Spring Leadership Conference Saturday, April 13th

Registration Closes on April 5th
South Hagerstown HS - Washington County

The last conference of the year is MASC’s new Spring Leadership Conference. Participating in this conference celebrates the accomplishments of the year (Awards Program and Hall of Ideas) and allows students to learn leadership skills while meeting other student leaders from across the state. 

This is a great opportunity to celebrate the year, start planning for next year, share your best project/program/activities, and get ideas from other schools through the Hall of Ideas.

Advisors from member and non-member schools may register students to attend this event. Click on the graphic above for full details.

Collect clothing/household goods individually or host a schoolwide donation drive. Drop off your donations at MASC’s Spring Leadership Conference at South Hagerstown High School on April 13, 2024, during morning check-in. As a fun bonus, the school bringing the most donations will be recognized at the Spring Leadership Conference.

Read the details, sign up, and report how many bags and boxes you will bring

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS, SIGN UP, and REPORTING LINKS.

Middle school through juniors in high school - MASC is excited to be able to chaperone a small delegation to the National Vision Leadership Conference and New Mexico is proud and excited to announce that Rio Rancho High School (outside of Albuquerque) is hosting the VISION National Student Council Leadership Conference.

Read about the conference, look at pictures from recent years, discuss with your parents, and sign up to attend.

Click on the Vision Conference graphic above for all details.

What to help shape the future of Maryland’s schools? Interested in learning more about the MD Blueprint and how it affects our future? Join the MASC Civic Engagement Committee and the Accountability and Implementation Board of the MD Blueprint for a virtual webinar on Monday evening, April 15th. Attendees will learn about how the Blueprint works and help shape the implementation of the Blueprint to aid student success in Maryland.

Register for this event by clicking on the Webinar graphic above.

Register for this event by clicking on the Webinar graphic above.

NASC is also offering two Webinars during April:

Tuesday, April 9 (7:00 p.m.) Alumni Insights: Building and Narrowing Your College Search List - Embarking on your college search? Hear from current and soon-to-be college students who successfully navigated the process. Our panel of student alumni will share how they started, built, and narrowed down their college lists. Gain valuable insights and firsthand experiences to plan your summer break and get a head start on your college search and application process.

Tuesday, April 23 (7:00 p.m.) Alumni Insights: College Life 101 - Curious about what college life really looks like? Join us for an engaging and informative session where young college students will share their journeys from high school to college. From the highs and lows of finding community, exploring opportunities, developing leadership skills, and making their college experiences uniquely their own, our alumni panel has the insights you need to prepare for the transition.

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

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.

Resumes for the Future Webinar Workshop: 8:00 p.m., Thursday, April 25 – Join 'Resumes for the Future,' an interactive webinar where students elevate their resumes with expert guidance from a GenZ professional and resume writing specialists. Transform your experiences into sought-after skills, optimize your format, and navigate the digital world with prowess. Empower your resume, and empower your future with Digital4Good.

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. 

event! NA4SA will have a top-notch line-up of speakers from The Fisher Agency, CoolSpeak, and more!

Click on the NA4SA logo above to register.

NA4SA has great resources....As advisors, we are our own best resource - Here are a few ideas that were shared at the March NA4SA Idea Sharing Session:

School-wide BINGO – Buy paper bingo cards (three on a sheet) and cut them into single cards.  Every student on a Monday morning got one card coming into school (and the student council went around to first-period classes to be sure no one was missed).  They called out bingo numbers on the PA throughout the day – if you got BINGO you brought the card to the leadership room, wrote your name on the back of the card, and got a bumper sticker (or some other prize).  All of those winners were entered into a drawing for a booster sports pass.

Rock–Paper–Scissors Champion – Everyone in the school gets a Mardi Graw necklace –Play Rock-Paper-Scissors…. if you lose, give your beads to the person who beat you…if you have ten necklaces, then you give all ten, etc.  The student council also sold extra necklaces at lunch so students who didn’t have any more necklaces could still participate!  A possible twist – once you had five necklaces, you could challenge a teacher.  At the end of the week – the people who think they have the most competed at the pep rally in front of the whole school….everyone is in because all can play Rock-Paper-Scissors (low risk).

LEAP Day (Leap Year – Feb. 29) The student council hid little plastic frogs all around the school.  If you find one you can turn it in for a prize.  Can also be done with little ducks for the first day of spring – or other special days such as pumpkins for Halloween, hearts for Valentine's Day, etc..  You can also do this as a class competition and collect as a class – turn them into the class bucket and see who has the most collected.

NA4SA Resources: The National Association for Student Activities (NA4SA) is a GREAT advisor-focused organization offering free webinars, free resources, and conferences. Also, check out the 2022-2023 recorded free Seminar Series!

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 Civic Education and Engagement Leadership Summit, is hosting a youth summit that promises to be an extraordinary day of learning, networking, and empowerment. Participants will be exploring innovations in voting rights, educational strategies for civic engagement, youth participation in the electoral process, and much more.

This event is FREE for students.

Click on the MD Civic Education Coalition graphic above to register.

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)

The Explore.Act.Tell Program is a Family and Consumer Science aligned and fully-funded (free) service leadership program for students in grades 6-12. Join the battle against hunger in your community with Explore Act Tell! Students can register at exploreacttell.org/registration to research food insecurity, develop important skills, and advocate for community involvement. Plus, enter your projects into the competition for a chance to win a grant and make a real difference.

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!

Click on the graphic above for your free resource.

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  

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.