May Executive Board Meeting

Come to the last MASC Executive Board meeting of the year to celebrate our Executive Board members and seniors from this year, swear in your 2024-2025 officers, and welcome in our newly appointed staff! Registration is open to all middle and high school students and the meeting will be held at Richard Montgomery High School. 

Click on the graphic above to register to attend in person or virtually.

Help MASC make thoughtful cards to be donated to children's hospitals and hospices all around Division 5 (St Mary's, Charles, and Calvert counties). Here, you can earn service-learning hours, learn how to structure your own service projects, and discover opportunities near you!

Click on the Divison 5 graphic to register. School advisors must register their students for this event.

The Student Voices Town Halls serve as a platform for students to express their thoughts, concerns, and ideas regarding the safety of your school environment. These town hall meetings provide an opportunity for students to engage directly to address issues, propose initiatives, and collaborate on solutions.

Click on the graphic above to register.

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Maryland Center for School Safety (MCSS) - Students Advocating for Safety

(student committee)

MCSS is especially looking for students in Western Maryland and the Eastern Shore

All meetings are virtual

Register for this event by clicking on the Aims Kick-Off graphic above.

Extra - Extra - Read All About It! With two major MASC conferences, many webinars, and various events, middle school students have been up to a lot recently! To learn more about events, opportunities, and student opinions from leaders across the state, check out the 3rd AIMS Quarterly Newsletter!

I want to express my since gratitude to everyone within the organization for their support, guidance, and camaraderie throughout my tenure. I am truly grateful for the trust and confidence placed in me, and I have learned invaluable lessons that will stay with me for a lifetime. 

The transformational experience in leadership will again be at Washington College this summer. Check out www.mlw.org for more information and contact us at office@mlw.org. We hope to see you this summer at MLW! 

Middle School Experience in Leadership (MSEL)

Sunday, July 21 – Saturday, July 27, 2024

For students entering grades 6-8 in the fall of 2024

Senior High Workshop (SHW)

Sunday, July 28 – Saturday, August 3

For students entering grades 9-12 in the fall of 2024.

Advanced Leadership Seminar (ALS)

Sunday, July 21 – Saturday, July 27

For students who have completed grades 9-12 as of July 1, 2024.

Previous completion of the Senior High Workshop (SHW) is recommended.

Please post these flyers at your school

their experiences with the Governor, State legislature, agencies, and other youth.

MASC can appoint two students this year (we already have two students serving the second year of their term).

To answer any questions you may have about MYAC and/or the MYAC application, MYAC is hosting information sessions at 7:00 p.m., on Thursday, May 30th, and at 2:00 p.m., on Sunday, June 2nd. The information sessions are virtual, open to the public, and will be recorded/posted on MYAC's Facebook page. You can sign up with the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-2025-maryland-youth-advisory-council-application-info-session-tickets-851650578807

Be sure to check "MASC" on how you heard about this to be considered for an appointment by MASC! Click on the graphic above for additional information and the application.

If you have questions, please contact Christina Drushel Williams at christina.drushel@maryland.gov

These responses – particularly the most prevalent or frequent ones – will be the basis for facilitating conversations at future mental health events led by the Mental Health Affairs Coordinators, with the support of the Mental Health Committee. The Mental Health Affairs Coordinators hope that the Thought Box brings forth notable change within the mental health sphere in Maryland.

(Please click on the "Mental Health" graphic or the "Thought Box" blue link above to complete a Google form with your suggestions and topics. Please note that some school systems block Google items so you may need to use a personal device to access this.)

Check out the great Mental Health Resources on MASC's Resources page!

1) Pop for a Cause:  MASC is collaborating with Pop for a Cause to host our ongoing popcorn fundraiser! Purchase gourmet popcorn online here and select “MASC” in the Donation Recipient dropdown in your cart for MASC to receive a portion of the profits!
2) Shop for gift cards from over 750+ brands.

3) Safely and sustainably dispose of old electronics. Give back, save money, and make a difference all at once.  Your contributions are greatly appreciated.

Click on the picture above for detailed information.

Students4Good: Life is Beautiful: 7:00 p.m., Sunday, June 2 – “Life should not only be lived, it should be celebrated!” Join #ICANHELP as they come together to admire the beauty of our lives. The student speakers will be sharing ways they embrace diversity, appreciate the little things, and be proud of who they are. This event will help you strengthen your awareness and celebrate diversity within your community!

Teachers and Administrators: Coming up at 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 7th, 2024 – Admin TechTalk: Reflecting on Tech Issues Over the Last Year For school administrators and staff keen on navigating the technological landscape in education. This session offers a deep dive into the past year's tech challenges and successes, equips you with strategies for fostering digital responsibility among students and parents, and provides insights into effectively integrating tech resources and social media into your school's fabric.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Calling all principals, vice principals, and superintendents! This is the final Admin TechTalk of the academic year to reflect on the challenges (and successes) you've faced surrounding devices and technology in education. We would love for you to lead this important conversation as either a moderator or a panelist. Please contact admin@icanhelp.net if interested.

Register for FREE! Click on the button below.

Article Recommendations from #ICANHELP - DIGITAL4GOOD
 

Experts Weigh In: Donna Wick, Ed.D; Clinical Psychologist and founder of Mind to Mind Parents says, “Kids text all sorts of things that you would never in a million years contemplate saying to anyone’s face...You hope to teach them that they can disagree without jeopardizing the relationship, but what social media is teaching them to do is disagree in ways that are more extreme and jeopardize the relationship. It’s exactly what you don’t want to have happen.” 

How does social media addiction start? Social media plays a large role when it comes to our mental health. The goal of social media apps is to keep us on them and absorb a lot of content. The downside to this is that they can be slowly addictive over time. Check it out - Apps like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok use different tactics to keep us hooked. 

Are you a student between the ages of 13 - 18, in high school for the 2024-2025 school year who is passionate about mental health, leadership, or advocacy? Do you believe in the power of education and activation to make a difference in schools and communities? If so, we want to hear from you!

The NSAC is a group of dedicated teens who are committed to making mental health a top priority across the nation. Our program focuses on Access, Education, and Activation, aiming to create a society where mental health is valued and supported. As a member of the NSAC, you will have the opportunity to influence policy, drive change, and make a lasting impact in your community. Through collaborative projects, peer support, and advocacy, you will be at the forefront of raising awareness and breaking the stigma surrounding mental health.

If this resonates with you, we invite you to apply for the Work2BeWell National Student Advisory Council. Help us shape the future of mental health in schools and communities, and be a part of a powerful movement that will empower and inspire others.

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Work2BeWell has added new FREE curriculum modules. These topics cover a range of critical issues and understanding of the challenges youth face daily: - Advocacy and Activism - Family Stigma, Anxiety - Mental Health 10. These four curriculums are now available on our website under the tab “Explore Topic.”
 

In addition to the new curriculums, please note that seven curriculums have been translated into Spanish and Vietnamese! These include: Stress, Self-Care, Wellness Wednesday, Emotional First Aid Toolkit, Structural Racism, Loss & Grief, Critical Conversations  

MyImpact Challenge: Deadline: 11:59 p.m., May 19, 2024 – MyImpact Challenge is a civic engagement contest that promotes and fosters a robust understanding of citizenship to get students active in their communities now! Student service projects can win up to $10,000, with $40,000 in total prizes available to students and teachers. Submission is open to US citizens and US-based young people who are between the ages of 13 and 19 and enrolled in middle or high school on January 1, 2024.
Flyer (pdf)

Resources: National PTA Adapt A Classroom Teachers or Tomorrow

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt We Are Teachers

Character Strong

All sessions were recorded - click on the NA4SA to the logo to the right to see the recordings from 2022-2023 and 2023-2024.

Follow the National Association 4 Student Activities on social media platforms to connect to more individuals across the country working in student activities.
 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/paradeofideas

Twitter: https://twitter.com/paradeofideas

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paradeofideas/

The Maryland State Board of Education Appointed Dr. Carey M. Wright as the Next State Superintendent of Schools

Do you receive the Youth Serve America's briefings? They are full of great service ideas, resources and trainings, grants and awards, stories of service, etc. Check out the April Briefing and contact michael@ysa.ccsend.com to subscribe!

The Maryland Senatorial & Delegate Scholarships are offered to Maryland residents who plan to pursue a postsecondary credential full-time or part-time at a two-year or four-year Maryland college, university, or private career school.

How to Apply

These scholarships are offered through your state delegation for your district. Contact your delegate(s) and senator directly to request their application form.

Email your lawmakers today!

Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): These programs provide grants, work-study, and loan funds to students attending college or career school. The Maryland Higher Education Commission has extended the state deadline to submit the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to June 1, 2024. While students will have until June 1st to file and qualify for Maryland scholarships, they needed to submit their FAFSA by March 1, 2024, if they wanted to be notified of their eligibility on April 15, 2024.

To get started, students are encouraged to log into or create their Maryland College Aid Processing System account, known as their MDCAPS account. Students who do not currently have an account will be required to create one. Students will also be required to submit an email that they use frequently to ensure successful communication between the student and the agency—all notifications go through email.  

This includes undocumented students who are eligible for in-state tuition and replaces the Maryland State Financial Aid Application, known as the MSFAA, with the new application, which is also located in the Maryland College Aid Processing System.

The Maryland Higher Education Commission administers 27 State scholarship and grant programs to more than 65,000 Maryland students annually.

Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC) is a registered

501(c)(3) non-profit organization.