Student Leadership Program

Community Building

Community Building adds a sense of community within and outside of the school environment. It is the key connection to school and your broader community. Examples of community building may be:

• Buddy Classes
• Services Projects
• Career Awareness

It is important to Provide regular opportunities for service and cooperation. Students learn the skills of collaboration, develop wider and richer relationships, and experience the many satisfactions of contributing to the welfare of others through community building.

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Bullying Prevention

What is Bullying?

In Northside, student conduct is considered “bullying" if it:

1. exploits an imbalance of power between the student perpetrator and the student victim through:
   • written expression
   • verbal expression
   • expression through electronic means (cyberbullying)
   • physical contact;
2. interferes with a student’s education or substantially disrupts the operation of a school.
3. occurs on school property, at a school-sponsored or school related activity or in a vehicle operated by the district.

Bullying Is:

Bullying is continued abuse of power that is intentionally hurtful. 
Bullying is NOT part of normal conflict.
Bullying is typically NOT a one-time occurrence
Bullying, in its most basic form, is abuse, harassment, and/or violence.

How NISD Handles Bullying

Northside School District takes all instances of bullying and harassment seriously. All campus personnel are prepared to respond and resolve these situations in a fair and timely manner.

NISD Bullying Prevention Weeks

Declaration of Respect, No Name Calling Week, Inclusive Schools Week, Red Ribbon Week, Switch it Up, “No Bully Zone”, Project ABC (Anti-Bullying Communities), Parent 411 & 397-SAFE or text safe@nisd.net

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Goal Setting

Developing a Specific Goal

S.M.A.R.T. goals are:

S=Specific
M=Measurable
A=Attainable
R=Relevant, Rigorous, Realistic, and Results Focused
T= Timely and Trackable

Learning how to frame goals as SMART goals and being willing to adjust them to get SMARTer is an important skill that would help every student get off to a better start and have a better school year, this year and into the future.

Here is a practical example, starting with a typical, but not especially SMART, goal:

I will do better on my report card in the next marking period.

Here is a way to make it SMARTer:

In the next marking period, I will get at least a C on all my math tests, and at least a B on most of my quizzes and homework assignments.

But it's not SMART yet because it has no action plan or benchmarks. Here is a pretty SMART goal:

In the next marking period, I will take careful notes and review them at least two days before tests and quizzes so that I can ask the teacher questions about what I don't understand. I will do my math homework before I do things with friends, and when I hand it in, I will ask the teacher about anything I am not sure about. When I get anything wrong, I will make sure to ask the teacher, or one of my classmates how they got the right answer.

It's not easy to write SMART goals. This skill takes time to develop, and it’s especially important to have in place for students at the secondary level. A goal is an outcome, something that will make a difference as a result of achieving it. It can't be too ambitious to be out of reach, but also not so simple that it does not challenge. A goal has to be realistic with a stretch, requiring effort and focus to achieve it. That's why goals need timeframes and measurable action steps along the way so that we can keep track of progress and make adjustments as necessary.

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Class Meetings

8 Steps to Successful Class Meetings

1. Form a Circle
   A circle creates an atmosphere in which win-win solutions can take place and everyone has an equal right to speak. It allows everyone to see everyone else. It reminds student that the class meeting is a different and special part of their school experience.
    
2. Practice Compliments and Appreciations
   This starts the class meeting on a positive note and boosts self-esteem.
    
3. Create an Agenda
   Set up a notebook for agenda items. Practice class meetings with "relationship building" agendas before attempting problem solving.
    
4. Develop Communication Skills
   Take turns, use an object that can be passed from student to student. Use open-ended questions, clarify/summarize and encourage. Avoid judgment and create an atmosphere of respect.
    
5. Learn about Separate Realities
   Teachers often act as though all children should hear them exactly the same way: understand and accept that people may have a separate reality so they will respond differently to the same information.
    
6. Recognize the Reason People do What They Do
   People need to meet their basic needs of fun, freedom, power and love/belonging.
    
7. Practice Role Playing and Brainstorming
   Role-play appropriate brainstorming.
    
8. Focus on Non-punitive Solutions
   People do better when they feel better!

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Student Led Conferences

What are student led conferences?

Student-led conferences are conferences that are prepared and presented by the student, with the support of teachers and parents. Students take the responsibility for reporting what they are learning and become more actively involved in the process of learning. Student-led conferences can be portfolio style where students and the teacher pick sample work for students to present to their parents. Student-led conferences can also be grade related where students inform their parents of their grades.

What are the benefits of a Student Led Conference?

• Student-led conferences empower students.
• It allows them the time and place to use their own voices and be heard.
• It encourages students to take responsibility for their actions and academic performance.
• Students can see the Goal setting process at work.
• Students have an opportunity for self-reflection and self-evaluation.

Student’s Role:

• Students do most of the talking as they LEAD the conference.
• Students take responsibility for what is presented and discussed.
• Students answer questions from parents.
• Students must be able to describe their work , their goals, and their progress toward their goals.

Teacher’s Role:

• Send out parent information letter and schedule conferences.
• Review Conference Sheet/Script with students.
• Organize time and place for conferences.
• Be an advocate for the student.
• Help maintain a positive atmosphere.
• Encourages student/parent interaction.

Parent’s Role:

• Primarily, the parent is a listener.
• Parent’s write down their questions on a notepad or 3x5 index card as their child is speaking.
• Parents direct their questions to the student.
• Parent’s have the opportunity to filling out an evaluation at the close of the conference to provide feedback to the campus.