NatStuCo E-Bulletin: April 2018

Your complete rundown of NatStuCo news and activities.

APRIL 2018

PROJECTS OF EXCELLENCE

There are more than 7,300 project ideas available at your fingertips! Browse the National Student Project Database on the NatStuCo website for ideas from other schools and to submit your own successful projects.

Raising Student Voice & Participation (RSVP)
Columbia High School (CHS), Columbia, IL

Eight students were trained to introduce and lead RSVP at CHS. Through the three-part RSVP summit process and using the advisory period to gather student input, students identified top challenges they wished to resolve to improve their school. As a result of RSVP, they successfully had new water fountains that could be used with water bottles installed and vending machines were stocked more frequently. Students felt empowered for the first time!

LEARN MORE

Welcome

Flashmob Dance
Canyon Ridge Middle School (CRMS), Austin, TX

This annual school dance invites the entire student body and introduces a positive social atmosphere to incoming sixth graders. It is also a student council fundraiser. Using current school trends to attract students, the council staged a flashmob dance contest and a water-bottle flipping contest. With more than 250 students attending, the dance raised nearly $1,300 to fund travel to state meetings.

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Top News

Welcome

National Student Leadership Week Coming

“Make Your Mark on the World: Dream. Lead. Serve.” is the 2018 theme of National Student Leadership Week (NSLW), April 15–21. Celebrate your school’s student leaders! Find activity ideas, outreach resources, ways to promote the week, and sample social media posts online.

VISIT THE NSLW WEBSITE

Welcome

NSLW Features #OurDream18 Contest

Has your council ever wanted to complete a project to support a favorite cause but needed funding? This year’s National Student Leadership Week offers a contest to help! Share your best project pitch using #OurDream18 on social media for a chance to win $250 in seed money. The contest is open through April 30.

GET CONTEST DETAILS HERE

Welcome

Impact of Global Citizenship Initiative Reported

Results of the first year of NASSP’s student leadership initiative on global citizenship in terms of volunteer hours amassed, dollars raised, and more have been reported and released. Your council made a difference!

READ THE REPORT HERE

Welcome

National Conference Early-Bird Rate Expires Soon

Register on or before April 20 to save $30 on each registration to the 2018 National Student Council Conference. Don’t miss out on THE student council leadership experience of the year!

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER HERE

Welcome

Presenter Applications Now Being Accepted

Students and advisers interested in leading a workshop or seminar at the 2018 National Student Council Conference are invited to submit online applications through April 30.

START YOUR APPLICATION TO PRESENT TODAY

Welcome

This Is National Assistant Principals Week

How can you recognize all your assistant principals (APs) do to contribute to student success? Join NASSP, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and the American Federation of School Administrators, April 9–13, in honoring your APs. Use #APWeek18 when sharing on social media.

GET AP WEEK CELEBRATION IDEAS

Welcome

Time to Renew

Avoid a lapse in NatStuCo services and resource access. Renew your NatStuCo membership before the school year ends. Click “Renew” at the top of the NatStuCo home page to renew online or print a payment invoice.

LEARN HOW TO RENEW HERE

Awards and Recognition

Shull Adviser of the Year Region Finalists Announced

National Student Council congratulates the Shull Adviser of the Year Award region finalists. At the National Student Council Conference in June, one middle level and one high school finalist will be recognized as the 2018 National Advisers of the Year.

Region 1
Heidi Drawec, Minnechaug Regional High School, Wilbraham, MA

Region 2
Brenda O’Shea, Somers High School, Lincolndale, NY

Region 3
Kimberly Brown, Alexander Central High School, Taylorsville, NC; Nora Sue Cooper, Gray’s Creek Middle School, Hope Mills, NC

Region 4
Douglas Erickson, Orono High School, Long Lake, MN; Gretchen Kopf, J.C. McKenna Middle School, Evansville, WI

Region 5
Nancy Isebrand, Le Mars Community Schools, Le Mars, IA; Lisa Whirtley, Blennerhassett Middle School, Parkersburg, WV

Region 6
Vana Phibbs, Stillwater High School, Stillwater, OK

Region 7
Julie Kasper, Century High School, Hillsboro, OR; Robin Thomas, Sig Rogich Middle School, Las Vegas, NV

Region 8
Susan Waldrep, Texas High School, Texarkana, TX; Jennifer Stroud, Brooks Wester Middle School, Mansfield, TX

Trending in the Adviser Online Community

Do you have questions like these?

What are some clever ways schools are celebrating National Student Leadership Week this year?
I need ideas to change up our end-of-year council awards banquet. Any ideas?
We’d like to do a series of fundraisers over the summer for monies to fund conference attendance next year. What’s worked in your community?

Join the Adviser Online Community and start a discussion on these or any topic of concern! Visit https://community.nassp.org/NatStuCo to join or jump in on a conversation. The community will be open all summer long.

Student Council Tips and Tools

Student councils will be kicking off their elections very soon. A thorough review of your council’s election procedures and rules help ensure elections run smoothly and ethically before students sign on to be candidates. Visit the NatStuCo Adviser Resource Center for guidance, tips, and suggestions on the different phases of student council elections. The section includes comprehensive officer descriptions by role as well as planning information for an officer installation ceremony. Log in to the “Elections & Selections” section here.

Important Dates

April

Annual adviser survey open
Renewal notices sent to advisers and principals

1–30	National Student Leadership Week contest open
9–13	National Assistant Principals Week
15	Kyker State Association Service Project Award program application deadline
15–21	National Student Leadership Week
20	National Student Council Conference early-bird registration deadline
30	National Student Council Conference presenter application deadline

May

Annual adviser survey open

June
25–27	National Student Council Conference, Wayzata, MN
30	Affiliation renewal due
30	Annual adviser survey closes

In the Latest Advise

The April/May edition of Advise includes “Participation Station,” a centerfold section written especially for your students. The focus is on career success. For students who are wondering how to turn their volunteerism into a career, suggest they read “From Compassion to Action.” Pull out the entire centerfold to share with your students. Read the complete issue online here.

Tell us your story! If you’d like to contribute an article to Advise, view the editorial calendar and send your ideas to [email protected].

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