Advisor Advocate
October 2019
HOMECOMING
For many of us, Homecoming season is still a fresh memory, or we are in the thick of our plans and parties and dances for encouraging school spirit for all our students. For GASC, homecoming also notes the end of our membership drive. We are excited to welcome back all our old friends and want to say a big HELLO to our new member schools. We are excited to have you with us.
In this newsletter, there is some information about the Leadership Summit that is just around the corner. It is sure to be a great experience for everyone. There is also information about attending this year's National Conference on Student Activities. After that, I have provided some information for a free curriculum program that is available to all our advisors and is appropriate for middle and high school students. Lastly, there is a simple cooperation activity that is a great way to get students to know one another and learn how to work together.
At the very bottom of this newsletter is a link to a short Google Form for feedback about this newsletter. Your feedback will only make future newsletters better, so please feel free to leave comments.
Leadership Summit 2019!!
Delegates will have a chance to meet fellow Student Council members from across the state and exchange new ideas. If this will be your first Leadership Summit, please feel free to reach out to me with any questions you have. I think we can all agree there are no question too small when it comes to field trips. If I don't have the answer, I know who does and will find it for you.
For advisors, we will be having a business meeting so please to have at least one advisor attend it for important updates and information we need all member schools to have.
National Conference on Student Activities- December 2019
I had a chance to meet and get to know a part of the planning committee last year in Atlanta, and I can tell you that it is going to be a really great event. Also, since this is an adults-only experience, there is plenty of opportunity for fun and entertaining networking with your fellow advisors.
If you are interested in going, please contact the GASC Executive Director, Laura Droms, for information about how you can receive a discount on the registration cost. Also, this year, there will be a scholarship for a first-time or second-time attendee. More information can be found here.
Resource Spotlight-Lead4Change
The process includes registering for the curriculum, teaching either the 6- or 12-lesson track (the sample lesson I saw is 45 minutes), and helping students through the process of their service project. In February and again in May, students can submit their projects for a chance to win a grant for their school or a charity.
Click here for a one-page description of what it looks like. If you have any questions or want some support, please contact our friend Colleen McKean at colleen@lead4change.org.
StuCo Member Activity- Partnered Penmanship
For supplies, you only need a sheet of paper and a marker. The thinner the marker, the more difficult the challenge for the students, so choose based on what level of difficulty you want to give the students.
Students work in pairs for this activity. Start by telling them to each place one hand behind their back, and one person has to close their eyes for the duration of the activity. Each pair will have a sheet of paper and a marker. With the hand that is not behind their backs, each student must make a fist and extend their index (pointer) finger. This is the only finger they are allowed to use for the activity. Then, together, the two students must pick up the marker, and write the letters of the alphabet on the paper. It requires concentration as a team, communication, and effort. Both students must be touching the marker at all times. It can lead to some interesting, and sometimes quite hilarious results in handwriting. You can even hang them in the room for a "Best Penmanship" award if you want.
Afterwards, ask students about how it was working with the overt handicaps such as blindness and only having one finger to use. We often forget that people we work with on projects like on student council don't have the same experiences, knowledge, or expertise that we all have. This activity reminds us how to find the common space so everyone can work together to accomplish our goals.
GASC Reminders
GASC Fall Summit October 28, 2019
Atlanta, Georgia
LEAD Conference November 14-17, 2019
Washington, D.C.
GASC Convention February 21-23, 2020
Rock Eagle 4-H Camp
National Student Council Conference June 2020
Denver, Colorado
About Me
Besides being the GASC Advisor Liaison, I am also a proud French teacher in Savannah. I have been teaching for over twelve years at my current school, H V Jenkins High School. In 2010, when I found out about cuts to the student activity funds due to the recession, I decided that was not good enough for our students and organized our first school carnival for school clubs to raise money for their groups.
After the successful event, I realized that the work was not done, and I knew I needed help. Since we didn't have a student council at the time, I founded the Warrior Council to act as one. This group has been the beacon for student advocacy and events since its inception. We concentrate on improving school climate as well as trying to making positive impact on our community.
In 2016, I started working towards my EdD in Curriculum and Instruction at Valdosta State University. My dissertation will be a study focusing on adolescent identity and leadership development. My goal is to be done by 2020.
I am always eager to help anyone who needs help, so please never hesitate to contact me either via email or by phone.
Email: GASCAdvisorLiaison@gmail.com
Website: gasconline.net
Phone: 9315881612