OK, all the other questions I got had e-mail addresses on them, which means I will respond to those questions privately.
If you have other questions, please feel free to post a comment to this blog, or e-mail me at rvi@hartdistrict.org.
Even better, come to CADA Leadership Camp this summer at UC Santa Barbara and hang out with us in our dorm overlooking the Pacific Ocean! You'll get lots of new ideas, hear from amazing motivational speakers, and you'll get to network with ASB Directors from up and down the state of California. I'll be there, too. :-)
RVI
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Do you think a GPA of 2.5 is low for qualifying for ASB?
Yes, I do, but there's a fine line. If you raise it up too high, you are shutting out a population of your students that need to be represented in student government. If it's too low, though, then it's tougher to kick out those kids who really should be focusing on their academics first.
When I started doing ASB at the middle school, I actually bumped it up from 2.5 to 3.0. I did get hassled by teachers (not parents or kids surprisingly) that I was being too exclusive. I argued back that kids are coming late to class or missing whole classes sometimes because of ASB, and I need to know that ASB is not going to interfere with their academic success. After all, our first priority here at school is academics.
A variation on the GPA requirement would be to say "minimum 2.5 GPA, PLUS no D's or F's" or something like that. Additionally, you could include something about citizenship comments (you can't get any "N's" or "U's" for your conduct codes on your report card).
Ultimately, it's all about balance. You have the find a system that you can feel good about, but that your administrators can get behind should you ever get challenged.
RVI
When I started doing ASB at the middle school, I actually bumped it up from 2.5 to 3.0. I did get hassled by teachers (not parents or kids surprisingly) that I was being too exclusive. I argued back that kids are coming late to class or missing whole classes sometimes because of ASB, and I need to know that ASB is not going to interfere with their academic success. After all, our first priority here at school is academics.
A variation on the GPA requirement would be to say "minimum 2.5 GPA, PLUS no D's or F's" or something like that. Additionally, you could include something about citizenship comments (you can't get any "N's" or "U's" for your conduct codes on your report card).
Ultimately, it's all about balance. You have the find a system that you can feel good about, but that your administrators can get behind should you ever get challenged.
RVI
I love the letter to students saying they were suggested for ASB. However, what about those kids that don't get their names suggested by teachers?
Do you get complaints?"
You care an awful lot about kids' feelings. Are you a middle school teacher? :-)
That definitely is a valid concern, and if you're worried about the kids already in your ASB program, then I would explain what you're doing and put it in the right context for them. "If you don't get a letter, it could simply mean that your teachers already know you're in ASB, and therefore you don't need to be recruited again."
Overall, I think the benefits of those kids getting the letters outweigh the possibility of other kids getting their feelings hurt. I always delivered the letters during class time, but if you were concerned about kids opening letters in front of their friends, you could address them and send them to the students at home. That would make the letter even more special, I think. Kids hardly ever get letters in US mail, so that would certainly be a treat.
Hope that helps. Give me a holler if I didn't fully answer your question.
RVI
You care an awful lot about kids' feelings. Are you a middle school teacher? :-)
That definitely is a valid concern, and if you're worried about the kids already in your ASB program, then I would explain what you're doing and put it in the right context for them. "If you don't get a letter, it could simply mean that your teachers already know you're in ASB, and therefore you don't need to be recruited again."
Overall, I think the benefits of those kids getting the letters outweigh the possibility of other kids getting their feelings hurt. I always delivered the letters during class time, but if you were concerned about kids opening letters in front of their friends, you could address them and send them to the students at home. That would make the letter even more special, I think. Kids hardly ever get letters in US mail, so that would certainly be a treat.
Hope that helps. Give me a holler if I didn't fully answer your question.
RVI
Who sets the goal if it is from recruitment forward?
In my case, I do. Some years it's been very specific (we are going to get 100% student involvement this year), and some years it's been more general (we exist as ASB to help kids connect to our school).
If I had it to do over again, I would get my kids involved in developing our goal(s) for the upcoming school year. The saying goes, "People tend to support that which they help to create."
The whole purpose behind the over-arching goal is simply to set the tone that what we do is not simply for its own sake. We're not putting on a dance just so we can have a party. We're doing it because we want OTHERS to enjoy their experience at our school, and we are the HOSTS of that party.
When we are hosts, we have fun when others are having fun. When you frame it that way, it gives things like picking up a leaking trash bag and taking it out to the dumpsters a higher purpose. That's what the host of the party does sometimes to keep the good times rolling.
So, the real payoff for us as ASB is the following Monday when we hear things like, "That was the best Homecoming dance ever!" When others have enjoyed their experience beyond the classroom, we've done our job.
I kind of rambled, but I hope you get the idea. Show kids the "big picture" when you set your goals for the year. Our goals shouldn't stop at "let's make great balloon arches" or "let's come up with a cool new way to announce the Prom queen." Those are all the vehicles to get us to the larger goal of creating an activities program that connects kids to their school and creates a positive campus culture.
RVI
If I had it to do over again, I would get my kids involved in developing our goal(s) for the upcoming school year. The saying goes, "People tend to support that which they help to create."
The whole purpose behind the over-arching goal is simply to set the tone that what we do is not simply for its own sake. We're not putting on a dance just so we can have a party. We're doing it because we want OTHERS to enjoy their experience at our school, and we are the HOSTS of that party.
When we are hosts, we have fun when others are having fun. When you frame it that way, it gives things like picking up a leaking trash bag and taking it out to the dumpsters a higher purpose. That's what the host of the party does sometimes to keep the good times rolling.
So, the real payoff for us as ASB is the following Monday when we hear things like, "That was the best Homecoming dance ever!" When others have enjoyed their experience beyond the classroom, we've done our job.
I kind of rambled, but I hope you get the idea. Show kids the "big picture" when you set your goals for the year. Our goals shouldn't stop at "let's make great balloon arches" or "let's come up with a cool new way to announce the Prom queen." Those are all the vehicles to get us to the larger goal of creating an activities program that connects kids to their school and creates a positive campus culture.
RVI
How many hours do you require for service hours? Do you have a daily ASB class?
I require 20 service hours per quarter, so 80 over the course of the whole year. I tinkered with that number before settling on 20. Some kids get WAY over 20, and some struggle just to squeak in at 14 or 15. If a quarter is 8 weeks long instead of ten, I might drop the requirement down to 18 hours just for that quarter. Of course, based on your situation, you can decide up or down what's reasonable for your students.
As far as an ASB class, YES, I have been extremely fortunate to have an ASB class both as a high school and middle school adviser. Additionally at the middle school, I had my ASB students as my homeroom as well, which was another 22 minutes each day. There's so much more you can get done, both in leadership curriculum and in planning activities, when you can all sit down together as a class.
If your district (or school) doesn't give you an actual class for ASB, bring an administrator to the CADA Convention or to one of the CADA Leadership Camps sometime. You could start with simply showing them our CADA Standards Manual. We are in a constant struggle for defending our academic legitimacy. Some administrators get it, and some don't. In tough financial times like these, we have to fight even harder.
RVI
As far as an ASB class, YES, I have been extremely fortunate to have an ASB class both as a high school and middle school adviser. Additionally at the middle school, I had my ASB students as my homeroom as well, which was another 22 minutes each day. There's so much more you can get done, both in leadership curriculum and in planning activities, when you can all sit down together as a class.
If your district (or school) doesn't give you an actual class for ASB, bring an administrator to the CADA Convention or to one of the CADA Leadership Camps sometime. You could start with simply showing them our CADA Standards Manual. We are in a constant struggle for defending our academic legitimacy. Some administrators get it, and some don't. In tough financial times like these, we have to fight even harder.
RVI
Saturday, March 1, 2008
With your "leadership" score, is it possible for your ASB President to not get a "4"?
I suppose if the president were not performing his/her duties of conducting the meeting, then yes. This score of "4," though, is strictly for performing the task of running the meeting each day. I have had GREAT ASB Presidents, and I have had some stinkers. Those who are not good leaders may get that score of "4," for facilitating daily meetings, but will come up short in other areas. I would expect an ASB President to be taking the lead on a number of different tasks, big and small. In the real world, though, we don't always get those dynamic, outstanding leaders at the top of the heap. That's why I like this grading system--because it keeps everyone, including the ASB President, honest.
RVI
RVI
Do you do make-up hours?
I'm not sure exactly what that question means, but I'll give it a shot. Kids have the flexibility to do their hours whenever they wish over the course of the grading period. For those that can't do much after school (because of transportation, sports, or other issues) they can do all their hours at break and lunch, if they're creative with their scheduling.
Kids understand coming into ASB (because they and their parents signed off on the application saying so) that there is an OUTSIDE component to ASB, and that they won't be able to get a good grade unless they make the time for service beyond the classroom.
If I didn't answer your question, please post a comment to my blog, or e-mail me at rvi@hartdistrict.org.
RVI
Kids understand coming into ASB (because they and their parents signed off on the application saying so) that there is an OUTSIDE component to ASB, and that they won't be able to get a good grade unless they make the time for service beyond the classroom.
If I didn't answer your question, please post a comment to my blog, or e-mail me at rvi@hartdistrict.org.
RVI
What was the last story?
I never got to my last story, in either of my two presentations. Sadly, I cannot share my "Hollywood retreat" story on the blog. It's a GREAT story for ASB Directors, though. I just need to tell you in person. Come to CADA Camp this summer and I will happily share the story with you, as I plan to work all the camps this summer. Either that, or you'll have to ask me at next year's convention.
:-)
RVI
:-)
RVI
On the rubric for the leadership score, can someone earn a "5" for completing his/her assigned responsibility? Does she or he earn hours even if it's
part of her or his assigned responsibility?
Yes. In my system, kids get points for everything they do, whether it's in their job description or not.
Yes. In my system, kids get points for everything they do, whether it's in their job description or not.
Here's the PowerPoint!
Here are the PowerPoint slides from my presentation. I'll be answering questions over the next few days, so please stay tuned as I continue to respond to your notecard questions!
DOWNLOAD THE POWERPOINT SLIDES HERE
Thanks to ScrappyDee for the reminder, and I'm glad you enjoyed the presentation! :-)
RVI
DOWNLOAD THE POWERPOINT SLIDES HERE
Thanks to ScrappyDee for the reminder, and I'm glad you enjoyed the presentation! :-)
RVI
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