Find Hidden Gems

There are plenty of students in your school who would be fantastic additions to your Honor Society chapter or student council and bring value and variety into the mix. Use these best practices to reel them in:

  • Explain the fit. Why is this student good for your organization and vice versa?
  • Describe the benefits. What will these students gain from getting involved in your chapter or council?
  • Reach out. Make yourself accessible and get some face time with these often hard-to-reach students. A flyer or email sometimes isn’t enough.
  • Get creative. Think outside the box when it comes to service hours or other activities—work with students who are balancing other responsibilities and interests.

Raise Your Students Up

This edition of Participation Station highlights student voice and activism. We share how Bergen County Academies in Hackensack, NJ, is fighting political apathy. We discuss how your students can continue their activism journey after they leave high school and move on to college. We also learn about how students at Susquehannock High School in Glen Rock, PA, remained calm, cool, and collected during the nationwide walkouts on March 14, 2018—and got some tips on how your school can do the same.

Solve Those Problems

Here are five keys to clobbering your everyday conundrums:

  1. Rules rule. Know them. Enforce them. Change them when necessary.
  2. Be informed and fair. Get input, consider all views, and leave your biases at the door.
  3. Be resolute. Show that you are understanding and empathetic, but remain firm.
  4. Collaborate. Seek help from colleagues, parents, and administrators.
  5. Evaluate. Take a step back after the problem is resolved and reflect on what went well and what you could improve.

Make Character Count

JoAnn Marty and Julie Schubert share some insight on how their school district, Windsor C-1 School District in Imperial, MO, has created a culture of character through such activities as “Peaceball” and “Carnival of Character.” Both involve high school student council students interacting with and teaching elementary students the importance of empathy, accountability, honesty, and self-discipline. The students at both levels learn a thing or two and reap some major rewards in the process.