Spring is a season of milestones in high schools across the country, and nothing captures that energy quite like prom. However, behind the excitement of venue reveals and grand marches lies a quiet anxiety for many of our families: the cost. At Harrison High School in Harrison, AR, where 60% of our student body qualifies for free […]
Category: Student Voice and Agency
Removing the Price Tag From Prom Night
3 Strategies for Elevating Student Voice
I’m a huge advocate for student voice and its impact on school culture. With National Student Leadership Week, April 20–24, fast approaching next month, I wanted to share my top three strategies for elevating student voice in school.
The Heart and History of NHS Induction
If you’ve ever stayed late at school for an NHS induction, you know the mix of nerves and excitement in the air. The lights dim. The room goes quiet. Students you’ve guided step forward, some with sweaty palms, some straightening collars, ready to take their place in a tradition more than a century old.
What I Brought Home From LEAD
As students, we are frequently told, “You are the leaders of tomorrow.” Although a lovely sentiment, it ignores the fact that we are also the leaders of today. I used to passively accept that “tomorrow” timeline from others. However, it was not until I returned from the LEAD Conference earlier this month, carrying much more than I anticipated, that I truly understood the significance of […]
Our Student Showcase for Black History Month
South Florida is a cultural melting pot, and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL, is no different. Our 3,100 students represent a wide variety of cultures, which we celebrate intentionally 365 days of the year.
How Our NEHS Chapter Supports Students Experiencing Stress and Anxiety
As an adviser, I’ve always felt that I am not the driver of our National Elementary Honor Society (NEHS) chapter. Instead, I’m more like the bumper making sure that everyone is safe and then covering everything as an administrator. I let my students direct the path that our chapter takes in the way of service projects because I want the projects that we do to […]
elementaryNEHS
When Student Voice Increased Our CTE Offerings
Several years ago, I believed our middle school elective program was meeting student needs. We offered band, choir, art, computers, and physical education. These are programs adults traditionally view as well-rounded and sufficient. When I asked students what they wanted from electives, I expected requests for better materials or more variety within those same offerings.
Getting Your Honor Society Ready for Spring Inductions
Spring induction season is a time of celebration and reflection. It’s when chapters honor students for their academic excellence and welcome new members to their school’s NHS chapter. For advisers, it’s also a rewarding opportunity to recognize scholarship, service, leadership, and character in action.
Insights Into Peer Supports From the National Student Council
A recent publication by the Partnership for Student Success (PSS) at the Johns Hopkins University Everyone Graduates Center highlights several models for how high school students can be meaningfully involved in support roles that foster success for both those giving and receiving support. After all, peer influence is a powerful driver of student engagement and […]
The Giving Tree
I’ve always dreaded winter break. While my classmates looked forward to family celebrations, I prepared for loneliness. The absence of a “normal” family weighed heavily on me, a quiet ache I carried this time of the year. Christmas, once magical in my childhood, slowly lost its warmth the older I got, leaving only reminders of […]