Renew. Respond. Relax.

It is renewal time. Make sure your affiliation with the national office stays current by renewing your membership before June 30. Important dates, deadlines, and activities are announced as soon as the new school year begins. Visit www.nhs.us/renew, www.njhs.us/renew, or www.nasc.us/renew and renew online. If you share adviser duties among several individuals, make sure your primary adviser takes care of this.

Also, please respond to the annual adviser survey by sharing data about your chapter’s or council’s activities this past year. This valuable information helps the national office cultivate relationships that will enrich the student experience. A link to the survey can be found on the websites. Please complete it by June 30. If you have questions or problems, email [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected].

Once you’ve done all that, take time to relax and catch your breath. Back-to-school nights will be here before you know it!

Recognizing Excellence

We congratulate recipients of the many NHS, NJHS, and NASC award programs this academic year! The NHS Scholarship program disbursed $1 million among 400 exceptional senior members. The NJHS Outstanding Achievement Award honored 500 of its most extraordinary members with a $500 college savings award. Meanwhile, NASC named its National Council of Excellence Award winners, and NHS and NJHS announced their winners of the Outstanding Service Project awards. All recipients have been notified. To learn more about them, visit the websites.

Changes Coming for Outstanding Service Projects Award Program

Is your NHS or NJHS chapter planning to enter the Outstanding Service Project (OSP) award program next year? If so, you will want to take note of changes for the upcoming academic year. Beginning with the 2017–18 year, the deadline for OSP applications will be November 1 each year. Projects must have been started and completed between August 1 and June 30 of the previous academic year. The application will be available on the NHS and NJHS websites and can be submitted any time between July 1 and November 1 annually. That means for this coming year, any project you submit must have been completed by June 30, 2017. As of July 1 of this year, you can begin the application process. Schools selected to receive this recognition will be notified in February.

Their Stories Will Move You!

Ten top youth volunteers have been named as national honorees in the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program. Co-sponsored by Prudential and the National Association of Secondary School Principals, this is the largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer community service. The honorees were announced during a four-day recognition event in Washington, D.C., in May. To read their inspiring stories, visit https://spirit.prudential.com.

Passing the Torch

If you will be transitioning your adviser duties to a colleague, consider the ways you can hand over the responsibilities to ensure a smooth start for the new adviser.

  • Notify the national office using the Adviser Change Form on the website. By keeping your information in our database up to date, the new adviser will be assured of receiving the monthly e-newsletter and other important pieces of communication.
  • Update the officer and member contact lists for the new adviser.
  • Plan a retreat or set a date for members to meet the incoming adviser.
  • Review this year’s activities and propose a “to-do” list for the coming year.
  • Suggest that the incoming adviser visit the website, starting with sections devoted to their needs: www.nhs.us/new-advisers, www.njhs.us/new-advisers, or www.nasc.us/new-advisers

Thanks for your service in helping your students grow as leaders.

Make Global Change all Summer Long

Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean you and your students have to take a break from making global change. In fact, free of the activity of the school year, summer may be a great time to engage your chapter or council in a project that aligns with the goals of NASSP’s student leadership initiative on global citizenship. Our contest continues throughout the summer, so post your pictures to Instagram and use #MakingGlobalChange to show us how your students are making a difference. Your council or chapter could win $100 to present to your favorite charity. Visit www.makingglobalchange.org for details.

Dates To Remember

June

Kyker State Service Project Award winner(s) notified Warren E. Shull NASC Adviser of the Year Award winner announced at the NASC National Conference

June 26–28: NASC National Conference, Pinkerton Academy, Derry, NH

June 30: National affiliation renewals due

August

August 15: 2018 National Council of Excellence Award program application opens