PASC News Inside This Issue News & Notes...................... 2 • Candidates for Middle Level Representatives Needed • Seeking Regional Representatives from Districts 6–10–12 Just Two Months Left To Share Your Council’s Service Projects................................... 2 75th State Conference Coming to Altoona in November.............................. 3 Schools Remember September 11 Attacks....................... 3 Council to Council Idea Exchange................................ 4 • Become a Snow Buddy • Middle School Service Project Goes to the Dogs Norwin HS Shares Ideas for Homecoming ....................... 5 Act Now on Scholarship Opportunities....................... 6 News from August Executive Board Meeting...................... 7 A Student from Montgomery County Gets a Voice in Pennsylvania Education Policy.... 8 Student Council Camp Is More FUN Than Outsiders Can Imagine........................... 9
Volume 36 Issue 1 August 2011
Leaders Under Construction
Principal–Advisor–Leaders Conferences Deadline Sept. 15 Teams of principals, advisors and student leaders will gather during the last week of September for the PAL Conferences. The conferences, last held in 2008, are designed to bring student leaders and educators together as school groups to focus on improving communication and developing new projects and initiatives. Based on the theme, “Leaders Under Construction: Improving Our Blueprints for Building Connections,” participants will share their perspectives on improving the student activities program and the climate of their schools as the 2011–2012 school year begins. Ann Postlewaite, Director of Student Leadership for the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals,
will serve as the keynote What tools are in your leadership toolbox? Come to speaker and conference one of this fall’s PAL Conferences to focus on “Leaders Under Construction: Improving Our Blueprints facilitator. Ann is a for Building Connections.” You’ll come home with a creative and dynamic few new leadership tools to improve your school. presenter who has extensive experience a luncheon, school teams will working with student council discuss the issues and initialeaders, National Honor Sotives they want to work on in ciety leaders, activity advisors, their school. School action and school administrators. plans will be shared before the At each of the three conferconference closes at 2:30 p.m ence sites (Wexford, Williamsport, and Hershey), PASC will and teams continue to discuss their ideas as they travel back provide a continental breakfast home. during the 8:00–9:00 a.m. registration period. The general session will include Ann’s keynote address and directed networking time for Construction Site Sessions designed to allow administrators to meet with each other while advisors and student leaders have their own work sessions. Following
PAL Conference applications have been mailed to all secondary principals in Pennsylvania as well as to student council advisors. Applications can also be found at www.pasc.net. The cost is $50 per participant. Register now to attend this unique PASC program.
Membership Cards Available Online PASC has created a template that advisors can use to print membership cards for their student council members. These cards can be used to unify the student council “team,” serve as passes to attend in-school student council meetings, or as
discount coupons for student council events and activities. The template allows for the printing of 10 cards using Avery 8859 card stock sheets. The advisor can then print the school and student information on the cards. These can
be laminated prior to being cut and distributed, thus making them last for the entire school year. To access this template go to www.pasc.net, click on Resources, and then click on Membership.
News & Notes Candidates for Middle Level Representatives Needed PASC is seeking two teams, each consisting of a seventh grade student and his/her Student Council advisor, to serve as the Middle Level Representatives on the PASC Executive Board from January 1, 2012 to January 31, 2013. Current board members are Patrick Moore and his advisor, Mrs. Deb Wensel from Kane Middle School (District 1), and Lilly Wang and her advisor, Mrs. Deb Spencer from Great Valley Middle School (District 11). Please contact Amy Kaufmann at amy_kaufmann@swad. k12.pa.us with questions about the position. The job description, application, and the description of the selection process can be found at www.pasc.net or by contacting us at PASCInfo@aol.com. Completed applications for the student and advisor must be postmarked by Friday, October 21, 2011. All the student/ advisor teams will be interviewed at the State Conference on November, 2011 and two middle level teams will be selected to serve on the PASC Executive Board.
Seeking Regional Representatives from Districts 6–10–12 PASC is seeking schools wishing to run for Regional Representative positions for Region C from District 6, Region F from District 12, Region G from District 10. These positions are for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2012 and ending January 31, 2014. Elections for these positions will be held during Regional Caucus Meetings at the State Conference on Friday, November 11th at Altoona High School. Schools wishing to self-nominate should contact their respective District Directors by Friday, October 21st to express interest and should prepare a five-minute presentation for the caucus. Students selected to serve as Regional Representatives must be named by the selected school by December 1, 2011. Students must be a freshman or a sophomore in September 2011 and must be willing to make a two-year commitment to PASC. Terms continue for Representatives in Regions A-B-D-E until January 2013. For a job description and timeline of commitments go to www.pasc.net or contact us at PASCInfo@aol.com.
Past PASC President Is Jeopardy Champ On May 24–26, 2002 PASC State President Tom Brown appeared on Jeopardy. Tom’s three-day successful run netted him $42,402. Tom hopes to use that money to help fund graduate school at Yale University. Tom is presently working in Washington, D.C., for the Federal Communications Commission. 2
PASC News • June 2011 • www.pasc.net
Just Two Months Left To Share Your Council’s Service Projects Countdown to State Conference: What has your school done for service since November 2011? This year’s charity project for the annual PASC State Conference is unique. Instead of asking schools to raise funds for one common charity, each student council is being asked to do an additional service project that goes above and beyond their normal activities during the school year. Share the information on your project with PASC, with other schools, and with the communities of Pennsylvania by doing the following: • Compile a list of the projects that your council has done to serve the school or the community. Even include projects that had an impact statewide or nationally. • Approximately how many students were involved and how many hours of service did they perform? • How much money was raised in support of those projects done in the past year? Select one or more projects and make a poster display describing that project that can be shared at the 75th PASC State Conference in Altoona. If you cannot attend the State Conference, still send in the data on your service projects, so that it can be part of the overall accounting of the “Student Council Service to Others Project.” Mail your school display to share with others at Altoona in your absence. Download and complete forms designed to record what is done within the school (available on the conference website: pasc75. org.) A desk will be available for form collection at registration, but it is highly recommended that schools send them in via e-mail or the U.S. Mail before the conference. When your student council submits the service project forms, you will have the option to submit pictures with a small caption explaining the project. The pictures and the project forms will be displayed in the windows of the cafeteria at Altoona HS, where everyone attending the state conference will be eating. This will allow schools to showcase their projects and to ideas from others for the future. Not sure your student council has done a suitable service project? It’s not too late. Brainstorm ways that your student council can give back to the community. It can be anything from a candy sale to a bowl-a-thon or simply volunteering time to the charity of your choice. Record the information about your project on the form found on the state conference website and turn it in so that it can be displayed at the 75th PASC State Conference. Help us to document what students do for their schools, community, and others. December PASC NEWS will share this incredible array of services to others.
75th State Conference Coming to Altoona in November This year’s 75th PASC State Conference is definitely one that schools will not want to miss. The Altoona Area High School has been working diligently to make sure that it will be an unforgettable experience for both students and advisors. Each day of the conference is filled with activities so that delegates will have many ideas and memories to take back to their own councils. Some of the festivities include: three award-winning keynote speakers, a variety of activities for student entertainment, a Beatlemania concert, and tons of informative yet entertaining workshops, which have been recently chosen from the many student applications received. These events will be topped off with the much-anticipated banquet and dance. The registration form and
event information are available on the conference website: pasc75.org. At this time, schools are limited to four delegates, not including workshop presenters. Once the advisor logs in with the school’s username and password, registration forms will be accessible. (School user names and passwords were sent to all schools in late August and are activated with the payment of 2011–2012 dues). Nonmember schools will be allowed to attend this year’s conference. The registration fees for nonmember schools will be $15 more per delegate, however, if the non-member school then
decides to join PASC, the extra fees will be applied to the membership dues for 2011–2012. Registration of delegates can be done online until October 14, 2011. Housing of student delegates will return to the PASC tradition of host homes. Thursday evening’s dinner and breakfast on Friday and Saturday will be provided by host families. Host families will also provide transportation for delegates to the school and to evening conference activities. Advisors wishing to have their students stay in a hotel rather than host homes will be responsible for making reserva-
tions and providing meals, security at the hotel, and transportation. The hotels have differing deadlines for making reservations at the PASC conference rate. More hotel information is available on the state conference website. Advisors please note: If you have not made your own hotel reservations as of this date, please do so immediately. There is a home Penn State football game that weekend, and all hotel rooms in the Altoona area fill up quickly. The state conference website has a tab for hotel information. Please do not delay! Check our conference website, pasc75.org, for conference details, for advisor and student schedules, and to make sure that your school is registered. It will be the experience of a lifetime!
Everything You Want to Know about the PASC Conference Is Now at WWW.PASC75.COM
Schools Remember September 11 Attacks By Caroline Steloites, Region B Rep Ten years ago, the tragedy of the 9/11 attacks occurred, killing 2,973 people. Events are happening all over the United States in memory of the lives lost on September 11th, 2001, including many events in Pennsylvania. One of the most notable events involving students is taking place at the Garden of Reflection, a memorial in Bucks County dedicated to honor those who were killed in the
Twin Tower attacks. A candlelight vigil with 2,973 candles lit in memory of the lives lost will be held on September 10th. Many other events will be happening on September 11th at the Garden of Reflection including a motorcycle ride and a 5K run/walk and a golf classic. Also, on September 11th, the Annual Remembrance Ceremony will be held for the people who died on that tragic day to “Honor Them, Celebrate Their Lives, and Remember Them Always.”
What can you do to help? Currently, five Pennsylvania schools have annual events raising money for the Garden of Reflection. If you are interested in raising money for the Garden of Reflection, please visit their website (www.9-11memorialgarden.org)
school does something for the 10th anniversary of 9/11, send pictures and information to PASC News. We would love to hear what you do, and write about it in a future issue.
What will your school do on 9/11? How will you honor the people who died on 9/11 and honor their families? If your PASC News • June 2011 • www.pasc.net
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Council to Council Idea Exchange Become a Snow Buddy By RoseAnn Fulena, Union MS How much snow do you get in your community? Union Middle School in New Castle (District 2) has a great way to encourage volunteerism in their community by helping members of the community clear snow from driveways. Steps for Success: Have council members pick a buddy and get a Snow Buddies form. (The buddy can be a friend or family member who isn’t a council member.) Buddies have one month to shovel driveways and have
the resident sign a form that the buddies did not receive payment or reward. (Shoveling your own driveway doesn’t count because you should be doing that for your parents anyway!) Beginning in December, after each month, the buddies who have served the most people are rewarded with a gift certificate to the local movie theater and pizza shop. Costs: $40 total (two $10 movie cards and two $10 pizza cards) Suggestions: Get a list of bud-
dies at the beginning of the event so it’s clear who’s working with whom. For details on implementing a Snow Buddies program in your school, contact RoseAnn Fulena at ra_fulena@union.k12-pa.us
Middle School Service Project Goes to the Dogs By Deb Wensel, Kane MS It has become a practice at Kane MS in PASC District 1 to travel to the SPCA each month during the school year to walk the dogs. Students sign up to arrange for rides to the animal shelter. During the summer months, students have more free time and thus they visit the SPCA on a weekly basis. The students also volunteer to walk the dogs in the annual Santa Parade and Memorial Day Parade through downtown Kane. In August, they also walked the dogs in the local Fireman’s Parade. This past school year, students took it a step further when they participated
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PASC NEWS is published monthly during the school year. To submit announcements, articles, or corrections for newsletters, please email the Executive Director or Assistant Executive Director. Articles or information from PASC NEWS may be reproduced for use, with appropriate credit. Executive Director Jim Finnemeyer North Penn HS 1340 Valley Forge Road Lansdale, PA 19446 215-280-9299 215-855-0632 (Fax) Finnemeyer@aol.com PASCInfo@aol.com Assistant Executive Director Kathy Ann Coll 174 Link Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15237 412-366-5744 Kcoll1@comcast.net PASC President Mariam Ahmad Altoona Area HS 1400 7th Avenue Altoona, PA 16602 PASC President-Elect Savanna Hovis Laurel JSHS 2497 Harlansburg Road New Castle, PA 16101
in the SPCA’s first annual “Woofstock” event. It was a day designed to encourage community members to “adopt” shelter dogs for a day when they can be pampered, groomed, and walked. The idea is to give the dogs a whole day out of the kennel.
PASC News • June 2011 • www.pasc.net
Contact your local SPCA to find ways that students in your school can help in your community. For more details about how Kane MS students make this ongoing service project work, contact Deb Wensel at dwensel@kasd.net.
PASC News Editor Lyn Fiscus Leadership Logistics PASC Email: PASCInfo@aol.com PASC Website: www.pasc.net
Norwin HS Shares Ideas for Homecoming By Norwin HS Student Council Looking for some different ideas for your Homecoming this year? Norwin HS (District 4), a school of approximately 1,600 students (grades 9–12) located east of Pittsburgh, has a long tradition of large Homecoming activities. In an effort to help other student councils, Norwin has shared ideas for both organizing the events and ideas we have for Homecoming. Organizing Committee Norwin’s Homecoming Committee has been meeting throughout the summer. The full council decided on a theme following the tradition of having all of the themes based on the fact that we are the Norwin Knights! This year’s theme is “A Knight Before Time.” Once a theme is decided, we have to send the theme to the administration to be approved. Notices are then sent to the class sponsors to start float planning. (YES—we all do floats!) Parade Planning Meetings are then scheduled with the chiefs of police of the three boroughs/townships to coordinate efforts. The parade takes place in downtown Irwin over 10 city blocks and a couple thousand people show up to see the floats. All clubs and teams have cars and convertibles or trucks/flatbeds. There are more than 89 units in the parade. Careful coordination is needed for this to go off without a hitch. Student Council is in charge of the parade. The council also has its own float in the parade, which is not judged. We have flower-making parties in the month of August with the goal to make more than 24 bags of
half time of the football game in front of 8,000 people with the past King and Queen returning for the ceremony. Homecoming Day
paper flowers each time. Once school starts, the officers have weekly meetings to discuss progress, such as getting convertibles to use for each member of the Homecoming Court. Individual families in the community and local car dealers are important in making this work. The key is to make contact early and get their commitment to provide a car and driver. Spirit Week Student Council decides during the summer what the events of the annual Spirit Week will be. The in-school TV station KWIN creates a video for spirit week. Spirit days for 2011 will be: • Monday: Crazy Sock Day • Tuesday: Twin Day • Wednesday: Well Dressed Wednesday • Thursday: Mismatch Day • Friday: Blue and Gold and Teacher Dress-Down Day Students are expected to dress tastefully for each Spirit Day activity. Frequently students go shopping at local thrift stores for outfits. Spirit Week culminates in a Friday afternoon pep rally at which the Student Council president is the MC. Homecoming Court The student body is also busy voting for the Homecoming Court. Each of the four classes
nominate 10 female candidates for the court. In addition the seniors also nominate 10 male court members. Eventually students vote to select two female court members each from the freshman, sophomore, and junior classes while the seniors select three females and three males for the court. The Homecoming balloting is done using the electronic Scantron ballots to assure accuracy and total secrecy. Senior boys vote for the Queen and the senior girls vote for the King. Student Council members serve as the escorts for the court members. On Thursday night the Royal Reception Dinner is held at a local restaurant for members of the court, their escorts, and STUCO officers. The dinner serves as a great backdrop to talk about what will happen at school on Friday with the coronation practice and other events such as pictures. Friday night, October 7, the coronation festivities will be held at
Saturday morning begins with a final planning breakfast for student council officers and advisors and the final decorating of the floats and cars for the parade. The parade begins at 10:30 a.m., lead by the Norwin High School Marching Band. A local trophy shop donates 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place trophies each year and the floats are judged by a panel of faculty members. There are also walking groups in the parade and much candy is thrown to the crowd lining the streets. Student Council members return to the high school to finish decorating for the Homecoming dance that evening. Because the dance has a huge attendance, color-coded tickets are used to assign entrance door locations to speed up the entry process. Teachers check in students and Student Council buys gift cards as a thank you for the teachers for volunteering. All of the hard work and organization pays off in a smooth week of activities. For more information about Homecoming at Norwin HS, contact Lynn Clark at lynn_c_clark@ yahoo.com
Share your Homecoming plans with PASC, so we can share them with others in October. How does your school select the court? The King and Queen? What are your tips for planning a parade and guidelines for floats? What other events does your school have for Homecoming Week? How do you involve your community? How do you involve your alumni? What do you do for Homecoming Spirit Week?
Send your ideas to PASCInfo@aol.com. PASC News • June 2011 • www.pasc.net
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Act Now on Scholarship Opportunities 50th Annual United States Senate Youth Scholarship Program
n Franklin Scholarship Program (only for Pennsylvania seniors): Funded through a grant from the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Franklin Scholars Program annually awards $10,000 to 25 students in the state of Pennsylvania. The program is designed to increase student understanding and appreciation of the contributions of Ben Franklin and Horatio Alger, Jr. Scholarship criteria are the same for other Horatio Alger Scholarships. An additional essay on Ben Franklin is required. n Pennsylvania Scholars Program: Funded by the generosity of Joseph and Janet Neubauer, 50 Pennsylvania seniors will each receive a $5,000 college scholarship. Scholarship criteria are the same as for other Horatio Alger Scholarships.
Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. with Stephanie Warner and Timothy Sensenig, 2011 winners from Pennsylvania of the U.S. Senate Youth Scholarship.
Two student delegates from each state will be chosen to receive $5,000 college scholarships and the opportunity to spend a week in March 2012 in Washington, D.C., with delegates from across the nation. All expenses are paid by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation. Every Pennsylvania high school principal received the Senate Youth nomination packet in early September. Applications are also available on the Pennsylvania Department of Education website and PASC website. Each school may nominate one outstanding junior or senior student leader to be considered for the scholarship. To be eligible for the Senate Youth scholarship, a student must be a high school junior or senior and must hold an elected position in student council, class government, or a regional or state officer position in a statewide organization. After being nominated by the building principal, the student must complete an application packet and submit it by October 19, 2011 (postmark).
Horatio Alger Scholarships The Horatio Alger Association for Distinguished Americans is accepting scholarship applications for the Class of 2012 due no later than October 30, 2011. Seventy-eight Pennsylvania seniors will receive $560,000 in scholarships in 2012 in this program. Please share the following information with your Guidance Department and with students that you know who fit the following criteria: The Horatio Alger Association seeks to assist students who have demonstrated integrity, perseverance in overcoming adversity, strength of character, financial need (under $50,000 adjusted gross family income), a good academic record, commitment to pursue a college education, and a desire to contribute to society. n National Scholars Program: Three Pennsylvania students will be selected to each receive a $20,000 scholarship and will be invited to the National Awards program in Washington, D.C. 6
PASC News • June 2011 • www.pasc.net
n Student Council Member Scholarship: A Horatio Alger Scholarship for a student council member in an National Association of Student Council (NASC) and Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils (PASC) member school. Go to horatioalger.com/scholarships/programs for details. On the application when the student sees the question: Are you a member of student council? CLICK on that and then answer all of the student leader questions and addition essays. These scholarships can only be applied for online: www.horatioalger.com/scholarships/index.cfm
Prudential Spirit of Community Awards The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program will award scholarships to students recognized for their dedication and selfless commitment to volunteerism. Eligible students must currently be in grades 5–12 and must be engaged in an act of volunteerism that has occurred, at least in part, during the 12 months prior to the application date. Programs could be done in or out of school. All middle level and high schools throughout Pennsylvania will receive program information and applications in early September. All high school principals should have received an application packet in mid-August. Information is also available at www.prudential.com/community/spirit. Please do not miss this opportunity to give outstanding young volunteers the recognition they so richly deserve. Deadline is October 30, 2011.
News from August Executive Board Meeting Following is a summary of action taken by the PASC Executive Board at its August meeting: n Constitutional amendment proposed: A change in Article 4 Section 2 of the PASC Constitution has been proposed. The change will add the position of Alumni Coordinator to the list of ex-officio members of the PASC Executive Board. This amendment will be voted on during Regional caucus on Friday, November 11, at the state conference in Altoona. Each member school in attendance will be able to vote on this Constitutional change. n Advisor survey planned for the state conference. At the November state conference, advisors will be surveyed regarding the best way and time for PASC to deliver advisor training in 2012 and beyond. Based on feedback from the advisor session at the 2010 state conference in Scranton, and from additional feedback from advisors who attended Open House days at the PASC Blue workshops in July, PASC is seeking to create an advisor training program that will meet the needs of advisors and can be delivered at times when advisors can best attend. More information to follow in future issues of PASC NEWS. n Additional PASC information to be added to the website: In September the following information will be posted at www.pasc.net: • PASC Constitution • Job description and terms of office for all adult and student
Executive Board positions • Organizational flow chart
the 2012 State Conference in New Castle and will be concentrating on this program throughout the coming year. John has been the host of middle level conferences in District 2 and has served
Our goal is to provide great accountability, clarification of roles, and general information to all PASC members. n The following appointments were made: Dr. Bryan Shelly was appointed to be the Director of the Gold Summer Leadership Workshop at Grove City College. Bryan has served on PASC workshop staffs for the past 18 years. Most recently he served as the Assistant Director at Grove City College. As an assistant professor of political science at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, Bryan has done extensive research and writing on the value of participation in student activities to both student academic success and self-esteem, as well as to the creation of a positive learning environment in schools. Bryan succeeds PASC Executive Director Jim Finnemeyer, who has stepped down from the workshop director position after 36 of service to PASC. n New District Directors selected to serve: • District 2: John Motyl (Seneca Valley MS) will serve as the acting District 2 Director. RoseAnn Fulena will continue to work closely with John as he serves in this capacity through January 2013. RoseAnn is the co-host advisor for
a one-year appointment to be the District Director for Chester, Delaware, and Philadelphia counties. Dave has been involved in Region F activities and has sent many students to state and LEAD conferences and PASC summer workshops. Advisors of District 11 will have the opportunity to vote for the District Director position at the spring Region F conference in 2012. Wanda Lapp (Octorara MS) served as District Director for the past three years and
on the District 2 Board for many years. John can be contacted at: motyljd@svsd.net • District 10: Regina Shields (Trexler MS) has accepted a one-year appointment to be the District Director for Carbon, Lehigh, and Northampton counties. Regina has been an active advisor in the Allentown School District and co-hosted the district conference in 2009. Advisors of District 10 will have the opportunity to vote for the District Director position at their spring conference in 2012. Penny Diehl (Easton HS) completed two threeyear terms as the District 10 Director in June 2011. Penny was the host advisor to the 2007 state conference at Easton and chaperoned several trips to national conferences. Regina can be contacted at: shieldsr@allentownsd.org • District 11: Dave Stango (Penncrest HS) has accepted
also actively supported PASC conference and summer workshops. Dave can be contacted at: padistrict11@ gmail.com n PASC Executive Board positions available in 2012. The positions of Middle Level Coordinator and Website Coordinator will become available during the 2011–2012 school year. Each position is a three-year term. The positions will be advertised later this fall and winter. Applications will be due in early February and interviews will be held in early March at the Executive Board meeting in New Castle. The new terms begin during the summer of 2012. Presently Amy Kauffman (Markle Intermediate School) is the Middle Level Coordinator and Dotty Noll (Eastern Lebanon HS) is the Website Coordinator.
PASC News • June 2011 • www.pasc.net
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A Student from Montgomery County Gets a Voice in Pennsylvania Education Policy By Paul Jones For most students, high school is a place where adults run the show. But for 16-yearold Erin Agnew, it has been an opportunity to join the men and women who craft policy for Pennsylvania’s educational system. Agnew, who will be a junior this year at Springfield Township High School in Montgomery County, was chosen in the spring from a pool of high school students to serve as an advisory member on the Pennsylvania State Board of Education’s Council of Basic Education, which sets policy for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Student advisers were added to the board in 2008 to give members the benefit of their insights. Agnew was formally inducted as a nonvoting member July 19 and will serve a two-year term alongside senior Shannon Sullivan from North Allegheny High School, who began her two-year term in July 2010. Agnew, a self-described “Type A” personality, edits two school publications and is an officer with the Pennsylvania Youth and Government program, through which high school students learn about government and participate in a mock legislative session each year at the state Capitol. She also regularly leads costumed tours of the historical sites Hope Lodge in Whitemarsh and Graeme Park in Horsham. Agnew said she heard about the opportunity to serve on the PASC News • June 2011 • 8
board in early March when her history teacher recommended she apply. She was chosen from a pool of six finalists after a daylong interview at the Department of Education headquarters in Harrisburg on April 2. “They either liked what I have to say, or they like what they think I could accomplish with the board,” Agnew said. The Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils Executive Director, Jim Finnemeyer, said Agnew impressed him and other interviewers with her ability to analyze policy questions and present clear and informed opinions. “She was very articulate, and she came across as very knowledgeable,” he said. Agnew said she and Sullivan had begun work on a blog, a Facebook page, and a Twitter account to allow students easy access to information about the board. Agnew, whose mother recently received a master’s degree in teaching, said she decided to serve on the teacher and school leader effectiveness committee, partly to ensure that the new Keystone exams used to test high school students’ subject proficiency will fairly evaluate them and accurately reflect how well teachers are preparing students. She said she wanted school administrators better evaluated as well. “We’re really … evaluating the teachers and students” on a microscopic level, “but the administrators who are sort of running the show are really www.pasc.net
Contact student SBE members by email at: Shannon Sullivan ssullivan1993@gmail.com
Erin Agnew agnew.erin@gmail.com
overlooked,” she said. Francis J. Michelini, chair of the Council of Higher Education, said students’ input had been valuable, giving board members, for example, a sense of how seriously students take standardized testing. “They give better insight into the overall high school population,” he said. “Many times in a discussion, we’ll turn to a student and ask if an idea makes sense.” Agnew said she looked forward to filling that role. “I’d love to provide communication between other high school students … and the board.” Paul Jones (pjones@philly.com) is a Philadelphia Inquirer staff writer. This article is excerpted from an article that originally appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer. Used with permission.
Alumni News PASC was saddened to learn of the passing of Stanley Guzowski at age 23. Stan was a graduate of Oley Valley HS (District 13). He graduated from St. Joseph’s University with a B.S. in Psychology. He served for two years as a Group Advisor at the PASC Summer Leadership workshop at Susquehanna University. Contributions may be made in Stan’s name to the St. Joseph’s Medical Center Foundation, Cancer Center, P.O. Box 316, Reading, PA 19603.
Student Council Camp Is More Than Outsiders Can Imagine By Corinne McBryan, Senior Governor Mifflin HS
student council and to enhance leadership abilities in general.
“I said from East to West, PASC is the best!”
I first attended a PASC summer workshop, PASC Blue, the summer after my seventh grade year and had no idea what to expect. I was beyond nervous but I credit those five days of screaming PASC cheers, meeting new people and trying new things with shaping me into the person I am today.
I’ll be honest, it is not the coolest thing in the world to tell people you are going to student council camp. I would make a fortune if I collected money for how many times I’ve gotten the “I feel so bad that you are going to that lame camp” look. But the title “student council camp” does not do this wonderful week justice. Student government enthusiasts and future leaders, brace yourselves, I am about to inform you of the single most important thing you can do to improve your people skills, leadership abilities, and student council organization as a whole. The Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils’ (PASC) summer workshop programs are five to seven days long, depending on which program you are eligible to attend. They are designed to prepare the delegates for the upcoming year of
The summer after ninth grade I attended PASC Gold and this summer I am attending PASC Advanced Gold. Each camp is targeted for different age groups: Blue for middle school students, gold for high school students and advanced gold for upperclassmen who have attended a gold camp.
F UN
as a dance, theme and slogan for the Color Olympics, and skits for the talent show. The PASC summer workshops take place at colleges around Pennsylvania. This year they were held at Grove City College (blue and gold), Susquehanna University (gold), Lebanon Valley College (blue) and the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown (advanced gold). Delegates are paired up and stay in the dorms on campus. Besides your roommate, the camp is designed so that campers will get out of their shells and meet new people. I highly recommend the PASC summer
workshops to anyone interested in breaking out of a comfort zone and having the time of your life—and maybe even learning a few things about being an effective leader in the student government at school. The camps vary in cost from $300 to $450 depending on when you register and which program you attend. The dates for PASC Summer workshops for 2012 year will be July 8 through July 27. This article was originally published in the Reading Eagle on August 2, 2011. For more information on PASC leadership workshops, visit the PASC website.
Each level differs slightly, but mainly follows the same format. Each day the delegates attend entertaining and interactive seminars that target different elements of leadership. Then the campers split into mini-student councils or color groups to plan activities for the week such
PASC News • June 2011 • www.pasc.net
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