Welcome Back!
As you begin planning activities and events for the new school year, make sure you visit the National Student Project Database for inspiration. Remember to enter your most successful projects into the database to help others do the same. Visit www.nhs.us/projects, www.njhs.us/projects, or www.nasc.us/projects to access the database. Who knows? Your project may be featured in this very magazine (see “Collaboration Space,” page 30).
2015 National Adviser of the Year
A big congratulations goes out to NHS adviser Jennifer Roberts from Hallsville High School in Hallsville, TX, on being selected as the recipient of the Edward Rynearson Award, designating her as the National Adviser of the Year for 2015. You can learn more about Jennifer in an upcoming edition of Advise. Nominations for the 2016 Rynearson Award are due by February 15, 2016. Learn more by visiting www.nhs.us/rynearson.
Are you ready to LEAD?
Leadership Experience and Development (LEAD) conferences offer students and advisers exciting opportunities to develop their skills and grow as leaders. The dates and locations for this school year’s conferences are:
November 13-15, 2015: Phoenix, AZ, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Phoenix Tempe
January 29-31, 2016: Washington, D.C. Hyatt Regency Crystal City Hotel
February 12-14, 2016: Chicago, IL The Westin Lombard Yorktown Center
We want you to be a presenter! Advisers and students have the opportunity to share their knowledge as they lead group workshops. Middle-level chapters and councils are especially encouraged to step up and speak about their unique experience. Visit www.leadconferences.org to learn more about attending a LEAD conference and applying to present a workshop.
Break Out the Camera & Celebrate Your Principal!
October is National Principals Month, and schools across the country are being challenged to a video contest. Get creative and make a short video (three minutes or less) telling the world what your principal means to you, your school, and your community. The winning school will receive a $200 Best Buy gift card (and, of course, eternal YouTube glory). The deadline for video submissions is October 31, 2015.
Visit www.principalsmonth.org/contest to learn more and to enter.
Fab Apps
When considering the hectic lives of both advisers and students, we could all use a little help with organization and staying on track. Try these three FREE apps on for size:
Remind-With this app, you can send text-message reminders to your chapter or council members about upcoming events or meetings without revealing your personal phone number and vice versa. www.remind.com
Animoto-Looking for a simple way to combine all those photos and video footage from your last event? Look no further! This app includes easy-to-use templates and a large library of free music for all your creative slideshow needs. www.animoto.com
Trello-It can be difficult to organize group projects and events when everyone is operating on a different schedule. With Trello, you can create boards to organize anything you’re working on, and you can invite your chapter or council members to join. Create checklists; upload photos, videos, and PDFs; and assign tasks in one fell swoop. www.trello.com
Middle Schoolers Fill Leadership Shoes
Here’s a great activity for secondary students that’s simple, fun, and meaningful. A group of boys from York Chester Middle School in Gastonia, NC, participated in a YMCA-led camp dedicated to leadership skill development this past summer. A special task titled “Leap into Leadership Shoe Project” gave the campers a chance to show off their creativity and leadership skills by mentoring younger peers in an art project. Each young man was given a pair of white Converse shoes to design and keep. The participants first had to draft their design on a cutout and then present the idea to the group as a whole. After some practice with public speaking, the students were allowed to decorate the shoes with Sharpies.
Congratulations to the 2015 Councils of Excellence!
The NASC National Council of Excellence Awards provide national recognition for student councils that consistently provide quality leadership activities and service to their schools and communities. NASC congratulates this year’s 240 winners and wishes them well as they enter the new school year. Visit www.nasc.us/ncoe to learn more about these awards. NASC applauds the councils that have won this award 10 years in a row: Bonanza High School, NV Brooklawn Middle School, NJ Canyon Springs High School, NV East Noble High School, IN Fox High School, MO Lancaster High School, NY Linden Avenue Middle School, NY Natrona High School, WY North Allegheny Senior High School, PA Marlow High School, OK Rancho High School, NV Silverado High School, NV Spring Creek High School, NV Yukon High School, OK
Clinton High School Students Forming New Mentorship Group
A group of students from Clinton High School in North Carolina will be forming a new program called INSPIRE-Independent, Navigation, Self-worth, Planning, Involvement, Readiness, and Empowerment. Through this effort, participants will work with students at the middle and elementary school levels to prepare them for their continued educational journey.
Dates to Remember
October
National Principals Month
National Bullying Prevention Month
Outstanding Service Project applications available online
October 2: Early-bird registration deadline for LEAD Phoenix
October 29: Registration deadline for LEAD Phoenix
October 31: National Principals Month video contest entry deadline
November
November 3: Prudential Spirit of Community Awards deadline
November 13-15: LEAD Conference: Phoenix
”The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential … these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.” -Confucius