renaming of Gum Spring Middle School to Mercer Middle School.