5 minute read
HELEN TYSON MIDDLE SCHOOL
Meet the EAST Conference 2020 team of Helen Tyson Middle School (HTMS) led by facilitator Brittany Berry!
QIs this your first experience applying for the Founder’s Award?
FACILITATOR: Our program has received recognition for a Founder's category three different years in the areas of project sophistication and student growth (now known as the Cornerstone Awards). The students have put in more work towards their projects than we have ever seen, and they are so personally invested in what they are doing. Their submission really showed their commitment and love for EAST and the projects they have worked on all year and, in some cases, years.
QWhy did you decide to submit an application for the Founder's Award?
FACILITATOR: After our team was selected, students began the process of collecting information on all our projects in all our classes. They came together and discussed ways they could support students in putting work in for competitions and then talk about options for the team. After looking through the submission process they decided it would be a great way to learn more about all the projects and share their work. ONE TEAM MEMBER: As a team, we really enjoyed working together, and we love spending extra time in EAST. It was also cool because we felt our projects really did a great job showing the impact of EAST and the resources EAST offers. ANOTHER TEAM MEMBER: More than anything, we love sharing what we are doing and thought our projects could help inspire others.
QDescribe what it felt like when you were notified that you were 1 of 4 Founder's Award winners for EAST Conference 2020.
FACILITATOR: The entire team was nervous while waiting to hear but decided regardless of the outcome it was worth the time and effort. TEAM MEMBER: We learned so much about our program and really had fun working together, not to mention we learned a lot about filming and editing that will be useful for our current and future projects. TEAM MEMBER: On the day of, we were lucky our teachers let us go to the EAST room to watch the announcement live together. When we heard, we screamed, jumped up and down, and then ran down to the school office to let the principals know. They did a school-wide announcement.
QWhy was it important for your program to submit a Founder's Award application ?
FACILITATOR: We thought it was an important opportunity for us to bond as a team and learn more about all the projects and students in our program. We are really proud of the work we are doing and thought others could benefit from hearing about our projects. The process of self-reflection is important, and we want to make sure we are keeping students and our community partners at the center of class each and every day.
Q
What are some memorable moments from the year or the submission process you'd like to share with our audience?
FACILITATOR: There have been many memorable moments this year through our projects and planning for EAST Conference. One week that stands out was the week we got to spend working on our booth. Because of the way our school does English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA), we had 5 1/2 days to work together as a team. We brainstormed and planned day one and then got the rest of the time to get the ball rolling. It was fun, we had lots of snacks, and we really bonded as a team. TEAM MEMBER: Another fun memory was interviewing every student in our program. Our booth was a 3D printed scan of each person in our program. We really wanted to take everyone with us, but since we couldn’t, we took them with us this way. We didn't win the Founder’s Award alone — all our students did, and we wanted to make sure everyone's story was shared. TEAM MEMBER: Another memory we have is learning that EAST Conference had been canceled while setting up our booth and planning to speak to over 50 community guests coming to our school. We cried, hugged, and then pulled ourselves together and shared our story. Having that time together to focus on something helped us deal with the disappointment.
Q
What advice would you give a school who is considering submitting for Founder's Award next year?
FACILITATOR: Focus on the passion you and others have for the work you are doing in EAST. If you can share about why you have chosen to do your projects and how you have grown through the process, you will learn so much about your program. It is also a great chance to bond as a Conference team and help all your students in all your classes grow through a common goal of spotlighting your whole program.
QWhat is something you know now that you wish you knew prior to submitting for the Founder's Award or even starting EAST?
FACILITATOR: It is always important to remember the process is more valuable than anything, in your project, submitting Founder’s or building an EAST program. It is easy to get so focused on the project and what you hope to accomplish, but all the time you spend looking at the how and why will lead to a more successful project and team.
QHow do you plan to follow up on the success of this year?
FACILITATOR: We have many projects that we are still finishing or expanding. Our team, short of two students, will be back at HTMS next year so we are focused on how we can continue to be leaders in school and our program. We are all looking forward to new projects and partners in the future.
QIf you could plan a Founder's Award recipient celebration what would it look like?
FACILITATOR: That is a hard one because EAST Conference is such an amazing experience to replicate and only three people on our team have ever been. A celebration for us would involve sharing our story with other students.
QIs there anything else you'd like to share with us? Inside jokes, life hacks, success tips for EAST, motivational quotes or sayings you use to keep going, favorite snacks during work time?
FACILITATOR: Right now we are really focused on "being helpers" whenever and wherever we can be. When we found out EAST Conference was canceled we kept our spirits up by taking time to find #silverlinings via zoom, email, and Google chats. We are all still sad that EAST Conference was canceled, but we are focused on our school and our projects and finding things to be happy and proud of. Favorite snacks: well...we hid Ramen Noodle cups from each other during Conference planning and ate a lot of hot cheetos!
