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NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Theme for 2017 National Student Leadership Week Announced
Student leaders are “Making a World of Difference” in schools and communities during National Student Leadership Week, April 16-22. Plan your celebration now! Sponsoring organizations NASC, the National Honor Societies, and their parent, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), invite schools to recognize student leaders for their outstanding achievements and efforts to improve school climate through their activities. This year’s theme supports the NASSP student leadership initiative on global citizenship. Be sure your students know about this year’s video challenge too! Visit the NASC website to learn about it. You’ll also find resources and ideas to plan how you can celebrate your student leaders. Share your activities via social media using #NSLW17.
Get Ready to Mark Middle Level Education Month
March is the official month to celebrate middle level education. It’s an excellent opportunity for NASC members to raise awareness of the value and importance of fostering the development of student council leaders in middle level schools. Here are a few ideas specifically for NASC members:
- Do a presentation about “leadership in the middle” to the elementary PTA groups.
- Invite high school leaders to be guest speakers during middle level council meetings.
- Host middle level leaders at a high school council meeting.
- Sponsor a joint middle level/high school service project.
Middle Level Education Month is sponsored by NASSP, the Association for Middle Level Education, the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform, Adolescent Success, ACT, and Let’s Move! Active Schools.
NASC National Conference—Call for Presentations
Advisers and students can enrich their experience by leading workshops and seminars at the 2017 NASC National Conference this June 26–28 at Pinkerton Academy, Derry, NH. It’s your opportunity to share ideas, strategies, and activities that make your council programs successful. Topics such as elections, onboarding new members, project planning, skills for leaders, and effective communication are all areas of interest to attendees. Make your presence at the NASC National Conference an out of this world experience—apply online to be a presenter by March 31!
Reminder for Students Pursuing Distinguished Student Leader Status
NASC student leaders who are completing the Distinguished Student Leader (DSL) program are reminded that, on average, applicants are notified of their DSL results three to four weeks after NASC receives all application materials. This is important to keep in mind if they plan to include the recognition on college applications, high school honors lists, or end-of-year school events. Applicants can save mail costs and expedite the NASC review process by submitting their applications and portfolio materials online using Google Docs. Documents submitted on CDs or DVDs cannot be accepted. To submit online, complete, organize, and post the portfolio of evidence and application. Then send a link to Jeff Sherrill, NASC associate director, at [email protected]. Program information, including all necessary forms and materials, are located on the NASC Distinguished Student Leader webpage.
This Is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
What does dating violence look like and what are the warning signs of abuse? Have you ever witnessed acts of dating violence at a school dance or other event sponsored by the student council? Student leaders are well poised to make a difference in their school’s social environment by helping raise awareness about healthy relationships and the need for all students to better understand dating abuse. Break the Cycle is an excellent website that offers resources and informative data on the topic of teen dating violence. On the site, student leaders can find data on teen dating violence, download outreach and awareness materials, and print posters. There is also contact information to connect victims of teen dating violence to a peer advocate.
STUDENT COUNCIL TIPS AND TOOLS
Prep Now for Elections
By far, the majority of student council elections are held during the spring semester. But no matter when your council runs its elections, it is both prudent and advantageous for advisers to develop a yearly practice of making an early review of the election rules, practices, and timelines. The purpose is twofold. A thorough review refreshes adviser and council members’ working knowledge of all aspects of the election—from candidate applications to ballot counting. You can also identify election rules that may not comply with current school policy, and thus need editing. As you begin preparing for elections this spring, refer to Chapter 6 in your NASC Student Council Handbook found online in Adviser Resources. As with all student council rules and policies, “Write what you do and do what your write.”
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