Looking Back: A Year's Worth of Chapter Activities to Share
Looking Back on 2008-2009:
A Year's Worth of Chapter Activities to Share
There just aren’t enough pages available to write about all of the great activities going on in schools today that involve, recognize, and motivate students. Here is a list of just some of the great activities described in Leadership for Student Activities magazine during the 2008-2009 membership year. These activities were presented in the feature articles: Civics in Action, Leadership Lessons, Middle Level Activities, Project Showcase, Activities Exchange, or Scholarships &Awards pages. A separate collection of the 2008-2009 “Q&As” for Honor Society advisers can be found at www.nhs.us/az.
September - Civics: Take ActionCivics in Action: Good Vibrations: Fox Chapel Area HS (PA) gets involved. (Ron Nirenberg &Susan Stranahan, PA)
Leadership Lesson: An Election Firsthand: Participants learn the realities of politics (Lou Frederick)
Middle Level Activities: ABCs of Getting Ready for the Year (Sue Dowty, OR)
Project Showcase: Walking in Other Shoes, Country Day School, St. Croix, USVI raise money and awareness for the struggles of others. (Rebekah Seifer, USVI)
Activities Exchange: Making Health the Priority (MO, IN, NY, IL); Souper Bowl of Caring (SC); Frightening Fall Fun (IL, MO, CT, NJ, CA, MA); Involving others (PA); Clicking with Seniors (IL)
Scholarships &Awards: None this monthWell Said: Civic Involvement
October - Motivation: Inspire the Desire
Civics in Action: Moving Mountains: Building student councils in Bosnia and Herzegovina (OSCE)
Leadership Lesson: The Two-Minute Drill, teaching organization and procedures to your student activities group.
Middle Level Activities: ABCs of How to Spread Middle School Motivation. (Sue Dowty, OR)
Project Showcase: An Honor That Rings Trues; The Bell Awards for Teachers, Palacios (TX) HS
Activities Exchange: Saluting the Staff (LA), Freshman Fright Fixer (LA), Park Police (IL), History as a Civics Lesson (MA), NHS Groups Promote Organ Donation Awareness (MN), More Than a Big Meal (IL).
Scholarships &Awards: None this month
Well Said: Motivation
November - New Takes on Fundraising: FUNdraising
Civics in Action: The Run Up: Thinking about your local school elections. Dan Dodge, North HS, Phoenix, AZ
Leadership Lesson: The Mindfield, Together. John McLeod, Havelock (NC) HS: Teamwork.
Middle Level Activities: What Works. Ideas for Raising Money in Middle School
Project Showcase: Thanksgiving Giving: A traditional holiday prompts long-standing tradition, Colonial HS, Orlando, FL
Activities Exchange: Giving Thanks to the Staff (ME), Giving Thanks to those who Served (CO), Holiday Cheer (ND), Backpack Education (MO), Souper Bowls (OK), Signing In (NY), Donation Delays (PA), The World, a Bit Closer (WI).
Scholarships &Awards: NHS: Nathan Nakatsuka, Kamehameha School, Hawaii; NHS National Winner 2008
Well Said: Generosity
December - Make Technology Work for You: Power to the People
Civics in Action: The Speedy Six-Minute MILE (Motivating Initiatives for Leadership Excellence). Kyle Kaufman, South Western HS (PA)
Leadership Lesson: What’s the Story? Paul Branagan, Middleboro (MA) HS. Lessons from childrens’ stories.
Middle Level Activities: None this month.
Project Showcase: On Your Mark, Nicole Peak, Westampton (NJ) MS, Planning ahead for service projects
Activities Exchange: More Penny Power (various schools), Survey Says (MD), Mystery Money (VA), Special Honors (PA), Goody Goody (web), Future Plans (LA), Egging Them One (LA).
Scholarships &Awards: PLA: Sehar Sabir, Paint Branch HS (MD). PLA National Winner 2008.
Well Said: Technology
January - Legal Issues: Legal Aid
Civics in Action: Stepping In: Taking a Break from Spring Break and getting involved.
Leadership Lesson: Time Keepers: How to spend and manage time. (L4SA)
Middle Level Activities: The ABCs of Legal Issues. Sue Dowty, Conestoga MS, Beaverton, OR
Project Showcase: Stuffed: Fill the Dome 2008: Students work together to fill an arena as well as empty stomachs. Meagan McDougall, West Fargo (ND) HS.
Activities Exchange: Teacher Talent Search (OK), Pack a Backpack (PA), Looking Down the Road (NY/PA/MD), Spirit in the Sky (MO/MASC)
Scholarships &Awards: NHS: Joseph Anaya, Region 1 winner, 2008, Brookfield, CT.
Well Said: Justice
February - Inclusion: Everyone Wins
Civics in Action: None this month.
Leadership Lesson: The Color Guard: Diversity training. Karen Crawford, Montgomery County, MD.
Middle Level Activities: Fair Game: BIG Night from Brooklawn MS (NJ). Lou Miller
Project Showcase: Inspiration and Perspiration. Aiding a homeless shelter in the community. Americas HS, El Paso, TX.
Activities Exchange: Even Better than an Apple (LA); Hats Off, Hats On (CO); Getting to Know You – Diversity Day (LA); Getting to Know You, Club Drive (NV)
Scholarships &Awards: NHS: Rynearson Award, Laura Mullen, Schimelpfenig MS, Plano, TX.
Well Said: Inclusion
March - Going Green
Civics in Action: None this month.
Leadership Lesson: Book ‘em! Energy education, writing, and reading. Alliance to Save Energy’s Green Schools Program lesson.
Middle Level Activities: Picking Green, Robert Ruder, PA.
Project Showcase: Getting It All In Focus. Learning About Inclusion at the Focus Café, Paul V. Moore HS (NY).
Activities Exchange: Seeing is Believing (trash) (CA); Green Theme (PA); Net Worth (OH); Apple Pie, Please (PA); Best of the Best (OSP08); Directory Delievery; A Special Education (LA/WI); Bug the Boss (NC); Canton Clean-up (OH).
Scholarships &Awards: Rocco Marano, Karen Dawson: Earl Reum Awards 2008.
Well Said: Going Green
April - Service Projects
Civics in Action: Transparency: 25 Top Tips for Election Success, Dan Dodge, North HS (AZ)
Leadership Lesson: None this month Middle Level Activities: ABC’s of Hellos and Good-Byes, Sue Dowty, Conestoga MS, Beaverton, OR
Project Showcase: Penny Possibilities, Russell Sage JHS (NY)
Activities Exchange: The Highest Form of Service (WA), Service Day (LA), Crunch Bunch (MA), Smoking Truth (UT), Golden Oldies (various states), Water Everywhere (MD), Special Shirts (MD)
Scholarships &Awards: None this month
Well Said: Service
May - Student Recognition: Give ‘em Props!
Civics in Action: All Aboard. Mayor’s youth advisory committees. Glendale, AZ.
Leadership Lesson: Icebreakers (L4SA collection)
Middle Level Activities: We Want You: ABC’s of recognition. Sue Dowty, Conestoga MS, Beaverton, OR
Project Showcase: Lovefest, a weeklong celebration of family and community. Corning-Painted Post West HS (NY)
Activities Exchange: Color Conscious (GA); Cold Cash (MO); Puzzling Project (VT); Book Bonanza (FL); Stuffed Animal Support (NC); Gobs of Green Projects (RI); Family Support (ND)
Scholarships &Awards: None this month
Well Said: Recognition
We hope that you have valued reading about all of these projects and ideas during the past year. Is your chapter sponsoring a project that you’d like to share? Stories and photos can be emailed to nhs@nhs.us using the "Idea Sharing/Submit Your Ideas" form found at www.nhs.us/ideas. For an archive of past articles, please visit www.nhs.us/L4SA.
© NASSP 2009. All rights reserved.